Mark Teixeira, Retired


Date of Birth: 4/11/1980
Birthplace: Anapolis, Maryland
College: Georgia Tech
Nickname: Tex

Mark Teixeira was already a top baseball player in high school and the Boston Red Sox wanted to sign him in 1998 when he was only 18. Teixeira preferred getting an education first at Georgia Tech, where he again shone as a baseball player. In 2001, with a batting average of .427, Teixeira received the Dick Howser Trophy as national college baseball player of the year. Later that year, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers.

Teixeira played only one season in the minor leagues before being called up to the Rangers in 2003. His rookie year in the majors was not impressive with a .259 average and 26 home runs, but his second year yielded 38 home runs and 112 RBIs.

Teixeira showed his true potential in 2005 with a batting average of .301, 43 home runs and 144 RBIs. For his achievements in his third year in the majors, Teixeira earned two awards - his second Silver Slugger award (his first was in 2004) for his hitting and a Gold Glove for his fielding at first base.

Before the 2006 season started, Teixeira signed a two year contract with the Texas Rangers. However, the next year he didn't sign a long-term lucrative contract with them, preferring to go to free agency at the end of the season. The Rangers then traded Teixeira in July, 2007 to the Atlanta Braves. At the end of the season, the Braves gave him a one-year $12.5 million contract.

Teixeira's performance with the Braves was consistently strong, batting in the cleanup spot behind Chipper Jones. Unfortunately for the Braves, however, Teixeira was traded in July, 2008, to the Los Angeles Angels. Following the 2008 season, Teixeira signed an eight-year, $180 million contract with the New York Yankees that paid off for New York in his first season with them. In 2009, Teixeira won his fourth Gold Glove and his third Silver Slugger award and he led the American League in home runs and RBIs. Known as an outstanding fielder, Teixeira has won two additional Gold Gloves, one in 2010 and his fifth one in 2012.

Teixeira missed most of the 2013 season with a wrist injury and surgery. In 2014, he again missed part of the season due to injuries, playing in only 123 games. He had 95 hits, 62 RBIs, and a .216 batting average. Although he struggled with the bat, his defensive play was, as usual, very good, finishing with a .994 fielding percentage.

Teixeira had a strong 2015 season that was cut short in mid-August when he hit a foul ball off his leg that resulted in a fracture. He finished the season with 100 hits, 22 doubles, 31 home runs, 79 RBIs, and a .255 batting average in 111 games. As the Yankees' first baseman in 108 games, he made 48 assists, 76 double plays, 897 putouts, and 3 errors in 108 games.

After spending time on the DL and having his worst season at the plate, on August 5, 2016, Teixeira announced that he would be retiring as a major league player at the end of the 2016 season. He finished the season with a .204 batting average, 79 hits, 16 doubles, 15 home runs, and 44 RBIs in 116 games. Defensively, at first base, he was again a top defender, making 39 assists, 65 double plays, 867 putouts, and 3 errors in 110 games. He had a .997 fielding percentage.

Teixeira became an analyst for ESPN in February, 2017.

Statistics for Teixeira in 14 seasons (2003-2016) in the major leagues include:

  • 3 seasons with a batting average over .300, with a high of .308 in 2008
  • 7 seasons with 150 or more hits, with a high of 194 in 2005
  • 7 seasons with 30 or more doubles, with a high of 45 in 2006
  • 11 seasons with 20 or more home runs, with a high of 43 in 2005
  • 8 seasons with over 100 RBIs, with a high of 144 in 2005

Career batting statistics for Teixeira through 2016 include:

  • 1,862 games played
  • 1,862 hits
  • 408 doubles
  • 409 home runs
  • 1,298 RBIs
  • 1,441 strikeouts to 918 walks
  • .268 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Teixeira at first base through 2016 include:

  • 1,769 games played
  • 966 assists
  • 1,418 double plays
  • 14,942 putouts
  • 55 errors
  • .997 fielding percentage

Charitable Work

Teixeira and his wife Leigh started the Mark Teixeira Charitable Fund in 2006. The foundation provides scholarships to high school students in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

Teixeira has participated in Dream Team 25, an organization that aids youth in Harlem. Information on the organization is available at dreamteam25.org.

Personal Life

Teixeira and his wife Leigh have two sons and a daughter.

In 2014, Teixeira hosted "Foul Territory" on the YES Network. It's a humorous take on sports interviews. For a sample, visit Foul Territory.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Mark Teixeira
ESPN Sports - Mark Teixeira