Apparently Miguel Tejada has been lying about his age.
Yet, Thursday morning was the first time the former American League Most Valuable Player and four-time All-Star admitted his real age to the world. The Astros’ new shortstop is actually 33, two years older than he is listed in the club’s media guide and other baseball records.
“I’m a poor kid that wanted to be a professional big leaguer,” he explained as he discussed his reasoning for claiming he was 17 instead of 19 to sign with the Oakland A’s in 1993. “I was thinking that was the only way that I could help my family. By the time we did it, it wasn’t because we wanted to do anything wrong to be a professional.
“The scout just did it just because at that time I was two years older than I (told them). And to play in the Dominican Summer League you got to be like 17. That’s why he changed the year. Because the only change is the year.”
This is a wild thought, but could there be more Dominican players lying about their age? What in the name of Danny Almonte is going on here?
Photo Curtesy of Flickr
It’s unbelievable that a baseball player (or any athlete, for that matter) would actually cheat to get ahead in his profession. The horror!
I think it’s a world of difference between guys like Bonds, Mac, Sosa and the rest gettin’ juiced to get hot or stay hot and a young kid from a dirt poor background trying to get out and fibbin about his age.
I figure it’s always in season when you’re hungry, so I can take a more modest approach to this. That’s not to say he (and anybody who was complicit) shouldn’t get spanked.
This is definitely on the milder side of cheatin’, but it’s still cheatin’.
That said, I don’t blame him – at the time he was a 19 year-old trying to make a life for himself, not a 30 year-old multi-millionare with a ten cent head.
Does anyone know how old LaBrontasoris James is????
If this kid isn’t 30 Hillary is a 18 yr old.
Good One Steinny ! Hey – here is the bigger part about Tejada …. he signs these contracts for 3 or 6 years years – and the team thinks he’s two or three years younger ? Wo – that could mean some big EXTRA money kids. Well – heck Miguel is an honest guy right ? He’ll probably give some back right ?
Definitely – the Astros should start holding their breath for that refund check right now.