Old timer Tejada

[R13]

Age ain't nothing but a number, unless you're Miguel Tejada.

The Houston Astros shortstop told the Oakland Athletics when he was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 1993 that he was 17. But he was actually 19, meaning he is now 33, two years older than his listed age in the Astros' media guide and other baseball records.

The shortstop made his admission after being approached Tuesday by ESPN.

E:60 correspondent Tom Farrey presented Tejada with a copy of a birth certificate, filed by his father in his hometown of Bani, that showed he was born on May 25, 1974. The document was acquired by a Dominican law firm hired by ESPN after clerks at the town hall in Bani declared -- improperly -- that his records were confidential.

When asked if the birth certificate E:60 acquired was the real one, the former American League MVP said "probably" and walked out of the interview. He said he considered the information "personal."

E:60 plans to air its report on Tejada as part of its April 22 show (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).

"I'm a poor kid that wanted to sign," Tejada told the Houston Chronicle about how he followed a coach's advice in shaving two years off his age. "I'm feeling free now. It's something that I had in my mind."

The Astros' media guide lists Tejada's birthday as May 25, 1976. However, in addition to the birth certificate produced by ESPN, the Chronicle reported that Tejada's green card, driver's license and other legal papers in the United States list his actual birthday as May 25, 1974.

The strangest thing about the Tejada story? Rob Neyer wonders why it took so long to break. Story Insider

"Fact of the matter is that he plays like he's 25, so I don't think it really matters a whole lot," Astros GM Ed Wade told the Chronicle. "We're still trying to figure out Jose Cruz Sr.'s age."

Tejada was signed out of the Dominican Republic by Juan Marichal, but he said that the Hall of Famer had nothing to do with the age change.

"The thing is I didn't want Houston to find out from somebody else," Tejada told the Chronicle. "I wanted to find out just from my face. I'm a man and I'm responsible for everything. That's why I prefer to come to them and say, 'You know what? That's the way it is and we're moving forward.'

"I was feeling like I had something to say in the last three days. That's why I waited for today to do it," he said.

[CoeburnCane]

Link stuff like this along with the article man--sources are your friend.

[R13]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...mlb&id=3351432


youre the only one that asks for em haha, but I always get my stuff from espn anyway lol

[CoeburnCane]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: raider13</div><div class="ubbcode-body">http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?...mlb&id=3351432


youre the only one that asks for em haha, but I always get my stuff from espn anyway lol</div></div>

It's not dire need for them, but it's a great rule of thumb...adds to your credibility as well. Trying to help.

[R13]

hah I know man, I have been putting them on there since the first time you said to...I just forgot that time, but did anybody watch that interview Tejada had?

[BlueWahooChambordDevil]

yet another player from one of the islands who is older than first thought

nobody is more well known for that than el duque

to this day nobody is exactly sure how old he is

judging from how fragile hes become......id say hes in the neighborhood of 45

[1inStripes]

El Duque is definitely old. Not Julio Franco old, but old.

[BlueWahooChambordDevil]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1inStripes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">El Duque is definitely old. Not Julio Franco old, but old. </div></div>
hes pretty damn close to julio franco old

[yankeebaseball]

Longworth told the greatest story..
basically a guy came to camp, got cut then showed up the next year, with a new name and 2 years younger lol.