Mark Teixeira facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This page is about the Major League Baseball player. For the comic book artist, see Mark Texeira.

Quick facts for kids

Mark Teixeira

Teixeira with the New York Yankees in 2011

First baseman

Born: April 11, 1980 (age 45)
Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.

Batted: Switch

Threw: Right

debut

April 1, 2003, for the Texas Rangers

Last appearance

October 2, 2016, for the New York Yankees

MLB statistics

Batting average

.268

Home runs

409

Runs batted in

1,298

Teams

Texas Rangers (2003–2007)
Atlanta Braves (2007–2008)
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2008)
New York Yankees (2009–2016)

Career highlights and awards

3× All-Star (2005, 2009, 2015)
World Series champion (2009)
5× Gold Glove Award (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012)
3× Silver Slugger Award (2004, 2005, 2009)
AL home run leader (2009)
AL RBI leader (2009)
Dick Howser Trophy (2000)

Mark Charles Teixeira (pronounced "tay-SHAIR-uh"), nicknamed "Tex", is a former American professional baseball player. He was a first baseman who played for 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and New York Yankees.

Before becoming a pro, Mark played college baseball at Georgia Tech. In 2000, he won the Dick Howser Trophy, which is given to the best college baseball player in the country. Mark was known for being a great switch-hitter, meaning he could hit baseballs well from both the left and right sides of the plate. He was a key player for the Yankees when they won the World Series in 2009. That year, he led the American League in home runs and runs batted in (RBI).

Throughout his career, Mark was chosen for the All-Star Game three times. He also won five Gold Glove Awards for his excellent defense and three Silver Slugger Awards for his hitting. He holds an MLB record for hitting home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game 14 times. He was also the fifth switch-hitter in MLB history to hit 400 career home runs. Mark retired from baseball at the end of the 2016 season.

Early Life and High School Baseball
College Baseball Career
Professional Baseball Journey
Awards and Honors
Outside of Baseball
- In Entertainment and Media
- Other Projects
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and High School Baseball

Mark Charles Teixeira grew up in Severna Park, Maryland. His parents are Margaret "Margy" Canterna and John Teixeira. He went to Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, where he played on the school's varsity baseball team. His teammate there was Gavin Floyd, who also became a professional baseball player.

Mark's family has different backgrounds. His grandfather came from Guyana in South America, and his father's family has English and Portuguese roots. His mother's family was of Italian descent.

College Baseball Career

The Boston Red Sox picked Mark in the 1998 MLB draft, but he decided not to sign with them. Instead, he chose to go to the Georgia Institute of Technology to play college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He felt the Red Sox didn't treat him well during the draft process.

In the summer of 1999, he played for the Orleans Cardinals in a special summer league called the Cape Cod Baseball League. He was named the league's best pro prospect. In 2000, playing for Georgia Tech, Mark had an amazing batting average of .427. He also won the Dick Howser Trophy as the best college baseball player in the country.

Professional Baseball Journey

Drafted by the Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers chose Mark Teixeira as the fifth overall pick in the 2001 MLB draft. The Philadelphia Phillies thought about picking him, but his agent, Scott Boras, asked for a lot of money, so the Phillies picked Gavin Floyd instead. The Rangers then signed Mark to a big contract worth $9.5 million over four years.

Mark started his professional career in 2002 in the minor leagues. He played for the Charlotte Rangers and then the Tulsa Drillers. He hit very well at both levels before moving up to the big leagues.

Playing for the Texas Rangers

Mark made it to the Rangers' Opening Day roster in 2003, which means he started playing in Major League Baseball right away. As a rookie in 2003, he hit .259 with 26 home runs and 84 runs batted in (RBIs).

Teixeira as a member of the Rangers.

In 2004, Mark had an even better season, hitting 38 home runs and 112 RBIs. On August 17, 2004, he achieved a rare feat called hitting for the cycle. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game!

In 2005, Mark won the Silver Slugger Award for being the best-hitting first baseman in the American League. He also won the Gold Glove for being the best defensive first baseman. He was chosen for his first All-Star Game that year. He finished the 2005 season with a .301 batting average, 43 home runs, and 144 RBIs. His 144 RBIs in 2005 set a Major League record for a switch-hitter.

Mark became only the third switch-hitter in MLB history to hit at least 20 home runs in each of his first three seasons. He also joined a small group of players who hit at least 100 home runs in their first three seasons.

In 2006, Mark signed a two-year contract with the Rangers. On June 9, 2007, his amazing streak of 507 consecutive games played came to an end because of a leg injury. This was only the second time in his career he had to go on the disabled list.

Time with the Atlanta Braves

Teixeira with the Braves in 2008.

On July 31, 2007, the Rangers traded Mark to the Atlanta Braves. In return, the Rangers received several players, including Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and Matt Harrison. Mark joined the Braves and made an immediate impact.

In his first game with the Braves on August 1, 2007, Mark hit a 3-run home run. He then hit home runs in his next two games, becoming only the second Braves player to homer in his first three games with the team. He was named the National League Player of the Month for August. In 54 games with Atlanta in 2007, Mark batted .317 with 17 home runs and 56 RBIs.

Playing for the Los Angeles Angels

Teixeira playing for the Angels in 2008 American League Division Series Game 4 on October 6.

On July 29, 2008, Mark was traded again, this time to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He helped his new team have a great season, hitting .358 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs after the trade. The Angels won 100 games that year, their best season ever.

Mark made his first appearance in the playoffs with the Angels. He hit very well, with a .467 batting average, but the Angels lost to the Boston Red Sox in the first round. After the season, Mark became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team he wanted.

Joining the New York Yankees

Teixeira, pictured in 2009.

2009: World Series Champion

In December 2008, Mark agreed to a huge 8-year contract worth $180 million with the New York Yankees. He officially joined the team on January 6, 2009. He chose to wear number 25 because his favorite player growing up, Don Mattingly, had his number 23 retired by the Yankees.

In the 2009 season, Mark had an amazing year. He led the American League with 39 home runs and 122 RBIs. The Yankees went on to win the 2009 World Series, and Mark received a World Series ring. Even though he struggled a bit with his hitting in the playoffs, he made some very important plays, including a game-winning home run in one of the playoff games.

Teixeira in 2009

For his great performance in 2009, Mark won both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. He also finished second in the voting for the American League MVP (Most Valuable Player) award.

2010-2011: Continued Success

Teixeira on first base in 2011

In 2010, Mark hit three home runs in one game against the Boston Red Sox, a rare achievement for a Yankee player. He also hit a grand slam against the New York Mets. He won another Gold Glove Award in 2010. He finished the season with a .256 batting average, 33 home runs, and 108 RBIs. He also led the American League in runs scored.

On June 30, 2011, Mark hit his 300th career home run. On August 2, 2011, he set a new record by hitting home runs from both sides of the plate in the same game for the 12th time in his career. This broke the previous record held by Chili Davis and Eddie Murray.

Teixeira on August 28, 2011

In 2011, Mark batted .248 with 39 home runs and 111 RBIs. He continued to be one of the best defensive first basemen in baseball.

2012-2016: Injuries and Retirement

Teixeira in 2012

The 2012 season was tough for Mark due to several injuries, including a calf strain. He still managed to play in 123 games, hitting 24 home runs and 84 RBIs. After the season, he won his fifth Gold Glove Award.

In 2013, Mark suffered a serious wrist injury while playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He played in only 15 games that season before needing wrist surgery, which ended his year early.

He returned in 2014 but continued to deal with various injuries, including his hamstring and the surgically repaired wrist. Despite these issues, he still hit 22 home runs.

In 2015, Mark had a great start to the season and was named to his third All-Star team. He hit 31 home runs in 111 games. However, his season ended early in September when he fouled a ball off his leg and discovered he had a shin fracture.

Mark struggled with injuries again in his final season, 2016. He dealt with neck spasms and a torn knee cartilage. On July 3, 2016, he hit two home runs, including his 400th career home run. He became only the fifth switch-hitter in MLB history to reach this milestone.

On August 5, Mark announced that he would retire at the end of the 2016 season, mainly because of his ongoing injuries. On September 28, he hit the final home run of his career, which was a dramatic walk-off grand slam (a home run with the bases loaded that wins the game). His final game was on October 2, 2016.

Coaching Career

After retiring as a player, Mark Teixeira has stayed involved in baseball. He served as the hitting coach for the National League team in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game, which features top minor league prospects.

Awards and Honors

Mark Teixeira received many awards during his baseball career:

Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Player of the Year (2000)
Baseball America College Player of the Year Award (2000)
College Baseball All-America Team (2000)
Dick Howser Trophy (2000)
Fielding Bible Award at first base (2012)
3× Major League Baseball All-Star (2005, 2009, 2015)
2× Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award (July 2004, August 2007)
6× Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award
5× Rawlings Gold Glove Award (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012)
3× Silver Slugger Award (2004, 2005, 2009)
USA Today All-USA high school baseball team (1998)
World Series champion (2009)

Outside of Baseball

In Entertainment and Media

Mark Teixeira has appeared in TV shows and other media. In 2011, he had a small role in the HBO TV series Entourage with his teammate Alex Rodriguez. In 2013, he made a one-night appearance on Broadway in the musical Rock of Ages, playing a bartender.

Mark loves movies and is on the board of the Greenwich International Film Festival. In 2014, he helped create a parody interview show called Foul Territory for the YES Network. He wanted to help new Yankees players feel welcome.

Since 2017, Mark has worked as a baseball analyst for ESPN, sharing his knowledge of the game.

Other Projects

Mark is involved with several organizations, including DREAM (which helps kids through baseball and education) and the Emerald Corridor Foundation. He also has plans for a building project called Quarry Yards in Atlanta.

Personal Life

CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira (right) during the 2009 World Series parade.

After signing his first professional baseball contract, Mark set up a scholarship at his high school. He did this to honor a friend who passed away in a car accident.

Mark and his wife, Leigh Williams, live in Greenwich, Connecticut. They met at Georgia Tech. In 2006, they started the Mark Teixeira Charitable Fund, which has supported scholarships at high schools in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. They have three children: sons Jack Gordan and William Charles, and daughter Addison Leigh.

Mark's mother passed away in 2015. In 2017, his father remarried Sherry McCann, who is the mother of Mark's former teammate, Brian McCann.

Mark enjoys hobbies like hunting, golfing, reading, and fishing. He also loves Broadway theatre and says Les Misérables is his favorite show. Mark is a devoted Catholic and believes his faith and his father's guidance have helped him a lot. He also credits the death of his high school friend with giving him important life perspective. In 2022, Mark completed his degree in business administration from Georgia Tech.