Miguel Tejada

Miguel Tejada, born on May 25, 1974, is a distinguished Dominican former professional baseball shortstop who graced Major League Baseball (MLB) for sixteen seasons. His career spanned six teams, with notable tenures at the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles, alongside brief stints with the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Kansas City Royals. Currently, he serves as the manager of the Bravos de León in the Mexican League.

Tejada's journey in MLB began with the Athletics, where he established a remarkable streak of one thousand one hundred fifty-two consecutive games, a record that concluded with the Orioles on June 22, 2007. His prowess on the field earned him six All-Star selections and two Silver Slugger Awards. In 2002, he was honored with the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award and later became the MVP of the 2005 All-Star Game. Known affectionately as 'La Guagua,' which translates to 'the bus' in certain Spanish dialects, Tejada was celebrated for his exceptional ability to drive in runs.

Tejada's legacy includes being the last player from the Oakland Athletics to win the American League MVP award before the team's relocation in 2025. However, his career was not without controversy. On February 11, 2009, he pleaded guilty to perjury for providing false testimony to Congress regarding Rafael Palmeiro's steroid use. Additionally, on August 17, 2013, he faced a suspension of one hundred five games from MLB for violating the league's drug policy, marking one of the longest non-lifetime suspensions for a drug-related infraction.