Tejada lied about his age; espn snooped to unveil birth records

[street_thug]

"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."

This doesn't surprise me since lots of players from the DR and PR have been known to lie about their age to have a better chance signing w/a big league club. We've seen it with Jairo Garcia a/k/a Santiago Casilla. I wonder if the Astros can or would cancel / void part of his contract since they thought they were getting a younger player than they actually have?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3351418

[mlazar]

I'm happy he's feeling "free" now....maybe he can elaborate on the steroid accusations ?

[Zito75]

I'm happy he's feeling "free" now....maybe he can elaborate on the steroid accusations ?

Exactly. There's no question he has some soul searching to do. Miguel is looking at possible jail time for lying to the Feds as well. But geeze, why wait 12 years or so to divulge this information? He seriously mislead the Orioles when he signed that huge deal a few years back.

[philliesfiend55]

Other Liars

I believe Adian Beltre also lied when he signed, but the discepancy was only one year and he fessed up very early in his career to the Dodgers. Julio Franco confessed to a three year discrepancy between his stated and real age. Even native-born Hal Mc Rae got away with a one-year lie for many years until he was about to retire.

[KCGHOST]

I would wager the Orioles never asked him his age and particularly didn't ask him to present a valid birth certificate. As for the Astros they were just looking for a quick fix for their offensive woes.

[beane4pres]

I'm surprised he isn't older

[riredsox]

Phil Rizzuto got away with a 1-yr lie, so he was born in 1916, not '17.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Phil Rizzuto got away with a 1-yr lie, so he was born in 1916, not '17.

Holy..cow!

[blacksilverfan12]

What does his age have to do with steroids?

[Rennie Stennett]

Heartbreak Hotel

Exactly. There's no question he has some soul searching to do. Miguel is looking at possible jail time for lying to the Feds as well.

You can do much soul searching in the big house.

[Tensolator]

Luis Tiant lied about his age. I'm not sure anyone knew how old he was for awhile.

T.