Tejada confiesa que tiene 33 años, no 31

Posted: 2008-04-21 12:38:44

Filed Under: Béisbol

FILADELFIA (AP) - El torpedero dominicano Miguel Tejada le informó a los Astros de Houston que tiene 33 años, dos más que la edad que aparece registrada en la guía de prensa del club y en otros archivos del béisbol, luego que un reportero de ESPN le mostró una copia de su certificado de nacimiento.

Tejada dijo que se quería sacar ese peso de encima y le pidió al gerente general Ed Wade que se corrija la información falsa que le dio a los Atléticos de Oakland cuando fichó con ese equipo en 1993.

"Yo era un niño pobre", dijo Tejada el jueves antes del último partido de una serie contra los Filis. "Quería firmar un contrato profesional, y esa era la única forma de hacerlo. No quería hacer nada malo. En ese momento, yo era dos años mayor de lo que ellos creían".

Tejada en realidad tenía 19 años cuando firmó su primer contrato con un equipo de Grandes Ligas mientras vivía en Baní, un sector pobre en República Dominicana. En ese momento, según el jugador, un entrenador local le sugirió que dijera que tenía 17.

ESPN dijo que le mostró a Tejada una copia del certificado de nacimiento que obtuvo en la Dominicana durante una entrevista el martes. Al iniciar la entrevista, Tejada señaló que nació en 1976. Después que le mostraron el certificado, el jugador se levantó de su silla, diciendo: "Hermano, ahora mismo yo juego béisbol, juego pelota y no tengo que estar aquí para hablar de esto".

"Nos enteramos que la fecha (de nacimiento) que tenemos de Tejada, su año de nacimiento, estaba incorrecta", dijo Wade. "Le dijimos a Miguel que vamos a hacer los cambios necesarios y ya se envió toda la información. Pero la realidad es que está jugando como si tuviera 25".

Fotos de Miguel Tejada

Major League Baseball star Miguel Tejada, center, attends the burial of his brother Freddy Tejada in Bani, west of Santo Domingo, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008. Freddy Tejada was killed in a traffic accident Tuesday, the shortstop's Dominican winter league team said. In Washington the U.S. Congress asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Miguel Tejada lied to House committee staff when he was interviewed in 2005 in connection with the Rafael Palmeiro steroids case. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
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Major League Baseball star Miguel Tejada, center, attends the burial of his brother Freddy Tejada in Bani, west of Santo Domingo, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008. Freddy Tejada was killed in a traffic accident Tuesday, the shortstop's Dominican winter league team said. In Washington the U.S. Congress asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Miguel Tejada lied to House committee staff when he was interviewed in 2005 in connection with the Rafael Palmeiro steroids case. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
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Major League Baseball star Miguel Tejada, left, attends the burial of his brother Freddy Tejada in Bani, west of Santo Domingo, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008. Freddy Tejada was killed in a traffic accident Tuesday, the shortstop's Dominican winter league team said. In Washington the U.S. Congress asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Miguel Tejada lied to House committee staff when he was interviewed in 2005 in connection with the Rafael Palmeiro steroids case. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
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** FILE ** Baltimore Orioles' Miguel Tejada (10) is congratulated by Rafael Palmeiro, left, after hitting a solo home run in the ninth inning in Detroit, in this May 29, 2004 file photo. Congress is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether former AL MVP Miguel Tejada lied in 2005 to committee staff when he was interviewed in connection with the Rafael Palmeiro steroids case, The Associated Press learned Tuesday Jan. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
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** FILE ** Baltimore Orioles' Miguel Tejada tosses his bat after striking out to end the sixth inning of their American League baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, in this Sept. 15, 2007 file photo. Congress is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether former AL MVP Miguel Tejada lied in 2005 to committee staff when he was interviewed in connection with the Rafael Palmeiro steroids case, The Associated Press learned Tuesday Jan. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/J.P. Moczulski, CP)
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** FILE ** Baltimore Orioles Miguel Tejada pauses as he answers questions regarding Rafael Palmeiro from reporters before the start of game against the Boston Red Sox in Baltimore, in this Sept. 23, 2005 file photo. Congress is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether former AL MVP Miguel Tejada lied in 2005 to committee staff when he was interviewed in connection with the Rafael Palmeiro steroids case, The Associated Press learned Tuesday Jan. 15, 2008.(AP Photo/Gail Burton, file)
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** FILE ** Baltimore Orioles' Miguel Tejada reacts after striking out looking in the first inning of the Orioles 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees in their baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, in this Sept. 19, 2007 file photo. Congress is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether former AL MVP Miguel Tejada lied in 2005 to committee staff when he was interviewed in connection with the Rafael Palmeiro steroids case, The Associated Press learned Tuesday Jan. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, file)
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** FILE * Baltimore Orioles infielder Miguel Tejada talks with reporters after practice at baseball spring training in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in this Feb. 24, 2007 file photo. Congress is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether former AL MVP Miguel Tejada lied in 2005 to committee staff when he was interviewed in connection with the Rafael Palmeiro steroids case, The Associated Press learned Tuesday Jan. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, file)
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NEW YORK - DECEMBER 13: (L-R) Major League Baseball (MLB) President Bob DuPuy, MLB executive vice president Robert Manfred and Dr. Gary Green listen as Commissioner Bud Selig speaks at a news conference December 13, 2007 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. The release of the report comes after a 20-month investigation by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell who found that some of the sport's biggest stars - Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Miguel Tejada and Andy Pettitte among them - used performance-enhancing drugs. The report names 88 players in all, both past and present. (Photo by Jonathan Fickies/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK - DECEMBER 13: Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig (C) leaves a news conference after the release of the Mitchell Report on steroid use in baseball December 13, 2007 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. The release of the report comes after a 20-month investigation by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell who found that some of the sport's biggest stars - Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Miguel Tejada and Andy Pettitte among them - used performance-enhancing drugs. The report names 88 players in all, both past and present. (Photo by Jonathan Fickies/Getty Images)
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Spanish tennis player Oscar Hernandez reacts during his mens singles match against Czech opponent Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 17 January 2008. Berdych won 6-2. 6-1. 6-3. AFP PHOTO/Paul CROCKK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)
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A spectator shows his support for Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych during his mens singles match against Spanish opponent Oscar Hernandez at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 17 January 2008. Berdych won 6-2. 6-1. 6-3. AFP PHOTO/Paul CROCK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Spectators cheer for Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych during his mens singles match against Spanish opponent Oscar Hernandez at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 17 January 2008. Berdych won 6-2. 6-1. 6-3. AFP PHOTO/Paul CROCK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych serves during his mens singles match against Spanish opponent Oscar Hernandez at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 17 January 2008. Berdych won 6-2. 6-1. 6-3. AFP PHOTO/Paul CROCK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych plays a return stroke during his mens singles match against Spanish opponent Oscar Hernandez at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 17 January 2008. Berdych won 6-2. 6-1. 6-3. AFP PHOTO/Paul CROCK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych plays a return stroke during his mens singles match against Spanish opponent Oscar Hernandez at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 17 January 2008. Berdych won 6-2. 6-1. 6-3. AFP PHOTO/Paul CROCK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych plays a return stroke during his mens singles match against Spanish opponent Oscar Hernandez at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 17 January 2008. Berdych won 6-2. 6-1. 6-3. AFP PHOTO/Paul CROCK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)
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Czech tennis player Tomas Berdych gestures as he celebrates victory in his mens singles match against Spanish opponent Oscar Hernandez at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, 17 January 2008. Berdych won 6-2. 6-1. 6-3. AFP PHOTO/Paul CROCK (Photo credit should read PAUL CROCK/AFP/Getty Images)
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El ex jugador más valioso de la Liga Americana fue fichado por Juan Marichal, aunque Tejada aseguró que el ex pitcher dominicano y miembro del Salón de la Fama no sabía de su mentira.

Wade y Tejada dijeron que la tarjeta verde, la licencia de conducir y otros documentos legales en Estados Unidos reflejan su verdadera fecha de nacimiento, el 25 de mayo de 1974.

La guía de prensa de los Astros dice que Tejada nació el 25 de mayo de 1976.

"Es algo que sucedió cuando firmé mi primer contrato", indicó Tejada. "No tenía intención de hacer algo malo. Y ahora me siento como si tuviera 25 años, quizás más joven. Siento las piernas más fuertes que antes. Me siento muy bien, tengo mucha energía".

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2008-02-01 17:21:00