Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA ó Houston Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada told the team heís actually 33, two years older than heís listed in the clubís media guide and other baseball records, after being shown a copy of his birth certificate by ESPN.
Saying he wanted to rid himself of a burden, Tejada approached general manager Ed Wade and asked to correct misinformation he gave the Oakland Athletics when he signed in 1993.
iI was a poor kid,î Tejada said before the Astros finished a three-game series against the Phillies on Thursday. iI wanted to sign a professional contract, and that was the only way to do it. I didnít want or mean to do anything wrong. At the time, I was two years older than they thought.î
Tejada was actually 19 when he signed out of poverty-stricken Bani, Dominican Republic. At the time, he says, a local coach encouraged him to say he was 17.
ESPN said it showed Tejada a copy of his birth certificate from the Dominican Republic during an interview Tuesday. Tejada said at the start of the interview that he was born in 1976. After he was shown the birth certificate, he walked out of the interview, saying: iRight now I just play baseball broí. I just play baseball, and I donít have to be here to talk about this.î
CURSED JERSEY
BOSTON ó A secretly buried jersey that was supposed to start a curse has instead become a goodwill gesture between longtime baseball rivals.
The official charity of the Red Sox, the Jimmy Fund, began an eBay auction Thursday for the David Ortiz jersey that was buried under the New York Yankeesí new stadium by a Boston fan hoping to create a hex.
All proceeds will go to the childrenís cancer charity, which is affiliated with Bostonís Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The jersey was recovered Sunday, and the Yankees sent it to the Jimmy Fund.
The auction lasts for one week. The starting bid was $500 for the No. 34 jersey, a brand new jersey and two seats to a Red Sox game.
YANKEES
NEW YORK ó Joba Chamberlainís father is making progress while remaining hospitalized, the New York Yankees said.
Chamberlain missed his fourth consecutive game Thursday night to be with his stricken father in Nebraska. The hard-throwing reliever left the team Monday and was placed on the bereavement list, a day after Harlan Chamberlain collapsed at home.
New York manager Joe Girardi said he spoke to Chamberlain on the phone Thursday.
iHis dad is continuing to do better. He was up to rehab twice today,î Girardi said. iThereís still no timetable, but there is progress and thatís a good thing.î
Also on Thursday, catcher Jorge Posada said his ailing throwing arm felt better and he hopes to be behind the plate Saturday in Baltimore. Posada hasnít started at catcher since April 8.
ATHLETICS
FREMONT, Calif. ó The Oakland Athleticsí expected move to Fremont will probably be delayed at least until 2012, a year later than the team hoped.
Aís co-owner Keith Wolff said the team could only make the move by 2011 if the city approves the environmental impact report by the end of this year. The teamís proposal includes a 32,000-seat ballpark, more than 3,000 homes, an elementary school and an upscale shopping center.
The environmental report requires the team to respond to comments from public agencies and citizens and is expected to take 14 to 18 months to complete.
INDIANS
CLEVELAND ó While concerned about Clevelandís slow start, itís too early for general manager Mark Shapiro to contemplate changes.
iAfter 15 games weíre not going to look at anything and say it necessitates action,î he said Thursday. iIt necessitates concern, but not action, from a (roster) move standpoint.î
Manager Eric Wedge, increasingly unhappy with his teamís performance, held a meeting with players before Thursdayís game against Detroit.
iItís team business,î said Wedge, declining to give details.
RANGERS
TORONTO ó The Texas Rangers placed outfielder Marlon Byrd on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left knee and purchased the contract of infielder German Duran from Oklahoma.
BLUE JAYS
TORONTO ó The Blue Jays recalled pitcher David Purcey from Triple-A Syracuse and placed right-hander Brian Wolfe on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right triceps.