Thursday, October 28, 2004

Where are they now - Mark Teixeira

Getting honored by his high school hall-of-fame, that's where.

Although Mark Teixeira didn't grow up in Catonsville, the Texas Rangers' first basemen certainly made an impression on Hannan, who did grow up in the area.

Hannan recalled how Teixeira stole the show the first time they got together inside for a baseball meeting.

"Tex has always been larger than life, but he's also been one of us. He's Mark and he'll always be Tex," Hannan said.

Teixeira, a Severna Park native, was Maryland Player of the Year in 1997 and '98.

He was a High School all-American and then a College All-American at Georgia Tech where he also earned College Player of the Year.

At Texas this past season he batted .281 with 38 home runs and 112 RBIs. In August, the 24-year old hit for the cycle.

Teixeira now lives in Texas and remains close friends with Hannan, who also lives in Texas.

"The one thing Tommy and I always had was respect for what we did," Teixeira said.