Feb. 11, 2009
Complete Transcript from Feb. 11 press conference
ATLANTA – Former Georgia Tech slugger Mark Teixeira is lending a financial hand to his alma mater’s baseball program.
Teixeira, the national college player of the year in 2000 and the national freshman of the year in 1999, has created the Mark C. Teixeira Athletic Scholarship Fund at Georgia Tech. The New York Yankees first baseman committed $500,000 to Georgia Tech, which will cover the cost of a Yellow Jacket baseball scholarship annually.
“Mark has always been a guy that has donated money to the program, and has done so since the day he signed,” Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall said. “The fact that he is going to endow a scholarship in his name for Georgia Tech baseball just shows the level of commitment and pride that he takes, not only in our program, but in Georgia Tech. We are very thankful that he has done this and appreciate the support that he has given our program throughout the years.”
Teixeira played for Hall on the Flats from 1999 to 2001, earning a long list of honors including the 2000 Dick Howser Trophy (National Player of the Year), 2000 ACC Player of the Year, 2000 first team All-American, 1999 National Freshman of the Year, 1999 ACC Rookie of the Year and 1999 second team All-American. He batted .409 during his three-year career while slugging 36 home runs and 165 RBI.
“Georgia Tech has always been a special place for me, and I have always welcomed the opportunity to help out the baseball program in any way possible,” Teixeira said. “I was very blessed to receive a scholarship.”
Teixeira was picked No. 5 overall in the 2001 MLB draft by the Texas Rangers. He made his major league debut in 2003, finishing fourth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Teixeira has since won two Silver Slugger awards in addition to a pair of Gold Gloves and was named to the AL All-Star team in 2005. He currently plays for the New York Yankees.
Notes:
For more information on Teixeira, visit the New York Yankees site at http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=407893
For more information on Georgia Tech’s Alexander-Tharpe Fund, the fundraising arm of Yellow Jacket athletics, go to: http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/ot/alexander/atfund.html
–RamblinWreck.com–
