Mark Teixeira will reportedly call it quits after the 2016 season which brings his best moments with the New York Yankees to light.
Looks like Mark Teixeira has canceled his phone bill and will no longer be sending his famous “Teix Messages” by the time 2016 reaches its conclusion.
The New York Yankees first baseman is currently in the midst of a disappointing conclusion to the final year of an eight-year, $180-million contract signed prior to the 2009 season. He owns a slash line of .198/.287/.340 with a mere 10 home runs in 77 games.
However, Teixeira had an extraordinary impact during his first few seasons with the Bombers that should not be overshadowed by a .225 batting average over his last three seasons in the Bronx.
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In the year he inked the deal, he went on to lead the American League in home runs and runs batted in while serving as a cornerstone to the Yankees’ 27 World Championship.
He ranks 55 on Major League Baseball’s All-Time home runs list and 17 on the Yankees’ home run list with 201 long balls. He has had some big hits, big plays, and great moments while in pinstripes.
So, without further adieu, let’s take a look at the best moments that came from the three-time All-Star Mark Teixeira since coming to New York.
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5. July 3, 2016: Tex Sends 400th ‘Teix Message’
Yes, we all know this year has gone completely south for the switch-hitter but there is one major highlight that cracks this list.
Just over a month ago at Petco Park in San Diego, Teixeira connected for a solo home run number 400.
With that, he joined only Mickey Mantle (536), Eddie Murray (504), Chipper Jones (468) and former teammate Carlos Beltran as the only switch-hitters to join the 400-homer club.
NEXT: Moment #4
4. August 2, 2011: Mark Makes Switch-Hitting History
On this day just over five years ago, Teixeira launched two home runs – one from each side of the plate – for the 12th time in his career, breaking a three-way tie with Chili Davis and Eddie Murray for the most all-time.
That number may seem trivial in itself, but when you realize it broke a tie with Chili Davis and Hall of Famer/idol Eddie Murray for the most all-time, it becomes an unbelievable plateau to reach.
His first home run, which can be seen above, was number 30 on the year which was reached for the eighth time in a row, including each of his first three with the Yankees.
NEXT: Moment #3
3. May 8, 2010: Mark Joins Lou Gehrig On Exclusive List
On May 8, 2010, Teixeira became the second Yankees player in franchise history to hit three home runs in a single game against their arch-rivals, the Boston Red Sox.
His homers came off Clay Bucholz in the fifth, Ramon Ramirez in the seventh, and Jonathan Van Every in the ninth for the trio of dingers.
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The feat put him in the same sentence as legend Lou Gehrig, who accomplished the very same achievement on June 23, 1927.
In that same year, Teixeira won the American League Gold Glove Award for being the best defensive first baseman in the league, an award he won five times throughout his 15-year tenure in the bigs.
NEXT: Moment #2
2. The Comeback Season (2015)
No, this is not a moment, in particular, but Teixeira’s resiliency and ability to bounce back into an MVP-type season in 2015.
Entering camp, the first baseman received tons of negativity with regards to his expected production thanks to injury-plagued seasons which served as a prequel to this highly productive year.
Teixeira slugged 31 home runs and drove in 79 runs in 111 games before a broken leg while being one of the major pieces to the Yankees team that snapped a two-year playoff-less streak.
It also included clutch home runs, insane plays at first, and the professionalism we have grown to know since he has joined the team.
Top Mark Teixeira Moment
1. October 9, 2009: Teixeira Wins Game 2 For The Yankees
Do not be surprised that this is number one. You could probably see this from a mile away. Nevertheless, this moment in Teixeira’s career comes out as the best during his time in the Bronx.
Preceding the playoffs, Mark finished second in the AL MVP award voting by leading the league – with Carlos Pena – with 39 home runs. Despite a .180 overall postseason batting average and .136 in the World Series, he may have had the biggest hit.
As he said in his emotional retirement presser, its everyone’s dream to smack a walk-off home run in the postseason. In Game 2 of the 2009 ALDS against the Twins, Tex did just that in the bottom of the 11th inning.
The score was tied at two, thanks to Alex Rodriguez’s game-tying shot, but that knotted up contest was short-lived. Tex lined one that hit off the top of the left field wall to give his team a 2-0 lead in the series.
They would go on to win the series along with the World Series — still his only ring of his career.