Mark Teixeira is a solid first baseman both with the bat and with the glove. He is six feet three inches tall and weighs 225 pounds. Before playing with the Yankees, Teixeira played with the Texas Rangers, the Atlanta Braves, and part of a season with the Los Angeles Angels. With the Rangers, Teixeira started out as a third baseman. He was later transitioned to first base.

Mark Teixeira made his Major League debut in 2003 with the Rangers. That year, he hit 26 home runs and drove in 84 RBIs. From that rookie year in 2003 to 2012, Mark would hit more than twenty home runs and 80 RBIs. Teixeira’s best year was in 2005. He played every single game and played them well. He crushed a career high 43 home runs, drove in a career high 144 RBIs, got a career high 194 hits, hit 41 doubles, scored 112 runs, and batted .301. He would be named to the All Star game where he would hit a homer and drive in two RBIs. He also won the Rawlings Gold Glove award for first basemen, too. He had a similar year in 2006. He played the full 162 games again but didn’t do as much. He set a career high in doubles and hit 33 home runs. In 2007 and 2008, Teixeira played for three different team. Despite the constant move, Teixeira still posted great numbers. In the two years combined, he hit 63 home runs and drove in 226 RBIs. But some of Mark’s best years were still on hold.

Mark Teixeira signed with the New York Yankees in the offseason of 2008. Teixeira had just come off a season where he set a career high for batting average with a .308 mark. He got off to a big start with New York. In his first season in pinstripes, Teixeira tied the American League lead for home runs with 39. He also doubled 43 times and drove in 122 RBIs. He would get to go to the All Star Game for the second time in his career. He helped get New York to the postseason where they would later win the World Series. In 2010, Mark hit 33 homers and scored a league leading 113 runs. 2011 was another solid year for him because he hit his usual 39 home runs and 100+ RBIs. 2012 was different for Mark. From 2004 to 2011, Teixeira never had less than 100 runs batted in or less than 30 home runs. He had posted solid numbers until 2012. In 2012, Teixeira was troubled with injuries and only got to play 123 games. He hit and career low in home runs with 24 and tied a career worst with 84 RBIs. The highlight of that season was that he picked up another Gold Glove award. 2013 and 2014 were injury seasons, only hitting a combined 25 home runs. He found his stroke again in 2015, where in only 111 games, hit 31 home runs and drove in 79 RBIs. He also collected 22 doubles, a .548 slugging percentage, and a trip to the All Star Game in Cincinnati.

Mark Teixeira’s career has been filled with many great milestones. He is one of the only switch hitters to get 400 career home runs. He has drawn comparisons to the great Mickey Mantle. Teixeira has also won five Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, been elected to three All Star Games, and won a World Series ring with the New York Yankees. As one can see, Mark Teixeira is one of the greatest switch hitters of all time.