Tejada bests Rodriguez in voting for MVP award

The A's shortstop got 21 of 28 first-place votes to win the honor.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Miguel Tejada played it safe, telling himself that Alex Rodriguez most certainly would win the American League MVP award.
In reality, the Oakland Athletics shortstop knew he had a pretty decent chance himself, and he was nervous for a week leading up to the announcement. He struggled to eat for two days.
On Tuesday, though, he ate in high company.
Tejada beat out A-Rod for the award, then was honored by the president of the Dominican Republic -- in his palace, with about 1,000 others there to join the celebration.
"I think this week, the whole month will be a happy time for me," Tejada said.
Much support
The 26-year-old Tejada received 21 of 28 first-place votes and 356 points from a panel of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Finally recognized alongside A-Rod, Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Jeter as one of baseball's top shortstops, Tejada now has one more MVP award than those three players combined.
"I got surprised," Tejada said. "[Rodriguez] had a monster year. I've been thinking the whole way that he's going to win the MVP."
Playing on a winning team -- not just putting up monstrous numbers -- won out. A-Rod was second with five first-place votes and 254 points. He led the major leagues in home runs and RBIs but played for the last-place Texas Rangers.
Good numbers
Tejada hit a career-high .308 with 34 homers and 131 RBIs, while Rodriguez batted .300 with 57 homers and 142 RBIs. Tejada led the A's to the AL West title and an amazing 20-game winning streak in which he had two game-winning hits. Oakland won 103 games, the team's second season with more than 100 wins.
"I showed the world that I can play baseball," Tejada said.
He's come so far, too.
The most openly emotional and theatrical member of the A's, Tejada comes from a tough background.
He grew up poor and hungry in Bani, Dominican Republic.
He was malnourished at birth, and started shining shoes for extra change as a young boy. His family lost everything due to Hurricane David in the summer of 1979, leaving them homeless, and they later landed in a crowded refugee camp.
Game helped him
But baseball saved Tejada.
"I never thought I would be the player I am right now," he said.
A's fans picked him as the AL's best long ago, chanting "M-V-P! M-V-P!" when he came to the plate.
"It's exciting for the A's, but it's probably twice as exciting for Miguel," new manager Ken Macha said. "If you looked at him right now you'd probably see that smile on his face that he has when he's feeling good. It's probably the same as when he got picked for the All-Star game."
New York Yankees second baseman Alfonso Soriano got the remaining two first-place votes and was third with 234 points, followed by Anaheim outfielder Garret Anderson (184) and Yankees slugger Jason Giambi (162).