After growing up in Maryland, playing college baseball at Georgia Tech and in the major leagues for the Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira has developed a fondness for various musical genres.
Here's what he had to say recently about his musical tastes.
The Life: Last year your at-bat walk up music was Twisted Sister's "I Wanna Rock." Are you sticking with that this year?
Teixeira: I have "I Wanna Rock" and also "Alive" from Pearl Jam. I go back and forth every at-bat. So I mix it up; I think the fans like it to get mixed up a little bit, so I'll give them what they want, and most people like that kind of loud, get-you-going type of music. And we're at a baseball game, we're not at a tennis match, so I like it loud and fun.
The Life: Have you stuck with those for a few years?
Teixeira: Just this year I've added "Alive." I've had "All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix for a couple years. And so I switch them up every few years.
The Life: So what have you been listening to on your iPod lately?
Teixeira: I listen to everything. I love all kinds of music. When I'm working out, it's a lot of hip-hop and hard rock. And then when I'm at home, when I'm just kind of relaxing, having dinner, it's more of Jack Johnson type stuff. If it's just my wife and I, it'll be Frank Sinatra. But in the car I love country, so I listen to all music.
The Life: So what hip-hop and hard rock acts would you be listening to?
Teixeira: Well, this last year being in New York, it's hard not to be a fan of Jay-Z. I started listening to him in high school and college, and after he put out "Empire State of Mind" that caught on pretty nice around here. We all enjoyed that song. So I'd say Jay-Z is probably one of my favorite hip-hop [artists].
And then when you go into the hard rock … Metallica, I like Beastie Boys, stuff like that.