Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira talked about everything from his college days at Georgia Tech to Babe Ruth on Friday night at the Annual First Pitch Banquet, which supports the TCU baseball program. Teixeira answered questions in front of a group of about 300 current Horned Frog players, alumni and community members at Ridglea Country Club in Fort Worth.

Teixeira, who head coach Jim Schlossanagle called “an ambassador for college baseball,” said he never regretted his decision to go to college instead of straight to the Major Leagues.

“Honestly if you lose those years of college, you’ll never get them back,” Teixeira said. “I didn’t want to be 30 years old, and have a couple years, maybe in the majors, or in the minors and have to go back to college and be the old guy in class and at fraternity parties. It would be a little weird.”

There is more enthusiasm and unity in college baseball because there are fewer games, so each one means more to the squad, Teixeira said.

“Every game is important, said Teixeira, now about to start his fifth season as a Ranger. “I remember as a college player, the dugout was lined with our guys. I mean, every single game, they were yelling, every single home run, they ran out and started high-fiving. In big league baseball, don’t get me wrong, it’s a lot of fun, but the excitement is not there.”

As a new Major Leaguer, Teixeira said he got nervous before going to a new facility for the first time. Teixeira said he breaks the stadiums into “old” and “new” categories. He said the best new park was Seattle’s Safeco Field, while his winner for “old” park, is Yankee Stadium and its storied cast of players.

“Walking through Monument Park and seeing Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig, it really takes your breath away,” Teixeira said.

Teixeira said he still remembers running around the bases for his first home run in Yankee Stadium saying, “Oh my gosh, I’ve just hit a home run in Yankee Stadium.”

If given the choice to face any pitcher in history, Teixeira said, his pick would be Babe Ruth.

“A lot of guys can say, ‘I saw Babe Ruth play. I saw him hit,'” Teixeira said. “He was a darn good pitcher, too. I want to talk to the guys who hit home runs off him as a hitter. They can say, “‘You might have been the best hitter of all time, but I hit a homer off you.'”

As a young kid with big dreams, Teixeira said he’d hit and field balls “until my hands bled,” and he would advise other hopefuls to maintain their passion for the game.

Awarded his second straight Gold Glove in November, Teixeira said he realizes he is in select company and will never let up on his defense.

“That’s really important to me,” the 26-year-old said. “I take pride in my defense. To win multiple Gold Gloves is very special to me.”

Teixeira said he thinks first-time manager Ron Washington’s enthusiasm about the team and its improvements is an excellent way to begin the season.

“You never want to go into a season saying, ‘We’ll win a few games,'” Teixeira said. “You want to go into the season saying, ‘Our goal is the World Series, our goal is to win as many games as possible.'”

Teixeira, who has visited with the TCU baseball team three years in a row, said he is a Horned Frog supporter through and through in all sports.

“I am a big TCU supporter,” he said. “I love to watch their football games on TV. I check their baseball box scores, and I just wish the best for Coach Schlossnagle and the team.