Washington ? Dressed in a defendant’s dark suit instead of an All-Star’s crisp uniform, Miguel Tejada became the first high-profile player convicted of a crime stemming from baseball’s steroids era, pleading guilty Wednesday in federal court to misleading Congress about the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Under a plea agreement with the same prosecutors pursuing a perjury indictment against Roger Clemens, Tejada admitted he withheld information about an ex-teammate’s use of steroids and human growth hormone when questioned by a House committee’s investigators in August 2005.

The misdemeanor can lead to as much as a year in jail. Federal guidelines call for a lighter sentence, and it is possible Tejada will receive probation only. Federal Magistrate Judge Alan Kay set sentencing for March 26.