Rafael Palmeiro

Palmeiro with the Texas Rangers in 2003

First baseman

Born: September 24, 1964 (age 52)
Havana, Cuba

Batted: Left

Threw: Left

MLB debut

September 8, 1986, for the Chicago Cubs

Last MLB appearance

August 30, 2005, for the Baltimore Orioles

MLB statistics

.288

3,020

569

1,835

Teams

Career highlights and awards

4× All-Star (1988, 1991, 1998, 1999)
3× Gold Glove Award (1997–1999)
2× Silver Slugger Award (1998, 1999)

Rafael Palmeiro Corrales (born September 24, 1964) is a retired Cuban American Major League Baseball first baseman and left fielder. Palmeiro was an All-American at Mississippi State University before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1985. He played for the Cubs (1986–1988), Texas Rangers (1989–1993, 1999–2003), and the Baltimore Orioles (1994–1998, 2004–2005). He was named to the MLB All-Star Team four times, and won the Gold Glove three times. He is a member of the 500 home run club and the 3,000 hit club and is one of only five players in history to be a member of both.

Days after recording his 3,000th hit, Palmeiro was suspended for testing positive for an anabolic steroid.

Palmeiro was born in Havana, Cuba and graduated from Miami Jackson High School in Miami, Florida. Although he was drafted by the New York Mets in the 8th round of the 1982 draft, he did not sign.

Palmeiro was recruited by Ron Polk and enrolled at Mississippi State University, where he played college baseball for the Bulldogs in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He is the only SEC player to have ever won the triple crown. A teammate of Will Clark, the two were known as "Thunder and Lightning". Clark and Palmeiro were known to dislike each other, dating back to their time at Mississippi State. On June 11, 1985, Palmeiro signed with the Chicago Cubs as the 22nd pick in the 1st round of the 1985 draft.

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