Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro
Rafael Palmeiro Corralesis 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, Texas Rangers, and the Baltimore Orioles. 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...
NationalityCuban
ProfessionAthlete
Date of Birth24 September 1964
CountryCuba
Staying here and helping this team get back to .500 is a possibility, and it would be a great thing if we were able to do that, ... I want to help them do that, and, in the meantime, hopefully work something out so I could finish my career here.
You set your goals to a point where they're attainable, but far enough away that you have to really go get them. And every year I push my goals a little bit farther away, and every year I work a little bit harder to get them.
Nobody is more frustrated and disappointed in me than I am. Throughout my adult life, I have worked very hard on and off the field to live my life in an honorable way. All my accomplishments are now tainted, and many people have been hurt,
My dad was the force behind me early on. He was just infatuated with baseball. He was the one that basically taught me how to play the game. He gave a lot of his time working out with me, practicing and taking me to a lot of different games. It was hard work between both of us.
Hard work is the main thing-hard work and dedication. And I think a great part of it is goal setting. You set your goals to a point where they're attainable, but far enough away that you have to really go get them. And every year I push my goals a little bit farther away, and every year I work a little bit harder to get them. Every goal that I've set, I've been able to achieve. That's been very fulfilling.
I was careless, ... I'm sorry that I caused all that pain and anguish to my teammates, the Orioles, my fans and my family.
I respect Frank Robinson. He's entitled to his opinion, but I'm not going to comment on that.
Someone needs to be there for him. I know he doesn't have family here. So some of us need to do whatever we can to help.
Let me start by telling you this. I have never used steroids. Period.
I don't see myself as someone that brings a lot of luggage.
He doesn't have a family with him. He's not married. He doesn't have kids,
I don't, but if he'd swing the bat, he would be. It's not different than anyone else.
To snap my fingers and let it go away. Even if it takes the 3,000th hit with it, just let it all go away.
Maybe it wasn't the right thing to do. I've never been in a situation where I'm getting booed so badly, and I just really don't know how to handle it.