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
I've always known to come to the ballpark and play and be in the lineup. I've never missed time because of injuries. I've had days off, where I knew coming in that I wasn't going to play, but I've never sat out 10 days in a row during the season. That was totally new to me. To play a whole career and not know what that's like, that's unusual. Now I'm dealing with it as best I can.
I'm not 100 percent, but I feel good enough to go out there and play and be productive,
I'm not sure. I did not set it up. I have never done a polygraph test in my life. I didn't know what to expect. I was just there to answer the questions that they put in front of me.
I'm not sure. I did not set it up.
I'm not exactly sure how it got into my body, ... I suspected it was the B-12.
I knew about him from college. I knew he'd be a good pitcher. He's going to be a dominant guy in this game.
I have never used steroids. Period. I do not know how to say it any more clearly than that.
I'll be back. I am not sure how long, but I'll be back.
Oh, man, I'm looking forward to those things. I'm looking forward to days where I can do things that I've been wanting to do that happen in the summertime. Be with my family and kids in the summer. Vacations. All that stuff, before my kids go off to college.
I want to express my gratitude to the committee for the fairness and professionalism with which they conducted their business. I have never intentionally taken steroids and I strongly oppose the illegal use of steroids by athletes or anyone else.
It's been hard. It hasn't been easy. I've survived it so far though, ... I'm dealing with it on a daily basis.
At this rate, I'm going to play first base on Tuesday. I can't wait around anymore. When I go back out there, I want to be able to play first.
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.
At the time, I thought that was the best I could do. Maybe it wasn't the right thing to do but I did what I had to do at the time.