Last updated on: 11/5/2008 | Author: ProCon.org

Raphael Palmeiro Biography

Title:
Former Major League Baseball (MLB) Player
Position:
Con to the question "Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs Be Accepted in Sports?"
Reasoning:

“Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids, period. I do not know how to say it any more clearly than that. Never. The reference to me in Mr. [Jose] Canseco’s book is absolutely false. I am against the use of steroids. I don’t think athletes should
use steroids, and I don’t think our kids should use them.”

Statement for the hearing on “Restoring Faith in America’s Pastime: Evaluating Major League Baseball’s Efforts to Eradicate Steroid Use,” before the US House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, Mar. 17, 2005
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Major League Baseball Player, First Baseman, 1986-Aug. 2005, Chicago Cubs, 1986-1988, Texas Rangers, 1989-1993, Baltimore Orioles, 1994-1998, Texas Rangers, 1999-2003, Baltimore Orioles, 2004-2005
  • Suspended by Major League Baseball after testing positive for performance-enhancing steroid, Aug. 2005
  • Testified before the US House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform for the hearing on “Restoring Faith in America’s Pastime: Evaluating Major League Baseball’s Efforts to Eradicate Steroid Use,” Mar. 17, 2005
  • Hit his 500th career homerun against the Cleveland Indians, May 11, 2003
  • Recipient, three American League Gold Glove Awards as First Baseman, 1997-1999
  • Named to three American League All Star Teams, 1991, 1998, and 1999
  • National League All Star Team, 1988
  • Three-time All-America, Mississippi State University
Education:
  • Attended Mississippi State University (MSU)
  • Jackson Senior High School, Miami, FL, 1982
Other:
  • Donated to the $3.8 million construction of the Palmeiro Center, MSU
  • Mentioned in Jose Canseco’s 2005 book Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits, and How Baseball Got Big as having used steroids
  • The only MLB player, along with Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, and Eddie Murray, with at least 3,000 hits and 500 home runs in a career
  • Born on Sep. 24, 1964 in Havana, Cuba