Rafael Palmeiro
First Baseman · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1986-2005)
Rafael Palmeiro was a first baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1986 to 2005 for the Chicago Cubs, the Texas Rangers, and the Baltimore Orioles, a span of 20 seasons. In 2,831 career games, he hit .288 with 3,020 hits, 569 home runs, and 1,835 RBI. Rafael Palmeiro was a 4-time All-Star, a 3-time Gold Glove, and a 2-time Silver Slugger. His career PIV — Baseball Data Hub's era-adjusted measure of offensive impact — is 42,814.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- First Baseman
- Bats / Throws
- L / L
- Height / Weight
- 6'0" / 180 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1986-09-08
- Last Game
- 2005-08-30
- Awards
- 4× All-Star · 3× Gold Glove · 2× Silver Slugger
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,831 | 10,472 | 1,663 | 3,020 | 585 | 38 | 569 | 1,835 | 97 | 1,353 | 1,348 | .288 | .371 | .515 | .885 | 42,814 |
Career AVG .288 vs. league average .263 across their career seasons — +9.5% above league average.
Career OBP .371 vs. league average .332 across their career seasons — +11.6% above league average.
Career SLG .515 vs. league average .411 across their career seasons — +25.1% above league average.
Career OPS .885 vs. league average .743 across their career seasons — +19.1% above league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | CHN | NL | 22 | 73 | 9 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 6 | .247 | .257 (-4%) | .325 (-10%) | .395 (+7%) | .720 (avg) | -14.7 |
| 1987 | CHN | NL | 84 | 221 | 32 | 61 | 15 | 1 | 14 | 30 | 2 | 20 | 26 | .276 | .262 (+5%) | .331 (+1%) | .415 (+31%) | .746 (+18%) | 667.9 |
| 1988 | CHN | NL | 152 | 580 | 75 | 178 | 41 | 5 | 8 | 53 | 12 | 38 | 34 | .307 | .254 (+21%) | .317 (+10%) | .377 (+15%) | .695 (+13%) | 1357.1 |
| 1989 | TEX | AL | 156 | 559 | 76 | 154 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 64 | 4 | 63 | 48 | .275 | .254 (+8%) | .319 (+11%) | .375 (avg) | .694 (+5%) | 732.2 |
| 1990 | TEX | AL | 154 | 598 | 72 | 191 | 35 | 6 | 14 | 89 | 3 | 40 | 59 | .319 | .257 (+24%) | .324 (+11%) | .385 (+21%) | .710 (+17%) | 1861.3 |
| 1991 | TEX | AL | 159 | 631 | 115 | 203 | 49 | 3 | 26 | 88 | 4 | 68 | 72 | .322 | .255 (+26%) | .323 (+20%) | .384 (+38%) | .708 (+30%) | 3840.8 |
| 1992 | TEX | AL | 159 | 608 | 84 | 163 | 27 | 4 | 22 | 85 | 2 | 72 | 83 | .268 | .255 (+5%) | .322 (+9%) | .377 (+15%) | .699 (+12%) | 1615.5 |
| 1993 | TEX | AL | 160 | 597 | 124 | 176 | 40 | 2 | 37 | 105 | 22 | 73 | 85 | .295 | .265 (+11%) | .332 (+12%) | .403 (+37%) | .735 (+26%) | 3164.7 |
| 1994 | BAL | AL | 111 | 436 | 82 | 139 | 32 | 0 | 23 | 76 | 7 | 54 | 63 | .319 | .269 (+18%) | .338 (+16%) | .424 (+30%) | .763 (+23%) | 2081.9 |
| 1995 | BAL | AL | 143 | 554 | 89 | 172 | 30 | 2 | 39 | 104 | 3 | 62 | 65 | .310 | .266 (+16%) | .337 (+12%) | .417 (+40%) | .755 (+28%) | 3123.7 |
| 1996 | BAL | AL | 162 | 626 | 110 | 181 | 40 | 2 | 39 | 142 | 8 | 95 | 96 | .289 | .269 (+7%) | .340 (+12%) | .426 (+28%) | .767 (+21%) | 2906.1 |
| 1997 | BAL | AL | 158 | 614 | 95 | 156 | 24 | 2 | 38 | 110 | 5 | 67 | 109 | .254 | .266 (-5%) | .336 (-2%) | .419 (+16%) | .756 (+8%) | 927.9 |
| 1998 | BAL | AL | 162 | 619 | 98 | 183 | 36 | 1 | 43 | 121 | 11 | 79 | 91 | .296 | .266 (+11%) | .335 (+13%) | .420 (+35%) | .755 (+25%) | 3392.1 |
| 1999 | TEX | AL | 158 | 565 | 96 | 183 | 30 | 1 | 47 | 148 | 2 | 97 | 69 | .324 | .271 (+19%) | .344 (+22%) | .433 (+45%) | .778 (+35%) | 4487.2 |
| 2000 | TEX | AL | 158 | 565 | 102 | 163 | 29 | 3 | 39 | 120 | 2 | 103 | 77 | .288 | .270 (+7%) | .344 (+15%) | .437 (+28%) | .782 (+22%) | 2915.9 |
| 2001 | TEX | AL | 160 | 600 | 98 | 164 | 33 | 0 | 47 | 123 | 1 | 101 | 90 | .273 | .263 (+4%) | .332 (+15%) | .426 (+32%) | .758 (+24%) | 3334.9 |
| 2002 | TEX | AL | 155 | 546 | 99 | 149 | 34 | 0 | 43 | 105 | 2 | 104 | 94 | .273 | .261 (+4%) | .331 (+18%) | .416 (+37%) | .747 (+29%) | 3515.9 |
| 2003 | TEX | AL | 154 | 561 | 92 | 146 | 21 | 2 | 38 | 112 | 2 | 84 | 77 | .260 | .264 (-2%) | .332 (+8%) | .422 (+20%) | .754 (+15%) | 1890.1 |
| 2004 | BAL | AL | 154 | 550 | 68 | 142 | 29 | 0 | 23 | 88 | 2 | 86 | 61 | .258 | .266 (-3%) | .335 (+7%) | .427 (+2%) | .762 (+4%) | 664.5 |
| 2005 | BAL | AL | 110 | 369 | 47 | 98 | 13 | 0 | 18 | 60 | 2 | 43 | 43 | .266 | .264 (avg) | .330 (+3%) | .418 (+7%) | .749 (+5%) | 348.6 |
| Career · 20 seasons | 2,831 | 10,472 | 1,663 | 3,020 | 585 | 38 | 569 | 1,835 | 97 | 1,353 | 1,348 | .288 | — | — | — | — | 42,814 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (2831 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 1424 | 5135 | 866 | 1466 | 311 | 935 | .285 |
| Away | 1407 | 5337 | 797 | 1554 | 258 | 899 | .291 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-08-30 | BAL | TOR | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2005-08-28 | BAL | OAK | L | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2005-08-26 | BAL | OAK | L | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005-08-25 | BAL | LAA | W | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005-08-24 | BAL | LAA | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005-08-16 | BAL | OAK | W | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005-08-14 | BAL | TOR | L | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005-07-31 | BAL | CHW | L | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005-07-30 | BAL | CHW | L | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005-07-29 | BAL | CHW | L | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 2139 | 2095 | 17738 | 1587 | 111 | 1782 |
| OF | 212 | 195 | 390 | 9 | 9 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | CHN | OF | 20 | 18 | 34 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 1987 | CHN | 1B | 18 | 13 | 112 | 8 | 1 | 15 |
| 1987 | CHN | OF | 45 | 34 | 64 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1988 | CHN | 1B | 5 | 3 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1988 | CHN | OF | 147 | 143 | 292 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| 1989 | TEX | 1B | 147 | 142 | 1167 | 119 | 12 | 106 |
| 1990 | TEX | 1B | 146 | 145 | 1215 | 91 | 7 | 123 |
| 1991 | TEX | 1B | 157 | 152 | 1305 | 96 | 12 | 119 |
| 1992 | TEX | 1B | 156 | 154 | 1251 | 143 | 7 | 131 |
| 1993 | TEX | 1B | 160 | 158 | 1388 | 147 | 5 | 133 |
| 1994 | BAL | 1B | 111 | 110 | 959 | 66 | 4 | 87 |
| 1995 | BAL | 1B | 142 | 142 | 1181 | 119 | 4 | 120 |
| 1996 | BAL | 1B | 159 | 159 | 1383 | 119 | 8 | 157 |
| 1997 | BAL | 1B | 155 | 151 | 1304 | 112 | 10 | 124 |
| 1998 | BAL | 1B | 159 | 158 | 1435 | 124 | 9 | 127 |
| 1999 | TEX | 1B | 28 | 28 | 261 | 13 | 1 | 23 |
| 2000 | TEX | 1B | 108 | 107 | 820 | 56 | 4 | 86 |
| 2001 | TEX | 1B | 113 | 113 | 906 | 83 | 8 | 112 |
| 2002 | TEX | 1B | 97 | 95 | 739 | 84 | 5 | 83 |
| 2003 | TEX | 1B | 55 | 55 | 445 | 49 | 2 | 53 |
| 2004 | BAL | 1B | 130 | 128 | 1090 | 95 | 8 | 114 |
| 2005 | BAL | 1B | 93 | 82 | 747 | 58 | 4 | 68 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 2139 |
| Left Field | 209 |
| Center Field | 2 |
| Right Field | 8 |
| Designated Hitter | 431 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1999 | Outstanding DH Award | |
| 1999 | Player of the Month | June |
| 1999 | Player of the Month | August |
| 1999 | Player of the Week | Week of 1999-08-21 |
| 1999 | Silver Slugger | DH |
| 1999 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1999 | TSN Major League Player of the Year | |
| 1998 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1998 | Player of the Month | June |
| 1998 | Silver Slugger | 1B |
| 1998 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
| 1997 | Gold Glove | 1B |
| 1993 | Player of the Month | July |
| 1993 | Player of the Week | Week of 1993-07-03 |
| 1993 | Player of the Week | Week of 1993-07-31 |
| 1992 | Player of the Week | Week of 1992-07-11 |
| 1989 | Player of the Week | Week of 1989-05-26 |
Salary History
Rafael Palmeiro's recorded salaries total $89,295,996 over 19 seasons, 1987 to 2005. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Palmeiro's career ran from 1986 to 2005. No salary is recorded for 1986.
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | BAL | AL | $3,000,000 |
| 2004 | BAL | AL | $4,000,000 |
| 2003 | TEX | AL | $9,000,000 |
| 2002 | TEX | AL | $8,712,986 |
| 2001 | TEX | AL | $9,000,000 |
| 2000 | TEX | AL | $8,620,921 |
| 1999 | TEX | AL | $8,849,931 |
| 1998 | BAL | AL | $6,515,828 |
| 1997 | BAL | AL | $5,337,021 |
| 1996 | BAL | AL | $5,406,603 |
| 1995 | BAL | AL | $4,906,603 |
| 1994 | BAL | AL | $5,406,603 |
| 1993 | TEX | AL | $4,550,000 |
| 1992 | TEX | AL | $3,850,000 |
| 1991 | TEX | AL | $1,475,000 |
| 1990 | TEX | AL | $300,000 |
| 1989 | CHN | NL | $212,000 |
| 1988 | CHN | NL | $90,000 |
| 1987 | CHN | NL | $62,500 |
| Total recorded salary (partial) | $89,295,996 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State University | Mississippi State | MS | 1983, 1984, 1985 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 5.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1999 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 193.0 | 392 | 4 |
| 1998 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 2.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1997 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 13th | 36.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1996 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 6th | 104.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1995 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 11th | 34.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1994 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 16th | 11.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1993 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 52.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1991 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 19th | 6.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1990 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 14th | 22.0 | 392 | 0 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
Rafael Palmeiro (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
Compare Rafael Palmeiro
See Rafael Palmeiro in Another Era
Rafael Palmeiro: the record in brief
Rafael Palmeiro played a first major league game on September 8, 1986 and a last one on August 30, 2005. The season rows list, in order, the Chicago Cubs (1986 through 1988), the Texas Rangers (1989 to 2003), and the Baltimore Orioles (1994 through 2005). At 6'0" and 180 pounds, Palmeiro is listed as a first baseman. The bio says Palmeiro batted and threw left-handed. The recorded birth is September 24, 1964, in Havana, La Habana, Cuba.
Palmeiro's career batting table shows 2,831 games, 10,472 at bats and 3,020 hits, a .288 average, along with 569 homers, 1,835 runs batted in, and 97 stolen bases. Palmeiro's career OPS of .885 combines a .371 on-base mark with .515 slugging. The league as a whole hit .263 across Palmeiro's seasons, which puts the .288 career mark 9.5% above average. For power, 1999 stands out: 47 home runs with the Texas Rangers. The hits column peaks at 203, in 1991. 1993 brought a season-best 22 stolen bases.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rafael Palmeiro
- What years did Rafael Palmeiro play?
- Rafael Palmeiro played in Major League Baseball from 1986 to 2005.
- Was Rafael Palmeiro a pitcher?
- No. Rafael Palmeiro was a position player (First Baseman).
- How many home runs did Rafael Palmeiro hit?
- Rafael Palmeiro hit 569 career home runs with 3,020 hits.
- What teams did Rafael Palmeiro play for?
- Rafael Palmeiro played for 3 teams: the Chicago Cubs (1986–1988), the Texas Rangers (1989–1993, 1999–2003), and the Baltimore Orioles (1994–1998, 2004–2005).
- Did Rafael Palmeiro win an MVP award?
- No. Rafael Palmeiro did not win the MVP award.
- What awards did Rafael Palmeiro win?
- Rafael Palmeiro won 3 Gold Gloves (1997, 1998, and 1999) and 2 Silver Slugger awards (1998 and 1999). He was selected to 4 All-Star Games.
- What were Rafael Palmeiro's career stats?
- In 2,831 games, Rafael Palmeiro had 3,020 hits, 569 home runs, 1,835 RBI, 1,663 runs, and 97 stolen bases, with a .288 batting average.
- How much did Rafael Palmeiro earn in his career?
- Rafael Palmeiro's recorded salaries total $89,295,996 over 19 seasons, 1987 to 2005. This total is partial: the salary data covers 1985 to 2016, and Palmeiro's career ran from 1986 to 2005. No salary is recorded for 1986.
- What was Rafael Palmeiro's salary?
- Rafael Palmeiro's last recorded salary was $3,000,000, in 2005. His highest recorded salary was $9,000,000, in 2001, and his lowest was $62,500, in 1987. The Salary History table lists each season from 1987 to 2005.
- What position did Rafael Palmeiro play?
- Rafael Palmeiro played primarily as a first baseman, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was Rafael Palmeiro and how much did he weigh?
- Rafael Palmeiro was listed at 6 feet and 180 pounds.
- How many home runs did Rafael Palmeiro hit each season?
- Rafael Palmeiro's home runs by season: 3 in 1986, 14 in 1987, 8 in 1988, 8 in 1989, 14 in 1990, 26 in 1991, 22 in 1992, 37 in 1993, 23 in 1994, 39 in 1995, 39 in 1996, 38 in 1997, 43 in 1998, 47 in 1999, 39 in 2000, 47 in 2001, 43 in 2002, 38 in 2003, 23 in 2004, and 18 in 2005. His most in one season was 47, in 1999 and 2001.
- What was Rafael Palmeiro's career batting average?
- Rafael Palmeiro batted .288 over his career, with 3,020 hits in 10,472 at bats.
- How many RBI did Rafael Palmeiro have?
- Rafael Palmeiro drove in 1,835 runs in his career.