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By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Rafael Palmeiro has the numbers to be in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Now, the 53-year-old said, “I am missing the game” and he wants to come back to the MLB. However, his chances are not very good as his prime days have passed.

Palmeiro was born in Havana, Cuba, and played in the MLB for 20 years (1986-2005) with the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Rangers (again) and returned to the Orioles for his last two seasons in the league.

His very last season (2005) was on July 15, at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. In the fifth inning, he hit a double to the left field wall against Mariners pitcher Joel Pineiro. That was Palmeiro’s 3,000 career hit. I was broadcasting the Mariners games in Spanish that year and I just had the call that game. ESPN Deportes picked it up; I have the CD of that moment. Palmeiro also received a copy of that CD. After the game, I interviewed Palmeiro, who was very happy and gracious.

Palmeiro is the only Cuban-born player to reach the 3,000 hit plateau. In my opinion, he finished with excellent numbers that are Cooperstown-worthy: 20 career years combined for a .288 batting average, 3,020 hits, 585 home runs, 1,835 runs batted in–all in a total of 2,831 games played.

Unfortunately, Palmeiro’s career didn’t ended very well. Former Rangers teammate and fellow Cuban, Jose Canseco, identified Palmeiro as a fellow steroid user in his 2005 book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big, and claimed he injected Palmeiro with steroids.

On March 17, 2005, Palmeiro appeared at a Congressional hearing about steroids in baseball, and while under oath, denied ever using steroids. He stated, “Let me start by telling you this: I have never used steroids, period. I don’t know how to say it any more clearly than that.” Five months later on August 1, 2005, Palmeiro was suspended for 10 days after testing positive for steroids.

Palmeiro is part of that ugly phase in the game–the steroid era. After an excellent career, he wants to comeback and play in the major leagues. “There is no doubt in my mind that I can do it,” he recently said. This January 24, the inductees into the Hall of Fame will be announced, but his name will not be on the list.

For Palmeiro, the numbers above on his career can help him secure a spot in the Hall of Fame. However, the steroid scandal caused him to fall off the ballot.

Here is the deal: If Rafael Palmeiro plays in one more MLB game, he will become re-eligible for the Hall of Fame.

Buena suerte Rafael!