Silver Sluggers of the 90s: Rafael Palmeiro

 

-Matthew McConkey

In 1998, Rafael Palmeiro won his first Silver Slugger award as a member of the Baltimore Orioles at first base. He would go on to win another Silver Slugger in 1999. Which surprised me because I thought that Palmeiro, who's in the 3,000 hit club, had won more than two. Go figure, right? However, this is why I enjoy researching baseball. I always find something interesting that I didn't know concerning players I didn't follow closely in the '90s. 

In looking at his two Silver Sluggers Awards, 1999 was clearly far and away his best of the two. It could be being back with the Texas Rangers that put the swagger in his bat. That season, he set a personal career best of 47 HRs and a career high in RBIs and OPS, 148 and 1.050, respectively, in 158 games. 

Silver Moments 1999

Demolished RHP with a .341 (143-419) BA, 1.100 OPS, 36 HR, 108 RBI

Loved his home Ballpark: .325 (88-271) BA, 1.136 OPS, 28 HR, 83 RBI

Had a sensational August that season: .318 (35-110) 1.165 OPS, 15 HR, 39 RBI

Punished his former team, the Orioles: 12 games .372 (16-43) BA, 1.261 OPS, 5 HR, 10 RBI

Loved playing at the Metrodome: 6 Games, .304 (7-23) BA, 1.110 OPS, 3 HR, 9 RBI

Had 3, 4-hit games: 4/18 @ Athletics, 5/18 vs Rays, 6/30 @Angels

Best Game: 6/30 @ Angels, 4-4, 4 RBIs, 1 double

 

Rafael Palmeiro Stats

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/palmera01.shtml