by A.J. PerezFiled under: Cubs, Orioles, Rangers, MLB Hall of Fame
Rafael Palmeiro admitted his optimism over making the Hall of Fame on the first ballot appeared to be misplaced as the former slugger garnered just 11 percent of the vote announced by the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Wednesday.
"Baseball is my life,'' he told SI.com. "Today is a special day for baseball. It was supposed to be a special day (for me), but I feel like the forgotten man. I'm disappointed in my total because I thought I would get more votes."
Instead, Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven -- two players not tainted by any links to steroids -- were the only players to meet the 75 percent threshold for enshrinement in Cooperstown. Palmeiro was on just 64 of the 581 ballots, a mark far short of the percentage needed, especially when his career numbers (3,020 hits, 569 home runs and 1835 RBI) stack up well next to players already in the Hall of Fame.
But the writers obviously don't feel he reached at least some -- if not the bulk -- of those stats without the aid of performance-enhancing drugs. Palmeiro was suspended 10 games in his 20th and final season after he tested positive for steroids while a member of the Baltimore Orioles in 2005.
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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/01/05/rafael-palmeiro-feels-forgotten-after-hall-of-fame-snub/
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