Baltimore Orioles Top 10 All-Time Leaders in Home Runs
By Ben Palmer
7. Rafael Palmeiro – 223 home runs
Perhaps one of the most infamous players in Orioles history, Rafael Palmeiro was one incredible baseball player. Now, let’s get this out of the way, yes, he tested positive for using PEDs right in the heart of the steroid scandal in the mid-2000s, but if you’re asking me, I still think he should be in the Hall of Fame.
But just looking at his stats, Palmeiro was an amazing hitter. Palmeiro ended his career as one of four players in MLB history to have more than 500 home runs and 3,000 hits (the others being Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, and Alex Rodriguez).
He also ended his career with 569 home runs (12th all-time), 3,020 hits (25th all-time), 1,835 RBIs (16th, all-time), and 1,663 runs (31st all-time), all with a career .288 batting average. Not only that, but he had four All-Star appearances and three Gold Gloves.
His best season came in 1999 with the Texas Rangers when he slashed .324/.420/.630 with 47 home runs, 96 runs, and 148 RBIs.
Palmeiro played for the Orioles from 1994 to 1998 when he joined the Rangers. He played for them through 2003 when he came back to Baltimore for the final two years of his career. Though watch out, he’s apparently thinking about a comeback.