Rafael Palmiero

[And That]

53 year old first basemen who haven't played in 12 years are the new market inefficiency. Discuss.

 

https://theathletic.com/176599/2017/12/06/rosenthal-hes-53-and-hasnt-played-in-the-majors-since-2005-but-rafael-palmeiro-is-eyeing-a-comeback-and-redemption/

[pacopete4]

Maybe he can hit with RISP... sign him.

[KeithStone53151]

Some Indy ball team might let him play, but I doubt a club signs him even to a minor league contract

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I could imagine some bottom-dweller may sign him in an attempt to catch lightning in a bottle and put a few extra butts in seats, but I can't imagine this will every become a "thing". Seems like there is a story kind of like this every year, though. I remember Jim Palmer tried it for a couple weeks in Orioles camp in the early '90s.

[jerichoholicninja]

Marlins?

[brwrsfan]

If he plays one game in the major leagues, does that make him eligible for the HOF ballot again? And reset that clock so five more years would pass before he shows up on the ballot and maybe steriod users get in??

[Outlander]

Yes it would. I believe that happened to Jose Rijo, not that he ever was close to being elected.

[DocLuna7]

If he plays one game in the major leagues, does that make him eligible for the HOF ballot again? And reset that clock so five more years would pass before he shows up on the ballot and maybe steriod users get in??

 

Yep, definitely. It wasn’t an issue for Jim Palmer because he only played in spring training during his comeback attempt.

[JohnBriggs12]

Satchel Paige pitched 3 scoreless innings for the 1965 Kansas City A's at age 58. That was mostly a Charlie Finley publicity stunt though. Similarly, Bill Veeck activated Minnie Minoso at age 50 in 1976 and again in 1980 at age 54. He went 1 for 8 in 76 and 0 for 2 in 1980. Minoso has the distinction of playing in 5 different decades.

 

I'm sure in his mind Palmiero believes he can do it. Reality is there's no way his reflexes can handle 98 mph fastballs. Maybe 93-94, but 98? No way.

[AKCheesehead]

If he plays one game in the major leagues, does that make him eligible for the HOF ballot again? And reset that clock so five more years would pass before he shows up on the ballot and maybe steriod users get in??

 

 

 

Yep, definitely. It wasn’t an issue for Jim Palmer because he only played in spring training during his comeback attempt.

 

Is there anybody who thinks the comeback attempt would not be an attempt at exactly what brwrsfan described?

 

Palmer was already in the HOF at the time of his comeback attempt too, interestingly enough.

[Outlander]

If that is the case the Brewers might as well call Lou Whitaker, they could use a 2B and Whitaker was removed after one year on the ballot. On a side note it is amazing Whitaker put up a 890 OPS at 38 and retired.

[adambr2]

Oil Can Boyd was talking comeback a few years ago. Nothing came out of it, and I would not expect anything to come out of this either.

[NievesNoNO]

Reading this feels like a joke to me. 0% chance. I'd be hard pressed to believe he could even out hit members of his local softball league at this point. I get staying in shape and all but c'mon. A 53 year old is not competing professionally with guys in their mid-20's. It's just not a physical reality....even if he's stayed on the sauce after all these years

 

I mean if a team wanted to bring him back for 1 AB or something, there's a chance he could muster up 1 legitimate hit maayybee. Outside of that, it's a pure attention grab on his part.

[Warning Track Power]

This is a joke of a story...feels a lot like Mr. 3000 to me, except you can't re-write finger wagging.