arty: 
when i saw espn cut away i knew journey was on that like stink on well you know...
anyways palmeiro is defintely a class guy. congrats to him, journey and all orioles and baseball fans.
To see the fans and his teammates react the way they did is totally cool even for this die hard bosox fan.
congrats
anyways palmeiro is defintely a class guy. congrats to him, journey and all orioles and baseball fans.
To see the fans and his teammates react the way they did is totally cool even for this die hard bosox fan.
congrats
SEATTLE — It was a fitting celebration for one of baseball's true gentlemen: A champagne toast in the clubhouse for Rafael Palmeiro, not some crazy beer-over-the-head soiree.
Palmeiro became the 26th player to reach 3,000 career hits on Friday night, doubling in a run in the fifth inning before adding a sixth-inning single in Baltimore's 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.
"I was just trying to drive the runner in," Palmeiro said. "I was trying to do my thing, keep it simple. I did what I had to do, and it was my 3,000th hit. I was numb going around the bases. I don't remember much."
Melvin Mora and Sal Fasano each hit solo home runs for the Orioles, who remained one game behind first-place Boston in the AL East. Rodrigo Lopez (8-5) pitched 5 1/3 innings for his second straight victory. B.J. Ryan pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 24 chances.
Palmeiro's milestone hit came off Seattle starter Joel Pineiro (3-5), who good-naturedly tossed the ball to Baltimore Manager Lee Mazzilli as the Orioles rushed from their dugout to swarm Palmeiro at second base.
"It was emotional. I wasn't expecting that," Palmeiro said. "I thought maybe for a second or two the game would stop and we could keep it moving, but they came out there."
Palmeiro has 566 home runs over his 20-year career, joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray as the only players with 3,000 hits and 500 homers. Those numbers are likely to make Palmeiro a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
To mark the occasion, Mazzilli toasted Palmeiro with champagne when the slugger returned to the clubhouse after doing several interviews on the field.
"We just wanted to say how much he means to us, how special the moment was," teammate Jay Gibbons said.
Palmeiro's double tied him with Roberto Clemente for 25th place on the career hits list. He passed Clemente with a clean single to center off reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa for hit No. 3,001.
Palmeiro finished two for four and walked in the first, which resulted in boos. He grounded out in the third and led off the ninth by striking out looking against reliever Ron Villone.
Palmeiro was cheered on each at-bat, and cameras flashed on every pitch with the record pending. Teammates mobbed him with hugs after his 3,000th hit and he received a lengthy standing ovation from the Safeco Field crowd.
"I'm very honored by the way the Mariner fans applauded," Palmeiro said. "I'm very thankful for that. I really appreciated it."
Palmeiro's sons were on hand to enjoy the night too. Ten-year-old Preston Palmeiro documented the event with a video camera and another son, 15-year-old Patrick, was a Baltimore batboy.
Both ran on the field with the team and hugged their father.
"That was the best. For them to be a part of that, to be out there with me, I'll never forget that. I hope they never forget it, either," Palmeiro said.
As the Orioles left the field after their celebration, Palmeiro raised his helmet and thanked the fans — drawing another thunderous cheer.
"That was incredible," Baltimore's Sammy Sosa said. "Raffy accomplished something great tonight. He went out there and battled for many, many years. Today, he got to a place not many people can — 3,000 hits is a lot. I'm very happy for him."
Rickey Henderson was the most recent player to reach 3,000 hits, accomplishing the feat Oct. 7, 2001, for San Diego.
LA Times
Palmeiro became the 26th player to reach 3,000 career hits on Friday night, doubling in a run in the fifth inning before adding a sixth-inning single in Baltimore's 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.
"I was just trying to drive the runner in," Palmeiro said. "I was trying to do my thing, keep it simple. I did what I had to do, and it was my 3,000th hit. I was numb going around the bases. I don't remember much."
Melvin Mora and Sal Fasano each hit solo home runs for the Orioles, who remained one game behind first-place Boston in the AL East. Rodrigo Lopez (8-5) pitched 5 1/3 innings for his second straight victory. B.J. Ryan pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 24 chances.
Palmeiro's milestone hit came off Seattle starter Joel Pineiro (3-5), who good-naturedly tossed the ball to Baltimore Manager Lee Mazzilli as the Orioles rushed from their dugout to swarm Palmeiro at second base.
"It was emotional. I wasn't expecting that," Palmeiro said. "I thought maybe for a second or two the game would stop and we could keep it moving, but they came out there."
Palmeiro has 566 home runs over his 20-year career, joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray as the only players with 3,000 hits and 500 homers. Those numbers are likely to make Palmeiro a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
To mark the occasion, Mazzilli toasted Palmeiro with champagne when the slugger returned to the clubhouse after doing several interviews on the field.
"We just wanted to say how much he means to us, how special the moment was," teammate Jay Gibbons said.
Palmeiro's double tied him with Roberto Clemente for 25th place on the career hits list. He passed Clemente with a clean single to center off reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa for hit No. 3,001.
Palmeiro finished two for four and walked in the first, which resulted in boos. He grounded out in the third and led off the ninth by striking out looking against reliever Ron Villone.
Palmeiro was cheered on each at-bat, and cameras flashed on every pitch with the record pending. Teammates mobbed him with hugs after his 3,000th hit and he received a lengthy standing ovation from the Safeco Field crowd.
"I'm very honored by the way the Mariner fans applauded," Palmeiro said. "I'm very thankful for that. I really appreciated it."
Palmeiro's sons were on hand to enjoy the night too. Ten-year-old Preston Palmeiro documented the event with a video camera and another son, 15-year-old Patrick, was a Baltimore batboy.
Both ran on the field with the team and hugged their father.
"That was the best. For them to be a part of that, to be out there with me, I'll never forget that. I hope they never forget it, either," Palmeiro said.
As the Orioles left the field after their celebration, Palmeiro raised his helmet and thanked the fans — drawing another thunderous cheer.
"That was incredible," Baltimore's Sammy Sosa said. "Raffy accomplished something great tonight. He went out there and battled for many, many years. Today, he got to a place not many people can — 3,000 hits is a lot. I'm very happy for him."
Rickey Henderson was the most recent player to reach 3,000 hits, accomplishing the feat Oct. 7, 2001, for San Diego.
LA Times
