ANAHEIM, Calif. — Completing a unique double, Rafael Palmeiro of the Texas Rangers became the first Gold Glove winner to win the American League’s outstanding designated hitter award in the same season.
Palmeiro, voted a Gold Glove by managers and coaches despite playing just 28 games at the position, received 78 of 84 first-place votes for the DH award, voted on by reporters, broadcasters and team public relations directors.
John Jaha of the Oakland Athletics was second, followed by Edgar Martinez of the Seattle Mariners.
Palmeiro hit 37 of his 47 homers as a designated hitter, the most ever by a DH, topping the 35 by Oakland’s Dave Kingman, both in 1984 and 1986.
In 128 games as a DH, Palmeiro hit .321 with 115 RBI. Overall, he batted .324 with 148 RBI.