ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rafael Palmeiro can now focus on what he considers a more significant milestone: 500 homers.
“There’s a lot more career ahead of me,” the Texas first baseman said after hitting his 400th career homer Saturday night in the Rangers’ 15-4 loss to Anaheim. “Hopefully, I can do a lot more in this game.”
While becoming only the 32nd major leaguer to hit 400 homers, and the first in a Texas uniform, Palmeiro wants to join the more exclusive club. Only half of the 400-club members have also hit 500 homers, and Mark McGwire (554) is the only active player among that group.
“Honestly, it felt like any other home run. I keep saying that to me right now 399, 400 and 401, it’s all the same,” Palmeiro said. “If I’m lucky enough to get close to 500, then I’ll feel a little bit different about it.”
No. 400 came when Palmeiro hit a 3-1 pitch from Anaheim reliever Scott Karl in the fifth inning Saturday night, with the Rangers trailing 8-0.
Palmeiro had three of the Rangers’ four hits and drove in all four runs in a loss that assured Texas, the AL West champion the past two seasons, of finishing last in the division. The Rangers are only the fourth team in major league history to go from first to last in consecutive seasons, joining the Philadelphia Athletics (1914-15), Oakland (1992-93) and San Diego (1996-97).
“It’s been tough, because we’ve struggled so bad,” Palmeiro said. “This has kept me going over the last couple of weeks. It’s not as enjoyable as I would have liked it to be, but I’ll enjoy it.”
Even as he continued to downplay reaching the 400-homer milestone, Palmeiro acknowledged it was a special night.
Not every trot around the bases ends with a kiss from his wife and a high-five from his son, who were sitting in the owner’s box next to the Texas dugout.
“It was rewarding to see him be able to share it with them,” Texas manager Johnny Oates said. “That makes it worthwhile to me. I get chill bumps knowing they were able to share it, and that he went over and acknowledged them.
“I don’t think he’s through. He’s saying that this is just another number and he’s really looking forward to 500.”
Palmeiro got his wish by hitting No. 400 in front of the home fans who haven’t had much to cheer about this season. After No. 399 in the third inning at Minnesota on Tuesday, he didn’t bat again until returning to The Ballpark in Arlington, where he has hit 193 homers.
“It’s been building up. They came out to witness this, so I felt somewhat under pressure to come through,” Palmeiro said. “I think they appreciate that I came out and was able to do it.”