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Baltimore Orioles: Best first basemen in Orioles last three decades

By Kristen Bentley

BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 21: Chris Davis #19 of the Baltimore Orioles tosses the ball to first base during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 21, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JULY 21: Chris Davis #19 of the Baltimore Orioles tosses the ball to first base during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 21, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Orioles
13 May 1997: First baseman Rafael Palmeiro of the Baltimore Orioles stands in position during a game against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Orioles won the game 7-3. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule Jr. /Allsport /

The best first baseman on this list manned the position during the majority of the 1990s. Rafael Palmeiro spent most of his career playing for the Orioles and the Rangers. He earned four All-Star Game invitations, and one of those was during his tenure with the O’s.

During Palmeiro’s five seasons with the Orioles in the 90s, his WAR was 23.5. During that time, he finished in the top 20 in the MVP votes. His highest MVP finish was sixth in 1996. That year, Juan Gonzalez won the MVP, with Alex Rodriguez, Albert Belle, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mo Vaughn rounding out the top five.

He also earned a Gold Glove in 1997 and 1998. He went to the All-Star Game in 1998 and that same year, he won a Silver Slugger Award, too.

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Between 1994 and 1998, Palmeiro hit .292/.371/.545 with 182 home runs and 162 doubles. He had 33 intentional walks.

At first, his best seasons were 1996-1998 where his range was always above average. His fielding percentage was never below .993.

Of course, he and several other players of his age will be haunted by their PED records. He was suspended in 2005, while he was with the Orioles. In his final season of baseball at age 40, he missed 10 games for testing positive. He denied the charges and said he has never taken PEDs.

Despite being one of the best to have played the game, he most likely will never get into the Hall of Fame. He is one of a handful of players with over 3000 hits and 500 home runs (Palmeiro has 3020 and 569).

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But, he will be remembered as one of the best first basemen in Baltimore Orioles history.

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