Quietly Consistent Leader

Rafael Palmeiro probably deserves some of the blame for not getting more recognition.

He has more hits than any other player and only McGwire, Sosa and Griffey have more homers 1n the past 10 seasons, yet his game lacks flamboyance. The Texas Rangers’ slugger just works hard, never seeking publicity about his numbers.

“For some reason, it either gets overlooked or people don’t pay attention. But then I don’t even know about it,” Palmeiro said. “I stay out of trouble and don’t create controversy about anything, and I shouldn’t. My job is to play baseball.”

Besides his 1,719 hits over the decade, Palmeiro ranks seventh with 353 home runs and fifth with 1,099 RBIs. In the past five seasons, only Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Ken Griffey Jr. have more homers than Palmeiro’s 206, and only Griffey and Sosa have surpassed Palmeiro’s 641 RBIs in that span.

McGwire and Sosa get headlines for home runs. Frank Thomas complains about a $10 million annual salary. And Albert Belle--who like Palmeiro has 20 homers or more in each of the last 10 seasons--was a magnet for controversy before his career abruptly ended this month because of a degenerative right hip.

“I just want to be good year after year. I just go out and do my thing every day,” said Palmeiro, who will make about $9 million this season. “I get lost with all of the hype of the other players.”

The Rangers’ first baseman, a smooth-swinging left-hander, plays the game as he has since he was 9.

“Raffy has put together maybe the quietest Hall of Fame career that we’ve seen in a while,” Texas manager Johnny Oates said. “Maybe he doesn’t get the recognition, but if you look at the numbers he’s put up, the consistency by which he has performed, he has a great deal of respect from his peers.”

All-Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez became baseball’s richest player and Palmeiro’s teammate when he signed a $252 million, 10-year contract with the Rangers in the off-season.

Rodriguez said despite the perception that Palmeiro is laid-back, “He’s one of the hardest-working guys I’ve played with.

“His merits come when you look at his career as a whole, what he’s done and his durability,” Rodriguez said.

The 37-year-old Palmeiro has been a model of stability in 13 full major league seasons.

He has never been on the disabled list. Not counting the strike-shortened 1994 season, Palmeiro has played in fewer than 150 games only once and is a career .296 hitter.

Last season, Palmeiro became the first Texas player with 100 runs, 100 RBIs and 100 walks in the same season. He also hit 39 homers, the last making him the 32nd player with 400 career homers.

More important, he’s a clubhouse leader for a team filled with All-Stars and trying to recover from last year’s 71-91 last-place finish in the AL West after three straight division titles.

Veterans and newcomers look up to Palmeiro, who relishes the role as a leader.

“You’re never going to see Rafael get bent out of shape or real excited about anything,” Texas outfielder Rusty Greer said. “But that’s what you want out of a great player: just consistency and someone who’s going to be there day in and day out.”

Even though rookie catcher Carlos Pena probably will spend the season in the minors, Palmeiro has made him feel special during spring training.

“He’s a role model, somebody that every young player should look up to because he’s the definition of a professional on and off the field,” Pena said. “He just basically invites everybody to rise up to his level. He’s the kind of veteran . . . who isn’t afraid to help out a young kid.”

Palmeiro began his career with the Chicago Cubs, who made him a No. 1 pick in June 1985 out of Mississippi State, and was traded to Texas in 1988. He spent five years with the Rangers and then went to Baltimore as a free agent the next five.

He returned to Texas as a free agent two years ago, where he intends to end his career--maybe five or six years from now--and hopes to reach the World Series.

“That’s the only thing I haven’t done,” Palmeiro said. “I want to have that feeling of being the last team standing.”

Palmeiro also acknowledges that he considers the possibility of being elected to the Hall of Fame.

“I don’t think about my chances, but I think about the Hall of Fame,” Palmeiro said. “For me to have an opportunity to be in there one day just gives me motivation to go out and continue doing what I’m doing for a long time.”