On this date in Texas Rangers history, Rafael Palmeiro made history as the 2002 season came to an end.
The moment came on September 29, 2002, as the Rangers played their final game of the season. In that game, Palmeiro didn’t homer. But, he already had 43 home runs for the season. In doing so, Palmeiro became the first player in Major League history to have at least 38 home runs in eight straight seasons.
That streak started in 1995, when he hit 39 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles. After that, he hit 39 in 1996, 38 in 1997 and 43 in 1998.
After that, Palmeiro came to the Rangers via free agency and kept the streak going with 47 homers in 1999, 39 in 2000, 47 in 2001 and 43 in 2002. Palmeiro added to the streak in 2003 when he hit 38 home runs, giving him nine straight seasons of at least 38 home runs.
Also, Alex Rodriguez finished the season with 57 home runs, the sixth-highest single-season total by any American League player at the time. Also, Rodriguez and Michael Young combined for 66 home runs, the most by a middle infield combination in MLB history, breaking their own record of 63 set the previous season. Also, it was Iván ‘Pudge’ Rodríguez’s final game of his first stint with the Rangers, as the team didn’t sign him to a new contract.
Also on this date …
September 29, 1998: The Texas Rangers faced the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Division Series at old Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won the game, 2-0, behind the pitching of David Wells. Todd Stottlemyre took the loss for the Rangers.
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