Rafael Palmeiro's Quotes

I wish that they could have more freedoms to be able to come and play. I know that the only way that they can get out is by, you know, defecting to another country or whatever, or getting on a boat.

I wish that they had the freedoms like the Japanese and the Koreans and the Mexicans and everybody else that has that freedom to come over here and play the game, because I know Cuba has a very strong baseball history.

I would love to go back and help rebuild that country and help - you know, kind of like what's going on with Iraq right now. You know, they've got a new government in place. They're trying to rebuild the country. I would love for that to happen in Cuba also.

I'm not going to say what was being used in the clubhouse; whatever happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse. But it was not like it was in your face.

I'm not sure. I did not set it up. I have never done a polygraph test in my life. I didn't know what to expect. I was just there to answer the questions that they put in front of me.

I'm very happy for the Contreras family. They're out. Now they've got a chance to experience life the way I did as a kid. You know, his kids are going to have a real chance in life now, and the same way that I had it.

My parents didn't agree with what was going on, you know, with the communists coming in, Fidel Castro. I didn't see the reason why I needed to go back there and be a part of that exhibition.

They try to say this era was a tainted era. But so many great players played in the last 15 to 20 years. This is going to be the best era in the history of the game in my opinion.

With all the great products that are apparently out there that are undetectable, for me to take something like that... when people take things that now aren't even being tested for, does it make any sense?

Yes, but I - you know, it's been such a long time, I'm sure that I've got cousins and uncles that I've never met before, you know, that I've left behind.

You know, when you first come up, and you get called up to the big leagues, all you want to do is just, you just want to have a career, a nice career. You want to make a living at it.

You set your goals to a point where they're attainable, but far enough away that you have to really go get them. And every year I push my goals a little bit farther away, and every year I work a little bit harder to get them.

It was a hard time. It was something I would love to erase from my memory.

You know, my family stood for something that they believed in, and I wasn't about to turn my back on them.

Baseball gets better for whatever reason.

But as far as I'm concerned, I can still play defense.

I don't know who took what. That is pretty private with an individual.

I don't see myself as someone that brings a lot of luggage.

I don't think anybody ever saw anybody taking anything.

I have never used steroids. Period.

I hope that people learn from my mistake and I hope that the fans forgive me.

I hope that people look at my whole career and appreciate that I've given everything that I've got.

I love baseball, and the door remains open.

I said what I said before Congress because I meant every word of it.

I still feel like I can play defense at first base at a very high level.

My life was on the line here and my career and everything I worked for, it was hanging by a thread.