CLEBURNE, Texas (AP) — Rafael Palmeiro knows there are people who think he is too old and has lost his mind in wanting to make a major league comeback at the age of 53.
Nearly 13 years after his MLB career ended under a cloud because of testing positive for a banned steroid, Palmeiro has joined the independent Cleburne Railroaders as a teammate with his 28-year-old son.
Palmeiro is going the independent route after not getting a non-roster invite from an MLB team during spring training. He said Thursday his goal is to get back to the big leagues, and that is the only reason is he playing again. The slugger had 3,000 hits and 500 home runs but was shunned by Hall of Fame voters and dropped off the ballot.
Palmeiro has never denied testing positive in 2005, but has said he never intentionally took any banned substances and that a tainted vitamin shot caused his failed test. He says he hopes some of the people who think he cheated will see him still able to play productively now.
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