Ten years after leaving the majors amidst the haze of a steroid suspension, 50-year-old Rafael Palmeiro returned to professional baseball Friday night with the independent Sugar Land Skeeters, where the slugger hit two singles, drove in a run, scored a run, and drew a walk.


The Skeeters are no strangers to stunts; former NBA star Tracy McGrady and a then-50-year-old Roger Clemens both pitched for Sugar Land in previous seasons. Clemens ended up playing in tandem with his son, and that was Palmeiro’s case as well—with the former All-Star hitting as DH behind his son, third baseman Patrick. (The junior Palmeiro went 2-for-5 with a grand slam in Friday’s game.)

Is this all silly and ridiculous? Absolutely. Is going 2-for-4 against anybody impressive at 50 years old? We think so.

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