Bio
Year after year, Rafael is one of the most productive hitters in all of baseball. A career .293 hitter, Rafael hit .273 for Texas last season with 43 home runs, which was good for third in the American League, 105 RBI, 99 runs scored and 104 walks. He ranked sixth in the AL with a .571 slugging percentage and ninth with a .391 on-base percentage. In 2001, Rafael was just as productive, hitting 47 home runs (third in the AL) and was fourth in the AL with 80 extra base hits, fourth with 338 total bases and fifth with 101 walks. His 123 RBI ranked sixth in the league. Rafael is in rare company as far as players who have hit at least 38 home runs for seven straight seasons -- Babe Ruth is the only other player to accomplish the feat. Only Rafael, Ruth, Jimmie Foxx and Sammy Sosa have had at least 35 home runs and 100 RBI in seven straight seasons. Rafael's streak is currently at eight seasons.
Rafael is in his second stint with the Rangers; he played with Texas from
1989-93. After joining Baltimore in 1998, where he averaged 36 home runs and 111
RBI, Rafael returned to Texas in 1999. A three-time all-American at Mississippi
State, Rafael began his career with the Chicago Cubs before he was traded to the
Rangers. But possessing a great bat is only one of Rafael's attributes. A great
clubhouse leader, Rafael won three straight Gold Gloves from 1997-99. He has
also been a member of the All-Star team four times, 988 with the Cubs, 1991 and
1999 with the Rangers and 1998 with Baltimore.