Emilio Palmero

Emilio Antonio Palmero (Pal)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 157 lb.

• Debut September 21, 1915
• Final Game August 24, 1928
• Born June 13, 1895 in Guanabacoa, Cuba
• Died July 15, 1970 in Toledo, OH USA

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Biographical Information

"Palmero is . . . an idol in Havana, so much so . . . that the city had decided to take a holiday on the day that Palmero sails from Havana for New Orleans . . . No pitcher (other than Palmero) . . .since Joe McGinnity . . . has been able to start the ball low and have it break up around the batsman's shoulder." - from the New York Times of December 23, 1913

Emilio Palmero, born in Cuba, pitched five seasons in the majors and 17 in the minors, along with his many years playing in Cuba. He won 177 games in the minors. He also managed in 1937.

It is not easy to analyze Palmero's major league career, since he played at times in the dead-ball era and at times in the lively ball era. As a rookie, he had a 3.09 ERA, which sounds good (the team ERA was 3.11) but the league ERA at the time was only 2.74. When he pitched for the 1921 St. Louis Browns, his ERA was a large-sounding 5.00 but the team's ERA was 4.61. With the 1926 Washington Senators, his ERA was 4.76 and the team's was 4.34 (teammate Walter Johnson's was 3.63).

At times Palmero was not permitted by his major league team to play in Cuba, so he used the name E. Mendez.

One writer says that in 1920 a team composed of New York Giants visited Cuba in the fall, and Babe Ruth, who was given high pay, was added to the team. Palmero was chosen by the Almendares team to pitch against Ruth and did quite well against him. The Giants also had Dave Bancroft, George Kelly, and Ross Youngs, among others. Palmero himself had played for the Giants several years earlier.

That year, 1920, had been Palmero's best season in the minors. He went 28-10 for Omaha.

Palmero is one of four players (through 2008) born in Guanabacoa. He has the most major league appearances of the four.

His name is spelled P-A-L-M-E-R-O, unlike that of Rafael Palmeiro.