Dean William Palmer is a former third baseman

Third baseman

A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...

 in Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 who had a 14-year career from 1989 to 2003. He played for the Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers (baseball)

The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...

, Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

 and Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...

, all of the American League

American League

The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...

.

In 1992 Palmer became the first Texas ballplayer to ever homer in the first three games of a season, a feat that was matched in 2011 by Ian Kinsler

Ian Kinsler

Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...

 and Nelson Cruz

Nelson Cruz

Nelson Ramón Cruz Martínez is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Texas Rangers.-Baseball career:...

.

He was elected to the American League All-Star

Major League Baseball All-Star Game

The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...

 team in 1998, and he led the league in strikeout

Strikeout

In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....

s in 1992 with 154. Palmer was the recipient of the Silver Slugger

Silver Slugger

The Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball...

 at third base in 1998 with the Kansas City Royals and 1999 for the Detroit Tigers.

Palmer retired following the 2003 baseball season, after various injuries limited him to fewer than 100 games over the three previous seasons. He attempted a comeback with the Tigers during 2005 spring training, but failed to make the team, after which he retired again.

Palmer now is the assistant coach at Lincoln High School

Lincoln High School (Tallahassee, Florida)

Lincoln High School is a public high school located in Tallahassee, Florida. It offers an accelerated Advanced Placement program that has been recognized for its excellence...

 in Tallahassee.

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