BUSH KNEW !!!!!!!!!
Raffy gave $4000 to Bush for the 04 campaign, also.
By Jorge Arangure Jr.
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, July 17, 2005; Page E08
SEATTLE, July 16 -- Rafael Palmeiro's 3,000th hit elicited an unexpected honor: a phone call from President Bush. Palmeiro received a call from the president at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern time. The two spoke for about five minutes.
"It's a great honor," Palmeiro said. "We had a nice conversation. He was very proud for me to reach that milestone."
Palmeiro and Bush have been friends since the 1990s, when the president was owner of the Texas Rangers. Aside from the phone call, Palmeiro and his family were invited to dinner at the White House.
"It was very nice of him to take the time to call me," Palmeiro said. "That means a lot to me."
One part of Palmeiro's historic night won't return with him to Baltimore. The Orioles' first baseman sent the bat he used to record his 3,000th hit to the Hall of Fame. Palmeiro kept every other bit of memorabilia from that night.