Will Clark was the bigger name of the two players that Mississippi State sent to professional baseball in the first round of the 1985 draft. It was Clark who had done the most when it counted most, it was Clark who exuded confidence, it was Clark who was the more likely choice for stardom, perhaps even eventual enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.

	Palmeiro

	Clark

Instead, it will be Rafael Palmeiro. At this pace, Palmeiro's final numbers will be undeniable. He's on the verge of hitting his 500th career home run and driving in his 1,600th run, all while keeping a career batting average above .290. Take those three numbers -- 500-1,600-.290 -- and you get this list in baseball history: Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, Frank Robinson, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Mel Ott and Rafael Palmeiro. Include three Gold Gloves and remarkable durability, and that is a Hall of Famer.

At Mississippi State and in his early years with the Cubs, Palmeiro showed signs of greatness, even as a power hitter. In his first season (1986), he homered off Dwight Gooden. In 1987, he hit 14 homers in only 221 at-bats. Included was another homer off Gooden, making Palmeiro one of only 10 players who had homered twice off the Mets great.

DRAFT TO REMEMBER

The 1985 draft saw Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro taken in the first round. They weren't the only Bulldogs picked. Bobby Thigpen (fourth round by the White Sox) and Jeff Brantley (sixth round by the Giants) were also selected. Below is the first round and other notable names from that draft: FIRST ROUND 1. B.J. Surhoff, C, Brewers 2. Will Clark, 1B, Giants 3. Bobby Witt, RHP, Rangers 4. Barry Larkin, SS, Reds 5. Kurt Brown, C White Sox 6. Barry Bonds, OF Pirates 7. Mike Campbell, P Mariners 8. Pete Incaviglia, OF, Expos 9. Mike Poehl, P, Indians 10. Chris Gwynn, OF, Dodgers 11. Walt Weiss, SS, Athletics 12. Cameron Drew, OF, Astros 13. Jeff Bumgarner, P, Twins 14. Tommy Greene, P, Braves 15. Willie Fraser, P, Angels 16. Trey McCall, C, Phillies 17. Brian McRae, SS, Royals 18. Joe Magrane, P, Cardinals 19. Mike Cook, P, Angels 20. Gregg Jefferies, SS, Mets 21. Dan Gabriele, P, Red Sox 22. Rafael Palmeiro, OF, Cubs 23. Joey Cora, SS, Padres 24. Dave Masters, P, Cubs 25. Greg David, OF, Blue Jays 26. Randy Nosek, P, Tigers OTHER NOTABLES Rd 2: Randy Johnson, Expos Rd 4: David Justice, Braves Rd 22: John Smoltz, Tigers Rd 24: Mark Grace, Cubs

Still, he was more of a line-drive hitting outfielder who put the ball in play, especially to the opposite field. In 1990, he led the American League with 136 singles, and was pinch-hit for 11 times. He had 49 hits to the opposite field. His power breakthrough came in 1991 (his third year as a first baseman) when he pounded 49 doubles and 26 homers while batting .322. With those quick hands, maybe the best in the game, he started to pull the ball. In 1992, 22 of his hits went to the opposite field, and 21 of his 22 homers went to right field. In 1993, he hit 37 homers for the Rangers. He was a star. More was yet to come.

But after that season, the Rangers chose not to re-sign Palmeiro. Instead they opted for Clark. Again, Palmeiro was placed behind Clark, who still was a very good player, and was signed to be a team leader. "That was the turning point for Raffy,'' said an ex-teammate of Palmeiro. "When that happened, Raffy said, 'I'll show them. I'll show everyone.' ''

The snub returned Palmeiro to his childhood days when his father wouldn't let him watch TV unless, while watching, he squeezed tennis balls to strengthen his hands. Unlike Clark, home wasn't often a place where Palmeiro got a pat on the back. When the Rangers didn't pat him on the back after five seasons of quality, Palmeiro signed with Baltimore.

What followed were five of the most productive seasons in Orioles history. After the strike season of 1994, Palmeiro averaged 39 home runs and 119 runs in a four-year period. That began a streak of eight seasons with at least 38 homers -- a first in major-league history -- and at least 100 RBI. Palmeiro had had an advantage of playing in a spectacular offensive era, but his nine career, 100-RBI seasons matches the combined totals of Hall of Famers Willie McCovey and Willie Stargell.

Palmeiro has become a standard by which great hitters are gauged. Former teammate Billy Ripken, when once asked to rate a certain hitter, asked "Who are you comparing him to, Patrick Ewing (who once played in a celebrity game; it wasn't pretty) or Raffy?'' Palmeiro has the most beautiful swing in baseball, a perfect blend of great hands and exquisite timing. He's listed at 6-feet and 190 pounds, hardly big in today's game, but he's stronger than he looks, especially in his hands, wrists and forearms. Squeezing tennis balls worked.

Most things have for Palmeiro. He wasn't as good as Clark early in his career, he never had a nickname like "Will The Thrill" and he has never played in a World Series. Clark had an excellent career, but soon, Palmeiro will become the 19th player in major-league history to hit 500 home runs in his career. Maybe 10 years from now, he will be inducted in Cooperstown. And he will be known as the best player ever to come out of Mississippi State.

Tim Kurkjian is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and a regular contributor to Baseball Tonight. E-mail tim.kurkjian@espnmag.com.