Less than three weeks ago Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro was on top of the baseball world.
He became just the fourth player in the history of the major leagues to total 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. His name would be mentioned with baseball greats Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray.
Palmeiro also had a reputation as one of baseball's "good guys." He would often bring his kids to the ballpark and play catch with them before a game. He also was among a group of players who earlier this year talked to Congress about the problem of steroids in baseball.
Steroids help build up muscles by making it possible for players to work out longer and harder than they normally could.
Steroids are meant to be taken by prescription and only to treat serious medical conditions. But players have been accused of taking the drugs so they can hit more home runs. Doctors say that taking steroids when not needed might make a person sick.
Palmeiro told Congress in March that he "never used steroids. Period."
But this week Palmeiro was suspended for 10 days for doing what he swore he had never done.
Many of his fans -- especially kids -- were devastated.
"I was so surprised. I thought he was a very honest person. He was an idol to little kids," said Ivanna Pearlstein, 11, of Washington. She attends the Home Run Baseball Camp at Friendship Playground in Northwest Washington.
"It's just, like, crushing, that he lied right in front of everyone," said camper Sam Muslin, 12, of St. Louis, Missouri. "It changes the way you think of him."
Meredith Bentsen, 11, of Washington, said she had considered Palmeiro a role model, but no longer: "Now, he's just a player, not a leader."
