Jim Palmer (1990)


Date of Birth: 10/15/1945
Birthplace: New York, New York
College: Arizona State University / Towson University

Jim Palmer was a power pitcher for nineteen years with the Baltimore Orioles. He started playing baseball in a youth league in California. He was signed by the Orioles in 1963, fresh out of high school.

Baltimore Orioles

After spending the 1964 season in the minor leagues, Palmer joined the Orioles in 1965, pitching in 27 games primarily as a relief pitcher. He had 5 wins and 4 losses, 75 strikeouts to 56 walks, and a 3.72 ERA in 92.0 innings.

In 1966, Palmer became part of the Orioles starting rotation. That season he pitched in 30 games and he had a 15-10 record with 147 strikeouts to 91 walks and a 3.46 ERA in 208.1 innings. The following two years, 1967 and 1968, were difficult years for Palmer, as he struggled with arm problems. He pitched in just 9 games in 1967, and he had a 2.94 ERA in 49.0 innings. He didn't play at all in 1968.

Palmer came back strong in 1969, pitching in 26 games and ending the season with an ERA of 2.34. On August 13th of that year, he pitched a no hitter. He finished the season with 16 wins and 4 losses and 123 strikeouts to 64 walks in 181.0 innings.

Palmer led the AL in innings pitched in 1970 with 305.0. He had 20 wins and 10 losses, a career high 199 strikeouts to 100 walks, and a 2.71 ERA in 39 games. The next year, he pitched in 37 games. He finished the 1971 season with 20 wins and 9 losses, 184 strikeouts to 106 walks, and a 2.68 ERA in 282.0 innings. He also played well defensively, leading all AL pitchers in putouts with 27.

In 1972, Palmer had a career low ERA of 2.07. He finished the season with 21 wins and 10 losses and 184 strikeouts to 70 walks in 274.1 innings in 36 games.

Palmer won the AL Cy Young award and the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award in 1973. He led the league in ERA with 2.40. He finished the season with 22 wins and 9 losses and 158 strikeouts to 113 walks in 296.1 innings in 38 games.

Palmer struggled in 1974, pitching in just 26 games. He had 7 wins and 12 losses and a 3.27 ERA in 178.2 innings.

Palmer came back strong in 1975, again winning the AL Cy Young award and the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award. He led the league in ERA with 2.09 and in wins with a career high 23 (to 11 losses). He had career highs that year in complete games (25) and in innings pitched (323.0). He again led AL pitchers defensively in putouts with 30.

Palmer repeated his outstanding pitching feats in 1976, when he again won the AL Cy Young award and the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award. He led the league in wins with 22 and in innings pitched with 315.0. He finished the season with 159 strikeouts to 84 walks and a 2.51 ERA in a career high 40 games. Defensively, he won his first of four consecutive Gold Gloves, once more leading the AL in putouts with 27. That year, he made just one error in 40 games and the next year he matched that by making no errors in 23 games.

Palmer had another strong pitching season in 1977, leading the AL in wins, innings pitched, and complete games. He had 20 wins and 11 losses, 193 strikeouts to 99 walks, and a 2.91 ERA in 319.0 innings in 39 games. He pitched 22 complete games. The following season, he led the league again in innings pitched with 296.0. He finished the 1978 season with 21 wins and 12 losses, 138 strikeouts to 97 walks, and a 2.46 ERA in 38 games.

Palmer pitched in only 23 games in 1979. He had 10 wins and 6 losses and a 3.30 ERA in 155.2 innings. The following season, his ERA went up to 3.98 in 224.0 innings. He had 16 wins and 10 losses and 109 strikeouts to 74 walks in 224.0 innings in 1980.

In the strike shortened 1981 season, Palmer had a 3.75 ERA in 22 games. The next year was a better one for him, with a .313 ERA in 36 games. He finished the 1982 season with 15 wins and 5 losses and 103 strikeouts to 63 walks in 227.0 innings.

Palmer pitched in only fourteen games in 1983, and he was released by the Orioles the following year, after pitching in just five games. He retired after the 1984 season ended. He tried a brief comeback during Spring training of 1991, but after failing to pitch well, he retired for good.

Awards and MLB Records

  • Cy Young award (3 times)
  • Sporting News Pitcher of the Year (3 times)
  • Gold Glove (4 times)
  • Led AL in ERA (2 times)
  • Led AL in wins (3 times)
  • Led AL in innings pitched (4 times)

Career Statistics

Pitching statistics for Palmer in 19 seasons (1965-1967, 1969-1984) in the major leagues include:

  • 8 seasons with 20 or more wins, with a high of 23 wins in 1975
  • 7 seasons with over 150 strikeouts, with a high of 199 in 1970
  • 10 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 2.07 in 1972

Career pitching statistics for Palmer include:

  • 558 games played
  • 3,948.0 innings pitched
  • 268-152 win-loss record
  • 2,212 strikeouts to 1,311 walks
  • 2.85 ERA

Postseason statistics for Palmer include:

  • 8 postseasons
  • 17 games played
  • 123.0 innings pitched
  • 8-3 win-loss record
  • 90 strikeouts to 50 walks
  • 2.63 ERA

Career fielding statistics for Palmer include:

  • 558 games played
  • 34 errors
  • 577 assists
  • 292 putouts
  • .952 fielding percentage

Post Playing Career

After retiring from major league baseball as a pitcher, Palmer became a popular broadcaster. He worked for ABC from 1985 to 1989 and again in 1994 and 1995. Today he is a broadcaster for the Orioles.

Palmer was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990 on the first ballot with 92.6% of the vote.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Jim Palmer
ESPN - Jim Palmer
Baseball Reference - Jim Palmer

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