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{{short description|American baseball player and analyst (born 1945)}}
{{for|the American basketball player|Jim Palmer (basketball)}}
{{Distinguish|Jim Parmer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Jim Palmer
|image=Jim Palmer 1972.jpg
|caption=Palmer with the Baltimore Orioles in 1972
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1945|10|15}}
|birth_place=[[New York City]], New York, U.S.
|death_date=
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 17
|debutyear=1965
|debutteam=Baltimore Orioles
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 12
|finalyear=1984
|finalteam=Baltimore Orioles
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=268–152
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=2.86
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=2,212
|teams=
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|1965}}–{{mlby|1967}}, {{mlby|1969}}–{{mlby|1984}})
|highlights=
* 6× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1970]]–[[1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1972]], [[1975 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1975]], [[1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1977]], [[1978 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1978]])
* 3× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1966}}, {{wsy|1970}}, {{wsy|1983}})
* 3× [[AL Cy Young Award]] (1973, 1975, 1976)
* 4× [[Gold Glove Award]] (1976–1979)
* 3× [[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|AL wins leader]] (1975–1977)
* 2× [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|AL ERA leader]] (1973, 1975)
* Pitched a [[no-hitter]] on August 13, 1969
* [[Baltimore Orioles#Retired numbers|Baltimore Orioles No. 22]] retired
* [[Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame]]
|hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
|hoftype = National
|hofdate = [[1990 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1990]]
|hofvote = 92.6% (first ballot)
}}
'''James Alvin Palmer''' (born October 15, 1945) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] who played 19 years in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) for the [[Baltimore Orioles]] (1965–1967, 1969–1984). Palmer was the winningest MLB pitcher in the 1970s, totaling 186&nbsp;wins.<ref name="z955">{{cite web | last=Mueller | first=Bobby | title=Jack Morris: the winningest pitcher of the 1980s | website=The Hardball Times | date=2012-01-26 | url=https://tht.fangraphs.com/jack-morris-the-winningest-pitcher-of-the-1980s/ | access-date=2025-01-26}}</ref> He also won at least 20 games in eight different seasons and won three [[Cy Young Award]]s and four [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove]]s during the decade. His 268 Orioles victories are the most in team history. A six-time [[American League]] (AL) [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]],<ref name="masnsports">[http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=bal#jim_palmer Jim Palmer (broadcaster biography)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811155813/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=bal#jim_palmer |date=2011-08-11 }}. Baltimore Orioles (2018-05-24). Retrieved on 2018-06-30.</ref> he was also one of the rare pitchers who never allowed a [[grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] in any major league contest.<ref name="Kurkjian">{{Cite web |last=Kurkjian |first=Tim |author-link=Tim Kurkjian |date=2006-08-17 |title=Kurkjian: It's been a grand old time in '06 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=2551746 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

Palmer appeared in the postseason eight times and was a vital member of three [[World Series]] Champions, six [[List of American League pennant winners|AL pennant winners]] and seven [[American League East|Eastern Division]] titleholders. He is the only pitcher in history to earn a win in a World Series game in three different decades. He is also the youngest to pitch a complete-game shutout in a World Series, doing so nine days before his 21st birthday in [[1966 World Series|1966]], in which he defeated [[Sandy Koufax]] in Koufax's last appearance.<ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws_records.jsp?type=feats_streaks World Series Records: Feats & Streaks – Major League Baseball (MLB)]. Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved on 2018-06-30.</ref> He was one of the [[starting pitcher|starter]]s on the last rotation to feature four 20-game winners in a single season in [[1971 Baltimore Orioles season|1971]].<ref name="rgoldsteinnyt">Goldstein, Richard [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/sports/baseball/05cuellar.html "Mike Cuellar, Star Pitcher for Orioles, Dies at 72"] ''The New York Times'', Monday, April 5, 2010</ref> He was elected to the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] in [[1990 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1990]] in his first year of eligibility.<ref name="jimpalmernbhofm">[http://baseballhall.org/hof/palmer-jim Jim Palmer (biography)] National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum</ref>

Since his retirement as an active player in [[1984 Baltimore Orioles season|1984]], Palmer has worked as a [[color commentator]] on telecasts of MLB games for [[ESPN on ABC|ABC]] and [[ESPN]] and for the Orioles on Home Team Sports (HTS), [[Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic|Comcast SportsNet (CSN) Mid-Atlantic]] and the [[Mid-Atlantic Sports Network|Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN)]].<ref name="premspeakbur">[http://premierespeakers.com/jim_palmer/bio Jim Palmer (biography)]. Premiere Speakers Bureau.</ref> He has also been a popular [[celebrity branding|spokesman]], most famously for [[Jockey International]] for almost 20 years.<ref name="cakescmgww">[https://web.archive.org/web/20131106024704/http://www.cmgww.com/baseball/palmer/biography.htm Jim Palmer (biography)]. CMG Worldwide.</ref> He was nicknamed "'''Cakes'''" in the 1960s because of his habit of eating [[pancake]]s for breakfast on the days he pitched.<ref>{{cite book|author=Eisenberg, John |title=From 33rd Street to the Camden Yards: An Oral History of the Baltimore Orioles |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NkhvPZD6c00C&pg=PA269 |date=February 2002 |publisher=McGraw Hill Professional |isbn=978-0-07-138425-4 |pages=269–}}</ref>

==Early life==
James Alvin Palmer was born in [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], on October 15, 1945. Research conducted by his third wife Susan in 2017 revealed that his biological father and mother were Michael Joseph Geheran and Mary Ann Moroney, both [[Ireland|Irish]] immigrants from Counties [[County Leitrim|Leitrim]] and [[County Clare|Clare]], respectively. Joe was a married 41-year-old man about town, while Mary Ann was an unmarried 37-year-old [[domestic worker]] for the Feinstein family which was prominent in the garment industry. Moroney gave up her infant for [[adoption]] and concealed information in the New York City birth registry, where Palmer is listed as '''Baby Boy Kennedy''', whose father was Maroney and mother was Kennedy.

Maroney was the incorrect spelling of her surname as listed when she registered at [[Ellis Island]], while Kennedy was her sister Katharine's [[Maiden and married names|married name]]. Moroney eventually married John Lane and the couple had a daughter, Patricia, Palmer's biological half-sister, who died of [[leukemia]] at age 40 in 1987. As of May 2018, the Palmers were still searching for Patricia Lane's daughter, whose married name is Kimberly Hughes and who would be Jim Palmer's half-niece. Geheran died in 1959 and Moroney died in 1979.<ref name="dsheinintwp">{{cite news|author=Sheinin, Dave |date=May 10, 2018|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/hall-of-fame-pitcher-jim-palmer-long-wondered-if-hes-related-to-jfk-at-72-he-learned-the-truth/2018/05/10/2e057d32-4e1c-11e8-af46-b1d6dc0d9bfe_story.html |title=Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer long wondered if he's related to JFK. At 72, he learned the truth.|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=May 13, 2018|archive-date=May 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511145958/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/hall-of-fame-pitcher-jim-palmer-long-wondered-if-hes-related-to-jfk-at-72-he-learned-the-truth/2018/05/10/2e057d32-4e1c-11e8-af46-b1d6dc0d9bfe_story.html}}</ref>

Two days after his birth, Palmer was adopted by Moe Wiesen and his wife Polly, a wealthy Manhattan dress designer and a boutique owner, respectively, who lived on [[Park Avenue]]. His sister Bonnie was also adopted by the Wiesens.<ref name="dsheinintwp"/> The family's butler taught the young Jim to throw a baseball in [[Central Park]].<ref name="page 1"/> After his adoptive father died of a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] in 1955, the nine-year-old Jim, his mother and his sister moved to [[Beverly Hills, California]], where he began playing in youth-league baseball. In 1956, his mother married actor Max Palmer, but Jim continued to go under the name Jim Wiesen until a year later. At a [[Little League]] banquet, just before being presented with an award, he asked the coaches to identify him as "James Alvin Palmer." "Through all these years, that night was the highlight of my entire life," Max recalled.<ref name="dsheinintwp"/><ref>Palmer and Dale, p. 45</ref> Max was a character actor and there were two men who shared that name who worked in show business during similar time periods. The Max who was Jim's second dad worked mostly on TV on such programs as ''[[Dragnet (1951 TV series)|Dragnet]]'', ''[[Bat Masterson (TV series)|Bat Masterson]]'' and ''[[The Colgate Comedy Hour]]''. He was Jewish, and he also earned a living by selling shoes.<ref name="page 1">Palmer and Dale, p. 1</ref> The other [[Max Palmer]], often erroneously credited as Jim's father, worked in several movies as a monster. He was 8'2" tall and later became a professional wrestler and eventually a Christian evangelist.

Jim played baseball for the Beverly Hills Yankees, where he [[Pitcher|pitched]] and also hit [[home run]]s as an [[outfielder]]. The family eventually moved to [[Scottsdale, Arizona]], where Jim played baseball, [[basketball]], and [[American football|football]] at [[Scottsdale High School]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-29 |title=Jim Palmer: career highlights & lasting legacy |url=https://1918redsox.com/players/jim-palmers-baseball-legacy.htm |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=1918redsox.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-03 |title=An Excerpt From 'Nine Innings To Success' |url=https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2016/06/03/palmer-book-excerpt |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=www.wbur.org |language=en}}</ref> He earned All-State honors in each of these sports, also graduating with a 3.4 grade-point average in 1963.<ref name="page 1"/> The [[University of Southern California]], [[UCLA]], and [[Arizona State University]] each offered him full scholarships; [[Stanford University]] offered a partial scholarship as well.<ref name="page 1"/>

[[Bobby Winkles]] of Arizona State suggested that Palmer get more experience playing collegiate summer baseball, so Palmer went to South Dakota to join the Winner Pheasants of the [[Basin League]].<ref>Palmer and Dale, p. 3</ref> The team advanced all the way to the league finals, and Palmer caught the attention of [[Baltimore Orioles]] scout [[Harry Dalton]] while pitching in the second game of the championship.<ref>Palmer and Dale, p. 5</ref><ref name="SABR">{{cite web|last=Armour|first=Mark|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/jim-palmer/|title=Jim Palmer|work=SABR|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref> According to Palmer, 13 [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) teams recruited him after the season wrapped up, but [[Jim Russo (baseball scout)|Jim Russo]] (the scout who also signed [[Dave McNally]] and [[Boog Powell]]) and [[Jim Wilson (pitcher)|Jim Wilson]] of the Orioles made the best impression on his parents with their polite manners.<ref>Palmer and Dale, p. 8</ref> Palmer signed with Baltimore for $50,000.<ref name="SABR"/>

==Career in baseball==
===1960s===
A high-kicking pitcher known for an exceptionally smooth delivery, Palmer picked up his first major-league win on May 16, {{Baseball year|1965}}, beating the [[New York Yankees|Yankees]] in relief at home. He hit the first of his three career major-league [[home run]]s, a two-run shot, in the fourth inning of that game, off Yankees starter [[Jim Bouton]]. Palmer finished the season with a 5–4 record. In {{Baseball year|1966}}, Palmer joined the starting rotation. Baltimore won the pennant behind [[Frank Robinson]]'s [[MLB Most Valuable Player award|MVP]] and Triple Crown season. Palmer won his final game, against the [[Kansas City Athletics]], to clinch the AL pennant. In Game 2 of that [[1966 World Series|World Series]], at [[Dodger Stadium]], he became the youngest pitcher (20 years, 11 months) to pitch a shutout, defeating the defending world champion [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodgers]] 6–0. The underdog Orioles swept the series over a Los Angeles team that featured [[Sandy Koufax]], [[Don Drysdale]] and [[Claude Osteen]]. The shutout was part of a World Series record-setting {{frac|33|1|3}} consecutive shutout innings by Orioles pitchers. The Dodgers' last run was against [[Moe Drabowsky]] in the third inning of Game 1. Palmer, [[Wally Bunker]] and [[Dave McNally]] pitched shutouts in the next three games.

During the next two seasons, Palmer struggled with arm injuries. He had injured his arm in 1966 while using a [[paint roller]] in his new house in Baltimore. Cortisone injections allowed him to pitch through the rest of the season and the World Series, but in 1967, his arm continued to feel heavy.<ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 9-10</ref> He threw a one-hit game against the [[New York Yankees]] on May 12 but was sent to the [[Minor league baseball|minor leagues]] after a poor start against the [[Boston Red Sox]] five days later.<ref name="1967 Palmer">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=palmeji01&t=p&year=1967|title=Jim Palmer 1967 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 10-11</ref> While trying to make it back with the [[Rochester Red Wings]] in [[Rochester, New York]], Palmer surrendered the only [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] in his entire professional career, which was hit by the [[Buffalo Bisons]]' [[Johnny Bench]].<ref>[https://pressboxonline.com/2020/08/13/orioles-great-jim-palmer-on-no-hitter-51-years-ago-memories-from-minor-leagues/ Kendall, Jordan. "Orioles Great Jim Palmer On No-Hitter 51 Years Ago, Memories From Minor Leagues," ''PressBox'' (Baltimore, MD), Thursday, August 13, 2020.] Retrieved August 13, 2020</ref> He only pitched three more games for the Orioles in 1967.<ref name="1967 Palmer"/> In 1968, he was limited to 10 minor league games, with no appearances for the Orioles. The outlook on his career was so bleak, Palmer considered quitting baseball to attend college or trying to be a position player.<ref>Palmer and Dale, p. 13</ref><ref name="SABR"/> He had been placed on [[Major League Baseball transactions|waivers]] in September 1968 and was left unprotected for the [[Kansas City Royals]] and [[Milwaukee Brewers|Seattle Pilots]] in the [[1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft|expansion draft]] one month later, but was not claimed.<ref>{{cite book|author=James, Bill |title=The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3uSbqUm8hSAC&pg=PA256|date=2010|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-4391-0693-8|page=256}}</ref> After he pitched for an Instructional League team, the Orioles sent him to pitch for the Santurce Crabbers in the Puerto Rican Winter League.<ref name="SABR"/> Before he left for Santurce, however, Palmer attended a [[Washington Wizards|Baltimore Bullets]] game and sat next to Marvin Foxman, a pharmaceutical representative who suggested he try [[Indocin]].<ref>Palmer and Dale, p. 16</ref> In Santurce, Palmer's arm stopped hurting, and his fastball began hitting 95&nbsp;mph again.<ref name="SABR"/><ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 16-17</ref> "It was a miracle as far as I was concerned," said Palmer.<ref name="SABR"/>

Palmer returned healthy in 1969, rejoining an Orioles rotation that included 20-game winners [[Dave McNally]] and [[Mike Cuellar]]. He missed July with a six-week stint on the [[disabled list]], but it was for a torn back muscle, not because of arm trouble.<ref name="SABR"/><ref name="1969 Palmer">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=palmeji01&t=p&year=1969|title=Jim Palmer 1969 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=December 11, 2020}}</ref> That August 13, Palmer threw a [[no-hitter]] against [[Oakland Athletics|Oakland]], just four days after coming off the disabled list. It was the only no-hitter of his career.<ref>100 Things Orioles Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Dan Connolly, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2015, ISBN 978-1-62937-041-5, p.213</ref> He finished the season with a mark of 16–4, 123 [[strikeout]]s, a 2.34 [[Earned run average|ERA]], and .800 [[Win (baseball statistics)|winning percentage]]. The heavily favored Orioles were beaten in the [[1969 World Series]] by the [[New York Mets]] with Palmer taking the loss in Game 3.

===1970s===
In {{Baseball year|1970}}, Cuellar went 24–8, McNally 24–9, Palmer 20–10 and in {{Baseball year|1971}} the trio went 20–9, 21–5 and 20–9, respectively, with [[Pat Dobson]] going 20–8. Only one other team in MLB history, the {{Baseball year|1920}} [[Chicago White Sox]], has had four 20-game winners. Palmer won 21 games in {{Baseball year|1972}} and went 22–9, 158, 2.40 in {{Baseball year|1973}}, walking off with his first [[Cy Young Award]]. He had a [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]] attempt before surrendering a [[Ken Suarez]] one-out single to left field in the ninth inning of a 9&ndash;1 [[Baltimore Memorial Stadium|home]] win over the [[1973 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] on 16 June 1973.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1973/06/17/archives/palmer-loses-perfectgame-bid-as-rangers-suarez-gets-single-in-ninth.html "Palmer Loses Perfect‐Game Bid as Rangers'...," ''United Press International'' (UPI), Saturday 16 June 1973.] Retrieved 18 September 2025.</ref> His success was interrupted in {{Baseball year|1974}} when his arm started giving him trouble in spring training.<ref>Palmer and Dale, p. 47</ref> Eventually, he was down for eight weeks with elbow problems. Palmer had lost seven consecutive games by the time he went on the [[disabled list]] on June 20. He was diagnosed with an ulnar nerve injury and orthopedic surgeon [[Robert Kerlan]] prescribed rest, hot and cold water therapy and medication. Surgery was considered but Palmer's pain lessened and he was able to return to pitch in August. He finished 7–12.<ref name=Kings>{{cite news|last=Fimrite|first=Ron|title=Kings Of The Hill Again|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1090062/index.htm?eref=sisf|access-date=February 8, 2014|newspaper=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=July 21, 1975|archive-date=March 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329170323/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1090062/index.htm?eref=sisf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Palmer was at his peak again in {{Baseball year|1975}}, winning 23 games, throwing 10 shutouts (allowing just 44 [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] in those games), and fashioning a 2.09 ERA—all tops in the [[American League]]. He completed 25 games, even [[Save (baseball)|saved]] one, and limited opposing hitters to a .216 [[batting average (baseball)|batting average]]. On July 28, 1976, he received a fine from AL president [[Lee MacPhail]] after hitting [[Mickey Rivers]] with a pitch the day before. Palmer said it was in retaliation for [[Dock Ellis]] hitting [[Reggie Jackson]] with a pitch earlier in the game then complained when Ellis (who did not admit to throwing at Jackson) was not fined.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL197607270.shtml|title=New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles Box Score, July 27, 1976|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref><ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 67-70</ref> Palmer won his second Cy Young Award, and repeated his feat in {{Baseball year|1976}} (22–13, 2.51). During the latter year, he won the first of four consecutive [[Gold Glove Award]]s. ([[Jim Kaat]], who had won the award 14 consecutive seasons, moved to the [[National League (baseball)|National League]], where he won the award that year and in {{Baseball year|1977}}.)

[[File:Jim Palmer 1977.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Palmer pitching for the Orioles in 1977.]]
After making $185,000 in 1976, Palmer hoped for a raise in 1977. The Orioles offered $200,000 initially but Palmer wanted $275,000. They finally agreed on a $260,000 salary, with a bonus for a "significant contribution."<ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 75-76</ref> In 1977 and 1978, Palmer won 20 and 21 games, respectively. Despite the 20 wins in 1977, the Orioles almost refused to give him a bonus. After the [[Major League Baseball Players Association]] filed a grievance in Palmer's dispute and threatened to go to arbitration (which likely would have resulted in Palmer becoming a [[free agent]]), GM [[Hank Peters]] relented and gave him the bonus.<ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 76-77</ref> During the period spanning 1970 to 1978, Palmer had won 20 games in every season except for 1974. During those eight 20-win seasons, he pitched between {{frac|274|1|3}} and 319 innings per year, leading the league in [[innings pitched]] four times and earned run average twice. During that span, he threw between 17 and 25 [[complete game]]s each year.<ref name=BR>{{cite web|title=Jim Palmer|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/palmeji01.shtml|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=February 8, 2014}}</ref> Frustrated that pitchers who had become free agents like [[Vida Blue]] and [[Bert Blyleven]] were making more money than he in 1979, Palmer told a reporter for the ''[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]]'' "I'm going to aggravate [the Orioles] until they trade me."<ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 123-24</ref> Manager [[Earl Weaver]] responded by pinning a note to his locker that said, "Happy Father's Day. Now grow up."<ref name="page 124">Palmer and Dale, p. 124</ref> "He's right he's underpaid...He's worth a million dollars when he's pitching but he signed for $260,000."<ref name="page 124"/> Palmer eventually got over being discontent and the team won the AL pennant.<ref>Palmer and Dale, p. 125</ref> Weaver tabbed Palmer to start Game 1 of the [[1979 American League Championship Series|ALCS]] against the Angels, although Palmer asked him to start [[Mike Flanagan (baseball)|Mike Flanagan]], the 1979 Cy Young Award winner, instead, Weaver valued Palmer's experience. Matched up against Ryan, Palmer allowed three runs in nine innings, taking a no-decision as he left with the game tied. The Orioles won in the 10th on a [[John Lowenstein]] home run and won the series 3–1.<ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 129-31</ref>

===1980s===
From 1980 through 1985, Palmer was hampered by arm fatigue and myriad minor injuries. Even so, he brought a stabilizing veteran presence to the pitching staff. In 1981, Palmer got into a feud with [[Doug DeCinces]] after DeCinces missed a line drive hit by [[Alan Trammell]] in a game against the Tigers. According to DeCinces, Palmer "was cussing me out and throwing his hands in the air" after the play. "Those balls have to be caught," Palmer told a paper. "Doug is reluctant to get in front of a ball." "I'd like to know where Jim Palmer gets off criticizing others," DeCinces responded. "Ask anybody–they're all sick of it. We're a twenty-four man team–and one prima donna. He thinks it's always someone else's fault." The feud simmered until June, when Weaver said, "I see no cause for concern. The third baseman wants the pitcher to do a little better and the pitcher wants the third baseman to do a little better. I hope we can all do better and kiss and make up...The judge gave me custody of both of them."<ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 139–41</ref> Palmer ultimately blamed [[Brooks Robinson]] for the dispute: "If Brooks hadn't been the best third-baseman of all time, the rest of the Orioles wouldn't have taken it for granted that any ball hit anywhere within the same county as Brooks would be judged perfectly, fielded perfectly, and thrown perfectly, nailing (perfectly) what seemed like every single opposing batter."<ref>{{cite book |title=Brooks: The Biography of Brooks Robinson |first=Doug |last=Wilson |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |location=New York |date=2014 |isbn=978-1250033048 |page=247}}</ref>

After Palmer posted a 6.84 ERA in five starts, GM [[Hank Peters]] announced that "Palmer is never, ever, ever going to start another game in an Orioles uniform. I've had it."<ref>Palmer and Dale, p. 151</ref><ref name="1982 Palmer">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=palmeji01&t=p&year=1982|title=Jim Palmer 1982 Pitching Gamelogs|work=Baseball-Reference|access-date=December 8, 2020}}</ref> Weaver moved Palmer to the bullpen, but with the team needing another starter, he put Palmer back in the rotation in June. Shortly thereafter, Palmer went on an 11-game winning streak.<ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 152-53</ref>

Palmer's final major-league victory was noteworthy: pitching in relief of [[Mike Flanagan (baseball)|Mike Flanagan]] in the third game of the [[1983 World Series]], he faced the Phillies' celebrity-studded batting order and gave up no runs in a close Oriole win.

The 17 years between Palmer's first World Series win in 1966 and the 1983 win is the longest period of time between first and last pitching victories in the World Series for an individual pitcher in major league history. He also became the only pitcher in major league baseball history to have won World Series games in three decades. Also, Palmer became the only player in Orioles history to appear in all six ({{wsy|1966}}, {{wsy|1969}}, {{wsy|1970}}, {{wsy|1971}}, {{wsy|1979}}, {{wsy|1983}}) of their World Series appearances to date.

Palmer was the only Orioles player on the 1983 championship team to have previously won a World Series. He retired after being released by Baltimore during the {{Baseball year|1984}} season. He retired with a 268–152 win–loss record and a 2.86 ERA. Palmer was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990, his first year of eligibility.

===Early broadcasting career===
While still an active player, Palmer did color commentary for [[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]] for their coverage of the [[1978 American League Championship Series|1978]], [[1980 American League Championship Series|1980]] and [[1982 American League Championship Series]], [[1981 American League Division Series]] between [[1981 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland]] and [[1981 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City]], and the [[1981 World Series]].

From {{Baseball year|1985}} to {{Baseball year|1989}}, Palmer formed an announcing team with [[Al Michaels]] and [[Tim McCarver]] at ABC. Palmer announced the [[1985 World Series]], where he was supposed to team with Michaels and [[Howard Cosell]], whom Palmer had worked with on the previous year's [[1984 American League Championship Series|ALCS]]. McCarver replaced Cosell for the World Series at the last minute after Cosell released a book (''I Never Played the Game'') that was critical of the ABC Sports team. The team of Palmer, Michaels and McCarver would subsequently go on to call the [[1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1986 All-Star Game]] (that year, Palmer worked with Michaels on the [[1986 American League Championship Series|ALCS]] while McCarver teamed with [[Keith Jackson]] on ABC's coverage of the [[1986 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]]), the [[1987 World Series]], and [[1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1988 All-Star Game]] as well as that year's [[1988 National League Championship Series|NLCS]].

Palmer was present at San Francisco's [[Candlestick Park]] on October 17, {{Baseball year|1989}}, when the [[1989 Loma Prieta earthquake|Loma Prieta earthquake]] hit prior to Game 3 of the [[1989 World Series|World Series]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Palmer; Maimon|first=Jim; Alan|date= June 2016|title=Jim Palmer: Nine Innings to Success: A Hall of Famer's Approach to Achieving ...|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HwMuDAAAQBAJ&q=ABC|publisher=Triumph Books LLC|isbn=9781633194625}}</ref> After the 1989 season, ABC lost its contract to broadcast baseball to [[Major League Baseball on CBS|CBS]]. Palmer had earned $350,000 from ABC that year for appearing on around ten regular season broadcasts and making a few postseason appearances.<ref name=Hyman>{{cite news|last=Hyman|first=Mark|title=Jim Palmer more than ever an ex-ballplayer|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-02-12-sp-698-story.html|access-date=February 8, 2014|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 12, 1990}}</ref>

In 1990, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported that Palmer was thinking of pursuing work as a major league manager. Instead, Palmer worked as an analyst for [[ESPN Major League Baseball|ESPN]] and as a broadcaster for Orioles games on their local telecasts over [[WMAR-TV]] and [[NBC Sports Washington|Home Team Sports]].<ref name=Hyman/>

===Comeback attempt===
In {{Baseball year|1991}}, Palmer attempted a comeback with the Orioles. He explained in his 1996 book, "I wanted to see if I could be like [[Nolan Ryan]] was to the game or what [[George Blanda]] was to football."<ref name="page 168">Palmer and Dale, p. 168</ref> ESPN, which was trying to cut expenses, had asked him to take a pay cut and to sign a three-year contract. Palmer said he would sign a one-year contract for less pay, but ESPN refused. "I wouldn't be here today if the broadcasting climate had been more to my liking. That was really my prime motivation, the fact that I no longer had that obligation," Palmer said during spring training.<ref name=Orlando>{{cite news|last=White|first=George|title=Spring fever: Can Hall Of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer be a comeback kid at 45?|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1991/02/24/spring-fever-can-hall-of-fame-pitcher-jim-palmer-be-a-comeback-kid-at-45/|access-date=February 8, 2014|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=February 24, 1991|archive-date=February 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225201634/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1991-02-24/sports/9102240445_1_jim-palmer-fame-pitcher-jim-palmer-retired|url-status=live}}</ref>

Covering Palmer's spring training workouts, Richard Hoffer of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' said that Palmer's comeback was not entirely about money. He wrote that "it is fair to suspect that a certain vanity is involved."<ref name="siref"/> Hoffer said that Palmer "has failed to excite either ridicule or astonishment. He's in fabulous condition, no question. But no matter whom he lines up with on the row of practice mounds, there is more pop in the gloves of catchers other than his."<ref name="siref"/> "I couldn't throw ninety-five miles an hour anymore," Palmer later reflected. "The best I could do was eighty."<ref name="page 168"/>

While working out at the [[University of Miami]] during his comeback attempt, Palmer was approached by Miami assistant coach Lazaro Collazo. Collazo reportedly told him, "You'll never get into the Hall of Fame with those mechanics." "I'm already in the Hall of Fame," Palmer replied.<ref name="siref">{{cite magazine|last=Hoffer |first=Richard |title=Hope Flings Eternal |date=March 11, 1991 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1118954/index.htm |access-date=2009-05-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629201059/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1118954/index.htm |archive-date=June 29, 2009 }}</ref> To help Palmer's pitching motion, Collazo and Palmer completed unusual drills that involved Palmer placing a knee or foot on a chair as he tossed the ball.<ref name="siref"/>

After giving up five hits and two runs in two innings of a spring training game, he retired permanently. Palmer said that he tore his hamstring while warming up for the game, commenting, "I'm not saying I wouldn't like to continue, but I can't," he said. "I heard something pop in my leg yesterday. It wasn't a nice sound. I don't know what that means, but I think it's going to play havoc with my tennis game."<ref name=Schmuck>{{cite news|last=Schmuck|first=Peter|title=Palmer announces end to attempted comeback|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/03/13/palmer-announces-end-to-attempted-comeback/|access-date=February 8, 2014|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=March 13, 1991|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222014310/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-03-13/news/1991072072_1_palmer-comeback-attempt-orioles|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Return to broadcasting===
From {{Baseball year|1994}} to {{Baseball year|1995}}, Palmer returned to ABC (this time, via a revenue-sharing joint venture between Major League Baseball, ABC and [[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]] called [[The Baseball Network]]) to once again broadcast with Tim McCarver and Al Michaels. In 1995, the reunited team of Palmer, McCarver and Michaels would call the [[1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], Game 3 of that [[1995 National League Division Series|NLDS]] between [[1995 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati]] and [[1995 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles]], Game 4 of the NLDS between [[1995 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta]] and [[1995 Colorado Rockies season|Colorado]], Games 1–2 of the [[1995 National League Championship Series|NLCS]], and Games 1, 4–5 of the [[1995 World Series|World Series]]. Palmer, McCarver and Michaels were also intended to call the previous year's [[1994 World Series|World Series]] for ABC, but were denied the opportunity when the entire postseason was canceled due to a [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|strike]]. He is currently a [[color commentator]] on [[MASN]]'s [[List of Baltimore Orioles broadcasters|television broadcasts]] of Oriole games.

In July 2012, Palmer put up for auction his three Cy Young Award trophies and two of his four Gold Glove Awards. "At this point in my life, I would rather concern myself with the education of my grandchildren," he said.<ref name="Auction"/> Palmer also noted that his autistic teenage stepson would require special care and that "my priorities have changed."<ref name="Auction">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/story/2012-07-02/Jim-Palmer-puts-CY-Young-awards-up-for-auction/55988692/1|agency=Associated Press|work=USA Today|title=Jim Palmer puts Cy Young Awards up for auction|date=July 2, 2012|access-date=July 3, 2012}}</ref> Palmer had put up for auction one of his Cy Young Award trophies on behalf of a fundraising event for [[cystic fibrosis]] in years past, although he stated the winning bidder "had paid $39,000 for that and never ever took it. It was for the cause."<ref name="Auction" />

===Legacy===
<div style="float: right;">
{{MLBBioRet|Image=JimPalmer22.png|Name=Jim Palmer|Number=22|Team=Baltimore Orioles|Year=1985}}
</div>
Palmer is the only pitcher in major-league history to [[Win (baseball statistics)|win]] [[World Series]] games in three decades (1960s, 1970s, and 1980s). During his 19-year major league career of 575 games (including 17 postseason games), he never surrendered a [[grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]], nor did he ever allow back-to-back homers. In six ALCS and six World Series, he posted an 8–3 record with 90 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.61 and two shutouts in 17 games.

He was a mainstay in the rotation during Baltimore's six pennant-winning teams in the 1960s (1966 and 1969), 1970s (1970, 1971 and 1979) and 1980s (1983). With the passing of [[Mike Cuellar]] in 2010, Palmer became the last surviving member of the 1971 Baltimore starting rotation that included four 20-game winners. Palmer won spots on six All-Star teams, received four Gold Glove Awards and won three Cy Young Awards. He led the league in ERA twice and in wins three times.

Palmer has the fifth lowest ERA among starting pitchers since 1920 (through the 2024 season), behind [[Clayton Kershaw]], and Hall of Fame pitchers [[Hoyt Wilhelm]], [[Whitey Ford]], and [[Sandy Koufax]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lowest ERA, live ball era (1920-present) |url=https://stathead.com/sharing/EuFJ8 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Stathead.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilhelm, Hoyt {{!}} Baseball Hall of Fame |url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/wilhelm-hoyt |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=baseballhall.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ford, Whitey {{!}} Baseball Hall of Fame |url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/ford-whitey |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=baseballhall.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Koufax, Sandy {{!}} Baseball Hall of Fame |url=https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/koufax-sandy |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=baseballhall.org}}</ref> Wilhelm pitched in over 1,000 games, but started only 52.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hoyt Wilhelm Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilheho01.shtml |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Sometimes, Palmer would shift fielders around during games. He never meddled with the best fielders, such as the Robinsons or Paul Blair, but he would do so for less experienced players. "They might not know...that if they're playing a step or two to the opposite field and you're behind the batter two balls and no strikes...and you have a big lead...you're probably going to take a little off the pitch...and the fielders have to know to shift a couple of steps and play for the batter to pull."<ref>Palmer and Dale, pp. 110-11</ref>

In {{Baseball year|1999}}, he ranked No. 64 on ''[[The Sporting News]]''' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/lisn100.shtml |title=100 Greatest Baseball Players by The Sporting News : A Legendary List by Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |access-date=2012-09-22}}</ref> and was nominated as a finalist for the [[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]].

==Endorsements==
[[File:Jim Palmer All Star Parade 2008.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Palmer at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade, July 15, 2008.]]
During the late 1970s and 1980s, Palmer was a spokesman and underwear model for [[Jockey International Inc.|Jockey]] brand men's [[briefs]]. He appeared in the company's national print and television advertisements as well as on billboards at [[Times Square]] in New York City and other major cities. He donated all proceeds from the sale of his underwear poster to the [[Cystic Fibrosis Foundation]].

From 1992 until 1999, he was frequently seen on television throughout the United States in commercials for [[The Money Store (company)|The Money Store]], a national [[home equity]] and [[mortgage loan|mortgage lender]]. He has periodically appeared in ads and commercials for [[vitamin]]s and other health-related products. Palmer also represents Cosamin DS, a joint health supplement made by Nutramax Laboratories in Edgewood, Maryland.

He was also the spokesperson for Nationwide Motors Corp., which is a regional chain of car dealerships located in the Middle Atlantic region. He is currently a spokesman for the national "Strike Out High Cholesterol" campaign.<ref>[http://www.roundrockexpress.com/default.asp?PageId=84&ArticleId=1407 Official Site of the Round Rock Express]. Roundrockexpress.com. Retrieved on 2018-06-30.</ref> Additionally, Palmer serves as a member of the advisory board of the [[Baseball Assistance Team]], a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping former Major League, Minor League, and Negro league players through financial and medical difficulties.

==Personal life==

Shortly after graduating from high school in 1963, Palmer married the former Susan Ryan in 1964. He has two daughters with Ryan, named Jamie and Kelly. Ryan was not a huge baseball fan, as Palmer recalled: "She used to bring her knitting and/or a friend, who usually liked baseball even less, to the games."<ref>Palmer and Dale, p. 37</ref>

[[File:Jim Palmer 2009.jpg|thumb|Palmer at Camden Yards in 2009]]

In 2007, Palmer married the former Susan Earle, who has an adult son with autism.<ref name="Siegel RE2">{{cite news|last=Siegel|first=Andrea|title=Nest of a former Oriole|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=2008-09-28|page=RE2}}</ref> The Palmers have homes in [[Palm Beach, Florida]], and [[Corona Del Mar, California]]. In 2006, Palmer also acquired a penthouse condominium in [[Little Italy, Baltimore]], which he uses while in Baltimore for Orioles' broadcasts.

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
*[[List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]
*[[Major League Baseball titles leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

*{{cite book|last1=Palmer|first1=Jim|last2=Dale|first2=Jim|title=Palmer and Weaver: Together We Were Eleven Foot Nine|year=1996|publisher=Andrews and McMeel|location=Kansas City|isbn=0-8362-0781-5}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Jim Palmer}}
*{{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|palmer-jim}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=120196|espn=980|br=p/palmeji01|fangraphs=1009973|brm=palmer001jam|retro=P/Ppalmj001}}
*{{Sabrbio|3c239cfa}}
*{{IMDb name|id=1080130|name=Jim Palmer}}
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{{succession box |title=[[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters|No-hitter pitcher]]|before=[[Don Wilson (baseball)|Don Wilson]]|years=August 13, 1969 |after=[[Ken Holtzman]]}}
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{{1966 Baltimore Orioles}}
{{1970 Baltimore Orioles}}
{{1983 Baltimore Orioles}}
{{Baltimore Orioles Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Baltimore Orioles HOF}}
{{AL Cy Young}}
{{AL P Gold Glove Award}}
{{AL wins champions}}
{{AL ERA champions}}
{{Sporting News AL Pitcher of the Year Award}}
{{Baltimore Orioles retired numbers}}
{{Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame}}
{{1990 Baseball HOF}}
{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
{{Major League Baseball on ABC}}
{{ESPN Major League Baseball}}
{{Baltimore Orioles}}
{{The Baseball Network}}

{{Authority control}}

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