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Despite fighting arm injuries during his 20-year career, Jim Palmer accomplished feats that may never be matched by another major league pitcher.
After only one season in the minors, Palmer was promoted to the Baltimore Orioles club in 1965. In 1966, at the tender age of 20, Palmer led the Orioles to the pennant with a 15-10 record, and shut out Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers in game two of the World Series, Koufax’s final game.
Arm trouble kept Palmer out of the rotation for the most part over the next two seasons, but he came back strong, winning 16 times and leading the American League in winning percentage. From 1970 - 1973, Palmer was nearly unbeatable, winning at least 20 games in each of those four seasons, including the ERA title and Cy Young award in 1973.
Though many thought Palmer may be done after elbow problems in 1974, he came back even stronger than he did after his previous injury. He led the American League in wins from 1975 - 1977, won two more Cy Young awards (1975 and 1976), and won 20 more games in 1978.
During his career, spent entirely with the Orioles, Palmer won 268 games, had a 2.86 ERA, and struck out 2212 batters. He pitched 3984 innings (leading the league in four seasons, despite his arm injuries), never gave up a
grand slam homerun, and won four Gold Glove awards. Palmer also collected three World Series rings, sweeping the Dodgers in 1966, taking four of five from the Reds in 1970, and beating the Phillies, four games to one, in 1983.
Palmer retired in 1984 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.
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