Well, at least until the O's make it back. But that will be 2014 or beyond.
Palmer happens to be one of this blogger's favs on the mound. And while he pitched 4 years past my birth, I never got a chance to see him pitch live.
In any event, a rather sad goodbye overshadowed his first World Series win.
Only 20 years old, he took the hill in game 2 of the 1966 World Series. The Dodgers' hadn't faced Palmer before, but Jim made sure they'd never forget. Jim tossed a fine game: 4 hits and 3 walks over 9 innings a no runs allowed!
The O's won 6-0. But that isn't what I remember. It was the last game Sandy Koufax pitched. The O's went on to win the Series in 4 straight.
In 1969, it was the Mets turn to face Baltimore. Palmer started game 3 and didn't pitch too badly. But New York took advantage of his wildness. Palmer walked 4 batters in only 6 innings. That, plus 5 hits were enough for 4 earned runs and a 5-0 Met win. Palmer never got another start. New York won it, 4 games to 1.
So the next year it was Baltimore's turn to win again. And reverse 1969 by winning it in 5. The Balimore Orioles wouldn't have won the 1970 World Series without Palmer.
In game 1, Big Jim (Palmer was 6' 3") gave up 5 hits and 5 walks in 8 2/3 innings. The Cincinnati Reds scored 3 times off him. But a fine play by Brooks Robinson in the 8th (stopping a Lee May hard hit ball down the line) sealed the Reds fate. Palmer ended up winning 4-3.
After 6 innings in game 4, which was Palmer's second start, the O's were up 5-3. Brooks Robinson took a ground ball and stepped on third to force out Bernie Carbo. This happened in the top of the third to retire the side. Brooksie didn't make a putout, an assist or an error other than that. But at the plate, Robinson went 4-4 with a home run, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. The Reds actually rallied on a 3-run home run by Lee May in the top of the 7th to win. Palmer was out of the game by then. Baltimore lost this game but took game 5, 9-3, to wrap up the Series.
It was the Pirates' turn in 1971 and '79 to face Palmer.
Jimmy won game 2, 11-3. He went 8 innings, walked 8 but K'd 10. The Orioles were up 2-0 in the Series. But they proceeded to lose 3 straight.
Back in Baltimore for game 6, Palmer kept his team's hope alive by going 9, giving up just 2 earned runs and fanning 5. The O's were tied at this point. They won it in extras, but Palmer didn't get a decision. The Pirates took game 7, alas.
8 years later, same 2 teams.
Palmer left after 7 with the score tied at 2, in game 2. The O's lost the game and the Series was now tied.
When the Orioles won the next 2 games, it looked all but over. The great Baltimore offence was about to die in the last two games.
Getting just one run in game 6, the O's lost.
Palmer looked like he was ready to bring Baltimore it's third World Series title in game 6, however.
Nothing but zeros from Jim and Pirate John Candelaria through 6. Baltimore, with it's home field advantage, looked primed for a breakthrough, though.
Instead, it was the Pirates that scored twice in the top of the 7th. Candelaria was gone for a pinch hitter, but the O's could do nothing with Ken Tekulve, who came in a blanked Baltimore for the last 3 innings. Palmer was nailed for 2 more runs in the top of the 8th. The O's got 1 hit off Tekulve. It was down to the wire.
The O's seemed to have it figured out as they led the finale, 1-0. But then Willie Stargell smacked a towering 2-run blast in the top of the 6th.
The Orioles loaded 'em up in the bottom of the 8th, but Tekulve was too good again. 2 more runs by the Bucks and a 1-2-3 9th by Teke finished Baltimore off for good.
Palmer struggled in '83, going just 5-4 with an ERA of 4.23. He was 37 years old, but clearly past it.
His great manager, Earl Weaver, was gone. His replacement, Joe Altobelli, kept Palmer on the postseason roster. It was time for one last moment in the sun.
The other team from Pennsylvania, Philadelphia were making a crack at their second World Series win of the 80s. A win in game 1 got the Philadelphia Phillies off to the right star. Baltimore took game 2.
In game 3, Mike Flanagan was knocked out early by the Phillies. The O's seemed down and out. 2-0, Philly. Palmer picked Flanny up for the next 2 innings. The Orioles scored 3 runs and held on to win. Palmer had pitched his last World Series game, and gone out with a victory. The O's then won the next two games.
Palmer won his first World Series start, and now his last. Plus his teams had won the last four games of his first and last World Series. Neither his first or last World Series team was managed by Earl Weaver.
But those are just a few footnotes to this remarkable World Series performer.
References
Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.
Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.
Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.
Snyder, John S. World Series! Great Moments and Dubious Achievements. San Francisco: Chronicle, 1995. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. Dec 12. 2013.
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