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Baltimore Orioles Greats: The Mount Rushmore of Birdland

By Kristen Bentley

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 06: Hall of fame player and former Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripken Jr. stands next to the statue of him that was unvieled before the start of the Orioles and New York Yankees game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 6, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 06: Hall of fame player and former Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripken Jr. stands next to the statue of him that was unvieled before the start of the Orioles and New York Yankees game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 6, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 26: Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher and Hall of Famer Jim Palmer looks on during batting practice at Minute Maid Park on May 26, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 26: Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher and Hall of Famer Jim Palmer looks on during batting practice at Minute Maid Park on May 26, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

The Orioles were simply too good in the 1970s and 1980s. And, they haven’t been the same since, even with Ripken playing into 2001. No Orioles Mount Rushmore would be complete without Jim Palmer. He is simply the best pitcher to step on the mound in an Orioles uniform. Every game he played was with the Orioles.

No other pitcher has stats that come close. Yes, Tippy Martinez pitched in the closest number of games, but his innings pitched aren’t even close. Yes, ten pitchers have lower ERA numbers than Palmer has, but their bodies of work can’t compare. He is the definition of a horse and has the work ethic that other pitchers strive to achieve. Like all players of his caliber, he made everything look easy – which is the best way to identify greatness between the lines.

His most unusual record is that he has World Series win in three different decades, the 60s, 70s, and 80s. He was the first pitcher to do this.

Jim Palmer: Third face of Baltimore Orioles Mount Birdmore

  • Position: Starting pitcher
  • Seasons with Orioles: 1965 -1984
  • Batted/threw: Right/right
  • Born: Oct. 15, 1945 in New York, New York
  • MLB debut: Apr. 17, 1965 with Orioles
  • Last MLB appearance: May 12, 1984 with Orioles
  • Nickname: “Cakes”
  • All-Star Game appearances: 6
  • World Series rings: 3
  • Gold Glove awards: 4
  • Cy Young awards: 3
  • MVP awards: 0
  • Rookie of the Year: No.
  • BBWAA Hall of Fame: Yes. Class of 1990.

Palmer’s career stats

  • Games: 558
  • ERA: 2.86
  • Wins/Losses: 268/152
  • Innings pitched: 3948
  • Earned runs: 1253
  • Strikeouts: 2212
  • Average against: .230
  • WHIP: 1.18
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