JIM PALMERS HALL OF FAME SPEECH
Mid-West Winter League Commissioner John “Stray” Corrado’s Introduction Speech for Jim Palmer:
It is without a doubt an honor to stand here today and welcome the first Mid-West Winter League Player into the Mid-West Winter League Hall of Fame. Jim Palmer was born in New York & shortly after was adopted was adopted by Moe & Polly Wiesen. His adoptive father passed away when Jim was only 9 years of age, and his mother moved the family out to the state of California, where he began his love affair with baseball during youth league baseball. His mother would remarry in 1956 to an actor named Max Palmer, whom Jim would take his last name. Showcased his talent at Scottsdale High School (Arizona) in 1963.
His talent would land him as the first-overall pick in the Mid-West Winter League’s Inaugural Draft in 1970, drafted by the Roseland Renegades. During that first season, he would help lead his team to reach the World Series against the Rushcreek Lakers, which they would lose that series. It would not be the last World Series of his career, he would be a participant in 5 fall classics while winning a World Title in 1974 with Mike Roberts’ Old Mills Legends. Palmer would go to 3 World Series with the Legends (1973, 1974 & 1976). He would win his two A.L. Cy Young Awards with the Legends in back-to-back seasons, 1975 & 1976. He would later be part of the American League Champion Detroit Stars in 1979.
During three years (1973, 1975-1976), he would dominate by compiling a 90-28 record (winning 76% of his decisions) – he missed most of 1974 due to injuries. He won 30 games at least twice, with a career high of 31 victories & 221 strikeouts during 1973. He would have a comeback year in 1975, winning his other 30-game season (30 wins), this time with a sub-zero 2.00 ERA (1.94) while striking out 210 batters. During 1976, he would just miss that 30-win mark by a victory, while setting a career-best 1.69 ERA with 204 K’s.
His career numbers are impressive, 5th all-time in wins with 224, 3rd all-time in each ERA (2.81) & complete games (119), while ending up 9th all-time with 1,898 strikeouts. He is also a 6-time MWWL All-Star with one Gold Glove Award while sporting a .593 career winning percentage (Career Record: 224-154).
Ladies & Gentleman, Mr. James Alvin Palmer, is your new inductee into the MWWL Hall of Fame.
Thank you, thanks to everyone who can be here today, it certainly has been an interesting journey to get to this moment. To me, the induction to the Hall is not only a great day for me or the other inductees, but it’s a celebration of baseball in general, walking through the streets of Cooperstown, you can feel the love for the game by the fans, they came here in droves. There is so much to love about the game of baseball.
To understand baseball, you need to know what it’s all about, and part of that is the competitiveness. There isn’t anybody on this stage who would not be in the Hall of Fame if they weren’t competitors. In the Majors when I was first introduced to the Orioles’ owner Edward Bennett Williams, he explained things best, and to this day I don’t think anyone ever put it in a better way than Edward. See Edward was a great trial lawyer in his day a lot of people who knew him would say he was the best trial lawyer who ever lived. Edward would sit me down and explain the fact that baseball and being a trial lawyer were very comparable. Preparing for cases months at a time, the fact that it took total commitment, a factor that would pay off in my career and the careers of Pedro & Mike as well. Committing themselves, to accomplish beneficial results. He talked about a spiritual, intellectual, physical, and total emotional level of committing yourself to commit yourself in those four areas. He said, “All I can ask of you as the owner of this ball club, or your teammates can ask of you, it’s the same thing, the only thing your manager can ask of you, the fans, and once you do that you can walk off the field, you can look at the scoreboard and you can live with yourself. You can go home even though you wanted to win knowing you’ve done your best.” So you know I thought about that and then I started thinking well, how did that come to light in my life?
And I go back to when I was born. I was adopted, adopted at birth. You wonder about the spiritual part of, I mean, how does it happen that you have parents who want you, who love you, and are always there for you? I mean, it’s an amazing thing when you look back all those years ago and think that from the very beginning, everything started properly.
I remember the thought of just the idea of being part of the new Mid-West Winter League was exciting enough, but then the realization sinks in when you realize that out of all the talented ball players waiting to be selected in the league’s inaugural draft, your name is the first name called. That excitement still to this day rings throughout my bones, the thrill of that one team felt you were the best of the best, and that they believe in you. That was a wonderful moment for me.
My time with the Roseland Renegades would be short-lived, as I was traded for Hank Aaron, Mickey Lolich & Pat Dobson. It’s not every day that someone’s name is mentioned in the same sentence as Hammerin’ Hank, so I’ll take it [laughter from the audience at Cooperstown]. The Renegades traded me to the Punxsutawney Philibusters, which I’m sure the team name was much fun for their local sports writers. I would have a .500 record of sorts, but I had an amazing ERA that season of 1.89 for my lone season with the Philibusters. Thinking back to that season, I felt like I was figuring out batters more, turning that corner, I knew that my best years were still ahead of me, which would set up my time with the Old Mills Legends nicely.
The Old Mill’s owner and manager Mike Roberts had the same competitive nature that I mentioned earlier, his commitment and dedication to the league, his team, and his players spoke volumes. I am glad that he saw talent in me, and when he had the chance to acquire me in a deal with Punxsutawney, he took it. Not to mention the fact that he traded a great pitcher Steve Carlton to acquire my services. I would end up having my best seasons from 1973 through 1976, Mike would stick with me through my injury-riddled 74 season, sticking me in the bullpen or for a few starts, he would let me be part of the 1974 World Series roster in which I would earn my only championship ring. For that, I will always be thankful to the late Mike Roberts. Thanks for making me a Legend.
[Palmer takes a moment, and continues…]
Playing for Old Mill, helped me get the chance to play in 3 World Series in 4 years, and to earn my back-to-back A.L. Cy Young Awards in 1975 and 1976. Everyone mentions the World Series teams, well that’s what it was all about. I never was enamored with strikeouts unless you had a guy on third base with less than two outs and then I wanted to strike someone out. I always felt the formula for Jim Palmer was, I will do my job and my teammates would do theirs, and they did.
I want to thank my supportive parents who made it possible for me to do what I love, and that’s to play this marvelous game, I want to thank all of those along the way of this wonderful journey that made me a better player in the game by teaching me the importance of respect, professionalism, and the importance of reporting to the clubhouse with the proper attitude. I think with the game of baseball, you must own these attributes to help you succeed in this game, without any of that, you will not get far in this game. I want to thank the Hall of Fame for making me part of your special fraternity, for being elected to join the best of the best. To be recognized as one of the best, is truly an amazing honor, and I appreciate it so much, thank you, everyone, this will not be a moment I will forget, and thanks to all that have shown up for today’s event.