Why I love Jim Palmer, Baltimore’s best athlete
by Nestor Aparicio | June 27, 2008 at 6:00 am
Posted in b the paper, sports
From today’s b, the paper
I’ve been sitting home watching the Orioles games from Wrigley Field in glorious MASN HD the past three days, including Thursday’s pasting of the Cubs.
For once, I’m a grateful Orioles fan. I’m happy they’re marketing the team, selling a few tickets the past few weeks, getting people downtown to stimulate the city (even in the midst of a few murders three blocks from my home this week), winning some games and making their hardcore fans happy. I’m grateful that they’ve made it an interesting season for all of us.
But even more so, I’m grateful for my nightly doses of James Alvin Palmer. On Tuesday night, after I watched Jerry Remy celebrated for his 20 years with the Red Sox on NESN’s TV broadcasts, I’m thankful that there’s still one thing about MASN that’s not all screwed up and corporate. And that’s “Cakes.”
Jim Palmer makes watching the O’s better, even more so when he’s paired with Gary Thorne, who is as good as they’re going to get now that Jon Miller has been wrongfully gone for 12 years. I was driving through upper Fells Point last week, and there was Palmer standing in a golf shirt, looking half his age, crossing the street. And I thought to myself: “There goes the greatest Baltimore athlete of them all, who will never get the credit he probably deserves.” Go look up his numbers.
And he’ll probably never be considered a civic treasure in the same vein as Brooks Robinson or Johnny U. because his vocabulary is too big and knowledge too deep for most of us to grasp his greatness or mastery of baseball. His brilliance is often brushed off as arrogance. What a shame. It’s the comedy that I enjoy.
In the Tuesday broadcast, MASN’s Jim Hunter was telling a story about being in Gibsons Restaurant in Chicago with his family and was doing the usual kiss-Jim’s-ass routine. He told the story in as humorous a fashion as he could, saying that he saw the pope’s picture on the lobby’s Wall of Fame, and Palmer’s autographed photo was actually above it and personalized to the folks at Gibsons.
And Palmer’s retort was actually so freaking good it was lost on Hunter. Palmer’s response: “Really,” he said, clearly surprised by the story. “Was I dressed?” Hunter just moved on and kissed Palmer’s butt some more.
So, we here at b thought we’d provide the visual punchline to Palmer’s softball. No doubt sports marketing was a lot different in the 1980s. Obviously, Palmer didn’t sign our photo.
Jim Palmer models Jockey underwear in a 1988 ad
Nestor Aparicio, owner of WNST-AM 1570, writes about sports and more. His column appears Mondays and Fridays. For more, go townst.net.
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June 27th, 2008 at 11:45 am | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Jim Palmer really is the picture of poise and professionalism. I'm not a huge sports fan, but even I stop and take notice when he's commenting on something baseball related. He never seems to get lost in his own blabber like most sportscasters.
Although the other night I was pretty taken aback by the (obvious) amount of work he's had done on his face. It was a little bit sad because I feel confident that he would be just as attractive (if no more so) if he just went natural.
!
June 27th, 2008 at 1:57 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Many people today can't see through to the heart, Jim cares and was once of the best of all time. For me I enjoy listening to him he even offers pitching tips over the air. Sure the new pitching coach has done a good job, but I know Jim deserves some credit there too, he has talked to a lot of the pitchers.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:50 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I always had the misplaced idea that Jim Palmer spent his days thinking about nothing but, well, Jim Palmer. But having heard him on the radio from time to time (thanks, WNST) and listening to him now - my opinion has changed completely. The man does his homework, knows the game, and knows the players - both then and now.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:04 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Palmer is a solid broadcaster, Nestor. But that does not make him:
a- Baltimore's Best (anything)
b- NOT a pompous, arrogant tool.
Palmer gets plenty of credit: just ask him.
I'd rather hear Rick Sutcliffe or Steve Stone. And I think Moose was better on the mound.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:25 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
My partner and I have said it for years...Palmer is the best in Baltimore baseball. His numbers in the 70's are scary they're so good. He's the common denominator for all the championships. Perhaps if Frank had been here longer there would be a debate. Excluding Frank, no one else comes close to Cakes.
All this from a guy who loves Brooks.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:16 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Jimmy is Baltimore’s best athlete... Just ask him !
June 28th, 2008 at 1:46 am | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
"And I think Moose was better on the mound."
You, sir, must be smoking crack.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:51 am | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
No doubt Jim Palmer, #22, aka "Cakes" and Earl Weaver's worst nightmare, belongs right atop the local sports icoon ladder with Johnny Unitas, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, and Eddie Murray. Sure, he's full of himself but from the time he joined the Orioles in 1965 until his retirement in 1984, the Orioles were all about winning. He is the bridge from the 1966 Championship to the Cal Ripken era. Jim was there, saw it all, and was a big part of it too.
He also has earned a spot in the local sportscaster Hall of Fame too along with Chuck Thompson and Vince Bagli. He was the premier color analyst for years with ABC, and has worked with national caliber broadcasters in the Orioles booth pared with Jon Miller, Mel Proctor, Jim Hunter, and Gary Thorne. Sadly, he also worked with Michael Reghi who never realized he was in Baltimore not Detroit or Cleveland unless "Cakes" didn't remind him. Surely during the Reghi years, Jim held his nose and collected his paycheck.
When will this town ever get over Jon Miller's departure? He left Baltimore to go home to the city where he grew up. Who could blame him for passing up on that opportunity when Angelos was slow in discussing contract extensions. Angelos has done many things wrong, but he has taken a bum rap on the Jon Miller scenario. Should we attack Mr. Gerald Hoffberger for not being able to retain Ernie Harwell? We lost Harwell but soon locked in Chuck Thompson for the rest of his life.
How wonderful it was to be a lad growing up in the 60's and becoming an adult in the 70's listening to Chuck Thompson chronicle almost all of Jim Palmer's famous caeer for scared rookie and roommate of Robin Roberts to Hall of Fame inductee.
Jim Palmer has been with the organization for over 45 years and surviced Aberdeen, SD with a brash minor league manager, Earl Weaver, whose top assistant, Cal Ripken Sr. proved to be one of the greatest inspirations in the impressionable young prospect's learning days.
The best of Baltimore baseball comes full circle with Jim Palmer. Let's
June 28th, 2008 at 7:17 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I love Jim Palmer. But Baltimore, I beg you, please, get out of town once in a while. Jim Palmer is a snore as a broadcaster. That's why young people don't get into baseball -- because so many of the sportscaster are just boring. To fall in love with baseball you have to watch the games on TV - lots of 'em. And you need a broadcaster who's knowledgeable yes, but who's interesting, quirky, high energy -- who explains the inside skinny, but in a way that keeps you awake. Sadly, this is not Jim Palmer.
Baltimore is hopelessly nostalgic. Jim Palmer is a local and national sports treasure. But not because of his broadcasting. If we want the next generation to love the O's, we've got to bring baseball to them in a way that's exciting.
Southpaw
June 29th, 2008 at 2:34 am | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
In my eyes, Palmer is a legend. I've ALWAYS thought he was an excellent announcer. Unlike so many former-player announcers, Palmer actually offers insightful analysis... not cheerleading... even though he clearly loves the O's. I live in Boston, see tons of Red Sox games on TV and Jerry Remy could not hold Palmer's jock on the diamond and he can't hold it in the booth either. He's a treasure.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:00 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Come on Brooks Robinson deserves this more the Mr. Ego. I know him indirectly, dated one of my teachers, my best friend dated his daughter and heard stories from Mr. Nobody (car dealer). The award should go to someone with higher morals.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:28 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
He looks hot in that photo :)
June 30th, 2008 at 3:54 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
southpaw, I'm not so sure Palmer is that much of a bore. I have MLB Extra Innings and I watch a lot of games. There are many other announcers that are far more boring.
I honestly think Baltimore has one of the better game crews.