Lowell Palmer
Encyclopedia
Lowell Raymond Palmer is a retired American
Major League Baseball
pitcher
. The right-hander was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
in the 1st round (6th pick) of the 1966 amateur draft (Secondary Phase). He played for the Phillies
(1969–1971), St. Louis Cardinals
(1972), Cleveland Indians
(1972), and San Diego Padres
(1974). Palmer was called up to the Phillies after posting a 36-17 record in 3½ minor league
seasons, with 534 strikeouts in 516 innings pitched
, and made his major league
debut on June 21, 1969.
At the major league
level, Palmer rarely achieved the success that he had enjoyed in the minors. He did have some excellent outings, but they were few and far between. One of his main problems was wildness, as he walked a total of 202 batters in just 316.2 innings pitched
. His BB/9IP was 5.74, much higher than the major league average at that time. He also was fourth in the National League
with 14 wild pitch
es in 1970, and eighth in the league with 10 wild pitch
es in 1974. He also hit 7 batters in 1974, ranking third in the league. As a power pitcher
, however, he did strike out quite a few batters (239), giving him a K/9IP of 6.79, which was higher than the major league average. Palmer gave up a total of 527 baserunners in his 316.2 innings
and never pitched for a winning team, leading to a career record of 5-18. His earned run average
for those 106 games (25 starts) was 5.29.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. The right-hander was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 1st round (6th pick) of the 1966 amateur draft (Secondary Phase). He played for the Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1969–1971), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1972), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1972), and San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
(1974). Palmer was called up to the Phillies after posting a 36-17 record in 3½ minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
seasons, with 534 strikeouts in 516 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, and made his major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut on June 21, 1969.
At the major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
level, Palmer rarely achieved the success that he had enjoyed in the minors. He did have some excellent outings, but they were few and far between. One of his main problems was wildness, as he walked a total of 202 batters in just 316.2 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. His BB/9IP was 5.74, much higher than the major league average at that time. He also was fourth in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
with 14 wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
es in 1970, and eighth in the league with 10 wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
es in 1974. He also hit 7 batters in 1974, ranking third in the league. As a power pitcher
Power pitcher
In baseball, a power pitcher is a pitcher who relies on the velocity of his pitches, sometimes at the expense of accuracy. Power pitchers usually record a high number of strikeouts and statistics such as strikeouts per 9 innings pitched are common measures of power...
, however, he did strike out quite a few batters (239), giving him a K/9IP of 6.79, which was higher than the major league average. Palmer gave up a total of 527 baserunners in his 316.2 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
and never pitched for a winning team, leading to a career record of 5-18. His earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
for those 106 games (25 starts) was 5.29.