Lowell Palmer – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Lowell Palmer wrapped up his professional baseball career in 1974 after five seasons in Major League Baseball. His journey started off with a lot of hope, but in the end, he mostly battled with inconsistency on the mound.

This right-handed pitcher out of Sacramento, California, took the field in 106 games for four different teams between 1969 and 1974. His career record tells a familiar story—one that a lot of young pitchers face when they reach the big leagues’ highest level. challenges

Palmer ended his MLB run with a 5-18 record and a 5.29 ERA. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, and San Diego Padres. The Phillies picked him in the first round in 1966 after he’d impressed in the minors, but Palmer just couldn’t quite bring that early magic to the majors. Still, he managed to strike out 239 batters in 316.2 innings.

His story really captures both the excitement and the tough breaks of pro baseball. He went from a hot prospect to someone who just couldn’t find consistency or control, and eventually, that forced him out of the game.

Palmer’s trips through four different organizations give you a glimpse into what baseball looked like in the early 1970s. Players like him had to figure out how to bridge that gap from amateur to pro, and it wasn’t easy.

Lowell Palmer’s Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Lowell Raymond Palmer was born August 18, 1947, in Sacramento, California. He started building his baseball chops in high school and college before he ever put on a pro uniform.

He stood out at Norte Del Rio High School and American River College. By the time the Phillies drafted him in 1966, he’d already made a name for himself locally.

Early Years in Sacramento

Palmer grew up in Sacramento during the ‘50s and early ‘60s. The city’s strong baseball scene gave him plenty of chances to play and develop as a pitcher.

Sacramento’s warm weather made year-round baseball possible. Palmer joined local leagues when he was still a kid.

His right-handed pitching talent started turning heads in his teens. His family always backed his baseball dreams.

People in Sacramento’s baseball circles saw his potential early. Local coaches spent time helping him with his mechanics and game approach.

High School at Norte Del Rio

Palmer went to Norte Del Rio High School, where he played varsity baseball. He showed off the kind of pitching that would get scouts’ attention.

The Baltimore Orioles picked Palmer in the 23rd round of the 1965 MLB June Amateur Draft while he was still in high school. That was a pretty clear sign he had something special.

Even though Baltimore drafted him, Palmer decided to keep playing amateur ball. He went to college instead of signing right away.

His high school stats put him among the top pitching prospects in Sacramento. Choosing college baseball turned out to be the right move for him.

American River College Baseball

After high school, Palmer headed to American River College in Sacramento. The junior college program gave him more time to grow.

He really boosted his draft stock in college. Scouts from several teams took notice of his performances.

The Phillies grabbed Palmer as the 6th overall pick in the 1966 MLB January Draft Secondary Phase. Going from the 23rd round to the 1st round was a huge leap.

College helped Palmer mature, both as a player and as a person. That extra seasoning made him more ready for pro ball than if he’d gone straight from high school.

American River College had a good track record for developing players. Palmer’s success there showed he’d made a smart call going to college first.

Major League Debut and Team History

Lowell Palmer’s pro career stretched five seasons, covering four MLB teams from 1969 to 1974. The Phillies drafted him in 1966, and he spent some time in the minors before finally making his major league debut at 21.

Draft and Signing with Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies picked Palmer in the first round, sixth overall, in the Secondary Phase of the 1966 amateur draft. That showed they really believed in his potential.

Palmer spent about three and a half years working his way up through the Phillies’ minor league system. He put up a 36-17 record there, striking out 534 batters in 516 innings. That’s pretty solid.

His minor league numbers got him a shot in the majors. The Phillies saw his steady progress and gave him a chance.

Major League Debut in 1969

Palmer debuted in the majors on June 21, 1969, facing the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was only 21. In that first game, he pitched 7.2 innings, gave up nine hits and five earned runs, struck out eight, and walked four.

In 1969, Palmer played in 26 games for the Phillies, starting nine of them. He finished with a 2-8 record and a 5.20 ERA over 90 innings. The win-loss record wasn’t great, but he did manage 68 strikeouts.

He stayed with the Phillies through 1971, appearing in 38 games in 1970 and three in 1971. In all, he pitched in 67 games for Philadelphia before they traded him.

Tenure with St. Louis Cardinals

Palmer joined the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972 after a mid-season move. He played in 16 games that year, starting twice.

He did a bit better in St. Louis than he had in Philly. Palmer finished with a 3.89 ERA over 34.2 innings, striking out 25 and walking 26. Control was still a bit shaky, but he showed some improvement.

The Cardinals mostly used him out of the bullpen. He even closed out three games, which showed they trusted him in tight spots.

Final MLB Season with San Diego Padres

Palmer’s last MLB season was with the San Diego Padres in 1974. He pitched in 22 games, started eight, and went the distance once.

That year, he went 2-5 with a 5.67 ERA in 73 innings. He struck out 52 but walked 59—control was still an issue. Even so, the Padres kept him in the rotation and bullpen.

His major league career ended after the 1974 season. Palmer’s last big league game came on September 16, 1974, against the Cincinnati Reds. He threw two innings and allowed one earned run.

Pitching Style and Career Statistics

Palmer’s five years in MLB, from 1969 to 1974, were filled with control issues and high earned run averages. Still, he flashed some strikeout ability from time to time.

His numbers show a pitcher who just couldn’t find steady footing but could rack up some strikeouts for his era. strikeout rates

Power Pitcher Profile

Palmer had a pretty good fastball and struck out 239 hitters in 316.2 innings. His 6.79 strikeouts per nine innings was solid for the early 1970s.

His best strikeout season was 1970 with the Phillies, when he posted a 7.50 K/9 over 102 innings. He pitched in 38 games that year, showing he could miss bats when things clicked.

His strikeout-to-walk ratio, 1.39, tells the story, though. Palmer struck out 239 but walked 202, so he had the stuff but not the pinpoint accuracy needed to stick around longer.

Strikeouts and K/9IP

Palmer’s strikeout totals jumped around over his five seasons. He set his career high with 85 Ks in 1970.

Season-by-Season Strikeout Rates:

• 1969: 6.80 K/9 (68 strikeouts in 90 innings)
• 1970: 7.50 K/9 (85 strikeouts in 102 innings)
• 1971: 3.60 K/9 (6 strikeouts in 15 innings)
• 1972: 6.87 K/9 (28 strikeouts in 36.2 innings)
• 1974: 6.41 K/9 (52 strikeouts in 73 innings)

That 1970 season really stands out—he averaged more than seven strikeouts per nine innings, his best rate.

Walks, Wild Pitches, and BB/9IP

Palmer’s control was a problem all along. He averaged 5.74 walks per nine innings, giving up 202 walks in 316.2 innings.

His worst stretch came in 1971, when he walked 7.80 batters per nine innings. That year, he only pitched 15 innings but walked 13 and struck out just six.

Wild Pitch Statistics:

• Career total: 35 wild pitches
• 1970: 14 wild pitches (his highest in a season)
• 1974: 10 wild pitches

Those 35 wild pitches show how much he struggled with command. In 1970 alone, he threw 14 wild pitches, which was a lot for one season.

Earned Run Average and Career Record

Palmer finished with a 5.29 ERA and a 5-18 record in 106 games. His ERA always stayed on the high side—he never managed a season below 3.89.

His best ERA came in 1972, when he had a 3.93 mark across two teams. He made 17 appearances that season, splitting time between St. Louis and Cleveland.

Career Pitching Record:

• Wins: 5
• Losses: 18
• ERA: 5.29
• Games: 106
• Starts: 25
• Complete Games: 2

In his last season, 1974 with San Diego, Palmer went 2-5 with a 5.67 ERA. He pitched in 22 games for the Padres, starting eight and finishing one game.

Lowell Palmer with the Cleveland Indians

Lowell Palmer joined the Cleveland Indians in September 1972 after the St. Louis Cardinals put him on waivers. He didn’t stay long with Cleveland, but he did have a solid run in their minor league system, where he really showed off his strikeout stuff.

Role in the Cleveland Indians Roster

The Indians picked up Palmer on waivers on September 18, 1972. He only played a few games with the MLB club that year.

Most of his time with Cleveland’s organization came at their Triple-A team in Oklahoma City during the 1973 season. Frank Lucchesi managed that club—he’d actually managed Palmer with the Phillies before.

Minor League Assignment:

• Team: Oklahoma City (Triple-A)
• Manager: Frank Lucchesi
• League: American Association

Cleveland used Palmer mainly as a starter in the minors. They wanted him to work on his control and get some consistency, which had always been an issue for him.

Palmer’s stint with the Indians ended when they traded him to the New York Yankees on June 12, 1973. Cleveland got pitcher Mike Kekich in return.

Performance and Highlights

Palmer’s best moment with the Indians organization came in 1973 at Oklahoma City. He led the American Association in strikeouts, racking up 203 strikeouts in 196 innings.

That was a big turnaround for him. Palmer had struggled with walks and wildness, but in the minors that year, he found his groove.

1973 Oklahoma City Statistics:

• Strikeouts: 203 (led American Association)
• Innings Pitched: 196
• League Ranking: #1 among all pitchers in strikeouts

Those 203 strikeouts showed he could still get hitters out when he located his fastball. That was his best single-season performance as a pro.

Palmer himself seemed pretty optimistic after that season. “Maybe this means I’m a prospect again, not a suspect,” he told The Sporting News after his big year in Oklahoma City.

That performance brought back some confidence for Palmer. It proved he could still pitch when he got regular starts and had time to work on his mechanics.

Notable Games and Career Highlights

Palmer played five seasons in the MLB, and he definitely had his moments. He notched some complete game wins and had a few strong strikeout performances. His career wrapped up in 1974 with the San Diego Padres.

Major League Complete Games

He threw two complete games during his big-league run, showing he could go the distance when it mattered. Palmer pitched his first complete game with the Philadelphia Phillies back in 1969, during his rookie season.

That year, as a rookie, he managed to finish one of his nine starts, which was a promising sign. He ended up tossing 90 innings that season and struck out 68 batters.

Palmer’s second and last complete game came in 1974 with the Padres. That outing really showed his grit and stamina, especially since it turned out to be his final year in pro ball.

He worked as both a starter and a reliever throughout his career, but those two complete games really stood out. When the team needed it, Palmer proved he could handle a full game’s workload.

Memorable Strikeout Performances

Over five seasons, Palmer racked up 239 strikeouts. His best year for strikeouts was 1970, when he fanned 85 hitters in 102 innings for the Phillies.

That season, he posted a strikeout rate of 7.5 per nine innings, which is pretty solid. He pitched in 38 games that year, so he saw plenty of action.

Palmer made his MLB debut on June 21, 1969, against Pittsburgh, and he wasted no time showing off his strikeout stuff. He threw 7.2 innings and struck out 8 batters in his very first appearance.

In 1970, he improved his strikeout-to-walk ratio to 1.55, which showed he was getting better at controlling the game. That mix of strikeouts and better command pointed to his growth as a pitcher.

Retirement from MLB in 1974

Palmer played his last MLB season in 1974 with the Padres, finishing with a 2-5 record and a 5.67 ERA. His final game came on September 16, 1974, against the Cincinnati Reds.

In that last outing, Palmer pitched 2 innings, gave up 3 hits and 1 earned run, and struck out 2 batters. That game marked the end of his pro baseball days at just 27 years old.

Palmer’s career wrapped with 5 wins and 18 losses, which tells you he faced some tough stretches in the majors. Still, he appeared in 106 games for four different teams.

He wrapped up his career after pitching in 22 games for San Diego, including 8 starts. Even in his last year, he managed 52 strikeouts over 73 innings, so he never really lost his knack for missing bats.

Legacy and Post-Retirement Activities

Palmer’s name still pops up in baseball record books and databases. After his playing days, he stayed connected to pro baseball, even spending time in senior leagues.

Reputation Among MLB Power Pitchers

People knew Lowell Palmer as a fireballer during his time in the big leagues from 1969 to 1974. His fastball really set him apart from a lot of other pitchers at the time. Palmer built his reputation on striking out hitters at a pretty impressive clip.

In the minors, he piled up 534 strikeouts in 516 innings. That kind of rate showed he could really overpower guys.

During his MLB career, Palmer struck out 239 batters. Unfortunately, arm trouble held him back from reaching his full potential. Even with a 5-18 record and a 5.18 ERA, people remembered him for his strikeouts.

In 1973, pitching for the Oklahoma City 89ers, Palmer led the American Association with 203 strikeouts. That season proved he still had his power pitching, even outside the majors.

Appearance in Retrosheet Records and Baseball Databases

You can find Palmer’s stats in a bunch of baseball databases and record-keeping sites. Retrosheet keeps detailed logs of his games and performances, which helps fans and researchers piece together his career.

Baseball-Reference and other stat sites list all his career info, including his debut on June 21, 1969, and his last game on September 16, 1974. They show his appearances for four different MLB teams.

Palmer pitched in 106 games over five seasons. His career ERA of 5.29 and WHIP of 1.592 are still part of baseball’s history. Those numbers give some perspective on pitchers from the early ’70s.

Modern analysts use these records to study how pitchers developed and how injuries shaped careers. Palmer’s story is a good example of how arm injuries could derail a promising pitcher back then.

Life After Baseball

After his MLB career ended, Palmer stayed involved in professional baseball. In 1989, he suited up for the West Palm Beach Tropics in the Senior Professional Baseball Association.

This league gave former MLB players a shot at competing again. Honestly, it was kind of a unique opportunity for guys who just couldn’t hang up their gloves.

The Senior Professional Baseball Association only stuck around from 1989 to 1990. Palmer jumped in with a group of other ex-major leaguers, all trying out this winter league idea.

He really showed his love for the game, even though he’d had arm trouble before. You could tell he just wasn’t ready to walk away from baseball.

Playing in the senior leagues let Palmer show off his skills, but without all the stress that comes with major league games. It’s wild to think he came back to play like that 15 years after his last MLB appearance.

Not much else is out there about what Palmer did after retiring. His time with the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989 pretty much closed the book on his baseball career.