Nine Innings to Success: A Hall of Famer's Approach to Achieving Excellence

by Jim Palmer, Alan Maimon

Jim Palmer was just 20 years old when he became the youngest pitcher ever to throw a World Series shutout, helping lead the Baltimore Orioles to their first-ever championship, in 1966. Two years later, Palmer’s budding career almost ended due to arm problems. Yet, he mounted an inspiring comeback and reached the pinnacle of his profession, becoming the winningest pitcher of the 1970s and the only hurler to win a World Series game in three different decades. With three World Series rings, three Cy Young Awards and six All-Star selections to his name, an exemplary record as a spokesperson for charities and corporations, and his long tenure as a TV baseball analyst, Palmer is an authority on what it takes to succeed on and off of the field. Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer and co-author Alan Maimon take readers inside the clubhouse, broadcast booth, and corporate world to tell the story of a one-of-a-kind career that serves as a how-to guide on succeeding in the workplace. Interspersed with memorable stories from his illustrious career with the Orioles, this book includes baseball wisdom and life-lessons learned from the one-of-a-kind Earl Weaver as well as colorful anecdotes about O’s teammates like Cal Ripken, Jr and Rick Dempsey, and broadcast partners Howard Cosell and Al Michaels. 

Genres: Baseball

240 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Please see: Jim Palmer


James Alvin Palmer (born October 15, 1945) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He won three Cy Young Awards and four Gold Gloves. He is the only pitcher in history to earn a win in a World Series game in three different decades. He is also the youngest to pitch a complete-game shutout in a World Series, doing so nine days before his 21st birthday in 1966, in which he defeated Sandy Koufax in Koufax's last appearance. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Since his retirement as an active player in 1984, Palmer has worked as a color commentator on telecasts of MLB games for ABC and ESPN and for the Orioles on Home Team Sports (HTS), Comcast SportsNet (CSN) Mid-Atlantic and the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN).

source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Saul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read on Jim Palmer’s life and career with parallels to leadership and one’s own career. Fast read and more interest with Palmer’s biography rather than the small snippets of leadership comparisons.

[Danielle]

Review.

[Hilary Hoffmeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read for the fan of Oriole baseball.
I was worried that this would be a repeat "success" book, but was pleasantly surprised. The book provided an depth look at Palmer's ups and downs, and many of his battery mates as well, including a very moving look at Rick Dempsey's start as an Oriole.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging read, if you are a fan of Jim Palmer, The Baltimore Orioles, or of Major League Baseball. I don't believe that Mr. Palmer succeeded in writing a business book; however, I enjoyed the anecdotes from Jim Palmer's careers as a HOF pitcher, a corporate spokesman, and a broadcaster.

[Michael Ginsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great lessons from a Hall of Famer that are applicable to everyday life. I still recall the story about Da Mimmo's restaurant and how the owner's persistence paid off in the break that led to the restaurant's success.