He received 92.6% of the 444 ballots cast by eligible members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Of the eight pitchers elected in their first year of eligibility, he received the third highest percentage of votes. Jim Palmer is the only American League Hall of Fame pitcher to win the Cy Young Award three times as well as four Gold Glove Awards. A powerful persona in sports, Jim maintains a strong presence off the playing field through a variety of business, charity and personal interests.

Although offered a scholarship to play basketball at UCLA, Jim signed with the Orioles in 1963 as a free agent, a wise decision that was to bring him to superstar status. His 21-year career as a pitcher is remarkable since he played only for the Baltimore Orioles and earned many club records, including most wins, completed games, strikeouts, walks, and shutouts. In 1966, Jim became the youngest player ever to pitch a World Series shutout game. He was the winningest pitcher in the American League in the 1970's. his 2.86 ERA is fourth on the all time list. He's recognized as being the only pitcher in history who had won a World Series game in each of three decades.

Jim Palmer has built a career as a broadcaster providing commentary to ABC, the cable networks ESPN and HTS, as well as local Baltimore stations. He has attained success broadcasting for ABC Sports and has been highly acclaimed by viewers for being "bright, opinionated, articulate", having a "sense of humor" and a "tenacious memory" for the details of the game. He provided color commentary for the 1981, 1985, 1987, and 1989 World Series Games, the 1984, 1986, 1988 All-Star Games, and the League Championship games in 1978, 1980, 1981, and 1982.

Jim has served for over two decades as a national sports chairman for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and when traveling has stopped at local chapters, visiting youngsters in hospitals, making radio tapes and appearing at benefits. In May 1993, Jim was the commencement speaker for Carthage College and received an Honorary Doctorate of Education for his contributions to American culture and his dedication to the Cystic Fibrosis cause.