August 26, 2022
Lowell Palmer has become an icon among baseball card collectors — though he hopes it’s because of his on-field performance, not his signature specs.
He was called “DB Cooper” because of his relationship with the man who disappeared in 1971 The mysterious plane hijacker was similar and has not been seen since. Given his sense of humor and mischief fun, Palmer probably doesn’t mind the comparison too much.
Although the front of his baseball card always stands out for his appearance , but the backs are perhaps even stranger as they give a glimpse into Palmer’s life, including stories of PI’s work and days of training pigeons.
Lowell Palmer is a truly unique person to match card.
Image from Trading Card Database
He had success on the baseball card and credited strong-if- Wild words – right arm.
“In the minor leagues, my parents got together and banned me from pitching,” Pa Ermer told me about the nt phone in a speech. “You know those helmets we used to use? They’re not helmets, they’re around your ears around your head – I’m showing my age, don’t I? – I bumped into one of them and I put It broke in half. And my parents banned me from pitching in the minor leagues.”
Palmer loves to tell stories, often interrupting them with sharp laughter or world-weary complaints.
“I was in Dixieanne Park and a guy hit me in a line,” he said. Say. “It bounced in front of me and I picked it up and I went and threw that guy at home and I threw it on the street. I hit a car that was going down the street! I just had a strong arm , but I never actually found my control.”
That would prove to be He’s failed at the major league level. With all the speed in the world, few pitchers can complete 5.7 walks per nine innings.
As for sunglasses? The story is simple – it’s not that Palmer thinks he’s cooler than everyone else. When it came time to photograph him, the photographer posed to let the sun shine on his face. But Palmer had problems with his eyes, so the sun always blinded him, requiring him to wear sunglasses on the mound.
” ‘I can’t do it. I can’t see. I can’t open my eyes ,'” Palmer said he told the photographer. “I burst into tears and I said, ‘The only way I can do it, is to put on these sunglasses, and then I can do it.’ He said, ‘Okay, go on. “So, that’s how sunglasses are put on.”
This pair of Palmers The thick lenses (for viewing) earned him the nickname “Coke Bottle” for his teammates. While it can be a hassle when it comes to his baseball card photo, it’s a lot of fun when it comes to opposing the opposition.
“I don’t think [sunglasses] give me an edge. Bring me The advantage is that I can drill them,” he said with a laugh.
He shares one of his favorite stories from pitching in the Carolina League , and with the clubhouse attendants to help scare the opposition. The pair left their glasses in the opposing team’s dugout and walked in gleefully watching.
“What are these? Whose are these?” The other team Will eventually ask.
“Oh, that’s pitching you tonight,” the waiter would say. “He left them here. I have to give them to him.”
So, Palmer would come out of his dugout to warm up without glasses. He’ll use the rubber and face… second base.
“The club kids would start yelling at me. ‘Hey! Turn around!'” Palmer remembered. “I freaked out half of those guys’ pants.”
Palmer just Thinking that life — and baseball — should be fun, is clearly still his top priority in life today.
“My reputation is that I’m always smiling,” Parr silently said. “Most people say, ‘You don’t take baseball seriously. You’re supposed to be tough on everything.’ Hey, I don’t like to lose — I’ll tell you that. When I throw, I’m a very serious player, But everyone thinks I’m a little silly because I’m going to laugh there.”
As for the wild stories on the back of his cards – and some that aren’t there – let Palmer share the stories.
Palmer grew up in Sacramento, raised pigeons as a child, and still loves the birds and misses them How they land on his outstretched arms when he releases them from the cage.
“When you are poor and you live in a place where everyone thinks there is no one When you live in a house, [of course you have pigeons],” Palmer said. “I built a pigeon coop in the back and started raising pigeons with my neighbors. We used to take them to Reno or Tahoe and let them go and see if we could get them home.”
Unfortunately, not all trips go smoothly.
“We beat a few of them. They must be the best in the world Slow pigeons,” Palmer said, “well, [once] they never got home. Later, on the way back, we found a place with eagles and they just plucked the pigeons.”
Palmer’s show is pretty sweet, especially for a teenager: At the age of 13, Palmer started working at a nearby movie theater and quickly rose through the ranks from waiter to candy counter to assistant manager. However, the theater’s manager, a former detective, wanted to get back into the investigation. So, when Palmer was 15, he was asked to help serve the subpoena.
“We’ll tell you where they are,” says theatre manager/private investigator , “Then you go and give them the [paper], make sure you touch them.”
“You mean I have to touch them?”
“The newspaper, The manager replied, “Just make sure the paper reaches them and then you say, ‘You’ve been served.’ “
Most cases are easy and people don’t have much problem with subpoenas … but there is no story unless it happened at least once.
“Only Once was dangerous. Guy chased us with a knife,” Palmer recalled. “But he was too slow for us. The squirrels couldn’t have caught us that day. But Ronnie, my partner in crime, we all went in different directions. ‘There’s no way that guy can catch any of us! ‘ Good times before baseball. “
Not all of Palmer’s best stories make it to the back of the card Because he was a pitcher, Topps never printed his batting stats, meaning card collectors never had Palmer facing Bill Hands of the Cubs on July 19, 1969 Statistical evidence of the only major league home run ever hit. Palmer loaded up after a late swing on the fastball and a foul on the slider.
“He threw me a fastball. It was on the outside corner of the plate and I swung it and almost took my shoe off,” Palmer said. “I hit it and it was a straight drive from the shortstop. Well, I just trotted a little bit because I said, ‘He’s going to catch it. ‘ It went over his glove. So, I started running like a jackrabbit. I hit first base. My helmet flew out. I was going to second base and I looked at my coach and he raised his hand. I thought he was giving me the ‘get off’ sign! “
So, Palmer slid into second base — glad to just get To his first major league hit. Cubs shortstop Don Kessinger then walked over to Palmer and the pitcher dusted off him and said, “Hey, kid. You hit a home run. “
” I looked at him and said, ‘Oh, bull! ‘” Palmer recalled. “I thought he was trying to get me off base so he could tag me. I will not leave the bag. “
after finally convinced, no, he really hit a home run After that, Palmer completed his trot around the base.
“Approximately There were 10 guys standing and laughing their [ass] hopefully. Here I hit a home run! I’m dirty, dirty, no helmet, these guys are laughing at home plate,” Palmer said.
Palmer may have saved his greatest, greatest story for last: the day he was relegated to the minor leagues for dating the daughter of Phillies manager Gene Moche.
While staying at the Jack Towers Hotel in Clearwater, Florida during spring training, Palmer noticed There was an attractive woman outside the pool. After the introduction, the two started talking. Palmer said he was looking for a job there, and the young woman admitted she was on vacation with her father. So, before Palmer left, they Plan to meet up for a movie that night.
Ahhh, the vibe of a classic rom-com mashup .
Impressively, Palmer put on a Nice shirt and white pants—a perfect Florida outfit—and bought some snacks and sodas for the two of them. Before the group photo began, they had a few more chats, with Palmer joking that he was the Phillies The “Big Baseball Players”.
“I love the Phillies. I’m from Philadelphia,” she replied. “My dad is your agent! “
my legs,” Palmer screamed. “My white pants are full of Coke.”
Although learning this Information, Palmer didn’t end the night early. After the movie, the two walked along the beach and rented a small boat to paddle out onto the water. Well, the two enjoy each other’s company too much to focus on the present. Eventually, Palmer looked up and realized he would never see the lights on the beach again. They have floated out.
Palmer started rowing as fast as he could, eventually reaching the distance they needed to The boat’s place is about half a mile of sand.
“I dragged this boat all the way to the beach,” Palmer Say. “We won’t be back [at the hotel] until three o’clock. Guess who’s sitting in the lobby? Mr. Gene Mauch.”
The obviously unhappy father and manager did nothing that night. “See you at eight,” Moher said to Palmer.
“Anyway, after about a week, I’m gone,” Palmer Say. “[Mauch] said, ‘It’s not because you went out with my daughter, it’s how the whole organization feels.’
Palmer grunted a few times, finding it funny, but still a little apprehensive after all these years. “Yeah, that’s right! ”
