Jim Palmer's new book offers look back at one of baseball's greatest

In a touch of irony, it's hard to put into words exactly what makes Jim Palmer's latest book so good.

Palmer recently released his new book entitled "Jim Palmer: Nine Innings to Success." It's a story of the life and career of one of the greatest baseball players in history, as well as a series of life lessons, a guide for dealing with the pressures and negativity that affect all of us, and how to push through to achieve excellence and happiness.

So with no real words to do it justice, let's refer back to some wise words from Benjamin Franklin, who once said, "Either write something worth reading, or do something worth writing."

It seems Palmer has accomplished both.

Palmer's book is a rare look inside his past and, to his credit, the former Orioles pitcher doesn't hold anything back. The story begins with Palmer's introduction to baseball, and takes readers on a journey through the ups and downs of his career. Each chapter - there are nine in all - is a piece of Palmer's life on the diamond, in the broadcast booth and even his days away from baseball.

So why the nine-inning format? Sure, baseball games last nine innings, but in Palmer's mind, going out each start and trying to shut down opponents for all nine frames was what it was all about.

"Nine innings to success," he said. "I thought about that because it was the barometer of success."

Palmer's pitching career, of course, met with plenty of success in his time with the Orioles. Over his 19-year-career, Palmer amassed 211 complete games, including an astounding 70 complete games between 1975-1977. He was a part of all three of the Orioles' World Series championship teams, and finished top five in Cy Young voting eight times, winning it three times.

Intertwined with stories of his career, Palmer also includes sage advice on what it took for him to achieve his success and, more importantly, how to sustain it. Every chapter is titled after a key trait or step toward achieving those goals, including perseverance, building trust, diversifying and enjoyment. Readers have the opportunity to learn a little about what made Palmer so successful, as well as how they too can achieve similar success in their life, even if they can't play baseball worth a lick.

"You have to understand who you are and where you want to go," Palmer said. "Baseball is not for everybody. There are a lot of people who want to get in on it, but once you make the plan you really do have to have perseverance. People think, 'Well, you made it to the Hall of Fame, you've never had anything bad happen to you.' Well, I thought my career was over at 21. I just didn't really know where my life was going to go."

The above comments from Palmer speak to the uncertainty in baseball and in life. Even the greatest athletes of all-time have their own hurdles to face, Palmer included, but I'll let you read all about that in the book. No spoilers here.

Meanwhile, the book itself has met with tremendous success. In fact, upon its debut, "Nine Innings to Success" was ranked No. 1 in the new baseball release category on Amazon.com, and received positive reviews from publishers and fans alike. Could it be because so many people want to read about the life and history of Palmer? He's a legend in Charm City, for sure. But maybe it's also because this book allows people to see how one of the most successful people in sports history made it possible.

Another aspect of Palmer's life that makes this book such a page-turner is his relatability. No, I'm not talking about winning three World Series titles and four Cy Young Awards. But anybody who has ever turned on an Orioles game over the past several years can hear Palmer's voice on the game broadcast, while older fans can even remember seeing him take the mound for the Birds in the '60s and '70s. Palmer has become a familiar face and a familiar name. And diving into his book and discovering that, he too, had obstacles to face, gives readers and fans a sense of hope that they too can keep their head down, work toward their goals and achieve success.

"Things don't just happen," Palmer said of the theme of his book. "... I learned very early that you are going to try to come to your ballpark or your workplace and get a little better every day. And that can be anything. (It can be) your job, your friends, your kids, anything."