1990 Induction Ceremony

In their first appearances on the ballot, Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jim Palmer and Cincinnati Reds second baseman Joe Morgan were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Former Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster By Saam was given the Ford C. Frick award for broadcast excellence, and Chicago Tribune writer Jerome Holtzman was presented with the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for meritorious contributions to baseball writing. Rain postponed the induction ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 5, 1990, after about 30,000 fans had already gathered. With the ceremony moved to Monday, only family, friends, the media and about 700 fans saw the induction take place at local Cooperstown High School.

JIM PALMER: Palmer received 92.6 percent of the 444 votes cast by the BBWAA. The right-handed hurler racked up 268 victories, a .638 winning percentage, eight 20-win seasons and a 2.86 ERA over 19 seasons, all with Baltimore. He is the only pitcher to win World Series games in three decades as an anchor for the Orioles six championship teams in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Palmer pitched a complete-game, four-hit shutout in game two of the 1966 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, out dueling fellow Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax. Despite logging 3,947 innings, he never surrendered a grand slam. Palmer, who led the major leagues in wins twice, was a three-time Cy Young Award winner and a six-time All-Star. Against the Oakland Athletics on Aug. 13, 1969, he threw his only career no-hitter. His No. 22 is retired by the Orioles.

JOE MORGAN: Morgan garnered 81.7 percent of the total ballots. The speedy infielder could single-handedly beat the other team with his variety of skills, and was known for flapping his back arm while at bat. Over 22 seasons with the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics, Morgan tallied 2,517 hits and 268 home runs. He stole 40 bases or more in nine seasons, and ended his career with 689 total steals. One of the cogs of Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine, Morgan won back-to-back World Series championships with the team in 1975 and 1976. The 10-time All-Star won back-to-back MVP awards in those seasons and five Gold Glove awards 1973 to ’77. His No. 8 is retired by the Reds.