Jim Palmer became the fourth Baltimore Orioles pitcher to win 20 games in the 1971 season on September 26, 1971. Thus, they became the first team since the 1920 Chicago White Sox to field four 20-game winners, as the 1971 Orioles did.
The Orioles entered the 1971 season as the American League and World Series champions, respectively, of the previous two seasons.
Among the team’s most important players were two Robinsons: outfielder Frank, a two-time MVP who won the 1966 American League “triple crown” for leading the league in both home runs and RBIs, as well as his batting average, and third baseman Brooks, a standout offensive player who was also regarded as one of baseball’s greatest defensive third basemen.
Shortstop Mark Belanger, second baseman Davey Johnson, center fielder Paul Blair, and outfielder Brooks Robinson all won 1971 Gold Gloves, as did pitchers Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, and Mike Cuellar.
The club, led by the renowned manager Earl Weaver, was widely regarded as unstoppable by baseball fans.
It was already September 26th when Palmer took the mound for the Orioles against the Cleveland Guardians (who were formerly known as the Cleveland Indians), and they had already secured the American League East title and were preparing to face the Oakland Athletics in the postseason.
The Baltimore Orioles beat the Cleveland Indians 5-0 thanks to a brilliant performance from pitcher Matt Palmer, who threw a complete-game shutout, allowing only three hits in the process.