Orioles great Jim Palmer has COVID, causing him to miss MASN broadcast Wednesday

NEW YORK — Jim Palmer, the Orioles broadcaster and Hall of Fame pitcher, said that he was absent from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network broadcast because he has COVID-19.

Palmer, 78, called the Orioles’ 4-2 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday night alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown. MASN broadcaster Brett Hollander replaced Palmer to call the game with Brown on Wednesday.

“Thanks for the kind thoughts,” Palmer posted on X, formerly Twitter. “I thought I had a head cold, but actually Covid. My birthday present to Brett Hollander on the eve of his 40th birthday. Color with Kevin Brown.”

It’s the second time Palmer has missed calling an Orioles game because of COVID-19 in the past two years. Last season, Palmer tested positive for COVID-19 in August and missed several games.

“We wish the Hall of Famer a speedy recovery,” Brown said in the fourth inning Wednesday. “He’ll be back with us soon.”

Palmer won three American League Cy Young Awards and three World Series titles with Baltimore. He holds the franchise record for wins with 268. He pitched for the 1983 team, the Orioles’ last to win a World Series.