The 69-year-old Hall of Famer says the classy ties and jackets he wears these days are just a different uniform from the one he wore for 19 years as an Orioles pitcher.
"Peter Angelos, who owns the Orioles, is an attorney. And he wants you to have a coat and tie on for all the telecasts. Unless it's over 90 degrees. … I walk into the other television booths and see they're wearing golf shirts, and I start crying," he said with a laugh.
When Palmer is on his own time at his home in Palm Beach, Fla., he goes for a much "sportier" look, with an allegiance to another Baltimore home team.
"I'm an Under Armour person. Last weekend, I drove over to Sarasota from Palm Beach to do the fantasy camp that the Orioles are having. It was like 50 degrees and got up to 63, 64 yesterday. So I had on my Lululemon pants and my Under Armour top. I wear Under Armour shirts on the golf course. I've always been loyal to Under Armour because [founder] Kevin Plank is a Baltimore guy," he said.
HIS STYLE: "Trendy conservative. I wear nice ties. … I still have some three-button [jackets] that were in vogue."
HIS ENSEMBLE: Robert Talbott white shirt and Samuelsohn custom-made suit from Samuel Parker Clothier — "I've known [owner] Kenny Himmelstein for 45 years. So I always get my shirts from him. I get them made before every baseball season." Hermes tie — "My wife has a shop, Island Home, on Worth Avenue [in Palm Beach]. And right down the street is Hermes." Allen Edmonds shoes.
GOING TRENDY WITH TIES: "Hermes ties, I love. Ferragamo — I wear their ties. Talbott makes ties, but they're a little more conservative.[Ralph Lauren] Polo ties are a little too conservative for me. …Years ago, when I was in New York, I saw an ad for Jerry Garcia ties that were on sale down on 18th Street. I walked all the way down there from 57th Street and they had sold out. I got a lot of exercise, but no ties. Now, Gary Thorne, who does play-by-play for the Orioles, he still wears his Jerry Garcia ties."
CONTINUING COMPETITION: "Tim McCarver, who caught four decades, he's a great catcher. When we worked together, we used to have tie wars, to see who would have the best tie."
THE O'S DRESS CODE: "It's been an Orioles tradition to wear coat and tie. When I first started with the Orioles, Hank Bauer, who had played with the Yankees, was the manager. The Yankees always wore coat and tie. So, when Hank became manager of the Orioles, you always wore coat and tie. ... Buck Showalter — I don't know if I've ever seen him on a plane without a coat and tie. Most of the coaches dress very well."