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Palmer, 73, pitched his entire 19-season career with the Orioles, winning 268 games and three Cy Young Awards.

Orioles great Jim Palmer battling rare infection, leaves O's broadcast booth

Orioles legend Jim Palmer revealed Friday he is fighting a rare infection of the spinal column and thanked the team's medical staff for recognizing his symptoms and referring him for treatment.

In the meantime, Palmer, who has spent the past 27 years as a TV analyst for O's games on MASN, stepped down from the booth beginning Friday to fight his illness. He did not reveal when he planned to return.

Palmer tweeted that he has been diagnosed with myelitis, which he attributed to the shingles virus.

“I’m out of the booth due to a rare infection in my spinal column caused by the Shingles virus,” Palmer tweeted. “VERY thankful for O’s team docs and trainers who told me to get MRI ASAP ... showed Myelitis. I’m still watching O’s and tweeting with you!!!!”

I’m out of the booth due to a rare infection in my spinal column caused by the Shingles virus. VERY thankful for O’s team docs and trainers who told me to get an MRI ASAP...showed Myelitis. I’m still watching O’s and tweeting with you!!!! #shinglesnightmare @masnOrioles @Orioles
— Jim Palmer (@Jim22Palmer) September 6, 2019

Palmer, 73, pitched his entire career with the Orioles from 1965 to 1984, winning 268 games and three Cy Young Awards. He was a member of three World Series championship teams, in 1966, 1970 and 1983 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.

The Orioles tweeted out their well-wishes to Palmer, saying, "Get well soon, Jim!"