Greg Luzinski
| Birthdate | 11/22/1950 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1968 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Phillies, White Sox |
| Positions | Designated Hitter, Left Field |
An All Star each season from 1975-1978 Greg Luzinski slashed .295/.386/.535 with a 150 OPS+, averaging 32 doubles, 32 homers, and 112 RBI.
Leave a commentIn the collection:
Luzinski had four consecutive top-10 MVP finishes and was runner-up twice
Luzinski had four consecutive top-10 MVP finishes and was runner-up twice
Greg Luzinski’s 6’1″, 220-pound frame earned him the moniker “The Bull”. The big man broke in as a 19-year old with Phillies in 1970. By his age-21 season Luzinski smacked 33 doubles and 18 homers on his way to tallying 255 total bases.
The following season in ’73 he slugged 29 homers with 95 RBI and earned consideration in MVP balloting. After injuries derailed him him in ’74, he began a dominant four-year run.
Luzinski made the All Star team and finished in the top-10 in voting for the Most Valuable Player Award each season from ’75-’78. In ’75 and ’77 he finished second in the MVP race to Cincinnati’s Joe Morgan and George Foster, respectively.
In those four seasons Luzinski combined with Mike Schmidt to form one of the most-feared slugging tandems in baseball. The Bull averaged 32 homers, 112 RBI with a 150 OPS+ and a slash line of .295/.386/.535.
The left fielder took the responsibility of stardom seriously. Starting in the mid-70s he bought a block of box seats down the left-field line at Veterans Stadium and gave the ticket to underprivileged children. The fans in “The Bull Ring” became his most ardent fans. His community efforts were recognized in 1978 with the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award.
The Phillies potent offense was complimented by a pitching staff headed by ace Steve Carlton. Philadelphia reached the NLCS each year from ’76-’78. They finally broke through in 1980, winning the first World Series title in franchise history. It also marked Luzinski’s final year in the City of Brotherly Love.
By the time the Phillies sold Luzinski to the White Sox in March of ’81, he was fourth on the franchise list in homers. To that point, only Schmidt, Del Ennis, and Chuck Klein hit more home runs in a Phillies uniform.
Shown here is the back of a 1977 Phillies schedule with information about how to purchase tickets. Notice Luzinski’s signature on the upper right of it. The slugger had a fine year in ’77, and earned the third of four consecutive All Star selections.
The runner-up in MVP voting that year, Luzinski set career highs in homers (39), RBI (130), total bases (329), average (.309), on-base percentage (.394), slugging percentage (.595), and oWAR (5.4).
Luzinski went 18-for-58 with 5 doubles, 5 homers and 12 RBI in 16 NLCS contests
Luzinski went 18-for-58 with 5 doubles, 5 homers and 12 RBI in 16 NLCS contests
Greg Luzinski brought power and presence to October baseball across four National League Championship Series. He appeared in 16 games with a World Series berth on the line. “The Bull” delivered when stakes rose and pitchers missed spots. He hit .310 with a .375 on-base percentage and a .690 slugging mark. His bat produced five doubles, one triple, and five home runs.
Philadelphia often leaned on Luzinski during postseason pushes, even when results swung unevenly. The Philadelphia Phillies reached the World Series only once during his run, in 1980. That stage did not treat him kindly. Luzinski went 0-for-9 with five strikeouts against top-tier pitching.
Still, his team found redemption after years of close calls. The Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals four games to two to win the championship. That title gave Luzinski his only World Series ring and capped a turbulent postseason journey.
The ticket shown here to an earlier October moment captured his impact. In the Game 2 of the 1976 NLCS, he launched a fifth-inning home run for his first postseason blast. The Phillies fell 6-2 that night, but his swing flashed unmistakable power. Notice Luzinski’s signature near the bottom.
Soon after buying the White Sox, Jerry Reinsdorf gained credibility with the acquisition of Luzinski
Soon after buying the White Sox, Jerry Reinsdorf gained credibility with the acquisition of Luzinski
When Jerry Reinsdorf purchased the Chicago White Sox in 1981, he took control of a team that hadn’t made the postseason since the 1950s. He took immediate steps to improve the team with the March acquisitions of Greg Luzinski and Carlton Fisk.
While Pudge was changing Sox, The Bull was coming home. The Chicago native had immediate success despite the cavernous dimensions of Comiskey Park. Used exclusively as a designated hitter, Luzinski led the team with 21 homers and 62 RBI in strike-shortened 1981. His efforts were rewarded with the first of two Outstanding Designated Hitter Awards.
In ’82 Luzinski drove in 102 runs, the final triple-digit total of his career. The following season he slugged .502 and totaled 95 runs batted in. His performance helped the Sox to 99 wins and a trip the postseason for the first time since 1959. He also received his second Outstanding Designated Hitter Award.
His final campaign in ’84 featured one of the most prodigious homers of his 15-year career. On July 3rd he swatted the ball onto the roof of Comiskey Park. Open from 1910-1990, the Chicago stadium saw only 22 roof-shots hit by White Sox players.
In February of ’85, Luzinski announced his retirement. Team owner Reinsdorf reflected on The Bull’s departure in an article written by of Susan Kuczka of UPI.
“It’s sort of sad to see someone as important a part of our franchise retiring,” Reinsdorf was quoted as saying. “When he and Carlton Fisk came to us in 1981, it symbolized a beginning of a new era, a commitment of trying to win.”
Shown here is a letter signed by Reinsdorf, baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn, and White Sox Vice Chairman Eddie Einhorn. The trio invites 84-year old Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt to the 1983 All Star game held in Chicago’s Comiskey Park.
