Steve Carlton

Steve Carlton
Birthdate 12/22/1944
Death Date
Debut Year 1965
Year of Induction 1994
Teams Phillies
Position Pitcher

Steve Carlton won 27 games for the 1972 last-place Phillies; he accounted for 46% of his team’s 59 victories that season.

Leave a comment

In the collection:

Steve Carlton was a first-ballot selection for the Hall of Fame

Steve Carlton was a first-ballot selection for the Hall of Fame

Steve Carlton signed this contract to appear on Fleer baseball cards for the 1965 season. The cards were never produced. At the time the contract was executed, the 20-year old Carlton had yet to throw his first Major League pitch. During his career he became the first pitcher to win four Cy Young aw
Steve Carlton was the first hurler to earn four Cy Young Awards

Steve Carlton was the first hurler to earn four Cy Young Awards

Steve Carlton had a season for the ages in 1972. He won the pitching Triple Crown by leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. The writers made him their unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award. Lefty again captured the honor in 1977. That season he led the NL with 23 wins and pushed the Phil
Carlton received the Cy Young Award in a pregame ceremony on 4/15/73

Carlton received the Cy Young Award in a pregame ceremony on 4/15/73

Steve Carlton was the unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award in 1972. Leading the league in wins (27), ERA (1.97), and strikeouts (310) commands it. Former National League president Warren Giles presented the award to Carlton on April 15, 1973. On a sunny Sunday
Carlton took the loss in MLB's first pitching matchup of 200-game winners with 3,000 Ks

Carlton took the loss in MLB's first pitching matchup of 200-game winners with 3,000 Ks

On August 18, 1981, Tom Seaver of the Reds and Steve Carlton of the Phillies faced off at Riverfront Stadium. The game marked a historic pitching matchup, the first time in baseball history both starters had 200 wins and 3,000 strikeouts. Seaver entered with 252 wins and 3,041 strikeouts, while Carl
Carlton set the NL mark for career strikeouts in 1981, a record he still holds

Carlton set the NL mark for career strikeouts in 1981, a record he still holds

When Steve Carlton fanned his 3,128th batter on September 21, 1981, he surpassed Bob Gibson as the National League’s all time leader in strikeouts. Topps printed a baseball card commemorating the feat. Carlton extended his record to an even 4,000 whiffs. Here he signs the Topps card from the 1

A Story about Steve Carlton

Steve Carlton’s 1972 season was one of the best since the Deadball Era

May 28th, 2021 Leave a comment

Warren Giles gives the Cy Young to Steve Carlton

Steve Carlton’s 1972 season is one of the greatest performances by a pitcher in the last 100 years. The National League Cy Young Award winner, Carlton went 27-10 for a last-place Phillies team that finished 37 1/2 games out of first place.

Any way you measure it, Lefty’s season was one of the ages.

Carlton won the National League’s pitching Triple Crown by leading the Senior Circuit in wins, ERA and strikeouts. He completed 30 of his 41 starts.

SABRmetrics are predictably kind to Carlton’s season. He posted the highest single-season WAR by a pitcher since Walter Johnson in 1913. Lefty also led the majors in ERA+ and fielding-independent pitching.

Many feel his 1972 performance is vastly underappreciated.

It’s plain to see, the career year for one of baseball’s best pitchers was one of the ages.

Read More >

One response to “Steve Carlton”

  1. Geo says:

    North Miami High School grad.1962 or 1963 Many years later on a visit to our baseball team at North Miami. He pitched a batting practice session to us. I will never forget the curve ball he threw at me upon my request My knees buckled as the ball started outside the plate and end up on the extreme inside He laughed as I pick myself up of the dirt. Great guy as well.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

"Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball…"

~Jacques Barzun, 1954