Steve Carlton, Phillies Hall Of Fame For Philadelphia

ie fans watched in amazement during the '72 to '86Phillies receive a Winner
run of their great pitcher, Steve Carlton. For most ofIn 1972 when Carlton came to Philadelphia, he did not
his baseball career he wore the Philadelphia uniformlook back. His first season he produced 27y victories,
for the Phillies. Was actually part of three (3) differentthat number is remarkable since the entire team win
ball clubs with each winning a World Series with him ajust 59 of their games that year. But he lost twenty of
part of them. During his major league career he didthe games for the team the following season,
have his personal ups and downs, keeping his pitchinghowever the analysts said that his Phillies couldn't offer
steady, which he had designed around that deadlyhim sound defense or running support in that season.
slider of his. He also received four (4) Cy YoungThe Phillies finished that season at rock bottom in
Awards and his teammates and his opponentsstandings. Then in the 1980 World Series he pitched
respect as well. Carlton did not start of end his careertwo victories that won the two games. Still his most
wearing the Phillies uniform, but he is best rememberedamazing actions are yet to come.
from the time he wore their uniform.Nolan and Carlton Battle
With Love from St. LouisIn the 80s season it was Carlton and Nolan Ryan who
In the '65 season, Carlton first began his MLB careerwere going to be engaged in battle for the strikeout
with the St. Louis Cardinals. Making an almostrecord in pitching. While Ryan had passed Walt
immediate impact on the club, with the Cardinals theyJohnson, the former holder of the record, during the '83
went into the 1967 World Series and the '68 Series asseason, Carlton soon went pass Ryan in the record.
well. The '67 campaign began the first of his WorldOver the next two (2) years the 2 pitchers would
Series that he held titles for. And most importantly,keep trading the record and breaking their records.
during this part of Carlton's career, he didn't even beginThey took lead with this record that went back and
to play or start his slider, this is a pitch he'd master laterforth from one to the other 19 times. A thrilling
on in his career. Even still he was a powerful weaponsuspenseful battle that had the fans and the entire
on the mound, with or without his slider mastered.nation watching at attention.