Steve Carlton and the 1972 Phillies

In 1972, the Philadelphia Phillies experienced one of their worst seasons in franchise history, finishing with an abysmal 59–97 record. Yet throughout this disastrous season, Steve “Lefty” Carlton proved to be a diamond in the rough. In his first year with the club, he led the league with 27 wins, eight shutouts, and a sizzling 1.98 ERA, earning an astounding 45.8 percent of Philadelphia’s wins. He also won his first Cy Young award, the first pitcher to do so with a last-place team. This work chronicles Carlton’s magical season, including the Rick Wise-for-Carlton trade, his 5-1 start following the players’ first-ever strike, his 15-game winning streak, and a number of memorable games along the way. Interviews with Phillies icons, Hall of Famers, and legendary sports writers add insights to this account of Carlton’s remarkable achievements amidst one of the most calamitous periods in Phillies history.

Bruce Morgan is a reporter and sports editor for the Lititz Record Express in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

Bruce Morgan
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 228
Bibliographic Info: 18 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6836-2
eISBN: 978-0-7864-8983-1
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

1. Jaw Dropping Numbers      3
2. The Trade      13
3. Hope Springs Eternal      20
4. Lefty’s Striking Start      26
5. Catching the Fever      44
6. Tailspin Takes Over      51
7. Carlton Slumps      62
8. Desperate Times      71
9. Protecting His Teammates      86
10. Finishing What He Started      103
11. The New Manager      112
12. The Streak Marches On      134
13. Lum Breaks It Up      154
14. A Wise Encounter      169

Conclusion: How Does ’72 Rank?      177
Chapter Notes      183
Bibliography      197
Index      215

“Baseball fans will appreciate the detail with which the story of Carlton’s 1972 season is told”—Reference & Research Book News; “This is something that has been missing from the baseball landscape…a great book on Steve Carlton. Congrats to Bruce Morgan for pitching a gem.”—Jim Salisbury, CSNPhilly.com.