1972 Philadelphia Phillies season
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia Phillies
season saw the team finish with a record of 59-97, last place in the National League East
.
was having contract problems with the Phils and Steve Carlton
was having the same problems with the St. Louis Cardinals
, the teams traded headaches. Carlton went on to win four Cy Young Awards and Wise went on to a decent career. Carlton won his first Cy Young Award
that year on a last-place team that won only 59 games. Carlton was 27-10; the team was 32-87 when the southpaw wasn't involved in the decision. No pitcher in the 20th century has won as high a proportion of his team's victories (45.8%). Carlton also led the N.L. in ERA (1.97), strikeouts (310) and innings pitched (346). He might have won 30 if not for the players' strike that delayed the opening for the season for 10 days.
became the last pitcher to win at least 25 games in one season for the Phillies in the 20th century.
On July 10, manager Frank Lucchesi
was fired with the team at 26-50. Paul Owens
, who had been promoted from farm director to GM a month earlier, became manager as well.
The Padres came close to a no-hitter against the Phillies on July 18, 1972; Steve Arlin
came within one out before a ninth-inning two-out single by Denny Doyle
broke up the bid.
Mike Schmidt
made his major league debut on September 12.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
season saw the team finish with a record of 59-97, last place in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
.
Offseason
The Phils made perhaps the best trade in their history on February 25, when Rick WiseRick Wise
Richard Charles Wise is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
was having contract problems with the Phils and Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
was having the same problems with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, the teams traded headaches. Carlton went on to win four Cy Young Awards and Wise went on to a decent career. Carlton won his first Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
that year on a last-place team that won only 59 games. Carlton was 27-10; the team was 32-87 when the southpaw wasn't involved in the decision. No pitcher in the 20th century has won as high a proportion of his team's victories (45.8%). Carlton also led the N.L. in ERA (1.97), strikeouts (310) and innings pitched (346). He might have won 30 if not for the players' strike that delayed the opening for the season for 10 days.
Notable transactions
- October 22, 1971: Lowell PalmerLowell PalmerLowell Raymond Palmer is a retired American Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1st round of the 1966 amateur draft . He played for the Phillies , St. Louis Cardinals , Cleveland Indians , and San Diego Padres...
was purchased from the Phillies by the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. - February 25, 1972: Rick WiseRick WiseRichard Charles Wise is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
was traded by the Phillies to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Steve CarltonSteve CarltonSteven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
. - March 1, 1972: Rubén AmaroRubén Amaro, Sr.Rubén Amaro, Sr. was a shortstop and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from through .son of a cuban Santos Amaro and a mexicanJosefina Mora....
was released by the Phillies.
Regular season
During the season, Steve CarltonSteve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
became the last pitcher to win at least 25 games in one season for the Phillies in the 20th century.
On July 10, manager Frank Lucchesi
Frank Lucchesi
Frank Joseph Lucchesi is a former manager in Major League Baseball who ran the Philadelphia Phillies , Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs...
was fired with the team at 26-50. Paul Owens
Paul Owens (baseball)
Paul Francis Owens was an American front office executive and manager in Major League Baseball.-Philadelphia Phillies:Owens' entire Major League career was spent with the Philadelphia Phillies...
, who had been promoted from farm director to GM a month earlier, became manager as well.
The Padres came close to a no-hitter against the Phillies on July 18, 1972; Steve Arlin
Steve Arlin
Steven Ralph Arlin is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. In six major league seasons, Arlin pitched for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians .-College Star:...
came within one out before a ninth-inning two-out single by Denny Doyle
Denny Doyle
Robert Dennis Doyle is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
broke up the bid.
Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Michael Jack Schmidt is a Hall of Fame third baseman popularly considered among the greatest third basemen in the history of Major League Baseball. He played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies....
made his major league debut on September 12.
Notable transactions
- June 15, 1972: Andre ThorntonAndre ThorntonAndré Thornton , nicknamed "Thunder," is a former first baseman and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos and Cleveland Indians during a 14-year career...
and Joe HoernerJoe HoernerJoseph Walter Hoerner was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. A native of Dubuque, Iowa, the left-hander was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1957 season. He played for the Houston Colt .45s , St...
were traded by the Phillies to the Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Jim NashJim NashJames Edwin Nash , commonly nicknamed Jim Nash, is a retired American professional baseball pitcher. He debuted on July 3, 1966 against the Detroit Tigers after then Kansas City Athletics signed him as a free agent...
and Gary NeibauerGary NeibauerGary Wayne Neibauer is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies from –. Appearing primarily as a relief pitcher, Neibauer went 4–8 during his Major League career with a 4.78 earned run average.-External links:*...
. - August 2, 1972: Woodie FrymanWoodie FrymanWoodrow Thompson Fryman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A two-time National League All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers to the 1972 American League Championship Series.-Pittsburgh Pirates:Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with...
was selected off waivers from the Phillies by the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Draft picks
- June 6, 1972: 1972 Major League Baseball Draft1972 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1972 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Montreal Expos had perhaps their best draft in franchise history. The Expos grabbed outfielder Ellis Valentine in round two of the June regular phase and then...
- Tom UnderwoodTom UnderwoodThomas Gerald Underwood was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , St...
was drafted by the Phillies in the 2nd round. Player signed August 27, 1972.
- Tom Underwood
- June 6, 1972: Dan BoitanoDan BoitanoDanny Jon Boitano was a Major League Baseball pitcher from to . Boitano holds the distinction of having been the Philadelphia Phillies' first round pick in the secondary phase of both the and amateur draft. A highly touted prospect, he had also been drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers , St...
was drafted by the Phillies in the 1st round (17th pick) of the secondary phase, but did not sign.
Roster
| 1972 Philadelphia Phillies | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 134 | 381 | 99 | .260 | 4 | 38 | |
| RF | 73 | 129 | 29 | .225 | 6 | 18 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 140 | 34 | .243 | 6 | 18 | |
| 46 | 106 | 19 | .179 | 2 | 10 | |
| 41 | 54 | 9 | .167 | 0 | 3 | |
| 13 | 34 | 7 | .206 | 1 | 3 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 346.1 | 27 | 10 | 1.97 | 310 | |
| 33 | 154.1 | 2 | 15 | 4.26 | 87 | |
| 30 | 132.2 | 4 | 14 | 5.09 | 54 | |
| 23 | 119.2 | 4 | 10 | 4.36 | 69 | |
| 9 | 37.1 | 0 | 8 | 6.27 | 15 | |
| 4 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 2.74 | 5 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 104.1 | 7 | 7 | 3.45 | 67 | |
| 36 | 100.2 | 4 | 6 | 3.04 | 48 | |
| 9 | 18.2 | 0 | 2 | 5.30 | 7 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3.44 | 40 | |
| 15 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2.08 | 12 | |