Phillies: Top ten starting and relief pitchers of the 1970’s
![PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 05: A statue of Phillies great Steve Carlton is outside of the stadium where the Philadelphia Phillies played the Atlanta Braves on April 5, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today's game is the opening of the 2009 major league baseball season. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) PHILADELPHIA - APRIL 05: A statue of Phillies great Steve Carlton is outside of the stadium where the Philadelphia Phillies played the Atlanta Braves on April 5, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today's game is the opening of the 2009 major league baseball season. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fthatballsouttahere-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F85815734-atlanta-braves-v-philadelphia-phillies-jpg-0a7949c6e8164e90f4a93447d2dc4a64.jpg)
2 – Tug McGraw (1975 – 1984)
The man who was on the hill to record the last out of the 1980 World Series was the best reliever for the Phillies during the 1970’s. An all-star in 1975, McGraw compiled a record of 9-6 with an ERA of 2.98. He followed with ERAs of 2.50, 2.62 and 3.21 from 1976-1978. An off season in 1979, McGraw still finished the 1970’s with a record of 35-25, 59 saves and an ERA of 3.26.
1- Steve Carlton (1972 – 1986)
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The best by a huge margin, Steve Carlton dominated from the moment he set foot on the mound as a Phillie. He won 27 games for the 1972 team that won only 59. He completed 30 games that season alone with eight shutouts, threw 346 1/3 innings, struck out 310 and had a 1.97 ERA. He had eight consecutive seasons of 200 or more innings pitched, five time all-star, and two time Cy Young award winner. That was only in the 1970’s, let alone what he added in the 1980’s.
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Carlton simply was the best Phillies pitcher ever and the best of the 1970’s