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Phillies best individual pitching seasons from the last 50 years

By Kerry Kauffman |
COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 24: Hall of Famer Steve Carlton is introduced at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 24, 2016 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
COOPERSTOWN, NY - JULY 24: Hall of Famer Steve Carlton is introduced at Clark Sports Center during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on July 24, 2016 in Cooperstown, New York. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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BOSTON, MA – JULY 30: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 30, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JULY 30: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 30, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Aaron Nola emerged as the Phillies ace this season. How does his season rank among Phillies best? Here are the top ten Phillies individual pitching seasons.

The Phillies improved 14 games from the 2017 season, but still have holes to fill to be viable contenders. One core piece moving forward is Aaron Nola, who proved to be the ace of the staff after an outstanding season. Where does his season rank among best in franchise history? Here’s a look at the top ten individual starting pitching seasons over the past half-century.

Factors considered include wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9 innings. Extra consideration awarded for league leader and Cy Young award.

10 – John Denny (1983)

In his first full season in Philadelphia, Denny helped the “Wheeze Kids” to the NL Championship. He led the league in wins with 19 and posted an ERA of 2.37. Denny logged 242 2/3 innings over 36 starts, completing seven games. In the best season of his career, Denny won the NL Cy Young Award.  He retired following the 1986 season with 123 wins and a 3.59 ERA.

9 – Aaron Nola (2018)

Nola had the finest season of his young career, winning 17 games with a 2.37 ERA.  Following a six-win season in 2016 and 12 in 2017, Nola became the ace of the Phillies staff and one of the top pitchers in the league. He allowed only 149 hits in 212 1/3 innings, striking out 224. Had Nola led the league in any of these categories, his 2018 season would have been higher on the list.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 2: Pitcher Cliff Lee #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the first inning against the Washington Nationals on May 2, 2014 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 2: Pitcher Cliff Lee #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the first inning against the Washington Nationals on May 2, 2014 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

8 – Cliff Lee (2011) 

In his first season in his second tour of duty with the Phillies, Lee had his best season since winning the Cy Young Award in 2008. Lee logged 232 2/3 innings with the Phillies in 2011, winning 17, completed a league-high six and struck out 238. Lee earned his third All-Star appearance, finished third in Cy Young voting, and 15th in Most Valuable Player voting. After three more seasons in Philadelphia, Lee retired with 143 wins and a 3.52 ERA.

7 – Roy Halladay (2011)

The late Halladay had a tall task trying to match his Cy Young Award season a year prior. He nearly did so, winning 19, completing a league-best eight games and posted a 2.35 ERA. In 232 2/3 innings, he struck out 220 and finished second in the Cy Young Award voting. He finished with a better ERA, fielding-independent pitching, and strikeout rate compared to 2010. It wound up being the last truly Halladay-esque season of his career.

6 – Steve Carlton (1977)

In his second of four Cy Young Award-winning seasons, Carlton helped lead the Phillies to 101 wins for the second straight season. He finished 23-10 with a 2.64 ERA.  He completed 17 of his 36 starts, striking out 198 in 283 innings. Carlton led the league in wins for the second time in his career. In addition to winning the Cy Young, he finished fifth in MVP voting and was named an All-Star.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 25: Starting pitcher Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park on August 25, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 25: Starting pitcher Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park on August 25, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images) /

5 – Curt Schilling (1997)

Schilling had his first of three consecutive All-Star seasons with the Phillies in 1997. He won 17 with an ERA of 2.97. Tied for the league lead in starts with 35, Schilling completed seven with two shutouts. In 254 1/3 innings, he struck out a league-best 319 and finished fourth in the Cy Young Award voting. Schilling won 101 of his 216 games with the Phillies and retired with 3116 strikeouts, 15th all-time.

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4 – Roy Halladay (2010)

Halladay had a season for the ages in 2010. He threw a perfect game in the regular season against the Marlins and no-hitter in the playoffs against the Reds. Halladay won 21 games, going the distance in nine with four shutouts while logging 250 2/3 innings. All of those numbers were tops among NL pitchers.  Halladay’s season culminated with his second Cy Young Award.

3 – Steve Carlton (1982)

In a season in which the Phillies missed the postseason by three games, Carlton put together one of his best. He led the league with 23 wins, 38 starts, 19 complete games, six shutouts, 295 2/3 innings, and 286 strikeouts.

To top it off, Carlton earned his fourth and final Cy Young Award.

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2 – Steve Carlton (1980)

During the 1980 World Championship season, the rock at the top of the rotation was the big left-hander. Carlton started a league-high 38 games, completed 13 with a league-best 304 innings pitched. Carlton also led the league with 286 strikeouts and posted a slim 2.34 ERA. He also went 3-0 in the postseason, including 2-0 in the World Series, posting a playoff ERA of 2.30.

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1 – Steve Carlton (1972)

In one of the best individual season pitching performances for any team, Carlton’s 1972 season was more remarkable considering the team won just 59 games. In his first year with the Phillies, Carlton won his first Cy Young Award.  He won 27, started 41, completed 30, threw 346 1/3 innings, struck out 310 and posted a 1.97 ERA. All of those numbers led the league.

Phillies fans were up in arms when they traded Rick Wise for Carlton, but that changed quickly with Carlton’s 1972 season.

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Arguably the greatest pitcher in franchise history and one of the top left-handers of all time, Carlton won 329 games and struck out 4136 in his career.

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