That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies: Top 5 moments of Steve Carlton’s career

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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3.  1980 World Series

The Phillies were one of the powerhouse teams during the middle to late 1970s, having won the NL East each season from 1976 through 1978. However, not only didn’t they win a World Series, they failed to win the NL Championship.

That changed in 1980 as the team was led by the MVP season of Mike Schmidt and Cy Young Award season of Steve Carlton. In the playoffs, after being down two games to one in the best of five series against the Astros, it looked as if a World Series appearance would elude the team yet again.

Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies /

Philadelphia Phillies

With an improbable comeback in the NLCS to reach the World Series, the Phillies were poised for their first championship in franchise history. In the first game,  the Phillies took down the Royals by the score of 7-6 behind rookie Bob Walk.

Carlton took the ball in the all-important second game. With the next three games in Kansas City, the Phillies did not want to go on the road forced to win a game to stay alive.

Carlton and the Royals’ starter Larry Gura were engaged in a scoreless pitching duel into the fifth. The Phillies got on the board first with a sacrifice fly by Manny Trillo and an RBI single by Larry Bowa.

After an unearned run in the sixth and three in the seventh, the Phillies were down 4-2. However, the Phillies got four in the eighth off Dan Quisenberry to go ahead, 6-4. Ron Reed pitched a scoreless ninth saving it for Carlton, who struck out 10 over eight innings, allowing three earned runs.

Carlton was focused in game six and the Royals had little chance. The Phillies scored the first four runs through six innings, with Schmidt knocking in two of the four.  Carlton allowed the first two men on base in the eighth, ahead 4-0. Tug McGraw relieved Carlton and the lone run for the Royals scored on a sacrifice fly. Carlton struck out seven and walked three over seven innings, earning the win.

The Phillies won their first World Series and “Lefty” was a key component going 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA.

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