That Balls Outta Here
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Phillies All-Decade Team 1970s: Homegrown Talent at the Forefront

By Kerry Kauffman

PHILADELPHIA, PA - CIRCA 1980: Pitcher Steve Carlton #32 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Carlton played for the Phillies from 1972-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - CIRCA 1980: Pitcher Steve Carlton #32 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Carlton played for the Phillies from 1972-86. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK – CIRCA 1975: Larry Christenson #38 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1975 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Christenson played for the Phillies from 1973-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Larry Christenson

Christenson was drafted by the Phillies in the first round out of high school in 1972. He made his Major League debut as a 19-year old the following April. He went 2-5 with an ERA over five for the Phillies in 20 games combined in 1973 and 1974.

The following year, Christenson showed real promise, winning 11 of 17 decisions with an ERA of 3.67 in 171 2/3 innings.  He continued his ascension with a 13-win season in 176 with an ERA of 3.68 in 168 2/3 innings.

The next two seasons saw Christenson put it all together, on the verge of All-Star status. In 1977 he went 19-6 with a 4.06 ERA in 219 1/3 innings. He followed that with career highs in strikeouts (131) and innings (228) in 1978 to go along with 13 wins and a 3.24 ERA.

Injuries began to take their toll on Christenson, limiting him to 19 games in 1979 and a poor 5-10 record with an ERA of 4.50.

Sadly, Christenson was never able to shake the injury-bug, pitching in just 34 games over the next two seasons. He had one last hurrah in 1982, logging 223 innings with a new career high in strikeouts and an ERA of 3.47.

Christenson retired with an 83-71 record with an ERA of 3.79 in 243 games.

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