That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

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 1978: Greg Luzinski #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1978 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Luzinski played for the Phillies from 1970-80. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
NEW YORK – CIRCA 1978: Greg Luzinski #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the New York Mets during an Major League Baseball game circa 1978 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Luzinski played for the Phillies from 1970-80. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Greg Luzinski

Luzinski made his Major League debut as a 19-year old in 1970, going 2-for-12 with five strikeouts. After three home runs in 28 games the following season, Luzinski played his first full season and hit .281 with 33 doubles and 18 home runs.

Known as “The Bull”, Luzinski launched 29 home runs with 97 RBI, while hitting .285.  After playing in only 85 games in 1974 with seven home runs, Luzinski started a run of three consecutive .300 plus seasons.  He hit 34 home runs with a league-high 120 RBI and finished second in the MVP voting.

In 1976, Luzinski’s home run production dropped to 21, but still knocked in 95 and hit .305. His best overall season in the Major Leagues was in 1977 when he went deep 39 times with 130 RBI and a .309 batting average.  Luzinski made his third of four straight All-Star appearances and finished second to Dave Parker in the MVP vote.

Luzinski posted his final 30-plus home run season with the Phillies in 1978, hitting 35 with 101 RBI.  His production declined significantly to 18 home runs and a .252 average in 1979.  After the World Series campaign of 1980, Luzinski was sold to the White Sox before the beginning of the 1981 season.

In 1283 games for the Phillies during the 1970s, Luzinski hit 204 home runs with 755 RBI.

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