That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: Top 5 starting pitchers since 1980

By David Esser

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 08: Starter Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 08: Starter Roy Halladay #34 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch during the game against the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO – UNDATED 1981: Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during a MLB game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Carlton played for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1972-1986. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

#1. Steve Carlton

The unquestioned greatest pitcher in Phillies team history is, of course, Steve Carlton.

Acquired in one of the most lopsided trades in MLB history, Carlton would play for the Phillies from 1972 to 1986. A 15 year Philly career which would include some historic accomplishments.

Carlton was a 7x All-Star with the Phillies (10x total), a 4x Cy Young winner, a 4x NL wins leader, a 1x Gold Glove winner, a 1x NL ERA leader, a 5x NL strikeout leader, and of course a 1x World Champion.

Carlton’s consistent dominance across his career with the Phillies is unparalleled. Not only was he with the team for over a decade, but he was extremely productive during those years. He won 241 total games as a Phillie and held an ERA of 3.09.

To this day, Carlton still holds the all-time Phillies record in wins, games started, strikeouts, and a plethora of other metric based analytic categories.

More from Phillies History

The lefty’s best season with the Phillies came during 1972, his first year with the team. He won 27 games, held a 1.97 ERA, threw 30 complete games, and struck out over 300 batters. Simply mind-boggling numbers. Carlton’s performance in ‘72 has widely been regarded as the single best season a starting pitcher has ever had in Philadelphia.

Now of course 1972 was in fact not the highlight of Carlton’s career in Philadelphia. Eight years later, led by their ace, the Phillies would go on to win their first World Series in franchise history. Carlton started two games in the series against the Royals, winning both of them.

Ask any Phillies fan around the world and they most likely state Carlton as the best to ever do it in the red and white pinstripes.

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