Trisha Shetty (Editor)

1972 Philadelphia Phillies season

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Local television
  
WPHL-TV

Owner(s)
  
R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr.

General manager(s)
  
John J. Quinn, Paul Owens

Manager(s)
  
Frank Lucchesi, Paul Owens

Local radio
  
WCAU (By Saam, Harry Kalas, Richie Ashburn)

The 1972 Philadelphia Phillies season saw the team finish with a record of 59–97, last place in the National League East.

Contents

Offseason

The Phils made perhaps one of the most significant trades in their history on February 25, when they traded Rick Wise to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Carlton. Both teams were engaged in difficult contract negotiations with each pitcher. Carlton went on to win four Cy Young Awards with the Phillies, and Wise continued a solid career. Carlton won his first Cy Young Award on the 1972 Phillies who won only 59 games. Carlton was 27–10 and the team was 32–87 when Carlton did not pitch. No pitcher in the twentieth century has won as high a proportion of his team's victories (45.8%). Carlton also led the N.L. in ERA (1.97), strikeouts (310), and innings pitched (346).

Notable transactions

  • October 22, 1971: Lowell Palmer was purchased from the Phillies by the Chicago White Sox.
  • February 25, 1972: Rick Wise was traded by the Phillies to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Carlton.
  • March 1, 1972: Rubén Amaro was released by the Phillies.

    • Regular season

    During the season, Steve Carlton became the last pitcher to win at least 25 games in one season for the Phillies in the 20th century.

    On July 10, manager Frank Lucchesi was fired with the team at 26–50. Paul Owens, who had been promoted from farm director to GM a month earlier, became manager as well.

    The Padres came close to a no-hitter against the Phillies on July 18, 1972; Steve Arlin came within one out before a ninth-inning two-out single by Denny Doyle broke up the bid.

    The Phillies had hosted the 1952 All-Star Game, played July 9, 1952 at Shibe Park. The American League won 3 to 2 in five innings; the first rain shortened All-Star Game. The Phillies held their promotional Old-Timers Game on August 19, 1972. The Phillies invited all of the players from the 1952 game back to Philadelphia to complete the last four innings.

    Mike Schmidt made his major league debut on September 12.

    Notable transactions

  • June 15, 1972: Andre Thornton and Joe Hoerner were traded by the Phillies to the Atlanta Braves for Jim Nash and Gary Neibauer.
  • August 2, 1972: Woodie Fryman was selected off waivers from the Phillies by the Detroit Tigers.

    • Draft picks

  • June 6, 1972: 1972 Major League Baseball draft
  • Tom Underwood was drafted by the Phillies in the 2nd round. Player signed August 27, 1972.
  • June 6, 1972: Dan Boitano was drafted by the Phillies in the 1st round (17th pick) of the secondary phase, but did not sign.

    • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Spartanburg

    References

    1972 Philadelphia Phillies season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA