Steve Carlton (1994)


Date of Birth: 12/22/1944
Birthplace: Miami, Florida
College: Miami-Dade College

Steve Carlton played Little League baseball as a child. He eventually graduated to playing American Legion baseball in Miami. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1963.

St. Louis Cardinals

After one season in the minor leagues, Carlton joined the Cardinals for 15 games in 1965. He pitched 25.0 innings in 2 games as a starting pitcher and the rest of the games as a reliever. He had a 2.52 ERA. He spent most of 1966 in the minor leagues, pitching in just nine games as a starter with the Cardinals. He had a 3.12 ERA in 52.0 innings.

In 1967, his first season as part of the starting rotation for the Cardinals, Carlton had a 14-9 record with 168 strikeouts to 62 walks and a 2.98 ERA in 193.0 innings in 30 games. The next year, he had a 2.99 ERA in 34 games. He finished the 1968 season with 13 wins and 11 losses and 162 strikeouts to 61 walks in 231.2 innings.

Carlton had a strong season in 1969, finishing with a 2.17 ERA in 31 games. He had 17 wins and 11 losses and 210 strikeouts to 93 walks in 236.1 innings. His ERA went up to 3.73 in 1970, when he had control issues. He finished the season with 10 wins and 19 losses and 193 strikeouts to 109 walks in 253.2 innings.

Carlton pitched better in 1971. Although his ERA was 3.56, he had 20 wins to 9 losses in 37 games. He still had control issues, walking 98 batters while striking out 172.

Philadelphia Phillies

After seven years with the Cardinals, Carlton was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies before the start of the 1972 season. In his first season with the Phillies, he won his first of four Cy Young awards. The 1972 season was perhaps his best one, with career highs in games played (41), innings pitched (346.1), wins (27 to 10 losses), and strikeouts (310 to 87). He had a career low ERA of 1.97 and he pitched 30 complete games. In addition to his Cy Young award, he won the NL Triple Crown and the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award that season, and he led the league in wins, ERA, strikeouts, innings pitched, and complete games.

Carlton again led the NL in innings pitched (293.1) and in complete games pitched (18) in 1973. He had a 3.90 ERA with 13 wins and 20 losses and 223 strikeouts to 113 walks in 40 games. The following season, he led the league in strikeouts with 240 (to 136 walks). He finished the 1974 season with 16 wins and 13 losses and a 3.22 ERA in 291.0 innings in 39 games.

Carlton didn't have a very good season in 1975. That year, he had a 15-14 record, 192 strikeouts to 104 walks, and a 3.56 ERA in 255.1 innings in 37 games. His numbers were much better in 1976, when he had a 3.13 ERA, a 20-7 record, and 195 strikeouts to 72 walks in 252.2 innings in 35 games.

Carlton won his second NL Cy Young award and his second Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award in 1977. That season he had a league leading 23 wins to 10 losses, 198 strikeouts to 89 walks, and a 2.64 ERA in 283.0 innings in 36 games. He pitched well the next year, finishing with a 2.84 ERA and 16 wins to 13 losses in 34 games.

Although Carlton's ERA went up to 3.62 in 1979, he still had a good season, winning 18 games and losing 11. He struck out 213 batters and walked 89 in 251.0 innings in 35 games.

In 1980, Carlton again won the NL Cy Young award and the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year award, and he led the league in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. He finished the season with 24 wins and 9 losses, 286 strikeouts to 90 walks, and a 2.34 ERA in 304.0 innings in 38 games.

Carlton pitched in 24 games in the strike shortened 1981 season. He had a 2.42 ERA and a 13-4 record in 190.0 innings. He won his only Gold Glove that year. He made no fielding errors that season.

In 1982, Carlton won his final Cy Young and Sporting News Pitcher of the Year awards, and he led the NL in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, and complete games. He had 23 wins and 11 losses, 286 strikeouts to 86 walks, and a 3.10 ERA in 295.2 innings in 38 games. He pitched 19 complete games that season.

Carlton again led the NL in strikeouts and in innings pitched in 1983. He had a 15-16 record, 275 strikeouts to 84 walks, and a 3.11 ERA in 283.2 innings in 37 games. The next year, he had 13 wins and 7 losses, 163 strikeouts to 79 walks, and a 3.58 ERA in 229.0 innings in 33 games.

Carlton was plagued by injuries in 1985, and he pitched in just 16 games. He had a 3.33 ERA with 1 win and 8 losses in 92.0 innings.

After 16 games with the Phillies in 1986, Carlton was released on June 24th. He signed with the San Francisco Giants on July 4th, but he played in only six games with them before being released on August 7th. He then signed with the Chicago White Sox on August 12th, and he pitched in 10 games with them. He finished the season with a 5.10 ERA, 9 wins and 14 losses, and 120 strikeouts to 86 walks in 176.1 innings

Final Years as a Player

Carlton became a free agent on November 12, 1986. He signed with the Cleveland Indians on April 4, 1987. He was traded to the Minnesota Twins on July 31st. He finished the 1987 season with 6 wins and 14 losses, 91 strikeouts to 86 walks, and a 5.74 ERA in 152.0 innings in 23 games with the Indians and 9 games with the Twins.

After just four games with the Twins in 1988, Carlton was released on April 28th. When he couldn't find a team that wanted to sign him in 1988 and 1989, Carlton retired as a major league pitcher.

Awards and MLB Records

  • Cy Young award (4 times)
  • NL Triple Crown
  • Sporting News Pitcher of the Year (4 times)
  • Led NL in wins (4 times)
  • Led NL in strikeouts (5 times)
  • Led NL in innings pitched (5 times)
  • Led NL in complete games (3 times)

Career Statistics

Pitching statistics for Carlton in 24 seasons (1965-1988) in the major leagues include:

  • 6 seasons with 20 or more wins, with a high of 27 in 1972
  • 18 seasons with over 150 strikeouts, with a high of 310 in 1972
  • 9 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 1.97 in 1972

Career pitching statistics for Carlton include:

  • 741 games played
  • 5,217.1 innings pitched
  • 329-244 win-loss record
  • 4,136 strikeouts to 1,833 walks
  • 3.22 ERA

Career fielding statistics for Carlton include:

  • 741 games played
  • 42 errors
  • 724 assists
  • 109 putouts
  • .952 fielding percentage

Postseason statistics for Carlton include:

  • 8 postseasons
  • 16 games played
  • 97.0 innings pitched
  • 6-6 win-loss record
  • 84 strikeouts to 51 walks
  • 3.25 ERA

Post Playing Career

Carlton was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1994 on the first ballot with 95.6% of the vote.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Steve Carlton
ESPN - Steve Carlton
Baseball Reference - Steve Carlton

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