1972 Philadelphia Phillies season


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

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. Carlton also led the N.L. in ERA, strikeouts, and innings pitched.

Notable transactions

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.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
1B13438199.260438
RF7312929.225618

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
6214034.243618
4610619.179210
41549.16703
13347.20613

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
41346.127101.97310
33154.12154.2687
30132.24145.0954
23119.24104.3669
937.1086.2715
423112.745

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
42104.1773.4567
36100.2463.0448
918.2025.307

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
311243.4440
150232.0812

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Spartanburg