The pitcher who won 46% of his team's victories in a single season
In short: In 1972, Steve Carlton achieved something nearly impossible. Playing for a last-place Phillies team, he won 27 games, accounting for almost half of the club's total wins. His dominance was fueled by intense training, including twisting his fist into a bucket of rice to master his slider.
Steve Carlton, nicknamed "Lefty," remains one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball history. His career is defined by a remarkable 1972 season with the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite the team finishing with a 59–97 record, Carlton secured his first Cy Young Award, becoming the first pitcher to win the award while playing for a last-place team. That year, his 27 wins accounted for 46% of the Phillies' total victories, a record for a single season in the modern era.
Carlton's success was rooted in a grueling, unconventional training regimen. Drawing from Eastern philosophy and Paramahansa Yogananda's lessons, he improved his grip strength by twisting his fist into a 5-gallon bucket filled with rice. This training produced an "unhittable" slider. His peak arrived in 1980, when he guided the Phillies to their inaugural World Series championship while leading the National League in strikeouts (286), victories (24), and innings pitched (304).
Beyond his on-field statistics, Carlton was known for his intense privacy. Following a period of media criticism regarding his training methods, he decided in 1976 to cease all communication with the press. He refused to answer questions for the remainder of his career with the Phillies, a decision he later claimed helped him maintain mental focus. By the time he retired, he had achieved several historic milestones, including being the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards and becoming the 16th pitcher to reach 300 career wins.
Carlton's legacy is cemented in the Baseball Hall of Fame, where he was elected in 1994 during his first year of eligibility. He maintains major historical feats, including being the final National League pitcher to record 25+ wins in a season and the last pitcher from any club to surpass 300 innings during a single season.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Steve Carlton
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