1972:A New Era Dawns,A Philadelphia Phillies Dynasty

[PhillieFever]

The year is 1972,and a new day has dawned for baseball fans in the city of brotherly love.Following years of losing,the Philadelphia Phillies under new general manager "Pope" Paul Owens have put together a solid nucleus of young players who if all goes well,have the chance to reverse the fortunes of a franchise that has finished in last place 23 times in their 88 year history while winning only 2 pennants(1915 & 1950) and no World Series Titles.This is the story of those players as well as that of their teammates as they attempt to do what no baseball team in Philadelphia has done since Connie Mack's Athletics of 1930,win a World Championship.So without further adieu,Play Ball!!

[PhillieFever]

The Nucleus

Steve Carlton(SP)-Following his first 20 win season in 1971,Steve and Cardinals owner Gussie Busch became embroiled in a bitter contract dispute that led to Carlton's trade to the Phillies on February 25th of this year for pitcher Rick Wise.Carlton could possibly be the Phillies best pitcher since the days of Jim Bunning

Mike Schmidt(3B)-A homegrown talent from Dayton,Oh.that is still about a year or so away from becoming an everyday player,Mike has a good glove and has shown an ability to hit for power to all fields.

Larry Bowa(SS)-This young man from Sacramento California has the potential to be one of the best fielding shortstops in the league,another homegrown talent he's a firey type of player that Philadelphians love.

Bob Boone(C)-This San Diego California native projects to be the Phillies backstop for years to come,look for him to take over the reigns from McCarver sometime in 73'

Greg "The Bull" Luzinski(LF)-Following a cup of coffee last season in which he played in 28 games batting .300 with 3 homers and 15 RBI,Luzinski will start this season as the everyday left fielder and clean-up hitter.he has tremendous power and can hit for average as well,but his fielding is a bit suspect.

March Transactions

The Phillies traded 22 year old RF Oscar Gamble and 25 year old 1B Joe Lis to the Cleveland Indians for 27 year old outfielder Del Unser

The Phillies traded 29 year old reliever Bill Wilson and 25 year old starter Ken Reynolds to the Milwaukee Brewers for 29 year old starter Jim Lonborg

[PhillieFever]

The 1972 Philadelphia Phillies

[PhillieFever]

ST.Louis,Mo.-Don Money's solo home run in the top of the 6th inning was the difference in today's game as the Phillies upended the Cardinals 4-3 on opening day here in Busch Stadium.Steve Carlton went the distance for the win while Bob Gibson took the loss.

WP-Steve Carlton(1-0)
LP-Bob Gibson(0-1)
HR-PHI-Don Money(1)

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

St.Louis,Mo.-In the second game of this three game set,Cards starting pitcher Rick Wise was hammered by his former mates allowing 8 hits and 7 runs in just 3 innings of work as the Phillies pounded the home team 9-3.

WP-Jim Lonborg(1-0)
LP-Rick Wise(0-1)
HR-PHI-Willie Montanez(1),Don Money(2),Mike Anderson(1)

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

St.Louis,Mo.-Cardinals starter Reggie Cleveland had everything working today scattering 7 hits while striking out 9 in today's 1-0 victory over the Phillies.The only run of the game came courtesy of a Joe Torre 8th inning single that scored Lou Brock who tripled to lead off the inning.


WP-Reggie Cleveland(1-0)
LP-Wayne Twitchell(0-1)
HR-None

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

Players Of The Week For Week Ending April 9,1972

NL-Chicago Cubs first baseman Joe Pepitone rose above the controversy surrounding his soon to expire contract,thriving under pressure last week and copping the player of the week award in the National League.Pepitone put up a .600 batting average(6 for 10) with 1 home run,8 RBI and 3 runs scored.


AL-John Mayberry has the tools to stick in this league for many years.The 23 year old first baseman of the Kansas City Royals had a pretty fair bat in the American League over the past seven days and won the player of the week honors.Mayberry batted .462 with 6 hits in 13 at bats,4 home runs and 8 RBI

MLB Standings

[PhillieFever]

Philadelphia,Pa.-Montreal Expos left fielder Ken Singleton was on fire today going 3 for 4 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI as Montreal spoiled opening day in Philadelphia by pounding Frank Lucchesi's Phillies 9-4.

WP-Balor Moore(1-0)
LP-Woodie Fryman(0-1)
HR-PHI-Bob Boone(1),MON-Ken Singleton 2(2),Ed Kirkpatrick(1)

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

Philadelphia,Pa.-Phillies rookie slugger Greg Luzinski's 2 run pinch hit home run in the bottom of the 9th gave Philadelphia a shocking 4-3 victory over the visiting Expos who with today's loss have now lost 4 of their first 5 games,the Phillies on the other hand improve to 3-2.

WP-Steve Carlton(2-0)
LP-Tom Walker(0-2)
HR-PHI-Greg Luzinski(1) MON-Mike Jorgenson(2)

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

Chicago,Ill.-With the wind blowing out here in Wrigley Field,the Cubs put on a vulgar display of power as they launched 5 home runs in a 9-4 pasting of the overmatched Phillies.As usual,LF Billy Williams led the way for the Cubbies going 2 for 3 with a home run,2 RBI,and a run scored.

WP-Milt Pappas(1-0)
LP-Jim Lonborg(1-1)
S-Bill Bonham(1)
HR-PHI-Don Money(3),CHI-Billy Williams(2),Milt Pappas(1),Joe Pepitone(3),Dave Rosello(1),Randy Hundley(1)

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

Chicago,Ill.-Despite two home runs by rookie backstop Bob Boone,the Phillies once again were defeated by the Cubs,this time by the score of 7-5.The game's turning point came in the 7th,when with two men on and the Cubs clinging to a 4-3 lead,center fielder Rick Monday launched a mammoth home run off of beleaguered Phils reliever Dick Selma giving Chicago a 7-3 lead that Philadelphia could not overcome.


WP-Juan Pizarro(1-0)
LP-Wayne Twitchell(0-2)
HR-PHI-Bob Boone 2(1,2),Mike Anderson(2) CHI-Rick Monday(2)

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

Chicago,Ill-Phillies reliever Barry Lersch finally had enough.Entering the bottom of the sixth holding a 5-2 lead,Phillies starter Billy Champion seemed to be in full command but then just like that,Billy Williams and Rick Monday went deep back to back and the score was 5-4 with momentum once again on the side of the home team,enter Lersch who with his first pitch drills Joe Pepitone who immediately charges the mound,setting off one heck of donnybrook between the two division rivals.In the end,Joe Pep and Lersch were both ejected and later on each given three game suspensions.Once the game finally resumed,both teams ramped up the intensity but the Cubs thanks to a Dave Rosello walk off homer once again defeated the Phillies 7-6 to complete the three game sweep.

WP-Larry Gura(2-0)
LP-Woodie Fryman(0-1)
HR-PHI-Don Money(4),CHI-Billy Williams(3),Rick Monday 2(3,4),Joe Pepitone(4),Dave Rosello(2)

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

Players Of The Week For Week Ending April 16,1972

NL-There's nothing like being in the prime of your baseball career-and playing like it.Just ask Bobby Tolan the Cincinnati center fielder,who swung a sweet bat all week to not only aid his team,but to nab National League player of the week honors.Tolan piled up 12 hits in 24 at bats for a .500 avg,1 home run,and 3 RBI.

AL-Its always a thrill for fans of the team and students of the game alike when a superstar in the making shows what he's got.Reggie Jackson,the A's prodigious right fielder,put himself in the spotlight last week making him the clear cut choice for American League player of the week honors.He ripped 10 hits in 21 at bats,compiling a .476 average with 4 home runs and 8 RBI.

Standings As Of April 16,1972

[captaincarl]

You are doing a good job so far with this.

This poor team could've used Schmidt back in '72. One or two more power bats could have been enough to get them out of the cellar in real life. Good luck in trying to avoid the same fate as they did.

Are you using Bob Boone as your starting catcher or is Tim McCarver starting behind the dish? If you are starting Boone, make sure that you start McCarver whenever "Lefty" pitches. He was his personal catcher back then.

[PhillieFever]

McCarver is the regular catcher with Boone getting some games here and there.As far as the team goes,offensively and defensively they''re not too bad but the pitching is atrocious.Without Carlton,this team would win 45-50 games,no joke.As for Schmidt,he's on the reserve roster but he's just not ready yet.Don Money is better in every category.Good thing is,if Schmidt's ready next season I have a good trading chip in Money to try and bolster the staff.

[PhillieFever]

Philadelphia,Pa.-Following a terrible weekend series in which they were easily swept by the Chicago Cubs,the Fightin' Phils headed home to start a 3 game series with the St.Louis Cardinals who have been on fire lately,collecting victories in their last 6 games.In today's game though,the Cards were up against Phillies ace,Steve Carlton who was masterful once again,going the distance while scattering 11 hits and striking out 5 in the Phillies 6-1 victory.So far this season,Carlton is now 3-0 with 27 IP, 18 K's,and a 2.00 ERA,all for a team that is 1-5 without him.

WP-Steve Carlton(3-0)
LP-Bob Gibson(1-2)
HR-PHI-Tommy Hutton(1)

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

In a spirited back and forth affair,no pitcher was safe,as the Phillies and Cardinals combined for 29 hits and 13 runs with Cardinals 3B Joe Torre's solo home run in the top of the 9th being the difference maker in St.Louis' 7-6 victory.Phils catcher Tim McCarver left the game in the first inning with an abdominal injury,the severity was not immediately known.

WP-Ray Bare(1-0)
LP-Bucky Brandon(0-1)
S-Al Hrabosky(1)
HR-STL-Jose Cruz(1),Joe Torre(1)

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

Philadelphia,Pa.-In the third and final game of this hard fought series,Phillies slugger Greg Luzinski broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the 9th with a mammoth upper deck two run blast to give Philadelphia a much needed 7-5 victory over St.Louis.It was "The Bull's" second walk off homer in a week as well as his second this season.

WP-Mac Scarce(1-0)
LP-Joe Grzenda(0-1)
HR-Phi-Greg Luzinski(2)

Box Score

[PhillieFever]

McCarver Lost For Six Weeks with Sports Hernia

Veterans Stadium,Phila,Pa.-The Phillies have just held a press conference to announce that starting catcher Tim McCarver will be out of the lineup for about six weeks with what has been called a "sports hernia".McCarver has been placed of the 15 day DL,reserve catcher Mike Ryan was brought up to take Timmy's spot.

[PhillieFever]

Philadelphia,Pa.-The mighty Pittsburgh Pirates blew into town today and promptly laid waste to the Phillies struggling relief corps in the Pirates convincing 6-1 victory over the home team.Down 2-1 entering the 8th,Phils relievers Barry Lersch and Chris Short combined to allow 4 runs on 5 hits to all but end any comeback hopes the Phillies might have had.

WP-Clyde Wright(1-2)
LP-Wayne Twitchell(0-3)
HR-Pit-Willie Stargell(5),Rich Hebner(5),Manny Sanguillen(2)

Box Score