Steve Carlton American baseball player and pitcher. Date of Birth: 22.12.1944 Country: USA

Biography of Steve Carlton

Steve Carlton, an American baseball player and pitcher, was born on December 22, 1944, in Miami, Florida, USA. From a young age, Carlton had a passion for baseball and played for his college team at Miami-Dade Community College. He gained a reputation as a formidable pitcher due to his left-handed throwing style, earning him the nickname "Lefty" from fans.

In 1965, immediately after finishing college, Carlton joined the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. However, it was not until 1967 that he solidified his position on the field. Carlton was not just a left-handed pitcher; he excelled at both fastballs and sliders. In 1967, he won the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and in 1968, he reached the finals.

By 1969, Carlton had become the leading pitcher for the Cardinals, and in 1970, he set a record by winning twenty consecutive games. Unfortunately, due to financial problems within the team, Carlton was forced to join the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972.

Most of Carlton's successes and records came during his time with the Philadelphia Phillies. Initially, he struggled to fit in with the team and had several conflicts with the press, leading him to completely cut off communication with the media. However, towards the end of the 1973 season, Carlton regained his form and reputation, despite missing 20 games.

As a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, Steve Carlton won the World Series in 1980 and was selected for the All-Star team seven times. He also received four Cy Young Awards and four TSN Pitcher of the Year Awards. In addition, he was awarded the Gold Glove in 1981. Carlton set numerous records during his time with the Phillies, some of which remain unmatched, such as winning over 25 games in a season or winning over 300 innings in a season.

In 1982, a rivalry between Carlton and fellow pitcher Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros began. In 1984, Ryan defeated Carlton in the competition for the best pitcher title, and Carlton's fame began to fade. In 1986, he left the Philadelphia Phillies and played for four different teams during the season: the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Minnesota Twins.

Surprisingly, in 1987, the Minnesota Twins won the World Series, and Steve Carlton became a champion for the third time. Carlton retired from the sport in 1988. In 1994, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and his jersey number 32 remains with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1999, he was named one of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players by "The Sporting News" magazine.