Fifty Fabulous Floridians: Number 4

This article was written for Canespace by SolarCane

As we head into the home stretch and celebrate the remaining top 4 athletes that made our list, I would like to thank you once again for reading the Fifty Fabulous Floridians (FFF) That Made Us Proud series.  I want to send out a special thanks to those who have commented or debated the list and the rankings of the individual athletes on it.

As I mentioned last week on the FFF feature we are doing the top five one at a time to give them the recognition they truly deserve.  This week we move up to number 4 on the list, and with only three cherished spots at the top left, the selections keep getting even more difficult.

Here are my brief thoughts on this week's selection, baseball Hall of Famer, Steve Carlton:

Carlton is the highest ranked baseball player on the list.  A ten time All Star, 4 time Cy Young Award winner, two time World Series Champion and voted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot by a whopping 95.8%.

# 4 Steve Carlton

Steven Norman Carlton (born December 22, 1944) is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, from 1965 to 1988. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. He was affectionately known to Philadelphia fans as "Lefty". He played the most number of years for the Philadelphia Phillies, receiving his greatest acclaim as a professional and winning four Cy Young Awards. In addition, Carlton spent time with the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins.

Carlton has the second-most lifetime strikeouts of any left-handed pitcher (4th overall), and the second-most lifetime wins of any left-handed pitcher (11th overall). He was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards in a career. He held the lifetime strikeout record several times between 1982 and 1984, before his contemporary Nolan Ryan passed him. One of his most remarkable records was accounting for nearly half (46%) of his team's wins, when he won 27 games for the last-place (59-97) 1972 Phillies. He is still the last National League pitcher to win 25 or more games in one season, as well as the last pitcher from any team to throw more than 300 innings in a season.

 Early years

Carlton was born and reared in Miami, Florida, where he played little league and American Legion baseball during his youth. He attended North Miami High School, and later Miami-Dade Community College. In 1963, while a student at Miami-Dade, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals for a $5,000 bonus

 St. Louis Cardinals

Carlton debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals as a 20-year-old in 1965 and by 1967 was a regular in the Cardinals rotation. An imposing (6'4") man with a hard fastball and slider, Carlton was soon known as an intimidating and dominant pitcher. Carlton enjoyed immediate success in St. Louis, posting winning records and reaching the World Series in 1967 and 1968. On September 15, 1969, Carlton struck out 19 New York Mets, while losing to the Mets, 4-3, setting the all-time modern-day record at that time for strikeouts in a nine-inning game. That season, he finished with a 17-11 record with a 2.17 ERA, second lowest in the NL, and 210 strikeouts.

 Philadelphia Phillies

Following a salary dispute, Cardinals owner Gussie Busch ordered Carlton traded. Eventually, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies before the 1972 season for pitcher Rick Wise.[5] The trade is now considered one of the most one-sided deals of the 1970s, as well as one of the worst trades in Cardinals history, and, conversely, one of the best trades in Phillies history.

In Carlton's first season with Philadelphia, he led the league in wins (27), complete games (30), strikeouts (310), and ERA (1.97), despite playing for a team whose final record was 59-97. His 1972 performance earned him the Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete of the year. His having won 46% of his team's victories is a record in modern major league history.

Baseball commentators during 1972 regularly remarked that Steve's slider was basically unhittable. He was also a good hitter for a pitcher. At times he pinch-hit for the Phillies during 1972.

More success

Carlton continued to enjoy many years of success with the Phillies, winning the Cy Young Award in 1972, 1977, 1980, and 1982, and pitching the Phillies to the best string of post-season appearances in club history. Carlton was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards, a mark later matched by Greg Maddux, and exceeded by Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. In 1980, Carlton helped the Phillies win their first World Series, personally winning the final game. Steve was inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the year 1994.

Race with Nolan Ryan for the all time strikeout record

Over a three year period between 1982-1984, Carlton was involved in an interesting pitching duel with Nolan Ryan, then of the Houston Astros, in which they often traded places at the top of the all-time strikeout list.

There would be five more lead changes and a tie in 1984 before Carlton ran out of gas. His last-ever lead in the all-time strikeout race was after his start on September 4, 1984, when he struck out four Cubs to lead Ryan by three (3,857 to 3,854). Although the season ended with a mere two-strikeout lead for Ryan (3,874 to 3,872), Carlton had an injury-riddled season in 1985 and an even worse season in 1986 before being released by the Phillies just 18 strikeouts short of 4,000.

Retirement

He attempted to find work in 1989 but found no takers. The closest thing to an offer was the New York Yankees offering him the use of their facilities for training purposes but no spot on the spring training team. Nolan Ryan would pitch until 1993 and would extend his strikeout lead over Carlton to almost 1,600 before retiring. Carlton would eventually fall to third and then fourth place on the all time strikeout list after Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson passed him.

 Legacy

A ten-time All-Star, Carlton led the league in many pitching categories. He struck out 4,136 batters in his career, setting a record for a left-handed pitcher (since surpassed by Randy Johnson), and holds many other records for both left-handed and Phillies pitchers. His 329 career wins are the eleventh most in baseball history, behind Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, and Warren Spahn among pitchers of the live-ball era (post-1920).

Carlton picked 144 runners off base, by far the most in Major League Baseball since pickoff records began being collected in 1957. Jerry Koosman is second with 82.

Carlton was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994 with 96% of the vote, one of the highest percentages ever. The Phillies retired his number 32, and honored him with a statue outside Veterans Stadium that was later moved to Citizens Bank Park (along with a similar statue of fellow Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt). In 1999, he ranked number 30 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Despite his career-long rivalry with Ryan, Carlton maintains his greatest rival was Tom Seaver.

Comments

[xiaobiao xu]

1st

[solarcane]

the guy that picks these guys knows what the hell he is doing

[DrtyCane]

turd

[DZ8]

Good stuff.

Just wow about that 1972 season. Epic.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Miami has yet to play in or win the ACC football championship.

But that is all going to change in 2010.

Captain Optimist told me so.

And I believe him too.

Posted at 06:00 AM | Permalink

>>>>

You damn right I did!!!!

STRAP UP MOFOS!!!!

[SlingBlade]

Bg, u gotta like our chances with Tony Steward since Rob Hankins committed to Arizona right?

Posted by: 4-Real | June 21, 2010 at 06:24 PM

Tony Steward = fat nascar driver?

Posted by: SlingBlade | June 21, 2010 at 07:19 PM

[360Cane]

Xbox 360 Owners

360 and accessories trade-in values towards the new slim:

http://www.ebgames.com/gs/landing/xb360250trade/default.aspx

[CGNC]

Nice series Solar and Six

[Old Skool]

Very worthy guy.

[Canesfan4life]

FSU beats the gators, bye bye gators.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

Jacory might be the only Qb in the country that could line up two complete sets of receivers that could start on any team in America.

Posted by: solarcane | June 20, 2010 at 06:23 PM

>>>

Very true. He could probably say that this year. Only a couple of schools would be reaches for these WRs to start.

[SuperCooper]

DaVaris Daniels to pick Miami tommorow

http://yourseason.suntimes.com/football/2416826,062110-foootball-daniels-picks-hurricanes.article

Team Shannon cannot be stopped. Our WR is gonna be sick with Watkins added in.

[Six]

Carlton was a complete badass

If anyone has ever read the book "Moneyball", about how Oakland A's GM Billy Beane survives by living off of non-traditional scouting methods and a smaller checkbook .... there's a great section when Beane was in the minors and one of his teammates, some guy named Lenny Dykstra, were watching Carlton throw off the mound before they were going to play him

Dykstra is a true baseball flake, and it's awesome what he says about Carlton

[canechic]

CGNC the other day I heard a guy trying to convince a sports radio announcer that LeBron James was more of an athlete then Sydney Crosby. I was so angry I almost called in to the show to defend Crosby and I was like wait a minute I do not like this guy. Although I do not like him Lebron is better really? And are you trying to say hockey players are not athletes? That was a big huge COME ON MAN.

[Captain Optimist aka Cavaleer]

DZ8, I'm with you on those pre-season awards watchlists. Forston probably won't even start.
But he's a RS sophomore. I'll bet they didn't mention that.

Ungar, great points about our OL letting down our DL in most respects last year. This year it's not happening. Pipho might have a world of experience over Johnson but experience can never make him as big, strong and agile. Ditto B-Wash compared right next to him and then Frank and Figs on the other side. Then right behind them there's quality depth with Gunn, Jones and someone else I'm forgetting.

So there should be little drop-off between 1s and 2s on both sides.

I'm still annoyed with Stoutland talking about how many starts are necessary to win a NC and that this group should "still be good."

THAT'S YOUR GOTTDAAMED JOB COACH.

But I know Shannon's going to squeeze everything he can out of them and Stout.

Fortunately we have enough talent on O to mitigate any OL mistakes.

[Old Skool]

Miami's easier to get into than ND?

Unable to qualify academically for admission to his first choice, Notre Dame, wide receiver DaVaris Daniels of Vernon Hills has decided to enroll at the University of Miami.

Daniels, son of the Washington Redskins' Phillip Daniels, will make his announcement at a press conference at his high school at noon on Tuesday.

When it became apparent that Notre Dame couldn't get him into school, he opted for Miami.

"They have a brotherhood, a great tradition," Daniels said. "I grew up watching Miami powerhouse teams dominating everyone. My dad has some teammates who went to Miami and they talk about the U, how they still go back to the school, how they still are a part of the program."

[JUST CANE]

Daniels is enrolling in UM??? Doesn't he have another year of high school?

[JUST CANE]

Doesn't Daniels have another year to improve his grades, test scores?

[87' canes]

Go CANES !!!!!!!!!!

[SuperCooper]

It's definitely harder to get in to ND.

If his grades are close enough, Shannon can always use his exceptions that he is given for each class.

[ChicagoCane]

Daniels goes to the school in the next town over from the high school I teach at. I heard he was all ND so grades must be a bit of an issue.

I hate the Golden Domers, but they do have some of the highest academic standards in the country.

[4-Real]

Gotta fake posing as Super Cooper!

[bg1906]

For anyone intested my boy Brian is a graphic artist and has been making custom t-shirts for my frat for a while now. He’s opened it up now to where he’s doing sports team too. He’s doing this custom t-shirt for me. I will wear it later in the year when I come down for the USF game. I need ticket info for that for me and the wife.

Here is a pic: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30887223&id=1175345185

The tees are $30.00 and you can get on them whatever you want, they are custom. Let me know if anyone is interested.

[Hurricanedave]

I have been a Phillies fan for over 50 years. Steve Carton is one of those athletes that goes by one name "Lefty" The article mentions the 1972 season, which was incredible, the Phillies were the worst team in baseball. the following is from Lefty's site:

In 1972 Carlton became the fifth pitcher ever to win 20 games for a last-place team, collecting 27 of the Phillies' 59 victories, a record 45.8 percent! Carlton's 27-10 record included a 15-game winning streak, eight shutouts, and 30 complete games, which was the highest completion total since the 1940's. He won the pitching Triple Crown, leading the NL in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, and also topped the circuit with 346 1/3 innings, the most by a National Leaguer since 1953.

He fanned 310 batters in 1972, becoming the second NL pitcher to top 300, was a unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award, and finished fifth in the Most Valuable Player voting

All of that for the worst team in baseball. That's why he's known by one name lefty.
I think Miami Dade won the Nat'l Junior college title in 1963.
I know I saw him pitch that year, don't remember the details but recall how good he was, it may have been against the Canes, either regular season or just a scrimmage in the fall. When you see someone that good you don't forget it! His slider was unhittable when he was on.

[bg1906]

There is a rumor going around he (Daniels) will pick us. However, I don't know if I buy it. I think he's ND all the way. I don't know how much stock to put into that report. If you can academically get in UM you can academically get into ND. IF he does, that will mean no Benjamin and then the final WR in this class will be Sammy Watkins.

Slingblade, Steward is nothing but FSU. Hankins not coming just means Perryman may be the only LB taken.

[Ungar]

solar, you got me on that Steve Carlton guy. And I remember cheering for him against Ryan in that strikeout race, and then wondering where he disappeared to. (I didn't follow baseball all that closely in the 80s, and the web had so little info back then, but that is no excuse.) I did not know he was a Fabulous Floridian though. Coolness.

[Hurricanedave]

Solar/Six thanks for the article.

[Ungar]

Also, great info on the Georgia laws. Down here, people don't even treat it as the passing lane, but as the "I gotta lotta room on the left so i can talk on my phone" lane.

I love it when I get past the Palm Beach line and folks start treating the roads the way they are supposed to.....

[canesteeler]

Great write-up guys! Steve Carlton was cut by legendary JC baseball coach Demi Maneri (Dade North Junior College). He enrolled at Dade South JC and the rest is history. Currently Demi Maneri's son is the head coach at LSU baseball.

[bg1906]

Here is a comment on that article by the guy that runs Daniels facebook page Tilly4.

This suntimes article with DaVaris Daniels is a lie! I was in the car with him and even have the conversation recorded on video. When DaVaris was asked about his grades he said "I'm fine, everything got squared away. I'm completely good." DaVaris also told the reporter that he was not telling him where he was going to commit. Nice try Taylor Bell, but when I have the whole conversation recorded on video camera it's going to be hard for you to argue against us

[bg1906]

Also his FB pic sure says ND to me! LOL

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/hs626.snc3/27439_1089984495_4198_n.jpg

[SOUP]

FSU beats the gators, bye bye gators.

Posted by: Canesfan4life | June 21, 2010 at 08:17 PM

Whoo Hoo! Made my night.

[SOUP]

Carlton's web site, WAY cool:

http://www.carlton32.com/pages/home.html

[Canez1]

That's some sweet azz Midwest trash he is rockin in that pic LOL!!!

GO CANEZ!!!!!

[SOUP]

He even shows U how to throw the slider:

http://www.carlton32.com/pages/slider.html

[ZarOkoN]

with FSU already having soo many LB's last year and with a couple still on scholarship why wouldnt he want to come in a possibly attend Miami..wow...talking about Tony Steward...wish we could get him

[SOUP]

U can even email him if U want, I did:

Steve@Carlton32.com

[solarcane]

dz,hurri,skool, ungar, cg thanks for the props

I give my brudda Six credit for me putting Carlton in the top 5. Six had me read Carlton's bio over a few times and I said hell ya.
When I read about the 72 season and Carlton had like 46% of his teams wins I about sharted.

[bg1906]

Interesting new. Daniels' press conference for tomorrow is now cancelled. Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Very interesting indeed.

[solarcane]

canesteeler thanks,

this has been a lot of fun to put together.

[SOUP]

Top 100 baseball players of all time:

http://www.thebaseballpage.com/positions/rankings/Top100.php

Carlton #60

[SOUP]

Top 25 picthers of all time, Carlton #12:

1. Lefty Grove
2. Tom Seaver
3. Walter Johnson
4. Pedro Martinez
5. Satchel Paige
6. Greg Maddux
7. Bob Feller
8. Christy Mathewson
9. Sandy Koufax
10. Bob Gibson
11. Warren Spahn
12. Steve Carlton
13. Randy Johnson
14. Pete Alexander
15. Carl Hubbell
16. Roger Clemens
17. Cy Young
18. Mordecai Brown
19. Dizzy Dean
20. Nolan Ryan
21. Ed Walsh
22. Smoky Joe Williams
23. Juan Marichal
24. Jim Palmer
25. Eddie Plank

[solarcane]

Soup thanks aghain for the photos and punching up the article.

badazz top 5 no?

[SOUP]

Solar...great series! I'm thinking of just running through the rest of the top 3 one a night through Thursday to kinda build momentum to #1. Wadda U think?

U like da photos?

[SOUP]

badazz top 5 no?

Posted by: solarcane | June 21, 2010 at 10:54 PM

SUPER bad!

[solarcane]

Soup,
yea however you do the throw down I'm good.

I loved the pictures. That was perfect!

[solarcane]

ok I'm out,
I gotta watch headlines, I think most of them come from right in this county

nite gang

[4-Real]

Talkin bout shyt fallin apart, check out OSU! DE Jamal Turner shot. Wr Duron Carter, son of Chris Carter, has to enroll in junior college in Kansas. Remember big time de Keith Wells from FLA in the 2008 class? He just left the team also! Lets not 4get Nino Brown jr, Jamal Berry lol! OSU= SUX!

[ZarOkoN]

why on canesport its saying that daniels is a commit???

[Cat 5 Cane]

.