Fansided

Each MLB team’s best trade ever

By Joshua Sadlock

SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 19: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 6-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 19: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on June 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 6-2. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
21 of 30
Next
Philadelphia Phillies’ Steve Carlton pitching against the New York Mets. This game will be his 23rd win and make him the strikeout leader of this season.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Steve Carlton pitching against the New York Mets. This game will be his 23rd win and make him the strikeout leader of this season. /

Philadelphia Phillies: Steve Carlton from the Cardinals, 1972

  • Phillies get: Steve Carlton
  • St. Louis Cardinals get: Rick Wise

Entering the 1972 season, future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton was a seven-year veteran who had already pitching in two World Series and been named to the All-Star team three times. Carlton went 77-62 for St. Louis with a 3.10 ERA and before the 1972 season, he wanted a raise. The contract dispute led the Cardinals to trade him to the Phillies for right-handed starter Rick Wise, also an All-Star.

After the trade, the two pitchers’ careers went in opposite directions. Carlton won 27 games for the Phillies in his first year with the team and would go onto win 241 with the club. He won the NL Cy Young in 1972, 1977, 1980 and 1982. Carlton led the NL in wins in each of his Cy Young seasons and was an absolute workhorse for 15 years, leading the league in innings pitched five times and complete games three times. He was instrumental in the Phillies World Series win in 1980, where he picked up three victories in four postseason starts.

Carlton is still the greatest pitcher in Phillies history, a 300-game winner and a two-time World Series champion. He held the record for most Cy Young awards before he was topped by Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens. Wise was never a terrible pitcher, but few can measure up to Carlton’s greatness. He ended his career with nearly 200 wins and two trips to the All-Star Game.

Home/MLB