Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton
Steven Norman "Steve" Carlton, nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965 to 1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBaseball Player
Date of Birth22 December 1944
CityMiami, FL
CountryUnited States of America
I was probably in the best shape of any athlete at the time, but you don't get to pass judgment on yourself.
That's the past. I don't agree with retrospect.
Rooting is following, and I don't do that, but I'd like to see the Phillies win because I love Philadelphia.
To get the feel of how the slider should roll off of your index finger, use this grip and practice at half speed and roughly half the distance to the mound.
So what I did on the field was the essence of what I am. Remember me like that.
The final release point for the fastball is the tips of your fingers.
I took it personal. I got slammed quite a bit.
To pick up the paper and read about yourself getting slammed, that doesn't start your day off right.
My major league debut came at old Busch Stadium on Grand Avenue in St. Louis against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pete Rose came over to the Phillies in '79 and he became the catalyst that helped us to put it all together.
I threw all my pitches over the top which was important for me because my slider was hard to tell from my fastball at release.
My major league debut came at old Busch Stadium on Grand Avenue in St. Louis, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The first pitch I threw was to third baseman Bob Bailey. It was a fastball, low and away. He ripped it for a home run down the left field line. I said, 'Damn, that was a pretty good pitch.
(Mike) Schmitty provided what the relief pitchers need most, home runs and great defense. He's the best third baseman that I ever played with, and maybe of all-time. Obvious Hall of Famer, even then. He retired while on top of his game. I thought for sure he was going to hit 600 home runs.
I trained myself to perform on the field.