On the
blog today, we spotlight my 1965 "dedicated rookie" for all-time great
Steve Carlton, from my 1960's Dedicated Rookie" set released in 2020:
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Carlton made
his major League debut during the 1965 season, appearing in 15 games,
with two of those starts, not factoring in a decision while pitching to a
2.52 earned run average as a 20-year-old.
In 1966 it would be
more of the same, as he'd appear in only nine games, going 3-3 with a
3.12 ERA in 52 innings of work, striking out 25 while walking 18, also
tossing the first shutout of his young Big League tenure.
1967
would see him begin his next level of play, as he'd go 14-9 with a 2.98
ERA over 30 appearances and 193 innings, with two shutouts and 168
strikeouts, helping the St. Louis Cardinals win it all, their second
championship in three years.
For Carlton, all he did the rest of the way was top 300 wins, 4000 strikeouts, 50 shutouts and 700 starts in his 24 year career!
The first guy to take home four Cy Young Awards, he led his league
in wins four times, strikeouts five times, E.R.A. once and was named to
ten all-star teams.
Needless to say, by the time he was eligible for the Hall of Fame,
he was in on his first try, getting named to 436 of 456 ballots.
Sure we already had "Lefty" Grove, and "Lefty" Gomez, but Carlton
was more than worthy of the same nickname for all of his
accomplishments.
