Carlton, Steve (1944-…), was one of the most dominating major league baseball pitchers of the 1970’s and early 1980’s. He won 329 games during his 24-year career, which ranks second only to Warren Spahn’s 363 victories among left-handed pitchers. Carlton also ranks fourth behind Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, and Randy Johnson in career strikeouts with 4,136. Carlton pitched in the major leagues from 1965 to 1988. He won the Cy Young Award as the best pitcher in the National League in 1972, 1977, 1980, and 1982. He won at least 20 games during six different seasons.
Steven Norman Carlton was born on Dec. 22, 1944, in Miami, Florida. He began his career with the St. Louis Cardinals and pitched for the team from 1965 to 1971, when he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Carlton’s most productive years were with Philadelphia. He pitched for Philadelphia from 1972 to 1986, when he was released. Carlton then pitched briefly for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians (now called the Cleveland Guardians), and Minnesota Twins before ending his career in 1988. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.
