Larry Christenson, a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 11-year Major League Baseball career with the Philadelphia Phillies, died Friday at the age of 72. The team announced his passing, stating he died while on a family fishing trip in his native Washington state.
Christenson was drafted third overall in 1972 out of Marysville High School and debuted in the majors the following year. He was a regular in the Phillies' rotation until his retirement in 1983. During his tenure, the Phillies won the National League East five times and made the playoffs a sixth time in the strike-shortened 1981 season. The team captured the World Series title in 1980 and won the league pennant in Christenson's final season.
From 1976 to 1978, a period marked by three consecutive division titles for the Phillies, Christenson posted a 23-25 record over 66 games, starting 64. In that span, he recorded 233 strikeouts and maintained an ERA of 3.71. His ERA in 1978 was a career-best 3.24, and he started Game 1 of the National League Championship Series that year.
As part of the 1980 World Series-winning team, Christenson started 14 regular-season games, striking out 49 batters with a 4.03 ERA. He had a difficult postseason, allowing four runs in one out in a start against the Kansas City Royals in the World Series and giving up three runs in two appearances against the Houston Astros in the NLCS.
Christenson's 1982 season is often considered his best. The Phillies finished second in the division that year, and Christenson started 33 games with a 3.47 ERA. He recorded a career-high 145 strikeouts, second only to Cy Young Award winner Steve Carlton on the team. His 11 career home runs are tied with Rick Wise for the franchise record for homers by a pitcher.
Former teammates expressed their sorrow. "Larry was very special, the guy that kept in touch with all of us, he always had a smile on his face, he never forgot a moment he spent with you,” said former Phillies player Mike Schmidt. “His passing will leave a hole in all of our hearts. May he rest in peace.”
Former Phillies shortstop Larry Bowa stated, “LC was a tremendous teammate, an outstanding pitcher and a true friend. Win or lose, he was always the life of the clubhouse. He loved the game and enjoyed every minute of his big league career. He will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”