Larry Christenson, a fixture in the Phillies’ rotation for more than a decade, died unexpectedly on Friday, the team announced. He was 72.
The news hit hard for a lot of people who knew him best, including Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, who spent years alongside Christenson in Philadelphia.
“It is with great sadness that we just learned of the passing of Larry Christenson who was a friend for 50 years,” Schmidt said. “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.
His passing will leave a hole in all of our hearts. May he rest in peace.”
Christenson arrived with real pedigree as the third overall pick in the 1972 draft, then broke into the majors the very next season at just 19 years old, making him the youngest player in baseball. His first big league start was a statement: a complete game against the Mets in a 7-1 Phillies win. From there, he built a career that stayed entirely in Philadelphia, spending all 11 of his seasons with the club.
His peak came from 1975 through 1978, when he became a steady, durable force in the Phillies’ rotation. Over that four-year span, Christenson made 128 appearances and 122 starts, logged 787 2/3 innings, posted a 3.66 ERA and went 56-34.
Philadelphia’s staff during that stretch also featured Steve Carlton, Jim Kaat, Jim Lonborg and Tom Underwood, and the Phillies reached the playoffs in three of those four seasons. Christenson set his single-season highs in innings with 228 in 1978, ERA with a 3.24 mark that same year, and wins with 19 in 1977.
The back half of his career was more uneven, with injuries becoming a constant issue after 1978. Still, he gave the Phillies important innings in 1980, when he made 14 starts and threw 73 2/3 innings with a 4.03 ERA. That season ended with another playoff trip for Philadelphia, and the club went on to win its first World Series title, beating the Royals in six games.
Christenson’s final meaningful stretch came in 1982, when he made 33 starts and worked 223 innings with a 3.47 ERA. Elbow surgery followed in 1983, and that limited him to nine starts and 48 1/3 innings. The Phillies released him after that season, and he never pitched again.
He finished with an 83-71 regular-season record, a 3.79 ERA, 243 appearances and 1,402 2/3 innings. At the plate, he also hit 11 home runs, tying Rick Wise for the most by a pitcher in franchise history. After his playing days, Christenson stayed involved in Phillies charities and other nonprofits in Philadelphia.
“My heart is heavy today,” Phillies icon 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.”
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