The Cardinals’ September 28, 1971, win over the New York Mets marked not only Carlton’s final appearance wearing the birds on the bat, but also clinched the first 20-win season of his career. Coincidentally, it also marked Nolan Ryan’s final start for the Mets.

Carlton’s 1971 campaign started strong, as he won his first four games and ended May with a 9-2 record and 2.47 ERA. After claiming a complete-game victory over the Mets on August 30, Carlton’s record was 18-7. However, he suffered two losses and a no-decision in his next three starts and didn’t pick up his 19^th win of the season until September 19, when he threw a four-hit, complete-game shutout against the Expos.

Five days later, Carlton couldn’t repeat his success against Montreal, surrendering a three-run lead with six runs allowed over eight innings. With no decision in that game (the Cardinals went on to win, 10-6), Carlton entered his final start of the year with a 19-9 record.

His opposing pitcher, Ryan, was coming off a win over the Cubs that upped his record to 10-13 record, giving him a double-digit win total for the first time in his career. He was unable to carry that momentum forward in his final start for the Mets, which was played in front of just 3,338 fans at Shea Stadium.

Ryan lasted just five batters in the first inning, walking Lou Brock, Ted Sizemore, Matty Alou and Joe Torre before Ted Simmons singled to right, scoring Sizemore and Alou. Already trailing 3-0 with no one out, Mets manager Gil Hodges handed the ball to Jim McAndrew, who got a couple of groundouts and a pop fly to escape the inning without allowing another run.

“It seemed he was just throwing the ball because it had to be thrown,” Hodges said.[1]

“It was the most distressing day of my life,” Ryan said. “I never was so embarrassed. I felt like I was picking up a ball in mid-December.”[2]

By mid-December, Ryan was with the Angels, having been traded with Leroy Stanton, Frank Estrada, and Don Rose for Jim Fregosi. Ryan went on to build a Hall of Fame legacy, pitching 22 more years, making eight all-star games, and winning two ERA titles.

One inning after Ryan left the game, the Cardinals got to McAndrew. Carlton led off the second with a single to left. Lou Brock scored him with a triple to right and Sizemore hit a sacrifice fly that extended the Cardinals’ lead to 5-0.

That was more than Carlton needed. Though he had all but abandoned the slider during the season, Carlton was throwing the pitch so well in his pregame bullpen that he relied on it against the Mets.

“The Mets are like the Giants and the Reds for me – they all wait for my fastball,” the 26-year-old Carlton said. “So as you get older, you get wise. You figure, ‘Why challenge them with the fastball for nine innings?’”[3]

In the sixth inning, Bob Aspromonte hit a sacrifice fly and Jerry Grote added an RBI single to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 5-2. The Mets never threatened again, however. In the ninth, Grote led off the inning with a walk, but Carlton struck out Tim Foli, then retired Ken Singleton and Bud Harrelson on fly balls to end the game.

“Nobody was going to take away his 20^th victory this time,” shortstop Dal Maxvill said.[4]

With the win, Carlton improved to 20-9, becoming the first Cardinals southpaw to reach 20 wins in a season since Ray Sadecki in 1964. Carlton finished the season with a 3.56 ERA over 273 1/3 innings. It was a significant upgrade from his 1970 campaign, when Carlton went 10-19 and led the majors in losses.

“I’m not jumping up and down about 20 for the first time, but it makes you feel good inside,” Carlton said. “There was a lot of skepticism before the season about me. A lot of people didn’t think I could bounce back after last year.”[5]

Sadecki, now with the Mets, suggested that the Cardinals made a mistake in starting Carlton a day early.

“They should have saved Carlton for Thursday’s game against Tom Seaver,” he said, “and then sent both bullpens home and let them go one-on-one.”[6]

Less than five months later, the Cardinals traded Carlton to the Phillies for pitcher Rick Wise. After earning a reported $50,000 in 1971,[7] Carlton sought a significant raise for the 1972 season. While some reports claimed that Carlton sought $75,000, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Carlton was asking for $65,000.[8] The Cardinals, however, were unwilling to go above $57,500.[9]

In his 2004 autobiography, Cardinals general manager Bing Devine said that the decision to trade Carlton wasn’t truly his to make: after delaying as long as he could, he received word that Cardinals owner Gussie Busch wanted Carlton traded within 48 hours.

“Basically, Mr. Busch wanted him gone,” Devine wrote.[10]

Carlton went on to pitch the next 15 seasons for the Phillies, winning four Cy Young awards on his way to a Hall of Fame career. With Carlton at the top of the rotation, the Phillies won the National League East in 1976, 1977, and 1978, then won the World Series in 1980. Philadelphia made the playoffs again in the strike-shortened 1981 season, then captured the National League pennant again in 1983.

In 15 seasons with the Phillies, Carlton won 241 games and posted a 3.09 ERA over almost 3,700 innings. After making his final major league appearance in 1988, Carlton was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1994. He retired with a 329-244 career record, 3.22 ERA, and 10 all-star appearances. He posted a 38-14 record and 2.98 ERA for his career against the Cardinals.

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[1] Neal Russo, “Steve’s 20^th No 9^th-Mare,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 1971.

[2] Neal Russo, “Steve’s 20^th No 9^th-Mare,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 1971.

[3] Neal Russo, “Steve’s 20^th No 9^th-Mare,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 1971.

[4] Neal Russo, “Steve’s 20^th No 9^th-Mare,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 1971.

[5] Neal Russo, “Steve’s 20^th No 9^th-Mare,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 1971.

[6] Neal Russo, “Steve’s 20^th No 9^th-Mare,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 1971.

[7] Dick Kaegel, “Cards Deal Carlton To Phils For Wise,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[8] Bruce Keidan, “Phils and Cards Solve Salary Problems – And Wise, Carlton Receive Increases,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 1972.

[9] Dick Kaegel, “Cards Deal Carlton To Phils For Wise,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[10] Bing Devine with Tom Wheatley, The Memoirs of Bing Devine: Stealing Lou Brock and Other Winning Moves by a Master GM, Sports Publishing, New York, N.Y., Page 163.

The post Steve Carlton reaches 20 wins in final game with the Cardinals: 9/8/1971 first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

“Has Rick Wise signed?” Devine asked, referring to the 26-year-old right-hander who had led the Phillies in wins each of the past three seasons. Quinn answered that no, he had not come to terms with Wise.

“Well, neither has Carlton,” replied Devine. “Would you be interested in Carlton?”

This time, Quinn answered in the affirmative. [1] By the end of the day, not only had the two teams agreed to a straight swap of pitchers, but each had agreed to a new contract with their new acquisition for the upcoming season.

Though matters moved quickly following Devine’s phone call, the roots of the trade were established two years earlier, when Carlton refused to accept the Cardinals’ salary offer and sat out the first 18 days of training camp in 1970. To resolve the impasse, the Cardinals took the unusual step of invoking the renewal clause in his previous contract, requiring him to return for the same salary he earned in 1969.

Carlton reported to spring training on March 10 but continued to push for a new contract. Things grew so heated that on March 12, Busch said, “I don’t care if he ever pitches a ball for us again.”[2]

Finally, Richard A. Meyer, Busch’s longtime senior manager and aide, stepped in to lead the negotiation of a two-year contract.[3]

“I guess, really, this thing was generated by our differences with Carlton two years ago,” Devine said. “Having gone through that experience, we could sense a similar situation developing.”[4]

Despite back-to-back All-Star seasons, Carlton went just 10-19 in 1970, leading the league in losses despite a 3.73 ERA. He bounced back in 1971 with his first 20-win season and a return to All-Star form.

After earning a reported $50,000 in 1971, Carlton sought a significant raise for the 1972 season. While some reports claimed that Carlton sought $75,000,[5] the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Carlton was asking for $65,000.[6] The Cardinals, however, were unwilling to go above $57,500, leaving the two sides at an impasse.[7] After Carlton sent the team a letter expressing his unwillingness to sign the contract the team had sent him, he had just one meeting with Devine. That meeting took place “three or four days” before the trade, Carlton said.[8]

“This particular idea struck me as a solution to a problem that could be long-lasting,” Devine said.[9]

In his 2004 autobiography, Devine said that the decision to trade Carlton wasn’t truly his to make: after delaying as long as he could, he received word that he had 48 hours to move Carlton. “Basically, Mr. Busch wanted him gone,” Devine wrote.[10]

“I dragged my feet as long as I could, because I didn’t want to do it. I don’t like to second-guess my deals, but after that one, I did wonder: What if I had made a stronger effort to change Mr. Busch’s mind? So I asked Dick (Richard A. Meyer) what would have happened if I hadn’t moved Carlton within those 48 hours. Dick laughed and said, “I’ll tell you what would have happened. You’d have been gone first … and Carlton would have been gone right after you.”[11]

As Carlton campaigned for more money in St. Louis, Wise had also asked for $65,000, and gaining no traction with his club.[12] Quinn, however, wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t making the trade simply because Wise hadn’t signed: the Phillies believed Carlton was the superior pitcher.

“We’re trading ballplayers because we think that Carlton is one of the better pitchers in the National League,” he said. “I talked to (manager) Frank Lucchesi and called (owner) Bob Carpenter and the rest of our fellows, and they thought if we could trade Wise for Carlton, that would be a good deal for the Phillies. And that’s why we made the trade.”[13]

Both pitchers were shocked. Devine called Carlton at the pitcher’s St. Louis home to inform him of the deal.[14]

“I really didn’t expect to be traded,” Carlton said. “I just don’t understand it. I came up through the organization, and I never thought about leaving. I just didn’t have anything to say about where I was going. All of a sudden, you’re traded – cold turkey.”[15]

Wise, meanwhile, was surprised when Quinn arrived at his Clearwater Beach apartment to inform him of the trade. At first, Wise assumed the Phillies’ general manager was there to continue negotiations.[16]

“I was completely surprised,” Wise said. “There were a couple of times a few years back when I half-expected to be traded, but not now.”[17]

A month earlier, Wise and his wife, Susan, had been at a banquet where Quinn spoke about Wise’s future with the team.

“He said, ‘We’d never trade Wise. This is the fellow we’re going to build around,’” Susan recalled.[18]

“I was surprised because I’d been reading all winter that I was among the Phillies’ untouchables,” Wise said, “but I’m delighted to come to a contending ball club and good organization.”[19]

Before the day was over, Carlton, who earned about $45,000 in 1971, had a new contract that would pay him $60,000 to pitch for the Phillies. Wise, who earned $32,500 the previous season, agreed to a $50,000 salary with the Cardinals.[20]

In Carlton, the Phillies obtained a 6-foot-4, 210-pound left-hander who had gone 77-62 in seven seasons with the Cardinals. Since moving into the St. Louis starting rotation, Carlton had reached double-digits in wins for five consecutive seasons, including his difficult 1970 campaign.

In 1969, he set the modern major league record by striking out 19 Mets in a single nine-inning game.

“You have to give up something to get something, but we wouldn’t have made the trade if we didn’t think it would give us the edge,” said Phillies manager Frank Luccesi, who called it “the best deal we’ve made in years.”[21]

The trade marked the first deal between the Cardinals and Phillies since October 7, 1969, when St. Louis attempted to trade Curt Flood to Philadelphia, and Flood subsequently refused to report to his new team.

“I just wish I’d had a say-so,” Carlton said. “Not that it’s a problem going to Philadelphia, but … well, with the reserve clause, you just don’t have any say-so. You go where they say, or you don’t play at all.”[22]

In seven seasons with the struggling Phillies, Wise had gone 75-76. In each of the previous three seasons, he had led Philadelphia in wins, including a career-high 17 in 1971. With a 2.88 ERA over 272 1/3 innings that season, the 25-year-old set career highs in games started (37), complete games (17), strikeouts (155), shutouts (four), and ERA (2.88). He also made the first all-star appearance of his career.

Early in the year, Wise had said, “To win on this club, you have to pitch a shutout and hit a homer.”[23] On June 23, he exceeded even that, throwing a no-hitter and hitting two home runs against the Reds to lead the Phillies to a 4-0 win.

“I think we got a good pitcher and gave up a good pitcher,” Devine said. “The only difference, to me, is that one is right-handed and one is left-handed.”[24]

“I don’t know how it feels to not be in the second division, but I’m looking forward to finding out,” Wise said. “I’m tired of being labeled a .500 pitcher when I’ve been pitching for a ball club that is well below .500. I’m really excited. I’ve never been with a ball club that could be in a World Series.”[25]

Phillies catcher Tim McCarver, who teamed with Carlton in St. Louis from Carlton’s rookie season in 1965 until 1969, when McCarver was traded to Philadelphia, considered it an even trade.

“I think it’s about as even a trade as can be made,” he said. “Rick might have a little more poise and mound savvy. Steve has an edge in raw ability and stuff. Both are excellent pitchers.”[26]

Though he didn’t reach the heights of his 1971 campaign, Wise continued to pitch well in his two seasons in St. Louis. In 1972, he went 16-16 with a 3.11 ERA over 269 innings. The following year, he earned his second career All-Star nod en route to a 16-12 season and a 3.37 ERA. After the season, the Cardinals traded him and Bernie Carbo to the Red Sox for Reggie Smith and Ken Tatum.

Wise made his final major league appearance in 1982, wrapping up a career that included 18 big league seasons. He retired with a 188-181 record and 3.69 ERA.

Meanwhile, Carlton went on to pitch the next 15 seasons for the Phillies, winning four Cy Young awards on his way to a Hall of Fame career. After removing the slider from his pitch arsenal in 1971 due to the strain it placed on his arm,[27] Carlton brought the pitch back with the Phillies and learned to master it.

Later, after his career had ended, he was asked in an interview why he had been put on this earth. “To teach the world to throw a slider,” Carlton answered with a grin.[28]

With Carlton at the top of the rotation, the Phillies won the National League East in 1976, 1977, and 1978, then won the World Series in 1980. Philadelphia made the playoffs again in the strike-shortened 1981 season, then captured the National League pennant again in 1983.

In 15 seasons with the Phillies, Carlton won 241 games and posted a 3.09 ERA over almost 3,700 innings. After making his final major league appearance in 1988, Carlton was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1994. He retired with a 329-244 career record, 3.22 ERA, and 10 all-star appearances. He posted a 38-14 record and 2.98 ERA for his career against the Cardinals.

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[1] Bruce Keidan, “Phils and Cards Solve Salary Problems – And Wise, Carlton Receive Increases,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 1972.

[2] Bob Broeg, “Busch: ‘I Don’t Care If Carlton Plays,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 12, 1970.

[3] Dick Kaegel, “Cards Deal Carlton To Phils For Wise,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[4] Dick Kaegel, “Cards Deal Carlton To Phils For Wise,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[5] Dick Kaegel, “Cards Deal Carlton To Phils For Wise,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[6] Bruce Keidan, “Phils and Cards Solve Salary Problems – And Wise, Carlton Receive Increases,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 1972.

[7] Dick Kaegel, “Cards Deal Carlton To Phils For Wise,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[8] “Trade Shocks Carlton,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[9] Dick Kaegel, “Cards Deal Carlton To Phils For Wise,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[10] Bing Devine with Tom Wheatley, The Memoirs of Bing Devine: Stealing Lou Brock and Other Winning Moves by a Master GM, Sports Publishing, New York, N.Y., Page 163.

[11] Bing Devine with Tom Wheatley, The Memoirs of Bing Devine: Stealing Lou Brock and Other Winning Moves by a Master GM, Sports Publishing, New York, N.Y., Page 165.

[12] Bruce Keidan, “Phils and Cards Solve Salary Problems – And Wise, Carlton Receive Increases,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 1972.

[13] Bruce Keidan, “Phils and Cards Solve Salary Problems – And Wise, Carlton Receive Increases,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 1972.

[14] “Trade Shocks Carlton,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[15] Bob Broeg, “For Rick Wise: ‘A New Feeling,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 26, 1972.

[16] Bruce Keidan, “Phils and Cards Solve Salary Problems – And Wise, Carlton Receive Increases,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 1972.

[17] Bruce Keidan, “Phils and Cards Solve Salary Problems – And Wise, Carlton Receive Increases,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 1972.

[18] Bruce Keidan, “Phils and Cards Solve Salary Problems – And Wise, Carlton Receive Increases,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 1972.

[19] Bob Broeg, “For Rick Wise: ‘A New Feeling,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 26, 1972.

[20] Bruce Keidan, “Phils and Cards Solve Salary Problems – And Wise, Carlton Receive Increases,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 1972.

[21] “Trade Shocks Carlton,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[22] Bruce Keidan, “Phils and Cards Solve Salary Problems – And Wise, Carlton Receive Increases,” Philadelphia Inquirer, February 26, 1972.

[23] “Trade Shocks Carlton,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[24] Dick Kaegel, “Cards Deal Carlton To Phils For Wise,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 25, 1972.

[25] Bob Broeg, “For Rick Wise: ‘A New Feeling,’” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 26, 1972.

[26] Bill Conlin, “No-Hit No-Run, No Longer Phil,” Philadelphia Daily News, February 26, 1972.

[27] Bill Conlin, “No-Hit No-Run, No Longer Phil,” Philadelphia Daily News, February 26, 1972.

[28] “Steve Carlton – Slider,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7xsdUOEnvg.

The post Why the Cardinals traded Steve Carlton to the Phillies first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.

Those 16 strikeouts left him just two shy of 18, a major-league record shared by Sandy Koufax (who accomplished the feat twice), Bob Feller, and Don Wilson. One more strikeout would tie Carlton with arguably the top two pitchers in Cardinals history – Dizzy Dean, who struck out 17 Cubs on July 30, 1933, and Bob Gibson, who K’d 17 Tigers in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series.

“I decided then to go all-out for the record,” Carlton said. “I wanted it badly then.”[1]

With the single-game strikeout mark within reach, Carlton struck out the Mets’ Tug McGraw, Bud Harrelson, and Amos Otis to finish the day with 19 strikeouts and etch his name in the major-league record books.

“I still can’t believe what I just did – it’s so unreal. It’s like a dream,” Carlton said. “My wife couldn’t get to the game, but she called me in the clubhouse to congratulate me and was almost crying.”[2]

The 24-year-old Carlton entered that September 15, 1969, game against the Mets with a 16-9 record and 1.92 ERA. In three previous games – June 8 against the Astros, June 27 against the Cubs, and July 16 against the Phillies – Carlton had totaled 12 strikeouts, and he had struck out 10 batters on two other occasions, including his previous start, a 3-2 loss to the Pirates in which he allowed two earned runs in seven innings.

Earlier that summer, Carlton was the National League’s starting pitcher in the all-star game, where he allowed two runs in three innings and earned the win. It was the second of 10 all-star nods Carlton would receive in his career.

As he prepared to face the Mets, however, Carlton was looking to finish his season strong after losing three of his last four decisions. He set the tone early, striking out Harrelson and Otis to open the game, then – after Tommie Agee reached on an error and Donn Clendenon singled – punching out Ron Swoboda to end the inning.

He was up to six strikeouts after two innings, then struck out one in the third inning.

Vada Pinson gave Carlton a 1-0 lead with an RBI single off Mets starter Gary Gentry in the bottom of the third, but the Mets answered in the fourth. After Clendenon drew a leadoff walk and Swoboda homered to give the Mets a 2-1 lead, Carlton struck out three of the next four batters he faced to give him 10 strikeouts after four innings.

“Once I had nine, I made up my mind to go all the way with it,” Carlton said. “It cost me the ball game. I was challenging everybody.”[3]

He added two more K’s in the fifth to give him 12 for the day before the Cardinals regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. After Gentry retired the first two batters of the inning, Lou Brock singled to center field, then stole second base. Curt Flood followed with an RBI single and Joe Torre added an RBI single into left-center field to give St. Louis a 3-2 lead.

Carlton struck out Swoboda in the sixth and Otis in the seventh to bring his total to 14. After Agee led off the eighth with a single, Carlton made Clendenon his 15^th strikeout victim of the day. However, Swoboda hit his second home run of the day (and ninth of the season) on a hanging slider to put the Mets ahead 4-3. It was the first multi-home run game of Swoboda’s career.

“The Amazin’ Mets and their Super Swat got me,” Carlton said.[4]

Carlton ended the eighth inning by striking out Al Weis for K number 16. In the ninth, he struck out McGraw on a 1-2 fastball, then caught Harrelson looking on another 1-2 pitch for his record-tying 18^th strikeout.

“There was no point in just tying the record, so I still had to get Amos Otis,” Carlton said. “I was tense, but I knew Otis was tense too, because nobody likes to go into the record book that way – as the No. 19 strikeout. That’s why I thought he might bunt. At the time, I felt I’d rather see Otis get a hit instead of fouling out or grounding out so that I’d have a shot at the record.”[5]

On a 2-2 pitch, Carlton threw a slider that dove into the dirt. Otis swung, and catcher Tim McCarver threw him out at first for Carlton’s 19^th – and final – strikeout of the day.

“I had a great fastball that kept rising and my curve was falling right off the table,” Carlton said.

Every player in the Mets’ starting lineup had at least one strikeout, and six struck out twice. Otis struck out four times in his five plate appearances. Afterward, he was asked if he had considered bunting in his final at-bat.

“If I’m going in the books, I’m going in right,” Otis said. “I wasn’t doing any bunting.”[6]

Meanwhile, Carlton told reporters after the game that he had been sick much of the day. In fact, Carlton said, he was battling dizziness, fatigue, and nausea in the middle innings.

“I had a fever all day and I felt so bad that I slept an extra hour and didn’t get to the ballpark until 7 o’clock, an hour before the game was to start,” he said.[7]

Mets manager Gil Hodges admitted his team – which also committed four errors – was fortunate to come out with the win against Carlton.

“It’s great to win when you play badly,” he said.[8]

The Mets finished the regular season with a 100-62 record to win the National League East Division, then beat the Orioles in a five-game World Series.

Carlton went on to win 17 games in 1969. After leading the league with 19 losses in 1970, he bounced back with the first 20-win season of his career in 1971. After that campaign, however, Cardinals owner Gussie Busch grew frustrated by Carlton’s salary demands and ordered general manager Bing Devine to trade him. On February 25, 1972, the Cardinals traded Carlton to the Phillies for Rick Wise.

Carlton spent 15 seasons in Philadelphia, winning four Cy Young Awards and making seven all-star game appearances. A member of the Cardinals’ 1967 World Series championship team and the Phillies’ 1980 championship squad, Carlton was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.

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[1] Neal Russo, “Carlton Whiffs 19, But Mets Strike, Too,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 16, 1969.

[2] Neal Russo, “Carlton Whiffs 19, But Mets Strike, Too,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 16, 1969.

[3] Dick Young, “Ron’s HRs Top Carlton’s 19 K Mark,” New York Daily News, September 16, 1969.

[4] Neal Russo, “Carlton Whiffs 19, But Mets Strike, Too,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 16, 1969.

[5] Neal Russo, “Carlton Whiffs 19, But Mets Strike, Too,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 16, 1969.

[6] Dick Young, “Ron’s HRs Top Carlton’s 19 K Mark,” New York Daily News, September 16, 1969.

[7] Neal Russo, “Carlton Whiffs 19, But Mets Strike, Too,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 16, 1969.

[8] Dick Young, “Ron’s HRs Top Carlton’s 19 K Mark,” New York Daily News, September 16, 1969.

The post September 15, 1969: Steve Carlton sets record with 19 strikeouts vs. Mets first appeared on STLRedbirds.com.