1976 Philadelphia Phillies season

The 1976 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 94th season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies won their first postseason berth since 1950 and their first National League East title, as they compiled a record of 101–61, nine games ahead of the second-place Pittsburgh Pirates, and won 100 games or more for the first time in franchise history.

The Phillies lost the NLCS, 3–0 to the Cincinnati Reds. Danny Ozark managed the Phillies in his fourth year, as they played their home games at Veterans Stadium, where the All-Star Game was played that season.

Offseason October 24, 1975: Larry Cox was traded by the Phillies to the Minnesota Twins for Sergio Ferrer.Sergio Ferrer at Baseball Reference December 10, 1975: Dick Ruthven, Roy Thomas, and Alan Bannister were traded by the Phillies to the Chicago White Sox for Jim Kaat and Mike Buskey.Jim Kaat at Baseball Reference December 27, 1975: Luis Aguayo was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent. January 7, 1976: Derek Botelho was drafted by the Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed May 5, 1976.Derek Botelho at Baseball Reference

Regular season The final 9-game margin masks how competitive the season actually was. In a scary echo of 1964, the Phillies saw a -game August lead dwindle to just 3 games as their offense dried up on two late-year road trips.

Mike Schmidt hit 12 home runs in Philadelphia's first 15 games, including four in one game on April 17.Box score: Phillies vs. Cubs 4/17/76 No one had hit this many home runs so quickly. In that game, the Phillies and Chicago Cubs combined for thirty-four runs in a game which featured nine home runs. Schmidt's home run feat was later tied by Alex Rodriguez in 2007.

Schmidt also won his first of 10 Gold Gloves that year, and carried the Phillies to the 1976 NLCS where he hit .308. The Phillies hit a major league-leading seven grand slams.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions April 9, 1976: Wayne Nordhagen was purchased by the Phillies from the St. Louis Cardinals.Wayne Nordhagen at Baseball Reference May 14, 1976: Bobby Brown was signed as a free agent by the Phillies.Bobby Brown at Baseball Reference July 14, 1976: Wayne Nordhagen was traded by the Phillies to the Chicago White Sox for Rich Coggins.

Draft picks June 8, 1976: Joe Charboneau was drafted by the Phillies in the 2nd round of the secondary phase of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed June 10, 1976.Joe Charboneau at Baseball Reference

Game log Legend Phillies win Phillies loss PostponementBoldPhillies team member

|- style="background:#fbb" | 1 || April 10 || Pirates || 4–5 (11) || Larry Demery (1–0) || Tug McGraw (0–1) || None || 42,147 || 0–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 2 || April 11 || Pirates || 3–8 || Bruce Kison (1–0) || Steve Carlton (0–1) || Bob Moose (1) || 18,373 || 0–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 3 || April 14 || @ Expos || 8–2 || Jim Lonborg (1–0) || Steve Rogers (0–2) || None || 21,199 || 1–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 4 || April 15 || @ Expos || 5–8 || Woodie Fryman (1–1) || Jim Kaat (0–1) || Wayne Granger (1) || 6,375 || 1–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 17 || @ Cubs || 18–16 (10) || Tug McGraw (1–1) || Darold Knowles (1–1) || Jim Lonborg (1) || 28,287 || 2–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 6 || April 18 || @ Cubs || 8–5 || Larry Christenson (1–0) || Ray Burris (0–2) || Gene Garber (1) || 13,326 || 3–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 7 || April 20 || @ Pirates || 5–1 || Jim Kaat (1–1) || John Candelaria (0–1) || None || 8,800 || 4–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 8 || April 21 || @ Pirates || 3–0 || Tom Underwood (1–0) || Doc Medich (1–1) || Tug McGraw (1) || 9,175 || 5–3 |- style="background:#fbb" | 9 || April 23 || Braves || 5–6 || Bruce Dal Canton (1–0) || Tug McGraw (1–2) || Elías Sosa (1) || 29,398 || 5–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 10 || April 24 || Braves || 10–5 || Ron Reed (1–0) || Elías Sosa (1–2) || None || 25,477 || 6–4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 11 || April 25 || Braves || 2–3 || Phil Niekro (3–0) || Larry Christenson (1–1) || Elías Sosa (2) || 10,565 || 6–5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 12 || April 26 || Reds || 10–9 || Tug McGraw (2–2) || Rawly Eastwick (1–1) || None || 16,565 || 7–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 13 || April 27 || Reds || 3–7 || Jack Billingham (2–2) || Tom Underwood (1–1) || None || 17,818 || 7–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 14 || April 28 || Reds || 7–6 || Jim Lonborg (2–0) || Pat Darcy (1–2) || Tug McGraw (2) || 20,215 || 8–6 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 30 || @ Braves || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 1 as a traditional double-header

|- style="background:#bfb" | 15 || May 1 (1) || @ Braves || 3–0 || Larry Christenson (2–1) || Dick Ruthven (3–2) || Tug McGraw (3) || see 2nd game || 9–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 16 || May 1 (2) || @ Braves || 4–2 || Steve Carlton (1–1) || Carl Morton (0–3) || None || 24,189 || 10–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 17 || May 2 || @ Braves || 8–2 || Jim Kaat (2–1) || Andy Messersmith (0–2) || Gene Garber (2) || 20,479 || 11–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 18 || May 4 || Astros || 5–0 || Jim Lonborg (3–0) || Larry Dierker (3–3) || None || 10,655 || 12–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 19 || May 5 || Astros || 6–3 || Ron Reed (2–0) || Joe Niekro (1–5) || Gene Garber (3) || 17,944 || 13–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 20 || May 7 || Dodgers || 8–10 || Charlie Hough (2–0) || Ron Reed (2–1) || Mike Marshall (6) || 28,862 || 13–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 21 || May 8 || Dodgers || 6–4 || Gene Garber (1–0) || Tommy John (1–2) || None || 34,060 || 14–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 22 || May 9 || Dodgers || 10–3 || Jim Lonborg (4–0) || Doug Rau (4–1) || None || 24,143 || 15–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 23 || May 11 || Padres || 9–1 || Steve Carlton (2–1) || Dan Spillner (1–5) || None || 11,576 || 16–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 24 || May 12 || Padres || 0–4 || Randy Jones (6–2) || Jim Kaat (2–2) || None || 20,043 || 16–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 25 || May 14 || @ Astros || 5–1 || Larry Christenson (3–1) || Mike Cosgrove (1–2) || None || 14,264 || 17–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 26 || May 15 || @ Astros || 2–1 || Jim Lonborg (5–0) || Larry Dierker (4–4) || None || 20,749 || 18–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 27 || May 16 || @ Astros || 12–2 || Steve Carlton (3–1) || Tom Griffin (2–1) || None || 11,553 || 19–8 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 18 || @ Mets || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 1 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 28 || May 19 || @ Mets || 2–1 || Larry Christenson (4–1) || Mickey Lolich (2–5) || Tom Underwood (1) || 12,836 || 20–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 29 || May 20 || @ Mets || 5–3 || Jim Lonborg (6–0) || Tom Seaver (4–3) || Tug McGraw (4) || 16,914 || 21–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 30 || May 21 || Cardinals || 2–1 || Steve Carlton (4–1) || Pete Falcone (2–3) || None || 32,074 || 22–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 31 || May 22 || Cardinals || 6–7 || Al Hrabosky (1–3) || Tug McGraw (2–3) || None || 39,098 || 22–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 32 || May 23 || Cardinals || 3–2 (11) || Tug McGraw (3–3) || Al Hrabosky (1–4) || None || 37,537 || 23–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 33 || May 24 || Mets || 7–1 || Larry Christenson (5–1) || Mickey Lolich (2–6) || None || 21,899 || 24–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 34 || May 25 || Mets || 8–4 || Jim Lonborg (7–0) || Tom Seaver (4–4) || None || 32,772 || 25–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 35 || May 25 || Mets || 5–0 || Steve Carlton (5–1) || Jon Matlack (4–1) || None || 28,306 || 26–9 |- style="background:#fbb" | 36 || May 27 || Mets || 2–5 || Jerry Koosman (6–1) || Gene Garber (1–1) || Skip Lockwood (7) || 29,525 || 26–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 37 || May 28 || Expos || 10–3 || Ron Reed (3–1) || Don Stanhouse (2–1) || None || 23,011 || 27–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 38 || May 29 || Expos || 6–1 || Larry Christenson (6–1) || Don Carrithers (1–3) || Gene Garber (4) || 18,063 || 28–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 39 || May 30 || Expos || 7–1 || Jim Lonborg (8–0) || Clay Kirby (0–3) || None || 27,090 || 29–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 40 || May 31 (1) || Cubs || 5–7 || Rick Reuschel (5–3) || Steve Carlton (5–2) || Bruce Sutter (2) || see 2nd game || 29–11 |- style="background:#bfb" | 41 || May 31 (2) || Cubs || 4–1 || Jim Kaat (3–2) || Mike Garman (2–4) || None || 51,211 || 30–11

|- style="background:#bfb" | 42 || June 1 || Cubs || 6–1 (6) || Ron Reed (4–1) || Steve Renko (1–2) || None || 26,846 || 31–11 |- style="background:#bfb" | 43 || June 2 || @ Cardinals || 4–1 || Tom Underwood (2–1) || John Curtis (3–5) || None || 16,850 || 32–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 44 || June 3 || @ Cardinals || 1–7 || Bob Forsch (1–1) || Larry Christenson (6–2) || None || 15,832 || 32–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 45 || June 4 || @ Giants || 1–5 || Jim Barr (3–4) || Jim Lonborg (8–1) || None || 7,374 || 32–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 46 || June 5 || @ Giants || 2–4 || Ed Halicki (4–8) || Steve Carlton (5–3) || Randy Moffitt (2) || 9,439 || 32–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 47 || June 6 || @ Giants || 9–3 || Jim Kaat (4–2) || John Montefusco (6–5) || None || 30,218 || 33–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 48 || June 7 || @ Dodgers || 8–6 || Ron Reed (5–1) || Charlie Hough (7–1) || Gene Garber (5) || 30,627 || 34–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 49 || June 8 || @ Dodgers || 14–2 || Larry Christenson (7–2) || Tommy John (2–4) || None || 27,950 || 35–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 50 || June 9 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || Burt Hooton (5–5) || Jim Lonborg (8–2) || Charlie Hough (2) || 27,794 || 35–15 |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || June 10 || @ Dodgers || 10–6 (12) || Tug McGraw (4–3) || Stan Wall (1–2) || Ron Schueler (1) || 27,052 || 36–15 |- style="background:#bfb" | 52 || June 11 || @ Padres || 4–2 || Jim Kaat (5–2) || Alan Foster (1–3) || Tom Underwood (2) || 15,754 || 37–15 |- style="background:#bfb" | 53 || June 12 || @ Padres || 3–2 (15) || Tom Underwood (3–1) || Ken Reynolds (0–2) || Ron Schueler (2) || 24,515 || 38–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 54 || June 13 (1) || @ Padres || 0–5 || Randy Jones (12–2) || Jim Lonborg (8–3) || None || see 2nd game || 38–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 55 || June 13 (2) || @ Padres || 3–4 || Rich Folkers (2–1) || Larry Christenson (7–3) || Butch Metzger (7) || 43,473 || 38–17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 56 || June 15 || Giants || 10–2 || Steve Carlton (6–3) || Ed Halicki (4–10) || None || 28,564 || 39–17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 57 || June 16 || Giants || 6–1 || Jim Kaat (6–2) || John Montefusco (7–6) || None || 28,966 || 40–17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 58 || June 17 || Giants || 3–2 || Gene Garber (2–1) || Gary Lavelle (2–4) || None || 27,800 || 41–17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 59 || June 18 || Reds || 6–5 || Jim Lonborg (9–3) || Jack Billingham (5–5) || Gene Garber (6) || 50,635 || 42–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 60 || June 19 || Reds || 3–4 || Gary Nolan (7–3) || Ron Reed (5–2) || Rawly Eastwick (8) || 36,808 || 42–18 |- style="background:#bfb" | 61 || June 20 || Reds || 6–1 || Jim Kaat (7–2) || Don Gullett (6–3) || None || 38,669 || 43–18 |- style="background:#bfb" | 62 || June 21 || Expos || 8–3 || Tom Underwood (4–1) || Dan Warthen (1–8) || None || 26,148 || 44–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 63 || June 22 || Expos || 3–8 || Clay Kirby (1–5) || Jim Lonborg (9–4) || Dale Murray (6) || 32,138 || 44–19 |- style="background:#bfb" | 64 || June 23 || @ Reds || 4–2 || Ron Reed (6–2) || Pedro Borbón (0–1) || Gene Garber (7) || 35,266 || 45–19 |- style="background:#bfb" | 65 || June 24 || @ Reds || 5–4 || Jim Kaat (8–2) || Gary Nolan (7–4) || Tug McGraw (5) || 34,053 || 46–19 |- style="background:#bfb" | 66 || June 25 || Cardinals || 12–4 || Larry Christenson (8–3) || John Curtis (5–7) || None || 38,474 || 47–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 67 || June 26 || Cardinals || 2–3 (10) || Al Hrabosky (5–5) || Tug McGraw (4–4) || None || 41,052 || 47–20