1978 Philadelphia Phillies season

The 1978 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 96th season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies won their third straight National League East title with a record of 90–72, a game and a half over the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the Phillies defeated the Pirates in Pittsburgh on the next to last day of the season. For the third consecutive season the Phillies came up short in the NLCS, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated them three games to one, as they had the previous season. The Phillies were managed by Danny Ozark and played their home games at Veterans Stadium.

Offseason March 7, 1978: George Bell was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.George Bell at Baseball Reference March 24, 1978: Fred Andrews was traded by the Phillies to the New York Mets for Bud Harrelson.Fred Andrews at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions April 23, 1978: Julio Franco was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent.Julio Franco at Baseball Reference June 14, 1978: Bobby Brown and Jay Johnstone were traded by the Phillies to the New York Yankees for Rawly Eastwick.Bobby Brown at Baseball Reference June 30, 1978: Carmen Castillo was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent.Carmen Castillo at Baseball-Reference September 2, 1978: Dan Warthen was traded by the Phillies to the Houston Astros for Dan Larson.Dan Larson at Baseball Reference September 14, 1978: Horacio Piña was purchased by the Phillies from the Rieleros de Aguascalientes.Horacio Piña at Baseball Reference

Draft picks June 6, 1978: 1978 Major League Baseball draft Ed Hearn was drafted by the Phillies in the 4th round.Ed Hearn at Baseball Reference Ryne Sandberg was drafted by the Phillies in the 20th round. Player signed June 15, 1978.Ryne Sandberg at Baseball Reference Rick Leach was drafted by the Phillies in the 24th round, but did not sign.Rick Leach at Baseball Reference

Phillie Phanatic The Phillie Phanatic debuted on April 25, 1978, at The Vet when the Phils played the Chicago Cubs. Tim McCarver introduced the Phanatic on the "Captain Noah and His Magical Ark" show on WPVI-TV in his role promoting the team. The Phanatic was originally portrayed by Dave Raymond.

Game log

|- style="background:#fbb" | 1 || April 7 || Cardinals || 1–5 || Bob Forsch (1–0) || Steve Carlton (0–1) || None || 47,791 || 0–1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 2 || April 8 || Cardinals || 7–0 || Larry Christenson (1–0) || Eric Rasmussen (0–1) || None || 24,441 || 1–1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 3 || April 9 || Cardinals || 12–3 || Randy Lerch (1–0) || John Urrea (0–1) || None || 35,104 || 2–1 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 11 || Expos || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#fbb" | 4 || April 12 || Expos || 7–8 || Steve Rogers (1–1) || Jim Lonborg (0–1) || Bill Atkinson (1) || 19,110 || 2–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 14 || @ Cardinals || 4–3 || Steve Carlton (1–1) || Pete Vuckovich (0–1) || Tug McGraw (1) || 17,921 || 3–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 6 || April 15 || @ Cardinals || 3–2 || Tug McGraw (1–0) || Pete Vuckovich (0–2) || None || 13,844 || 4–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 7 || April 16 || @ Cardinals || 0–5 || Bob Forsch (3–0) || Randy Lerch (1–1) || None || 11,495 || 4–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 8 || April 17 || @ Pirates || 6–2 || Jim Lonborg (1–1) || John Candelaria (1–2) || None || 7,343 || 5–3 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 18 || @ Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 21 || @ Expos || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#fbb" | 9 || April 22 || @ Expos || 3–7 || Wayne Twitchell (1–1) || Steve Carlton (1–2) || Stan Bahnsen (1) || || 5–4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 10 || April 22 || @ Expos || 3–5 || Ross Grimsley (3–0) || Larry Christenson (1–1) || Stan Bahnsen (2) || 19,237 || 5–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 11 || April 23 || @ Expos || 2–5 || Steve Rogers (2–2) || Jim Lonborg (1–2) || Darold Knowles (1) || 17,922 || 5–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 12 || April 24 || Cubs || 12–2 || Randy Lerch (2–1) || Woodie Fryman (0–1) || None || 20,115 || 6–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 13 || April 25 || Cubs || 7–0 || Jim Kaat (1–0) || Dennis Lamp (1–3) || None || 17,227 || 7–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 14 || April 26 || Cubs || 2–4 || Rick Reuschel (3–2) || Steve Carlton (1–3) || Bruce Sutter (3) || 17,299 || 7–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 15 || April 28 || Padres || 3–2 || Larry Christenson (2–1) || Bob Owchinko (1–2) || Ron Reed (1) || 26,872 || 8–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 16 || April 29 || Padres || 7–2 || Jim Lonborg (2–2) || Dave Freisleben (0–2) || None || 28,390 || 9–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 17 || April 30 || Padres || 11–4 || Randy Lerch (3–1) || Randy Jones (1–2) || None || 31,101 || 10–7

|- style="background:#bfb" | 18 || May 1 || @ Reds || 12–1 || Steve Carlton (2–3) || Tom Seaver (0–3) || None || 21,476 || 11–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 19 || May 3 || @ Reds || 3–12 || Fred Norman (4–0) || Larry Christenson (2–2) || None || 26,054 || 11–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 20 || May 5 || Mets || 9–4 || Jim Lonborg (3–2) || Nino Espinosa (1–2) || Tug McGraw (2) || 22,116 || 12–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 21 || May 6 || Mets || 7–2 || Steve Carlton (3–3) || Pat Zachry (3–1) || None || 22,250 || 13–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 22 || May 7 || Mets || 8–5 || Gene Garber (1–0) || Craig Swan (1–2) || Tug McGraw (3) || 39,106 || 14–8 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 8 || Astros || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#fbb" | 23 || May 9 || Astros || 1–5 || J. R. Richard (2–3) || Larry Christenson (2–3) || None || 18,144 || 14–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 24 || May 10 || Astros || 3–1 || Jim Lonborg (4–2) || Mark Lemongello (2–4) || None || 20,096 || 15–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 25 || May 11 || Reds || 4–1 || Steve Carlton (4–3) || Tom Seaver (1–4) || None || 32,580 || 16–9 |- style="background:#fbb" | 26 || May 12 || Reds || 0–3 || Bill Bonham (4–0) || Randy Lerch (3–2) || Paul Moskau (1) || 38,179 || 16–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 27 || May 13 || Reds || 3–4 || Manny Sarmiento (3–1) || Tug McGraw (1–1) || None || 35,802 || 16–11 |- style="background:#bfb" | 28 || May 14 || Reds || 7–4 || Larry Christenson (3–3) || Tom Hume (2–5) || Ron Reed (2) || 30,482 || 17–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 29 || May 15 || @ Astros || 0–5 || J. R. Richard (3–3) || Jim Lonborg (4–3) || None || 9,943 || 17–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 30 || May 16 || @ Astros || 1–6 || Mark Lemongello (3–4) || Steve Carlton (4–4) || None || 11,381 || 17–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 31 || May 17 || @ Astros || 1–2 || Joaquín Andújar (3–2) || Randy Lerch (3–3) || Tom Dixon (1) || 11,856 || 17–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 32 || May 18 || @ Astros || 8–5 || Gene Garber (2–0) || Joe Sambito (2–1) || None || 10,828 || 18–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 33 || May 19 || @ Mets || 3–4 || Skip Lockwood (3–3) || Tug McGraw (1–2) || None || 13,181 || 18–15 |- style="background:#bfb" | 34 || May 20 || @ Mets || 9–4 || Tug McGraw (2–2) || Dale Murray (1–2) || None || 14,110 || 19–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 35 || May 21 || @ Mets || 5–6 || Skip Lockwood (4–3) || Tug McGraw (2–3) || None || 18,183 || 19–16 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 23 || @ Cubs || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#fbb" | 36 || May 24 || @ Cubs || 4–6 || Bruce Sutter (4–2) || Gene Garber (2–1) || None || 17,901 || 19–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 37 || May 25 || @ Cubs || 1–5 || Rick Reuschel (5–3) || Steve Carlton (4–5) || Bruce Sutter (6) || 19,788 || 19–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 38 || May 26 || @ Braves || 2–4 || Phil Niekro (5–6) || Randy Lerch (3–4) || None || 16,638 || 19–19 |- style="background:#bfb" | 39 || May 27 || @ Braves || 6–5 || Tug McGraw (3–3) || Rick Camp (0–2) || Gene Garber (1) || 15,081 || 20–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 40 || May 28 || @ Braves || 3–5 || Preston Hanna (4–0) || Larry Christenson (3–4) || Jamie Easterly (1) || 22,233 || 20–20 |- style="background:#bfb" | 41 || May 29 || Pirates || 4–3 || Warren Brusstar (1–0) || Dave Hamilton (0–1) || None || 34,353 || 21–20 |- style="background:#bfb" | 42 || May 30 || Pirates || 6–1 || Steve Carlton (5–5) || Bert Blyleven (3–5) || None || 26,123 || 22–20 |- style="background:#fbb" | 43 || May 31 || Pirates || 1–2 || John Candelaria (5–6) || Randy Lerch (3–5) || Kent Tekulve (5) || 29,595 || 22–21

|- style="background:#bfb" | 44 || June 2 || Dodgers || 4–2 || Jim Lonborg (5–3) || Burt Hooton (4–5) || Gene Garber (2) || 42,347 || 23–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 45 || June 3 || Dodgers || 5–1 || Tug McGraw (4–3) || Terry Forster (1–1) || None || 31,442 || 24–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 46 || June 4 || Dodgers || 9–4 || Jim Kaat (2–0) || Tommy John (7–3) || None || 42,066 || 25–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 47 || June 5 || Giants || 4–3 || Steve Carlton (6–5) || Vida Blue (6–4) || Ron Reed (3) || 37,684 || 26–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 48 || June 6 || Giants || 7–6 || Tug McGraw (5–3) || Gary Lavelle (4–4) || None || 28,093 || 27–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 49 || June 7 || Giants || 5–4 || Tug McGraw (6–3) || Randy Moffitt (5–2) || None || 20,708 || 28–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 50 || June 9 || Braves || 6–1 || Larry Christenson (4–4) || Eddie Solomon (1–4) || None || 40,272 || 29–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || June 10 || Braves || 6–2 || Jim Kaat (3–0) || Dick Ruthven (2–6) || Gene Garber (3) || 33,292 || 30–21 |- style="background:#fbb" | 52 || June 11 || Braves || 0–4 || Phil Niekro (7–6) || Steve Carlton (6–6) || None || 58,367 || 30–22 |- style="background:#fbb" | 53 || June 12 || @ Dodgers || 5–6 || Burt Hooton (5–5) || Jim Lonborg (5–4) || Lance Rautzhan (1) || 26,604 || 30–23 |- style="background:#fbb" | 54 || June 13 || @ Dodgers || 3–5 || Don Sutton (5–6) || Randy Lerch (3–6) || None || 41,257 || 30–24 |- style="background:#fbb" | 55 || June 14 || @ Giants || 1–2 || Vida Blue (8–4) || Larry Christenson (4–5) || Randy Moffitt (4) || 13,902 || 30–25 |- style="background:#fbb" | 56 || June 15 || @ Giants || 1–6 || John Montefusco (6–2) || Jim Kaat (3–1) || None || 14,754 || 30–26 |- style="background:#bfb" | 57 || June 16 || @ Padres || 5–0 || Steve Carlton (7–6) || Randy Jones (5–5) || None || 21,124 || 31–26 |- style="background:#fbb" | 58 || June 17 || @ Padres || 0–7 || Bob Owchinko (4–6) || Jim Lonborg (5–5) || None || 27,319 || 31–27 |- style="background:#fbb" | 59 || June 18 || @ Padres || 1–4 || Gaylord Perry (7–2) || Dick Ruthven (2–7) || Rollie Fingers (15) || 21,195 || 31–28 |- style="background:#fbb" | 60 || June 20 || Cardinals || 2–4 || Bob Forsch (8–6) || Larry Christenson (4–6) || Mark Littell (2) || 30,119 || 31–29 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 21 || Cardinals || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); |- style="background:#bfb" | 61 || June 22 || Cardinals || 2–1 || Steve Carlton (8–6) || John Denny (6–6) || None || 29,183 || 32–29 |- style="background:#bfb" | 62 || June 23 || Cubs || 6–1 || Dick Ruthven (3–7) || Dave Roberts (3–2) || None || || 33–29 |- style="background:#bfb" | 63 || June 23 || Cubs || 6–1 || Jim Lonborg (6–5) || Dennis Lamp (2–8) || None || 45,234 || 34–29 |- style="background:#bfb" | 64 || June 24 || Cubs || 6–2 || Jim Kaat (4–1) || Ken Holtzman (1–2) || Ron Reed (4) || 41,605 || 35–29 |- style="background:#bfb" | 65 || June 25 || Cubs || 4–2 || Larry Christenson (5–6) || Rick Reuschel (8–5) || None || 36,075 || 36–29 |- style="background:#fbb" | 66 || June 26 || @ Expos || 1–5 || Steve Rogers (9–7) || Steve Carlton (8–7) || None || 19,487 || 36–30 |- style="background:#bfb" | 67 || June 27 || @ Expos || 1–0 || Dick Ruthven (4–7) || Hal Dues (1–4) || None || 36,885 || 37–30 |- style="background:#bfb" | 68 || June 28 || @ Expos || 7–5 || Jim Lonborg (7–5) || Mike Garman (0–3) || Tug McGraw (4) || 35,182 || 38–30 |- style="background:#bfb"