1973 Philadelphia Phillies season

The 1973 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 91st season in the history of the franchise. The team, managed by Danny Ozark, played their third season at Veterans Stadium and finished last in the National League East, 11 games behind the Mets.

Offseason October 31, 1972: Don Money, John Vukovich, and Bill Champion were traded by the Phillies to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett, Ken Sanders, and Earl Stephenson. November 30, 1972: Oscar Gamble and Roger Freed were traded by the Phillies to the Cleveland Indians for Del Unser and Terry Wedgewood (minors). November 30, 1972: Joe Lis, Ken Sanders and Ken Reynolds were traded by the Phillies to the Minnesota Twins for César Tovar. January 10, 1973: Rick Bosetti was drafted by the Phillies in the 7th round of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed January 17, 1973.

Regular season Steve Carlton, the highest paid pitcher in the game at $165,000, never recovered from a spring training illness and went 13–20. Pitchers Jim Lonborg and Ken Brett, both obtained in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, won 13 games each, as did Wayne Twitchell, whose 2.50 ERA was third in the league. Left fielder Greg Luzinski led the team with 29 home runs, 97 RBIs, and 76 runs, and hit .285. In his rookie season, Mike Schmidt hit just .196 and struck out 136 times in 367 at-bats.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions June 5, 1973: 1973 Major League Baseball draft Todd Cruz was drafted by the Phillies in the 2nd round. Player signed June 18, 1973. Dan Boitano was drafted by the Phillies in the 1st round (11th pick) of the secondary phase. Player signed June 19, 1973. September 11, 1973: Willie Hernández was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.

Game log Legend Phillies win Phillies loss PostponementBoldPhillies team member

|- style="background:#fbb" | 1 || April 6 || @ Mets || 0–3 || Tom Seaver (1–0) || Steve Carlton (0–1) || Tug McGraw (1) || 27,326 || 0–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 2 || April 7 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Jon Matlack (1–0) || Dick Selma (0–1) || None || 18,738 || 0–2 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 8 || @ Mets || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: June 27 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 3 || April 10 || Expos || 7–5 || Steve Carlton (1–1) || Mike Torrez (0–2) || None || 40,809 || 1–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 4 || April 12 || Expos || 3–5 || Balor Moore (1–0) || Jim Lonborg (0–1) || Mike Marshall (1) || 5,130 || 1–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 13 || Mets || 7–1 || Larry Christenson (1–0) || Jon Matlack (1–1) || None || 7,127 || 2–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 6 || April 14 || Mets || 7–3 || Steve Carlton (2–1) || Jim McAndrew (0–1) || None || 11,063 || 3–3 |- style="background:#fbb" | 7 || April 15 || Mets || 1–2 || Harry Parker (1–0) || Jim Lonborg (0–2) || Tug McGraw (2) || 30,718 || 3–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 8 || April 17 || @ Expos || 9–6 || Dick Selma (1–1) || Mike Marshall (0–2) || Bill Wilson (1) || 7,831 || 4–4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 9 || April 18 || @ Expos || 1–2 || Steve Renko (1–0) || Steve Carlton (2–2) || None || 13,728 || 4–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 10 || April 19 || @ Expos || 5–6 || Mike Torrez (1–3) || Larry Christenson (1–1) || Tom Walker (1) || 12,359 || 4–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 11 || April 21 || Cardinals || 7–4 || Jim Lonborg (1–2) || Scipio Spinks (0–3) || Mac Scarce (1) || 8,031 || 5–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 12 || April 22 (1) || Cardinals || 4–2 || Steve Carlton (3–2) || Reggie Cleveland (0–2) || None || see 2nd game || 6–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 13 || April 22 (2) || Cardinals || 2–1 || Bill Wilson (1–0) || Bob Gibson (0–2) || None || 18,042 || 7–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 14 || April 24 || @ Braves || 2–11 || Carl Morton (1–1) || Larry Christenson (1–2) || Ron Schueler (1) || 3,405 || 7–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 15 || April 25 || @ Braves || 2–5 || Gary Gentry (2–2) || Jim Lonborg (1–3) || Phil Niekro (1) || 2,866 || 7–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 16 || April 27 || @ Reds || 3–1 || Steve Carlton (4–2) || Ross Grimsley (3–1) || None || 13,690 || 8–8 |- style="background:#bfb" | 17 || April 28 || @ Reds || 1–0 || Dick Ruthven (1–0) || Don Gullett (3–2) || Mac Scarce (2) || 14,126 || 9–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 18 || April 29 || @ Reds || 0–8 || Jack Billingham (4–0) || Larry Christenson (1–3) || None || 39,191 || 9–9

|- style="background:#fbb" | 19 || May 1 || Astros || 0–3 || Jerry Reuss (4–1) || Steve Carlton (4–3) || None || 10,333 || 9–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 20 || May 2 || Astros || 4–9 || Dave Roberts (2–1) || Jim Lonborg (1–4) || Jim Ray (2) || 8,101 || 9–11 |- style="background:#bfb" | 21 || May 4 || Braves || 5–4 (20) || Jim Lonborg (2–4) || Tom Kelley (0–1) || None || 10,158 || 10–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 22 || May 5 || Braves || 0–7 || Carl Morton (2–2) || Steve Carlton (4–4) || None || 11,368 || 10–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 23 || May 6 || Braves || 1–3 || Gary Gentry (3–2) || Mac Scarce (0–1) || None || 60,120 || 10–13 |- style="background:#bfb" | 24 || May 7 || Reds || 3–2 (14) || Barry Lersch (1–0) || Pedro Borbón (0–2) || None || 7,886 || 11–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 25 || May 8 || Reds || 1–7 || Jack Billingham (5–1) || Dick Ruthven (1–1) || None || 6,196 || 11–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 26 || May 9 || Reds || 7–9 || Tom Hall (3–1) || Barry Lersch (1–1) || None || 11,992 || 11–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 27 || May 11 || @ Cubs || 3–4 || Bob Locker (4–1) || Ken Brett (0–1) || Jack Aker (6) || 5,514 || 11–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 28 || May 12 || @ Cubs || 1–3 || Rick Reuschel (3–2) || Wayne Twitchell (0–1) || None || 15,095 || 11–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 29 || May 13 (1) || @ Cubs || 2–4 || Ferguson Jenkins (3–3) || Steve Carlton (4–5) || None || see 2nd game || 11–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 30 || May 13 (2) || @ Cubs || 3–9 || Bill Bonham (2–0) || Dick Ruthven (1–2) || None || 19,242 || 11–19 |- style="background:#bfb" | 31 || May 14 || @ Cardinals || 10–5 || Ken Brett (1–1) || Reggie Cleveland (2–4) || Mac Scarce (3) || 7,677 || 12–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 32 || May 15 || @ Cardinals || 4–8 || Rick Wise (4–2) || Bucky Brandon (0–1) || None || 7,368 || 12–20 |- style="background:#bfb" | 33 || May 16 || @ Pirates || 5–2 || Wayne Twitchell (1–1) || Dock Ellis (3–4) || Mac Scarce (4) || 6,885 || 13–20 |- style="background:#fbb" | 34 || May 17 || @ Pirates || 2–5 || Bob Moose (3–3) || Steve Carlton (4–6) || Jim Rooker (4) || 6,885 || 13–21 |- style="background:#fbb" | 35 || May 18 || Cubs || 2–9 || Ferguson Jenkins (4–3) || Dick Ruthven (1–3) || None || 10,067 || 13–22 |- style="background:#bfb" | 36 || May 19 (1) || Cubs || 3–0 || Ken Brett (2–1) || Burt Hooton (5–3) || None || see 2nd game || 14–22 |- style="background:#fbb" | 37 || May 19 (2) || Cubs || 6–7 || Bob Locker (5–1) || Jim Lonborg (2–5) || Jack Aker (8) || 27,569 || 14–23 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 20 || Cubs || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 31 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 38 || May 21 || Pirates || 4–5 || Steve Blass (2–2) || Mac Scarce (0–2) || Dave Giusti (3) || 9,010 || 14–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 39 || May 22 || Pirates || 7–4 || Wayne Twitchell (2–1) || Dock Ellis (3–5) || None || 11,617 || 15–24 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 23 || Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 4 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 40 || May 25 || @ Padres || 8–1 || Ken Brett (3–1) || Fred Norman (1–6) || None || 26,615 || 16–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 41 || May 26 || @ Padres || 4–0 || Steve Carlton (5–6) || Mike Caldwell (2–6) || None || 7,260 || 17–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 42 || May 27 (1) || @ Padres || 4–3 || Wayne Twitchell (3–1) || Bill Greif (3–5) || Barry Lersch (1) || see 2nd game || 18–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 43 || May 27 (2) || @ Padres || 6–4 || Jim Lonborg (3–5) || Steve Arlin (2–2) || Mac Scarce (5) || 9,983 || 19–24 |- style="background:#fbb" | 44 || May 28 || @ Dodgers || 1–5 || Andy Messersmith (5–4) || Dick Ruthven (1–4) || None || 15,300 || 19–25 |- style="background:#fbb" | 45 || May 29 || @ Dodgers || 3–9 || Tommy John (4–2) || Ken Brett (3–2) || Jim Brewer (5) || 12,350 || 19–26 |- style="background:#fbb" | 46 || May 30 || @ Dodgers || 4–9 || Claude Osteen (5–3) || Steve Carlton (5–7) || None || 15,462 || 19–27

|- style="background:#fbb" | 47 || June 1 || @ Giants || 1–2 || Ron Bryant (8–3) || Wayne Twitchell (3–2) || None || 5,359 || 19–28 |- style="background:#fbb" | 48 || June 2 || @ Giants || 7–11 || Charlie Williams (1–0) || Jim Lonborg (3–6) || Elías Sosa (3) || 5,949 || 19–29 |- style="background:#fbb" | 49 || June 3 || @ Giants || 4–5 || Charlie Williams (2–0) || Bill Wilson (1–1) || None || 15,483 || 19–30 |- style="background:#fbb" | 50 || June 4 || @ Astros || 0–7 || Dave Roberts (6–3) || Larry Christenson (1–4) || None || 13,291 || 19–31 |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || June 5 || @ Astros || 4–0 || Wayne Twitchell (4–2) || Jerry Reuss (6–4) || None || 12,912 || 20–31 |- style="background:#fbb" | 52 || June 6 || @ Astros || 3–4 (10) || Jim Crawford (2–2) || Barry Lersch (1–2) || None || 13,081 || 20–32 |- style="background:#bfb" | 53 || June 8 || Padres || 5–1 || Steve Carlton (6–7) || Steve Arlin (2–3) || None || 18,096 || 21–32 |- style="background:#bfb" | 54 || June 9 || Padres || 4–1 || Ken Brett (4–2) || Bill Greif (4–7) || Bill Wilson (2) || 15,226 || 22–32 |- style="background:#bfb" | 55 || June 10 || Padres || 11–0 || Wayne Twitchell (5–2) || Clay Kirby (2–7) || None || 27,863 || 23–32 |- style="background:#fbb" | 56 || June 11 || Dodgers || 3–5 || Don Sutton (8–4) || Dick Ruthven (1–5) || Pete Richert (6) || 10,635 || 23–33 |- style="background:#fbb" | 57 || June 12 || Dodgers || 6–8 || Doug Rau (1–1) || Mac Scarce (0–3) || Jim Brewer (6) || 16,218 || 23–34 |- style="background:#bfb" | 58 || June 13 || Dodgers || 16–3 || Ken Brett (5–2) || Tommy John (5–3) || None || 13,068 || 24–34 |- style="background:#fbb" | 59 || June 15 || Giants || 3–4 (10) || Ron Bryant (11–3) || Bill Wilson (1–2) || Elías Sosa (4) || 23,585 || 24–35 |- style="background:#bfb" | 60 || June 16 || Giants || 5–4 || Barry Lersch (2–2) || Jim Barr (4–7) || None || 25,615 || 25–35 |- style="background:#bfb" | 61 || June 17 || Giants || 11–7 || Steve Carlton (7–7) || Tom Bradley (5–5) || Bill Wilson (3) || 25,299 || 26–35 |- style="background:#bfb" | 62 || June 18 || Mets || 9–6 || Ken Brett (6–2) || Jim McAndrew (3–5) || None || 13,190 || 27–35 |- style="background:#bfb" | 63 || June 19 || Mets || 6–1 || Jim Lonborg (4–6) || Harry Parker (5–1) || Mac Scarce (6) || 17,481 || 28–35 |- style="background:#bfb" | 64 || June 20 || Mets || 4–3 || Wayne Twitchell (6–2) || Jon Matlack (4–9) || None || 24,302 || 29–35 |- style="background:#fbb" | 65 || June 22 || @ Expos || 2–4 || Mike Torrez (4–5) || Steve Carlton (7–8) || None || 11,707 || 29–36 |- style="background:#bfb" | 66 || June 23 || @ Expos || 7–2 || Ken Brett (7–2) || Balor Moore (4–7) || None || 18,385 || 30–36 |- style="background:#bfb" | 67 || June 24 || @ Expos || 5–4 || Jim Lonborg (5–6) || Steve Renko (6–4) || Bill Wilson (4) || 17,776 || 31–36 |- style="background:#bfb" | 68 || June 25 || Cardinals || 7–6 || Bucky Brandon (1–1) || Diego Seguí (3–3) || Mac Scarce (7) || 16,570 || 32–36 |- style="background:#bfb" | 69 || June 26 (1) || Cardinals || 10–3 || Dick Ruthven (2–5) || Bob Gibson (7–7) || Mac Scarce (8) || see 2nd game || 33–36 |- style="background:#fbb" | 70 || June 26 (2) || Cardinals || 4–5 (11) || Wayne Granger (2–2) || Bucky Brandon (1–2) || Orlando Peña (2) || 40,492 || 33–37 |- style="background:#fbb" | 71 || June 27 (1) || @ Mets || 6–7 || George Stone (4–2) || Barry Lersch (2–3) || Buzz Capra (1) || see 2nd game || 33–38 |- style="background:#bfb"