1974 Philadelphia Phillies season

The 1974 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 92nd in franchise history. The Phillies finished in third place in the National League East with a record of 80–82, eight games behind the first place Pittsburgh Pirates. They would not finish below .500 again until going 75–87 in the 1985 season.

Offseason December 6, 1973: Denny Doyle was sent by the Phillies to the California Angels, and Aurelio Monteagudo and Chris Coletta were sent by the Angels to the Phillies to complete an earlier deal. This deal, made on August 14, involved the Phillies sending a player to be named later to the Angels in exchange for players to be named later and Billy Grabarkewitz.Denny Doyle at Baseball Reference December 19, 1973: Tony Taylor was signed as a free agent by the Phillies.Tony Taylor at Baseball Reference

Regular season Third baseman Mike Schmidt had a breakout season in 1974, leading the National League in home runs and demonstrating his prowess in the field. On June 10, Schmidt hit a ball that many felt should have been a home run when it struck the public address speaker hanging 117 feet above and 329 feet away from home plate at the Astrodome in Houston. The ball hit the speaker, fell onto the field, and, according to the Astrodome's ground rules, remained in play. Since Schmidt had already begun his home run trot, he was credited with only a single. There were runners on first and second base at the time, and they each advanced only one base. Many experts agree that the ball would have traveled in excess of 500 feet.

The Phillies became the first team to lead their division at the All-Star break after finishing last in the division the previous year.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions June 5, 1974: 1974 Major League Baseball draft Derek Botelho was drafted by the Phillies in the 26th round but did not sign.Derek Botelho at Baseball Reference Ken Phelps was drafted by the Phillies in the 1st round (19th pick) of the secondary phase but did not sign.Ken Phelps at Baseball Reference June 15, 1974: Jeff Schneider was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.Jeff Schneider at Baseball Reference July 2, 1974: John Poff was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.John Poff at Baseball Reference

Game log Legend Phillies win Phillies loss PostponementBoldPhillies team member

|- style="background:#bfb" | 1 || April 6 || Mets || 5–4 || Mac Scarce (1–0) || Tug McGraw (0–1) || None || 40,222 || 1–0 |- style="background:#fbb" | 2 || April 7 || Mets || 2–9 || Jon Matlack (1–0) || Jim Lonborg (0–1) || Tug McGraw (1) || 16,441 || 1–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 3 || April 9 || @ Cubs || 0–2 || Bill Bonham (1–0) || Ron Schueler (0–1) || None || 30,601 || 1–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 4 || April 10 || @ Cubs || 6–7 || Ray Burris (1–0) || Mac Scarce (1–1) || None || 6,535 || 1–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 11 || @ Cubs || 4–3 || Frank Linzy (1–0) || Horacio Piña (0–1) || Eddie Watt (1) || 2,292 || 2–3 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 13 || @ Mets || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: April 14 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 6 || April 14 (1) || @ Mets || 2–1 (11) || Mike Wallace (1–0) || Tug McGraw (0–2) || None || see 2nd game || 3–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 7 || April 14 (2) || @ Mets || 5–3 || Mac Scarce (2–1) || Bob Miller (0–1) || None || 14,201 || 4–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 8 || April 15 || Cardinals || 3–2 || Dick Ruthven (1–0) || Alan Foster (0–1) || Mac Scarce (1) || 6,713 || 5–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 9 || April 16 || Cardinals || 10–3 || Steve Carlton (1–0) || Bob Gibson (0–1) || None || 8,107 || 6–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 10 || April 17 || Cardinals || 12–5 || George Culver (1–0) || Sonny Siebert (1–1) || None || 11,237 || 7–3 |- style="background:#fbb" | 11 || April 18 || Cardinals || 2–6 || Lynn McGlothen (2–0) || Ron Schueler (0–2) || None || 8,106 || 7–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 12 || April 19 || Cubs || 9–2 || Jim Lonborg (1–1) || Bill Bonham (1–2) || None || 12,318 || 8–4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 13 || April 20 || Cubs || 4–5 (13) || Ray Burris (2–0) || Mac Scarce (2–2) || None || 16,534 || 8–5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 14 || April 21 || Cubs || 7–3 || Steve Carlton (2–0) || Burt Hooton (1–1) || None || 17,172 || 9–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 15 || April 23 || @ Dodgers || 3–5 || Jim Brewer (2–0) || Frank Linzy (1–1) || None || 14,984 || 9–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 16 || April 24 || @ Dodgers || 1–6 || Don Sutton (4–1) || Jim Lonborg (1–2) || None || 14,756 || 9–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 17 || April 25 || @ Dodgers || 0–1 || Tommy John (5–0) || Dick Ruthven (1–1) || None || 15,117 || 9–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 18 || April 26 || @ Padres || 2–6 || Dave Freisleben (1–0) || Steve Carlton (2–1) || None || 9,448 || 9–9 |- style="background:#fbb" | 19 || April 27 || @ Padres || 2–5 || Randy Jones (2–4) || Ron Schueler (0–3) || None || 31,407 || 9–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 20 || April 28 || @ Padres || 4–5 || Larry Hardy (1–0) || Frank Linzy (1–2) || None || 12,031 || 9–11 |- style="background:#bfb" | 21 || April 30 || @ Giants || 6–5 || Frank Linzy (2–2) || Randy Moffitt (1–2) || Eddie Watt (2) || 2,188 || 10–11

|- style="background:#fbb" | 22 || May 1 || @ Giants || 8–13 || Charlie Williams (1–0) || Steve Carlton (2–2) || None || 2,179 || 10–12 |- style="background:#bfb" | 23 || May 3 || Dodgers || 2–1 || Ron Schueler (1–3) || Doug Rau (2–1) || Eddie Watt (3) || 20,186 || 11–12 |- style="background:#bfb" | 24 || May 4 || Dodgers || 7–3 || Jim Lonborg (2–2) || Don Sutton (4–2) || None || 40,301 || 12–12 |- style="background:#bfb" | 25 || May 5 || Dodgers || 3–2 || Mac Scarce (3–2) || Tommy John (5–1) || None || 41,040 || 13–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 26 || May 6 || Padres || 6–7 || Dave Freisleben (3–0) || Steve Carlton (2–3) || Rich Troedson (1) || 4,149 || 13–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 27 || May 7 || Padres || 3–5 (13) || Mike Corkins (2–0) || Dave Wallace (0–1) || None || 4,288 || 13–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 28 || May 8 || Padres || 4–0 || Jim Lonborg (3–2) || Randy Jones (2–6) || None || 5,081 || 14–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 29 || May 10 || Pirates || 3–2 || Dick Ruthven (2–1) || Ken Brett (2–3) || Mac Scarce (2) || 16,388 || 15–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 30 || May 11 || Pirates || 3–1 || Steve Carlton (3–3) || Bob Moose (1–4) || None || 21,070 || 16–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 31 || May 12 || Pirates || 8–7 || Ed Farmer (1–0) || Dock Ellis (1–3) || Eddie Watt (4) || 11,243 || 17–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 32 || May 14 || Expos || 2–9 || Steve Rogers (6–1) || Jim Lonborg (3–3) || None || 8,413 || 17–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 33 || May 15 || Expos || 4–5 || Tom Walker (1–0) || Mac Scarce (3–3) || None || 10,105 || 17–16 |- style="background:#bfb" | 34 || May 16 || Expos || 6–3 || Steve Carlton (4–3) || Mike Torrez (3–3) || None || 7,311 || 18–16 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 17 || @ Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 19 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 35 || May 18 || @ Pirates || 9–2 || Ron Schueler (2–3) || Bob Moose (1–5) || None || 8,021 || 19–16 |- style="background:#bfb" | 36 || May 19 (1) || @ Pirates || 3–2 || Jim Lonborg (4–3) || Dock Ellis (1–4) || Eddie Watt (5) || see 2nd game || 20–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 37 || May 19 (2) || @ Pirates || 1–2 || Jerry Reuss (2–3) || Dick Ruthven (2–2) || None || 13,426 || 20–17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 38 || May 20 || @ Cardinals || 2–1 || Steve Carlton (5–3) || Lynn McGlothen (5–2) || None || 12,326 || 21–17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 39 || May 21 || @ Cardinals || 4–2 || Ed Farmer (2–0) || John Curtis (2–5) || Mac Scarce (3) || 11,481 || 22–17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 40 || May 22 || @ Cardinals || 7–1 || Ron Schueler (3–3) || Alan Foster (1–4) || None || 10,587 || 23–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 41 || May 24 || Expos || 2–4 || Ernie McAnally (3–4) || Jim Lonborg (4–4) || None || 14,131 || 23–18 |- style="background:#bfb" | 42 || May 25 (1) || Expos || 4–3 || Eddie Watt (1–0) || Mike Torrez (4–4) || None || see 2nd game || 24–18 |- style="background:#bfb" | 43 || May 25 (2) || Expos || 4–2 || Steve Carlton (6–3) || Steve Renko (3–5) || None || 41,350 || 25–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 44 || May 26 || Expos || 1–5 || Dennis Blair (1–0) || Ron Schueler (3–4) || None || 27,324 || 25–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 45 || May 27 || @ Braves || 1–9 || Phil Niekro (6–3) || Ed Farmer (2–1) || None || 6,446 || 25–20 |- style="background:#fbb" | 46 || May 28 || @ Braves || 1–2 (10) || Danny Frisella (1–2) || Jim Lonborg (4–5) || None || see 2nd game || 25–21 |- style="background:#fbb" | 47 || May 29 || @ Braves || 0–1 (11) || Tom House (1–0) || Steve Carlton (6–4) || None || 7,816 || 25–22 |- style="background:#fbb" | 48 || May 31 || Giants || 2–6 || Ron Bryant (2–4) || Ron Schueler (3–5) || Randy Moffitt (12) || 23,513 || 25–23

|- style="background:#bfb" | 49 || June 1 || Giants || 6–2 || Jim Lonborg (5–5) || Mike Caldwell (7–3) || None || 20,167 || 26–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 50 || June 2 || Giants || 4–3 || Frank Linzy (3–2) || Randy Moffitt (2–3) || None || 12,280 || 27–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || June 3 || Braves || 5–2 || Steve Carlton (7–4) || Carl Morton (6–5) || None || 44,179 || 28–23 |- style="background:#fbb" | 52 || June 4 || Braves || 3–7 || Roric Harrison (4–6) || Ron Schueler (3–6) || Tom House (3) || 17,197 || 28–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 53 || June 5 || Braves || 4–2 || Jim Lonborg (6–5) || Phil Niekro (6–4) || None || 26,204 || 29–24 |- style="background:#fbb" | 54 || June 7 || Reds || 4–7 || Pedro Borbón (5–3) || Mac Scarce (3–4) || None || 22,408 || 29–25 |- style="background:#bfb" | 55 || June 8 || Reds || 6–5 || Steve Carlton (8–4) || Clay Carroll (3–1) || None || 34,256 || 30–25 |- style="background:#fbb" | 56 || June 9 || Reds || 7–14 || Don Gullett (6–3) || Wayne Twitchell (0–1) || None || 33,163 || 30–26 |- style="background:#bfb" | 57 || June 10 || @ Astros || 12–0 || Jim Lonborg (7–5) || Claude Osteen (5–6) || None || 9,487 || 31–26 |- style="background:#fbb" | 58 || June 11 || @ Astros || 1–10 || Larry Dierker (4–3) || Dick Ruthven (2–3) || None || 10,034 || 31–27 |- style="background:#bfb" | 59 || June 12 || @ Astros || 3–0 || Steve Carlton (9–4) || Don Wilson (3–4) || None || 12,010 || 32–27 |- style="background:#fbb" | 60 || June 14 || @ Reds || 4–7 || Don Gullett (7–3) || Ron Schueler (3–7) || None || 25,238 || 32–28 |- style="background:#bfb" | 61 || June 15 || @ Reds || 5–2 || Jim Lonborg (8–5) || Jack Billingham (6–5) || None || 35,732 || 33–28 |- style="background:#fbb" | 62 || June 16 || @ Reds || 0–5 || Clay Carroll (4–1) || Dick Ruthven (2–4) || None || 30,006 || 33–29 |- style="background:#bfb" | 63 || June 17 || Astros || 7–5 || Wayne Twitchell (1–1) || Claude Osteen (5–7) || None || 18,289 || 34–29 |- style="background:#fbb" | 64 || June 18 || Astros || 0–1 || Mike Cosgrove (2–0) || Ron Schueler (3–8) || None || 14,165 || 34–30 |- style="background:#bfb" | 65 || June 19 || Astros || 5–4 || Jim Lonborg (9–5) || Tom Griffin (7–3) || Mac Scarce (4) || 17,161 || 35–30 |- style="background:#fbb" | 66 || June 20 || Mets || 1–2 || Jerry Koosman (7–4) || Dick Ruthven (2–5) || None || 22,210 || 35–31 |- style="background:#fbb" | 67 || June 21 || Mets || 1–3 || Tom Seaver (4–6) || Steve Carlton (9–5) || Tug McGraw (2) || 28,262 || 35–32 |- style="background:#bfb" | 68 || June 22 (1) || Mets || 5–2 || Ron Schueler (4–8) || Harry Parker (1–7) || None || see 2nd game || 36–32 |- style="background:#bfb" | 69 || June 22 (2) || Mets || 8–5 || Wayne Twitchell (2–1) || George Stone (2–6) || Jesús Hernáiz (1) || 51,197 || 37–32 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 23 || Mets || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 25 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb"