1975 Philadelphia Phillies season

The 1975 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 93rd in the history of the franchise. The Phillies finished in second place in the National League East with a record of 86–76, six and a half games behind the NL East champion Pittsburgh Pirates. As a result, the Phillies had their first winning season in eight years.

Offseason December 3, 1974: Del Unser, Mac Scarce and John Stearns were traded by the Phillies to the New York Mets for Tug McGraw, Don Hahn, and Dave Schneck.Del Unser at Baseball Reference January 30, 1975: José Moreno was as an amateur free agent signed by the Phillies.Jose Moreno at Baseball Reference. February 5, 1975: Orlando Isales was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.Orlando Isales at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Early in the 1975 season, Phillies general manager Paul Owens wanted a righthanded power hitter and a first baseman with more power than Tommy Hutton, a left-handed contact hitter. Both Mike Schmidt and Dave Cash lobbied Owens to acquire Dick Allen. Allen had to be persuaded by several of his future teammates that both the organizational and racial climate in Philadelphia had changed for the better since his 1969 departure from the team.

On May 4, the Phillies traded their first baseman Willie Montañez to the Giants for Garry Maddox which provided a bat for the outfield and opened first base for Allen. The Phillies acquired Allen three days later on May 7, 1975.

Fans welcomed Allen's return. On May 14, 1975, 30,908 fans came to Veterans Stadium for Allen's return to Philadelphia and saw Steve Carlton shut out Cincinnati by the score of 4 to 0. Allen played first base, batted fifth between Greg Luzinski and Mike Schmidt and was given a standing ovation when he stepped into the batter's box in a Phillies uniform for the first time since the final game of the 1969 season. Allen lined a two-out single to center, prompting another standing ovation.

The Phillies celebrated the 25th anniversary of the 1950 pennant winning team on August 16, 1975 prior to the team's matchup with the San Diego Padres. The organization held an on field ceremony into which 1950 MVP Jim Konstanty rode on a 1950s-era fire engine. The team presented the players with World Series rings and staged an old-timers game.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions May 4, 1975: Willie Montañez was traded by the Phillies to the San Francisco Giants for Garry Maddox.Garry Maddox at Baseball Reference May 7, 1975: Jim Essian, Barry Bonnell, and $150,000 were traded by the Phillies to the Atlanta Braves for Dick Allen and Johnny Oates.Dick Allen at Baseball Reference June 3, 1975: 1975 Major League Baseball draft Dickie Noles was drafted by the Phillies in the 4th round. Player signed June 15, 1975.Dickie Noles at Baseball Reference Rick Leach was drafted by the Phillies in the 11th round, but did not sign.Rick Leach at Baseball Reference

Game log Legend Phillies win Phillies loss PostponementBoldPhillies team member

|- style="background:#fbb" | 1 || April 8 || @ Mets || 1–2 || Tom Seaver (1–0) || Steve Carlton (0–1) || None || 18,527 || 0–1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 2 || April 10 || @ Mets || 3–2 (11) || Ron Schueler (1–0) || Harry Parker (0–1) || Cy Acosta (1) || 5,964 || 1–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 3 || April 11 || Cardinals || 3–6 || Lynn McGlothen (1–0) || Wayne Twitchell (0–1) || Al Hrabosky (2) || 44,834 || 1–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 4 || April 12 || Cardinals || 5–7 || Mike Garman (1–0) || Gene Garber (0–1) || None || 11,101 || 1–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 13 || Cardinals || 2–0 || Tom Underwood (1–0) || Bob Forsch (1–1) || None || 13,539 || 2–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 6 || April 14 || Mets || 4–3 || Gene Garber (1–1) || Jerry Cram (0–1) || None || 10,626 || 3–3 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 15 || Mets || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: September 26 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 7 || April 16 || Cubs || 3–9 || Bill Bonham (1–0) || Steve Carlton (0–2) || None || 8,294 || 3–4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 8 || April 17 || Cubs || 9–10 || Ken Frailing (1–1) || Wayne Twitchell (0–2) || None || 6,259 || 3–5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 9 || April 18 || @ Expos || 6–3 || Tom Underwood (2–0) || Steve Renko (0–1) || Gene Garber (1) || 21,274 || 4–5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 10 || April 19 || @ Expos || 3–0 || Jim Lonborg (1–0) || Dennis Blair (0–2) || None || 8,154 || 5–5 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 20 || @ Expos || colspan=6 | Postponed (cold weather); Makeup: August 1 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 11 || April 22 || @ Cubs || 7–5 || Wayne Twitchell (1–2) || Bill Bonham (1–1) || None || 6,525 || 6–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 12 || April 23 || @ Cubs || 3–9 || Ray Burris (2–0) || Tom Underwood (2–1) || Oscar Zamora (1) || 3,228 || 6–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 13 || April 24 || @ Cubs || 1–4 || Steve Stone (3–0) || Jim Lonborg (1–1) || None || 2,323 || 6–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 14 || April 25 || @ Pirates || 2–3 || Bruce Kison (2–0) || Steve Carlton (0–3) || Dave Giusti (2) || 5,726 || 6–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 15 || April 26 || @ Pirates || 3–7 || Jim Rooker (2–0) || Wayne Twitchell (1–3) || None || 13,120 || 6–9 |- style="background:#fbb" | 16 || April 27 || @ Pirates || 0–2 || Dock Ellis (1–2) || Tom Underwood (2–2) || None || 14,074 || 6–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 17 || April 29 || Expos || 5–0 || Jim Lonborg (2–1) || Dennis Blair (0–3) || None || 5,477 || 7–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 18 || April 30 || Expos || 2–1 || Steve Carlton (1–3) || Steve Rogers (0–4) || None || 8,750 || 8–10

|- style="background:#bfb" | 19 || May 2 || Pirates || 9–5 || Wayne Twitchell (2–3) || Bruce Kison (2–1) || Tug McGraw (1) || 20,257 || 9–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 20 || May 3 (1) || Pirates || 6–2 || Tom Underwood (3–2) || Jim Rooker (2–1) || Gene Garber (2) || see 2nd game || 10–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 21 || May 3 (2) || Pirates || 4–3 (11) || Tug McGraw (1–0) || Ramón Hernández (0–1) || None || 44,501 || 11–10 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 4 || Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: June 24 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 22 || May 5 || @ Cardinals || 3–11 || Bob Gibson (1–3) || Steve Carlton (1–4) || None || 9,198 || 11–11 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 6 || @ Cardinals || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: July 25 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 23 || May 7 || @ Cardinals || 4–1 || Wayne Twitchell (3–3) || Bob Forsch (2–3) || Tug McGraw (2) || 9,735 || 12–11 |- style="background:#bfb" | 24 || May 8 || @ Cardinals || 6–2 || Jim Lonborg (3–1) || John Denny (2–2) || None || 10,293 || 13–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 25 || May 9 || @ Braves || 1–3 || Roric Harrison (2–1) || Tom Underwood (3–3) || None || 7,444 || 13–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 26 || May 10 || @ Braves || 1–2 (11) || Phil Niekro (2–3) || Gene Garber (1–2) || None || 6,510 || 13–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 27 || May 11 || @ Braves || 3–7 || Buzz Capra (3–4) || Wayne Twitchell (3–4) || None || 6,456 || 13–14 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 12 || Reds || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 15 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 28 || May 13 || Reds || 4–0 || Tom Underwood (4–3) || Gary Nolan (1–3) || None || 11,634 || 14–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 29 || May 14 || Reds || 4–0 || Steve Carlton (2–4) || Pat Darcy (1–2) || None || 30,908 || 15–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 30 || May 15 (1) || Reds || 6–3 || Tug McGraw (2–0) || Don Gullett (4–2) || None || see 2nd game || 16–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 31 || May 15 (2) || Reds || 5–3 || Gene Garber (2–2) || Clay Carroll (3–4) || Tug McGraw (3) || 24,038 || 17–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 32 || May 16 || Braves || 12–8 || Gene Garber (3–2) || Buzz Capra (3–5) || None || 18,710 || 18–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 33 || May 17 || Braves || 9–8 || Gene Garber (4–2) || Phil Niekro (3–4) || None || 30,369 || 19–14 |- style="background:#bfb" | 34 || May 18 || Braves || 5–1 || Tom Underwood (5–3) || Ron Reed (4–4) || None || 25,905 || 20–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 35 || May 19 || @ Astros || 2–4 || Tom Griffin (2–5) || Steve Carlton (2–5) || Wayne Granger (4) || 7,049 || 20–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 36 || May 20 || @ Astros || 2–4 || Ken Forsch (2–2) || Tug McGraw (2–1) || Joe Niekro (2) || 7,211 || 20–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 37 || May 21 || @ Astros || 0–4 || Larry Dierker (5–4) || Wayne Twitchell (3–5) || None || 8,135 || 20–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 38 || May 23 || @ Reds || 2–5 || Gary Nolan (3–3) || Larry Christenson (0–1) || Clay Carroll (3) || 36,197 || 20–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 39 || May 24 || @ Reds || 2–3 (11) || Clay Carroll (4–4) || Tug McGraw (2–2) || None || 36,165 || 20–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 40 || May 25 || @ Reds || 3–4 || Clay Kirby (3–3) || Jim Lonborg (3–2) || Rawly Eastwick (1) || 25,726 || 20–20 |- style="background:#bfb" | 41 || May 26 || Giants || 1–0 (11) || Tug McGraw (3–2) || Ed Halicki (1–1) || None || 15,693 || 21–20 |- style="background:#fbb" | 42 || May 27 || Giants || 0–1 (10) || John Montefusco (3–2) || Gene Garber (4–3) || None || 18,735 || 21–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 43 || May 28 || Giants || 8–6 || Steve Carlton (3–5) || Pete Falcone (4–4) || Tug McGraw (4) || 15,706 || 22–21 |- style="background:#fbb" | 44 || May 30 || Astros || 0–5 || Doug Konieczny (3–6) || Jim Lonborg (3–3) || None || 12,566 || 22–22 |- style="background:#fbb" | 45 || May 31 || Astros || 3–15 || J. R. Richard (4–3) || Wayne Twitchell (3–6) || None || 18,094 || 22–23

|- style="background:#bfb" | 46 || June 1 || Astros || 5–4 || Tom Underwood (6–3) || Larry Dierker (5–5) || Larry Christenson (1) || 22,278 || 23–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 47 || June 2 || Padres || 5–1 || Steve Carlton (4–5) || Dave Freisleben (3–6) || None || 9,348 || 24–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 48 || June 3 || Padres || 12–1 || Jim Lonborg (4–3) || Dan Spillner (2–6) || None || 10,047 || 25–23 |- style="background:#bfb" | 49 || June 4 || Padres || 7–2 || Wayne Twitchell (4–6) || Randy Jones (7–3) || Tug McGraw (5) || 12,443 || 26–23 |- style="background:#fbb" | 50 || June 6 || Dodgers || 2–3 || Burt Hooton (4–5) || Tom Underwood (6–4) || Mike Marshall (2) || 38,357 || 26–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || June 7 || Dodgers || 4–0 || Steve Carlton (5–5) || Doug Rau (5–6) || None || 41,094 || 27–24 |- style="background:#bfb" | 52 || June 8 || Dodgers || 4–2 || Jim Lonborg (5–3) || Don Sutton (10–4) || None || 41,334 || 28–24 |- style="background:#fbb" | 53 || June 9 || @ Padres || 3–8 || Randy Jones (8–3) || Wayne Twitchell (4–7) || None || 30,948 || 28–25 |- style="background:#bfb" | 54 || June 10 || @ Padres || 7–0 || Larry Christenson (1–1) || Dan Spillner (2–7) || None || 15,909 || 29–25 |- style="background:#fbb" | 55 || June 11 || @ Giants || 3–8 || Mike Caldwell (3–5) || Tom Underwood (6–5) || None || 3,472 || 29–26 |- style="background:#bfb" | 56 || June 12 || @ Giants || 4–1 || Steve Carlton (6–5) || Ed Halicki (2–2) || None || 3,869 || 30–26 |- style="background:#bfb" | 57 || June 13 || @ Dodgers || 5–1 || Jim Lonborg (6–3) || Andy Messersmith (9–3) || None || 33,970 || 31–26 |- style="background:#fbb" | 58 || June 14 || @ Dodgers || 3–4 || Burt Hooton (5–5) || Tug McGraw (3–3) || Mike Marshall (3) || 52,299 || 31–27 |- style="background:#bfb" | 59 || June 15 || @ Dodgers || 4–3 || Gene Garber (5–3) || Mike Marshall (2–5) || None || 40,959 || 32–27 |- style="background:#fbb" | 60 || June 16 || @ Cubs || 7–9 || Geoff Zahn (2–4) || Gene Garber (5–4) || Ken Frailing (1) || 9,353 || 32–28 |- style="background:#fbb" | 61 || June 17 || @ Cubs || 5–9 || Tom Dettore (1–0) || Jim Lonborg (6–4) || None || 6,834 || 32–29 |- style="background:#bfb"