1. Overview
Steven Norman Carlton, born on December 22, 1944, is an American former professional baseball player primarily known for his distinguished career as a left-handed pitcher. Nicknamed "Lefty," Carlton played in Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1988, most notably with the Philadelphia Phillies. His career was marked by extraordinary individual achievements, including four Cy Young Awards, the most for any pitcher at the time of his retirement. He was a pivotal member of the 1980 World Series champion Phillies team, which secured the franchise's first world title.
Carlton is celebrated for his dominance on the mound, characterized by a powerful fastball and a distinctive slider he acquired during a tour in Japan. He achieved 329 career wins, ranking 11th all-time, and 4,136 career strikeouts, placing him second among left-handed pitchers and fourth overall. He also holds the unique modern record for accounting for nearly half (46%) of his team's victories in his remarkable 1972 season, where he won 27 games for a last-place Phillies squad. In 1994, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, solidifying his legacy as one of baseball's all-time greatest pitchers.
2. Early Life and Background
Steven Norman Carlton's early life in Miami, Florida, was marked by a developing interest in sports and an early engagement with philosophical ideas that would later influence his unique approach to his professional career.
2.1. Birth and Early Childhood
Carlton was born on December 22, 1944, in Miami, Florida. He was the only son of Joe and Anne Carlton and grew up on 144th Street in Miami with his two sisters, Joanne and Christina. His father, Joe Carlton, worked as an airline maintenance worker.
2.2. Education and Amateur Career
During his teenage years, Carlton attended North Miami High School, where he initially participated in both baseball and basketball. He reportedly showed little interest in academic pursuits and had no plans beyond high school. As a senior, Carlton decided to focus exclusively on pitching, leading him to quit the basketball team. While in high school, he was teammates with future Major Leaguer Kurt Bevacqua and Richie Mehlich, who famously defeated Charlie Hough 1-0 in a playoff game under coach Jack Clark.
After graduating from high school, Carlton continued his baseball career at Miami Dade College North. There, he pitched in relief for a strong team coached by Demie Mainieri. In 1963, while still a student at Miami-Dade, he signed his first professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals for a 5.00 K USD bonus.
2.3. Influence of Eastern Philosophy
A significant influence on Steven Carlton's personal life and athletic career stemmed from his teenage years when he began to read and follow the teachings of Eastern philosophy. He was particularly drawn to the principles espoused by Paramahansa Yogananda, who advocated for achieving greatness through meditation. This philosophical grounding would later manifest in Carlton's distinctive training methods and his approach to mental focus, contributing to his disciplined regimen as a professional athlete.
3. Professional Career
Steven Carlton's professional baseball career spanned 24 seasons, during which he established himself as one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball history. His career unfolded through various teams, with his most significant contributions made during his long tenure with the Philadelphia Phillies.
3.1. Minor Leagues
Carlton quickly ascended through the St. Louis Cardinals' minor league system. In 1964, he pitched for four different teams across various levels. He started with the Cardinals' team in the Florida East Coast Instructional League, where he posted a 2-3 record with a 2.89 ERA. He then moved to the Class A Northern League, playing for the Winnipeg Goldeyes, with a record of 4-4 and a 3.36 ERA in 12 starts. Carlton then had a dominant stint with the Rock Hill Cardinals of the Class A Western Carolinas League, going 10-1 with an impressive 1.03 ERA in 11 starts, which earned him a promotion to Class AA. He concluded 1964 with the Tulsa Oilers of the Texas League, where he had a 1-1 record and a 2.63 ERA in four appearances. Overall in 1964, Carlton compiled a 15-6 record with a 2.22 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 178 innings. In 1965, he pitched just one game for the Florida East Coast Instructional League team before being promoted to the major league roster. In 1966, he made 19 starts for the Class AAA Tulsa Oilers of the Pacific Coast League, finishing with a 9-5 record and a 3.59 ERA.
3.2. St. Louis Cardinals (1965-1971)
Carlton made his Major League debut with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1965 as a 20-year-old. By 1967, he had secured a regular spot in the Cardinals' starting rotation. Standing at 6 in, he was an imposing figure on the mound, known for his powerful fastball and a developing slider, which quickly earned him a reputation as an intimidating and dominant pitcher.
3.2.1. Early Success and World Series Experience
Carlton achieved immediate success in St. Louis, consistently posting winning records and contributing to the Cardinals' appearances in the 1967 World Series and 1968 World Series. In 1967, he finished with a 14-9 record and a 2.98 ERA in 28 starts. In the 1967 World Series, Carlton started Game 5 against the Boston Red Sox. Despite pitching six strong innings and allowing only an unearned run, he was credited with a 3-1 loss. However, the Cardinals ultimately triumphed over the Red Sox, securing the World Series championship. The following year, in 1968, Carlton posted a 13-11 record with a 2.99 ERA. In the 1968 World Series against the Detroit Tigers, he made two relief appearances, surrendering three runs over four innings as the Cardinals lost in seven games. On September 15, 1969, Carlton set a modern-day record at the time by striking out 19 New York Mets batters in a nine-inning game, though he took a 4-3 loss. He concluded the 1969 season with a 17-11 record, a 2.17 ERA (second-lowest in the National League), and 210 strikeouts.
3.2.2. Acquiring the Slider and Its Impact
A significant development in Carlton's pitching arsenal occurred after the 1968 World Series. During a postseason tour in Japan as part of the Cardinals' team, he became intrigued by the slider thrown by Fumio Narita, an ace pitcher for the Lotte Orions (then the Tokyo Orions). Carlton began experimenting with this new pitch, a smaller, sharper variant of the slider than was common in American baseball at the time, and quickly mastered it. This "made-in-Japan" slider became a signature pitch for Carlton and significantly enhanced his effectiveness, contributing to his improved performance and dominance on the mound.
3.2.3. Salary Disputes and Trade
Carlton's tenure with the Cardinals was frequently marked by contentious salary disputes. Prior to the 1970 season, he sought a salary increase from 26.00 K USD to 50.00 K USD, but the Cardinals countered with an offer of 31.00 K USD. This dispute led to Carlton missing a significant portion of spring training in 1970. The lack of preparation impacted his performance, and he finished the season with a 10-19 record and a 3.73 ERA, leading the National League in losses. He rebounded in 1971, achieving his first 20-win season with a 20-9 record and a 3.56 ERA.
Following the 1971 season, another salary conflict arose, with Carlton seeking 65.00 K USD against the Cardinals' offer of 55.00 K USD. Cardinals owner Gussie Busch, frustrated by the ongoing disagreements, ordered Carlton to be traded. On February 26, 1972, just before the start of the 1972 season, Carlton was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for pitcher Rick Wise. This trade is widely considered one of the most lopsided deals in baseball history, significantly favoring the Phillies in the long run. While contemporary analysis initially viewed it as a fair exchange, given both pitchers' similar win totals at the time (Carlton 77 wins, Wise 75), Carlton went on to win 241 games with the Phillies and 329 overall, compared to Wise's 188 career wins, cementing the trade's lopsided nature.
During his seven seasons with the Cardinals, Carlton compiled a record of 77-62 with a 3.10 ERA in 190 games (172 starts). He recorded 66 complete games and 16 shutouts and was selected to the National League All-Star team in 1968, 1969, and 1971.
3.3. Philadelphia Phillies (1972-1986)
Steven Carlton's years with the Philadelphia Phillies represent the most productive and celebrated period of his career, during which he achieved numerous individual accolades and contributed significantly to the team's success, including a World Series championship.
3.3.1. The Remarkable 1972 Season
In his inaugural season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972, Steven Carlton delivered one of the most remarkable individual pitching performances in baseball history, widely considered his finest personal achievement. Despite playing for a team that finished in last place with a 59-97 record, Carlton led the league in multiple pitching categories. He finished with an astounding 27 wins against only 10 losses, recorded 30 complete games, and led the league with 310 strikeouts and a 1.97 ERA. His 27 wins accounted for an extraordinary 46% of the Phillies' total victories that season, a modern Major League record for the highest percentage of a team's wins by a single pitcher. This exceptional performance earned him his first Cy Young Award, which he won by a unanimous vote, and the Hickok Belt as the top professional athlete of the year. He also finished fifth in the voting for the National League MVP.
Carlton attributed his success to a rigorous and unique training regimen that incorporated elements of Eastern martial arts, including a notable exercise where he would twist his fist to the bottom of a five-gallon bucket of rice. His season included overcoming an early slump, starting with five wins and one loss, then enduring a five-game losing streak during which the Phillies offense scored only 10 runs. Following this, he embarked on a 15-game winning streak. During this streak, which included three no-decisions, Carlton pitched 155 innings, allowing only 103 hits and 28 runs (17 in the winning games), along with 39 walks and 140 strikeouts. From July 23 to August 13, 1972, he pitched five complete-game victories, yielding only one unearned run on 22 hits in 45 innings, and threw four shutouts. Baseball commentators of the era frequently remarked that Carlton's slider, acquired during his Japan tour, was virtually unhittable.
Reflecting on the 1972 season, Carlton stated, "Auggie Busch traded me to the last-place Phillies over a salary dispute. I was mentally committed to winning 25 games with the Cardinals and now I had to rethink my goals. I decided to stay with the 25-win goal and won 27 of the Phillies' 59 victories. I consider that season my finest individual achievement." His 27 wins that year also tied the record for the most single-season wins by a left-handed starter in Major League history, a mark previously held by Lefty Grove (1931) and Sandy Koufax (1966).
3.3.2. Media Silence
Following his phenomenal 1972 season, Carlton's performance declined in 1973, when he finished with a 13-20 record and a 3.90 ERA. This downturn, combined with media scrutiny and questioning of his unconventional training techniques, led to a highly acrimonious relationship between Carlton and the press. In 1976, acting on the advice of his lawyer, Edward L. Wolf, Carlton made the decisive choice to sever all communication with the media. For the remainder of his tenure with the Phillies, he famously refused to answer any press questions. This self-imposed media blackout became a defining characteristic of his public persona.
At one point in the early 1980s, when unknowingly on live air during a pregame show, Carlton reportedly hurled a sponsor's watch at a commentator's head. His silence became so pronounced that in 1981, as Mexican rookie Fernando Valenzuela rose to stardom with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a reporter famously quipped, "The two best pitchers in the National League don't speak English: Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Carlton."
Longtime Phillies teammate Larry Bowa remarked on Carlton's media silence, stating, "One thing I regret is that Philadelphia fans didn't see the same Steve Carlton we saw in our clubhouse. He put up a mask when the writers came in. He was very consistent with the writers. He didn't talk to any of them." Carlton himself later reflected on his decision, explaining, "It (not talking to the media from 1974 through the end of his career) was perfect for me at the time. It took me two years to make up my mind. I was tired of getting slammed. To me it was a slap in the face. But it (his silence) made me concentrate better. And the irony is that they wrote better without access to my quotes. It's all quotes, anyway, and it all sounds the same to me. After that they wrote better and more interesting stuff. I took it personal. I got slammed quite a bit. To pick up the paper and read about yourself getting slammed, that doesn't start your day off right."
3.3.3. Golden Era: Cy Young Awards and World Series Championship
Carlton continued to achieve significant success with the Phillies, adding three more Cy Young Awards to his tally in 1977, 1980, and 1982. He became the first pitcher in baseball history to win four Cy Young Awards, a feat later matched by Greg Maddux and surpassed by Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson. His consistent excellence propelled the Phillies to their most successful period of postseason appearances in franchise history. The team steadily improved, winning the National League East Division three consecutive times from 1976 to 1978.
In 1980, Carlton was a cornerstone of the Phillies' historic season. He led the National League with 24 victories, 286 strikeouts, and 304 innings pitched, helping the team secure their first-ever World Series championship. In the 1980 World Series against the Kansas City Royals, Carlton was instrumental, winning both of his starts and securing the decisive Game 6 victory. He finished the series with a 2-0 record, a 2.40 ERA, and 17 strikeouts in 15 innings. His 304 innings pitched in 1980 also marked the last time a Major League pitcher would throw more than 300 innings in a single season.
Carlton also demonstrated his defensive prowess, earning a Gold Glove Award for his fielding in 1981. On September 13, 1982, for the fourth time in his career, he hit a home run and threw a complete-game shutout in the same game, becoming the only pitcher to accomplish this feat in three different decades. He helped the Phillies reach another pennant in 1983, despite finishing the regular season with a 15-16 record and a 3.11 ERA in 37 starts. In the 1983 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Carlton was dominant, going 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA, allowing just one run in 13 innings while striking out 13 batters, leading the Phillies to the National League pennant. However, they ultimately lost to the Baltimore Orioles in the 1983 World Series, with Carlton taking the loss in Game 3 against Jim Palmer.
On September 23, 1983, in a game against his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals, Carlton recorded his 300th career win, becoming the 16th pitcher in Major League history to achieve this milestone.
3.3.4. Career Strikeout Record Race
Between 1982 and 1984, Steven Carlton was engaged in a captivating and closely watched pitching duel for the all-time career strikeout record with contemporaries Nolan Ryan and Gaylord Perry. At the start of the 1983 season, the longstanding record of 3,508 strikeouts held by Walter Johnson for 55 years was within reach for all three pitchers: Ryan had 3,494, Perry 3,452, and Carlton 3,434.
Nolan Ryan was the first to surpass Johnson, achieving the milestone on April 22, 1983, against the Montreal Expos. However, a subsequent stint on the disabled list allowed Carlton to close the gap. On June 7, 1983, Carlton overtook Ryan to become the all-time strikeout king with 3,526 strikeouts to Ryan's 3,524. The 1983 season saw an unprecedented 14 lead changes and one tie in the all-time strikeout race, often shifting after each pitcher's respective starts. The season concluded with Carlton holding the lead, 3,709 strikeouts to Ryan's 3,677. Gaylord Perry, in his final season, also surpassed Johnson's mark, finishing his career with 3,534 strikeouts.
The back-and-forth continued into 1984, with five more lead changes and one tie. Carlton's last time holding the all-time strikeout lead was after his start on September 4, 1984, when he struck out four Chicago Cubs batters, giving him a three-strikeout advantage over Ryan (3,857 to 3,854). Though the season ended with Ryan holding a mere two-strikeout lead (3,874 to 3,872), Carlton's career was subsequently hampered by injuries in 1985 and a significant decline in performance in 1986. He was eventually released by the Phillies just 18 strikeouts shy of the 4,000 mark.
3.3.5. Late Phillies Career
Carlton's incredible career with the Phillies spanned 15 seasons. During this time, he accumulated a record of 241-161 with a 3.09 ERA. He made 499 starts, recording 185 complete games, 39 shutouts, and 3,031 strikeouts against 1,252 walks over 3,697 innings pitched. He was selected as an All-Star seven times while with the Phillies and earned all four of his Cy Young Awards in 1972, 1977, 1980, and 1982.
His longtime Phillies teammate, third baseman Mike Schmidt, expressed his appreciation for Carlton, stating, "Schmitty provided what pitchers need most, home runs and great defense. He's the best third baseman that I ever played with, and maybe of all-time. Obvious Hall of Famer, even then. He retired while on top of his game. I thought for sure he was going to hit 600 home runs."
Carlton's final years with the Phillies saw a decline in his performance. In 1985, despite a respectable 3.33 ERA, he suffered from a lack of run support, finishing with only 1 win and 8 losses before a mid-season injury. The 1986 season began poorly, and he was released on June 24, just short of 4,000 career strikeouts.
3.4. Late Career (1986-1988)
After his release from the Phillies, Steven Carlton embarked on the final phase of his playing career, moving between several Major League teams in quick succession.
3.4.1. San Francisco Giants
Following his release by the Phillies, Carlton signed with the San Francisco Giants in July 1986. Upon joining the Giants, he briefly broke his self-imposed media boycott to hold a press conference, a rare public interaction. In one notable game, Carlton pitched seven shutout innings and also hit a three-run home run, which accounted for his only win as a Giant. Overall, he finished his short stint with the Giants with a 1-3 record and a 5.10 ERA in six games.
On August 5, 1986, as a member of the Giants, Carlton achieved a historic milestone by recording his 4,000th career strikeout, striking out Eric Davis of the Cincinnati Reds. He became only the second pitcher in Major League history, after Nolan Ryan, to reach this exclusive mark. Two days after this achievement, on August 7, 1986, Carlton announced his retirement, stating, "Upon reflection, I realized that I've reached a career milestone never before accomplished by a pitcher spending his entire career in one league. I realize that the San Francisco Giants are committed to the younger players in their organization, specifically the talented young men on their pitching staff."
3.4.2. Chicago White Sox
Carlton's retirement proved to be short-lived. He had not officially submitted paperwork for the voluntary retired list or a formal letter of retirement to the National League. Consequently, he signed with the Chicago White Sox for the remainder of the 1986 season on August 11, 1986. This move marked Carlton's first time pitching in the American League during his career. With the White Sox, he compiled a 4-3 record with a 3.69 ERA. His combined statistics for the 1986 season, across his three teams (Phillies, Giants, and White Sox), were a 9-14 win-loss record with a 5.10 ERA.
3.4.3. Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins
In 1987, Carlton continued his career by signing with the Cleveland Indians. Here, he became teammates with fellow pitching legend Phil Niekro. In a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, Carlton and Niekro made history by becoming the first teammates and 300-game winners to appear in the same game, a 10-6 victory for the Yankees. This also marked Carlton's only pitching appearance at Yankee Stadium, as he had spent the vast majority of his career in the National League before the advent of interleague play.
In late July 1987, Carlton was traded to the Minnesota Twins. Between his time with the Indians and the Twins, he finished the season with a combined record of 6-14 and a 5.74 ERA. Although he was not on the postseason roster, the Twins went on to win the 1987 World Series, defeating his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals, in seven games. This victory earned Carlton his third World Series ring. He joined his Twins teammates on their trip to the White House to meet President Ronald Reagan. In a notable incident from this visit, a newspaper photograph caption of the team meeting the President listed each member of the team by name, with the exception of Carlton, who was humorously identified as an "unidentified Secret Service agent," highlighting his continued reclusive public image.
Carlton was re-signed by the Twins for the 1988 season. However, his performance continued to decline sharply. After appearing in four games with a 0-1 record and a high 16.76 ERA, he was released by the Twins on April 23, 1988, following an outing where he surrendered eight runs in five innings. This would prove to be his final meaningful appearance in Major League Baseball. No other teams signed Carlton for the remainder of the 1988 season.
3.5. Retirement
Steven Carlton remained unsigned for the 1989 season. The New York Yankees extended an offer for him to use their facilities for training purposes, but without guaranteeing a spot in spring training. At the age of 44, Carlton subsequently made his official retirement from professional baseball.
At the time of his retirement, Carlton's 4,136 career strikeouts placed him second on the all-time strikeout list, behind only Nolan Ryan, who continued to pitch until 1993 and significantly extended his lead over Carlton. Carlton later fell to third and then fourth place on the all-time strikeout list as pitchers like Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson surpassed him.
4. Player Characteristics and Statistics
Steven Carlton's exceptional career was built upon a distinctive pitching style, a commitment to unique training methodologies, and resulted in a formidable array of statistical achievements that cemented his place in baseball history.
4.1. Pitching Style
Carlton, a tall left-handed pitcher, was known for a diverse and highly effective pitching arsenal. His primary pitches included a powerful fastball, a unique slider, and a curveball. The fastball was often described as a "rising fastball" (four-seam fastball), giving hitters the impression it was moving upwards. His slider, notably refined after his 1968 Japan tour, was not the typical small, sharp-breaking slider common in American baseball but rather a distinctive pitch with a larger, sweeping break, which he termed "made-in-Japan." This pitch was frequently described as virtually unhittable during his peak. His curveball was also effective, sometimes described as a "sweeping curve" (sweeping curve).
Throughout his career, Carlton's pitch usage evolved. From 1965 to 1968, his primary weapons were the rising fastball and curve. In 1969, the slider became a regular part of his repertoire. By 1970, he occasionally used the slider alongside his rising fastball and curve. Around 1971, he integrated a changeup. From 1972 to 1974, his dominant pitches were the rising fastball, curve, and slider. After 1974, he relied heavily on his powerful fastball (often referred to as a "high fastball" or "hard fastball"), slider, and sweeping curve. Despite his mastery of these pitches and remarkable career, Carlton never threw a no-hitter, though he did record six one-hitters.
4.2. Unique Training Methods
A defining aspect of Steven Carlton's career was his unconventional and rigorous training methods. He famously incorporated elements of Eastern martial arts techniques into his physical and mental preparation. The most well-known of these methods involved twisting his fist to the bottom of a five-gallon bucket of rice, a practice aimed at strengthening his hands, wrists, and forearms. These unique training regimens were widely believed to contribute to his remarkable durability and the effectiveness of his pitches, even as he aged. Carlton's discipline in these methods was a testament to his holistic approach to athletic performance, a philosophy he championed long before such practices became more mainstream.
4.3. Major Records and Statistics
Steven Carlton's career statistics reflect his sustained excellence and dominance as a pitcher over more than two decades.
| W | L | PCT | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | SO | WP | HBP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 329 | 244 | .574 | 3.22 | 741 | 709 | 254 | 55 | 2 | 5217.2 | 4672 | 1864 | 2130 | 414 | 1833 | 4136 | 183 | 53 |
Carlton was also an unusually accomplished hitter for a pitcher. In his career, he posted a .201 batting average, hitting 13 home runs, scoring 123 runs, and driving in 140 RBIs in 1,710 career at-bats. In postseason play, he maintained a .222 batting average, including a home run in the 1978 National League Championship Series. Defensively, he recorded a .952 fielding percentage, which was consistent with the league average for his position.
Among his other significant records and achievements are:
- Most Wins (4)**: 1972, 1977, 1980, 1982
- Most ERA (1)**: 1972
- Most Strikeouts (5)**: 1972, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1983
- Pitching Triple Crown (1)**: 1972
- Most Career Balks**: 90 (an all-time Major League Baseball record, more than double the second-highest total)
5. Assessment and Legacy
Steven Carlton's impact on baseball is profound, marked by his statistical dominance, multiple awards, and a unique personality that distinguished him from his peers.
5.1. Hall of Fame Induction and Retired Number
Steven Carlton was a dominant force in baseball, recognized with ten All-Star selections throughout his career. He led the league in various pitching categories multiple times. His 4,136 career strikeouts were a record for a left-handed pitcher at the time of his retirement, a mark since surpassed only by Randy Johnson. His 329 career wins rank as the eleventh most in baseball history, placing him behind pitching legends like Greg Maddux, Roger Clemens, and Warren Spahn among pitchers of the live-ball era (post-1920). He also holds the distinction of having the second-most consecutive starts with at least six innings pitched (69), a record surpassed only by Bob Gibson, which was snapped in April 1982.
In recognition of his extraordinary career, the Philadelphia Phillies retired Carlton's jersey number 32 in 1989. Further solidifying his legacy, Carlton was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994, in his first year of eligibility, receiving 95.82% of the vote, which stands as one of the highest percentages ever recorded for an inductee. In 2004, the Philadelphia Phillies honored him with a statue displayed outside Citizens Bank Park, their home stadium.
5.2. Appraisal within Baseball
Steven Carlton garnered immense respect from his peers and baseball commentators for his skill and artistry on the mound. Richie Ashburn, a Phillies announcer and Hall of Famer, aptly described Carlton as a pitcher: "Lefty was a craftsman, an artist. He was a perfectionist. He painted a ballgame. Stroke, stroke, stroke, and when he got through (pitching a game) it was a masterpiece." Despite his famous career-long rivalry with Nolan Ryan for the all-time strikeout record, Carlton personally maintained that his greatest rival was actually Tom Seaver.
5.3. Other Records and Achievements
Beyond his major awards and career milestones, Carlton holds several other notable records and achievements. He picked off 144 runners in his career, which is by far the most in Major League Baseball since pickoff records began being collected in 1957; the next closest pitcher is Andy Pettitte with 98. Although he never threw a no-hitter, Carlton pitched six one-hitters, ranking him tied for 11th most in baseball history. He also holds the Major League record for the most career balks by any pitcher, with an astounding 90.
His 19-strikeout effort against the New York Mets, which ended in a loss, was seen as a microcosm of his career against them; while he recorded 30 wins against the Mets, they managed to best him 36 times over his career. Carlton also made a cameo appearance on the television show Married... with Children, playing himself in an episode where former athletes humiliate Al Bundy. In the episode, he is shown signing an autograph with his right hand. When asked by ESPN's Roy Firestone, "Why do you think you were put on this earth?", Carlton famously replied, "To teach the world how to throw a slider."
6. Personal Life and Controversies
Steven Carlton's personal life often remained enigmatic due to his reclusive nature, yet he faced significant public scrutiny over his statements and public image.
6.1. Relationship with Media and Public Image
Carlton maintained a self-imposed long-term media silence during the prime of his career, beginning in 1976 and lasting until 1986. This decision, advised by his lawyer, was a response to what he perceived as unfair criticism and "getting slammed" by the press, particularly regarding his unique training methods and family life. His refusal to engage with reporters became a defining characteristic of his public image, earning him a reputation as an enigmatic and unapproachable figure.
This media silence led to instances of public speculation and sometimes humorous commentary, such as the remark that "The two best pitchers in the National League don't speak English: Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Carlton." While his teammates like Larry Bowa noted that the "mask" he put up for writers was not reflective of his clubhouse personality, Carlton himself stated that the silence "made me concentrate better" and paradoxically led to "better and more interesting stuff" being written about him without direct quotes. His deliberate detachment from daily media interactions shaped a public persona of intense focus and isolation.
6.2. Allegations of Bigotry and Antisemitism
In 1994, Steven Carlton granted a rare interview to writer Pat Jordan at his home in Durango, Colorado. The resulting article, "Thin Mountain Air," published in the April 1994 issue of Philadelphia magazine, brought forth numerous allegations regarding Carlton's political and social beliefs. As reported by Murray Chass of The New York Times, Carlton allegedly made claims that the world was controlled by various entities, including the Russian and United States Governments (which he said "fill the air with low-frequency sound waves"), the Elders of Zion, British intelligence agencies, "12 Jewish bankers meeting in Switzerland," and "a committee of 300 which meets at a roundtable in Rome." The article further quoted Carlton alleging that President Bill Clinton had "a black son" he refused to acknowledge and that the AIDS virus was created in a secret Maryland biological warfare laboratory with the intent to target gay individuals and Black people.
These statements led to charges of bigotry and antisemitism against Carlton. In response, his former teammate and personal catcher, Tim McCarver, defended Carlton against these accusations. McCarver acknowledged, "If he's guilty of anything, it's believing some of the material he reads. Does he become confused with his reading about radical things? Yes. I've told him that. Does that translate into him being antisemitic? No." This defense suggested that Carlton's controversial statements might stem from a misguided acceptance of extreme or conspiracy-laden literature rather than inherent prejudice.
6.3. Family and Post-Retirement Life
Steven Carlton was married to Beverly for 33 years before their divorce in 1998. The couple had two sons. As of 2017, Carlton resides in Durango, Colorado. In his post-retirement life, Carlton has embraced an environmentally conscious lifestyle, stating, "Before Al Gore was green, I was green," and maintaining an orchard with 150 fruit trees. He has also partnered with organizations like St. Luke's, promoting a "fit for life" idea to encourage people to adopt more active lifestyles.
Carlton has largely distanced himself from professional baseball since his retirement. In 2017, he mentioned that he had not owned a television for approximately 15 years and did not follow daily baseball, explaining, "I don't know these players anymore, (I know) some of the coaches, but I've moved on. Something else to do, there's more to it. I owned it for 24 years. I played it, so I don't need to do it again. I'm on to different things." He also offered a critical perspective on modern pitching practices, particularly pitch counts, contrasting them with his own era: "I wasn't raised in this environment, so I think differently. These guys don't know anything but pitch counts. I would balk at it because I don't agree with it, but they can't go up against it because that's all they know. Philosophically I don't agree with it because I think these guys are not really in shape because they don't throw enough. You need to throw so much so the tendons, ligaments, the muscle and bone get bigger, denser, stronger to be able to handle the stress of throwing. I don't think they throw enough. 100 pitches is not a lot. You warm up with 100 pitches. Then you throw your 200. We threw 185 pitches in a game."
A humorous anecdote often shared by Carlton's longtime teammate and personal catcher, Tim McCarver, illustrates their close bond: McCarver once joked, "When Steve (Carlton) and I die, we are going to be buried in the same cemetery, sixty feet, six inches apart." McCarver passed away in 2023.
6.4. Notable Quotes
Steven Carlton's quotes often provided rare glimpses into his unique personality, philosophy, and approach to baseball and life:
- When asked by ESPN's Roy Firestone why he thought he was put on earth, Carlton famously replied, "To teach the world how to throw a slider."
- Reflecting on his media silence, Carlton said: "It was perfect for me at the time. It took me two years to make up my mind. I was tired of getting slammed. To me it was a slap in the face. But it made me concentrate better. And the irony is that they wrote better without access to my quotes."
- Regarding modern pitching habits and pitch counts: "100 pitches is not a lot. You warm up with 100 pitches. Then you throw your 200. We threw 185 pitches in a game."
- On his longtime Phillies teammate Mike Schmidt: "Schmitty provided what pitchers need most, home runs and great defense. He's the best third baseman that I ever played with, and maybe of all-time. Obvious Hall of Famer, even then. He retired while on top of his game. I thought for sure he was going to hit 600 home runs."
- About his environmental stance: "Before Al Gore was green, I was green."
- On his relationship with deceased teammate Tim McCarver: "When Steve (Carlton) and I die, we are going to be buried in the same cemetery, sixty feet, six inches apart."