Steve Carlton, STLRedbirds.com

September 28, 1971: Steve Carlton reaches 20 wins in his final game with the Cardinals

Steve Carlton’s final start for the St. Louis Cardinals was a milestone game in more ways than one. The Cardinals’ September 28, 1971, win over the New York Mets marked not only Carlton’s final appearance wearing the birds on the bat, but also clinched the first 20-win season of his career. Coincidentally, it also marked […]

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Why the Cardinals traded Steve Carlton to the Phillies

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Philadelphia Phillies general manager Quinn answered the phone on Wednesday, February 25, 1972, to discover his Cardinals counterpart, Bing Devine, on the other end. “Has Rick Wise signed?” Devine asked, referring to the 26-year-old right-hander who had led the Phillies in wins each of the past three seasons. Quinn answered that no, he had not

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September 15, 1969: Steve Carlton sets record with 19 strikeouts vs. Mets

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Steve Carlton didn’t realize he was closing in on the single-game strikeout record until he looked up after eight innings and saw the number 16 flash across the scoreboard. Those 16 strikeouts left him just two shy of 18, a major-league record shared by Sandy Koufax (who accomplished the feat twice), Bob Feller, and Don

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