Larry Christenson died; the pitcher helped the Phillies win the 1980 World Series
Larry Christenson, a right-handed pitcher who spent his entire 11-year major league career with the Philadelphia Phillies and helped the club win its first World Series championship, died Friday while on a fishing trip with family and friends in his native Washington state. He was 72.
The Phillies announced his death but did not disclose a cause.
Christenson was born in Everett, Washington, and starred at Marysville High School. Philadelphia selected him third overall in the 1972 MLB amateur draft. He reached the majors at 19 and authored a complete-game victory in his debut against the New York Mets on April 13, 1973.
From 1975-78, Christenson went 56-34 with a 3.66 ERA (102 ERA+). The best stretch of his career coincided with the Phillies’ rise to an NL powerhouse in the late 1970s. He posted a career-best 19-6 record and 4.06 ERA in 219 1/3 innings in 1977.
After starting NL Championship Series games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977 and 1978, both Phillies losses, Christenson made three appearances in the 1980 postseason. Philadelphia ultimately triumphed over the Kansas City Royals in a memorable six-game World Series. Christenson started Game 4 but was forced to leave after one-third of an inning with an injury.
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Christenson made 33 starts in 1982, then reached the end of the line in the middle of the 1983 season. He made only nine starts before undergoing elbow surgery that ultimately ended his career at age 29. He made several attempts at a comeback in his thirties, but was forced to retire.
“It is with great sadness that we just learned of the passing of Larry Christenson who was a friend for 50 years,” former Phillies third baseman and Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt said in a statement released by the team. “Larry was very special, the guy that kept in touch with all of us, he always had a smile on his face, he never forgot a moment he spent with you. His passing will leave a hole in all of our hearts. May he rest in peace.”
“My heart is heavy today,” former Phillies infielder, coach and manager Larry Bowa wrote on Twitter/X. “LC was a tremendous teammate, an outstanding pitcher and a true friend. Win or lose, he was always the life of the clubhouse. He will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
After baseball, Christenson settled in the Philadelphia area, entered business and remained active in charitable causes, including Phillies Charities.
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