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| Steve Carlton, 1984 Topps Highlight card #1, along with a ticket stub from his 300th win on September 23, 1983. (Photo by Mark C. Taylor) |
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| The back of Carlton's 1984 Topps Highlight card #1. (Photo by Mark C. Taylor) |
On this date in 1983, Steve Carlton won his 300th game. Carlton beat the St. Louis Cardinals, the team that signed him in 1963.
Pictured is Steve's 1984 Topps Highlight, card #1. Lefty ended the 1983 season with 300 wins, and as the all-time strikeout leader with 3,709. Also pictured is a ticket stub from Carlton's 300th win. (I wasn't there, I was 2 years old.)
Lefty was dominant against the Cardinals in nailing down win number 300. (He had beaten the Cards 5 days before at the Vet for win number 299.) In 8 innings, Lefty scattered 7 hits, walked 1, and gave up 2 runs while striking out 12, tying his season high. It was Carlton's 9th 10-strikeout game of 1983. In addition, Steve had 6 9-strikeout games in 1983, which means that in 40% of his 37 starts in 1983, he struck out 9 batters or more!
Lefty was on a roll during August of 1983. He made 7 starts during the month and had 5 10-strikeout games. Carlton struck out 9.9 batters per 9 innings that month, and had a 1.65 ERA. Despite all that, Lefty's record for August was just 3-3!
Carlton led the majors in strikeouts in 1983, with 275. It was his 5th and final time leading the NL in strikeouts. He also led the NL in innings pitched, with 283.2. It was his 5th time leading the NL in innings pitched.
The Phillies would go on to the 1983 World Series, but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in 5 games.
