February 25: A Wise Trade For The Phillies

The Main Event

1972 – The Philadelphia Phillies completed one of the most important trades in franchise history, acquiring left-handed pitcher Steve Carlton from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Rick Wise. Carlton would become the face of the franchise throughout the 1970s, winning four Cy Young Awards with Philadelphia and cementing his place as one of the greatest pitchers in team history.

When the Philadelphia Phillies traded Steve Carlton to the St. Louis Cardinals for Rick Wise on February 25, 1972, it barely registered as a franchise-altering moment at the time. The Phillies were coming off a dreadful 1971 season, finishing 67–95 and struggling to find any kind of traction in a division dominated by the Pirates and Mets. Wise, meanwhile, was a familiar and respected figure in Philadelphia. He was a durable, intelligent pitcher who had even thrown a no-hitter in 1971. Trading him away felt risky, especially for a left-hander in Carlton whose recent performance raised questions.

The Cardinals’ motivation was rooted less in performance and more in conflict. Carlton had emerged as one of the game’s most dominant pitchers by 1969 and 1970, helping St. Louis win the 1967 World Series and the 1968 National League pennant. But after the 1971 season, Carlton and Cardinals ownership were locked in a bitter salary dispute. Carlton wanted a significant raise, believing his track record justified it. Ownership disagreed and tensions escalated quickly. Rather than repair the relationship, the Cardinals chose to trade him, hoping to acquire a dependable veteran arm and avoid setting a precedent in contract negotiations.

From the Phillies’ perspective, the trade was a calculated gamble. Wise was steady but not dominant, and the team lacked a true ace who could change the trajectory of the franchise. General manager Paul Owens saw an opportunity. Carlton’s 1971 season had been uneven, with injuries and inconsistency masking his talent. Owens believed a change of scenery and full confidence from an organization willing to pay him could unlock something special.

The Cardinals miscalculated on two fronts. They underestimated Carlton’s upside and overestimated Wise’s ability to anchor their rotation. Wise was already in his early thirties, while Carlton was just 27 and entering his prime. The deal was driven by frustration rather than long-term vision, a decision that would haunt the organization for decades.

Immediate Impact of the Trade

What happened next remains one of the most astonishing individual seasons in baseball history. In 1972, Carlton won 27 games for a Phillies team that managed only 59 victories overall. He accounted for nearly half of the team’s wins, posting a 1.97 ERA and striking out 310 batters. Without him, the Phillies would have been historically bad. With him, they were merely awful but watchable.

Beyond the numbers, Carlton transformed the culture of the franchise. He gave the Phillies legitimacy. Opponents knew that every fourth day, Philadelphia had a real chance to win. Fans began showing up specifically to watch him pitch. His dominance accelerated the Phillies’ rebuild and provided a foundation upon which future contenders would be built.

In the short term, the Cardinals received competent but unspectacular production from Wise. He had solid seasons but never approached the level of performance Carlton delivered in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Carlton continued to dominate throughout the 1970s, winning four Cy Young Awards with the Phillies and becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in wins and strikeouts.

Long term, the trade reshaped both organizations’ identities. For the Phillies, Carlton became the bridge between decades of futility and sustained success. His presence helped stabilize the rotation as the team developed stars like Mike Schmidt and Larry Bowa. By the time the Phillies reached the postseason in 1976 and eventually won the World Series in 1980, Carlton was firmly established as the team’s spiritual and competitive anchor.

For the Cardinals, the trade became a cautionary tale about letting financial disputes dictate baseball decisions. While the franchise recovered and remained competitive in later years, the Carlton trade stands out as one of the rare moments when a traditionally well-run organization badly misread the situation.

How the Trade Is Viewed Today

Today, the trade is almost universally regarded as one of the most lopsided in baseball history. From Philadelphia’s perspective, it is the gold standard of a franchise-changing move. Carlton is remembered not just as a great pitcher, but as a savior who pulled the team out of irrelevance. His statue outside Citizens Bank Park symbolizes that legacy.

From St. Louis’s viewpoint, the trade is acknowledged as a mistake born of pride and poor communication. Even Cardinals officials have admitted that the decision prioritized winning a contract dispute over winning games. Wise’s professionalism and contributions are respected, but they do little to soften the reality of what was lost.

More than fifty years later, the Carlton-for-Wise trade remains a reminder that talent evaluation cannot be separated from ego, timing, and trust. One team took a risk and committed fully to a player. The other chose the path of least resistance. The results could not have been more decisive.

Philadelphia Baseball Events for February 25

1943 – Unable to travel to Florida due to wartime travel restrictions during World War II, the Phillies announced they would hold spring training in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The club had originally planned to train at Swarthmore College’s field house, but the federal government requisitioned the facility for the war effort, forcing a last-minute change in plans.

MLB Baseball Events for February 25

1973 – Players and owners come to terms on a three-year collective bargaining agreement. The new deal allows teams to open spring training on March 1st. Among the provisions of the agreement are a $15,000 minimum salary, salary arbitration, and the “ten and five” trade rule, which permits a player with ten years in the major leagues, the last five of which are with his current team, to veto any trade involving him.
2003 – Toronto Blue Jays World Series hero Joe Carter is selected to be inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame on June 28th. Pete Rose, who collected his 4,000th hit with the Montreal Expos, was one of the 46 nominees considered, but was not chosen by 75 per cent of the voters.

Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for February 25

Charlie Kelly (born 1862) – Infielder who appeared for Philadelphia (the original team was known only as “Philadelphia”) in 1883 and later for the Philadelphia Athletics. Between the two teams, Kelly played just three games and hit .100 (1-10).
Hezekiah “Ki” Allen (born 1863) – Played one game for “Philadelphia” in 1884. He was the starting catcher and had two singles in the game.
Bob Vines (born 1897) – A pitcher who like Kelly and Allen didn’t last long in the majors. After making two relief appearances for St. Louis in 1924, he made three for the Phillies in 1925. He posted a 9.82 career ERA between the two stops.
Al Hollingsworth (born 1908) – Left-handed pitcher who spent parts of the 1938 and 1939 seasons with the Phillies. Overall, he pitched 11 seasons for six different teams and finished his career with a 3.99 ERA.
Jack Lohrke (born 1924) – An infielder who played the 1952 and 1953 seasons, his last two in the majors, with the Phillies. Lohrke hit just .190 in his two seasons in Philly and ended his career batting .242 in seven seasons. (Read more about Jack “Lucky” Lohrke and his escapes from death on PBN Extra Innings for free.)
Danny Cater (born 1940) – A defensively versatile player who made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1964 after being signed by the club as a teenager. That season launched a 12-year career during which he hit .276/.316/.377/.693 with six different teams.
Rafael Marchan (born 1999) – Catcher who debuted with the Phillies in 2020 and after moving between the major league club and the Triple-A became the backup catcher with the team in 2025. Marchan is valued for his defense and game-calling.
Raider Tello (born 2001) – An infielder and current Phillies minor league prospect who was signed as an undrafted free agent. In 2025 he played in 102 games for Clearwater and hit 8-55-.277/.347/.398/.745.

Hall of Fame Birthdays for February 25

Ron Santo (born 1940) – Ron Santo is born in Seattle, WA and went on to be one of the greatest third basemen in history, playing 14 of his 15 major league seasons with the Chicago Cubs and hitting 342 home runs. He will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011, barely a year after his death from diabetes. Santo hit over 20 home runs eleven times, was a nine-time all-star, and a five-time Gold Glove winner. He finished in the top five in the MVP voting twice, led the league in walks four times, led the league in on-base percentage twice, and was in the top ten in slugging five times. Of his 342 home runs, 42 came against pitchers who would later be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Following the 1973 season, Santo became one of the first players to invoke the new “10 and 5” rule that was added to the new CBA. He rejects a trade to the California Angels because he did not want to play on the west coast. The Cubs later trade him across town to the White Sox.