Events in Phillies history on November 10

  • 1983 – The Phillies gave Larry Christenson his unconditional release on November 10, 1983, his 30th birthday. The release ended the right-hander’s 11-year major-league career that was spent entirely with Philadelphia.
  • 2022 – Former number one overall pick Mark Appel, who had been acquired from the Houston Astros as part of the return for reliever Ken Giles, elected free agency after being outrighted to Lehigh Valley. Pitchers J.D. Hammer and James Marvel also elected free agency after being removed from the Phillies 40-man roster. Meanwhile, outfielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. was added to the 40-man roster.

Phillies-affiliated people born on November 10:

  • Gene Conley (1930) Conley was a multi-sport athlete (NBA and MLB) who pitched in the major leagues and—after a trade in spring 1959—spent time with the Phillies as part of his baseball career; he’s notable for being one of the few athletes to win championships in two pro sports.
  • Larry Christenson (1953) A first-round pick of the Phillies, Christenson debuted in 1973 and pitched his entire big-league career in Philadelphia (1973–1983), including being on the 1980 World Series team.
  • Bill Dancy (1951) Dancy spent years in the Phillies minor-league chain as a manager and later served on the Phillies’ big-league coaching staff as the third base coach in 2005 and 2006.
  • Raylin Heredia (2003) Heredia played in 50 games with Jersey Shore in 2025 batting .285 with 7 home runs and 41 RBI.

A DEEPER DIVE… Larry Christenson and the worst birthday present ever

Larry Christenson’s baseball career is one of perseverance, talent, and a bit of “what might have been.” A first-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1972, Christenson reached the majors when he was just 19 years old, a testament to his raw ability and the Phillies’ faith in his future. A tall right-hander with a smooth delivery and a lively fastball, Christenson spent his entire 11-year big-league career in Philadelphia, carving out a solid, if injury-interrupted, role in the club’s starting rotation during one of the most successful eras in team history.

Christenson made his major-league debut on April 13, 1973, and almost immediately showed poise beyond his years. By 1975, he had settled into a regular rotation spot, but it was the 1977 season that marked his breakout. That year, he went 19–6 with a 4.06 ERA and threw 219 innings for a Phillies team that won 101 games. He was particularly known for his command and ability to pitch deep into games, qualities that were invaluable to a staff that also included Steve Carlton and Jim Kaat. Christenson wasn’t overpowering in the way Carlton was, but his mix of pitches and competitiveness made him one of the National League’s more dependable mid-rotation starters.

His 1978 season further solidified that reputation. Christenson went 13–14 with a 3.68 ERA and struck out 135 hitters in 228 innings. He was durable that year, but unfortunately, the injuries that would define much of his later career began to take hold shortly after. From 1979 through the early 1980s, Christenson battled recurring groin and elbow problems that limited his innings and effectiveness. When healthy, though, he remained a valuable piece of the Phillies’ rotation, particularly because of his ability to pitch in big games and his reputation as a good-hitting pitcher — he hit four home runs in 1977, one of the better totals for a pitcher in that decade.

Christenson was part of the Phillies’ postseason runs from 1976 to 1981, appearing in both League Championship Series and World Series games. During the 1980 World Series season, he was limited to just 14 starts due to injuries but still contributed to the club’s first championship. He started Game 4 of that World Series against Kansas City, though it was a rough outing — he allowed four runs in the first inning before being lifted. Despite that, he remained a respected member of that championship rotation.

By 1983, after multiple surgeries and rehab attempts, Christenson’s arm troubles had become too severe for him to continue effectively. On November 10, 1983 — his 30th birthday — the Phillies released him, bringing to a close an organization-only career that spanned over a decade. His final record stands at 83–71 with a 3.79 ERA across 243 major-league games, all in a Phillies uniform.

After baseball, Christenson transitioned successfully into business, becoming a financial advisor and maintaining ties to Philadelphia sports circles. While his career might have been cut short by injuries, his contributions during the Phillies’ late-1970s rise and early-1980s success ensured that he would be remembered as one of the key, if somewhat underappreciated, figures of that golden era in club history.