Larry Christenson, a right-handed pitcher who spent his entire 11-year MLB career with the Phillies, died Friday, the team announced. He was 72.
According to the team, Christenson died while on a family fishing trip in his native Washington state. No further details were given.
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,” Phillies great Mike Schmidt said. “His passing will leave a hole in all of our hearts. May he rest in peace.”
circa 1978 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Getty Images
Christenson was drafted third overall in 1972 out of Marysville High School and made his big league debut the following year.
He was a Phillies rotation regular until his retirement in 1983.
Philadelphia won the National League East five times during Christenson’s career and made the playoffs a sixth time during the strike-split 1981 season. The Phillies won the World Series in 1980 and won the league pennant in his final season.
The Phillies are saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of former pitcher Larry Christenson this morning while on a fishing trip with family and friends in Washington state. He was 72.
Christenson, who spent his entire 11-year major league career with the club from 1973-83,… pic.twitter.com/BKAVwEbF3E
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 29, 2026
During a three-season run of division titles in 1976-78, Christenson went 23-25 over 66 games, starting 64, and struck out 233 batters. He maintained a 3.71 ERA in that span, including a career-best 3.24 in 1978, the same year he started Game 1 of the NLCS.
As a member of the 1980 World Series-winning club, he started 14 games and struck out 49 batters with a 4.03 ERA in the regular season. He struggled in the postseason, though, allowing four runs while only recording one out in a Game 4 start against the Royals.
He allowed three runs in two appearances in the NLCS against the Astros.
Alumni Night celebration before a game against the Mets in 2010. Getty Images
Perhaps his best season, though, came in 1982, when the Phillies finished second in the division behind the Cardinals. Christenson started 33 games with a 3.47 ERA.
He struck out a career-high 145 batters, second on the team behind Cy Young Award winner Steve Carlton.
“My heart is heavy today,” former Phillies shortstop Larry Bowa said. “LC was a tremendous teammate, an outstanding pitcher and a true friend. Win or lose, he was always the life of the clubhouse. He loved the game and enjoyed every minute of his big league career. He will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Christenson’s 11 career home runs stand as the franchise record for homers by a pitcher, along with Rick Wise.
