Larry Christenson
Encyclopedia
Larry Richard 'L.C.' Christenson (November 10, 1953 in Everett, Washington
), is a former professional baseball pitcher
who played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies
from 1973-1983.
Christenson made his major-league debut on April 13, 1973, and beat the New York Mets
7-1, pitching a complete game
. At the time, he was the youngest player in the Major Leagues at 19; he would remain so until 18-year-old David Clyde
debuted for the Texas Rangers
on June 27 of that same season. He would bounce back and forth from the majors to the minor leagues until 1975, when the Phillies called him up to stay. Christenson went 11-6 that season and would become a key cog on the Phillies' teams that would win three straight National League
Eastern Division titles from 1976 to 1978. He would have his best seasons those three years, going 13-8 with a 3.68 earned run average
in 1976. His best season was 1977, when he went 19-6 with a 4.06 ERA, winning 15 of his last 16 decisions. He slipped to 13-14 in 1978, despite posting a career-best ERA of 3.24, and started Game 1 of the 1978 National League Championship Series
.
Then, injuries would begin to plague Christenson's career. He began the 1979 season on the disabled list
with elbow problems and missed the first month. Then, in June of that season, he broke his collarbone during a charity bicycle ride and missed several weeks. He ended up with a 5-10 record that season. In 1980, he started 3-0, but went on the disabled list again and had elbow surgery. He recovered to finish the season 5-1 and start Game 4 of the 1980 World Series
, but was knocked in the first inning.
In 1981, Christenson posted a less-than-stellar 4-7 record, but posted a win in the 1981 National League Division Series
against the Montreal Expos
. His last injury-free season was 1982, when he made 32 starts and went 9-10.
In 1983, Christenson went under the knife for elbow surgery for the final time after a 2-4 start. He failed to make the postseason roster and the Phillies gave him his unconditional release on November 10 of that year, his 30th birthday.
After several years spent in his home state of Washington, attempting to rehabilitate from his numerous surgeries, Christenson realized that a return to baseball was not in the cards. He entered the world of institutional investing. He is president of Christenson Investment Partners and resides in the Philadelphia area. He has two daughters; Claire, aged 17, and Libby, aged 19. He maintains his ties with the Phillies and is well known locally for his work on behalf of numerous charities.
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
), is a former professional baseball pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
from 1973-1983.
Christenson made his major-league debut on April 13, 1973, and beat the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
7-1, pitching a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
. At the time, he was the youngest player in the Major Leagues at 19; he would remain so until 18-year-old David Clyde
David Clyde
David Eugene Clyde is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played all or part of five seasons for the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians...
debuted for the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
on June 27 of that same season. He would bounce back and forth from the majors to the minor leagues until 1975, when the Phillies called him up to stay. Christenson went 11-6 that season and would become a key cog on the Phillies' teams that would win three straight National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Eastern Division titles from 1976 to 1978. He would have his best seasons those three years, going 13-8 with a 3.68 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 1976. His best season was 1977, when he went 19-6 with a 4.06 ERA, winning 15 of his last 16 decisions. He slipped to 13-14 in 1978, despite posting a career-best ERA of 3.24, and started Game 1 of the 1978 National League Championship Series
1978 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 4, 1978 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaBecause of having to start an NL East-clinching game a few days earlier, Phillies ace Steve Carlton wasn't available for the start of the series, leaving the task to Larry Christenson...
.
Then, injuries would begin to plague Christenson's career. He began the 1979 season on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
with elbow problems and missed the first month. Then, in June of that season, he broke his collarbone during a charity bicycle ride and missed several weeks. He ended up with a 5-10 record that season. In 1980, he started 3-0, but went on the disabled list again and had elbow surgery. He recovered to finish the season 5-1 and start Game 4 of the 1980 World Series
1980 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 14, 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaThe Royals jumped on Philly rookie starter Bob Walk early with a pair of two run bombs—one by Amos Otis in the second and another by Willie Aikens in the third...
, but was knocked in the first inning.
In 1981, Christenson posted a less-than-stellar 4-7 record, but posted a win in the 1981 National League Division Series
1981 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Montreal Expos:-Game 1, October 6:Astrodome in Houston, TexasFernando Valenzuela faced Nolan Ryan, a matchup worthy of a pitcher's duel. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. Tony Scott singled home Terry Puhl to score the game's first run, but Steve...
against the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. His last injury-free season was 1982, when he made 32 starts and went 9-10.
In 1983, Christenson went under the knife for elbow surgery for the final time after a 2-4 start. He failed to make the postseason roster and the Phillies gave him his unconditional release on November 10 of that year, his 30th birthday.
After several years spent in his home state of Washington, attempting to rehabilitate from his numerous surgeries, Christenson realized that a return to baseball was not in the cards. He entered the world of institutional investing. He is president of Christenson Investment Partners and resides in the Philadelphia area. He has two daughters; Claire, aged 17, and Libby, aged 19. He maintains his ties with the Phillies and is well known locally for his work on behalf of numerous charities.