Christened Larry Richard Christenson, he was best known as “LC," a remarkable and phenomenal person who wore a Phillies uniform for 11 years.
Injuries curtailed his career. Yet he was always upbeat and full of life. He retired in Philadelphia and was president of Christenson Investment Partners. Despite health issues, he was very active in the community and Phillies alumni activities. Sadly, he died at age 72 on Aug. 28 while on a family fishing trip in Washington, his native state.
The Beginning
Following an outstanding senior year at Marysville (WA) High School, the Phillies selected right-handed pitcher Larry Christenson in the first round of the 1972 Draft; the third overall selection on June 6. In 72 innings, he walked 12, struck out 143 and had a 0.28 ERA. Included was a no-hitter, five one-hitters, a .406 batting average and four home runs. This came on the heels of starring on the basketball team that won the state championship.
Five days after the Draft, he was signed by area scout Bill Harper and Brandy Davis, a scouting supervisor. His pro debut came with the Pulaski (VA) Phillies in the Appalachian Rookie League. In eight games (six starts), he posted a 4-2 record and 2.84 ERA, with 42 K's in 38 innings
Memories
“I signed the day after graduation. My family and I were flown to Philadelphia a couple of days later. Got to work out at Veterans Stadium. Met Steve Carlton. Didn’t know who he was. A few days later, I reported to Pulaski, a long way from home.
“Roomed with Rocky Skalisky, another pitcher, in a boarding house owned by Mrs. Martin. We had a bedroom on the second floor. Remember putting a six-pack of beer in the refrigerator one day. It was gone the next day. Mrs. Martin didn’t allow beer.
“I wore a hand-me-down No. 14 Jim Bunning uniform. Again, had no idea who he was. Two years later, he was my Triple-A manager in Toledo. My first manager was Harry Lloyd.
“We played a doubleheader on Opening Day. I started the second game, pitched a complete game [seven innings]. Didn’t remember the details until I got out a scrapbook years later. Gave up two runs on four hits, walked nobody and struck out 11. My first at-bat, I hit a home run. The newspaper clipping said it was hit to right. That’s wrong. It was to center.
“Road trips were long and in an old, beat-up bus. I’ll never forget the trip to Bluefield, WVa. We pulled up to the hotel, but our two Black players weren’t allowed in the hotel. They had to sleep in the bus. I couldn’t believe it. I had no idea such discrimination existed.
“Bunky Warren was the pitching coach. He wanted to change my delivery after my second start. I wound up hurting my back and he was fired. Bob Tiefenauer, the roving pitching coach, replaced him. I could throw the fastest, wildest knuckleball but the organization didn’t want me to throw it.”
Major League career
Christenson went to his first Spring Training the next season (1973) and made the Phillies' Opening Day roster. At age 19, he made his debut on Friday, April 13, and beat the Mets, 7-1, before 7,127 at Veterans Stadium. Allowed five hits, walked six, struck out three and picked a runner off first in his complete-game victory. He struck out the first hitter, shortstop Bud Harrelson. Wore No. 38 his entire 11 seasons with the Phillies. Finished career with an 83-71 record with a 3.79 ERA over 243 games (220 starts); 1-2 in six postseason games. Best season was 1977, 19-6. Shares club record with Rick Wise for most career home runs by a pitcher, 11.
Best stretch, 1975-78, a 56-34 record in 122 starts. The Phillies were in the postseason, 1976-78. He won 13 straight road games, nine in 1976 and four in 1976, a club record.
He was the winning pitcher (18-6) when Phillies clinched the 1977 NL East title, 15-9, at Wrigley Field (Sept. 27). He drove in five runs: a squeeze bunt (T2) and a grand slam home run (T7) during a seven-run inning.
He was the starting pitcher the night the Phillies wore all-burgundy uniforms (May 17, 1979) and lost to the Expos. During closing ceremonies of Veterans Stadium (2003), he wore the burgundy jersey. “Why me, Baron?” he asked. Easy answer, “You are part of Vet’s history." The 2019 Phillies wore the burgundy uniforms for one game. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
On many days when Larry would be the starting pitcher, Tug McGraw would walk in the clubhouse, “LC. Are you pitching tonight?” “Yes, Tug,“ Larry would respond. Tug then responded, “Then so am I.”