The 1976 Phillies season was a landmark year for the franchise, marking their transition from years of struggles into a dominant force in the National League. It was the first time in franchise history that the team won 100 or more games.
Danny Ozark’s club finished the regular season with an impressive 101-61 record, clinching the National League East title by nine games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. This was their first postseason berth since the "Whiz Kids" of 1950.
The ghost of 1964 showed up again. Leading by 15 1/2 games on Aug. 14, the Phils went into a spin, losing 16 of 22 games, including eight in a row (Aug. 27-Sept. 4). The big lead was down to three games on Sept. 17. Six wins later wiped away another 1964 fateful finish.
The clinching moment came on Sept. 26, a cold, damp Sunday afternoon in old Montreal’s Jarry Parc. Riding a three-run homer from Greg Luzinski and a four-hit gem by Jim Lonborg, the Phillies won the first game of a doubleheader, 4-1, setting off a clubhouse champagne celebration. None of the regulars were in the second game lineup as the celebration continued. Broadcaster Harry Kalas didn’t return to the booth, paving the way for PR assistant Chris Wheeler to be behind the microphone. The start of a 37-year broadcasting career for Wheels.
Highlights
The fifth game of the season was a wild 18-16 win in Chicago’s Wrigley Field in which Mike Schmidt hit four consecutive home runs, including the game winner in the 10th inning.
Not including pitchers, the offense produced a .279 average and scored more runs (744) than strikeouts (665). Garry Maddox (.330), Jay Johnstone (.319) and Luzinski (.304) led the club in hitting. The power came from Schmidt (league-leading 38 home runs), Luzinski (21) and Dick Allen (15).
Off the bench, left-handed hitters Bobby Tolan, Tim McCarver, Tommy Hutton and Jerry Martin; Ollie Brown and Terry Harmon from the right side.
The Phillies used only 11 pitchers the entire season, second-fewest total since 1901. Steve Carlton (20 wins), Lonborg (18), Larry Christenson (13), Jim Kaat (12) and Tom Underwood (10) were the starters. The bulk of relief innings came from Ron Reed (128 innings), Tug McGraw (97 1/3) and Gene Garber (92 2/3). Combined, the trio recorded 36 of the 40 saves. Wayne Twitchell and Ron Schueler rounded out the bullpen. Randy Lerch was the 11th pitcher (one game in September).
Gold Glove Awards: Schmidt, Maddox, Kaat.
All-Stars: Luzinski had the most votes among NL outfielders and started in left. Schmidt, Carlton, Larry Bowa and Dave Cash were also All-Stars. Five was the most the Phillies had up until 1976.
NLCS
A young, homegrown team proved no match for the Big Red Machine from Cincinnati. The Phils led in all three games, including 6-4 going into the last of the ninth in Cincinnati in Game 3. The Reds came up with three in their last at-bat, completing a sweep of the NL Championship Series. Sparky Anderson’s club then swept the Yankees in four to win the World Series championship.