Former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Larry Christenson has died at 72, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale.
RIP
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 29, 2026
RIP former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Larry Christenson, 72, who died unexpectedly this morning while on a fishing trip with family and friends in Washington.
Christenson was a first-round pick by the Phillies in the 1972 MLB Draft. He was the third overall selection out of Maryville High School. By 1973, he had already made his MLB debut. Until 1975, he was up and down between the big leagues and minor leagues, but in 1975 he made 26 starts for the big-league club.
He spent his entire career playing for the Phillies, helping the team win the 1980 World Series as well. He made 220 career starts for the team, posting a 3.79 career ERA. While he made his biggest impact on the mound, he was not too shabby a hitter. He is tied with Rick Wise for the most home runs by a pitcher in Phillies history.
He was a key member of the Phillies rotation when they won three consecutive division titles from 1976 to 1978. He was the team's Game 1 starter in the 1978 National League Championship Series.
After 1978, injuries began to plague his career, but he continued to pitch for the Phillies. He did not have the best performance in the 1980 World Series, exiting Game 1 after recording just one out in the first inning. Still, he is regarded as an important part of the Phillies' World Series-winning team.