1976 Topps #634 - Larry Christenson

• Larry Christenson pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1973-1983. Larry was drafted in the first round (3rd player taken) in 1972. After pitching in the minors in 1972, Christenson started the 1973 season with the Phillies at the age of 19. Larry was 1-4 with a 6.59 ERA in nine starts and was sent down to the  minors in early June. 
• Larry came back to the Phillies in August of 1974. He had a 1-1 record with two saves and had an ERA of 4.30 in 10 games (1 start).
• Christenson was with the Phillies for most of the 1975 season and was 11-6 with a 3.67  ERA in 26 starts.
• In 1976 Christenson was with the Phillies to stay. He had a record of 13-8 with a 3.68 ERA in 29 starts. Larry wasn't used in the 1976 NLCS.
• Christenson won a career-high 19 games in 1977. Larry was 19-6 with a 4.06 ERA in 34 starts. Christenson started game 3 of the 1977 NLCS and had a no decision as he allowed 3 runs in 3.1 innings (the Phillies lost the game in extra innings).
• Larry was 13-14 with a 3.24 ERA in 33 starts in 1978. Christenson started and lost game 1 of the 1978 NLCS (he allowed 7 runs in 4.1 innings).
• Christenson started to have injury problems in 1979. He didn't pitch until mid-May duet to elbow problems, missed  most of the month of July due to a broken collarbone suffered during a charity bike ride, and then didn't pitch after September 1. Larry was 5-10 with a 4.50 ERA in 17 starts in 1979.
• Larry  missed almost two months of the 1980 season after having elbow surgery. He was 5-1 with a 4.03 ERA in 14 starts during the 1980 season. Christenson had no decisions in two games in the NLCS. Larry started game 4 of the 1980 World Series and lasted only 1/3 of an inning. He allowed four runs and ended up with a 108.00 ERA for the game.
• Christenson was injury-free in 1981. Larry had a 4-7 record with a 3.54 ERA in 15 starts and also made five relief appearances. Christenson started and won game 3 of the 1981 NLDS.
• Larry started 33 games in 1982 and was 9-10 with a 3.47 ERA.
• Larry's last season was 1983. He started nine games (2-4, 3.91 ERA) before getting injured again and having another elbow surgery in June. Christenson was released after the 1983 season.
• Christenson became an institutional investor after his playing career. He is president of Christenson Investment Partners and lives in Philadelphia.
• Larry was a good-hitting pitcher who was sometimes used as a pinch hitter.
• Liked to face: Alex Trevino (.000 in 14 AB); Ed Ott/Johnnie LeMaster (.059 in 19 AB)
• Hated to face: George Foster (.567 in 30 AB); Terry Puhl (.474 in 38 AB); Dusty Baker (.455 in 55 AB)

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