Born:  Sacramento, Calif., 3/27/1951

B-R, T-R...  6'3", 190 lbs

 

A big part of the starting pitching in 1980 was Dick Ruthven. A journeyman for most of his career, Ruthven had a great 1980 season as the number two pitcher behind Carlton.  Ruthven won 17 games, and won the clinching game 5 of the NLCS pitching in relief.  He pitched over 200 innings following arm surgery in 1979, helping reduce the burden on the Philadelphia bullpen in 1980. 

1980 Statistics

 

Games

 W

 L

Ks

ERA

1980

     33

17

10

86

3.55

LCS

        2

  1

 0

  4

2.00

WS

        1

  0

 0

 7

3.00

Lifetime Statistics

Year

Team

IP

W

  L

  S

   K

ERA

1973

Phillies

 128.1

   6

   9

    1

     98

4.21

1974

Phillies

 212.2

   9

 13

    0

  153

4.02

1975

Phillies

   40.2

   2

    2

    0

    26

4.20

1976

Braves

 240.1

 14

 17

    0

  142

4.19

1977

Braves

 151.0

   7

 13

    0

    84

4.23

1978

Braves

    81.0

   2

    6

    0

    45

4.11

1978

Phillies

 150.2

 13

    5

    0

    75

2.99

1979

Phillies

 122.1

   7

    5

    0

     58

4.27

1980

Phillies

 223.1

  17

  10

    0

    86

3.55

1981

Phillies

 146.2

 12

    7

    0

     80

5.15

1982

Phillies

 204.1

  11

  11

    0

  115

3.79

1983

Phillies

    33.2

    1

    3

    0

     26

5.61

1983

Cubs

 149.1

  12

    9

    0

    73

4.10

1984

Cubs

 126.2

    6

  10

    0

    55

5.04

1985

Cubs

   87.1

    4

    7

    0

    26

4.53

1986

Cubs

   10.2

    0

    0

    0

      3

5.06

TOTALS

 

2109.1

123

127

    1

1145

4.14

Phillies Publications

From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:

 

How Obtained:  From the Atlanta Braves for Gene Garber 6/15/78.

 

1979 Season:  Appeared on his way to a great season when elbow miseries struck him in mid-May...  Won his first six decisions and had a 6-0 record and 1.64 ERA following a one-hit shutout over San Diego on 5/9 at SD (2-out, 7th inning double by Briggs)...  Won just one game the rest of the year and pitched only 21.1 the second half of the season...  Was on the DL twice before pitching for the final time on 8/8...  Underwent surgery for repair of his right elbow in the off-season and worked out over the winter to strengthen his arm.

 

Career:  Originally was signed by the Phillies in the 1973 January draft as the Phillies' first pick out of Fresno State (Cal.)...  Went right from college to the major leagues...  Traded by the Phillies to the Chicago White Sox on 12/10/75 in the Jim Kaat trade...  Traded two days later by the White Sox to Atlanta with Ken Henderson for Ralph Garr and Larell Blanks...  Returned to the Phillies in June, 1978 for Gene Garber...  Won eight of his first ten decisions with the Phils in 1978 and was 13-5 with Philadelphia in just half a season.

 

Personal/Misc:  He and wife Sue had their first child, Erik Scott who was born just before Christmas...  Makes his home in suburban Philadelphia...  Attended Fresno State and majored in biology...  Drafted by Baltimore and Minnesota before the Phillies but did not sign...  Wife Sue's twin sister Debbie is married to Expos' Tommy Hutton.

From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:

 

1980 Season:  Posted his career high in wins (17)...  Only four N.L. pitchers, Carlton (24), J. Niekro (20), Bibby (19) and Reuss (18) had more wins...  Started slowly and was 1-2 with a 9.56 ERA after his first four starts; from May 2 on, he was 16-8, 3.07 ERA...  Won big game vs. Montreal on 10/3 @ Mtl to give Phils one game lead with two to play...  Was 11-4 vs. the West with a 3.28 ERA...  Batted .235 with five doubles and eight RBI...  Had a four-game winning streak and never lost more than two straight...  Pitched his 13th career SHO on 5/16 @ Houston...  Went at least five innings in all but one start after April 27.

 

1980 Post-Season:  Won Game 5 of the LCS with two perfect innings of relief against Houston at the Dome to put the Phillies in the World Series...  Pitched to a ND in Game 3 of the World Series at K.C. going nine strong innings, striking out seven.

 

Career:  Originally was signed by the Phillies in the 1973 January draft as the club's number one pick out of Fresno State...  Traded by Phils to Chicago White Sox on 12/10/75 for Jim Katt...  Traded two days later by the White Sox to Atlanta...  Returned to Phils in deal with Atlanta for Gene Garber on 6/15/78...  Was 13-5 for Phils in just half a season in '78...  Plagued by elbow miseries in 1979 after getting off to a 6-0 start including a one-hitter vs. S.D....  Underwent elbow surgery following '79 season and got off to a slow start in '80 before arm strength returned.

 

Personal/Misc:  Was drafted by Baltimore and Minnesota before the Phillies but did not sign...  Majored in biology at Fresno State...  Wife Sue's twin sister Debbie is married to Tommy Hutton...  Makes his home year round in suburban Philadelphia...  Was one of five Phillies to compete in Family Feud Television program vs. K.C. Royals after the World Series.

From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:

  • Favorite Color:  Who knows, I've never seen one
  • Favorite Singer/Group:  Kenny Rogers
  • Favorite Song:  The Gambler- the lyrics are like life
  • Favorite City:  San Francisco- It's like going to another country
  • Least Favorite City:  Houston- It's so hot and humid the bugs sweat
  • Person You'd Most Like To Meet:  John A. Ruthven- he's a wildlife artist.  I have a collection of his pictures
  • Boyhood Idol(s):  None
  • Biggest Turn-On:  Those days when pitching feels so effortless
  • Biggest Turn-Off:  People who put on airs (phony people)
  • Favorite Subject in School:  Biology
  • Favorite TV Show:  Lou Grant
  • Favorite Book:  Hawaii
  • Greatest Achievement:  Haven't experienced a great one yet
  • Most Memorable Moment:  The birth of my son Erik
  • Hobbies:  Music, reading, jogging- too many to list
  • Toughest Batter You've Faced:  Can't tell you.  He's on the Phillies and I don't want to give him a big head!