Born:  Everett, Wash., 11/10/1953

B-R, T-R...  6'4", 213 lbs

 

"L.C.", as Christenson was popularly known, had an injury-plagued year in 1980. Appearing in only 14 games for the Phillies, L.C. helped add five victories to the cause. He started the game on September 29, 1980, against the Cubs. Although he did not get a decision, that was the first victory in the Phillies' six-game winning streak that helped propel the Phillies over Montreal for the division title. L.C. also started the division-clinching game, pitching six innings as the Phillies would win in 11 on a mammoth home run by Schmidt.

1980 Statistics

 

Games

 W

 L

Ks

ERA

1980

      14

  5

 1

49

   4.01

LCS

        2

  0

 0

  2

    3.86

WS

        1

  0

 1

  0

108.00

Lifetime Statistics

Year

Team

IP

W

  L

  S

   K

ERA

1973

Phillies

    34.1

  1

  4

  0

  11

6.55

1974

Phillies

    23.0

  1

  0

  2

  18

4.30

1975

Phillies

   171.2

11

  6

  1

  88

3.67

1976

Phillies

  168.2

13

  8

  0

  54

3.68

1977

Phillies

  219.1

19

  6

  0

118

4.06

1978

Phillies

  228.0

13

14

  0

131

3.24

1979

Phillies

   106.0

  5

10

  0

  53

4.50

1980

Phillies

    73.2

  5

  1

  0

  49

4.01

1981

Phillies

  106.2

  4

  7

  1

  70

3.54

1982

Phillies

  223.0

  9

10

  0

145

3.47

1983

Phillies

    48.1

  2

  4

  0

  44

3.91

TOTALS

 

1402.2

83

71

  4

781

3.79

Phillies Publications

From The Phillies 1980 Media Guide:

 

How Obtained:  Phillies No. 1 selection,  June 1972 draft; signed by Bill Harper.

 

1979 Season:  Broke right collarbone in a bicycle accident during a MD charity bike-a-thon near Sacramento, Calif., last February...  Did not pitch until May 12...  Placed on 21-day DL on 7/3 with a groin pull...  Underwent surgery on 9/17 for removal of a bone spur in his right collarbone area...  Won two games in June and August but injuries rendered him ineffective most of the season.

 

Career:  Had his best season in 1977 when he was 19-6 and was the NL Pitcher for Sept./Oct. when he put together a 7-0 record and a 2.34 ERA...  Had an eight-game winning streak in 1977 and won 15 of his last 16 decisions including the Phillies division clincher in Chicago when he also hit a grand slam home run...  Was 13-14 in 1978 but had a low 3.24 ERA as the Phillies were shut out five times while he was pitching...  Won his first major league appearance when he started and beat the Mets 7-1 on 4/13/73 at the age of 19...  Pitched most of 1973 and 1974 in Triple-A before coming to the majors to stay in 1975.

 

Personal/Misc:  A bachelor, he makes his home in suburban Philadelphia townhouse...  Traveled and played golf during the offseason...  Worked out regularly at the Vet.

From The Phillies 1981 Media Guide:

 

1980 Season:  Arm miseries and a recurring groin injury limited his effectiveness...  Suffered groin pull on 4/23 and missed two turns...  Won two of three starts in May but finally submitted to elbow surgery on 5/28...  Was expected to be out longer but made rapid recovery and was activated on 8/11 and beat NY 8-0 in his first appearance on 8/15...  Beat Padres 3-2 on 8/29 at SD for his final decision of the year before another groin injury hobbled him in Sept. although he had strong outings at SF and vs. NY at Vet (eight innings both games, no runs)...  Good hitting pitcher who batted .368 slamming his 10th big league HR on 5/17 at Houston's Astrodome off Joe Niekro, the only HR by the Phillies at the Dome (including LCS)...  Was 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA second half of the season...  Had a four game winning streak...  Could have been a free agent but signed a one-year contract.

 

1980 Post-Season:  Pitched strong game as a starter in Game #3 of LCS but was routed in first inning of World Series Game #4.

 

Career:  Injuries have prevented him from reaching full potential...  Broken collarbone in bicycle accident in February, 1979 kept him on DL until 5/12...  Had surgery for bone spur removal in collarbone area on 9/17/79...  Had his best season in 1977 going 19-6 including 7-0 stretch in Sept.-Oct. that won him Pitcher of the Month honors...  Won 15 of his last 16 decisions that year including the Phils division clincher at Chicago when he helped himself with a grand slam HR...  was 13-14 in 1978 but had an excellent 3.24 ERA...  Won his first major league appearance beating NY 7-1 on 4/13/73 at the age of 19...  Spent most of 1973-74 in Triple-A before coming to the majors to stay in 1975.

 

Personal/Misc:  A bachelor who makes his home in suburban Philadelphia and also owns a beach-front home near the Phillies training camp in Clearwater, Fla....  Likes to play golf and travel.

From The 1980 Phillies Yearbook:

  • Favorite Color:  Bone White (Because I've seen so much of my own lately)
  • Favorite Singer/Group:  Neil Diamond
  • Favorite Song:  "Bad Girl" by Donna Summer
  • Favorite City:  San Diego
  • Least Favorite City:  Toledo, Ohio (Home of the Mudhens)
  • Person You'd Most Like To Meet:  Gig Gaugel (Playboy's Miss January 1980)
  • Boyhood Idol(s):  Ron Schueler has been my only idol
  • Biggest Turn-On:  Can't tell you
  • Biggest Turn-Off:  A rotten, raw cherrystone clam
  • Favorite Subject in School:  Mechanical Drawing/History
  • Favorite TV Show:  The $1.98 Beauty Contest
  • Favorite Book:  My Address Book
  • Person You Most Admire:  Willie Stargell
  • Greatest Achievement:  Making it to the major leagues a year out of high school
  • Most Memorable Moment:  Hitting two home runs in a game in 1976 at Shea Stadium in N.Y.
  • Hobbies:  Hunting, fishing, golf, beach bumming and BICYCLE RIDING!
  • Toughest Pitcher You've Faced:  J.R. Richard and his hard slider
  • Toughest Batter You've Faced:  I don't feel like giving him credit