Jim Lonborg
Starting Pitcher
1973-1979
Career w/Phillies: 1142.1 IP / 75-60 / 3.97 ERA / 548 K
Jim Lonborg picked up where Wise left off, filling the right-handed void behind Steve Carlton once Lefty established himself in Philadelphia. “Gentleman Jim” had a banner year in 1967 for the Red Sox, winning the Cy Young award off a 22-9, 3.16 ERA, 246 strikeout season. But a skiing accident in the offseason injured his knee, curtailing his power. He had to reinvent himself as a pitcher, and finally found a groove with the Phillies in 1973. While he recorded a 4.88 ERA, he racked up the innings, setting up a strong 1974 campaign. Then, he went 17-13 with a 3.21 ERA. He fared just as well in 1976, winning 18 games with the high-octane Phils. He finished his career a Phillie, and after retiring, became a dentist.
Comment: Like Wise, Lonborg was a second-tier arm who had his best success in Boston. Still, the Phils scored some quality out of him. Another throwback from the early Vet days, Lonborg had a couple solid years in powder blue.
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