Books and articles about Dick Ruthven

RELATED LINKS Submissions » Bombing Bill Bonham: Cub pitcher allowed hits to first seven batters by Lyle Spatz Around the Web » Dick Ruthven from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Ruthven had little success as a temperamental young starter with the Phillies in 1973-75, and led the National League with 17 losses for the Braves in 1976. A dispute with Braves owner Ted Turner sent him back to Philadelphia in mid-1978 and he went 13-5 with a 2.98 ERA for the Phillies that year to help them win the NL East. He was 6-0 in 1979 before an injury curtailed his effectiveness. Ruthven rebounded in 1980 to go 17-10 as Philadelphia reached the World Series, and he won the deciding game of the NLCS in relief, pitching the final two innings of a 10-inning, 8-7 win over Houston. After a 6-1 start earned him spot on the 1981 NL All-Star team, his ERA ballooned to 5.14 and he finished the season 12-7. He was traded to the Cubs in 1983 and was 10-17 in his final three seasons with Chicago. (SG)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » January 10, 1973: In the January amateur draft, the Phillies pick Dick Ruthven, the Rangers take C Jim Sundberg, and the Cubs pick RHP Donnie Moore. The Reds pick Southern Miss punter Ray Guy on the 3rd round, but he chooses the NFL instead. » April 17, 1973: The Phils Dick Ruthven, signed from Fresno State, makes his ML debut without ever playing in minors. He starts against Montreal, but doesn't finish, taking the loss in a 9–6 decision to Dick Selma. » May 4, 1973: The Phillies edge the Braves 4–3 in a 20-inning marathon. Dick Ruthven starts for the Phils and Jim Lonborg finally gets the win over Ron Reed. » August 5, 1975: The first seven Phillies hit safely—good for 15 bases—against Bill Bonham (10–8)and the Cubs, in setting a ML record. No pitcher has ever started a game by allowing seven straight hits. Dave Cash leads off with a single, and Larry Bowa matches it. Garry Maddox homers over the LF fence. Greg Luzinski singles, and Jay Johnstone and Tommy Hutton follow with doubles to make it 5–0. Mike Schmidt then hits his 22nd homer to finally drive Bonham out of the game. His replacement, Ken Crosby (making his ML debut) gives up a single to Johnny Oates for the 8th straight hit. Dick Ruthven lays down a sac bunt for the first out, but three walks, two hits and a balk make it 10–0. As historian Lyle Spatz notes, the Phils last scored 10 runs in a frame on August 13, 1948. Schmidt adds a 2nd homer to help push the final to 135. » December 10, 1975: Bill Veeck and assistant Roland Hemonds set up shop in the hotel lobby at the winter meetings with a sign saying "open for business" and start dealing, making seven trades in two days. First to go is pitcher Jim Kaat and SS Mike Buskey to the Phillies. The Sox receive pitchers Dick Ruthven and Roy Thomas along with OF/INF Alan Bannister. » December 12, 1975: After being a White Sox for two days, Dick Ruthven goes to Atlanta, along with Danny Osborn. Chicago receives Ralph Garr and Larvell Blanks. Blanks is then dealt to Cleveland for 2B Jack Brohamer. The Sox then trade P Rich Hinton and C Jeff Sovern to the Reds for P Clay Carroll, and finish the day by shipping Lee Richard to the Cards for Buddy Bradford and P Greg Terlecky. » June 15, 1978: In a swap of pitchers, the Phillies send Gene Garber to the Braves for Dick Ruthven. » July 4, 1979: The Phillies Steve Carlton shuts out the Mets 1–0 on a one-hitter, but the Phils manage to lose three other hurlers on the same day: Larry Christenson pulls a groin muscle, Dick Ruthven goes on the disabled list, and Randy Lerch fractures his thumb in a brawl. » August 30, 1982: The Phils split a pair with the Braves, winning 6–1 on Dick Ruthven's 3-hitter, before losing game 2, 11–9. Dale Murphy's home run is Atlanta's only score in the opener. Mike Schmidt has an inside-the-park home run in game 2, the 2nd of three he'll hit. » May 22, 1983: The Phillies make a pair of trades, sending P Sid Monge to the Padres for OF Joe Lefebvre and P Dick Ruthven and minor leaguer Bill Johnson to the Cubs for P Willie Hernandez. » May 17, 1984: In the 3rd inning at Cincinnati, Mario Soto strikes out four Cub batters (Tom Veryzer, Dick Ruthven, Bob Dernier and Ryne Sandberg) enroute to a 5–3 Reds victory.