Dick Ruthven was drafted three times: 1969 (20th round Orioles) 1972 (Twins 1st rd / 8th pick) and finally by the Phillies (1973 Winter #1 overall)
1974 Topps #47 Dick Ruthven
As a highly touted prospect Dick Ruthven made his pro debut at the Major League level. This means no multiplayer RC - Ruthven's first card is the above 1974T and it's a solo.
It was not a straight line for Ruthven and the Phillies to the World Series. There were a series of trades involving Ruthven which are worthy of their own discussion but the important result was that Ruthven ended up in the rotation for the 1980 Phillies.
1980 Phillies
Yes Dick Ruthven was an important member of the 1980 Phillies pitching staff - he was 2nd on the staff (behind Steve Carlton of course) in Wins, Starts, Complete Games, and Innings, however..... I will always remember him for a relief appearance.
Game 5 of the 1980 NLCS
The deciding game of the series saw Phillies closer Tug McGraw blow a save. Dallas Green had already gone through four other pitchers. The staff was shot when Dick Ruthven was called into the 9th inning of the Winner Take All game. And what does Ruthven do in his only relief appearance of 1980?
Six up Six Down, Phillies Win 8-7.
Ruthven did that on 18 pitches - 2 innings on 18 pitches, including a six pitch inning.
Phungo Original
Phungo Original :1974T Dick Ruthven
As a highly touted prospect Dick Ruthven made his pro debut at the Major League level. This means no multiplayer RC - Ruthven's first card is the above 1974T and it's a solo.
It was not a straight line for Ruthven and the Phillies to the World Series. There were a series of trades involving Ruthven which are worthy of their own discussion but the important result was that Ruthven ended up in the rotation for the 1980 Phillies.
1980 Phillies
Yes Dick Ruthven was an important member of the 1980 Phillies pitching staff - he was 2nd on the staff (behind Steve Carlton of course) in Wins, Starts, Complete Games, and Innings, however..... I will always remember him for a relief appearance.
Game 5 of the 1980 NLCS
The deciding game of the series saw Phillies closer Tug McGraw blow a save. Dallas Green had already gone through four other pitchers. The staff was shot when Dick Ruthven was called into the 9th inning of the Winner Take All game. And what does Ruthven do in his only relief appearance of 1980?
Six up Six Down, Phillies Win 8-7.
Ruthven did that on 18 pitches - 2 innings on 18 pitches, including a six pitch inning.
Phungo Original
I chose this card for our 1980 WSC Phillies sketch for two reasons. 1) it is significant to Dick Ruthven as it is his RC 2) We are clearly focuses on his NLCS Game 5 relief appearance and this shot clearly shows the bullpen in the background.
To further illustrate Ruthven's 1980 NLCS contributions we have made a few minor modifications. The first is adding "RELIEF" to Ruthven's "PITCHER" position. The other change is a fun one, we have added a Bullpen Cart to the image. The cart is also a nod to a different 1974T card - of a very prominent Phillies Player, Mike Schmidt.
Dick Ruthven Index
1975 Topps (2008 Game 5 prep)
1975 Topps Mini (2010 Philly Show Swag: mini w/ 1959T Robin Roberts)
Deal, when the Phillies brought Ruthven and Larry Christensen up, I remember it being such a time of joy that (along with acquiring Carlton in '72 and Jim Lonborg and Ken Brett in '73) we finally had GOOD young pitchers, not the likes of Champion/Lersch/Reynolds/Wilson that littered the staff for the previous few seasons.
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