On Feb. 25, 1972, the St. Louis Cardinals dealt Steve Carlton to Philadelphia for Rick Wise in one of the most-lopsided trades in baseball history. Carlton would have a Hall of Fame career, becoming the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards. Wise would win 32 games for the Cardinals in two seasons before being dealt to Boston.
Here was sports editor Bob Broeg's first take on the trade.
Maybe the feeling will be be different some muggy night next summer when Willie Stargell or giant Willie McCovey stands up there, powerful lefthanded sluggers against whom it would be throw another lefthanded starting pitcher.