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Steve Carlton honed his form and playing style as if his life depended on it, and wow, did it pay off! His performance on the mound was nothing short of spectacular. But his conversation skills? Not so much. His knack for stirring up controversy made just as many headlines as his strikeouts.
Steve Norman Carlton was born on December 22, 1944, in Miami, Florida, to Joe Carlton, an airline maintenance worker, and his wife, Anne. As a kid, Steve loved hunting. Once, while rabbit hunting in the Everglades, his rifle jammed, so he picked up a rock and hit a rabbit in the head from 90 feet away. He was also known for knocking birds off telephone wires with just a handful of rocks. There was even a time he threw an ax at a quail hiding in an oak tree and, with the precision of an expert, sliced the bird's head clean off. Clearly, he was born gifted.
During his teenage years, Carlton became a big believer in Eastern philosophy, especially the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, who believed that greatness could be achieved through meditation. These teachings were crucial in shaping Carlton as a big-league pitcher.
At North Miami High School, Carlton played both baseball and basketball. As a basketball forward, he could outjump most centers and throw a football 75 yards. He didn’t have plans beyond high school, no interest in academics, and didn’t want to attend a major university. Even as a young baseball player, he showed signs of the curious superstar he would become. He knew exactly what he wanted, and focused intensely on what was in front of him rather than what was around him.