The team, managed by Danny Ozark, played their third season at Veterans Stadium and finished last in the National League East, 111⁄2 games behind the Mets.
Steve Carlton, the highest paid pitcher in the game at $165,000, never recovered from a spring training illness and went 13–20.
Pitchers Jim Lonborg and Ken Brett, both obtained in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, won 13 games each, as did Wayne Twitchell, whose 2.50 ERA was third in the league.
Infielders Coaches Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg.
= Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Reading, Spartanburg, Auburn[16]