1972 World Series

1972 World Series
Team (Wins) Manager(s) Season Oakland Athletics(4) Dick Williams 93–62 (.600), GA:5+1⁄2 Cincinnati Reds(3) Sparky Anderson 95–59 (.617), GA:10+1⁄2
Dates	October 14–22
Venue	Riverfront Stadium(Cincinnati) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum(Oakland)
MVP	Gene Tenace(Oakland)
Umpires	Chris Pelekoudas(NL),Bill Haller(AL), Mel Steiner(NL),Frank Umont(AL), Bob Engel(NL),Jim Honochick(AL)
Hall of Famers	Athletics: Dick Williams(manager) Reggie Jackson(DNP) Catfish Hunter Rollie Fingers Reds: Sparky Anderson(manager) Johnny Bench Joe Morgan Tony Pérez
Broadcast
Television	NBC
TV announcers	Curt Gowdy Al Michaels(in Cincinnati) Monte Moore(in Oakland) Tony Kubek
Radio	NBC
Radio announcers	Jim Simpson Monte Moore(in Cincinnati) Al Michaels(in Oakland)
ALCS	Oakland AthleticsoverDetroit Tigers(3–2)
NLCS	Cincinnati RedsoverPittsburgh Pirates(3–2)
World Series

The1972 World Serieswas thechampionship seriesofMajor League Baseball's (MLB)1972 season.The 69th edition of the World Series, it was abest-of-seven playoffbetween theAmerican LeaguechampionOakland Athleticsand theNational LeaguechampionCincinnati Reds.The Athletics won in seven games for their sixth World Series championship.It was the first World Series championship for the Athletics since1930.

These two teams met again in the World Series 18 years later in1990.Their managers would meet again in the Fall Classic 12 years later in1984,helming different teams and swapping leagues. This would be the first World Series where both teams wore pullover style uniforms. The style would remain the norm until 1982 after that at least one team in the fall classic would wear pullover uniforms until 1990 when the Cincinnati Reds wore them. Coincidentally both this World Series and the 1990 World Series featured the same two teams, the Athletics and the Reds, both far different results. The A's won this one in a hard fought seven games, while the Reds swept the defending champion A's in four games in 1990.

Background

See also:1972 Major League Baseball postseason,1972 Cincinnati Reds season,and1972 Oakland Athletics season

The Athletics won theAmerican League Westdivision by5+1⁄2games over theChicago White Sox,then defeated theDetroit Tigersthree games to two in theAmerican League Championship Series.TheCincinnati Redswon theNational League Westdivision by10+1⁄2games over both theLos Angeles Dodgersand theHouston Astros.The Reds dethroned thedefendingWorld Series championPittsburgh Piratesthree games to two in theNational League Championship Series,marking the first year in which an LCS series in either league went the full five games since divisional play was introduced in1969.The Reds [95–59 (.617)] won one fewer game than the Pirates [96–59 (.619)] during the strike-reduced regular season and became the first team in MLB history to reach the World Series without having the best record in its respective league. In each of the first six League Championship Series, the team with the better record advanced to the World Series. (The Athletics' (93–62 (.600)) had the best record in the American League in 1972, but the AL pennant winner the next three seasons did not.)

This was Cincinnati's second trip to the World Series in three years, previously falling toBaltimorein five games in1970.It was Oakland's first-ever trip to the Series, and the first for the franchise since1931,when the team was located inPhiladelphia.

This was a matchup of the two premier MLB dynasties of the 1970s, with the Reds winning two World Series (1975–76) in four WS appearances, while the Athletics wonthree straight(1972–74). Iconoclastic club ownerCharlie Finley's "Swingin' A's"featured day-glo uniforms, white shoes, much facial hair, colorful nicknames, and explosive personalities, while" TheBig Red Machine"was a more traditional franchise with a more traditional look (including a facial-hair ban)—and an everyday lineup with three future Hall of Famers as well as all-time hits king,Pete Rose.The Series was dubbed "The Hairs vs. the Squares."

Oakland played the Series without its star outfielderReggie Jackson,who was injured (pulledhamstring) stealing home in the second inning of the final game of the ALCS at Detroit onOctober 12.Left-handed relieverDarold Knowleswas also missing for the Athletics, breaking his thumb on September 27, less than three weeks before the Series opener.

With Jackson out, the Athletics were decided underdogs.George Hendrickwas inserted into center field for Jackson. And while Hendrick only went 2-for-15 (.133 avg.), unheralded catcherGene Tenacestepped up. Tenace had a poor regular season, hitting only.225 with five home runs. He was even worse in the AL Championship series against Detroit, going 1 for 17 (.059), although his one hit drove in the go-ahead run in Game 5. In the World Series however, Tenace was spectacular, hitting four home runs equaling theWorld Seriesmark set byBabe Ruth,Lou Gehrig,andHank Bauer.He also had nine RBI in the Series—no other Oakland player had more than one. Tenace was voted World Series MVP.

By contrast, the stellar Oakland pitching kept the middle of the Reds lineup quiet for most of the series.Johnny Bench(.270 avg., 40 HR, 125 RBI, NL MVP),Tony Pérez(.283 avg., 21 HR, 90 RBI), andDenis Menke(9 HR, 50 RBI), combined for only two homers and five RBI the entire Series. Perez did lead both teams with 10 hits and a.435 batting average, but all 10 hits were singles. It didn't help that the Reds' "table-setters,"Pete RoseandJoe Morganwere a combined 1 for 28 through the first four games, when the Reds lost three of those games.

The teams were fairly equal statistically, each club totaling 46 hits with the same.209 batting average (the combined batting averages were the lowest recorded in a 7-game World Series). The Reds outscored the Athletics by five runs,21–16,but all four of their losses were by a single run. Six of the seven games in the series were decided by one run, marking perhaps the most closely contested World Series in history.

Summary

ALOakland A's(4) vs. NLCincinnati Reds(3)

Game	Date	Score	Location	Time	Attendance
1	October 14	Oakland A's– 3, Cincinnati Reds – 2	Riverfront Stadium	2:18	52,918
2	October 15	Oakland A's– 2, Cincinnati Reds – 1	Riverfront Stadium	2:26	53,224
3	October 18†	Cincinnati Reds– 1, Oakland A's – 0	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	2:24	49,410
4	October 19	Cincinnati Reds – 2,Oakland A's– 3	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	2:06	49,410
5	October 20	Cincinnati Reds– 5, Oakland A's – 4	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	2:26	49,410
6	October 21	Oakland A's – 1,Cincinnati Reds– 8	Riverfront Stadium	2:21	52,737
7	October 22	Oakland A's– 3, Cincinnati Reds – 2	Riverfront Stadium	2:50	56,040

†:postponed from October 17 due to rain

Matchups

Game 1

October 14, 1972 1:00pm (ET) atRiverfront StadiuminCincinnati,Ohio51 °F (11 °C), mostly sunny

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Oakland	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	4	0
Cincinnati	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	0
WP:Ken Holtzman(1–0)LP:Gary Nolan(0–1)Sv:Vida Blue(1) Home runs: OAK:Gene Tenace2 (2) CIN: None

Oakland jumped out to a one-game series lead behind catcherGene Tenace,who hit a home run in each of his first two at-bats. Tenace became the first player ever to homer in his two initial Series plate appearances, a feat later matched byAndruw Jonesof theAtlanta Bravesin1996.Only two Oakland players collected hits, a pair each from Tenace andBert Campaneris.The A's received a combined four innings of shutout relief fromRollie FingersandVida Blueto secure the victory for starterKen Holtzman.Blue stranded the potential tying run at third base to end the game by inducingPete Roseto ground out to second base.

Game 2

October 15, 1972 1:00pm (ET) atRiverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Oakland	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	9	2
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	6	0
WP:Catfish Hunter(1–0)LP:Ross Grimsley(0–1)Sv:Rollie Fingers(1) Home runs: OAK:Joe Rudi(1) CIN: None

The Game 2 hero was A's left fielderJoe Rudi,who smacked a home run and added a sparkling, game-saving catch up against the wall in the ninth inning on a ball hit byDenis Menke.Catfish Hunterpitched eight strong innings, consistently wiggling out of trouble, and also added an RBI single in the second offRoss Grimsley.The Reds' failure to produce in the clutch was as much the story as Rudi's heroics as Cincinnati had leadoff baserunners in five innings but only scored a run in the ninth.

The A's scored a run in the second whenGeorge Hendrickbeat out a double-play grounder afterSal Bandoled off with a single. Hendrick went to second on aDick Greensingle and scored on a close play at the plate on a Hunter single.Bert Campanerisfollowed with a hit and Green attempted to score, but was successfully thrown out at the plate byPete Rose.The A's had four hits in the inning, but only scored one run. Rudi extended the lead to 2–0 with his home run in the 3rd.

In the ninth,Tony Pérezled off with a base hit before Rudi's catch of Menke's drive for the first out. Oakland first basemanMike Heganthen made another great defensive play whenCésar Gerónimo,the next Reds hitter, lined a shot that appeared headed down the line for extra bases. Hegan dove for the ball, knocked it down, and dove for the bag, barely beating Geronimo. Pérez took second and scored on aHal McRaesingle through the middle.Rollie Fingersthen relieved Hunter and induced pinch hitterJulián Javierto pop out to Hegan in foul territory to end the game. The World Series home loss was Reds' seventh-straight, which included three in the 1961 World Series against the New York Yankees (atCrosley Field) and two in the 1970 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Jackie Robinson,the first black major league player of the modern era, made his final public appearance in Cincinnati before Game 2 (he died nine days later). In a brief speech, he expressed his desire to see a black manager in Major League Baseball, a color barrier that had not yet been broken. Two years later,Frank Robinsonwas hired in October 1974 to manage theCleveland Indiansto breakthat barrier.

Game 3

October 18, 1972 5:30pm (PT) atOakland–Alameda County ColiseuminOakland,California63 °F (17 °C), partly cloudy

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	4	2
Oakland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2
WP:Jack Billingham(1–0)LP:Blue Moon Odom(0–1)Sv:Clay Carroll(1)

Heavy storms delayed Game 3 by a day, but the Reds got back into the series behind a strong performance from starterJack Billingham,who held the A's to three hits in eight innings. The Reds pushed across the game's only run in the seventh whenCésar Gerónimosingled homeTony Pérez.Pérez scored despite slipping on the still damp grass as he rounded third. Oakland shortstopBert Campaneriswas apparently unaware that Pérez had slipped; otherwise, it appeared Campaneris may have had a play at the plate.Clay Carrollpitched the ninth for the save.

A rare trick play occurred in the eighth inning. The Reds hadJoe Morganon third andBobby Tolanon first base withRollie Fingerspitching to NL MVPJohnny Bench.Fingers pitched carefully to Bench before Tolan stole second base on ball three. After the stolen base, with the count 3–2 on Bench, A's managerDick Williamsvisited the mound. After a long discussion, he motioned for anintentional walkto Bench. A's catcherGene Tenacestood to catch ball four, but at the last second returned to his crouch as Fingers delivered a strike on the outside corner. Bench watched the pitch go by for strike three.

Game 4

October 19, 1972 5:30pm (PT) atOakland–Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California 59 °F (15 °C), overcast

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	7	1
Oakland	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	3	10	1
WP:Rollie Fingers(1–0)LP:Clay Carroll(0–1) Home runs: CIN: None OAK:Gene Tenace(3)

A very pivotal game in the series, and it wasGene Tenaceand Oakland non-starters who came through in the ninth inning to rally the Athletics to victory to put the A's up 3 games to 1.

The game was a pitchers' duel between a pair of left-handed starters: Cincinnati'sDon Gullettand Oakland'sKen Holtzman.Through seven innings, the game's lone run was a result of a fifth-inning home run by Tenace, his third homer of the series. With two outs in the top of the eighth inning andDave Concepciónon second base, A's managerDick Williamsreplaced Holtzman with left-handerVida Blueto face left-handed hittersJoe MorganandBobby Tolan.Blue walked Morgan and allowed a clutch two-run double to Tolan, giving Cincinnati the lead as the Reds seemed poised to tie the series at 2 games apiece.

In the bottom of the ninth, however, with one out, the A's strung together four consecutive hits to score two runs. Pinch hitterGonzalo Márquezsingled, Tenace followed with a single,Don Mincherfollowed with another pinch-hit single scoring pinch-runnerAllan Lewisto tie the game before a third pinch-hitter,Ángel Mangual,singled offClay Carrollto score Tenace with the game-winner to put Oakland up three games to one. It was the first time that a team collected three pinch hits in the same World Series inning.

Game 5

October 20, 1972 1:00pm (PT) atOakland–Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California 63 °F (17 °C), mostly cloudy

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	5	8	0
Oakland	0	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	7	2
WP:Ross Grimsley(1–1)LP:Rollie Fingers(1–1)Sv:Jack Billingham(1) Home runs: CIN:Pete Rose(1),Denis Menke(1) OAK:Gene Tenace(4)

Up three games to one and with aceCatfish Hunteron the mound, the A's looked poised to close out Cincinnati. Compounding problems for the Reds, their ace pitcherGary Nolan,who had been battling shoulder and neck issues during the second half of the regular season, was unable to pitch Game 5, forcing part-time starterJim McGlothlinto start instead. But two of the struggling Reds,Pete RoseandJoe Morganwho were a combined 1 for 28 at the plate in the first four games, stepped up to make key plays. Rose led off the game with a home run, and he would also drive in the game-winning run in the ninth inning. The game ended dramatically when Morgan threw out the potential game-tying run at the plate as the Reds staved off elimination.

Trailing 1–0 in the second,Gene Tenacehit his fourth home run of the series, a three-run shot, to put Oakland up by two. McGlothlin was removed after pitching just three innings. The Reds cut the lead to 3–2 in the fourth on a home run byDenis Menke.Gonzalo Marquezput the A's back in front by two runs with a pinch-hit RBI single in the fourth.

The Reds continued to answer. With two outs in the fifth,Joe Morganwalked. With a 3–2 count onBobby Tolan,Morgan broke for second and was able to score when Tolan lined a base hit into right-center field. The speedy Morgan and Tolan collaborated once again in the eighth. Morgan again walked, stole second and scored on another Tolan single to tie the game at four.

In the ninth, Rose singled in the go-ahead run to give the Reds a 5–4 lead. Game 3 starterJack Billinghamcame in to relieve in the ninth, but the A's put runners on the corners with one out.Bert Campanerishit a foul pop behind first base thatTony Pérezdrifted back and appeared to call for. But second baseman Morgan raced over, waved Perez off, caught the ball, slipped on the grass but got up and fired a throw to nail pinch runnerBlue Moon Odom,who had tagged from third.

The Friday afternoon contest was the last non-weekend World Series day game. The three games in Oakland had all been scheduled to be played at night, but Game 3 was rained out, forcing Game 5 to be played on a Friday, originally scheduled as a travel day. The game was played in the afternoon (1 p.m. PT)to allow ample time for the teams to travel to Cincinnati for Game 6 the next day.

Game 6

October 21, 1972 1:00pm (ET) atRiverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio 52 °F (11 °C), overcast

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Oakland	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	7	1
Cincinnati	0	0	0	1	1	1	5	0	X	8	10	0
WP:Ross Grimsley(2–1)LP:Vida Blue(0–1)Sv:Tom Hall(1) Home runs: OAK: None CIN:Johnny Bench(1)

Back at the friendly confines ofRiverfront Stadium,the Reds tied the series at three games apiece with a rout.Johnny Bench,who had no RBI in the series to that point, broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a homer off starterVida Blue.The A's fought back on aDick GreenRBI double in their half of the fifth, but from then on it was all Reds.Dave Concepciónhad a sacrifice fly in the fifth, andTony Pérezan RBI single in the sixth (his first RBI of the Series). The Reds then broke it open with a five-run seventh an RBI single byJoe Morganand a pair of two-run singles byBobby TolanandCésar Gerónimo.

Game 7

October 22, 1972 1:00pm (ET) atRiverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio 62 °F (17 °C), cloudy

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Oakland	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	6	1
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	4	2
WP:Catfish Hunter(2–0)LP:Pedro Borbón(0–1)Sv:Rollie Fingers(2)

Gene Tenacecapped a spectacular World Series with two hits, two RBI and he also scored the game-winning run in the sixth inning onSal Bando's double.

Oakland scored an unearned run in the first inning offJack Billinghamwhen Reds center fielderBobby Tolanmisplayed a fly ball by Mangual into a three-base error. Mangual scored on a two-out single by Tenace on a ball that hit a seam in the Astroturf and bounced over the head of third basemanDenis Menke.The Reds tied the game in the fifth on a bases loaded sacrifice fly to the center field wall byHal McRae.However, McRae was pinch hitting for Billingham who had allowed no earned runs in13+2⁄3innings in the series against the A's. His replacement in the sixth inning,Pedro Borbón,surrendered RBI doubles to Tenace and Bando. Bando's drive appeared catchable, but Tolan pulled up short of the wall due to a strained hamstring and the ball went over Tolan to the base of the wall. He was later removed from the game on a double switch. The Reds closed to within 3–2 in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Perez, but A's closerRollie Fingersshut down the Reds in the ninth.

The World Series victory for theOakland A'swas the first for the franchise since the days ofConnie Mackwhen the team was in Philadelphia and had won in1930.The victory ensured managerDick Williams' return for another year. It was the Athletics' sixth World Series title, and the first of three consecutive titles. This was the last time to date that an American League team had won a World Series Game 7 on the road until2017,when theHouston Astrosdid so inLos Angeles.

Composite box

1972 World Series(4–3):Oakland Athletics(A.L.)overCincinnati Reds(N.L.)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Oakland Athletics	1	6	1	1	3	2	0	0	2	16	46	9
Cincinnati Reds	1	1	0	3	3	1	6	4	2	21	46	5
Total attendance:363,149Average attendance:51,878 Winning player's share:$20,705Losing player's share:$15,080

Source:
This was the second of three consecutive years in which the World Series went seven games and the champion was outscored. Six of the games were decided by one run, the sole exception was Game 6, an 8–1 Reds' win.

Broadcasting

NBCaired the series on both television and radio.Curt Gowdy(on TV) andJim Simpson(on radio) alternatedplay-by-playwith team announcersAl Michaels(Reds) andMonte Moore(Athletics).

Tony Kubek,who had served as an in-the-stands reporter for NBC's four previous World Series telecasts, was promoted to the booth as acolor analyst,becoming the first former player to serve in that capacity sinceJoe Garagiolain1961.

Jackie Robinson,who died of a heart attack two days after the series ended, had thrown out its first ball. In addressing the crowd, he said he hoped to see a Black MLB manager soon.Frank Robinson,no relation, achieved that in 1974.

See also

• 1972 Japan Series

References

• Cohen, Richard M.; Neft, David S. (1990).The World Series: Complete Play-By-Play of Every Game, 1903–1989.New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 340–344.ISBN0-312-03960-3.
• Reichler, Joseph (1982).The Baseball Encyclopedia(5th ed.). Macmillan Publishing. p. 2188.ISBN0-02-579010-2.
• Forman, Sean L."1972 World Series".Baseball-Reference – Major League Statistics and Information.Archivedfrom the original on November 30, 2007.RetrievedDecember 9,2007.

External links

• 1972 World SeriesatWorldSeriesviaMLB
• 1972 World SeriesatBaseball Almanac
• 1972 World SeriesatBaseball-Reference
• The 1972 Post-Season Games(box scores and play-by-play) atRetrosheet
• History of the World Series - 1972atThe Sporting News.Archived fromthe originalin May 2006.
• 1972 NLCS | Game 5at MLB
• Mustaches All the Wayat SI
• The 1972 Oakland Athleticsat baseballlibrary
• The 1972 Cincinnati Redsat baseballlibrary
• Reds History at redshistory
• Joe Rudi's game-saving Game 2 catch
• 1972 World Series– MLB highlight film, narrated byCurt Gowdy