The 1972 major league baseball season was originally scheduled to begin on April 5. The 1972 strike caused the season to see its first 10 days of games canceled, resulting in the season starting on April 15, while the regular season ended as originally scheduled on October 4. The postseason began on October 7. The 69th World Series began with Game 1 with the Oakland Athletics of the American League defeating the Cincinnati Reds of the National League, four games to three, capturing their sixth championship in franchise history (and first in Oakland), since their previous in Philadelphia in . This was the first of three straight victories behind the bats of Reggie Jackson and Bert Campaneris, and the pitching cadre of Catfish Hunter, Rollie Fingers, and Vida Blue. Jackie Robinson, the player instrumental in breaking the AL and NL's color barrier, threw out the first pitch prior to Game 2 in what would be his last public appearance. He died two days after the series ended at age 53 due to complications from diabetes and heart failure. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Pittsburgh Pirates from the season. The season was the first to have games canceled by a player strike. It was also the last season in which American League pitchers would hit for themselves on a regular basis; the designated hitter rule would go into effect the following season.
The 43rd All-Star Game was held on July 25 at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the Atlanta Braves. The National League won in ten innings, 4–3, and was the first win in what would be a 10-win streak that lasted until 1983.
1972 marked the first year for the Texas Rangers, who had moved to Arlington, Texas from Washington, D.C. (where they played as the Washington Senators) after the season. The team was one of the worst ever fielded by the franchise, losing 100 games for the first time since 1964. Manager Ted Williams hated it in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, and resigned at the end of the season. Washington, D.C. was left without a major-league team for the first time since . The city would not see a home team for 33 seasons, until the Montreal Expos relocated and became the Washington Nationals in .
The Rangers' relocation necessitated the American League to transfer the team to the American League West division from the American League East division due to its distance from AL East teams. Because of this, one of the teams already in the AL West needed to switch to the AL East. The Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers were seen as the likeliest candidates to transfer divisions, although the Minnesota Twins lobbied to keep the Rangers in the East because it wanted both the Brewers and White Sox as division rivals. Even though the White Sox were slightly further east, it was decided that the Brewers, as the newer franchise, would make the move, even though the White Sox wanted to go to the East since five of the league's original franchises were in that division, and that the Cubs were in the National League East. The Brewers would become division rivals of the Twins and White Sox in with the formation of the American League Central, but this would last only through 1997, when Milwaukee transferred to the National League and became a division rival of the Cubs (the Brewers and Twins continue to face each other every year through interleague play).
1972 would also mark the Kansas City Royals' final year at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, as the next year they would move to Royals Stadium at the Truman Sports Complex in eastern Kansas City. The Royals had hoped to move out of Municipal after the season, but a series of labor strikes forced the team to spend one more year at the old facility, which hosted the Athletics from 1955–1967 (and the National Football League's Chiefs from 1963–1971).
The year ended on a sad note when Roberto Clemente died in an airplane crash off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on New Year's Eve, while participating in aid efforts after the 1972 Nicaragua earthquake.
Labor strike 1972 was affected by a players' strike over pension and salary arbitration. The strike, which started on April 1, erased the first ten days of the season, canceling 86 games, and ended on April 13. Both leagues decided to excise the lost portion of the season with no makeups, and start the season on April 15. As a result, an uneven number of games were lost by each team; some as few as six, some as many as nine. The lack of makeups, even when they affected the playoffs, led to the Boston Red Sox losing the American League East by half a game to the Detroit Tigers, who played one more game (156 to 155).
Schedule
The 1972 schedule, originally scheduled with a 162 game schedule per team, consisted of 153–156 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had 12 teams. Each league was split into two six-team divisions. Each team was (pre-strike) scheduled to play 18 games against their five division rivals, totaling 90 games, and 12 games against six interdivision opponents, totaling 72 games. Due to the strike, the total number of games were inconsistently cut down, as the first ten days scheduled were simply canceled. The structure of the 162-game format was put in place in and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.
Opening Day, which pre-strike was scheduled for April 5, took place on April 15, featuring 22 teams. The final day of the regular season was on October 4, also featuring 22 teams. The League Championship Series for both leagues began on October 7. The National League Championship Series concluded on October 11, while the American League Championship Series concluded October 12. The World Series took place between October 14 and October 22.
Rule changes The 1972 season saw the following rule changes: The rule governing "players to be named later" was modified to prohibit such a player from appearing in the same league as the team to which he was traded, between the date of the trade and the date of its completion. This provision was added to keep a player from directly competing with a club to whom he had been traded. The rule was also modified to require that a cash amount be specified so that the teams could later agree to use the cash consideration instead of the player. During the season several players — notably St. Louis outfielders Lou Brock and José Cardenal and San Diego outfielder Ivan Murrell — began using a so-called "Japanese teacup bat," which had a hollow end. NL President Chub Feeney approved its use pending the eventual opinion of the Rules Committee, which met at the meetings and approved. Committee chairman John H. Johnson, an administrative aide to the commissioner, claimed that the bat did not provide the hitter an advantage. The committee ruled that all Double-A players would be required to wear an earflap helmet beginning in 1972, and all Triple-A players by 1973. The rule would not be implemented at the major league level until 1983, and only applied to new players.
Teams LeagueDivisionTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerEastBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore Memorial Stadium52,137Boston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,379Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium76,966Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganTiger Stadium54,226Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County Stadium45,768New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium65,010WestCalifornia AngelsAnaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim Stadium43,202Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisWhite Sox Park46,550Kansas City RoyalsKansas City, MissouriMunicipal Stadium35,561Minnesota TwinsBloomington, MinnesotaMetropolitan Stadium45,914Oakland AthleticsOakland, CaliforniaOakland–Alameda County Coliseum50,000Texas RangersArlington, TexasArlington Stadium35,185EastChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field37,702Montreal ExposMontreal, QuebecJarry Park Stadium28,456New York MetsNew York, New YorkShea Stadium55,300Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaVeterans Stadium56,371Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaThree Rivers Stadium50,235St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriCivic Center Busch Memorial Stadium50,126WestAtlanta BravesAtlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta Stadium52,744Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioRiverfront Stadium51,726Houston AstrosHouston, TexasHouston Astrodome44,500Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles, CaliforniaDodger Stadium56,000San Diego PadresSan Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego Stadium50,000San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco, CaliforniaCandlestick Park58,000
Standings
American League
National League
Tie game 1 tie game (0 in AL, 1 in NL), which is not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and was replayed again) occurred during the season.
National League July 4 (game 2), Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago Cubs, tied at 3 following two singles in the top of the eighth inning due to rain.
Postseason
The postseason began on October 7 and ended on October 22 with the Oakland Athletics defeating the Cincinnati Reds in the 1972 World Series in seven games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerCalifornia AngelsLefty PhillipsDel RiceCleveland IndiansJohnny LiponKen AspromonteNew York MetsGil HodgesYogi BerraPittsburgh PiratesDanny MurtaughBill Virdon
In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerAtlanta BravesLum HarrisEddie MathewsChicago CubsLeo DurocherWhitey LockmanHouston AstrosHarry WalkerSalty ParkerSalty ParkerLeo DurocherMilwaukee BrewersDave BristolRoy McMillanRoy McMillanDel CrandallMinnesota TwinsBill RigneyFrank QuiliciPhiladelphia PhilliesFrank LucchesiPaul OwensSan Diego PadresPreston GómezDon Zimmer
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Rod Carew (MIN) .318 OPS Dick Allen (CWS) 1.023 HR Dick Allen (CWS) 37 RBI Dick Allen (CWS) 113 R Bobby Murcer (NYY) 102 H Joe Rudi (OAK) 181 SB Bert Campaneris (OAK) 52
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Gaylord Perry (CLE)Wilbur Wood (CWS) 24 L Pat Dobson (BAL)Mel Stottlemyre (NYY) 18 ERA Luis Tiant (BOS) 1.91 K Nolan Ryan (CAL) 329 IP Wilbur Wood (CWS) 376.2 SV Sparky Lyle (NYY) 35 WHIP Roger Nelson (KC) 0.871
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Billy Williams (CHC) .333 OPS Billy Williams (CHC) 1.005 HR Johnny Bench (CIN) 40 RBI Johnny Bench (CIN) 125 R Joe Morgan (CIN) 122 H Pete Rose (CIN) 198 SB Lou Brock (STL) 63
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Steve Carlton1 (PHI) 27 L Steve Arlin (SD) 21 ERA Steve Carlton1 (PHI) 1.97 K Steve Carlton1 (PHI) 310 IP Steve Carlton (PHI) 346.1 SV Clay Carroll (CIN) 37 WHIP Don Sutton (LAD) 0.913 1 National League Triple Crown pitching winner
Milestones Batters Cycles
Dave Kingman (SF): Kingman hit for his first cycle and 15th in franchise history, on April 16 against the Houston Astros. César Cedeño (HOU): Cedeño hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on August 2 against the Cincinnati Reds. Bobby Murcer (NYY): Murcer hit for his first cycle and 13th in franchise history, in game one of a doubleheader on August 29 against the Texas Rangers. César Tovar (MIN): Tovar hit for his first cycle and sixth in franchise history, on September 19 against the Texas Rangers.
Other batting accomplishments Rich Reese (MIN): Set an American League record and became the second Major League player to hit three career grand slams as a pinch-hitter on July 9 in a 9–6 loss to the New York Yankees. Roberto Clemente (PIT): Became the 11th member of the 3,000-hit club with a double in the fourth inning against the New York Mets on September 30.
Pitchers No-hitters
Burt Hooton (CHC): Hooton threw his first career no-hitter and 11th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4–0 on April 16. He walked seven and struck out seven. Milt Pappas (CHC):