1972 St. Louis Cardinals season
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis Cardinals
season was the team's 91st season in St. Louis, Missouri
and its 81st season in the National League
. The Cardinals went 75-81 during the season and finished fourth in the National League East
, 21½ games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
season was the team's 91st season in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and its 81st season in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. The Cardinals went 75-81 during the season and finished fourth in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
, 21½ games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates
1972 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* January 12, 1972: Larry Demery was drafted by the Pirates in the 7th round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft .* March 15, 1972: José Martínez was purchased from the Pirates by the Kansas City Royals.- Notable transactions :...
.
Offseason
- February 25, 1972: Steve CarltonSteve CarltonSteven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
was traded by the Cardinals to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Rick WiseRick WiseRichard Charles Wise is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
.
Opening Day starters
- Matty AlouMatty AlouMateo Rojas "Matty" Alou was a Dominican outfielder who spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals , Oakland Athletics , New York Yankees and San Diego Padres...
- Lou BrockLou BrockLouis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
- José CruzJosé CruzJosé Cruz Dilan is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is also the former first base coach for the Houston Astros. During his 19-year baseball career, he played from 1970-1988 for three different teams, playing primarily for the Astros...
- Bob GibsonBob GibsonRobert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
- Joe HagueJoe HagueJoe Clarence Hague was a professional baseball player whose career spanned eight seasons. Over his eight year career, Hague spent six of those in Major League Baseball. In 430 major league games, Hague batted .239 with 141 runs, 286 hits, 41 doubles, 10 triples, 40 home runs, and 163 runs batted in...
- Dal MaxvillDal MaxvillCharles Dallan Maxvill is a former shortstop, coach and general manager in Major League Baseball. A graduate of St. Louis' Washington University, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering, Maxvill signed a professional baseball contract in 1960 with the hometown St...
- Ted SimmonsTed SimmonsTed Lyle Simmons is an American former professional baseball player and coach. A switch-hitter, Simmons was a catcher for most of his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals , the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves...
- Ted SizemoreTed SizemoreTed Crawford Sizemore was a second baseman for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers , St...
- Joe TorreJoe TorreJoseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
Notable transactions
- May 15, 1972: Don ShawDon Shaw (baseball)Donald Wellington Shaw is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of five seasons in the majors, between and , for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics.-External links:...
was traded by the Cardinals to the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Dwain AndersonDwain AndersonDwain Cleaven Anderson was an American baseball player. He was born in Oakland, California. A shortstop, he played 149 games in Major League baseball from 1971 to 1974 for the Oakland Athletics , St...
. - May 16, 1972: Lowell PalmerLowell PalmerLowell Raymond Palmer is a retired American Major League Baseball pitcher. The right-hander was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1st round of the 1966 amateur draft . He played for the Phillies , St. Louis Cardinals , Cleveland Indians , and San Diego Padres...
was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals. - May 18, 1972: Marty MartínezMarty MartínezOrlando "Marty" Martínez Oliva was a utility player, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball. Martínez batted switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He was born in Havana, Cuba....
was traded by the Cardinals to the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Brant AlyeaBrant AlyeaGarrabrant Ryerson Alyea was a Major League Baseball outfielder from to . In 1970, while playing for the Minnesota Twins, Alyea had two 7 RBI games, on April 7 and on September 7....
. - June 6, 1972: Dan LarsonDan LarsonDaniel James Larson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Larson pitched in all or part of seven seasons from and .Larson was drafted in the first round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, but never played in the majors for them. Instead, he was sent to the...
was drafted by the Cardinals in the 1st round (21st pick) of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft1972 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1972 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Montreal Expos had perhaps their best draft in franchise history. The Expos grabbed outfielder Ellis Valentine in round two of the June regular phase and then...
. - June 7, 1972: Diego SeguíDiego SeguíDiego Pablo Seguí González is a Cuban former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was known for his forkball.During a 16-year baseball career, Seguí played for the Kansas City Athletics , Washington Senators , Oakland Athletics , Seattle Pilots , Boston Red Sox , and Seattle Mariners . He batted and...
was sent to the Cardinals by the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as part of a conditional deal. - July 23, 1972: Brant AlyeaBrant AlyeaGarrabrant Ryerson Alyea was a Major League Baseball outfielder from to . In 1970, while playing for the Minnesota Twins, Alyea had two 7 RBI games, on April 7 and on September 7....
was returned to the Oakland Athletics by the Cardinals. - August 30, 1972: Dal MaxvillDal MaxvillCharles Dallan Maxvill is a former shortstop, coach and general manager in Major League Baseball. A graduate of St. Louis' Washington University, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering, Maxvill signed a professional baseball contract in 1960 with the hometown St...
was traded by the Cardinals to the Oakland Athletics for a player to be named later and Joe Lindsey (minors). The Athletics completed the deal by sending Gene Dusen (minors) to the Cardinals on October 27. - September 18, 1972: Lowell Palmer was selected off waivers from the Cardinals by the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
Roster
| 1972 St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 152 | 594 | 180 | .303 | 16 | 96 | |
| 1B | 108 | 404 | 127 | .314 | 3 | 31 | |
| SS | 105 | 276 | 61 | .221 | 1 | 23 | |
| LF | 153 | 621 | 193 | .311 | 3 | 42 | |
| CF | 117 | 332 | 78 | .235 | 2 | 23 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 118 | 332 | 79 | .238 | 5 | 28 | |
| 57 | 135 | 36 | .267 | 1 | 8 | |
| 27 | 76 | 18 | .237 | 3 | 11 | |
| 21 | 71 | 17 | .239 | 0 | 5 | |
| 17 | 10 | 1 | .100 | 0 | 1 | |
| 9 | 7 | 3 | .429 | 0 | 2 |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 269 | 16 | 16 | 3.11 | 142 | |
| 34 | 278 | 19 | 11 | 2.46 | 208 | |
| 33 | 230.2 | 14 | 15 | 3.94 | 153 | |
| 16 | 118 | 5 | 5 | 2.67 | 93 | |
| 6 | 40.1 | 1 | 3 | 3.35 | 28 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 133.2 | 8 | 11 | 4.11 | 72 | |
| 3 | 5.1 | 0 | 1 | 10.12 | 2 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 3.07 | 54 | |
| 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5.19 | 11 | |
| 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6.65 | 7 | |
| 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.54 | 5 | |
| 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.11 | 4 | |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9.00 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27.00 | 0 |