1972 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1972 World Series matched the American League
champion Oakland Athletics
against the National League
champion Cincinnati Reds
, with the A's winning in seven games. These two teams would meet again in the fall classic eighteen years later
. Their managers would meet again in the fall classic twelve years later
, this time on different teams.
division by games over the Chicago White Sox
then defeated the Detroit Tigers
, three games to two, in the American League Championship Series
. The Cincinnati Reds
won the National League West
division by games over both the Los Angeles Dodgers
and the Houston Astros
, then defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates
, three games to two, in the National 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 in 1969
. The Reds, who won one fewer game than the Pirates during the regular season, became the first team in MLB history to reach the World Series without having the best record in its league. In each of the first six League Championship Series, the team with the better record advanced to the World Series.
This was the Reds' second trip to the Series in three years. It was Oakland's first trip to the Series, and the first for the Athletics' franchise since their Philadelphia days (1931
).
The A's prevailed in this matchup of what were to become the two premier Major League Baseball
dynasties of the 1970s. Iconoclastic club owner Charlie Finley's
"Swingin' A's" featured day-glo uniforms, lots of facial hair, colorful nicknames, and explosive personalities, while "The Big Red Machine" were a more traditional franchise with a more traditional look—and an everyday lineup with multiple future Hall of Famers as well as all-time Hits King, Pete Rose. The Series was dubbed "The Hairs vs. the Squares".
After a 40-year absence and two franchise relocations, the A's had finally made it back to the Series. They would play the Series without their star right fielder Reggie Jackson
, who was injured (pulled hamstring) stealing home in the final game of the season against Detroit. Darold Knowles
was also missing. He broke his thumb during a game played on September 27, 1972—less than three weeks before the Series opener.
With Jackson out, Gene Tenace
—who had hit five home runs during the entire 1972 regular season—would fill-in admirably socking four home runs equaling the World Series
mark set by Babe Ruth
and Lou Gehrig
. Tenace also had nine RBI in the Series—no other Oakland player had more than one. He was voted winner of the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
In contrast, the Reds' big boppers, Johnny Bench
(.270 avg., 40 HR, 125 RBI, NL MVP), Tony Pérez
(.283 avg., 21 HR, 90 RBI), and Denis Menke
(9 HR, 50 RBI), combined for only two homers and five RBI the entire Series.
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 all World Series played up to that year). The Reds out-scored the A’s, 21–16, but lost each of their four games by a single run. Six of the seven games in the series were decided by one run, marking perhaps the most closely contested series in major league history.
in Cincinnati, Ohio
The Series opened in unexpected fashion, as unheralded catcher Gene Tenace
of the A's hit home runs in his first two at-bats, leading Oakland to a Game 1 victory. Tenace was the first player ever to homer in his two initial Series plate appearances, a feat later matched by Andruw Jones
of the Braves in 1996.
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Jackie Robinson
, the first black major-league player of the modern era, made his final public appearance in Cincinnati before Game 2 (he would die nine days later). In a brief speech, he expressed his desire to see a black manager of a Major League Baseball team, a color barrier that had not yet been broken.
A's left fielder Joe Rudi
was the Game 2 hero with a home run and a sparkling game-saving ninth-inning catch up against the left field wall. Catfish Hunter
pitched eight strong innings and helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second off Ross Grimsley
.
The Reds tried to rally in the ninth off Rollie Fingers
when Tony Pérez
led off with a base hit. Denis Menke
then hit the drive that Rudi caught against the wall and nearly doubled Perez off first. A's first baseman Mike Hegan
then made another great defensive play when César 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 a Hal McRae
single. The World Series home loss was Reds' seventh-straight, which included three in the 1961 World Series against the New York Yankees and two in the 1970 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Reds starter Jack Billingham
was brilliant, holding the A's to three hits in eight innings. The Reds pushed across the game's only run in the seventh when César Gerónimo
singled home Tony Pérez
. Pérez scored despite slipping on the damp grass as he was rounding third; it had rained in Oakland the day before. On the play, Oakland second baseman Dick Green
was apparently unaware that Perez had slipped; otherwise, he had a play on him at the plate. Clay Carroll
pitched the ninth for the save.
A rare trick play occurred in the eighth inning. The Reds had Joe Morgan
on third and Bobby Tolan
on first base with Rollie Fingers
pitching to NL MVP Johnny 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 manager Dick Williams
visited the mound. After a long discussion, he motioned for an intentional walk to Bench. A's catcher Gene Tenace
stood to catch ball four, but at the last minute returned to his crouch as Fingers delivered a strike on the outside corner. A surprised Bench watched the pitch go by for strike three.
A's starter Ken Holtzman
shut out the Reds on four hits through seven innings and had a 1–0 lead courtesy of Gene Tenace
's third homer of the series. With two outs in the eighth and Dave Concepción
on second, A's manager Dick Williams
brought in left-hander Vida Blue
to face left-handed hitters Joe Morgan
and Bobby Tolan
. The strategy backfired as Blue walked Morgan and allowed a two-run double to Tolan, giving the Reds the lead. Williams left Blue in the game to pitch to powerful right-handed hitting Johnny Bench
, but Bench flied out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth with one out, the A's strung together four straight hits to score two runs. Pinch hitter Gonzalo Marquez
singled, Tenace followed with a single, Don Mincher
followed with another pinch-hit single scoring pinch-runner Allan Lewis
to tie the game before a third pinch-hitter, Angel Mangual
, singled off Clay Carroll
to 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.
Up three games to one and with ace Catfish Hunter
on the mound, the A's looked to close out Cincinnati. But the Reds got a home run by Pete Rose
to lead off the game and Rose also drove in the game-winner in the ninth. The dramatic game ended when Joe Morgan threw out the potential game-tying run at the plate as the Reds staved off elimination.
Trailing 1–0 in the second, Gene Tenace
hit his fourth home run of he series, a three-run shot, to put Oakland up by two. The Reds cut the lead to 3–2 in the fourth on a solo homer by Denis Menke
. Angel Mangual
came through with another pinch RBI single in the A's half of the fourth to make it 4–2.
With two outs in the fifth, Joe Morgan
walked. With a 3–2 count on Bobby Tolan
, Morgan broke for second and was able to score when Tolan lined a base hit to right. The speedy Morgan and Tolan collaborated once again to tie the game in the eighth. Morgan again walked and stole second and Tolan brought him in with a single.
In the ninth, Rose singled in the go-ahead run. The Reds preserved the lead when, with one out and runners on first and third, Bert Campaneris
hit a foul pop on the first-base side that first baseman Tony Perez
appeared to call. Second baseman Morgan raced over, waved Perez off, caught the ball, and fired home to nail pinch runner Blue 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 were all 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 to allow ample time for the teams to travel to Cincinnati for Game 6 the next day.
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Back at the friendly confines of Riverfront Stadium, the Reds tied the series at 3–3 with an 8–1 rout. Johnny Bench
, who had no homers or RBI in the series to that point, broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a solo homer off starter Vida Blue
. The A's fought back on a Dick Green
RBI double in their half of the fifth, but from then on it was all Reds. Dave Concepción
had a sacrifice fly in the fifth, and Tony Pérez
an 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 by Joe Morgan
and a pair of two-run singles by Bobby Tolan
and César Gerónimo
.
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Gene Tenace
capped a spectacular World Series with two hits, two RBI and he also scored the game-winning run in the sixth inning on Sal Bando
's double.
Oakland scored an unearned run in the first inning off Jack Billingham
when Reds center fielder Bobby Tolan
misplayed a fly ball. Cincy tied things up in the fifth on Hal McRae's
sacrifice fly. However, McRae was pinch hitting for Billingham who had allowed no earned runs in innings against the A's. His replacement in the sixth inning, Pedro Borbon
, allowed the two deciding runs on RBI doubles by Tenace and Bando
. The Reds closed to within 3–2 in the eighth, but A's closer Rollie Fingers
shut down the Reds in the ninth.
The World Series series victory for the Oakland Athletics
was the first for the franchise in 42 years since the days of Connie Mack
when the team was in Philadelphia and had won in 1930
. The victory ensured manager Dick Williams
' return for another year. It was the Athletics' sixth World Series title. Tenace hit a record-tying four World Series home runs and set a Series-record for slugging percentage.
(A.L.) over Cincinnati Reds
(N.L.)
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
champion Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The 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....
against 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...
champion Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, with the A's winning in seven games. These two teams would meet again in the fall classic eighteen years later
1990 World Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 16, 1990 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioUntil , this was the last World Series to be scheduled to begin play on a Tuesday, and the first since . The schedule called for the seven-game series to be held Tue–Wed, Fri–Sat–Sun, Tue–Wed. Games 5, 6, and 7, however...
. Their managers would meet again in the fall classic twelve years later
1984 World Series
The 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
, this time on different teams.
Background
The Athletics won the American League WestAmerican League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
division by games over the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
then defeated the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, three games to two, in the American League Championship Series
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
. The Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
won the National League West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
division by games over both the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, then defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, three games to two, in the National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
, marking the first year in which an LCS series in either league went the full five games since divisional play was introduced in 1969
1969 in baseball
-Expansion:Four expansion teams joined Major League Baseball for this season: the San Diego Padres, the Kansas City Royals, the Seattle Pilots, and the first MLB team in Canada, the Montreal Expos. To accommodate the additional teams, the two leagues were split into two divisions of East and West...
. The Reds, who won one fewer game than the Pirates during the regular season, became the first team in MLB history to reach the World Series without having the best record in its league. In each of the first six League Championship Series, the team with the better record advanced to the World Series.
This was the Reds' second trip to the Series in three years. It was Oakland's first trip to the Series, and the first for the Athletics' franchise since their Philadelphia days (1931
1931 World Series
In the 1931 World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Athletics in seven games, a rematch and reversal of fortunes of the 1930 World Series.The same two teams faced off during the 1930 World Series and the Athletics were victorious...
).
The A's prevailed in this matchup of what were to become the two premier Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
dynasties of the 1970s. Iconoclastic club owner Charlie Finley's
Charles O. Finley
Charles Oscar Finley , nicknamed Charlie O or Charley O, was an American businessman who is best remembered for his tenure as the owner of the Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball team. Finley purchased the franchise while it was located in Kansas City, moving it to Oakland in 1968...
"Swingin' A's" featured day-glo uniforms, lots of facial hair, colorful nicknames, and explosive personalities, while "The Big Red Machine" were a more traditional franchise with a more traditional look—and an everyday lineup with multiple future Hall of Famers as well as all-time Hits King, Pete Rose. The Series was dubbed "The Hairs vs. the Squares".
After a 40-year absence and two franchise relocations, the A's had finally made it back to the Series. They would play the Series without their star right fielder Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
, who was injured (pulled hamstring) stealing home in the final game of the season against Detroit. Darold Knowles
Darold Knowles
Darold Duane Knowles is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher, and the current pitching coach of the Florida State League's Dunedin Blue Jays...
was also missing. He broke his thumb during a game played on September 27, 1972—less than three weeks before the Series opener.
With Jackson out, Gene Tenace
Gene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace , better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional baseball player and current coach in Major League Baseball. He was a catcher and first baseman from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School in Lucasville, OH and...
—who had hit five home runs during the entire 1972 regular season—would fill-in admirably socking four home runs equaling the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
mark set by Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
and Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
. Tenace also had nine RBI in the Series—no other Oakland player had more than one. He was voted winner of the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
In contrast, the Reds' big boppers, Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
(.270 avg., 40 HR, 125 RBI, NL MVP), Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
(.283 avg., 21 HR, 90 RBI), and Denis Menke
Denis Menke
Denis John Menke is a former professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1974. He played for the Milwaukee Braves , Atlanta Braves , Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds , all of the National League...
(9 HR, 50 RBI), combined for only two homers and five RBI the entire Series.
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 all World Series played up to that year). The Reds out-scored the A’s, 21–16, but lost each of their four games by a single run. Six of the seven games in the series were decided by one run, marking perhaps the most closely contested series in major league history.
Summary
†: postponed from October 17 due to rainGame 1
Saturday, October 14, 1972 at Riverfront StadiumCinergy Field
Riverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
The Series opened in unexpected fashion, as unheralded catcher Gene Tenace
Gene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace , better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional baseball player and current coach in Major League Baseball. He was a catcher and first baseman from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School in Lucasville, OH and...
of the A's hit home runs in his first two at-bats, leading Oakland to a Game 1 victory. Tenace was the first player ever to homer in his two initial Series plate appearances, a feat later matched by Andruw Jones
Andruw Jones
Andruw Rudolf Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Jones made his debut during the 1996 season. In the 1996 World Series, Jones became the youngest player to ever homered in the postseason...
of the Braves in 1996.
Game 2
Sunday, October 15, 1972 at Riverfront StadiumCinergy Field
Riverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
, the first black major-league player of the modern era, made his final public appearance in Cincinnati before Game 2 (he would die nine days later). In a brief speech, he expressed his desire to see a black manager of a Major League Baseball team, a color barrier that had not yet been broken.
A's left fielder Joe Rudi
Joe Rudi
Joseph Oden Rudi is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
was the Game 2 hero with a home run and a sparkling game-saving ninth-inning catch up against the left field wall. Catfish Hunter
Catfish Hunter
James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter , was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1965-1979 for both the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees...
pitched eight strong innings and helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second off Ross Grimsley
Ross Grimsley
Ross Albert Grimsley II is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Baltimore Orioles , Montreal Expos and Cleveland Indians...
.
The Reds tried to rally in the ninth off Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
when Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
led off with a base hit. Denis Menke
Denis Menke
Denis John Menke is a former professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1974. He played for the Milwaukee Braves , Atlanta Braves , Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds , all of the National League...
then hit the drive that Rudi caught against the wall and nearly doubled Perez off first. A's first baseman Mike Hegan
Mike Hegan
James Michael "Mike" Hegan is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder and later radio announcer for the Cleveland Indians. In 1969, Hegan hit the first home run in Seattle Pilots history in his first at-bat.He is the son of longtime Indians catcher Jim Hegan...
then made another great defensive play when César Gerónimo
César Gerónimo
César Francisco Gerónimo Zorrilla , known as César Gerónimo, is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball, who was a member of the famed Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s. He batted and threw left-handed....
, 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 a Hal McRae
Hal McRae
Harold Abraham McRae is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals . Utilized as a designated hitter for most of his career, McRae batted and threw right-handed...
single. The World Series home loss was Reds' seventh-straight, which included three in the 1961 World Series against the New York Yankees and two in the 1970 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Game 3
Wednesday, October 18, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
Reds starter Jack Billingham
Jack Billingham
John Eugene Billingham is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Houston Astros , Cincinnati Reds , Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox...
was brilliant, holding the A's to three hits in eight innings. The Reds pushed across the game's only run in the seventh when César Gerónimo
César Gerónimo
César Francisco Gerónimo Zorrilla , known as César Gerónimo, is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball, who was a member of the famed Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s. He batted and threw left-handed....
singled home Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
. Pérez scored despite slipping on the damp grass as he was rounding third; it had rained in Oakland the day before. On the play, Oakland second baseman Dick Green
Dick Green
Richard Larry Green , is a former Major League Baseball player.He was raised in Rapid City, S.D., where his ability as a baseball player was first noted....
was apparently unaware that Perez had slipped; otherwise, he had a play on him at the plate. Clay Carroll
Clay Carroll
Clay Palmer Carroll is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1964 to 1978. He pitched for the Milwaukee Braves & Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St...
pitched the ninth for the save.
A rare trick play occurred in the eighth inning. The Reds had Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
on third and Bobby Tolan
Bobby Tolan
Robert Tolan is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball. Tolan, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , San Diego Padres , Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates...
on first base with Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
pitching to NL MVP Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
. 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 manager Dick Williams
Dick Williams
Richard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
visited the mound. After a long discussion, he motioned for an intentional walk to Bench. A's catcher Gene Tenace
Gene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace , better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional baseball player and current coach in Major League Baseball. He was a catcher and first baseman from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School in Lucasville, OH and...
stood to catch ball four, but at the last minute returned to his crouch as Fingers delivered a strike on the outside corner. A surprised Bench watched the pitch go by for strike three.
Game 4
Thursday, October 19, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
A's starter Ken Holtzman
Ken Holtzman
Kenneth Dale Holtzman is a left-handed former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics...
shut out the Reds on four hits through seven innings and had a 1–0 lead courtesy of Gene Tenace
Gene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace , better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional baseball player and current coach in Major League Baseball. He was a catcher and first baseman from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School in Lucasville, OH and...
's third homer of the series. With two outs in the eighth and Dave Concepción
Dave Concepción
David Ismael Concepción Benitez , better known as Dave Concepción, is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball. He was born in Ocumare de la Costa, Aragua State, Venezuela...
on second, A's manager Dick Williams
Dick Williams
Richard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
brought in left-hander Vida Blue
Vida Blue
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , and Kansas City Royals He won the American League Cy Young award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971...
to face left-handed hitters Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
and Bobby Tolan
Bobby Tolan
Robert Tolan is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball. Tolan, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , San Diego Padres , Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates...
. The strategy backfired as Blue walked Morgan and allowed a two-run double to Tolan, giving the Reds the lead. Williams left Blue in the game to pitch to powerful right-handed hitting Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
, but Bench flied out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth with one out, the A's strung together four straight hits to score two runs. Pinch hitter Gonzalo Marquez
Gonzalo Márquez
Gonzalo Enrique Márquez Moya was a professional baseball first baseman. A left-handed batter, he played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs...
singled, Tenace followed with a single, Don Mincher
Don Mincher
-External links:***...
followed with another pinch-hit single scoring pinch-runner Allan Lewis
Allan Lewis
For the rugby players see Allan Lewis Allan Sydney Lewis is a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder and pinch runner over parts of 6 seasons with the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics. Lewis was a member of the 1972 and 1973 World Series champion Athletics...
to tie the game before a third pinch-hitter, Angel Mangual
Angel Mangual
Ángel Luis Mangual Guilbe is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball over parts of 7 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics. Mangual was a member of the 3-time World Series champion Athletics of the early 1970s...
, singled off Clay Carroll
Clay Carroll
Clay Palmer Carroll is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1964 to 1978. He pitched for the Milwaukee Braves & Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St...
to 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
Friday, October 20, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
Up three games to one and with ace Catfish Hunter
Catfish Hunter
James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter , was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1965-1979 for both the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees...
on the mound, the A's looked to close out Cincinnati. But the Reds got a home run by Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
to lead off the game and Rose also drove in the game-winner in the ninth. The dramatic game ended when Joe Morgan threw out the potential game-tying run at the plate as the Reds staved off elimination.
Trailing 1–0 in the second, Gene Tenace
Gene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace , better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional baseball player and current coach in Major League Baseball. He was a catcher and first baseman from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School in Lucasville, OH and...
hit his fourth home run of he series, a three-run shot, to put Oakland up by two. The Reds cut the lead to 3–2 in the fourth on a solo homer by Denis Menke
Denis Menke
Denis John Menke is a former professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1974. He played for the Milwaukee Braves , Atlanta Braves , Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds , all of the National League...
. Angel Mangual
Angel Mangual
Ángel Luis Mangual Guilbe is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball over parts of 7 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Oakland Athletics. Mangual was a member of the 3-time World Series champion Athletics of the early 1970s...
came through with another pinch RBI single in the A's half of the fourth to make it 4–2.
With two outs in the fifth, Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
walked. With a 3–2 count on Bobby Tolan
Bobby Tolan
Robert Tolan is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball. Tolan, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , San Diego Padres , Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, Morgan broke for second and was able to score when Tolan lined a base hit to right. The speedy Morgan and Tolan collaborated once again to tie the game in the eighth. Morgan again walked and stole second and Tolan brought him in with a single.
In the ninth, Rose singled in the go-ahead run. The Reds preserved the lead when, with one out and runners on first and third, Bert Campaneris
Bert Campaneris
Dagoberto Campaneris Blanco , nicknamed "Campy", is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams, primarily the Kansas City and Oakland Athletics...
hit a foul pop on the first-base side that first baseman Tony Perez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
appeared to call. Second baseman Morgan raced over, waved Perez off, caught the ball, and fired home to nail pinch runner Blue Moon Odom
Blue Moon Odom
Johnny Lee Odom was a Major League Baseball pitcher who won three consecutive World Series championships with the Oakland Athletics in , and .-Early years:...
, who had tagged from third.
The Friday afternoon contest was the last non-weekend World Series day game. The three games in Oakland were all 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 to allow ample time for the teams to travel to Cincinnati for Game 6 the next day.
Game 6
Saturday, October 21, 1972 at Riverfront StadiumCinergy Field
Riverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
Back at the friendly confines of Riverfront Stadium, the Reds tied the series at 3–3 with an 8–1 rout. Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
, who had no homers or RBI in the series to that point, broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a solo homer off starter Vida Blue
Vida Blue
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , and Kansas City Royals He won the American League Cy Young award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971...
. The A's fought back on a Dick Green
Dick Green
Richard Larry Green , is a former Major League Baseball player.He was raised in Rapid City, S.D., where his ability as a baseball player was first noted....
RBI double in their half of the fifth, but from then on it was all Reds. Dave Concepción
Dave Concepción
David Ismael Concepción Benitez , better known as Dave Concepción, is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball. He was born in Ocumare de la Costa, Aragua State, Venezuela...
had a sacrifice fly in the fifth, and Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
an 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 by Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
and a pair of two-run singles by Bobby Tolan
Bobby Tolan
Robert Tolan is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball. Tolan, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , San Diego Padres , Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates...
and César Gerónimo
César Gerónimo
César Francisco Gerónimo Zorrilla , known as César Gerónimo, is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball, who was a member of the famed Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds during the 1970s. He batted and threw left-handed....
.
Game 7
Sunday, October 22, 1972 at Riverfront StadiumCinergy Field
Riverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
Gene Tenace
Gene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace , better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional baseball player and current coach in Major League Baseball. He was a catcher and first baseman from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School in Lucasville, OH and...
capped a spectacular World Series with two hits, two RBI and he also scored the game-winning run in the sixth inning on Sal Bando
Sal Bando
Salvatore Leonard Bando is a former third baseman and executive in professional baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw right-handed. During the A's championship years of 1971-75, he captained the team and led the club in runs batted...
's double.
Oakland scored an unearned run in the first inning off Jack Billingham
Jack Billingham
John Eugene Billingham is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Houston Astros , Cincinnati Reds , Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox...
when Reds center fielder Bobby Tolan
Bobby Tolan
Robert Tolan is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball. Tolan, who batted and threw left-handed, played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , San Diego Padres , Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates...
misplayed a fly ball. Cincy tied things up in the fifth on Hal McRae's
Hal McRae
Harold Abraham McRae is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals . Utilized as a designated hitter for most of his career, McRae batted and threw right-handed...
sacrifice fly. However, McRae was pinch hitting for Billingham who had allowed no earned runs in innings against the A's. His replacement in the sixth inning, Pedro Borbon
Pedro Borbón
Spudro spärde Von Dolan is a former pitcher. He played Major League Baseball for 12 seasons for four teams, including 10 seasons for the Cincinnati Reds , playing on two World Series winning teams...
, allowed the two deciding runs on RBI doubles by Tenace and Bando
Bando
Bando is a defensive style of thaing focusing on animal-based techniques. The earliest meanings of the word were self-discipline, self-development and self-improvement. Later, it came to mean self-protection or self-defense...
. The Reds closed to within 3–2 in the eighth, but A's closer Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
shut down the Reds in the ninth.
The World Series series victory for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The 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....
was the first for the franchise in 42 years since the days of Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
when the team was in Philadelphia and had won in 1930
1930 World Series
In the 1930 World Series, the Philadelphia Athletics defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in six games, 4–2. Philadelphia's pitching ace Lefty Grove won two games.The St...
. The victory ensured manager Dick Williams
Dick Williams
Richard Hirschfeld "Dick" Williams was an American left fielder, third baseman, manager, coach and front office consultant in Major League Baseball. Known especially as a hard-driving, sharp-tongued manager from 1967–69 and 1971–88, he led teams to three American League pennants, one National...
' return for another year. It was the Athletics' sixth World Series title. Tenace hit a record-tying four World Series home runs and set a Series-record for slugging percentage.
Composite box
1972 World Series (4–3): Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The 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....
(A.L.) over Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(N.L.)
Radio and television
- This was Al MichaelsAl MichaelsAlan Richard "Al" Michaels is an American television sportscaster. Now employed by NBC Sports after nearly three decades with ABC Sports, Michaels is one of the most prominent members of his profession...
' first World Series as a play-by-play man; he was then a broadcaster for the Cincinnati Reds1972 Cincinnati Reds seasonThe Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West title with a record of 95-59, 10½ games over the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1972 National League Championship Series, but lost to the Oakland Athletics in...
. At the time, Major League Baseball and NBC had a policy (which ended in 19771977 World Series-Game 1:Tuesday, October 11, 1977 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe Dodgers drew first blood off Don Gullett in the first when Davey Lopes walked and scored on a Bill Russell triple. Ron Cey made it 2–0 on a sacrifice fly...
) in which announcers from the participating World Series teams were allowed to commentate on the national television and radio broadcasts. Michaels would not call another World Series until 19791979 World SeriesThe 1979 World Series matched the National League's Pittsburgh Pirates against the American League's Baltimore Orioles , with the Pirates coming back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games...
, after he had joined ABC Sports.
