1972 Chicago White Sox season
Encyclopedia
The 1972
Chicago White Sox
season was the White Sox's 73rd season overall, and 72nd in the American League
. They finished with a record 87-67, good enough for second place in the American League West
, 5½ games behind the first-place Oakland Athletics
.
1972 Major League Baseball season
The 1972 Major League Baseball season was the first to have games cancelled 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.-Labor strife and more...
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...
season was the White Sox's 73rd season overall, and 72nd in the American League
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...
. They finished with a record 87-67, good enough for second place in the American League West
American 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...
, 5½ games behind the first-place Oakland Athletics
1972 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning the American League West with a record of 93 wins and 62 losses. In the playoffs, they defeated the Detroit Tigers in a five-game ALCS, followed by a seven-game World Series, in which they defeated the Cincinnati Reds for their first World...
.
Offseason
- October 22, 1971: 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 purchased by the White Sox from 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...
. - December 2, 1971: Tommy JohnTommy JohnThomas Edward John Jr. is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 career victories rank as the seventh highest total among left-handers in major league history...
and Steve HuntzSteve HuntzStephen Michael Huntz is a retired American professional baseball player who played infielder in the Major Leagues between and for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres. Huntz threw and batted right-handed, stood tall and weighed...
were traded by the White Sox to the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe 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...
for Dick AllenDick AllenRichard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
. - December 2, 1971: Rich McKinneyRich McKinneyCharles Richard "Rich" McKinney is a former professional baseball player. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball between and...
was traded by the White Sox by the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Stan BahnsenStan BahnsenStanley Raymond Bahnsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Nicknamed the "Bahnsen Burner," he once made 118 starts over a three year stretch while playing with the Chicago White Sox in the mid 1970s.-New York Yankees:...
. - December 14, 1971: Pat JacquezPat JacquezPat Jacquez is a former right-handed pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox in 1971. Jacquez only pitched in two games in his major league career. He was drafted in 1967 by the Chicago Cubs and played for the minor-league Lodi Crushers, San Antonio Missions, and Tacoma Cubs before being...
was traded by the White Sox to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe 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....
for Jim QuallsJim QuallsJames Robert Qualls is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and pinch-hitting specialist for the Chicago Cubs in 1969, the Montreal Expos in 1970 and the Chicago White Sox in 1972...
.
Regular season
- July 31, 1971: Dick AllenDick AllenRichard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
hit two inside the park home runs in one game against the Minnesota Twins1971 Minnesota Twins seasonThe 1971 Minnesota Twins finished 74-86, fifth in the American League West. 940,858 fans attended Twins games, the fifth highest total in the American League, the first time the Twins failed to attract over one million fans since moving to Minnesota....
.
Opening Day lineup
- Walt WilliamsWalt Williams (baseball)Walter Allen Williams is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the Houston Colt .45s , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , and the New York Yankees .-Early life:Williams was nicknamed No-Neck due to his relatively short stature...
, rf - Mike AndrewsMike AndrewsMichael Jay Andrews is a retired American Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. He is currently the chairman of The Jimmy Fund, an event fundraising organization affiliated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston,...
, 2b - Dick AllenDick AllenRichard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
, 1b - Bill MeltonBill MeltonWilliam Edwin Melton , nicknamed "Beltin' Bill" or "Beltin' Melton", is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago White Sox, California Angels and Cleveland Indians...
, 3b - Carlos MayCarlos MayCarlos May is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago White Sox through most of his career, and also the New York Yankees and California Angels. He also played four seasons in Japan, from until , for the Nankai Hawks. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, lf - Rick ReichardtRick ReichardtFrederic Carl Reichardt was a Major League outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels/California Angels , Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals...
, cf - Ed HerrmannEd HerrmannEdward Martin Herrmann is a former American professional baseball player. He played in the Major Leagues as a catcher for the Chicago White Sox, the New York Yankees, the California Angels, the Houston Astros and the Montreal Expos from 1967 to 1978...
, c - Luis AlvaradoLuis AlvaradoLuis César Alvarado Martínez , born in Lajas, Puerto Rico, was a utility infielder in Major League Baseball....
, ss - Wilbur WoodWilbur WoodWilbur Forrester Wood, Jr. is a former knuckleball pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, and most notably the Chicago White Sox, where he got 163 of his 164 wins...
, p
Notable transactions
- May 16, 1972: Lowell Palmer was released by the White Sox.
- June 6, 1972: Nyls NymanNyls NymanNyls Wallace Rex Nyman is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of four seasons with the Chicago White Sox from until ....
was drafted by the White Sox in the 16th round 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 16, 1972: Jim Qualls was released by the White Sox.
- August 17, 1972: Eddie FisherEddie Fisher (baseball)Eddie Gene Fisher was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants , Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Cleveland Indians , California Angels and St...
was traded by the California Angels to the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later and Bruce Miller. The Chicago White Sox sent Bruce Kimm (September 1, 1972) to the California Angels to complete the trade. - September 1, 1972: Hank AllenHank AllenHarold Andrew "Hank" Allen is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators , Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago White Sox ....
was signed as a free agent by the White Sox.
Roster
| 1972 Chicago White Sox | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 116 | 354 | 88 | .249 | 10 | 40 | |
| 1B | 148 | 506 | 156 | .308 | 37 | 113 | |
| 2B | 148 | 505 | 111 | .220 | 7 | 50 | |
| 3B | 74 | 277 | 66 | .238 | 2 | 22 | |
| SS | 110 | 287 | 59 | .206 | 2 | 20 | |
| LF | 148 | 523 | 161 | .308 | 12 | 68 | |
| CF | 101 | 291 | 73 | .251 | 8 | 43 | |
| RF | 119 | 402 | 105 | .261 | 5 | 24 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77 | 221 | 55 | .249 | 2 | 11 | |
| 57 | 208 | 51 | .245 | 7 | 30 | |
| 44 | 61 | 17 | .279 | 1 | 9 | |
| 35 | 52 | 7 | .135 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | 29 | 7 | .241 | 0 | 1 | |
| 11 | 10 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 376.2 | 24 | 17 | 2.51 | 193 | |
| 40 | 260 | 15 | 14 | 2.98 | 209 | |
| 43 | 252.1 | 21 | 16 | 3.60 | 157 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1.56 | 28 | |
| 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.45 | 4 | |
Awards and honors
- Dick AllenDick AllenRichard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
, American League MVP - Chuck TannerChuck TannerCharles William "Chuck" Tanner was a left fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He was known for his unwavering confidence and infectious optimism. He managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Series championship in 1979...
, Associated Press AL Manager of the Year