1972 Detroit Tigers season
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Tigers
won the American League East
division championship with a record of 86-70 (.551), finishing one-half game ahead of the Boston Red Sox
. They played one more game than the Red Sox due to a scheduling quirk caused by the 1972 Major League Baseball strike -- a game which turned out to allow them to win the division. They lost the 1972 American League Championship Series
to the Oakland A's
three games to two.
, the Tigers were reinvigorated in 1971
and 1972 by their fiery manager, Billy Martin
.
The 1972 Tigers were an aging team whose best hitters (Al Kaline
and Norm Cash
) were both 37 years old. Together with the late-season acquisition of 38-year-old slugger Frank Howard, this led to a group of Tigers batters who were past their prime, and the team finished the year with an anemic .237 batting average—seventh in the AL. Light-hitting third baseman
Aurelio Rodríguez
led the team with 142 hits, and the 37-year-olds Kaline and Cash led the way in batting average
(Kaline hit .313), RBIs
(Cash had 61), and home run
s (Cash had 22).
The strength of the 1972 team was pitching. The team's ace
, Mickey Lolich
, won 22 games, struck out
250 batters (2nd best in the AL), and had a 2.50 ERA
. Joe Coleman had 19 wins and 222 strikeouts, and the early August acquisition of Woodie Fryman
proved to be a key element in a tight pennant race. Between August 1 and August 17, the Tigers went 5-12, and three of the team's wins were by Fryman. Excluding Fryman's wins, the Tigers were 2-12 in the first half of August. In the final two months of the season, Fryman had a 10-3 record with a 2.06 ERA (Adjusted ERA+
of 154).
Defense also played an important role in the team's success. Rodríguez led AL third basemen with 150 putouts and 348 assists, and shortstop
Ed Brinkman
won the Gold Glove award
and led AL shortstops with a .990 fielding percentage
(33 points above the league average). Brinkman set a record going 72 games and 331 total chances
without an error
from late May through early August. Despite a .205 batting average, Brinkman won the "Tiger of the Year" award from the Detroit baseball writers and finished ninth in the American League MVP voting.
The 1972 Tigers outscored their opponents 558 to 514. The pennant race came down to the final series, a matchup between the first place Red Sox and the second place Tigers. The Tigers won two of three games and finished a half game ahead of the Red Sox. (Because of cancellation of games missed during the early-season strike, the Tigers were scheduled for one game more than the Red Sox.)
Detroit's attendance total of 1,892,386 was tops among the twelve American League teams and second in the majors behind the New York Mets
.
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
Joe Coleman
Woodie Fryman
Fred Holdsworth
Al Kaline
Mickey Lolich
Aurelio Rodríguez
Chuck Seelbach
Mickey Stanley
in 2001:
in the 1972 American League Championship Series
, losing three games to two. The A's were 93-62 in the regular season and went on to beat the Cincinnati Reds
in the 1972 World Series
.
Game 1 was a pitching duel with 20-game winners, Mickey Lolich
(22-14) and Catfish Hunter
(21-7). Norm Cash
hit a solo home run in the second inning to put the Tigers ahead, but the A's struck back in the third inning as Bert Campaneris
walked, moved to third on a single, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Joe Rudi
. The score remained tied, 1-1, through ten innings. in the top of the 11th inning, Al Kaline
hit a solo home run off Rollie Fingers
to put Detroit ahead. After Sal Bando
and Mike Epstein
singled to open the bottom of the 11th, Chuck Seelbach
came on in relief of Lolich who had pitched 10 innings. Gonzalo Márquez
singled to right, driving in two runs to give the A's the win in Game 1.
Game 2 was a lopsided 5-0 win for the A's, as Blue Moon Odom
(15-6) pitched a complete game shutout and held the Tigers to three hits. Woodie Fryman
(10-3), who had been virtually unhittable in August and September, gave up four runs in 4-1/3 innings. Bert Campaneris
singled in the first inning, stole second and third on successive pitches, and then scored on a single by Joe Rudi
. Campaneris singled again in the third inning, and singled and scored again in the firth inning. When Campaneris came to bat in the seventh inning, Lerrin LaGrow
's first pitch hit Campaneris in the ankle. Campaneris staggered for a moment, glared at LaGrow and then flung his bat toward the mound. The bat spiraled at LaGrow five feet off the ground, but LaGrow ducked, and the bat narrowly missed LaGrow, landing a few feet behind the mound. A bench-clearing brawl ensued, and Tigers manager Billy Martin
had to be restrained by umpires and teammates to prevent him from going after Campaneris. Both LaGrow and Campaneris were suspended for the rest of the ALCS.
The Series moved to Detroit
for the final three games. In Game 3, Joe Coleman (19-14) pitched a complete game shutout and set an ALCS record by striking out 14 A's batters. The Tigers won, 3-0, as Ike Brown
hit a single in the 4th inning that drove in Al Kaline
and Bill Freehan
. Freehan also hit a home run in the 8th inning to complete the scoring. Ken Holtzman
(19-11) was the losing pitcher for the A's.
Game 4 was the most exciting game of the Series and was rated by The Sporting News
as one of the five greatest games ever played at Tiger Stadium. The game featured a rematch of Game 1 -- Mickey Lolich
for Detroit and Catfish Hunter
for Oakland. Detroit took the lead in the 3rd inning on a solo home run by Dick McAuliffe
, and Lolich held the A's scoreless through six innings. The A's tied the game, 1-1, on a Mike Epstein
home run in the 7th inning, and the game went into extra innings with the score tied, 1-1. In the top of the 10th inning, Chuck Seelbach
replaced Lolich and gave up two runs. With the Tigers on the verge of elimination, the Tigers staged a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the 10th inning. Dick McAuliffe
and Al Kaline
opened the inning with singles, and Gates Brown
walked to load the bases with nobody out. Bill Freehan
bounced a double play ball to third, but Sal Bando's throw to second baseman Gene Tenace was dropped, allowing McAuliffe to score. Norm Cash
walked, and Kaline scored to tie the game at 3-3. Jim Northrup ended it with a walk-off game-winning single, as Gates Brown
scored the winning run.
The decisive Game 5 was another pitching duel between Blue Moon Odom
and Woodie Fryman
. Both teams combined for only nine hits, and the only extra-base hit was a double by Odom. The Tigers scored first in the bottom of the first inning, as Dick McAuliffe
singled, moved to second on a walk, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a groundball by Bill Freehan
. The A's tied in the top of the second inning, as Reggie Jackson
walked, stole second base, advanced to third on a fly ball, and then stole home. In the fourth inning, George Hendrick
reached base on a controversial throwing error (umpire John Rice ruled that first baseman Norm Cash had pulled his foot off the bag but replays showed otherwise). He advanced to second on a bunt, and scored on a Gene Tenace
single to left field. Neither team scored a run after the top of the fourth, and the A's won the game, 2-1. In the 9th inning, Norm Cash
singled, but pinch hitter Mickey Stanley
hit into a fielder's choice and Tony Taylor
hit a fly ball to center for the final out. Odom and Vida Blue
combined to hold the Tigers to four hits. Despite allowing only one earned run, Fryman took the loss.
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...
won the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
division championship with a record of 86-70 (.551), finishing one-half game ahead of the Boston Red Sox
1972 Boston Red Sox season
The 1972 Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 85 wins and 70 losses...
. They played one more game than the Red Sox due to a scheduling quirk caused by the 1972 Major League Baseball strike -- a game which turned out to allow them to win the division. They lost the 1972 American League Championship Series
1972 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 7, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaGame 1 pitted ace pitchers Catfish Hunter for the A's and Mickey Lolich for the Tigers, and, as expected, both were brilliant...
to the Oakland A's
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...
three games to two.
Offseason
- January 12: Tigers owner John FetzerJohn FetzerJohn Earl Fetzer was a radio and television executive who was best known as the owner of the Detroit Tigers from 1961 through the early 1980s.- Biography :...
announced plans to build a $126 million domed stadium on the Detroit riverfront. Lawsuits‚ a failed bond issue‚ and the construction of the Pontiac SilverdomePontiac SilverdomeThe Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C...
eventually killed the idea. - April 5: The Major League Baseball season was delayed due to a players' strike. A total of 86 games were lost to the strike.
Notable transactions
- March 24, 1972: César GutiérrezCésar GutiérrezCésar Dario Gutiérrez [goo-te-ER-rez] , also nicknamed "Cocoa", was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers .-Major League career:Gutiérrez was born in Coro, Falcón State...
was purchased from the Tigers by the Montreal ExposMontreal ExposThe Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
.
Season summary
After having a losing record in 19701970 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fourth in the American League East with a record of 79-83, 29 games behind the Baltimore Orioles.- Offseason :...
, the Tigers were reinvigorated in 1971
1971 Detroit Tigers season
The 1971 Detroit Tigers finished in second place in the American League East with a 91-71 record, 12 games behind the Orioles. They outscored their opponents 701 to 645...
and 1972 by their fiery manager, Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
.
The 1972 Tigers were an aging team whose best hitters (Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
and Norm Cash
Norm Cash
Norman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
) were both 37 years old. Together with the late-season acquisition of 38-year-old slugger Frank Howard, this led to a group of Tigers batters who were past their prime, and the team finished the year with an anemic .237 batting average—seventh in the AL. Light-hitting third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. , was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles...
led the team with 142 hits, and the 37-year-olds Kaline and Cash led the way in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(Kaline hit .313), RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(Cash had 61), and home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (Cash had 22).
The strength of the 1972 team was pitching. The team's ace
Ace (baseball)
In baseball, an ace is the best starting pitcher of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day...
, Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
, won 22 games, struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
250 batters (2nd best in the AL), and had a 2.50 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. Joe Coleman had 19 wins and 222 strikeouts, and the early August acquisition of Woodie Fryman
Woodie Fryman
Woodrow Thompson Fryman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A two-time National League All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers to the 1972 American League Championship Series.-Pittsburgh Pirates:Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with...
proved to be a key element in a tight pennant race. Between August 1 and August 17, the Tigers went 5-12, and three of the team's wins were by Fryman. Excluding Fryman's wins, the Tigers were 2-12 in the first half of August. In the final two months of the season, Fryman had a 10-3 record with a 2.06 ERA (Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
of 154).
Defense also played an important role in the team's success. Rodríguez led AL third basemen with 150 putouts and 348 assists, and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Ed Brinkman
Ed Brinkman
Edwin Albert Brinkman was a Major League Baseball shortstop. He played fifteen years in the Major League Baseball, led the American League in games played twice, won a Gold Glove Award at shortstop, and had a career batting average of .224...
won the Gold Glove award
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
and led AL shortstops with a .990 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(33 points above the league average). Brinkman set a record going 72 games and 331 total chances
Total chances
In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...
without an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
from late May through early August. Despite a .205 batting average, Brinkman won the "Tiger of the Year" award from the Detroit baseball writers and finished ninth in the American League MVP voting.
The 1972 Tigers outscored their opponents 558 to 514. The pennant race came down to the final series, a matchup between the first place Red Sox and the second place Tigers. The Tigers won two of three games and finished a half game ahead of the Red Sox. (Because of cancellation of games missed during the early-season strike, the Tigers were scheduled for one game more than the Red Sox.)
Detroit's attendance total of 1,892,386 was tops among the twelve American League teams and second in the majors behind the New York Mets
1972 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 11th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Led by manager Yogi Berra, the team had a 83-73 record yielding a third place finish in the National League's Eastern Division.- Death of Gil Hodges :...
.
Season highlights
- April 15: On Opening DayOpening DayOpening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
in Detroit, the Tigers beat the Red Sox, 3-2. Mickey LolichMickey LolichMichael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
got the win, and Ed BrinkmanEd BrinkmanEdwin Albert Brinkman was a Major League Baseball shortstop. He played fifteen years in the Major League Baseball, led the American League in games played twice, won a Gold Glove Award at shortstop, and had a career batting average of .224...
hit a two-run home run for the Tigers. - April 20: The Tigers lost to the Orioles, 1-0, despite a two-hitter by Detroit pitchers Tom TimmermannTom TimmermannThomas Henry Timmermann is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for six seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians . Born in Breese, Illinois, Timmermann was a tall — — right-handed pitcher who attended Southern Illinois University...
and Chuck SeelbachChuck SeelbachCharles Frederick "Chuck" Seelbach is a right-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball.Seelbach played baseball at Dartmouth College from 1968-1970 and still ranks among Dartmouth's all time leaders in winning percentage , strikeouts , and shutouts .Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1st...
. Paul BlairPaul Blair (baseball)Paul L. D. Blair is a former outfielder who spent seventeen seasons in Major League Baseball with the Baltimore Orioles , New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds...
hit a solo home run for the game's only score. - April 25: Mickey Lolich held the Rangers to four hits, as the Tigers won, 4-1. Second baseman Tony TaylorTony TaylorAntonio Nemesio Taylor is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1958 through , Taylor played for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers...
hit a two-run triple in the second inning. - April 28: Tom Timmermann held the White Sox to three hits and no runs, as the Tigers won, 12-0. Ed Brinkman went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Norm CashNorm CashNorman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. Having scored more than eight runs for the first time of the season, the Tigers would not do so again until August 12. - April 29: The Tigers beat the White Sox, 6-1, as Mickey Lolich struck out nine batters for his third win. Mickey StanleyMickey StanleyMitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley was a baseball player for the Detroit Tigers from 1964-1978. Stanley was known as a superb defensive outfielder over his 15-year career, though he is best remembered for the last few weeks of the 1968 season.-Early life:Stanley prepped at Ottawa Hills High School in...
, Bill FreehanBill FreehanWilliam Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
, and Willie Horton all hit home runs. - May 17: Tom HallerTom HallerThomas Frank Haller was an American professional baseball player and baseball executive. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers...
hit a three-run home run in a 6-1 Detroit victory over Baltimore. Mickey Lolich held the Orioles to four hits and struck out seven for his seventh win. - May 21: Mickey Lolich shut out the Indians, 5-0, and struck out seven for his eighth win. Mickey Stanley hit a two-run triple to break a scoreless tie in the sixth inning, and Norm Cash added a home run.
- May 27: Surprise hitting star Ed Brinkman had an RBI single and scored the game's only other run, as Detroit beat the Yankees, 2-1. Joe Coleman got the win to extend his record to 7-2.
- June 16: Joe Coleman struck out ten as the Tigers beat the Angels, 3-0. Mickey Stanley and Dick McAuliffeDick McAuliffeRichard John McAuliffe is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from to and for the Boston Red Sox from to . He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship, and was known for his...
both hit home runs. - June 18: Norm Cash and Jim Northrup hit solo home runs to help Mickey Lolich win his eleventh game. Lolich struck out eight and pitched a complete game shutout, 2-0, over the Angels.
- June 24: The Tigers beat the Orioles, 2-1, in 12 innings. The game was a pitching duel between Joe Coleman and Mike CuellarMike CuellarMiguel Ángel Cuellar Santana [KWAY-ar] was a Cuban left-handed starting pitcher who spent fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles and California Angels...
. Coleman struck out eleven and held the Orioles to four hits through eleven innings. Ed Brinkman hit a sacrifice flySacrifice flyIn baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
in the 12th inning, and Norm Cash scored the winning run. Future Tiger Doyle AlexanderDoyle AlexanderDoyle Lafayette Alexander is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers...
took the loss for Baltimore. - June 26: Pitcher Bill SlaybackBill SlaybackWilliam Grover Slayback is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. After playing for California State University, Northridge, the 6'4" Slayback was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the seventh round of the 1968 amateur draft. Slayback made his major league debut with the Tigers on...
made his major league debut for the Tigers and allowed no hits through seven innings against the Yankees. Johnny CallisonJohnny CallisonJohn Wesley Callison was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball, best known for his years with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1960 to 1969...
broke up the no-hitter with a single in the eighth inning, but the Tigers hung on to win, 4-3. - June 27: Aurelio RodríguezAurelio RodríguezAurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. , was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles...
‚ Al KalineAl KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
‚ and Willie Horton hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the first-inning. Mickey Lolich, pitching on two days' rest, won his 12th game, 5-2. - July 1: The Tigers beat the Orioles, 2-0, in a pitching duel between Dave McNallyDave McNallyDavid Arthur "Dave" McNally was a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher from until . He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and played with them every season except for his final season with the Montreal Expos.McNally has the unique distinction as the only pitcher in Major League...
and Mickey Lolich. Al Kaline won the game with a home run off McNally. - July 6: Joe Coleman won his tenth game and shut out the Royals, 7-0. Ed Brinkman hit an RBI single and walked with the bases loaded for a second RBI, and Bill Freehan hit a two-run double in the sixth inning.
- July 8: Eighteen months after suffering a heart attack, Detroit reliever John HillerJohn HillerJohn Frederick Hiller is a former left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers. After suffering a heart attack in 1971, he returned to the team and recorded 38 saves in – a major league record until 1983, and a team record until 2000...
returned to the mound in a 5-2 loss to the White Sox. - July 16: Bill Slayback pitched a five-hit shutout as the Tigers beat the Royals, 2-0. Norm Cash and Aurelio Rodríguez both hit home runs.
- July 20: Slayback struck out 13 batters and allowed 5 hits in a 5-1 victory over the Rangers.
- July 21: Mickey Lolich won his 17th game, a 3-1 victory over the Rangers. Dick McAuliffe and Norm Cash homered for Detroit.
- July 22: The Tigers beat the Rangers, 6-2, as Joe Coleman won his 12th game. At the All-Star break, Lolich had 17 wins, and Coleman had 12.
- July 25: Mickey Lolich held the National League to one hit and no runs in the fourth and fifth innings of the All-Star Game1972 Major League Baseball All-Star GameThe 1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 43rd such game, was played on July 25, 1972. The all-stars from the American League and the National League faced each other at Atlanta Stadium, home of the Atlanta Braves...
. Bill Freehan caught the first five innings and scored in the third inning. When Lolich and Freehan left the game at the end of the fifth inning, the American League was ahead, 1-0. - July 31: The Tigers beat the Red Sox, 5-2, as Mickey Lolich won his 18th game, and Aurelio Rodríguez and Bill Freehan hit home runs. After a tremendous start, Lolich won only one game between July 31 and September 6.
- August 1: The Tigers lost to the Brewers, 9-0, in a six-inning game called due to rain. As rain threatened to end the game before it became official, Detroit manager Billy MartinBilly MartinAlfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
employed stall tactics, and umpire Frank UmontFrank UmontFrank William Umont was an umpire in the American League of Major League Baseball from 1954 to 1973. He was the first major league umpire to wear spectacles while officiating....
recommended a $1,000 fine for Martin. - August 4: The Tigers claimed catcher Duke SimsDuke SimsDuane B. Sims was a Major League Baseball catcher who played from 1964 to 1974 with the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers....
off waivers from the Dodgers. [ Over the last two months of the season, Sims hit .316 with four home runs and 19 RBIs and played in four of five games of the 1972 American League Championship Series1972 American League Championship Series-Game 1:Saturday, October 7, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaGame 1 pitted ace pitchers Catfish Hunter for the A's and Mickey Lolich for the Tigers, and, as expected, both were brilliant...
. - August 5: Detroit shortstop Ed Brinkman committed an error, ending his major league record streak of 72 games and 331 total chances without an error.
- August 9: The Tigers beat the Yankees, 6-0, behind the shutout pitching of newly acquired starter Woodie Fryman. Fryman held the Yankees to six hits in nine innings. Aurelio Rodríguez went 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs, and Gates BrownGates BrownWilliam James "Gates" Brown is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. - August 13: The Tigers beat the Indians, 3-2, behind the second straight strong pitching performance by Woodie Fryman. With the Tigers in a skid through the first half of August, manager Billy Martin picked his starting lineup out of a hat in an attempt to halt the Tigers' skid. As a result of Martin's unusual tactic, Norm Cash hit in the leadoff spot, and shortstop Ed Brinkman hit in the cleanup spot.
- August 17: Woodie Fryman pitched his third straight complete game victory since joining the Tigers at the beginning of August.
- August 18: The Tigers beat the Angels, 2-0, as Mickey Lolich won his 19th game. It was Lolich's only win in the month of August. Nolan RyanNolan RyanLynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
was the losing pitcher for the Angels. - August 20: The Tigers beat the Angels, 11-9. After the Angels scored nine runs in the fourth inning, Detroit scored eight runs in the sixth inning. Aurelio Rodríguez had a double and a three-run home run in the Tigers' big inning.
- August 27: Joe Coleman pitched an eleven-inning complete game shutout, as the Tigers beat the Twins, 1-0. Aurelio Rodríguez hit a home run in the 11th inning for the win. This was the third consecutive game in which the Tigers won with 11th-inning home runs. Rodriguez hit one to start the streak, and Willie Horton hit one in the middle game.
- August 31: The Tigers acquired 36-year-old slugger Frank Howard from the Texas Rangers. Howard had seven RBIs in 14 games for the Tigers in 1972.
- September 6: In a matchup between the AL's best starting pitchers, Mickey Lolich got his 20th win over Jim PalmerJim PalmerJames Alvin "Jim" Palmer , nicknamed "Cakes", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in .As of 2008, Palmer and his wife Susan have homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and...
and the Orioles, 4-3. Lolich had failed in five prior starts to win his 20th. - September 8: Woodie Fryman continued his hot pitching, holding the Orioles to two hits and one run, while striking out eight batters. The Tigers won, 2-1. Gates Brown hit a first inning home run off Pat DobsonPat DobsonPatrick Edward Dobson, Jr. was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles , Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians...
, and Ed Brinkman added a run-scoring double in the seventh. - September 12: The Tigers beat the Orioles, 3-2, as Woodie Fryman won his sixth game since joining the team in August.
- September 16: The Tigers beat the Brewers, 2-1, as Woodie Fryman won his seventh game. Ed Brinkman had the game-winning RBI with a single in the fourth inning.
- September 20: Woodie Fryman won his eighth game as the Tigers beat the Indians, 4-1.
- September 21-24: The Tigers and the Red Sox split a four-game series as the two teams battled for the lead in the American League East. In the opener, the Tigers won, 10-3, to move the Tigers into a tie for the lead in the AL East. Joe Coleman struck out 10 and had three RBIs.
- September 27: Trailing 5-1 to the Yankees‚ the Tigers scored three runs in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth to beat the Yankees and keep their pennant hopes alive.
- September 28: The Tigers lost to the Yankees, 3-2. Roy WhiteRoy WhiteRoy Hilton White is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the New York Yankees between 1965 and 1979....
hit a home run in the 12th inning to win it for New York. - September 29-October 1: The Tigers swept the Brewers in a three-game series in Detroit, to keep the Tigers in a tight pennant race with the Red Sox. In the first game, the Tigers scored 12 runs, as Ed Brinkman hit a three-run home run in the first inning, and Al Kaline went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs, and two RBIs. In the third game, John Hiller pitched a complete game five-hitter against for his first win since suffering a heart attack in 1970.
- October 2: The Tigers and Red Sox started a three-game series in Detroit with Boston ahead by a half game. In the first game, Mickey Lolich struck out 15 Red Sox batters. Detroit won, 4-1, in front of a crowd of 51,518 at Tiger Stadium. Al Kaline and Aurelio Rodríguez both hit home runs, and the Tigers moved ahead of the Red Sox by a half game.
- October 3: The Tigers clinched the American League East championship as they beat the Red Sox, 3-1, in front of another sell-out crowd at Tiger Stadium. Woodie Fryman got the win, compiling a 10-3 record after joining the Tigers in early August. Boston's only run was unearned on a fielding error by Dick McAuliffe. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Al Kaline hit an RBI single to tie the score, 1-1. Bill "Spaceman" LeeBill Lee (left-handed pitcher)William Francis Lee III , nicknamed "Spaceman", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Boston Red Sox from - and the Montreal Expos from -...
pitched in relief of Luis TiantLuis TiantLuis Clemente Tiant Vega , born November 23, 1940 in Marianao, Cuba, , is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels...
, and Al Kaline scored on a fielding error by Carl YastrzemskiCarl YastrzemskiCarl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
. Rookie Chuck Seelbach pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save. The game ended on a fly ball hit by future Tiger Ben OglivieBen OglivieBenjamin Ambrosio Oglivie Palmer is a former Major League Baseball left fielder for the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and the Milwaukee Brewers . He also played two seasons in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes...
that was caught by Al Kaline in right field. - October 4: In the final game of the regular season, Joe Coleman had a chance to win his 20th game, but the Red Sox beat the Tigers, 4-1.
Notable transactions
- June 6, 1972: Jerry ManuelJerry ManuelJerry Manuel , nicknamed "The Sage" is a former major league manager. He previously managed the Chicago White Sox from 1998 to 2003 and the New York Mets from the middle of 2008 to 2010 and played in the majors for parts of five seasons in the 1970s and early 1980s.-Playing career:Manuel played...
was drafted by the Tigers in the 1st round (20th 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...
. - August 2, 1972: Woodie FrymanWoodie FrymanWoodrow Thompson Fryman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A two-time National League All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers to the 1972 American League Championship Series.-Pittsburgh Pirates:Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with...
was claimed by the Tigers off waivers 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...
. - August 31, 1972: Frank Howard was purchased by the Tigers from the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
Roster
| 1972 Detroit Tigers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
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 | 111 | 374 | 98 | .262 | 10 | 56 | |
| 1B | 137 | 440 | 114 | .259 | 22 | 61 | |
| 2B | 122 | 408 | 98 | .240 | 8 | 30 | |
| 3B | 153 | 601 | 142 | .236 | 13 | 56 | |
| SS | 156 | 516 | 105 | .203 | 6 | 49 | |
| LF | 108 | 333 | 77 | .231 | 11 | 36 | |
| CF | 142 | 435 | 102 | .234 | 14 | 55 | |
| RF | 106 | 278 | 87 | .313 | 10 | 32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 134 | 426 | 111 | .261 | 8 | 42 | |
| 103 | 252 | 58 | .230 | 10 | 31 | |
| 78 | 228 | 69 | .303 | 1 | 20 | |
| 59 | 121 | 25 | .207 | 2 | 13 | |
| 38 | 98 | 31 | .316 | 4 | 19 | |
| 51 | 84 | 21 | .250 | 2 | 10 | |
| 32 | 74 | 17 | .230 | 0 | 3 | |
| 14 | 33 | 8 | .242 | 1 | 7 | |
| 14 | 13 | 1 | .077 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 327.1 | 22 | 14 | 2.50 | 250 | |
| 40 | 280.0 | 19 | 14 | 2.80 | 222 | |
| 16 | 113.2 | 10 | 3 | 2.06 | 72 | |
| 5 | 23.2 | 0 | 3 | 3.80 | 16 | |
| 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 12.86 | 5 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 149.2 | 8 | 10 | 2.89 | 88 | |
| 23 | 81.2 | 5 | 6 | 3.20 | 65 | |
| 18 | 47 | 3 | 2 | 3.83 | 24 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W= Wins; L= Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | GF | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 34 | 2.89 | 76 | |
| 57 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 27 | 3.64 | 53 | |
| 24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 2.03 | 26 | |
| 25 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1.41 | 21 | |
| 16 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1.32 | 9 | |
| 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14.73 | 2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16.20 | 2 | |
All-Stars
1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 43rd such game, was played on July 25, 1972. The all-stars from the American League and the National League faced each other at Atlanta Stadium, home of the Atlanta Braves...
- Bill FreehanBill FreehanWilliam Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
, starter, catcher - Joe Coleman, reserve
- Mickey LolichMickey LolichMichael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
, reserve - Norm CashNorm CashNorman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
, reserve
League top ten finishers
Ed BrinkmanEd Brinkman
Edwin Albert Brinkman was a Major League Baseball shortstop. He played fifteen years in the Major League Baseball, led the American League in games played twice, won a Gold Glove Award at shortstop, and had a career batting average of .224...
- Led AL shortstops in fielding percentage (.990)
- Led MLB in games played (156)
Joe Coleman
- #3 in AL in sacrifice hits (15)
- #5 in AL in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (7.14)
- #4 in AL in home runs allowed (23)
- #2 in AL in bases on balls allowed (110)
Woodie Fryman
Woodie Fryman
Woodrow Thompson Fryman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A two-time National League All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers to the 1972 American League Championship Series.-Pittsburgh Pirates:Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with...
- Led AL in winning percentage (.769)
Fred Holdsworth
Fred Holdsworth
Frederick William Holdsworth is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Born in Detroit, Holdsworth was drafted by the Detroit Tigers as a high school senior on June 4, 1970. Although he had been class valedictorian, Holdsworth turned down several baseball and football...
- Youngest player in AL (20)
Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
- 4th oldest player in AL (37)
Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
- Led the AL in home runs allowed (29)
- #2 in the AL in strikeouts (250)
- #3 in the AL in wins (22)
- #3 in AL in innings pitched (327-1/3)
- #2 in MLB in games started (41)
- #2 in the AL in complete games (23)
- #2 in MLB in hits allowed (282)
- #2 in AL in strikeout to walk ratio (3.38)
- #3 in MLB in hit batsmen (11)
- #3 in AL in batters faced (1321)
Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. , was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles...
- Led AL third basemen in putouts (150)
- Led AL third basemen in assists (348)
- #4 in AL in game played (153)
- #3 in AL in at bats (601)
- #3 in AL in outs (484)
Chuck Seelbach
Chuck Seelbach
Charles Frederick "Chuck" Seelbach is a right-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball.Seelbach played baseball at Dartmouth College from 1968-1970 and still ranks among Dartmouth's all time leaders in winning percentage , strikeouts , and shutouts .Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1st...
- #7 in AL in games as pitcher (61)
Mickey Stanley
Mickey Stanley
Mitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley was a baseball player for the Detroit Tigers from 1964-1978. Stanley was known as a superb defensive outfielder over his 15-year career, though he is best remembered for the last few weeks of the 1968 season.-Early life:Stanley prepped at Ottawa Hills High School in...
- #2 in AL in sacrifice flies (8)
Players ranking among top 100 all time at position
The following members of the 1972 Tigers have been ranked among the Top 100 of all time at their position in The New Bill James Historical Baseball AbstractThe Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract is a reference-type book written by Bill James featuring an overview of baseball decade by decade, along with rankings of the top 100 players at each position. The original edition was published in 1985 by Villard Books, followed by The New Bill James...
in 2001:
- Bill FreehanBill FreehanWilliam Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
: 12th best catcher of all time - Norm CashNorm CashNorman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
: 20th best first baseman of all time - Dick McAuliffeDick McAuliffeRichard John McAuliffe is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from to and for the Boston Red Sox from to . He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship, and was known for his...
: 22nd best second baseman of all time - Aurelio RodríguezAurelio RodríguezAurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. , was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles...
: 91st best third baseman of all time - Willie Horton: 55th best left fielder of all time
- Al KalineAl KalineAlbert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
: 11th best right fielder of all time - Mickey LolichMickey LolichMichael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
: 72nd best pitcher of all time
American League Championship Series
The Tigers lost to the Oakland Athletics1972 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...
in the 1972 American League Championship Series
1972 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 7, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaGame 1 pitted ace pitchers Catfish Hunter for the A's and Mickey Lolich for the Tigers, and, as expected, both were brilliant...
, losing three games to two. The A's were 93-62 in the regular season and went on to beat the Cincinnati Reds
1972 Cincinnati Reds season
The 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...
in the 1972 World Series
1972 World Series
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...
.
Game 1
October 7, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County ColiseumMcAfee Coliseum
O.co Coliseum is a multi-purpose stadium, located in Oakland, California, in the Coliseum Industrial area...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | |
| Oakland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 1 | |
| W: 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... (1-0) L: Mickey Lolich Mickey Lolich Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:... (0-1) |
|||||||||||||||
| HR: DET – Norm Cash Norm Cash Norman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers... (1), Al Kaline Al Kaline Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and... (1) |
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Game 1 was a pitching duel with 20-game winners, Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
(22-14) and 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...
(21-7). Norm Cash
Norm Cash
Norman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
hit a solo home run in the second inning to put the Tigers ahead, but the A's struck back in the third inning as 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...
walked, moved to third on a single, and scored on a sacrifice fly by 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...
. The score remained tied, 1-1, through ten innings. in the top of the 11th inning, Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
hit a solo home run 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...
to put Detroit ahead. After 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...
and Mike Epstein
Mike Epstein
Michael Peter Epstein , nicknamed SuperJew, is a former Major League Baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and California Angels from –....
singled to open the bottom of the 11th, Chuck Seelbach
Chuck Seelbach
Charles Frederick "Chuck" Seelbach is a right-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball.Seelbach played baseball at Dartmouth College from 1968-1970 and still ranks among Dartmouth's all time leaders in winning percentage , strikeouts , and shutouts .Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1st...
came on in relief of Lolich who had pitched 10 innings. Gonzalo Márquez
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 to right, driving in two runs to give the A's the win in Game 1.
Game 2
October 8, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County ColiseumMcAfee Coliseum
O.co Coliseum is a multi-purpose stadium, located in Oakland, California, in the Coliseum Industrial area...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Oakland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| W: 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:... (1-0) L: Woodie Fryman Woodie Fryman Woodrow Thompson Fryman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A two-time National League All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers to the 1972 American League Championship Series.-Pittsburgh Pirates:Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with... (0-1) |
||||||||||||
| HR: None | ||||||||||||
Game 2 was a lopsided 5-0 win for the A's, as 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:...
(15-6) pitched a complete game shutout and held the Tigers to three hits. Woodie Fryman
Woodie Fryman
Woodrow Thompson Fryman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A two-time National League All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers to the 1972 American League Championship Series.-Pittsburgh Pirates:Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with...
(10-3), who had been virtually unhittable in August and September, gave up four runs in 4-1/3 innings. 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...
singled in the first inning, stole second and third on successive pitches, and then scored on a single by 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...
. Campaneris singled again in the third inning, and singled and scored again in the firth inning. When Campaneris came to bat in the seventh inning, Lerrin LaGrow
Lerrin LaGrow
Lerrin Harris LaGrow was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played 10 seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , St...
's first pitch hit Campaneris in the ankle. Campaneris staggered for a moment, glared at LaGrow and then flung his bat toward the mound. The bat spiraled at LaGrow five feet off the ground, but LaGrow ducked, and the bat narrowly missed LaGrow, landing a few feet behind the mound. A bench-clearing brawl ensued, and Tigers manager Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
had to be restrained by umpires and teammates to prevent him from going after Campaneris. Both LaGrow and Campaneris were suspended for the rest of the ALCS.
Game 3
October 10, 1972 at Tiger Stadium| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Detroit | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 3 | 8 | 1 |
| W: Joe Coleman (1-0) L: 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... (0-1) |
||||||||||||
| HR: DET – Bill Freehan Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers... (1) |
||||||||||||
The Series moved to Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
for the final three games. In Game 3, Joe Coleman (19-14) pitched a complete game shutout and set an ALCS record by striking out 14 A's batters. The Tigers won, 3-0, as Ike Brown
Ike Brown
Isaac Brown was an infielder/outfielder in the Negro leagues and a utilityman in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers from 1969 through 1974...
hit a single in the 4th inning that drove in Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
and Bill Freehan
Bill Freehan
William Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
. Freehan also hit a home run in the 8th inning to complete the scoring. 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...
(19-11) was the losing pitcher for the A's.
Game 4
October 11, 1972 at Tiger Stadium| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
| Detroit | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
| W: John Hiller John Hiller John Frederick Hiller is a former left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers. After suffering a heart attack in 1971, he returned to the team and recorded 38 saves in – a major league record until 1983, and a team record until 2000... (1-0) L: Bob Locker Bob Locker Robert Awtry Locker is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1975 for five different teams. The sinker-balling Locker never made a start in his big-league career.- Biography :... (0-1) |
|||||||||||||
| HR: OAK – Mike Epstein Mike Epstein Michael Peter Epstein , nicknamed SuperJew, is a former Major League Baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and California Angels from –.... (1) DET – Dick McAuliffe Dick McAuliffe Richard John McAuliffe is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from to and for the Boston Red Sox from to . He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship, and was known for his... (1) |
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Game 4 was the most exciting game of the Series and was rated by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
as one of the five greatest games ever played at Tiger Stadium. The game featured a rematch of Game 1 -- Mickey Lolich
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:...
for Detroit and 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...
for Oakland. Detroit took the lead in the 3rd inning on a solo home run by Dick McAuliffe
Dick McAuliffe
Richard John McAuliffe is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from to and for the Boston Red Sox from to . He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship, and was known for his...
, and Lolich held the A's scoreless through six innings. The A's tied the game, 1-1, on a Mike Epstein
Mike Epstein
Michael Peter Epstein , nicknamed SuperJew, is a former Major League Baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and California Angels from –....
home run in the 7th inning, and the game went into extra innings with the score tied, 1-1. In the top of the 10th inning, Chuck Seelbach
Chuck Seelbach
Charles Frederick "Chuck" Seelbach is a right-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball.Seelbach played baseball at Dartmouth College from 1968-1970 and still ranks among Dartmouth's all time leaders in winning percentage , strikeouts , and shutouts .Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1st...
replaced Lolich and gave up two runs. With the Tigers on the verge of elimination, the Tigers staged a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the 10th inning. Dick McAuliffe
Dick McAuliffe
Richard John McAuliffe is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from to and for the Boston Red Sox from to . He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship, and was known for his...
and Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
opened the inning with singles, and Gates Brown
Gates Brown
William James "Gates" Brown is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
walked to load the bases with nobody out. Bill Freehan
Bill Freehan
William Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
bounced a double play ball to third, but Sal Bando's throw to second baseman Gene Tenace was dropped, allowing McAuliffe to score. Norm Cash
Norm Cash
Norman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
walked, and Kaline scored to tie the game at 3-3. Jim Northrup ended it with a walk-off game-winning single, as Gates Brown
Gates Brown
William James "Gates" Brown is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
scored the winning run.
Game 5
October 12, 1972 at Tiger Stadium| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Detroit | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| W: 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:... (2-0) L: Woodie Fryman Woodie Fryman Woodrow Thompson Fryman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A two-time National League All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers to the 1972 American League Championship Series.-Pittsburgh Pirates:Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with... (0-2) S: 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... (1) |
||||||||||||
| HR: None | ||||||||||||
The decisive Game 5 was another pitching duel between 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:...
and Woodie Fryman
Woodie Fryman
Woodrow Thompson Fryman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A two-time National League All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers to the 1972 American League Championship Series.-Pittsburgh Pirates:Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with...
. Both teams combined for only nine hits, and the only extra-base hit was a double by Odom. The Tigers scored first in the bottom of the first inning, as Dick McAuliffe
Dick McAuliffe
Richard John McAuliffe is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from to and for the Boston Red Sox from to . He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship, and was known for his...
singled, moved to second on a walk, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on a groundball by Bill Freehan
Bill Freehan
William Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
. The A's tied in the top of the second inning, as 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...
walked, stole second base, advanced to third on a fly ball, and then stole home. In the fourth inning, George Hendrick
George Hendrick
George Andrew Hendrick Jr. is a former major league outfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels. However Hendrick is best remembered as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom he played for from 1979–84. He was a...
reached base on a controversial throwing error (umpire John Rice ruled that first baseman Norm Cash had pulled his foot off the bag but replays showed otherwise). He advanced to second on a bunt, and scored on a 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...
single to left field. Neither team scored a run after the top of the fourth, and the A's won the game, 2-1. In the 9th inning, Norm Cash
Norm Cash
Norman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
singled, but pinch hitter Mickey Stanley
Mickey Stanley
Mitchell Jack "Mickey" Stanley was a baseball player for the Detroit Tigers from 1964-1978. Stanley was known as a superb defensive outfielder over his 15-year career, though he is best remembered for the last few weeks of the 1968 season.-Early life:Stanley prepped at Ottawa Hills High School in...
hit into a fielder's choice and Tony Taylor
Tony Taylor
Antonio Nemesio Taylor is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1958 through , Taylor played for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers...
hit a fly ball to center for the final out. Odom and 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...
combined to hold the Tigers to four hits. Despite allowing only one earned run, Fryman took the loss.
Batting
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norm Cash Norm Cash Norman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers... |
5 | 16 | 4 | .250 | 1 | 2 |
| Willie Horton | 5 | 10 | 1 | .100 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Kaline Al Kaline Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and... |
5 | 19 | 5 | .263 | 1 | 1 |
| Dick McAuliffe Dick McAuliffe Richard John McAuliffe is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop and second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from to and for the Boston Red Sox from to . He was a part of the Tigers' 1968 World Series championship, and was known for his... |
5 | 20 | 4 | .200 | 1 | 1 |
| Jim Northrup | 5 | 15 | 5 | .333 | 0 | 1 |
| Aurelio Rodríguez Aurelio Rodríguez Aurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. , was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles... |
5 | 16 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
| Duke Sims Duke Sims Duane B. Sims was a Major League Baseball catcher who played from 1964 to 1974 with the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers.... |
4 | 15 | 3 | .200 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony Taylor Tony Taylor Antonio Nemesio Taylor is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. From 1958 through , Taylor played for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers... |
4 | 15 | 2 | .133 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Freehan Bill Freehan William Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers... |
3 | 12 | 3 | .250 | 1 | 3 |
Pitching
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mickey Lolich Mickey Lolich Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979 who played the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers.-Baseball career:... |
2 | 19.0 | 0 | 1 | 1.42 | 9 |
| Woodie Fryman Woodie Fryman Woodrow Thompson Fryman was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A two-time National League All-Star, he is best remembered as the mid-season acquisition that helped lead the Detroit Tigers to the 1972 American League Championship Series.-Pittsburgh Pirates:Fryman was 25 years old when he signed with... |
2 | 12.1 | 0 | 2 | 3.65 | 8 |
| Joe Coleman | 1 | 9.0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 14 |
| John Hiller John Hiller John Frederick Hiller is a former left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers. After suffering a heart attack in 1971, he returned to the team and recorded 38 saves in – a major league record until 1983, and a team record until 2000... |
3 | 3.1 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 |