This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons
.com for more sports history. You are about to
enter another dimension. You are being transported
to a baseball fantasy land more bizarre than
anything Abner Doubleday ever dared to dream.
A land where the good guys always wear white
shoes. They come gloriously garbed in Kelly green
and gold uniforms. Brashly brandishing bushy
mustaches and sideburns. With the magic A apostrophe
S emblazoned on their chests to ward off such
evil spirits as tigers. Oreos, White Sox, and
Reds. Their thrilling outlandish deeds will be
forever chronicled in the great baseball annals
under the name of the Oakland A's. But to those
who knew them well, they will always be remembered
as family heroes. You know, there's a very thin
line between reality and fiction. And the incredible
1972 baseball season seemed to hover in that
gray, nebulous area that separates credibility
from imagination. But despite their miracle finishes
and phantasmagorical plays, this was the year
that the irrepressible Oakland A's were going
to prove to the world that they were a very for
-real team. Under the watchful eye of Charlie
Finley, the team that was to win the championship
of 72 began to take shape many years before.
From draft choices and college campuses through
trades in the minor league system came player
after player until the A's had built themselves
into one of the most talent -laden teams in the
major leagues. Gone were those losing years in
Kansas City and long gone the Philadelphia origins
of this team. This Oakland team was unique. It
was probably the most talented in all of baseball
and certainly the most colorful. They all laughed
when the A's introduced baseball's first multicolored
uniform. And white kangaroo shoes. And mustaches.
And a mule named Charlie O grazing in the grass
beyond the outfield. But when 50 ,182 fans come
out on a family night to see the A's do battle
with the Orioles at the Coliseum in Oakland,
and that same Oakland team goes on to win the
World Series to repay its loyal fans, you know
to whom the last laugh belongs. Congratulations
to you. Thank you very much. Let me hold you
here a second that you were voted. It sounds
like the most valuable player by Sport Magazine.
You're going to get that Dodge Charger. Have
you heard that? Drive that back to Ohio, huh?
Thank you very much. Raleigh, you have just done
an unbelievable job time after time in the playoffs
against Detroit. You went in, runners at first
and third, nobody down. You got out of it. Runners
at first and third went out. You got out of it.
You've never been in a bigger jam than here today.
What did you say to yourself? I just tried. I
was trying to find six outs of my glove when
I went in. That's all. I'll tell you, I was tired
yesterday, and I went out there today. I didn't
think I could go two innings. When I was sowing,
I felt bad. I got out there, and all of a sudden,
everything started clicking together. My slider
was breaking, and I sown my fastball right where
I wanted to. Raleigh, right before you made the
pitch, with runners at second and third after
bench stole, you had a 3 -2 count. I noticed
you took that ball here three times and said
something to yourself. Yeah, I was saying a little
prayer out there. I was saying a lot. Monty,
they're sneaking up behind you. You've got Catfish
Hunter behind you. I've got John Odom. Why don't
you talk to Catfish first? All right, Jim Hunter.
You went in in relief today. You've done a fantastic
job through the playoffs and the series and great
pressure pitching. You've got to be a happy man
right now. I am, Monty. I think I'm the happiest
I've ever been in my life. Was the pressure anything
today like it was in the Detroit series to you?
I think it was more today. You know, there's
so much riding on and everything, and today I
went out there. I didn't have real good stuff,
but I made some pitches that they should have
hit out of the ballpark, but luckily they didn't.
Jim, it seemed as though you were a little nervous
for the first time I can ever remember when you
came in. You had a little control problem, even
made a wild pitch. That's right, Monty. You know,
when you come out here like you've got to make
a pitch, and I was just a little bit nervous,
but we won. That's all that counts. Nice going,
Catfish. Thank you very much. The magical, mystical
A's were an inspired blend of baseball talent,
honed to a fever pitch by the mustachioed maestro
of big league managers, Dick Williams. He was
able to mold this young, aggressive collection
of players into a winning unit. that shared a
camaraderie and unit of spirit unmatched on any
playing field at any time, anywhere. Throughout
the season, again and again, they rose to the
occasion. This was the team of destiny in 1972.
This was the Oakland A's. Heroes, one and all.
Heroes like Joe Rudy. It's the last half of the
11th inning. The score is tied 3 -3. And wouldn't
you know it, the A's are starting the season
on an exciting note already. With one out, Joe
Rudy is on third base. Rudy opened the inning
with a double, and Reggie Jackson, the A's leading
home run hitter the past couple of years, crossed
the Twins up by bunting Rudy over to third base.
Now it's up to pinch hitter Gene Tennis, who's
batting for left -handed swinging Mike Hegan.
Bill Rigney has just brought in Dave LaRoche,
a left -hand reliever. With a great record, the
Twins picked him up in a winner deal from the
California Angels. Gene Tennis at the plate.
LaRoche will work off the stretch with Rudy coming
down off third. They want to hold Joe on as closely
as possible. The infield is in. Soderholm, Thompson,
Carew, and Killebrew. The catcher, George Mitterwald,
gives the sign. Now the target. LaRoche is set.
Around comes the yard. In rides the pitch. Tennis
swings. There's a bouncing ball right side of
the infield. Rudy's going to try to score. Carew
picks the ball up. Here's the throw to the plate.
It's going to be closed. Mitterwald's got the
ball. Rudy crashes into him, and the ball is
knocked loose. Rudy is safe at the plate and
the A's win 4 -3. Last half of the 19th inning,
the longest game ever played by the A's here
in Oakland. The Chicago White Sox and the A's
went five hours plus last night. 17 innings didn't
decide a thing. Tonight it's the 19th as they
continue last night's suspended game. Stan Bonson,
a starter for the Chicago White Sox, has been
brought on in relief. And he's pitching to Joe
Rudy with a runner at second base. A base hit
by Rudy could give the A's a big win over the
Chicago White Sox. Campy Campanaris, who opened
the inning with a single, is on at second. Sacrifice
down to second. Joe Rudy is ready. Bonson pitches.
The pitch is swung under. The long drive to center
field. That one's got a chance. It's really got
a charge in it. And there she goes! The A's win!
Heroes like Sal Bando. Fans would like nothing
better than to see Bando put a charge into one
and light up the scoreboard. The A's and the
Yankees, nothing, nothing. It's the last half
of the fourth inning. The bases are loaded for
the A's captain Bando against Mel Stottlemeyer.
Stottlemeyer goes into the windup. Joe Rudy comes
down off third. Around comes the arm. In rides
the pitch. Bando swings. you'll have to do it.
Heroes like the Oakland A's speedy shortstop,
Campy Campanaris. The top half of the 10th inning,
Campy Campanaris leading off against Gaylord
Perry. Transplant from the National League is
having a super year for the Cleveland Indians.
And what a battle he's hooked up in here tonight.
John Odom made only 71 pitches through nine innings.
We're in the 10th now and Perry is still going.
The game tied 2 -2. Here's Campy Campanaris.
It's a no ball, one strike count. Campy ready
at the plate. Perry into the windup. Here's the
pitch. Campanera swings. Campy Campanera is on
as a pinch runner, knowing he has to steal two
bases tonight to pass Dave Nelson of Texas for
the American League Stolen Base Championship.
Nelson stole three bases tonight in the final
game for Texas to take a one -game lead over
Campanera. Campy leading off first. Marquez,
the batter. Here's Nolan Ryan's pitch. Campanaris
has got to go. Thorberg makes the catch. Here's
the throw down to second. Campy slides. He is
saved. He's tagged, Nelson. Campy Campanaris
in a nothing -nothing game steals a big base.
Big for his own chances and big for the A's.
Now, if Marquez can get a base hit, the A's could
take a lead in the ball game. Campanaris leads
down off second base. He's got a big lead. Ryan
down to the stretch. If Campy steals third, here
he is. wins the stolen base championship of the
league. Here comes the pitch. Marquez takes.
Campanaris is going. Here's the goal from Tobar.
Down to third. Can't be slagged. Beep, beep.
The roadrunner steals it and wins it again. And
then there were heroes like Reggie Jackson. The
pitch is swung on. There's a drive deep right
center field. Reggie Jackson's going to have
to go to... Game tied. Last half of the ninth
inning. A's 2, Angels 2. Eddie Fisher, knuckleballer,
on in relief of Rick Clark of the California
Angels. Reggie Jackson, who hits knuckleballers
pretty well, standing at the plate. Here's Fisher's
wind. The pitch on the way. It is swung on. Reggie
Jackson, I believe. And Finley's heroes included
pitching stars such as Catfish Hunter. The Catfish
Hunter one out away from winning number 20. A
mark that he says means more to him than pitching
the perfect game. Headboard at the plate. Here's
the pitch from Hunter. It's a slider. Breaking
low and away. Swung on. Bouncing ball right side.
He's got it. Hunter going to cover first. Mike
shovels it to him. The Catfish has got the baseball
crossing the bag. He wins number 20. The catfish
can blow it by him when he has to. He has struck
out over 190 men a couple of years in a row.
Around comes the arm. Here's the pitch. Blazing
fastball swinging strike three, and catfish on
ten pitches strikes out the side. Another ace
on the A's staff was John Blue Moon Odom, who
had to fight to win a spot on this year's pitching
staff with some stout -hearted work in Arizona.
Sounds strange to say that a 26 -year -old right
-hander might be making a comeback, but here's
John Odom out on the mound right now on his first
start this year. Two runners on facing Billy
Canigliaro. He's been in a lot of trouble in
this ballgame already. Skipper Dick Williams
wanted him to go five innings in his first game,
and he is not allowed to run. Here's the pitch.
Runners leading first and second. Canigliaro
swings. Little fly ball out towards left field.
Joe Rudy comes in under the ball. He has got
it, and Johnny Odom has gone through his first
five innings of the year. Unscored on. It's Milwaukee
nothing and Oakland nothing. Blue Moon Odom in
his final tune -up prior to the start of the
American League Championship playoff series against
the California Angels leading one to nothing.
It's the fifth inning. Kenny Berry is the batter
at the plate with runners at first and third.
Odom gets set. Checks the runner at first with
a glance over the left shoulder. Here's the pitch
to Berry. And the right -handed batter is fooled
badly on that curveball. Hits a little looping
liner out towards second base. Under the ball,
Tim Cullen, he has got it, and Odom has gone
through five innings leading one to another.
Then there was last year's rookie sensation,
Vida Blue, who, due to a contract dispute, missed
spring training and got off to a late start.
Vida, in his most impressive performance by far
of 1972, has pitched a perfect game for five
and two -thirds innings. Not a Texas Ranger's
been on base. Here's the left -hander's pitch
on the way to the plate. Rich Hand, the Texas
pitcher, squares around. He busts the ball down
the third baseline. Bida comes off the map, picks
it up. He falls down. He throws the first. It
is too late. And there's going to be a very interesting
decision here on whether or not the first hit
of the game is a hit or an error on Bida. It
is ruled a base hit. So the no -hitter is broken
up, and the Rangers have a runner on. With Vida
leading off second base and one out, Joe Rudy
swings. There's a fly ball to left center field.
Ted Ford of the Rangers goes over, gets under.
Vida back to tag up at second. He's going to
go to third. Ted Ford makes the catch. He puts
his head down and starts trotting into the ball.
He takes it to third out, and Irv Norton is waiting.
Vida to the plate. Here comes the throw to Mason,
the shortstop. Mason throws to Billings at the
plate. Vida slides. He is safe. He scores from
second on a fly ball to left field. In the bullpen
whenever they needed him. Oakland could always
count on the cool, steady hand of the tall Raleigh
Fingers. With the Indians leading the A's 2 -1
in the last half of the seventh inning, Raleigh
Fingers on in relief has done a spectacular job.
He came on, bases loaded, nobody out. He got
the double play. Now with Eddie Leon at the plate,
the bases are loaded again. If the A's are to
stay close, Raleigh's got to get this man, Leon,
ready at the plate. The big guy drops down, working
off the stretch, even with the bases loaded.
Here's the pitch, a sidearm curveball, Eddie
Leon, swing! And when the A's needed the long
bomb, the knockout punch, their heavyweight heavy
swinger was Mike Epstein. Jackson leads off second,
tennis off first. Here's the pitch to Mike Epstein.
There's a drive, hit deep to right field, way
back, way back, and it is gone! Home run, Epstein!
3 -2 Oakland! Big Mike got the first pitch and
drove it deep over the head of Ted Ford into
the seats. And Oakland comes roaring back. Two
walks on a home run. How does that grab you,
Monty? I tell you, it grabs Ted Williams where
it hurts. Epstein holding against the runners.
A slow curve. Bet swung on. Line drive hit into
right field. Epstein makes a dive. Hey, he knocked
the ball down. He's got it in front of him. Holland
going to cover the bag to throw to first. Epstein
makes a super play. Talented young players without
big reputations pitched in when the chips were
down. George Hendricks, for example. Last half
of the 10th inning. First place in the Western.
The vision is at stake. The A's trail by a run
of the Chicago White Sox. Over 32 ,600 fans on
their feet chanting. Hendrick is at the plate
with a runner at second base. A base hit could
tie the ball game. Keeley at the stretch. Throws
to the plate. George Hendrick swings. There's
a long drive. Hey, he has really hit this one.
That ball's got a charge in it and it's got a
chance. It is over the right center field wall
and the A's win 5 -4 to sweep the series from
the White Sox and take over first. George Hendrick,
the hero in yesterday's game for the A's over
the White Sox. Stands at the plate now. Tie game,
seventh inning, one and one. Pete Broberg of
the Rangers winds. Here comes the pitch. George
swings. There's a line drive. Hey, he's done
it again. This ball is going out of the ballpark.
There were many other A's who earned the rank
of heroes for their consistent effort and team
play. Men like Ken Holtzman, who came to the
A's from the Cubs in exchange for Rick Mundy
and one of the biggest trades that Charlie Finley
made during the winter. Kenny went on, of course,
to win 19 big games. 2 -2 pitch to Horton. Curve
swinging, strike three, missed it a mile. Dennis
drops the ball, but throws the first for the
out. Horton never knew where it was. 2 -2 pitch.
Brown takes a burning fastball. He had him overmatched.
Strike three called. He popped that one in there.
There were such men as first baseman and pinch
hitter deluxe Mike Hegan. It's the 12th inning.
We're tied at 3 -3, and Dick Green has just sacrificed
Bobby Brooks down to second base. Mike Hegan
pinch hitting for Raleigh Fingers, who did a
super job for three and a third inning to relieve.
Hegan batting against Lindy McDaniel. Base hit
could break the tie. Here's McDaniel's windup.
The pitch on the way. It's a fork ball. Hegan
swings. He... And there was catcher Dave Duncan.
in their seats, but that's one time I didn't
mind seeing a guy come out there. Boy, he was
wrapped up in it. And reserve catcher Gene Tennis.
Here's the 1 -0 pitch. There's a drive deep left
field way back, way back, and there she goes!
Gene Tennis rips one into the seat to left field,
and the fireworks are going here today. That's
Gene Tennis' fourth home run of the year in the
A's league. 8 -0. Mercy, I haven't had this kind
of two innings in a month. In a year. Late in
the season, Charlie Finley added a little guy
from the National League named Matty Alou. 1
-0 pitch. There's a drive to right and... Another
late season addition, Dow Maxville proved to
be a tremendous help to the Oakland A's playing
both shortstop and second base. And there was
Larry Brown, outstanding utility infielder who
did such a good job at second base until a back
injury forced him out of action for the last
half of the season. And of course, then there
was super sinker baller Bob Locker who did such
a tremendous job for the A's out of the bullpen.
And veteran Joe Horland, who both relieved and
started. Then there were Tim Cullen and Ted Kubiak,
both of whom played a lot of second base and
did it well for the A's. First baseman Don Mincher.
Outfielder Angel Mangual. Pinch hitter Supreme
Gonzalo Marquez. And pinch running specialist,
the Panamanian Express, Alan Lewis, who stole
some big bases for the A's in the pennant drive.
And of course, Darryl Knowles, one of the best
relief pitchers in the major leagues. had the
misfortune to break his thumb late in September
and miss the playoffs in the World Series. Rookie
left -hander Dave Hamilton, who won six of his
first seven games to give the A's a great lift
when they needed it in the pitching department.
Add all this together with a fighting spirit
kept alive by a fine coaching staff of Bill Posdell,
Herb Noren, Jerry Adair, and Vern Hoshike, and
it's easy to see how the Oakland A's hung the
White Sox out to dry as they went on to capture
the Western Division title. A crowd of 9 ,155
diehard. Hoping against hope, the A's can pull
off the miracle finish and nail it all down right
here in the Coliseum. One out, two men on. 7
-5, Minnesota. Last half of the eighth inning.
Granger is ready. Here's the pitch. Line drive,
base hit. Into center field. They're going to
hold Mike up. The bases are loaded. And a single
American tie it as Dave Duncan went up the middle.
At one time. Oakland was down 7 -0. The magic
number is one. And I'll say one thing, win or
lose, the A's are going down fighting one way
or the other in this final game at the Coliseum.
Here's the pitch. A base hit by center field.
Epstein at the score. Here comes Lewis. And on
the third, goes by the blue. 7 -7, believe it
or not, and the place is going crazy. We are
tied at 7 -0. Seven and seven. The Twins have
11 hits. The A's have 10. Mando leads off first.
Here's the pitch. Maxville swings away. That's
not the way the A's play. They make it happen,
and they made it happen today, winning 8 -7.
Dick Williams kept a tight grip on the reins
all season long, making the key moves at the
right time, game after game. But his most memorable
managerial feat was brought about by injury and
necessity, playing musical chairs at second base.
This constantly rotating lineup, which seemed
to take off in the classic Abbott and Costello
routine of who's on first, saw eight different
men playing second base for the A's during the
regular season. Skipper Dick Williams' managerial
ingenuity was really put to the test in 1972
in several ways. One of Dick's toughest tasks
was holding the team together and keeping them
in the tough pennant race despite injuries to
such key personnel as Reggie Jackson. Reggie
missed some three weeks due to a rib injury incurred
in a fight with the Kansas City Royals. The Swingin'
A's clenched the western flag a week before the
four -way dogfight in the east was over. They
watched and waited to see who their playoff opponent
would be. First the Yankees bit the dust. Then
the Orioles got shot down. And on the next to
last day of the regular season, the Red Sox lost
and Detroit won. Now the Tigers were coming to
Oakland. for the second consecutive year. Last
time, they were unceremoniously dumped in three
straight games by the Orioles. This time, against
the Tigers, it would be different. Game one at
the Coliseum, and both teams started their ace
pitcher. Mickey Lulich for Detroit, Catfish Hunter
for the A's. The Tigers struck first. Detroit
and Oakland, no score. Leadoff batter in the
top of the second inning. He's got that one back
in the third inning. Hunter pitched excellent
four -hit baseball until being lifted with one
out in the ninth inning. Vida Blue and then Raleigh
Fingers continued to hold the score at one and
one. Nobody out. Top half of the ninth inning.
at first and third base. Raleigh Fingers in his
toughest assignment of this season or any other.
Gates Brown down in the crouch. Here's the pitch.
Fly ball off third. Bando may have a play on
this ball. He is out there. He's under it. He's
got it. And the runners have to hold on. One
big out. Count of three and one. Fingers throwing.
Northrop bounces towards Kubiak. He's got it.
airs at second one. Over to first. Double play.
He did it. Until the top half of the eleventh
inning. Here is Al Keyline and Hunter did a good
job handling him today. One -two pitch on the
way. Then in the bottom of the 11th, the A's,
who had Lulich on the ropes all game long but
were unable to score, rallied dramatically to
knock Lulich and the Tigers out. One ball, two
strikes to count on Marquez. Runners now at first
and second. And if they don't do it in this inning,
it'll be all over. Selbach ready again. Here's
the pitch. Hot shot, ground, right field. Game
two was a wild one. Campy started it off. Here's
a 3 -2 pitch. Line drives through the middle.
They tip. Campanaro takes a big turn at first
and hangs on as he really ripped out a rope right
then. And now here comes Matty Alou, a guy that
the Oakland A's picked up from the National League.
He was hitting over 300 over there, and he has
been a big hitter for the Oakland A's since he
came here from the St. Louis Cardinals. Priming
off the stretch. Checking Campy. There goes Campanaris.
The pitch is taken. Throw to second. He's right
on target. But Campanaris beats it. Here's Joe
Rudy who ended the regular season for the A's
batting .305. He knocked in Oakland's first run
yesterday with a long sacrifice fly ball to center
field. Rudy down into a crouch at the plate.
Campanaris is going towards third. Here's the
pitch taken inside. Campy slides. He makes it.
Then in the fifth inning, the A's exploded for
more. inside to right field for a base hit. And
the A's go on first through to nothing. And now
Joe Rudy with two hits will step in with a man
on first and third. Zachary. He doesn't take
too much time when he gets that ball in position
to throw it. He lets it go right away. Shaking
off a couple of signs. Now he's ready. Goes to
the belt and delivers. There's a ball gets away
from the catcher. And can't be a score easily.
A flaking ball in the dirt. Way in front of plate.
And the A's go out in front. Three to nothing.
So with one out, Ricky Jackson will step in.
He looks down for a sign right now. Three and
two on Jackson. Let's see if the runner will
be going. No, he's not. There's a line drive.
Face it on the left center field. That ball goes
right to his face. Here comes a little round
circle. Here comes Rudy. Jackson, now he's going
to try for three. Changes mind as nobody covers
second base. In the seventh inning, Campy really
got something started. Campy is mad. He throws
a bat at him. Oh, that could cost Campanaris
playing in a World Series or something. Home
plate on par. Nestor Sharlock has got him. Campanaris
was hit in the leg by a pitch, and he threw the
bat at the pitcher. Oh, man, I've got to hope
that nothing serious happened here. Billy Martin
is having to be restrained. I would be surprised
they didn't kick Campanaris out of this ballgame.
He is out of the ballgame, and Dick Williams
is coming up to argue. I mean, he came carefully
close to that bat. I have no doubt that they
threw at Campanaris' legs, though. I am almost
certain of it. And Campy knew it, too, and he
came up. And didn't even make a move out there.
Now they're going to throw the girl out of the
game, too. He's gone. Oakland went on to an easy
5 -0 victory with Blue Moon Odom chalking up
a superb three -hit shutout. On the negative
side, Campanaris was fined and suspended by the
president of the American League for the remainder
of the playoffs as a result of a bat -throwing
incident. Game three moved to Detroit, and the
Tigers, on the verge of extinction, fought as
ferociously as a wounded beast. Tiger catcher
Bill Freehand came off the injured list to hit
a double and a home run, and right -handed pitcher
Joe Coleman struck out 14 A's batters to lead
the Tigers to a 3 -0 win. Then came game number
four. In the seventh inning, Mike Epstein came
up to bat with Tigers leading 1 -0. Low leech
delivered. There's a drive by Epstein, way back.
The 10th inning was as wild as any inning all
year, but very typical of the kind of year the
Oakland A's had. With the game tied at 1 -1,
Matty Alou came to bat. Marquez with a pretty
good lead off of first base. All back looking
over there. Here's the delivery, and Alou hits
the long... Ted Kubiak then got another hit,
and the A's carried a two -run lead to the last
half of the 10th inning, looking as if they had
the Tiger by the tail and the American League
title all wrapped up. But the Tigers sent Detroit
fans into a state of delirium with a three -run
rally to send the playoffs to a climactic fifth
game. No playoff series in history had extended
to five games before, yet in this, the incredible
season of 72, not only was the American League
championship drawn to the limit, but the National
League as well. That great Tiger win yesterday
set the stage for game number five. The entire
American League season had been boiled down to
this one game, the championship game to pick
an American League World Series team. And 50
,276 wild fireworks -toting fans gathered at
Tiger Stadium in Detroit for the kill. But they
were in for quite a surprise. They didn't know
the swinging eggs. The game started off as usual
for Oakland. They fell behind early, this time
in the first inning. The Tigers now have runners
at second and third and only one out. With Bill
freehand the batter. Two and one, Odom in real
trouble. Wines, kicks, and fires. Bouncing ball
is short. Here comes McCall to the plate. He
scores, and the throw goes to first. They got
the out there. In the A's second inning, The
A's got that run back on some of the most daring
and resourceful base running of the season by
Reggie Jackson. But it proved to be a very costly
run. One strike count to Greeney. There goes
the runner from first. The pitch is taken. Throw
down a second base. Here comes Jackson towards
the plate. Here comes the throw. Jackson's leg
injury was severe. Not only would he miss the
rest of this climactic showdown game with the
Tigers, but he would be forced to watch the World
Series from the A's dugout while hobbling around
on crutches. Without their superstar, the A's
were hurting. But this United team pulled together.
And in the fourth inning, Gene Tennis gave an
indication of heroics which were soon to blossom
in the World Series. Vida Blue replaced John
Odom in the sixth inning, and the A's super pitching
staff continued to show its stuff. It was now
the bottom of the ninth, the A's leading 2 -1.
Tony Taylor moves up to the plate. The count
is two balls, two strikes. There are two down.
There's a runner at first base. Charlie Finley's
swinging A's were in the World Series, and nobody
was more proud than Finley himself. If his heroes
could just come through one more time. Give it
that one more extra effort, his dream of winning
a World Series and bringing the very first World
Championship ever to the Bay Area would come
true. Game one was played at Riverfront Stadium
in Cincinnati, and the Reds were made the overwhelming
favorites to win. But the oddsmakers hadn't figured
on the red hot bat of one Gene Tennis. Duvall's
one strike fastball, deep left field, Rose goes
back, looks up and it is gone. Home run for Gene
Tennis. and throws him a curve and he lines it
down the line very deep inside the flagpole and
it is a home run. Gene Tennis, who went 0 for
15 and then won the playoff game against Detroit,
hit a home run in the second inning off a fastball,
hit a hanging Gary Nolan curve and has lined
his second home run in two times at bat in his
first World Series. The score was 3 -2 in favor
of Oakland with the Reds threatening when Dick
Williams went to the bullpen. And out came Raleigh
Fingers. Fingers kicks that white shoe in the
air and throws a curve and strikes out Perez.
That ball really broke. Fingers at the belt.
Here's the pitch. Swinging strike three. He left
Menke up there. And Raleigh Fingers, whom the
A's call the Kookamonga Kid, has come out of
that bullpen to strike out the two men he's faced.
One strike to count on Rose. Right of blue winds.
Here's the pitch. High bouncing ball on the infield.
They're going to have to hurry. Kubiak has got
it. Throws to first. He got him. And the Oakland
A's have won the first game of the 1972 World
Series. The final score of an exciting ball game.
Oakland 3 and Cincinnati 2. Game 2 was another
spine -tingling, seat -squirming thriller. Kemsley's
pitch. Hunter hits a line drive left field. Base
hit. Let's see if Hendrick can score. He's rounding
third. Here comes a throw to the plate. Here
comes Hendrick. Bench blocks the plate, but he
doesn't get the ball. Hendrick scores. And the
Oakland A's are leading the Cincinnati Reds.
That's one to nothing on a line drive base hit
by Jim Catfish Hunter. Menke dug in at home plate
for Hunter's pitch, which is on the way. It's
a swinging strike three. Hunter threw the high
hard one right by him. And that for Catfish is
his third strike out of the game. So Dick Williams
is going to take his chances right here with
Geronimo. Runners second and third. Now the North
Carolinian cuts loose. and two pitch. He struck
out the side. Catfish Hunter displaying fantastic
courage with a runner at third and nobody down.
Strikes out Minky Geronimo and Grimsley. And
after two innings of play, it's one to nothing
Oakland. Pitch to Rudy is hit up into the air
and a deep left field. That baby is... 1972 World
Series. Hendrick is all the way over the left
field, slapping Rudy on the back. He went four
or five or six feet in the air, and when he came
down, it's what they call an ice cream cone.
A lot of the white was showing. But Joe Rudy
catches the line drive of Dennis Menke, and that's
enough to bring Dick Williams out of there with
his scorecard. Two out now. Catfish Hunter, one
out away from winning the second World Series.
and the Reds down 2 -0 in games and heading for
the opponent's ballpark. Bando raced to the dugout
to ask Dick Williams something. Now he's in back
of the bag, near the line to guard against the
extra base hit. They'll give him the one run,
but they don't want the extra base hit. Ground
ball in the hole right there. Around third base
comes Perez. The throw goes to second. They'll
give him the one run. Hunter worked eight and
two -thirds innings. Gave up one run. Could be
responsible for another. Six hits. Struck out
six and walked three. There goes the runner.
Big curveball. It is popped up in play. Hegan
comes off first base. Has it. Oakland goes home.
Leading two games to none. Fingers does the job
for Catfish Hunter. The entire Oakland team is
out on the field in the playing diamond looking
for Raleigh Fingers. Two runs. Nine hits. No
errors for the winning A's, one run, six hits,
no errors for the Reds. The swinging A's had
swept the first two games of the series away
from home against the powerful National League
champion Reds. No team in the history of the
World Series had ever lost the first two games
on their home grounds and went on to win it.
But the Reds were a proud, confident bunch as
they waited for the Oakland Reigns to end and
game three to get underway. This was a classic
pitching duel between Blue Moon Odom and Jack
Billingham. The first three games were all decided
by one run. Game four was another one -run affair.
It typified the great pitching, smooth fielding,
and timely hitting which characterized Finley's
heroes all year. Holtzman ready, back to the
plate he comes, and Rose takes down low, ball
two. Deep right field towards the line. Gene
Tennis. One out and the scoreless Oakland fifth.
Hits us with a long way to left field down the
line. Oh, we're looking up. It is good. Home
run Tennis. 1 -0 Oakland. And Mincher has not
yet been up in this World Series. The pitch to
Mincher. Long drive. and the bat in the world's...
This was it. Game five. Oakland's last chance
to win it in front of the home folks. But this
was the last chance period for the Reds. They
had to win this one or leave their hearts in
San Francisco. Top of the first, fifth game of
the series, Rose batting left -handed against
the right -hander Hunter at the only hit among
the Rose, Morgan, Tolan trio, the top three in
the Reds' batting order when they met last Sunday.
The Reds wanted it badly, but tennis didn't want
to give it to them. But the Reds were on the
move and running for daylight. On her back, and
there's a drive. Left field, back goes Rudy.
At the wall, looking up, it's gone, and it's
3 -2. All runs coming on home runs, and Menke
has hit one here for Cincinnati. Oakland leads
3 -2 and looking for more. Infield is a double
play depth. Thinking they've got an excellent
chance with a good sinker ball pitcher for Bowen,
the man working. As the ball hits the shallow
center field. Kendall scores. Kenneth goes to
third for the head first line. And Marquez has
done it again. Here's Bobby Tolan, 0 for 2. Drove
Henrik, or rather Rudy, deep to the warning track
last time up. There goes Morgan running, and
there's a drive to right field. It'll get in
there. Morgan is on his way around second base
to third base. Alou is over, and Morgan will
score all the way from first base. Now they've
got the man off first base, but nobody is covering
there because of Morgan running on the... the
one -two pitch on the way. Swung on, hit in the
air to deep left field. Rudy backing up on the
warning track and makes it back up against the
fence. So Rose a long way the opposite way, but
Rudy with room and down go the Reds in the seventh.
Campanaris playing close to the runner as Morgan
takes a short lead from second. One -two pitch
to Tolan. Bobby at the line. at second with nobody
out. Bando ready to charge. Grimsley punch in
the air and Fingers lets it drop. Throws to first
and it pulls Kubiak off first base. They get
the out though but down to second goes Geronimo.
So Fingers thought he'd be cute and get perhaps
a double play and it cost him. He almost threw
the ball away. Geronimo at second. Concepcion
at first. One out in the ninth inning. Reds four.
Checking the stretch. The 2 -2 pitch to Rose.
There's a line drive. Face it into center field.
Mondwell charges. Geronimo around third. Coming
home. He scores. Down to third. Concepcion. That
made it five straight one -run games in the most
exciting World Series in history. In game six,
the Reds were back home in Cincinnati, and they
celebrated by going on a hitting and running
rampage. The final score of that one, 8 -1 Cincinnati.
That was the only game that would be a rout.
Game number seven was another squeaker, and wouldn't
you expect it to be with this swinging band of
Oakland A's? And a great way to end the unbelievable
season of 72. The action went like this. Angel
got off to a very slow start this year because
he came to camp with an injury he suffered in
winter baseball. There's a curveball line right
center field coming on. It's Tolan. He leaps.
It goes off his grub to the wall. Manguel goes
to first. Heads to second. He's rounding second
on his way to third. The throw comes in and he
makes it standing up. Manguel really stung that
ball. It's an error on Bobby Tolan and the A's
get the first break of the seventh game. the
arm of the pitch. Tennis swings. Bassett at the
third baseman. High bounce off his glove into
left field. Here comes Mangual in to score. It's
a base hit for Gene Tennis. And the Oakland A's
lead 1 -0 with Sal Bando coming to the plate.
Back again and a base hit up the middle for Campanaris.
And now for the first time since way back in
the first game the leadoff man Campy Campanaris
who makes the offense of the A's goal is on at
first base. 1 -1 the score. We are in the sixth.
A breaking pitch. Bunted up the line. Perez will
have to go to first base. Morgan covering the
sacrifice. Bunt is complete. Campanaris moves
into second base. Strike one to Tennis, who never
moves for that bad of a box. He keeps those feet
planted and just stays in there until Bourbon
gets the new ball. Nobody throwing in the A's
bullpen now. There's an off -speed pitch lined
out in left field away from Rose. It's two to
one. Around first base on his way to second is
Tennis. Here's Rose's throw and he's in with
a double and his ninth RBI. And now we're going
to get Alan Lewis to race out toward second base.
And he will run for tennis, which means that
after all, we will see Epstein at first base
later on. Bando, who looks down to north with
a 3 -0 count. Menke races over. Clay Carroll
continues to throw in the Reds' bullpen. And
the crowd at Riverfront Stadium suddenly very
quiet again. They had rallied. Now they're behind.
And there's a ball hit to straightaway center
field. Bobby Tolan goes back near the warning
track. Reaches up. It'll be off the wall. And
it is now 3 -1. The ball gets away from Tolan.
In the second base goes Bando with a double.
Back -to -back doubles. Two -run score on three
base hits. There was one error and the bases
were left loaded. We go to the last of the six.
Oakland 3, Cincinnati 1. So, even with two out
in the last of the ninth, the wheels continue
to turn and hold up. This series isn't over yet.
Rose steps in. He is 2 -4 today and has made
great contact. All four times. The other two
were driven deep to the center field wall. Fly
ball deep left field. Rudy goes back. The other
warning track is there. The World Series is over.
And on one pitch, Rose is out. And the underdog
Oakland Athletics win their first championship
since they were in Philadelphia in 1930. The
A's win it 3 -2. I have to honestly say that
it's the happiest day of my life. I'm so happy
for the players, the manager, the coaches, and
my family. It's something that's been well worth
waiting for. And I'm just so tremendously proud
of the great job that this team did. They beat
one hell of a great team. Cincinnati is one of
the greatest teams in baseball, without a question.
But I have to tell you, the A's are even better.