1972 Boston Red Sox season

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1972  Boston Red Sox
League American League
Division Eastern Division
Ballpark Fenway Park
City Boston, Massachusetts
Record85–70 (.548)
Divisional place2nd (1⁄2 GB)
Owners Tom Yawkey
President Tom Yawkey
General managers Dick O'Connell
Managers Eddie Kasko
Television WBZ-TV, Ch. 4
(Ken Coleman, Johnny Pesky)
Radio WHDH-AM 850
(Ned Martin, Dave Martin, John MacLean)
Stats ESPN.com
BB-reference
←  1971 Seasons 1973  →

The 1972 Boston Red Sox season was the 72nd season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished second in the American League East with a record of 85 wins and 70 losses, one-half game behind the Detroit Tigers. Due to the cancellation of games missed during the 1972 Major League Baseball strike, Detroit played (and won) one more game than Boston, allowing them to finish with a record of 86–70, winning the division by a half-game.

Contents

Offseason

A bad trade

After the 1971 season, the Red Sox management decided on drastic changes.[ citation needed ] First there was a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. George Scott, who had fallen out of favor with the Red Sox management,[ citation needed ] was packaged with Billy Conigliaro (younger brother of former Red Sox star Tony Conigliaro), outfielders Joe Lahoud and Don Pavletich, pitchers Ken Brett (George Brett's older brother) and Jim Lonborg and exchanged for pitchers Marty Pattin and Lew Krausse Jr. and outfielders Tommy Harper and Pat Skrable. It was a big deal and, as it turned out, a bad one for Boston. Lonborg won 14 games for Milwaukee in 1972, with a 2.83 ERA, and later was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he won 13, 17, 18, 8 and 11 games during five seasons. Scott batted .263, .266, .306, .281 and .285 in his five seasons with the Brewers, driving in 88, 107, 82, 109, and 77 runs during those same years and clouting an average of 23 homers a season, with 36 in 1975 alone. Meanwhile, although Pattin was 17–13 for Boston in 1972 a 15–15 in 1973, he was then traded away. Harper batted .254 and .281 in his two years with the Sox before being traded. Skrable, a Triple-A player, did not play professionally after the 1971 season. [3] He refused to report to Boston, [4] [5] and the Red Sox received infielder Bobby Pfeil as compensation; [5] Pfeil finished his career with Boston's Triple-A affiliate in 1972. [6]

Regular season

Record by month [7]
MonthRecordCumulative AL East Ref.
WonLostWonLostPosition GB
April47474th3 [8]
May111215195th4+1⁄2 [9]
June121527344th7+1⁄2 [10]
July201247464th7 [11]
August171264584th2 [12]
September20984671st+1+1⁄2 [13]
October1385702nd1⁄2 [14]

Following the 1972 Major League Baseball strike, Commissioner of Baseball Bowie Kuhn ruled that no games cancelled due to the April strike would be made up. The Red Sox played a total of 155 games of their original 162-game schedule, and finished with a record of 85–70. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers played 156 games, and finished with a record of 86–70. Thus, the Tigers were winners of the AL East, by a half-game over the Red Sox.

Boston and Detroit finished their regular-season schedules with a three-game series against each other, played at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Entering the series, Boston held a half-game lead over Detroit, but Detroit won two of the three games, and the AL East title.

Final series, Boston at Detroit
DateGame resultBoston recordDetroit recordAL East leader (GA)Ref.
Entering the series84–68 (.553)84–69 (.549)Boston (+0.5) [15]
October 2Detroit 4–184–69 (.549)85–69 (.552)Detroit (+0.5) [16]
October 3Detroit 3–184–70 (.545)86–69 (.555)Detroit (+1.5) [17]
October 4Boston 4–185–70 (.548)86–70 (.551)Detroit (+0.5) [14]

The first game of the series included a notable play. In the top of the third inning, Boston trailed, 1–0, and had one out with Tommy Harper at third base and Luis Aparicio at first base. [18] Carl Yastrzemski hit a ball that looked to be a triple; Harper scored, but Aparicio fell as he rounded third base. Aparicio got up and retreated to third, but Yastrzemski was already there, causing Yastrzemski to try to return to second, resulting in Yastrzemski being tagged out. [18] Thus, instead of having a 2–1 lead with one out and a runner at third, Boston had only tied the game and had two outs (albeit still with a runner at third). The next batter, Reggie Smith, struck out to end the inning. [18] Boston was unable to score again, and Detroit went on to win the game, 4–1. [19] Aparicio falling as he rounded third base is looked back upon as a key play that could have made a difference. [20]

Season standings

AL East 		W L Pct. GB Home Road
Detroit Tigers 86700.551—44–3442–36
Boston Red Sox 85700.548½52–2633–44
Baltimore Orioles 80740.519538–3942–35
New York Yankees 79760.5106½46–3133–45
Cleveland Indians 72840.4621443–3429–50
Milwaukee Brewers 65910.4172137–4228–49

Record vs. opponents

1972 American League record

Sources:
TeamBALBOSCALCWSCLEDETKCMILMINNYYOAKTEX
Baltimore —7–116–68–48–1010–86–610–56–67–66–66–6
Boston 11–7—8–46–68–75–96–611–74–89–99–38–4
California 6–64–8—7–118–45–79–67–57–84–88–1010–7
Chicago 4–86–611–7—8–45–78–99–38–67–57–814–4
Cleveland 10–87–84–84–8—10–86–65–108–47–112–109–3
Detroit 8–109–57–57–58–10—7–510–89–37–94–810–2
Kansas City 6–66–66–99–86–65–7—7–59–97–57–118–6
Milwaukee 5–107–115–73–910–58–105–7—4–89–94–85–7
Minnesota 6–68–48–76–84–83–99–98–4—6–68–911–7
New York 6–79–98–45–711–79–75–79–96–6—3–98–4
Oakland 6–63–910–88–710–28–411–78–49–89–3—11–4
Texas 6–64–87–104–143–92–106–87–57–114–84–11—

Notable transactions

Opening Day lineup

  4 Tommy Harper CF
11 Luis Aparicio SS
  8 Carl Yastrzemski   LF
  7 Reggie Smith RF
  6 Rico Petrocelli 3B
  5 Danny Cater 1B
  2 Doug Griffin 2B
24 Duane Josephson C
33 Marty Pattin P

Source: [23]

Roster

1972 Boston Red Sox
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average

PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBISBBBAVGSLG
Tommy Harper 1445569214129214492567.254.388
Rico Petrocelli 147521621251521575078.240.363
Doug Griffin 12947043122121235945.260.302
Reggie Smith 1314677512625421741568.270.475
Carlton Fisk 131457741342892261552.293.538
Carl Yastrzemski 125455701201821268567.264.391
Luis Aparicio 11043647112263339326.257.351
Danny Cater 923173275171839015.237.372
Ben Oglivie 942532761102830118.241.391
John Kennedy 712122252111222018.245.335
Juan Beníquez 33991024411827.242.333
Rick Miller 8998132141315011.214.367
Phil Gagliano 528292141010110.256.329
Duane Josephson 26821122411704.268.378
Bob Montgomery 2477722102703.286.377
Bob Burda 4573412102908.164.260
Dwight Evans 1857215311607.263.404
Andy Kosco 1747510213602.213.489
Cecil Cooper 121704100202.235.294
Bob Gallagher 7500000000.000.000
Vic Correll 1412000100.500.500
Pitcher Totals1554233468141431014.161.227
Team Totals155520864012892293412459466522.248.376

Source:

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerWLERAGGSSVIPHRERBBSO
Marty Pattin 17133.2438350253.02321029165168
Sonny Siebert 12123.8032300196.12041058359123
Luis Tiant 1561.9143193179.0128453865123
John Curtis 1183.7326210154.1161696450106
Lynn McGlothen 873.4122220145.0135665559112
Ray Culp 584.4616160105.010460525352
Gary Peters 334.32334185.19148413867
Bill Lee 743.20470584.17531303243
Lew Krausse Jr. 136.38247160.27448432835
Don Newhauser 422.43310437.03011102527
Bobby Bolin 012.93210530.22411101127
Ken Tatum 023.07220429.13212101515
Bob Veale 200.006028.0200310
Roger Moret 003.603005.053264
Stan Williams 006.233004.153313
Mike Garman 0110.803103.144421
Mike Nagy 009.001002.032202
Team Totals85703.47155155251382.21309620533512918

Source:

Statistical leaders

Carlton Fisk Carlton Fisk 1976.jpg
Carlton Fisk
CategoryPlayerStatistic
Youngest player Dwight Evans 20
Oldest player Luis Aparicio 38
Wins Above Replacement Carlton Fisk 7.3

Source: [24]

Batting

Abbr.CategoryPlayerStatistic
G Games played Rico Petrocelli 147
PA Plate appearances Tommy Harper 641
AB At bats Tommy Harper556
R Runs scoredTommy Harper92
H Hits Tommy Harper141
2B Doubles Tommy Harper29
3B Triples Carlton Fisk 9
HR Home runs Carlton Fisk22
RBI Runs batted in Rico Petrocelli75
SB Stolen bases Tommy Harper25
CS Caught stealing Tommy Harper7
BB Base on balls Rico Petrocelli78
SO Strikeouts Tommy Harper104
BA Batting average Carlton Fisk.293
OBP On-base percentage Carlton Fisk.370
SLG Slugging percentage Carlton Fisk.538
OPS On-base plus slugging Carlton Fisk.909
OPS+ Adjusted OPS Carlton Fisk162
TB Total bases Carlton Fisk246
GIDP Grounded into double play Danny Cater 16
HBP Hit by pitch Tommy Harper9
SH Sacrifice hits Doug Griffin 15
SF Sacrifice flies Carl Yastrzemski 9
IBB Intentional base on balls Reggie Smith 12

Source: [24]

Pitching

Abbr.CategoryPlayerStatistic
W Wins Marty Pattin 17
L Losses Marty Pattin13
W-L % Winning percentage Luis Tiant .714 (15–6)
ERA Earned run average Luis Tiant1.91
GGames pitched Bill Lee 47
GSGames startedMarty Pattin35
GFGames finished Don Newhauser 17
Gary Peters
CG Complete games Marty Pattin13
SHO Shutouts Luis Tiant6
SV Saves Bob Bolin 5
Bill Lee
IP Innings pitched Marty Pattin253
SO Strikeouts Marty Pattin168
WHIP Walks plus hits per inning pitched Luis Tiant1.078

Source: [24]

Awards and honors

Farm system

LevelTeamLeagueManager
AAA Louisville Colonels International League Darrell Johnson
AA Pawtucket Red Sox Eastern League Don Lock
A Winston-Salem Red Sox Carolina League Rac Slider
A Winter Haven Red Sox Florida State League John Butler
A-Short Season Williamsport Red Sox New York–Penn League Dick Berardino

Source: [25] [26]

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References

  1. ↑ Jim Lonborg page at Baseball Reference
  2. ↑ Danny Cater page at Baseball Reference
  3. ↑ "Pat Skrable Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  4. ↑ Kaese, Harold (February 16, 1972). "Spring training without Skrable? The glitter's gone". The Boston Globe . p. 45. Retrieved October 10, 2020– via newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 Fitzgerald, Ray (March 20, 1972). "Red Sox give Cards Fiore for Burda". The Boston Globe . p. 29. Retrieved October 10, 2020– via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Bobby Pfeil Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  7. ↑ "The 1972 Boston Red Sox". Retrosheet . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Events of Sunday, April 30, 1972".
  9. ↑ "Events of Wednesday, May 31, 1972".
  10. ↑ "Events of Friday, June 30, 1972".
  11. ↑ "Events of Monday, July 31, 1972".
  12. ↑ "Events of Thursday, August 31, 1972".
  13. ↑ "Events of Saturday, September 30, 1972".
  14. 1 2 "Events of Wednesday, October 4, 1972".
  15. ↑ "Events of Sunday, October 1, 1972".
  16. ↑ "Events of Monday, October 2, 1972".
  17. ↑ "Events of Tuesday, October 3, 1972".
  18. 1 2 3 "Detroit Tigers 4, Boston Red Sox 1". Retrosheet . October 2, 1972. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  19. ↑ Lehman, Doug. "October 2, 1972: Lolich fans 15 as Tigers take over first place". SABR . Retrieved October 10, 2020.
  20. ↑ Shaughnessy, Dan (May 24, 2008). "Series of moments shared by two cities". The Boston Globe . p. 44. Retrieved October 10, 2020– via newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ Don Aase page at Baseball Reference
  22. ↑ Andy Kosco page at Baseball Reference
  23. ↑ "Detroit Tigers 3, Boston Red Sox 2". Retrosheet . April 15, 1972. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  24. 1 2 3 "1972 Boston Red Sox Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  25. ↑ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007
  26. ↑ Boston Red Sox Guide for Press TV Radio. 1972. p. 2. Retrieved March 14, 2021– via Wayback Machine.
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