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1972 - Baseball Clip - Finleys Oakland A's - Highlights · Retro Sports Radio: Classic Games from History

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This is Retro Sports Radio. Visit RetroSeasons
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.com for more sports history. You are about to
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enter another dimension. You are being transported
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to a baseball fantasy land more bizarre than
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anything Abner Doubleday ever dared to dream.
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A land where the good guys always wear white
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shoes. They come gloriously garbed in Kelly green
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and gold uniforms. Brashly brandishing bushy
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mustaches and sideburns. With the magic A apostrophe
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S emblazoned on their chests to ward off such
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evil spirits as tigers. Oreos, White Sox, and
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Reds. Their thrilling outlandish deeds will be
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forever chronicled in the great baseball annals
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under the name of the Oakland A's. But to those
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who knew them well, they will always be remembered
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as family heroes. You know, there's a very thin
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line between reality and fiction. And the incredible
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1972 baseball season seemed to hover in that
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gray, nebulous area that separates credibility
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from imagination. But despite their miracle finishes
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and phantasmagorical plays, this was the year
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that the irrepressible Oakland A's were going
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to prove to the world that they were a very for
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-real team. Under the watchful eye of Charlie
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Finley, the team that was to win the championship
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of 72 began to take shape many years before.
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From draft choices and college campuses through
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trades in the minor league system came player
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after player until the A's had built themselves
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into one of the most talent -laden teams in the
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major leagues. Gone were those losing years in
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Kansas City and long gone the Philadelphia origins
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of this team. This Oakland team was unique. It
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was probably the most talented in all of baseball
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and certainly the most colorful. They all laughed
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when the A's introduced baseball's first multicolored
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uniform. And white kangaroo shoes. And mustaches.
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And a mule named Charlie O grazing in the grass
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beyond the outfield. But when 50 ,182 fans come
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out on a family night to see the A's do battle
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with the Orioles at the Coliseum in Oakland,
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and that same Oakland team goes on to win the
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World Series to repay its loyal fans, you know
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to whom the last laugh belongs. Congratulations
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to you. Thank you very much. Let me hold you
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here a second that you were voted. It sounds
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like the most valuable player by Sport Magazine.
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You're going to get that Dodge Charger. Have
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you heard that? Drive that back to Ohio, huh?
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Thank you very much. Raleigh, you have just done
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an unbelievable job time after time in the playoffs
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against Detroit. You went in, runners at first
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and third, nobody down. You got out of it. Runners
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at first and third went out. You got out of it.
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You've never been in a bigger jam than here today.
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What did you say to yourself? I just tried. I
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was trying to find six outs of my glove when
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I went in. That's all. I'll tell you, I was tired
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yesterday, and I went out there today. I didn't
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think I could go two innings. When I was sowing,
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I felt bad. I got out there, and all of a sudden,
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everything started clicking together. My slider
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was breaking, and I sown my fastball right where
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I wanted to. Raleigh, right before you made the
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pitch, with runners at second and third after
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bench stole, you had a 3 -2 count. I noticed
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you took that ball here three times and said
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something to yourself. Yeah, I was saying a little
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prayer out there. I was saying a lot. Monty,
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they're sneaking up behind you. You've got Catfish
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Hunter behind you. I've got John Odom. Why don't
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you talk to Catfish first? All right, Jim Hunter.
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You went in in relief today. You've done a fantastic
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job through the playoffs and the series and great
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pressure pitching. You've got to be a happy man
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right now. I am, Monty. I think I'm the happiest
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I've ever been in my life. Was the pressure anything
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today like it was in the Detroit series to you?
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I think it was more today. You know, there's
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so much riding on and everything, and today I
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went out there. I didn't have real good stuff,
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but I made some pitches that they should have
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hit out of the ballpark, but luckily they didn't.
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Jim, it seemed as though you were a little nervous
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for the first time I can ever remember when you
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came in. You had a little control problem, even
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made a wild pitch. That's right, Monty. You know,
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when you come out here like you've got to make
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a pitch, and I was just a little bit nervous,
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but we won. That's all that counts. Nice going,
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Catfish. Thank you very much. The magical, mystical
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A's were an inspired blend of baseball talent,
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honed to a fever pitch by the mustachioed maestro
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of big league managers, Dick Williams. He was
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able to mold this young, aggressive collection
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of players into a winning unit. that shared a
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camaraderie and unit of spirit unmatched on any
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playing field at any time, anywhere. Throughout
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the season, again and again, they rose to the
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occasion. This was the team of destiny in 1972.
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This was the Oakland A's. Heroes, one and all.
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Heroes like Joe Rudy. It's the last half of the
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11th inning. The score is tied 3 -3. And wouldn't
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you know it, the A's are starting the season
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on an exciting note already. With one out, Joe
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Rudy is on third base. Rudy opened the inning
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with a double, and Reggie Jackson, the A's leading
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home run hitter the past couple of years, crossed
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the Twins up by bunting Rudy over to third base.
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Now it's up to pinch hitter Gene Tennis, who's
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batting for left -handed swinging Mike Hegan.
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Bill Rigney has just brought in Dave LaRoche,
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a left -hand reliever. With a great record, the
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Twins picked him up in a winner deal from the
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California Angels. Gene Tennis at the plate.
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LaRoche will work off the stretch with Rudy coming
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down off third. They want to hold Joe on as closely
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as possible. The infield is in. Soderholm, Thompson,
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Carew, and Killebrew. The catcher, George Mitterwald,
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gives the sign. Now the target. LaRoche is set.
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Around comes the yard. In rides the pitch. Tennis
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swings. There's a bouncing ball right side of
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the infield. Rudy's going to try to score. Carew
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picks the ball up. Here's the throw to the plate.
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It's going to be closed. Mitterwald's got the
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ball. Rudy crashes into him, and the ball is
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knocked loose. Rudy is safe at the plate and
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the A's win 4 -3. Last half of the 19th inning,
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the longest game ever played by the A's here
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in Oakland. The Chicago White Sox and the A's
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went five hours plus last night. 17 innings didn't
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decide a thing. Tonight it's the 19th as they
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continue last night's suspended game. Stan Bonson,
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a starter for the Chicago White Sox, has been
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brought on in relief. And he's pitching to Joe
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Rudy with a runner at second base. A base hit
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by Rudy could give the A's a big win over the
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Chicago White Sox. Campy Campanaris, who opened
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the inning with a single, is on at second. Sacrifice
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down to second. Joe Rudy is ready. Bonson pitches.
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The pitch is swung under. The long drive to center
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field. That one's got a chance. It's really got
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a charge in it. And there she goes! The A's win!
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Heroes like Sal Bando. Fans would like nothing
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better than to see Bando put a charge into one
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and light up the scoreboard. The A's and the
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Yankees, nothing, nothing. It's the last half
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of the fourth inning. The bases are loaded for
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the A's captain Bando against Mel Stottlemeyer.
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Stottlemeyer goes into the windup. Joe Rudy comes
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down off third. Around comes the arm. In rides
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the pitch. Bando swings. you'll have to do it.
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Heroes like the Oakland A's speedy shortstop,
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Campy Campanaris. The top half of the 10th inning,
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Campy Campanaris leading off against Gaylord
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Perry. Transplant from the National League is
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having a super year for the Cleveland Indians.
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And what a battle he's hooked up in here tonight.
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John Odom made only 71 pitches through nine innings.
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We're in the 10th now and Perry is still going.
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The game tied 2 -2. Here's Campy Campanaris.
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It's a no ball, one strike count. Campy ready
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at the plate. Perry into the windup. Here's the
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pitch. Campanera swings. Campy Campanera is on
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as a pinch runner, knowing he has to steal two
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bases tonight to pass Dave Nelson of Texas for
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the American League Stolen Base Championship.
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Nelson stole three bases tonight in the final
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game for Texas to take a one -game lead over
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Campanera. Campy leading off first. Marquez,
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the batter. Here's Nolan Ryan's pitch. Campanaris
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has got to go. Thorberg makes the catch. Here's
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the throw down to second. Campy slides. He is
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saved. He's tagged, Nelson. Campy Campanaris
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in a nothing -nothing game steals a big base.
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Big for his own chances and big for the A's.
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Now, if Marquez can get a base hit, the A's could
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take a lead in the ball game. Campanaris leads
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down off second base. He's got a big lead. Ryan
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down to the stretch. If Campy steals third, here
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he is. wins the stolen base championship of the
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league. Here comes the pitch. Marquez takes.
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Campanaris is going. Here's the goal from Tobar.
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Down to third. Can't be slagged. Beep, beep.
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The roadrunner steals it and wins it again. And
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then there were heroes like Reggie Jackson. The
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pitch is swung on. There's a drive deep right
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center field. Reggie Jackson's going to have
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to go to... Game tied. Last half of the ninth
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inning. A's 2, Angels 2. Eddie Fisher, knuckleballer,
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on in relief of Rick Clark of the California
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Angels. Reggie Jackson, who hits knuckleballers
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pretty well, standing at the plate. Here's Fisher's
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wind. The pitch on the way. It is swung on. Reggie
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Jackson, I believe. And Finley's heroes included
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pitching stars such as Catfish Hunter. The Catfish
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Hunter one out away from winning number 20. A
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mark that he says means more to him than pitching
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the perfect game. Headboard at the plate. Here's
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the pitch from Hunter. It's a slider. Breaking
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low and away. Swung on. Bouncing ball right side.
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He's got it. Hunter going to cover first. Mike
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shovels it to him. The Catfish has got the baseball
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crossing the bag. He wins number 20. The catfish
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can blow it by him when he has to. He has struck
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out over 190 men a couple of years in a row.
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Around comes the arm. Here's the pitch. Blazing
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fastball swinging strike three, and catfish on
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ten pitches strikes out the side. Another ace
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on the A's staff was John Blue Moon Odom, who
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had to fight to win a spot on this year's pitching
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staff with some stout -hearted work in Arizona.
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Sounds strange to say that a 26 -year -old right
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-hander might be making a comeback, but here's
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John Odom out on the mound right now on his first
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start this year. Two runners on facing Billy
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Canigliaro. He's been in a lot of trouble in
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this ballgame already. Skipper Dick Williams
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wanted him to go five innings in his first game,
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and he is not allowed to run. Here's the pitch.
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Runners leading first and second. Canigliaro
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swings. Little fly ball out towards left field.
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Joe Rudy comes in under the ball. He has got
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it, and Johnny Odom has gone through his first
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five innings of the year. Unscored on. It's Milwaukee
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nothing and Oakland nothing. Blue Moon Odom in
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his final tune -up prior to the start of the
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American League Championship playoff series against
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the California Angels leading one to nothing.
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It's the fifth inning. Kenny Berry is the batter
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at the plate with runners at first and third.
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Odom gets set. Checks the runner at first with
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a glance over the left shoulder. Here's the pitch
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to Berry. And the right -handed batter is fooled
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badly on that curveball. Hits a little looping
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liner out towards second base. Under the ball,
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Tim Cullen, he has got it, and Odom has gone
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through five innings leading one to another.
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Then there was last year's rookie sensation,
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Vida Blue, who, due to a contract dispute, missed
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spring training and got off to a late start.
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Vida, in his most impressive performance by far
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of 1972, has pitched a perfect game for five
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and two -thirds innings. Not a Texas Ranger's
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been on base. Here's the left -hander's pitch
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on the way to the plate. Rich Hand, the Texas
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pitcher, squares around. He busts the ball down
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the third baseline. Bida comes off the map, picks
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it up. He falls down. He throws the first. It
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is too late. And there's going to be a very interesting
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decision here on whether or not the first hit
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of the game is a hit or an error on Bida. It
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is ruled a base hit. So the no -hitter is broken
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up, and the Rangers have a runner on. With Vida
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leading off second base and one out, Joe Rudy
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swings. There's a fly ball to left center field.
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Ted Ford of the Rangers goes over, gets under.
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Vida back to tag up at second. He's going to
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go to third. Ted Ford makes the catch. He puts
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his head down and starts trotting into the ball.
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He takes it to third out, and Irv Norton is waiting.
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Vida to the plate. Here comes the throw to Mason,
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the shortstop. Mason throws to Billings at the
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plate. Vida slides. He is safe. He scores from
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second on a fly ball to left field. In the bullpen
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whenever they needed him. Oakland could always
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count on the cool, steady hand of the tall Raleigh
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Fingers. With the Indians leading the A's 2 -1
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in the last half of the seventh inning, Raleigh
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Fingers on in relief has done a spectacular job.
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He came on, bases loaded, nobody out. He got
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the double play. Now with Eddie Leon at the plate,
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the bases are loaded again. If the A's are to
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stay close, Raleigh's got to get this man, Leon,
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ready at the plate. The big guy drops down, working
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off the stretch, even with the bases loaded.
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Here's the pitch, a sidearm curveball, Eddie
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Leon, swing! And when the A's needed the long
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bomb, the knockout punch, their heavyweight heavy
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swinger was Mike Epstein. Jackson leads off second,
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tennis off first. Here's the pitch to Mike Epstein.
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There's a drive, hit deep to right field, way
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back, way back, and it is gone! Home run, Epstein!
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3 -2 Oakland! Big Mike got the first pitch and
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drove it deep over the head of Ted Ford into
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the seats. And Oakland comes roaring back. Two
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walks on a home run. How does that grab you,
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Monty? I tell you, it grabs Ted Williams where
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it hurts. Epstein holding against the runners.
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A slow curve. Bet swung on. Line drive hit into
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right field. Epstein makes a dive. Hey, he knocked
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the ball down. He's got it in front of him. Holland
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going to cover the bag to throw to first. Epstein
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makes a super play. Talented young players without
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big reputations pitched in when the chips were
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down. George Hendricks, for example. Last half
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of the 10th inning. First place in the Western.
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The vision is at stake. The A's trail by a run
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of the Chicago White Sox. Over 32 ,600 fans on
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their feet chanting. Hendrick is at the plate
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with a runner at second base. A base hit could
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tie the ball game. Keeley at the stretch. Throws
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to the plate. George Hendrick swings. There's
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a long drive. Hey, he has really hit this one.
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That ball's got a charge in it and it's got a
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chance. It is over the right center field wall
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and the A's win 5 -4 to sweep the series from
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the White Sox and take over first. George Hendrick,
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the hero in yesterday's game for the A's over
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the White Sox. Stands at the plate now. Tie game,
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seventh inning, one and one. Pete Broberg of
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the Rangers winds. Here comes the pitch. George
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swings. There's a line drive. Hey, he's done
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it again. This ball is going out of the ballpark.
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There were many other A's who earned the rank
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of heroes for their consistent effort and team
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play. Men like Ken Holtzman, who came to the
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A's from the Cubs in exchange for Rick Mundy
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and one of the biggest trades that Charlie Finley
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made during the winter. Kenny went on, of course,
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to win 19 big games. 2 -2 pitch to Horton. Curve
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swinging, strike three, missed it a mile. Dennis
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drops the ball, but throws the first for the
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out. Horton never knew where it was. 2 -2 pitch.
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Brown takes a burning fastball. He had him overmatched.
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Strike three called. He popped that one in there.
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There were such men as first baseman and pinch
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hitter deluxe Mike Hegan. It's the 12th inning.
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We're tied at 3 -3, and Dick Green has just sacrificed
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Bobby Brooks down to second base. Mike Hegan
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pinch hitting for Raleigh Fingers, who did a
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super job for three and a third inning to relieve.
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Hegan batting against Lindy McDaniel. Base hit
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could break the tie. Here's McDaniel's windup.
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The pitch on the way. It's a fork ball. Hegan
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swings. He... And there was catcher Dave Duncan.
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in their seats, but that's one time I didn't
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mind seeing a guy come out there. Boy, he was
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wrapped up in it. And reserve catcher Gene Tennis.
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Here's the 1 -0 pitch. There's a drive deep left
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field way back, way back, and there she goes!
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Gene Tennis rips one into the seat to left field,
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and the fireworks are going here today. That's
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Gene Tennis' fourth home run of the year in the
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A's league. 8 -0. Mercy, I haven't had this kind
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of two innings in a month. In a year. Late in
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the season, Charlie Finley added a little guy
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from the National League named Matty Alou. 1
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-0 pitch. There's a drive to right and... Another
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late season addition, Dow Maxville proved to
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be a tremendous help to the Oakland A's playing
20:23
both shortstop and second base. And there was
20:30
Larry Brown, outstanding utility infielder who
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did such a good job at second base until a back
20:35
injury forced him out of action for the last
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half of the season. And of course, then there
20:40
was super sinker baller Bob Locker who did such
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a tremendous job for the A's out of the bullpen.
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And veteran Joe Horland, who both relieved and
20:47
started. Then there were Tim Cullen and Ted Kubiak,
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both of whom played a lot of second base and
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did it well for the A's. First baseman Don Mincher.
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Outfielder Angel Mangual. Pinch hitter Supreme
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Gonzalo Marquez. And pinch running specialist,
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the Panamanian Express, Alan Lewis, who stole
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some big bases for the A's in the pennant drive.
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And of course, Darryl Knowles, one of the best
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relief pitchers in the major leagues. had the
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misfortune to break his thumb late in September
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and miss the playoffs in the World Series. Rookie
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left -hander Dave Hamilton, who won six of his
21:23
first seven games to give the A's a great lift
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when they needed it in the pitching department.
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Add all this together with a fighting spirit
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kept alive by a fine coaching staff of Bill Posdell,
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Herb Noren, Jerry Adair, and Vern Hoshike, and
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it's easy to see how the Oakland A's hung the
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White Sox out to dry as they went on to capture
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the Western Division title. A crowd of 9 ,155
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diehard. Hoping against hope, the A's can pull
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off the miracle finish and nail it all down right
21:51
here in the Coliseum. One out, two men on. 7
21:55
-5, Minnesota. Last half of the eighth inning.
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Granger is ready. Here's the pitch. Line drive,
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base hit. Into center field. They're going to
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hold Mike up. The bases are loaded. And a single
22:08
American tie it as Dave Duncan went up the middle.
22:11
At one time. Oakland was down 7 -0. The magic
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number is one. And I'll say one thing, win or
22:19
lose, the A's are going down fighting one way
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or the other in this final game at the Coliseum.
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Here's the pitch. A base hit by center field.
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Epstein at the score. Here comes Lewis. And on
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the third, goes by the blue. 7 -7, believe it
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or not, and the place is going crazy. We are
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tied at 7 -0. Seven and seven. The Twins have
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11 hits. The A's have 10. Mando leads off first.
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Here's the pitch. Maxville swings away. That's
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not the way the A's play. They make it happen,
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and they made it happen today, winning 8 -7.
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Dick Williams kept a tight grip on the reins
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all season long, making the key moves at the
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right time, game after game. But his most memorable
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managerial feat was brought about by injury and
24:06
necessity, playing musical chairs at second base.
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This constantly rotating lineup, which seemed
24:11
to take off in the classic Abbott and Costello
24:13
routine of who's on first, saw eight different
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men playing second base for the A's during the
24:18
regular season. Skipper Dick Williams' managerial
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ingenuity was really put to the test in 1972
24:25
in several ways. One of Dick's toughest tasks
24:28
was holding the team together and keeping them
24:30
in the tough pennant race despite injuries to
24:32
such key personnel as Reggie Jackson. Reggie
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missed some three weeks due to a rib injury incurred
24:38
in a fight with the Kansas City Royals. The Swingin'
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A's clenched the western flag a week before the
24:45
four -way dogfight in the east was over. They
24:47
watched and waited to see who their playoff opponent
24:49
would be. First the Yankees bit the dust. Then
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the Orioles got shot down. And on the next to
24:55
last day of the regular season, the Red Sox lost
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and Detroit won. Now the Tigers were coming to
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Oakland. for the second consecutive year. Last
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time, they were unceremoniously dumped in three
25:28
straight games by the Orioles. This time, against
25:31
the Tigers, it would be different. Game one at
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the Coliseum, and both teams started their ace
25:36
pitcher. Mickey Lulich for Detroit, Catfish Hunter
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for the A's. The Tigers struck first. Detroit
25:42
and Oakland, no score. Leadoff batter in the
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top of the second inning. He's got that one back
25:59
in the third inning. Hunter pitched excellent
26:16
four -hit baseball until being lifted with one
26:18
out in the ninth inning. Vida Blue and then Raleigh
26:21
Fingers continued to hold the score at one and
26:24
one. Nobody out. Top half of the ninth inning.
26:28
at first and third base. Raleigh Fingers in his
26:34
toughest assignment of this season or any other.
26:38
Gates Brown down in the crouch. Here's the pitch.
26:42
Fly ball off third. Bando may have a play on
26:44
this ball. He is out there. He's under it. He's
26:46
got it. And the runners have to hold on. One
26:49
big out. Count of three and one. Fingers throwing.
26:54
Northrop bounces towards Kubiak. He's got it.
26:57
airs at second one. Over to first. Double play.
26:59
He did it. Until the top half of the eleventh
27:08
inning. Here is Al Keyline and Hunter did a good
27:12
job handling him today. One -two pitch on the
27:16
way. Then in the bottom of the 11th, the A's,
27:26
who had Lulich on the ropes all game long but
27:29
were unable to score, rallied dramatically to
27:31
knock Lulich and the Tigers out. One ball, two
27:35
strikes to count on Marquez. Runners now at first
27:38
and second. And if they don't do it in this inning,
27:42
it'll be all over. Selbach ready again. Here's
27:44
the pitch. Hot shot, ground, right field. Game
28:06
two was a wild one. Campy started it off. Here's
28:09
a 3 -2 pitch. Line drives through the middle.
28:12
They tip. Campanaro takes a big turn at first
28:18
and hangs on as he really ripped out a rope right
28:20
then. And now here comes Matty Alou, a guy that
28:25
the Oakland A's picked up from the National League.
28:27
He was hitting over 300 over there, and he has
28:29
been a big hitter for the Oakland A's since he
28:30
came here from the St. Louis Cardinals. Priming
28:33
off the stretch. Checking Campy. There goes Campanaris.
28:35
The pitch is taken. Throw to second. He's right
28:36
on target. But Campanaris beats it. Here's Joe
28:42
Rudy who ended the regular season for the A's
28:44
batting .305. He knocked in Oakland's first run
28:47
yesterday with a long sacrifice fly ball to center
28:49
field. Rudy down into a crouch at the plate.
28:54
Campanaris is going towards third. Here's the
28:55
pitch taken inside. Campy slides. He makes it.
29:10
Then in the fifth inning, the A's exploded for
29:13
more. inside to right field for a base hit. And
29:36
the A's go on first through to nothing. And now
29:41
Joe Rudy with two hits will step in with a man
29:43
on first and third. Zachary. He doesn't take
29:46
too much time when he gets that ball in position
29:48
to throw it. He lets it go right away. Shaking
29:51
off a couple of signs. Now he's ready. Goes to
29:53
the belt and delivers. There's a ball gets away
29:55
from the catcher. And can't be a score easily.
29:59
A flaking ball in the dirt. Way in front of plate.
30:05
And the A's go out in front. Three to nothing.
30:11
So with one out, Ricky Jackson will step in.
30:13
He looks down for a sign right now. Three and
30:16
two on Jackson. Let's see if the runner will
30:17
be going. No, he's not. There's a line drive.
30:19
Face it on the left center field. That ball goes
30:21
right to his face. Here comes a little round
30:24
circle. Here comes Rudy. Jackson, now he's going
30:28
to try for three. Changes mind as nobody covers
30:30
second base. In the seventh inning, Campy really
30:51
got something started. Campy is mad. He throws
31:11
a bat at him. Oh, that could cost Campanaris
31:13
playing in a World Series or something. Home
31:18
plate on par. Nestor Sharlock has got him. Campanaris
31:21
was hit in the leg by a pitch, and he threw the
31:23
bat at the pitcher. Oh, man, I've got to hope
31:27
that nothing serious happened here. Billy Martin
31:29
is having to be restrained. I would be surprised
31:31
they didn't kick Campanaris out of this ballgame.
31:34
He is out of the ballgame, and Dick Williams
31:36
is coming up to argue. I mean, he came carefully
31:39
close to that bat. I have no doubt that they
31:42
threw at Campanaris' legs, though. I am almost
31:44
certain of it. And Campy knew it, too, and he
31:47
came up. And didn't even make a move out there.
31:49
Now they're going to throw the girl out of the
31:51
game, too. He's gone. Oakland went on to an easy
31:54
5 -0 victory with Blue Moon Odom chalking up
31:57
a superb three -hit shutout. On the negative
32:00
side, Campanaris was fined and suspended by the
32:03
president of the American League for the remainder
32:05
of the playoffs as a result of a bat -throwing
32:07
incident. Game three moved to Detroit, and the
32:11
Tigers, on the verge of extinction, fought as
32:13
ferociously as a wounded beast. Tiger catcher
32:16
Bill Freehand came off the injured list to hit
32:18
a double and a home run, and right -handed pitcher
32:21
Joe Coleman struck out 14 A's batters to lead
32:24
the Tigers to a 3 -0 win. Then came game number
32:28
four. In the seventh inning, Mike Epstein came
32:31
up to bat with Tigers leading 1 -0. Low leech
32:35
delivered. There's a drive by Epstein, way back.
32:44
The 10th inning was as wild as any inning all
32:46
year, but very typical of the kind of year the
32:49
Oakland A's had. With the game tied at 1 -1,
32:52
Matty Alou came to bat. Marquez with a pretty
32:55
good lead off of first base. All back looking
32:57
over there. Here's the delivery, and Alou hits
32:59
the long... Ted Kubiak then got another hit,
33:17
and the A's carried a two -run lead to the last
33:20
half of the 10th inning, looking as if they had
33:22
the Tiger by the tail and the American League
33:24
title all wrapped up. But the Tigers sent Detroit
33:27
fans into a state of delirium with a three -run
33:30
rally to send the playoffs to a climactic fifth
33:32
game. No playoff series in history had extended
33:35
to five games before, yet in this, the incredible
33:38
season of 72, not only was the American League
33:42
championship drawn to the limit, but the National
33:44
League as well. That great Tiger win yesterday
33:47
set the stage for game number five. The entire
33:50
American League season had been boiled down to
33:53
this one game, the championship game to pick
33:56
an American League World Series team. And 50
33:59
,276 wild fireworks -toting fans gathered at
34:03
Tiger Stadium in Detroit for the kill. But they
34:06
were in for quite a surprise. They didn't know
34:09
the swinging eggs. The game started off as usual
34:11
for Oakland. They fell behind early, this time
34:14
in the first inning. The Tigers now have runners
34:19
at second and third and only one out. With Bill
34:21
freehand the batter. Two and one, Odom in real
34:25
trouble. Wines, kicks, and fires. Bouncing ball
34:28
is short. Here comes McCall to the plate. He
34:30
scores, and the throw goes to first. They got
34:33
the out there. In the A's second inning, The
34:37
A's got that run back on some of the most daring
34:39
and resourceful base running of the season by
34:41
Reggie Jackson. But it proved to be a very costly
34:45
run. One strike count to Greeney. There goes
34:48
the runner from first. The pitch is taken. Throw
34:49
down a second base. Here comes Jackson towards
34:51
the plate. Here comes the throw. Jackson's leg
35:07
injury was severe. Not only would he miss the
35:10
rest of this climactic showdown game with the
35:12
Tigers, but he would be forced to watch the World
35:14
Series from the A's dugout while hobbling around
35:17
on crutches. Without their superstar, the A's
35:20
were hurting. But this United team pulled together.
35:24
And in the fourth inning, Gene Tennis gave an
35:26
indication of heroics which were soon to blossom
35:28
in the World Series. Vida Blue replaced John
35:49
Odom in the sixth inning, and the A's super pitching
35:52
staff continued to show its stuff. It was now
35:54
the bottom of the ninth, the A's leading 2 -1.
35:58
Tony Taylor moves up to the plate. The count
36:03
is two balls, two strikes. There are two down.
36:05
There's a runner at first base. Charlie Finley's
36:25
swinging A's were in the World Series, and nobody
36:27
was more proud than Finley himself. If his heroes
36:30
could just come through one more time. Give it
36:33
that one more extra effort, his dream of winning
36:36
a World Series and bringing the very first World
36:39
Championship ever to the Bay Area would come
36:41
true. Game one was played at Riverfront Stadium
36:45
in Cincinnati, and the Reds were made the overwhelming
36:47
favorites to win. But the oddsmakers hadn't figured
36:51
on the red hot bat of one Gene Tennis. Duvall's
36:55
one strike fastball, deep left field, Rose goes
36:57
back, looks up and it is gone. Home run for Gene
37:01
Tennis. and throws him a curve and he lines it
37:10
down the line very deep inside the flagpole and
37:14
it is a home run. Gene Tennis, who went 0 for
37:18
15 and then won the playoff game against Detroit,
37:22
hit a home run in the second inning off a fastball,
37:25
hit a hanging Gary Nolan curve and has lined
37:28
his second home run in two times at bat in his
37:31
first World Series. The score was 3 -2 in favor
37:35
of Oakland with the Reds threatening when Dick
37:37
Williams went to the bullpen. And out came Raleigh
37:40
Fingers. Fingers kicks that white shoe in the
37:45
air and throws a curve and strikes out Perez.
37:46
That ball really broke. Fingers at the belt.
37:50
Here's the pitch. Swinging strike three. He left
37:54
Menke up there. And Raleigh Fingers, whom the
37:57
A's call the Kookamonga Kid, has come out of
38:00
that bullpen to strike out the two men he's faced.
38:02
One strike to count on Rose. Right of blue winds.
38:05
Here's the pitch. High bouncing ball on the infield.
38:07
They're going to have to hurry. Kubiak has got
38:09
it. Throws to first. He got him. And the Oakland
38:11
A's have won the first game of the 1972 World
38:15
Series. The final score of an exciting ball game.
38:18
Oakland 3 and Cincinnati 2. Game 2 was another
38:22
spine -tingling, seat -squirming thriller. Kemsley's
38:26
pitch. Hunter hits a line drive left field. Base
38:28
hit. Let's see if Hendrick can score. He's rounding
38:30
third. Here comes a throw to the plate. Here
38:32
comes Hendrick. Bench blocks the plate, but he
38:34
doesn't get the ball. Hendrick scores. And the
38:36
Oakland A's are leading the Cincinnati Reds.
38:38
That's one to nothing on a line drive base hit
38:40
by Jim Catfish Hunter. Menke dug in at home plate
38:44
for Hunter's pitch, which is on the way. It's
38:45
a swinging strike three. Hunter threw the high
38:48
hard one right by him. And that for Catfish is
38:50
his third strike out of the game. So Dick Williams
38:53
is going to take his chances right here with
38:55
Geronimo. Runners second and third. Now the North
39:00
Carolinian cuts loose. and two pitch. He struck
39:10
out the side. Catfish Hunter displaying fantastic
39:14
courage with a runner at third and nobody down.
39:17
Strikes out Minky Geronimo and Grimsley. And
39:20
after two innings of play, it's one to nothing
39:22
Oakland. Pitch to Rudy is hit up into the air
39:25
and a deep left field. That baby is... 1972 World
39:49
Series. Hendrick is all the way over the left
39:52
field, slapping Rudy on the back. He went four
39:56
or five or six feet in the air, and when he came
39:59
down, it's what they call an ice cream cone.
40:01
A lot of the white was showing. But Joe Rudy
40:03
catches the line drive of Dennis Menke, and that's
40:07
enough to bring Dick Williams out of there with
40:09
his scorecard. Two out now. Catfish Hunter, one
40:14
out away from winning the second World Series.
40:19
and the Reds down 2 -0 in games and heading for
40:23
the opponent's ballpark. Bando raced to the dugout
40:26
to ask Dick Williams something. Now he's in back
40:28
of the bag, near the line to guard against the
40:31
extra base hit. They'll give him the one run,
40:33
but they don't want the extra base hit. Ground
40:34
ball in the hole right there. Around third base
40:37
comes Perez. The throw goes to second. They'll
40:40
give him the one run. Hunter worked eight and
40:49
two -thirds innings. Gave up one run. Could be
40:50
responsible for another. Six hits. Struck out
40:53
six and walked three. There goes the runner.
40:57
Big curveball. It is popped up in play. Hegan
41:00
comes off first base. Has it. Oakland goes home.
41:04
Leading two games to none. Fingers does the job
41:08
for Catfish Hunter. The entire Oakland team is
41:11
out on the field in the playing diamond looking
41:14
for Raleigh Fingers. Two runs. Nine hits. No
41:17
errors for the winning A's, one run, six hits,
41:20
no errors for the Reds. The swinging A's had
41:22
swept the first two games of the series away
41:24
from home against the powerful National League
41:26
champion Reds. No team in the history of the
41:29
World Series had ever lost the first two games
41:31
on their home grounds and went on to win it.
41:33
But the Reds were a proud, confident bunch as
41:36
they waited for the Oakland Reigns to end and
41:38
game three to get underway. This was a classic
41:41
pitching duel between Blue Moon Odom and Jack
41:44
Billingham. The first three games were all decided
41:51
by one run. Game four was another one -run affair.
41:54
It typified the great pitching, smooth fielding,
41:57
and timely hitting which characterized Finley's
42:00
heroes all year. Holtzman ready, back to the
42:03
plate he comes, and Rose takes down low, ball
42:05
two. Deep right field towards the line. Gene
42:26
Tennis. One out and the scoreless Oakland fifth.
42:29
Hits us with a long way to left field down the
42:30
line. Oh, we're looking up. It is good. Home
42:34
run Tennis. 1 -0 Oakland. And Mincher has not
42:46
yet been up in this World Series. The pitch to
42:50
Mincher. Long drive. and the bat in the world's...
43:34
This was it. Game five. Oakland's last chance
43:37
to win it in front of the home folks. But this
43:40
was the last chance period for the Reds. They
43:43
had to win this one or leave their hearts in
43:45
San Francisco. Top of the first, fifth game of
43:49
the series, Rose batting left -handed against
43:50
the right -hander Hunter at the only hit among
43:53
the Rose, Morgan, Tolan trio, the top three in
43:56
the Reds' batting order when they met last Sunday.
44:08
The Reds wanted it badly, but tennis didn't want
44:11
to give it to them. But the Reds were on the
44:32
move and running for daylight. On her back, and
44:34
there's a drive. Left field, back goes Rudy.
44:38
At the wall, looking up, it's gone, and it's
44:40
3 -2. All runs coming on home runs, and Menke
44:43
has hit one here for Cincinnati. Oakland leads
44:48
3 -2 and looking for more. Infield is a double
44:51
play depth. Thinking they've got an excellent
44:57
chance with a good sinker ball pitcher for Bowen,
44:59
the man working. As the ball hits the shallow
45:01
center field. Kendall scores. Kenneth goes to
45:13
third for the head first line. And Marquez has
45:17
done it again. Here's Bobby Tolan, 0 for 2. Drove
45:23
Henrik, or rather Rudy, deep to the warning track
45:25
last time up. There goes Morgan running, and
45:28
there's a drive to right field. It'll get in
45:29
there. Morgan is on his way around second base
45:31
to third base. Alou is over, and Morgan will
45:34
score all the way from first base. Now they've
45:36
got the man off first base, but nobody is covering
45:38
there because of Morgan running on the... the
45:45
one -two pitch on the way. Swung on, hit in the
45:47
air to deep left field. Rudy backing up on the
45:49
warning track and makes it back up against the
45:52
fence. So Rose a long way the opposite way, but
45:58
Rudy with room and down go the Reds in the seventh.
46:01
Campanaris playing close to the runner as Morgan
46:03
takes a short lead from second. One -two pitch
46:06
to Tolan. Bobby at the line. at second with nobody
46:19
out. Bando ready to charge. Grimsley punch in
46:22
the air and Fingers lets it drop. Throws to first
46:26
and it pulls Kubiak off first base. They get
46:29
the out though but down to second goes Geronimo.
46:32
So Fingers thought he'd be cute and get perhaps
46:35
a double play and it cost him. He almost threw
46:38
the ball away. Geronimo at second. Concepcion
46:41
at first. One out in the ninth inning. Reds four.
46:48
Checking the stretch. The 2 -2 pitch to Rose.
46:51
There's a line drive. Face it into center field.
46:54
Mondwell charges. Geronimo around third. Coming
46:57
home. He scores. Down to third. Concepcion. That
47:13
made it five straight one -run games in the most
47:15
exciting World Series in history. In game six,
47:19
the Reds were back home in Cincinnati, and they
47:20
celebrated by going on a hitting and running
47:22
rampage. The final score of that one, 8 -1 Cincinnati.
47:26
That was the only game that would be a rout.
47:29
Game number seven was another squeaker, and wouldn't
47:31
you expect it to be with this swinging band of
47:33
Oakland A's? And a great way to end the unbelievable
47:36
season of 72. The action went like this. Angel
47:42
got off to a very slow start this year because
47:44
he came to camp with an injury he suffered in
47:46
winter baseball. There's a curveball line right
47:48
center field coming on. It's Tolan. He leaps.
47:50
It goes off his grub to the wall. Manguel goes
47:53
to first. Heads to second. He's rounding second
47:55
on his way to third. The throw comes in and he
47:58
makes it standing up. Manguel really stung that
48:01
ball. It's an error on Bobby Tolan and the A's
48:04
get the first break of the seventh game. the
48:10
arm of the pitch. Tennis swings. Bassett at the
48:12
third baseman. High bounce off his glove into
48:14
left field. Here comes Mangual in to score. It's
48:17
a base hit for Gene Tennis. And the Oakland A's
48:20
lead 1 -0 with Sal Bando coming to the plate.
48:23
Back again and a base hit up the middle for Campanaris.
48:26
And now for the first time since way back in
48:29
the first game the leadoff man Campy Campanaris
48:32
who makes the offense of the A's goal is on at
48:35
first base. 1 -1 the score. We are in the sixth.
48:39
A breaking pitch. Bunted up the line. Perez will
48:42
have to go to first base. Morgan covering the
48:44
sacrifice. Bunt is complete. Campanaris moves
48:46
into second base. Strike one to Tennis, who never
48:49
moves for that bad of a box. He keeps those feet
48:52
planted and just stays in there until Bourbon
48:54
gets the new ball. Nobody throwing in the A's
48:57
bullpen now. There's an off -speed pitch lined
48:59
out in left field away from Rose. It's two to
49:02
one. Around first base on his way to second is
49:05
Tennis. Here's Rose's throw and he's in with
49:07
a double and his ninth RBI. And now we're going
49:12
to get Alan Lewis to race out toward second base.
49:15
And he will run for tennis, which means that
49:18
after all, we will see Epstein at first base
49:19
later on. Bando, who looks down to north with
49:23
a 3 -0 count. Menke races over. Clay Carroll
49:26
continues to throw in the Reds' bullpen. And
49:31
the crowd at Riverfront Stadium suddenly very
49:33
quiet again. They had rallied. Now they're behind.
49:35
And there's a ball hit to straightaway center
49:37
field. Bobby Tolan goes back near the warning
49:39
track. Reaches up. It'll be off the wall. And
49:41
it is now 3 -1. The ball gets away from Tolan.
49:43
In the second base goes Bando with a double.
49:46
Back -to -back doubles. Two -run score on three
49:51
base hits. There was one error and the bases
49:53
were left loaded. We go to the last of the six.
49:55
Oakland 3, Cincinnati 1. So, even with two out
49:59
in the last of the ninth, the wheels continue
50:01
to turn and hold up. This series isn't over yet.
50:04
Rose steps in. He is 2 -4 today and has made
50:09
great contact. All four times. The other two
50:12
were driven deep to the center field wall. Fly
50:14
ball deep left field. Rudy goes back. The other
50:17
warning track is there. The World Series is over.
50:19
And on one pitch, Rose is out. And the underdog
50:22
Oakland Athletics win their first championship
50:24
since they were in Philadelphia in 1930. The
50:27
A's win it 3 -2. I have to honestly say that
50:34
it's the happiest day of my life. I'm so happy
50:39
for the players, the manager, the coaches, and
50:42
my family. It's something that's been well worth
50:45
waiting for. And I'm just so tremendously proud
50:50
of the great job that this team did. They beat
50:54
one hell of a great team. Cincinnati is one of
50:58
the greatest teams in baseball, without a question.
51:02
But I have to tell you, the A's are even better.