1972 Boston Red Sox season

Major League Baseball season March 2026 November 2013 Boston Red Sox 1972 American League East Fenway Park Boston, Massachusetts 85–70 (.548) 2nd Tom Yawkey Tom Yawkey Dick O'Connell Eddie Kasko WBZ-TV, Ch. 4(Ken Coleman, Johnny Pesky) WHDH-AM 850(Ned Martin, Dave Martin, John MacLean) bos BOS 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. Offseason October 10, 1971: Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett, Billy Conigliaro, Joe Lahoud, Don Pavletich, and George Scott were traded by the Red Sox to the Milwaukee Brewers for Marty Pattin, Lew Krausse Jr., Tommy Harper, and Pat Skrable (minors).Jim Lonborg page at Baseball Reference March 22, 1972: Sparky Lyle was traded by the Red Sox to the New York Yankees for Danny Cater and a player to be named later. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Mario Guerrero to the Red Sox on June 30.Danny Cater page at Baseball Reference A bad trade After the 1971 season, the Red Sox management decided on drastic changes.August 2009 First there was a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. George Scott, who had fallen out of favor with the Red Sox management,November 2010 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.https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=skrabl001pat Pat Skrable Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History Baseball-Reference.com October 10, 2020 He refused to report to Boston,https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60886169/spring-training-without-skrable-the/ Spring training without Skrable? The glitter's gone Harold Kaese The Boston Globe 45 February 16, 1972 October 10, 2020 newspapers.com and the Red Sox received infielder Bobby Pfeil as compensation;https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60886299/red-sox-give-cards-fiore-for-burda/ Red Sox give Cards Fiore for Burda Ray Fitzgerald The Boston Globe 29 March 20, 1972 October 10, 2020 newspapers.com Pfeil finished his career with Boston's Triple-A affiliate in 1972.https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pfeil-001rob Bobby Pfeil Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History Baseball-Reference.com October 10, 2020 Regular season +Record by monthhttps://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/TBOS01972.htm The 1972 Boston Red Sox Retrosheet October 10, 2020Month Record Cumulative AL East Ref. Won Lost Won Lost Position GB April 4 7 4 7 4th 3 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/04301972.htm Events of Sunday, April 30, 1972 May 11 12 15 19 5th 4 1 2 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/05311972.htm Events of Wednesday, May 31, 1972 June 12 15 27 34 4th 7 1 2 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/06301972.htm Events of Friday, June 30, 1972 July 20 12 47 46 4th 7 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/07311972.htm Events of Monday, July 31, 1972 August 17 12 64 58 4th 2 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/08311972.htm Events of Thursday, August 31, 1972 September 20 9 84 67 1st +1 1 2 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/09301972.htm Events of Saturday, September 30, 1972 October 1 3 85 70 2nd 1 2 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 Date Game result Boston record Detroit record AL East leader (GA) Ref.Entering the series 84 68 y 84 69 y Boston (+0.5) https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/10011972.htm Events of Sunday, October 1, 1972 October 2 Detroit 4–1 84 69 y 85 69 y Detroit (+0.5) https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/10021972.htm Events of Monday, October 2, 1972 October 3 Detroit 3–1 84 70 y 86 69 y Detroit (+1.5) https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/10031972.htm Events of Tuesday, October 3, 1972 October 4 Boston 4–1 85 70 y 86 70 y Detroit (+0.5) https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/10041972.htm Events of Wednesday, October 4, 1972 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. 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.https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/B10020DET1972.htm Detroit Tigers 4, Boston Red Sox 1 October 2, 1972 Retrosheet October 10, 2020 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. Boston was unable to score again, and Detroit went on to win the game, 4–1.https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-2-1972-lolich-fans-15-as-tigers-take-over-first-place/ October 2, 1972: Lolich fans 15 as Tigers take over first place Doug Lehman SABR October 10, 2020 Aparicio falling as he rounded third base is looked back upon as a key play that could have made a difference.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60888200/series-of-moments-shared-by-two-cities/ Series of moments shared by two cities Dan Shaughnessy The Boston Globe 44 May 24, 2008 October 10, 2020 newspapers.com Season standings Boston Red Sox Record vs. opponents BOS Notable transactions June 6, 1972: Don Aase was drafted by the Red Sox in the 6th round of the 1972 Major League Baseball draft.Don Aase page at Baseball Reference August 15, 1972: Chris Coletta was traded by the Red Sox to the California Angels for Andy Kosco.Andy Kosco page at Baseball Reference Opening Day lineup   4 Tommy Harper CF11 Luis Aparicio SS  8 Carl Yastrzemski     LF  7 Reggie Smith RF  6 Rico Petrocelli 3B  5 Danny Cater 1B  2 Doug Griffin 2B24 Duane Josephson C33 Marty Pattin P Source:https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/B04150DET1972.htm Detroit Tigers 3, Boston Red Sox 2 April 15, 1972 Retrosheet October 11, 2020 Roster 1972 Boston Red Sox Roster Pitchers 26 Bobby Bolin 21 Ray Culp 22 John Curtis 39 Mike Garman 18 Lew Krausse 37 Bill Lee 36 Lynn McGlothen 29 Roger Moret 15 Mike Nagy 28 Don Newhauser 33 Marty Pattin 43 Gary Peters 42 Sonny Siebert 19 Ken Tatum 23 Luis Tiant 55 Bob Veale 25 Stan Williams Catchers 48 Vic Correll 27 Carlton Fisk 10 Bob Montgomery Infielders 11 Luis Aparicio 20 Juan Beníquez  3 Bob Burda  5 Danny Cater 17 Cecil Cooper  2 Doug Griffin 24 Duane Josephson 38 Buddy Hunter 12 John Kennedy  6 Rico Petrocelli Outfielders 24,40 Dwight Evans  1 Phil Gagliano  4 Tommy Harper 44 Andy Kosco 16 Rick Miller 14 Ben Oglivie  7 Reggie Smith  8 Carl Yastrzemski Other batters 44 Bob Gallagher Manager 30 Eddie Kasko Coaches 34 Doug Camilli (Bullpen) 31 Don Lenhardt (First base) 32 Eddie Popowski (Third base) 35 Lee Stange (Pitching) 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 PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBISBBBAVGSLGTommy Harper1445569214129214492567.254.388Rico Petrocelli147521621251521575078.240.363Doug Griffin12947043122121235945.260.302Reggie Smith1314677512625421741568.270.475Carlton Fisk131457741342892261552.293.538Carl Yastrzemski125455701201821268567.264.391Luis Aparicio11043647112263339326.257.351Danny Cater923173275171839015.237.372Ben Oglivie942532761102830118.241.391John Kennedy712122252111222018.245.335Juan Beníquez33991024411827.242.333Rick Miller8998132141315011.214.367Phil Gagliano528292141010110.256.329Duane Josephson26821122411704.268.378Bob Montgomery2477722102703.286.377Bob Burda4573412102908.164.260Dwight Evans1857215311607.263.404Andy Kosco1747510213602.213.489Cecil Cooper121704100202.235.294Bob Gallagher7500000000.000.000Vic Correll1412000100.500.500Pitcher totals1554233468141431014.161.227Team 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 PlayerWLERAGGSSVIPHRERBBSOMarty Pattin17133.2438350253.02321029165168Sonny Siebert12123.8032300196.12041058359123Luis Tiant1561.9143193179.0128453865123John Curtis1183.7326210154.1161696450106Lynn McGlothen873.4122220145.0135665559112Ray Culp584.4616160105.010460525352Gary Peters334.32334185.19148413867Bill Lee743.20470584.17531303243Lew Krausse Jr.136.38247160.27448432835Don Newhauser422.43310437.03011102527Bobby Bolin012.93210530.22411101127Ken Tatum023.07220429.13212101515Bob Veale200.006028.0200310Roger Moret003.603005.053264Stan Williams006.233004.153313Mike Garman0110.803103.144421Mike Nagy009.001002.032202Team totals85703.47155155251382.21309620533512918 Source: Statistical leaders thumb|right|upright=.66|Carlton Fisk Category Player Statistic Youngest player Dwight Evans 20 Oldest player Luis Aparicio 38 Wins Above Replacement Carlton Fisk 7.3 Source:https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1972.shtml 1972 Boston Red Sox Statistics Baseball-Reference.com October 13, 2020 Batting Abbr. Category Player Statistic G Games played Rico Petrocelli 147 PA Plate appearances Tommy Harper 641 AB At bats Tommy Harper 556 R Runs scored Tommy Harper 92 H Hits Tommy Harper 141 2B Doubles Tommy Harper 29 3B Triples Carlton Fisk 9 HR Home runs Carlton Fisk 22 RBI Runs batted in Rico Petrocelli 75 SB Stolen bases Tommy Harper 25 CS Caught stealing Tommy Harper 7 BB Base on balls Rico Petrocelli 78 SO Strikeouts Tommy Harper 104 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 Fisk 162 TB Total bases Carlton Fisk 246 GIDP Grounded into double play Danny Cater 16 HBP Hit by pitch Tommy Harper 9 SH Sacrifice hits Doug Griffin 15 SF Sacrifice flies Carl Yastrzemski 9 IBB Intentional base on balls Reggie Smith 12 Source: Pitching Abbr. Category Player Statistic W Wins Marty Pattin 17 L Losses Marty Pattin 13 W-L % Winning percentage Luis Tiant .714 (15–6) ERA Earned run average Luis Tiant 1.91 G Games pitched Bill Lee 47 GS Games started Marty Pattin 35GF Games finished Don Newhauser 17 Gary Peters CG Complete games Marty Pattin 13 SHO Shutouts Luis Tiant 6SV Saves Bob Bolin 5 Bill Lee IP Innings pitched Marty Pattin 253 SO Strikeouts Marty Pattin 168 WHIP Walks plus hits per inning pitched Luis Tiant 1.078 Source: Awards and honors Carlton Fisk, Gold Glove Award (C) Farm system Minor League Baseball 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:Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007https://archive.org/details/bostonredsoxpres1972bost/page/2/mode/2up Boston Red Sox Guide for Press TV Radio 1972 2 March 14, 2021 Wayback Machine References 30em External links 1972 Boston Red Sox team page at Baseball Reference 1972 Boston Red Sox season at baseball-almanac.com Category:Boston Red Sox seasons Boston Red Sox Boston Red Sox Red Sox