1972 Cincinnati Reds season

March 2026 November 2013 Cincinnati Reds 1972 National League Champion National League West Division Champion National League West Riverfront Stadium Cincinnati 95 59 y 1st Francis L. Dale Bob Howsam Sparky Anderson WLWT(Tom Hedrick, Waite Hoyt) WLW(Al Michaels, Joe Nuxhall) The 1972 Cincinnati Reds season was the 103rd season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 3rd and 2nd full season at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. The Reds won the National League West title with a record of 95 wins and 59 losses, 10 1 2 games over the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They defeated the previous year's World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates in the NLCS, but lost to the Oakland Athletics in seven games in the World Series. The Reds were managed by Sparky Anderson. The theme for the Reds was "Redemption" after a disastrous 1971 season that saw the Reds fall from a World Series participant in 1970 to a sub .500 team a year later. In fact, the March 13, 1972, Sports Illustrated edition featured the Reds on the front cover headlining "Redemption for the Reds." The Reds won 102 games in 1970, but only 79 a year later. A major catalyst for the Reds, Bobby Tolan, ruptured his Achilles' tendon in the winter of 1971 while playing basketball and he missed the entire 1971 MLB season. Nearly every Reds regular, including Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Tony Pérez, Bernie Carbo and David Concepcion, had significant decreases in their production from 1970. The lone exception was popular first baseman Lee May, who set career highs in home runs (39) and slugging percentage (.532). Reds fans, en masse, were shocked and dismayed when, on November 29, 1971, Cincinnati Reds General Manager Bob Howsam traded May, Gold Glove winning second baseman Tommy Helms and key utility man Jimmy Stewart to division rival Houston Astros for second baseman Joe Morgan, third baseman Denis Menke, pitcher Jack Billingham, little-used reserve outfielder Cesar Geronimo and minor leaguer Ed Armbrister. The trade turned out to be one of the best trades in Reds history. Morgan would escape the cavernous Houston Astrodome to a more hitter-friendly Riverfront Stadium home park. Surrounded by more talent in Cincinnati, Morgan would become one of the more productive power-speed players in the entire decade on his way to eventual induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Morgan and Geronimo would also go on to each win multiple Gold Glove awards, as Geronimo manned right field until 1974 when he would take over in center field. Billingham would go on to win 12 games in 1972 and 50 total in his first three years with the Reds. Billingham's best moments came in the 1972 World Series when he threw 13 2 3 innings allowing no earned runs in collecting a win, a save, and a no decision in Game 7. With Rose, Morgan and a healthy Tolan at the top of the lineup, a rejuvenated Bench was the recipient as the Reds' cleanup hitter. Rebounding from the 1971 disaster when he only drove in 61 runs, Bench slammed 40 home runs and had a major league-best 125 RBI. Bench also walked a career-high 100 times on his way to NL MVP honors, his second in three years. Cincinnati got off to a slow start, winning only eight of their first 21 games before winning nine straight. The Reds were still only 20–18 when they went into Houston to play the retooled Astros for a four-game series, May 29 – June 1, at the Astrodome, a notorious pitchers park. But the Reds scored 39 runs in the series and won all four games. The Reds went into the July 23 All-Star break with a 6 1 2 game lead over the Astros and an 8-game lead over the Dodgers. Neither team seriously threatened the Reds in the second half. Reds ace Gary Nolan won 13 of his 15 decisions by July 13, only 79 games into the season. But Nolan suffered a series of neck and shoulder ailments that forced him out of the All Star game and limited him to a total of 25 starts. He spent much of the second-half on the disabled list resting and then rehabbing. He won two games after the All-Star break. Nolan still finished second in the National League in ERA (1.99) to Philadelphia's Steve Carlton (1.97). Morgan (122 runs scored, 16 home runs, 73 RBI, 58 stolen bases, .292 average) finished fourth in MVP voting, while Rose (107 runs, 198 hits, 11 triples, .307 avg.) and reliever Clay Carroll (37 saves, 2.25 ERA) were 12th and 13th, respectively, in the MVP voting conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, three games to two, in the 1972 National League Championship Series, the first time in its four-year history the NLCS had gone five games. The World Series against the Oakland A's was also close, with the Reds falling in Game 7, 3–2, the sixth game of the series decided by a single run. Off season November 29, 1971: Lee May, Tommy Helms, and Jimmy Stewart were traded by the Reds to the Houston Astros for Joe Morgan, Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, César Gerónimo, and Denis Menke.Joe Morgan page at Baseball Reference Dec 3, 1971: Wayne Granger was traded by the Reds to the Minnesota Twins for Tom Hall.Wayne Granger page at Baseball Reference December 14, 1971: Jim Qualls was traded by the Reds to the Chicago White Sox for Pat Jacquez.Jim Qualls page at Baseball Reference Regular season Season standings Record vs. opponents CIN Notable transactions June 6, 1972: Ron Hassey was drafted by the Reds in the 23rd round of the 1972 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.Ron Hassey page at Baseball Reference Roster 1972 Cincinnati Reds roster Roster Pitchers 43 Jack Billingham 34 Pedro Borbón 36 Clay Carroll 39 Joe Gibbon 48 Ross Grimsley 35 Don Gullett 21 Tom Hall 31 Jim McGlothlin 30 Jim Merritt 38 Gary Nolan 45 Wayne Simpson 44 Ed Sprague 49 Dave Tomlin Catchers  5 Johnny Bench  7 Pat Corrales  9 Bill Plummer  7 Sonny Ruberto Infielders 12 Darrel Chaney 13 Dave Concepción 20,25 Joe Hague 17 Julián Javier 16 Denis Menke  8 Joe Morgan 24 Tony Pérez Outfielders 25 Bernie Carbo 15 George Foster 20 César Gerónimo 11 Hal McRae 14 Pete Rose 28 Bobby Tolan 22 Ted Uhlaender Manager 10 Sparky Anderson Coaches  2 Alex Grammas 18 Ted Kluszewski  3 George Scherger  4 Larry Shepard Game log Cincinnati Reds; 1972 Game Log: 95–59 (Home: 42–34; Away: 53–25) n Cincinnati Reds; April: 5–8 (Home: 1–3; Away: 4–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak |-style=background:#fbb | 1 || April 15 || Dodgers || 1–3 || Sutton (1–0) || Billingham (0–1) || Brewer (1) || 37,895 || 0–1 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 2 || April 16 || Dodgers || 10–1 || Nolan (1–0) || Downing (0–1) || Carroll (1) || 16,410 || 1–1 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 3 || April 18 || Astros || 4–8 || Forsch (1–0) || Gullett (0–1) || Gladding (1) || 8,347 || 1–2 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 4 || April 19 || Astros || 5–7 || Reuss (1–0) || Billingham (0–2) || Culver (1) || 6,217 || 1–3 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 5 || April 21 || @ Braves || 4–3 || Nolan (2–0) || Reed (1–1) || Hall (1) || 6,762 || 2–3 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 6 || April 22 || @ Braves || 7–11 || Jarvis (1–1) || Gullett (0–2) || Nash (1) || 10,141 || 2–4 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 7 || April 23 || @ Braves || 3–4 (11) || Schueler (1–0) || McGlothlin (0–1) || || 13,377 || 2–5 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 8 || April 25 || @ Pirates || 2–5 (13) || Miller (1–1) || McGlothlin (0–2) || || 6,509 || 2–6 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 9 || April 26 || @ Pirates || 7–6 || Nolan (3–0) || Blass (1–1) || Borbón (1) || 6,380 || 3–6 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 10 || April 27 || @ Pirates || 5–4 || Carroll (1–0) || Giusti (0–1) || || 12,504 || 4–6 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 11 || April 28 || @ Cubs || 8–10 || Jenkins (1–2) || Billingham (0–3) || || 12,185 || 4–7 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 12 || April 29 || @ Cubs || 3–2 || Hall (1–0) || Pappas (1–2) || || 19,560 || 5–7 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 13 || April 30 || @ Cubs || 4–6 || Hooton (2–2) || Carroll (1–1) || McGinn (2) || 21,924 || 5–8 || L1 n Cincinnati Reds; May: 18–10 (Home: 7–7; Away: 11–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak |-style=background:#bfb | 14 || May 2 || @ Cardinals || 7–6 || Merritt (1–0) || Shaw (0–1) || Hall (2) || 11,091 || 6–8 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 15 || May 3 || @ Cardinals || 1–2 || Cleveland (2–0) || Billingham (0–4) || || 6,935 || 6–9 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 16 || May 4 || @ Cardinals || 9–5 || Carroll (2–1) || Santorini (2–2) || || 9,299 || 7–9 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 17 || May 5 || Pirates || 5–4 (10) || Carroll (3–1) || Giusti (0–3) || || 24,722 || 8–9 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 18 || May 6 || Pirates || 1–8 || Blass (2–1) || Borbón (0–1) || || 12,284 || 8–10 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 19 || May 7 || Pirates || 6–9 || Briles (2–0) || Billingham (0–5) || Moose (1) || 19,281 || 8–11 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 20 || May 9 || Cubs || 1–7 || Jenkins (3–2) || McGlothlin (0–3) || || 7,906 || 8–12 || L3 |-style=background:#fbb | 21 || May 10 || Cubs || 2–4 || Pappas (3–2) || Nolan (3–1) || McGinn (3) || 7,051 || 8–13 || L4 |-style=background:#bfb | 22 || May 12 || Cardinals || 5–4 || Grimsley (1–0) || Cleveland (3–1) || Carroll (2) || 23,376 || 9–13 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 23 || May 13 || Cardinals || 11–2 || Simpson (1–0) || Clemons (0–1) || Borbón (2) || 10,471 || 10–13 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 24 || May 14 || Cardinals || 4–3 || Gullett (1–2) || Drabowsky (0–1) || Carroll (3) || – || 11–13 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 25 || May 14 || Cardinals || 2–0 || Hall (2–0) || Santorini (2–4) || || 33,486 || 12–13 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 26 || May 16 || @ Giants || 4–3 || Nolan (4–1) || Bryant (1–3) || Carroll (4) || – || 13–13 || W5 |-style=background:#bfb | 27 || May 16 || @ Giants || 2–0 || Billingham (1–5) || Stone (0–3) || || 7,571 || 14–13 || W6 |-style=background:#bfb | 28 || May 17 || @ Giants || 2–1 || Grimsley (2–0) || Marichal (1–7) || Carroll (5) || 2,670 || 15–13 || W7 |-style=background:#bfb | 29 || May 18 || @ Giants || 8–5 || Borbón (1–1) || McDowell (5–1) || Carroll (6) || 2,847 || 16–13 || W8 |-style=background:#bfb | 30 || May 19 || @ Padres || 1–0 || McGlothlin (1–3) || Kirby (3–3) || || 35,423 || 17–13 || W9 |-style=background:#fbb | 31 || May 20 || @ Padres || 3–5 || Arlin (3–3) || Billingham (1–6) || Corkins (2) || 8,102 || 17–14 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 32 || May 21 || @ Padres || 7–2 || Nolan (5–1) || Greif (3–5) || || – || 18–14 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 33 || May 21 || @ Padres || 0–7 || Norman (4–2) || Hall (2–1) || || 17,543 || 18–15 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 34 || May 23 || Braves || 1–2 || Niekro (6–4) || McGlothlin (1–4) || || 13,784 || 18–16 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 35 || May 24 || Braves || 2–4 || Kelley (3–4) || Simpson (1–1) || Upshaw (3) || 10,156 || 18–17 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 36 || May 26 || Padres || 4–0 || Nolan (6–1) || Norman (4–3) || || 15,270 || 19–17 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 37 || May 27 || Padres || 9–4 || McGlothlin (2–4) || Kirby (3–5) || Carroll (7) || 15,055 || 20–17 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 38 || May 28 || Padres || 2–5 || Arlin (4–4) || Grimsley (2–1) || || 19,647 || 20–18 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 39 || May 29 || @ Astros || 8–3 || Simpson (2–1) || Griffin (1–1) || Carroll (8) || 14,885 || 21–18 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 40 || May 30 || @ Astros || 9–5 || Billingham (2–6) || Wilson (3–4) || Carroll (9) || 14,539 || 22–18 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 41 || May 31 || @ Astros || 12–4 || Nolan (7–1) || Roberts (3–3) || || 15,702 || 23–18 || W3 n Cincinnati Reds; June: 18–9 (Home: 7–6; Away: 11–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak |-style=background:#bfb | 42 || June 1 || @ Astros || 10–3 || Sprague (1–0) || Reuss (3–4) || Borbón (3) || 14,466 || 24–18 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 43 || June 2 || @ Phillies || 6–3 (17) || Gullett (2–2) || Twitchell (2–1) || Borbón (4) || 16,251 || 25–18 || W5 |-style=background:#bfb | 44 || June 3 || @ Phillies || 6–5 (10) || Hall (3–1) || Reynolds (0–2) || || 16,623 || 26–18 || W6 |-style=background:#bfb | 45 || June 4 || @ Phillies || 2–0 || Billingham (3–6) || Champion (3–3) || Carroll (10) || 15,861 || 27–18 || W7 |-style=background:#fbb | 46 || June 6 || @ Mets || 2–3 || McAndrew (5–1) || Gullett (2–3) || McGraw (9) || 29,353 || 27–19 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 47 || June 7 || @ Mets || 6–3 || McGlothlin (3–4) || Gentry (3–4) || Hall (3) || 35,995 || 28–19 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 48 || June 8 || @ Mets || 5–3 || Borbón (2–1) || Seaver (8–3) || Carroll (11) || 35,593 || 29–19 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 49 || June 9 || @ Expos || 6–3 || Simpson (3–1) || Morton (2–7) || Borbón (5) || 11,193 || 30–19 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 50 || June 11 || @ Expos || 11–1 || Nolan (8–1) || Renko (1–4) || || 28,589 || 31–19 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 51 || June 13 || Phillies || 8–4 || Hall (4–1) || Champion (4–4) || Carroll (12) || – || 32–19 || W5 |-style=background:#bfb | 52 || June 13 || Phillies || 4–2 || Grimsley (3–1) || Reynolds (0–3) || Borbón (6) || 31,509 || 33–19 || W6 |-style=background:#bfb | 53 || June 14 || Phillies || 2–1 || Billingham (4–6) || Lersch (1–3) || Carroll (13) || 16,127 || 34–19 || W7 |-style=background:#fbb | 54 || June 16 || Mets || 1–2 || Frisella (2–1) || Nolan (8–2) || McGraw (11) || 30,709 || 34–20 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 55 || June 17 || Mets || 8–2 || Simpson (4–1) || Gentry (3–5) || Hall (4) || 51,617 || 35–20 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 56 || June 18 || Mets || 1–2 || Seaver (9–3) || Grimsley (3–2) || || 33,134 || 35–21 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 57 || June 19 || Expos || 0–2 || Stoneman (6–5) || Billingham (4–7) || || 11,145 || 35–22 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 58 || June 20 || Expos || 2–7 || Morton (3–7) || McGlothlin (3–5) || Marshall (5) || 12,287 || 35–23 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 59 || June 21 || Expos || 6–4 || Nolan (9–2) || Renko (1–6) || Carroll (14) || 11,892 || 36–23 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 60 || June 22 || Astros || 5–9 || Culver (2–0) || Simpson (4–2) || Ray (6) || 22,164 || 36–24 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 61 || June 23 || Astros || 7–1 || Grimsley (4–2) || Reuss (5–6) || || 20,401 || 37–24 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 62 || June 24 || Astros || 1–4 || Dierker (7–4) || Billingham (4–8) || || 31,907 || 37–25 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 63 || June 25 || Astros || 5–4 (10) || Carroll (4–1) || Gladding (1–3) || || 30,019 || 38–25 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 64 || June 26 || @ Dodgers || 5–0 || Nolan (10–2) || Osteen (7–5) || || 33,130 || 39–25 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 65 || June 27 || @ Dodgers || 5–4 || Gullett (3–3) || Downing (4–4) || Carroll (15) || 27,395 || 40–25 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 66 || June 28 || @ Giants || 4–2 || Grimsley (5–2) || Carrithers (2–5) || Hall (5) || 5,828 || 41–25 || W4 |-style=background:#fbb | 67 || June 29 || @ Giants || 2–3 || Barr (1–2) || Billingham (4–9) || || 6,337 || 41–26 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 68 || June 30 || @ Padres || 3–4 (13) || Norman (5–6) || Borbón (2–2) || || 6,119 || 41–27 || L2 n Cincinnati Reds; July: 16–10 (Home: 7–8; Away: 9–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak |-style=background:#bfb | 69 || July 1 || @ Padres || 3–2 || Sprague (2–0) || Arlin (7–8) || Billingham (1) || 24,972 || 42–27 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 70 || July 2 || @ Padres || 12–2 || Nolan (11–2) || Corkins (0–4) || Carroll (16) || 12,754 || 43–27 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 71 || July 3 || Cardinals || 2–4 || Wise (9–7) || Gullett (3–4) || || 30,830 || 43–28 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 72 || July 4 || Cardinals || 6–1 || Grimsley (6–2) || Spinks (5–5) || || 15,729 || 44–28 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 73 || July 7 || Cubs || 1–2 || Hooton (7–7) || Simpson (4–3) || Aker (3) || 40,042 || 44–29 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 74 || July 8 || Cubs || 3–2 || Nolan (12–2) || Reuschel (3–1) || Carroll (17) || 47,310 || 45–29 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 75 || July 9 || Cubs || 0–5 || Jenkins (11–7) || Gullett (3–5) || || – || 45–30 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 76 || July 9 || Cubs || 5–10 || Pappas (6–5) || Grimsley (6–3) || || 52,116 || 45–31 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 77 || July 11 || Pirates || 5–0 || Billingham (5–9) || Moose (5–5) || || 24,047 || 46–31 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 78 || July 12 || Pirates || 6–3 || Simpson (5–3) || Walker (3–5) || Carroll (18) || 28,058 || 47–31 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 79 || July 13 || Pirates || 2–0 || Nolan (13–2) || Blass (10–3) || Carroll (19) || 32,060 || 48–31 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 80 || July 14 || @ Cardinals || 6–3 || Grimsley (7–3) || Wise (9–9) || Carroll (20) || 22,849 || 49–31 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 81 || July 15 || @ Cardinals || 12–2 || McGlothlin (4–5) || Santorini (4–7) || Hall (6) || 35,094 || 50–31 || W5 |-style=background:#bfb | 82 || July 16 || @ Cardinals || 4–1 || Billingham (6–9) || Durham (0–1) || || 32,760 || 51–31 || W6 |-style=background:#bfb | 83 || July 17 || @ Cubs || 7–2 || Simpson (6–3) || Reuschel (3–3) || Carroll (21) || 20,420 || 52–31 || W7 |-style=background:#fbb | 84 || July 18 || @ Cubs || 1–2 (10) || Jenkins (12–8) || Carroll (4–2) || || 16,716 || 52–32 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 85 || July 19 || @ Cubs || 6–1 || Grimsley (8–3) || Pappas (6–6) || || 31,475 || 53–32 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 86 || July 21 || @ Pirates || 11–5 || Borbón (3–2) || Kison (4–3) || Gullett (1) || 32,255 || 54–32 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 87 || July 22 || @ Pirates || 6–3 || Sprague (3–0) || Moose (5–6) || Carroll (22) || 40,837 || 55–32 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 88 || July 23 || @ Pirates || 2–3 || Blass (11–4) || Grimsley (8–4) || R. Hernández (6) || 29,487 || 55–33 || L1 |-style=background:#bbcaff | ASG || July 25 || All-Star Game || AL 3–4 NL || McGraw (1–0) || McNally (0–1) || || 53,107 || || |-style=background:#bfb | 89 || July 27 || Padres || 8–2 || Billingham (7–9) || Arlin (8–12) || || 21,852 || 56–33 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 90 || July 28 || Padres || 1–3 || Kirby (7–11) || Simpson (6–4) || || 21,728 || 56–34 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 91 || July 29 || Padres || 3–4 (17) || Acosta (2–5) || Sprague (3–1) || Schaeffer (1) || 33,094 || 56–35 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 92 || July 30 || Giants || 4–0 || Grimsley (9–4) || Marichal (4–11) || || – || 57–35 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 93 || July 30 || Giants || 1–6 (10) || Barr (4–3) || Carroll (4–3) || || 48,351 || 57–36 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 94 || July 31 || Giants || 2–7 || Carrithers (3–6) || Billingham (7–10) || || 18,458 || 57–37 || L2 n Cincinnati Reds; August: 21–9 (Home: 10–4; Away: 11–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak |-style=background:#bfb | 95 || August 1 || @ Astros || 3–1 || Simpson (7–4) || Culver (3–2) || || 31,405 || 58–37 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 96 || August 2 || @ Astros || 1–10 || Wilson (7–7) || Nolan (13–3) || || 31,838 || 58–38 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 97 || August 4 || Braves || 6–5 (11) || Carroll (5–3) || Jarvis (9–5) || || – || 59–38 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 98 || August 4 || Braves || 3–2 || Grimsley (10–4) || McLain (2–2) || Gullett (2) || 42,385 || 60–38 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 99 || August 5 || Braves || 4–2 || Borbón (4–2) || Schueler (4–6) || Carroll (23) || 36,792 || 61–38 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 100 || August 6 || Braves || 3–4 (10) || Niekro (10–10) || Gullett (3–6) || || 29,149 || 61–39 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 101 || August 7 || Braves || 9–1 || McGlothlin (5–5) || Reed (9–11) || || 20,150 || 62–39 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 102 || August 8 || Dodgers || 2–1 (19) || Borbón (5–2) || Mikkelsen (3–5) || || 24,453 || 63–39 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 103 || August 9 || Dodgers || 6–3 || Hall (5–1) || Singer (4–11) || Carroll (24) || 26,146 || 64–39 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 104 || August 10 || Dodgers || 2–6 || Osteen (13–8) || Gullett (3–7) || Brewer (13) || 28,279 || 64–40 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 105 || August 11 || @ Braves || 5–7 || Upshaw (2–5) || Carroll (5–4) || Hardin (2) || 13,268 || 64–41 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 106 || August 12 || @ Braves || 2–7 || Reed (10–11) || Grimsley (10–5) || || 26,857 || 64–42 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 107 || August 13 || @ Braves || 9–4 || Borbón (6–2) || McLain (3–3) || || 20,219 || 65–42 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 108 || August 14 || @ Braves || 12–2 || Billingham (8–10) || Stone (4–9) || || 15,318 || 66–42 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 109 || August 15 || @ Phillies || 3–0 || Gullett (4–7) || Twitchell (2–4) || || 17,106 || 67–42 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 110 || August 16 || @ Phillies || 8–2 || McGlothlin (6–5) || Reynolds (0–10) || Borbón (7) || 10,385 || 68–42 || W4 |-style=background:#fbb | 111 || August 17 || @ Phillies || 4–9 || Carlton (20–6) || Grimsley (10–6) || || 42,635 || 68–43 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 112 || August 18 || @ Mets || 8–2 || Hall (6–1) || Koosman (8–9) || Borbón (8) || 47,957 || 69–43 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 113 || August 19 || @ Mets || 5–0 || Billingham (9–10) || Strom (0–1) || || 43,257 || 70–43 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 114 || August 20 || @ Mets || 8–1 || Gullett (5–7) || McAndrew (9–4) || Carroll (25) || 42,555 || 71–43 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 115 || August 21 || @ Expos || 4–1 || McGlothlin (7–5) || Torrez (13–9) || || 21,080 || 72–43 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 116 || August 22 || @ Expos || 5–3 || Grimsley (11–6) || Morton (5–11) || Borbón (9) || 19,712 || 73–43 || W5 |-style=background:#fbb | 117 || August 23 || @ Expos || 0–11 || Moore (5–6) || Simpson (7–5) || || 13,804 || 73–44 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 118 || August 24 || @ Expos || 6–0 || Billingham (10–10) || McAnally (2–14) || || 14,241 || 74–44 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 119 || August 25 || Phillies || 6–1 || Gullett (6–7) || Reynolds (0–10) || || 32,017 || 75–44 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 120 || August 26 || Phillies || 3–4 || Carlton (21–7) || McGlothlin (7–6) || Scarce (2) || 34,028 || 75–45 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 121 || August 27 || Phillies || 7–2 || Grimsley (12–6) || Twitchell (3–6) || Borbón (10) || 37,167 || 76–45 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 122 || August 28 || Mets || 5–2 || Nolan (14–3) || Strom (0–2) || Hall (7) || 18,508 || 77–45 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 123 || August 29 || Mets || 0–3 || McAndrew (10–5) || Billingham (10–11) || McGraw (19) || 22,114 || 77–46 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 124 || August 30 || Mets || 4–2 || Gullett (7–7) || Matlack (11–8) || Hall (8) || 22,008 || 78–46 || W1 n Cincinnati Reds; September: 14–13 (Home: 7–6; Away: 7–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak |-style=background:#bfb | 125 || September 1 || Expos || 1–0 (10) || Carroll (6–4) || Stoneman (10–10) || || 13,500 || 79–46 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 126 || September 2 || Expos || 2–7 || Torrez (14–9) || Nolan (14–4) || Marshall (15) || 20,569 || 79–47 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 127 || September 3 || Expos || 4–3 || Hall (7–1) || Moore (6–7) || || 15,464 || 80–47 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 128 || September 4 || @ Dodgers || 5–6 || Brewer (8–6) || Sprague (3–2) || || – || 80–48 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 129 || September 4 || @ Dodgers || 8–4 || Gullett (8–7) || Osteen (15–10) || Borbón (11) || 40,366 || 81–48 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 130 || September 5 || @ Dodgers || 4–9 || Sutton (15–9) || Grimsley (12–7) || || 18,155 || 81–49 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 131 || September 6 || @ Dodgers || 6–3 || Simpson (8–5) || Downing (8–7) || Carroll (26) || 16,965 || 82–49 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 132 || September 7 || @ Padres || 0–2 || Caldwell (7–8) || Nolan (14–5) || || – || 82–50 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 133 || September 7 || @ Padres || 1–5 || Norman (8–9) || Billingham (10–12) || || 5,396 || 82–51 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 134 || September 9 || @ Giants || 1–2 || Willoughby (5–2) || Gullett (8–8) || || 6,199 || 82–52 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 135 || September 10 || @ Giants || 8–7 || Hall (8–1) || Moffitt (1–4) || Carroll (27) || – || 83–52 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 136 || September 10 || @ Giants || 2–8 || Marichal (6–15) || McGlothlin (7–7) || Johnson (8) || 13,584 || 83–53 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 137 || September 12 || @ Braves || 7–5 || Borbón (7–2) || McLain (3–5) || Carroll (28) || 4,050 || 84–53 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 138 || September 13 || @ Braves || 8–6 (10) || Hall (9–1) || Hoerner (1–5) || || 3,141 || 85–53 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 139 || September 15 || Padres || 0–1 || Norman (9–9) || Gullett (8–9) || || 14,021 || 85–54 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 140 || September 16 || Padres || 6–3 || Grimsley (13–7) || Corkins (6–9) || Carroll (29) || 20,571 || 86–54 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 141 || September 17 || Padres || 7–10 || Schaeffer (1–0) || Sprague (3–3) || Simpson (1) || 18,300 || 86–55 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 142 || September 18 || Giants || 2–0 || McGlothlin (8–7) || Barr (7–9) || Carroll (30) || 8,608 || 87–55 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 143 || September 19 || Giants || 5–4 || Borbón (8–2) || Marichal (6–16) || Carroll (31) || 10,353 || 88–55 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 144 || September 20 || Giants || 8–6 || Hall (10–1) || Sosa (0–1) || Carroll (32) || 11,174 || 89–55 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 145 || September 22 || @ Astros || 4–3 || Grimsley (14–7) || Dierker (15–8) || Carroll (33) || 15,490 || 90–55 || W4 |-style=background:#fbb | 146 || September 23 || @ Astros || 1–7 || Wilson (14–9) || McGlothlin (8–8) || || 16,657 || 90–56 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 147 || September 24 || @ Astros || 10–2 || Billingham (11–12) || Forsch (5–7) || Carroll (34) || 12,709 || 91–56 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 148 || September 26 || Braves || 9–10 || Hardin (5–2) || Gullett (8–10) || Upshaw (13) || 7,234 || 91–57 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 149 || September 27 || Braves || 5–8 || Niekro (16–11) || Grimsley (14–8) || || 7,033 || 91–58 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 150 || September 29 || Dodgers || 4–1 || Billingham (12–12) || Downing (9–9) || Carroll (35) || 14,454 || 92–58 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 151 || September 30 || Dodgers || 2–4 (10) || Osteen (19–11) || Borbón (8–3) || || 20,080 || 92–59 || L1 n Cincinnati Reds; October: 3–10 (Home: 3–0; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record Streak |-style=background:#bfb | 152 || October 1 || Dodgers || 1–0 || Gullett (9–10) || Rau (2–2) || Carroll (36) || 40,046 || 93–59 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 153 || October 3 || Astros || 6–1 || Nolan (15–5) || Forsch (6–8) || Grimsley (1) || 10,069 || 94–59 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 154 || October 4 || Astros || 4–2 || McGlothlin (9–8) || Cosgrove (0–1) || Carroll (37) || 10,079 || 95–59 || W3 Player stats Batting Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI C Johnny Bench 147 538 145 .270 40 125 1B Tony Perez 136 515 146 .283 21 90 2B Joe Morgan 149 552 161 .292 16 73 SS Dave Concepción 119 378 79 .209 2 29 3B Denis Menke 140 447 104 .233 9 50 LF Pete Rose 154 645 198 .307 6 57 CF Bobby Tolan 149 604 171 .283 8 82 RF César Gerónimo 120 255 70 .275 4 29 Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI Darrel Chaney 83 196 48 .250 2 19 George Foster George Foster (baseball) 59 145 29 .200 2 12 Joe Hague 69 138 34 .246 4 20 Ted Uhlaender 73 113 18 .159 0 6 Bill Plummer 38 102 19 .186 2 9 Hal McRae 61 97 27 .278 5 26 Julián Javier 44 91 19 .209 2 12 Bernie Carbo 19 21 3 .143 0 0 Sonny Ruberto 2 3 0 .000 0 0 Pat Corrales 2 1 0 .000 0 0 Pitching Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G GS IP W L ERA SO Jack Billingham 36 31 217.2 12 12 3.18 137 Ross Grimsley 30 28 197.2 14 8 3.05 79 Gary Nolan Gary Nolan (baseball) 25 25 176.0 15 5 1.99 90 Jim McGlothlin 31 21 145.0 9 8 3.91 69 Wayne Simpson 24 22 130.1 8 5 4.14 70 Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Don Gullett 31 134.2 9 10 3.94 96 Jim Merritt baseball 4 8.0 1 0 4.50 4 Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; SV = Saves Player G W L ERA SO SV Clay Carroll 65 6 4 2.25 51 37 Pedro Borbón 62 8 3 3.17 48 11 Tom Hall Tom Hall (baseball) 47 10 1 2.61 134 8 Ed Sprague Ed Sprague, Sr. 33 3 3 4.13 25 0 Dave Tomlin 3 0 0 9.00 2 0 Joe Gibbon 2 0 0 54.00 1 0 Postseason 1972 National League Championship Series 1972 National League Championship Series The Reds rallied to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates in five games to win the National League title. In Game 5, Johnny Bench's ninth-inning home run tied the game before George Foster scored the game-winner on a wild pitch by Pirates' reliever Bob Moose. Game 1 October 7: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Team123456789RHECincinnati100000000180Pittsburgh30002000X560W: Steve Blass (1–0)   L: Don Gullett (0–1)   S: Ramón Hernández (1)HR: CIN – Joe Morgan (1)  PIT – Al Oliver (1)Pitchers: CIN – Gullett, Borbón (7)  PIT – Blass, Hernández (9)Attendance: 50,476 Game 2 October 8: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Team123456789RHECincinnati400000010581Pittsburgh000111000371W: Tom Hall (1–0)   L: Bob Moose (0–1)   S: None HR: CIN – Joe Morgan (2)  PIT – nonePitchers: CIN – Billingham, Hall (5)  PIT – Moose, Johnson (1), Kison (6), Hernández (7), Giusti (9)Attendance: 50,584 Game 3 October 9: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Team123456789RHEPittsburgh000010110370Cincinnati002000000281W: Bruce Kison (1–0)   L: Clay Carroll (0–1)   S: Dave Giusti (1)HR: PIT – Manny Sanguillén (1)  CIN – nonePitchers: PIT – Briles, Kison (7), Giusti (8)  CIN – Nolan, Borbón (7), Carroll (7), McGlothlin (9)Attendance: 52,420 Game 4 October 10: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Team123456789RHEPittsburgh000000100123Cincinnati1002022007111W: Ross Grimsley (1–0)   L: Dock Ellis (0–1)   S: noneHR: PIT – Roberto Clemente (1)  CIN – nonePitchers: PIT – Ellis, Johnson (6), Walker (7), Miller (8)  CIN – GrimsleyAttendance: 39,447 Game 5 October 11: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Team123456789RHEPittsburgh020100000380Cincinnati001010002471W: Clay Carroll (1–1)   L: Dave Giusti (0–1)   S: noneHR: PIT – none  CIN – César Gerónimo (1), Johnny Bench (1)Pitchers: PIT – Blass, Hernández (8), Giusti (9), Moose (9)  CIN – Gullett, Borbón (4), Hall (6), Carroll (9)Attendance: 41,887 1972 World Series 1972 World Series The Reds were a prohibitive favorite to win the World Series over the Oakland Athletics, who lost top slugger Reggie Jackson to a hamstring injury in the playoffs. But Gene Tenace, who hit just five home runs in the regular season, crushed four against the Reds in a series that saw six of the seven games decided by one run. Oakland dealt the Reds three losses on their home AstroTurf of Riverfront Stadium. Tenace had two hits and two RBI in Game 7 as Oakland scored two in the sixth inning and held on for a 3–2 victory for the A's first World Series title since 1930. +AL Oakland Athletics (4) vs. NL Cincinnati Reds (3)GameScoreDateLocationAttendanceTime of Game1 A's – 3, Reds – 2 October 14Riverfront Stadium 52,918 2:182 A's – 2, Reds – 1 October 15Riverfront Stadium 53,224 2:263 Reds – 1, A's – 0 October 18Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 49,410 2:244 Reds – 2, A's – 3 October 19Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 49,410 2:065 Reds – 5, A's – 4 October 20Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 49,410 2:266 A's – 1, Reds – 8 October 21Riverfront Stadium 52,737 2:217 A's – 3, Reds – 2 October 22Riverfront Stadium 56,040 2:50 Awards and honors Sparky Anderson, Associated Press NL Manager of the Year Johnny Bench, National League MVP Bobby Tolan, Hutch Awardhttps://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_hut.shtml Hutch Award | Baseball Almanac Farm system Minor League Baseball AAA Indianapolis Indians American Association Vern Rapp AA Trois-Rivières Aigles Eastern League Jim Snyder A Tampa Tarpons Florida State League Russ Nixon Rookie Melbourne Reds Florida East Coast League Dave Pavlesic Rookie GCL Reds Gulf Coast League Ron Plaza LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Melbourne Reds Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007 Notes 2 References 1972 Cincinnati Reds season at Baseball Reference Category:Cincinnati Reds seasons Cincinnati Reds season Category:National League champion seasons Category:National League West champion seasons Cincinnati