Wikipedia

1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

The 1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 43rd such game, was played on July 25, 1972.[1] The all-stars from the American League and the National League faced each other at Atlanta Stadium, home of the Atlanta Braves. The National League came away with a 4–3 win in 10 innings.[1]

1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
American League 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 6 0
National League 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 4 8 0
DateJuly 25, 1972
VenueAtlanta Stadium[1]
CityAtlanta
Managers
MVPJoe Morgan[2] (CIN)
Attendance53,107[1]
TelevisionNBC
TV announcersCurt Gowdy and Tony Kubek
RadioNBC
Radio announcersJim Simpson and Sandy Koufax

This was the third All-Star Game hosted by the Braves (1936 and 1955), but the first All-Star Game to be hosted by the team in Atlanta (the previous two being hosted in their previous homes of Boston and Milwaukee, respectively). This would be the only All-Star Game played in Atlanta Stadium, as the Braves had moved to Turner Field when the exhibition returned to Atlanta in 2000.[3]

After seeing their 8 All-Star Game winning streak ended in 1971, the game would mark the start of an 11-game winning streak for the NL, the longest winning streak by either league in the exhibition's history.[3] This was also the final All-Star Game for Roberto Clemente before his death in a plane crash on New Year's Eve.

American League roster

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The American League roster included 14 future Hall of Fame players and coaches, denoted in italics.[2][4]

Elected starters

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Position Player Team Notes
C Bill Freehan Detroit Tigers
1B Dick Allen Chicago White Sox
2B Rod Carew Minnesota Twins
3B Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles
SS Luis Aparicio Boston Red Sox injured
OF Reggie Jackson Oakland Athletics
OF Bobby Murcer New York Yankees
OF Carl Yastrzemski Boston Red Sox

Pitchers

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Throws Pitcher Team Notes
RH Joe Coleman Detroit Tigers injured
RH Pat Dobson Baltimore Orioles did not pitch
LH Ken Holtzman Oakland Athletics did not pitch
RH Catfish Hunter Oakland Athletics did not pitch
LH Mickey Lolich Detroit Tigers
LH Dave McNally Baltimore Orioles
RH Jim Palmer Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher
RH Gaylord Perry Cleveland Indians
RH Nolan Ryan California Angels did not pitch
LH Wilbur Wood Chicago White Sox

Reserve position players

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Position Player Team Notes
C Carlton Fisk Boston Red Sox
C Ellie Rodríguez Milwaukee Brewers did not play
1B Norm Cash Detroit Tigers
2B Cookie Rojas Kansas City Royals
3B Sal Bando Oakland Athletics
SS Bert Campaneris Oakland Athletics did not play
SS Bobby Grich Baltimore Orioles started for Aparicio
SS Toby Harrah Texas Rangers injured
SS Freddie Patek Kansas City Royals injured
OF Carlos May Chicago White Sox
OF Amos Otis Kansas City Royals injured
OF Lou Piniella Kansas City Royals
OF Joe Rudi Oakland Athletics
OF Richie Scheinblum Kansas City Royals
OF Reggie Smith Boston Red Sox

Coaching staff

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Position Manager Team
Manager Earl Weaver Baltimore Orioles
Coach Bob Lemon Kansas City Royals
Coach Dick Williams Oakland Athletics

National League roster

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The National League roster included 16 future Hall of Fame players and coaches, denoted in italics.[2][4]

Elected starters

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Position Player Team Notes
C Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds
1B Lee May Houston Astros
2B Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds
3B Joe Torre St. Louis Cardinals
SS Don Kessinger Chicago Cubs
OF Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves
OF Roberto Clemente Pittsburgh Pirates did not play
OF Willie Stargell Pittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers

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Throws Pitcher Team Notes
RH Steve Blass Pittsburgh Pirates
LH Steve Carlton Philadelphia Phillies
RH Clay Carroll Cincinnati Reds did not pitch
RH Bob Gibson St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher
RH Ferguson Jenkins Chicago Cubs did not pitch
LH Tug McGraw New York Mets
RH Gary Nolan Cincinnati Reds injured
RH Tom Seaver New York Mets did not pitch
RH Bill Stoneman Montréal Expos
RH Don Sutton Los Angeles Dodgers

Reserve position players

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Position Player Team Notes
C Manny Sanguillén Pittsburgh Pirates
C Ted Simmons St. Louis Cardinals did not play
1B Nate Colbert San Diego Padres
2B Glenn Beckert Chicago Cubs
3B Ron Santo Chicago Cubs
SS Chris Speier San Francisco Giants
OF Lou Brock St. Louis Cardinals did not play
OF César Cedeño Houston Astros
OF Willie Mays New York Mets started for Clemente
OF Al Oliver Pittsburgh Pirates
OF Billy Williams Chicago Cubs

Coaching staff

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Position Manager Team
Manager Danny Murtaugh Pittsburgh Pirates
Coach Charlie Fox San Francisco Giants
Coach Red Schoendienst St. Louis Cardinals

Starting lineups

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While the starters were elected by the fans, the batting orders and starting pitchers were selected by the managers.[2]

American League National League
Order Player Team Position Order Player Team Position
1 Rod Carew Minnesota Twins 2B 1 Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds 2B
2 Bobby Murcer New York Yankees CF 2 Willie Mays New York Mets CF
3 Reggie Jackson Oakland Athletics RF 3 Hank Aaron Atlanta Braves RF
4 Dick Allen Chicago White Sox 1B 4 Willie Stargell Pittsburgh Pirates LF
5 Carl Yastrzemski Boston Red Sox LF 5 Johnny Bench Cincinnati Reds C
6 Bobby Grich Baltimore Orioles SS 6 Lee May Houston Astros 1B
7 Brooks Robinson Baltimore Orioles 3B 7 Joe Torre St. Louis Cardinals 3B
8 Bill Freehan Detroit Tigers C 8 Don Kessinger Chicago Cubs SS
9 Jim Palmer Baltimore Orioles P 9 Bob Gibson St. Louis Cardinals P

Umpires

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Position Umpire[5]
Home Plate Stan Landes (NL)
First Base Lou DiMuro (AL)
Second Base Lee Weyer (NL)
Third Base Jerry Neudecker (AL)
Left Field Jerry Dale (NL)
Right Field Bill Kunkel (AL)

Scoring summary

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The American League opened the game's scoring in the top of the third, with Steve Blass in to relieve Bob Gibson. Bill Freehan walked, and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Jim Palmer. Rod Carew singled, allowing Freehan to score.[6]

The National League would not answer until the bottom of the sixth inning, with Gaylord Perry pitching in relief. With two outs, César Cedeño singled. Hank Aaron then hit a two-run home run to give the National League the lead.[6]

The AL would respond in the top of the eighth inning against Bill Stoneman in his second inning of relief. Carlton Fisk singled, and after a strikeout, Cookie Rojas (pinch hitting for Rod Carew) hit a two-run home run.[6]

Wilbur Wood was in his second inning of relief when, in the bottom of the ninth inning, the National League evened the score. Billy Williams and Manny Sanguillén hit back-to-back singles, with Sanguillen's sending Williams to third base. Lee May hit into a fielder's choice, forcing Sanguillen out at second, but permitting Williams to score. After Ron Santo grounded into a double play, the score was tied at 3, forcing extra innings.[6]

In the bottom of the tenth inning, Dave McNally came on in relief for the AL. The first batter he faced, Nate Colbert (pinch hitting for Tug McGraw), walked. Colbert advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Speier. Joe Morgan singled, scoring Colbert and ending the game.[6]

Line score

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Tuesday, July 25, 1972 8:15 pm (ET) at Atlanta Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
American League 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 6 0
National League 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 4 8 0
WP: Tug McGraw (1-0)   LP: Dave McNally (0-1)
Home runs:
AL: Cookie Rojas (1)
NL: Hank Aaron (1)

Game notes and records

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Tug McGraw was credited with the win. Dave McNally was charged with the loss.[5]

This was the fifth All-Star Game to reach extra innings. After this one, the National League was 5–0 in those extra inning games.[2]

The home run hit by Hank Aaron was the last one in an All-Star Game by a player from the host team for 25 years. This did not happen again until Sandy Alomar Jr. of the Cleveland Indians homered at Jacobs Field in the 1997 All-Star Game.

The homer by Cookie Rojas, a native of Cuba, was the first one ever hit in an All-Star Game for the American League by a player who was born outside the United States.

Nate Colbert, who scored the winning run, brought the wrong uniform with him to Atlanta. The San Diego Padres' slugger donned his road jersey with SAN DIEGO on it instead of his home one with PADRES on it. Both of San Diego's jerseys in 1972 and 1973 were gold. Seven days after the All-Star Game, Colbert racked up 13 RBI in a doubleheader vs. the Braves in the same stadium, setting a Major League record for a twinbill which was tied in 1993 by Mark Whiten for the St. Louis Cardinals.

With Toby Harrah injured, the Texas Rangers did not have an active player on the AL squad in their first season in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers were originally the second incarnation of the Washington Senators, leaving the nation's capital in November 1971 after 11 seasons.

Players from the Red Sox and Giants debuted double-knit uniforms in this game. After the Pirates (1970), Cardinals and Orioles (each in 1971) were the first teams to switch, two-thirds of MLB (16 of 24) donned new double-knits to begin 1972. The three remaining teams wearing flannels full-time, the Expos, Royals and Yankees, switched to double-kits to start 1973.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Total Baseball, 5th ed., 1997, Viking Press, Thorn, John et al. ed, p. 253
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 1972 All-Star Game, baseball-almanac.com; accessed 21 September 2008
  3. ^ a b All-Star Game history, baseball-reference.com; accessed 25 September 2008
  4. ^ a b All-Star Game Results-1972, mlb.com; accessed 25 September 2008
  5. ^ a b 1972 All-Star Game box score, @baseball almanac.com; accessed 14 November 2008
  6. ^ a b c d e 1972 All-Star Game play by play, baseball-almanac.com; accessed 25 September 2008
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