More 1972 Baseball Season Headlines
Check out more highlights of the 1972 baseball season, including the retirement of great Bill Mazeroski and the year's biggest trades.
- August 1, Padre Nate Colbert hits major league record-tying five homers in doubleheader and collects Major League record 13 RBI.
- California's Nolan Ryan tops American League in strikeouts (329) and sets all-time major league record by allowing only 5.26 hits per game.
Former president of the
American League Will
Harridge was elected
posthumously to the
Hall of Fame.
- The Hall of Fame inducts Sandy Koufax, Yogi Berra, Early Wynn, Lefty Gomez, Will Harridge, Ross Youngs, Josh Gibson, and Buck Leonard.
- Milt Pappas becomes first pitcher to collect 200 career wins without ever having won 20 games in a season.
- Carlton Fisk becomes the only catcher to top the American League in triples, tying Oakland's Joe Rudi for the lead with nine.
- Fisk is second American League rookie catcher in three years to win a Gold Glove.
- Atlanta's Felix Millan wins second Gold Glove as National League second baseman.
- Jackie Robinson dies.
- Pie Traynor dies.
- Zach Wheat dies.
- Gabby Hartnett dies.
- Mets manager Gil Hodges dies of a heart attack.
- Freddy Parent, last survivor of the first World Series, dies at 96.
- Oakland uses major league-record 30 men in a 15-inning game against Chicago on September 19.
- Rangers score just 461 runs and collect only 424 RBI.
- Prior to the season, St. Louis ships Steve Carlton to Philadelphia for Rick Wise.
- Cleveland trades Graig Nettles and Gerry Moses to Yankees for four players.
- Yanks trade Danny Cater to Boston for Sparky Lyle.
- Reds swap young Hal McRae and Wayne Simpson to Kansas City for Roger Nelson and Richie Scheinblum.
- Angels send Andy Messersmith and Ken McMullen to Dodgers for Frank Robinson, Bill Singer, and three other players.
- Giants send Willie Mays to Mets for Charlie Williams and $50,000.
- Montreal deals Rusty Staub to Mets for Ken Singleton, Tim Foli, and Mike Jorgensen.
- Yankee Bobby Murcer tops American League in runs (102) and total bases (314).
- Phils send Don Money and two other players to Milwaukee for Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett, and two others.
- Tigers manager Martin was shown giving the world the finger on his 1972 baseball card.
- Bill Mazeroski retires holding the National League record for most games at second base (2,094).
- On July 14, Bill Haller umps behind the plate in a game which is caught by his brother -- Tom Haller of the Tigers.
- Cincinnati's Clay Carroll sets a new major league save record with 37.
- On October 3, Oriole Roric Harrison becomes the last American League pitcher to homer prior to interleague play.
- White Sox Wilbur Wood's 49 starts are the most in the majors since 1908.
- Tom Seaver receives $172,000 to become the highest-paid hurler in major league history to this juncture.
- Joe Morgan leads National League in runs (122), walks (115), and OBP(.419).
- Philly's Willie Montanez and Houston's Cesar Cedeno top majors in doubles with 39.
- Philly's Larry Bowa leads majors with 13 triples.
- Lou Brock leads National League in steals (63); Bert Campaneris tops American League (52).
- Joe Rudi leads American League in hits (181).
- Boston's Luis Tiant has best ERA in majors (1.91).
- Catfish Hunter wins 21 for the A's and ties Cincinnati's Gary Nolan for best win pct. in majors (.750).
- Sparky Lyle of New York leads American League with 35 saves.
