1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

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
Date July 25, 1972
Venue Atlanta Stadium[1]
City Atlanta
Managers American League - Earl Weaver[2] (BAL)
National League - Danny Murtaugh[2] (PIT)
MVP Joe Morgan[2] (CIN)
Attendance 53,107[1]
Television NBC
TV announcers Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek
Radio NBC
Radio announcers Jim Simpson and Sandy Koufax
< 1971 Major League Baseball All-Star Game 1973 >

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]

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

The American League roster included 13 future Hall of Fame players and coaches.[2][4]

Elected starters

PositionPlayerTeamNotes
CBill FreehanDetroit Tigers
1BDick AllenChicago White Sox
2BRod CarewMinnesota Twins
3BBrooks RobinsonBaltimore Orioles
SSLuis AparicioBoston Red Soxinjured
OFReggie JacksonOakland Athletics
OFBobby MurcerNew York Yankees
OFCarl YastrzemskiBoston Red Sox

Pitchers

ThrowsPitcherTeamNotes
RHJoe ColemanDetroit Tigersinjured
RHPat DobsonBaltimore Oriolesdid not pitch
LHKen HoltzmanOakland Athleticsdid not pitch
RHCatfish HunterOakland Athleticsdid not pitch
LHMickey LolichDetroit Tigers
LHDave McNallyBaltimore Orioles
RHJim PalmerBaltimore Oriolesstarting pitcher
RHGaylord PerryCleveland Indians
RHNolan RyanCalifornia Angelsdid not pitch
LHWilbur WoodChicago White Sox

Reserve position players

PositionPlayerTeamNotes
CCarlton FiskBoston Red Sox
CEllie RodríguezMilwaukee Brewersdid not play
1BNorm CashDetroit Tigers
2BCookie RojasKansas City Royals
3BSal BandoOakland Athletics
SSBert CampanerisOakland Athleticsdid not play
SSBobby GrichBaltimore Oriolesstarted for Aparicio
SSToby HarrahTexas Rangersinjured
SSFreddie PatekKansas City Royalsinjured
OFCarlos MayChicago White Sox
OFAmos OtisKansas City Royalsinjured
OFLou PiniellaKansas City Royals
OFJoe RudiOakland Athletics
OFRichie ScheinblumKansas City Royals
OFReggie SmithBoston Red Sox

Coaching staff

PositionManagerTeam
ManagerEarl WeaverBaltimore Orioles
CoachBob LemonKansas City Royals
CoachDick WilliamsOakland Athletics

National League roster

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

Elected starters

PositionPlayerTeamNotes
CJohnny BenchCincinnati Reds
1BLee MayHouston Astros
2BJoe MorganCincinnati Reds
3BJoe TorreSt. Louis Cardinals
SSDon KessingerChicago Cubs
OFHank AaronAtlanta Braves
OFRoberto ClementePittsburgh Piratesdid not play
OFWillie StargellPittsburgh Pirates

Pitchers

ThrowsPitcherTeamNotes
RHSteve BlassPittsburgh Pirates
LHSteve CarltonPhiladelphia Phillies
RHClay CarrollCincinnati Redsdid not pitch
RHBob GibsonSt. Louis Cardinalsstarting pitcher
RHFerguson JenkinsChicago Cubsdid not pitch
LHTug McGrawNew York Mets
RHGary NolanCincinnati Redsinjured
RHTom SeaverNew York Metsdid not pitch
RHBill StonemanMontréal Expos
RHDon SuttonLos Angeles Dodgersdid not pitch

Reserve position players

PositionPlayerTeamNotes
CManny SanguillénPittsburgh Pirates
CTed SimmonsSt. Louis Cardinalsdid not play
1BNate ColbertSan Diego Padres
2BGlenn BeckertChicago Cubs
3BRon SantoChicago Cubs
SSChris SpeierSan Francisco Giants
OFLou BrockSt. Louis Cardinalsdid not play
OFCésar CedeñoHouston Astros
OFWillie MaysNew York Metsstarted for Clemente
OFAl OliverPittsburgh Pirates
OFBilly WilliamsChicago Cubs

Coaching staff

PositionManagerTeam
ManagerDanny MurtaughPittsburgh Pirates
CoachCharlie FoxSan Francisco Giants
CoachRed SchoendienstSt. Louis Cardinals

Starting lineups

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

American LeagueNational League
OrderPlayerTeamPositionOrderPlayerTeamPosition
1Rod CarewMinnesota Twins2B1Joe MorganCincinnati Reds2B
2Bobby MurcerNew York YankeesCF2Willie MaysNew York MetsCF
3Reggie JacksonOakland AthleticsRF3Hank AaronAtlanta BravesRF
4Dick AllenChicago White Sox1B4Willie StargellPittsburgh PiratesLF
5Carl YastrzemskiBoston Red SoxLF5Johnny BenchCincinnati RedsC
6Bobby GrichBaltimore OriolesSS6Lee MayHouston Astros1B
7Brooks RobinsonBaltimore Orioles3B7Joe TorreSt. Louis Cardinals3B
8Bill FreehanDetroit TigersC8Don KessingerChicago CubsSS
9Jim PalmerBaltimore OriolesP9Bob GibsonSt. Louis CardinalsP

Umpires

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

Scoring summary

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]

Game notes and records

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 50 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 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.

Notes

External links