On April 15, 1972, Reggie Jackson of the Oakland A’s becomes the first major leaguer to sport a mustache since Wally Schang of the Philadelphia Athletics in 1914. Jackson starts a trend with the A’s, as owner Charlie Finley eventually encourages all of his players to grow mustaches. By the end of the season, the World Champion A’s will become known as the “Mustache Gang.”
The first player strike in Major League Baseball history ends, with an abbreviated schedule to start two days later.
On April 6, 1972, the first general strike in the history of the major leagues officially begins with the cancellation of Opening Day games in both leagues. The strike will be settled seven days later when the players and owners come to agreement on pension fund payments. The two sides agree not to make up the 86 missed games.
The season opener between the Astros and Reds is canceled due to the player strike which started on April 1. The work stoppage cancels Opening Day for the for the first time in major league history, with a total of 86 games not played until both sides agree on an increase in pension fund payments with the owners also adding salary arbitration to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
On April 5, 1972, the New York Mets acquire outfielder Rusty Staub from the Montreal Expos for a package of three players: Ken Singleton, Tim Foli, and Mike Jorgensen. Staub will help the Mets to the National League pennant in 1973.
Hank Aaron, Rico Carty, and Orlando Cepeda all start in an exhibition game. The contest marks the first time the trio of sluggers, sidelined with a variety of injuries over the past two seasons, has appeared together in the Braves lineup since 1970.
On April 2, 1972, New York Mets manager Gil Hodges collapses just minutes after completing a round of golf in West Palm Beach, Florida, and dies of a heart attack. The popular Hodges dies just two days before his 48th birthday. Hodges had guided the Mets to their “miraculous” World Series championship in 1969.
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