On March 22, 1972, the New York Yankees make one of the best trades in franchise history. The Yankees acquire reliever Sparky Lyle from the Boston Red Sox for infielder Danny Cater. In seven seasons with the Yankees, Lyle will post a 57-40 record with 141 saves and a 2.41 ERA, win a Cy Young…
1972 – In Caracas, Venezuela, the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates play the first of a three-game series.
On March 16, 1972, Oakland A’s holdout Vida Blue announces that he has rejected the team’s latest contract offer and will retire to work for a company that makes toilet fixtures. The “retirement” won’t last long. The “retirement” won’t last long, as Blue will eventually come to terms with Oakland and begin his season in…
On March 16, 1972 — Hall of Fame third baseman Pie Traynor dies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at the age of 72. Traynor batted .320 over a 17-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a career-high .366 in 1930.
March 12, 1973: New York Mets manager Yogi Berra fines Willie Mays for leaving the team for two days without notice. “I didn’t think I’d have to tell them everytime I cross the street. He made his point and he was right. I made a mistake. I should have told him.” – Willie Mays
March 6, 1972: Jim Fregosi, acquired by the @Mets for Nolan Ryan, breaks his right thumb during a spring training workout. Fregosi hits just .232 in 101 games. from – Metsrewind
On March 4, 1972, the Texas Rangers trade former two-time Cy Young Award winner Denny McLain to the Oakland A’s for minor league pitchers Don Stanhouse and Jim Panther. McLain, who lost a league-leading 22 games pitching for the Washington Senators in 1971, will last only five starts in Oakland before being traded to the…
On March 11, 1972, Hall of Fame outfielder Zach Wheat dies in Sedalia, Missouri, at the age of 83. A .317 lifetime batter, Wheat starred for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He batted a league-leading .335 in 1918 and possessed one of the most accurate throwing arms among outfielders. As of 2020 he is the franchise all time…
On February 29, 1972, future Hall of Famer Hank Aaron becomes the first player to earn $200,000 in average annual salary. Aaron signs a three-year deal with the Atlanta Braves on the heels of one of his best seasons – a .327 average, 47 home runs, and 118 RBIs.
St. Louis Cardinals trade future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton to the Philadelphia Phillies
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