On May 11, 1972, the New York Mets acquire Willie Mays from the San Francisco Giants for pitcher Charlie Williams and $50,000. Three days later, the future Hall of Famer will hit a game-winning home run against the Giants in his Mets’ debut.
1972 – Pencil-thin shortstop Roger Metzger belts his first major-league homer to spark a six-run eighth-inning rally that shocks the Cardinals, 10-7. The shot comes off Hall-Of-Famer Bob Gibson. Pinch-hitter Jimmy Stewart’s two-run triple gives Houston the lead. Lee May caps a four-hit night with a ninth-inning blast. Houston leads the NL West by a game over Los Angeles.
Orioles lefty Dave McNally hurls his fourth shutout of the season, blanking the Rangers, 1 – 0. Pete Broberg, who allows just two hits, takes the loss.
Career triple No. 160 for Roberto Clemente puts Pittsburgh up, 1 – 0, on Atlanta and the Bucs never look back. Clemente comes home on Richie Hebner’s single and solo home runs from Willie Stargell and Dave Cashprovide Pittsburgh’s next two runs. Cash’s 8th-inning RBI double supplies additional insurance and reliever Bruce Kison responds with a perfect 8th and 9th to nail down the 5 – 2 win for starter Dock Ellis.
May 6, 1972: Legendary San Francisco Giants OF Willie Mays enjoys a slice of birthday cake that was presented to him by the Phillies on his 41st birthday. (Mays would be traded to the Mets five days later.)
The Angels make quick work of Milwaukee, beating the visitors at Anaheim Stadium, 2-0. Andy Messersmith’s two-hit masterpiece takes only one-hour and thirty-one minutes to complete, making the contest the quickest nine-inning game in franchise history.
Jim Fregosi, obtained by the Mets from the Angels in the off-season for future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, breaks his right thumb during a spring training workout. The All-Star infielder will suffer through an agonizing season, batting only .232 in 101 games, after being touted as the team’s solution to its revolving door at third base.
On May 2, 1972, the long holdout of Oakland A’s pitching star Vida Blue comes to an end. Blue, who won the both the American League MVP and Cy Young awards in 1971, agrees to sign a contract for $63,000, after balking at owner Charlie Finley’s previous offers. Perhaps affected by the long layoff, the…
Philadelphia starter Dick Selma goes the distance, three-hitting the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine, 2-1. The victory is the fifth consecutive complete-game thrown by a Phillies starter, with Steve Carlton, Woody Fryman, Barry Lersch, and Bill Champion each finishing their game without help from the bullpen in team’s previous four contests.
Don Zimmer, who replaced the recently fired Preston Gomez, gets the first of his of 885 victories as a big league manager when the Padres blank the Phillies at San Diego Stadium, 4-0. The victory is very unlikely as Steve Arlin, who will lead the league in losses with 21, bests Steve Carlton, this season’s eventual Cy Young Award winner, who will be tops in the majors with 27 victories.
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