Johnny Bench strikes out looking with a full count when a trick play dupes him

Johnny Bench strikes out looking with a full count when a trick play dupes him

ByThis Day in Baseball

Johnny Bench, with runners on second and third base in Game 3 of the World Series, strikes out looking with a full count when a trick play dupes him. The Cincinnati slugger, believing he being given an intentional walk after the A’s manager visits the mound and catcher Gene Tenace returns to his position to call for a wide ball 4, is fooled when the A’s backstop quickly crouches behind home to catch a called strike three from Rollie Fingers.

Jackie Robinson last apparence

Jackie Robinson makes his final appearance at a ballpark prior to Game 2 of the World Series

ByThis Day in Baseball

  October 15, 1972. at Riverfront Stadium Jackie Robinson makes his final appearance at a ballpark prior to Game 2 of the World Series between Oakland A’s and Cincinnati Reds. He urges baseball to hire a black manager. The first African- American skipper will not be hired until 1975 when the Indians employed Frank Robinson…

Joe Rudi

Joe Rudi makes a game saving catch in world series game 2

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On October 15, 1972, Before a record Cincinnati crowd of 53,224, at Riverfront Joe Rudi makes a game-saving catch of Denis Menke’s drive to help the Oakland A’s defeat the Cincinnati Reds in Game Two of the World Series. Rudi’s leaping grab against the left field wall preserves a 2-1 victory for Catfish…

Gene Tenace hits home runs in his first two World Series at-bats

Gene Tenace hits home runs in his first two World Series at-bats

ByThis Day in Baseball

On October 14, 1972, At Riverfront Stadium Gene Tenace hits home runs in his first two World Series at-bats to lead the Oakland A’s to a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Game One. Tenace, who went 1-for-17 in the ALCS, becomes the first player in history to hit two home runs in his…

Oakland's Campy Campaneris hurling his bat at Tigers' pitcher Lerrin LaGrow after taking a fastball in the ankle during the 1972 American League playoffs.

Bert Campaneris throws his bat at Detroit Tigers pitcher Lerrin LaGrow after being hit by a pitch

ByThis Day in Baseball

1972 – In Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, Bert Campaneris of the Oakland Athletics throws his bat at Detroit Tigers pitcher Lerrin LaGrow after being hit by a pitch. Both players are ejected and Campaneris is suspended for the rest of the series.

Chicago White Sox and Oakland A’s set a major league record by combining to use 51 players

Chicago White Sox and Oakland A’s set a major league record by combining to use 51 players

ByThis Day in Baseball

On September 19, 1972, In a 15-inning contest with Chicago, the A’s set an extra-inning record by using 30 players, including six second basemen and 10 pinch-hitters. Together the two clubs use 51 players, another record. Oakland still loses, 8 – 7. The A’s also establish a record by using every one of their 30 available…

Holtzman-Ken-Oakland black arm band

Ken Holtzman and first baseman Mike Epstein wear black armbands on the sleeves of their uniforms to pay respect to the 11 Israeli Olympic athletes who were killed yesterday by terrorists in Munich

ByThis Day in Baseball

A’s southpaw Ken Holtzman and first baseman Mike Epstein wear black armbands on the sleeves of their uniforms to pay respect to the 11 Israeli Olympic athletes who were killed yesterday by terrorists in Munich. The action taken by the Jewish players, affirming the importance of their faith, is well received by the club, with Reggie Jackson wearing an armband in solidarity, along with skipper Dick Williams being fully supportive of the symbolic gesture made by the Oakland teammates.

Catfish Hunter’s six-game winning streak came to an end on the same night that his counterpart, Kansas City Royals starter Dick Drago, ended a 26-at-bat hitless string

Dick Drago hits Sal Bando and Catfish Hunter to deliver a win

ByThis Day in Baseball

On August 7, 1972 Catfish Hunter’s six-game winning streak came to an end on the same night that his counterpart, Kansas City Royals starter Dick Drago, ended a 26-at-bat hitless string. Drago’s surprising RBI single helped lift Kansas City to a 4-2 victory at Royals Stadium. The A’s took an early lead against Drago, scoring…