The Big Red Machine Captures World Series Title

The 1972 ARAIG World Series match up reprised the real life contest between the Cincinnati Reds and Oakland A’s. The Big Red Machine had rolled to the NL West title with

World Series MVP

99 wins, while the A’s had “only” won 88 but still eclipsed the second place Angels by 12 games. 

Game 1

The Reds got to A’s starter Ken Holtzman early with 4 runs in first 4 innings, while Reds Gary Nolan shut out the A’s through 8. In the ninth, the A’s made it interesting. Against Pedro Borbon, the first three Oakland batters reached base before Clay Carroll came in to abort the comeback at 2 runs. Reds win 4-2.

Game 2

It was the A’s turn to jump out to an early lead, as 5 of the first 6 A’s reached base against Reds starter Ross Grimsley. The capper was a Sal Bando grand slam to give the A’s a 4-0 lead. Teams traded a couple runs in the middle innings, but the A’s lead 6-2 as the Reds came to bat in the bottom of the 9th against ace reliever Rollie Fingers. Rose tripled followed by a Morgan homer, and all of a sudden we had a game. The Reds would ultimately load the bases with two outs, as batter Hal McRae came up to face Fingers with the game on the line. Alas, McRae’s boyhood dream went unfulfilled as he harmlessly flied to center. A’s win 6-5 to tie the series at 1-1.

Game 3

Jack Billingham of the Reds and Blue Moon Odom of the A’s each held their opponents scoreless through 4, but the Reds would score in each of the next 5 innings to blow the game open. Jack Bilingham went 7 scoreless before Boorbon again came in to give up baserunners, but the Reds had built an insurmountable lead. Reds win 9-1, and now led series 2-1.

Game 4

Holtzman was back for the A’s, this time opposed by Reds’ Don Gullett. Sal Bando struck again with another first inning home run to give the A’s the lead. With the score A’s 3-2 headed into the 4th, Johnny Bench and Hal McRae each homered to give the Reds a 5-3 lead. Reds reliever Tom Hall took over for an ineffective Don Gullett in the 5th, and pitched 4 scoreless innings (adding to the 3 who threw in Game 2). The A’s once again made the game close against Reds relievers but Clay Carroll held off the furious charge.

Game 5

Catfish Hunter took the mound for the A’s to try to force Game 6, opposed by Reds; Jim McGlothlin. Reds got to Hunter for single runs in each of 1st, 4th, and 6th innings, while the A’s got one back ib the 5th. Starter McGlothlin gave way to reliever Tom Hall in the 6th, and Hall held the Athletics scoreless the rest of the way to cement the Series win.

Series MVP was Tom Hall, who went a total of 11 innings without allowing a run. NLCS hero Darrel Chaney only got to bat 10 times, but continued his magical post season with a .600/.667/.800 triple slash line.

Thanks to Bruce for helming the A’s. See you all next season.

Bill