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1972 Cincinnati Reds season

Field	Value
name	Cincinnati Reds
season	1972
misc	National League Champion
National League West Division Champion
league	National League
division	West
ballpark	Riverfront Stadium
city	Cincinnati
record
divisional_place	1st
owners	Francis L. Dale
general_managers	Bob Howsam
managers	Sparky Anderson
television	WLWT
(Tom Hedrick, Waite Hoyt)
radio	WLW
(Al Michaels, Joe Nuxhall)

National League West Division Champion (Tom Hedrick, Waite Hoyt) (Al Michaels, Joe Nuxhall) |}}

The 1972 Cincinnati Reds season was the 103rd season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 3rd and 2nd full season at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. The Reds won the National League West title with a record of 95 wins and 59 losses, games over the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They defeated the previous year's World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates in the NLCS, but lost to the Oakland Athletics in seven games in the World Series. The Reds were managed by Sparky Anderson.

The theme for the Reds was "Redemption" after a disastrous 1971 season that saw the Reds fall from a World Series participant in 1970 to a sub .500 team a year later. In fact, the March 13, 1972, Sports Illustrated edition featured the Reds on the front cover headlining "Redemption for the Reds." The Reds won 102 games in 1970, but only 79 a year later. A major catalyst for the Reds, Bobby Tolan, ruptured his Achilles' tendon in the winter of 1971 while playing basketball and he missed the entire '71 MLB season. Nearly every Reds regular, including Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Tony Pérez, Bernie Carbo and David Concepcion, had significant decreases in their production from 1970. The lone exception was popular first baseman Lee May, who set career highs in home runs (39) and slugging percentage (.532).

Reds fans, en masse, were shocked and dismayed when, on November 29, 1971, Cincinnati Reds General Manager Bob Howsam traded May, Gold Glove winning second baseman Tommy Helms and key utility man Jimmy Stewart to division rival Houston Astros for second baseman Joe Morgan, third baseman Denis Menke, pitcher Jack Billingham, little-used reserve outfielder Cesar Geronimo and minor leaguer Ed Armbrister. The trade turned out to be one of the best trades in Reds history. Morgan would escape the cavernous Houston Astrodome to a more hitter-friendly Riverfront Stadium home park. Surrounded by more talent in Cincinnati, Morgan would become one of the more productive power-speed players in the entire decade on his way to eventual induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Morgan and Geronimo would also go on to each win multiple Gold Glove awards, as Geronimo manned right field until 1974 when he would take over in center field. Billingham would go on to win 12 games in 1972 and 50 total in his first three years with the Reds. Billingham's best moments came in the 1972 World Series when he threw innings allowing no earned runs in collecting a win, a save, and a no decision in Game 7.

With Rose, Morgan and a healthy Tolan at the top of the lineup, a rejuvenated Bench was the recipient as the Reds' cleanup hitter. Rebounding from the 1971 disaster when he only drove in 61 runs, Bench slammed 40 home runs and had a major league-best 125 RBI. Bench also walked a career-high 100 times on his way to NL MVP honors, his second in three years.

Cincinnati got off to a slow start, winning only eight of their first 21 games before winning nine straight. The Reds were still only 20–18 when they went into Houston to play the retooled Astros for a four-game series, May 29 – June 1, at the Astrodome, a notorious pitchers park. But the Reds scored 39 runs in the series and won all four games. The Reds went into the July 23 All-Star break with a game lead over the Astros and an 8-game lead over the Dodgers. Neither team seriously threatened the Reds in the second half.

Reds ace Gary Nolan won 13 of his 15 decisions by July 13, only 79 games into the season. But Nolan suffered a series of neck and shoulder ailments that forced him out of the All Star game and limited him to a total of 25 starts. He spent much of the second-half on the disabled list resting and then rehabbing. He won two games after the All-Star break. Nolan still finished second in the National League in ERA (1.99) to Philadelphia's Steve Carlton (1.97). Morgan (122 runs scored, 16 home runs, 73 RBI, 58 stolen bases, .292 average) finished fourth in MVP voting, while Rose (107 runs, 198 hits, 11 triples, .307 avg.) and reliever Clay Carroll (37 saves, 2.25 ERA) were 12th and 13th, respectively, in the MVP voting conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

The Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, three games to two, in an exciting 1972 National League Championship Series, the first time in its four-year history the NLCS had gone five games. The World Series against the Oakland A's was equally as epic, with the Reds falling in Game 7, 3–2, the sixth game of the series decided by a single run.

Off season

November 29, 1971: Lee May, Tommy Helms, and Jimmy Stewart were traded by the Reds to the Houston Astros for Joe Morgan, Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham, César Gerónimo, and Denis Menke.
Dec 3, 1971: Wayne Granger was traded by the Reds to the Minnesota Twins for Tom Hall.
December 14, 1971: Jim Qualls was traded by the Reds to the Chicago White Sox for Pat Jacquez.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

June 6, 1972: Ron Hassey was drafted by the Reds in the 23rd round of the 1972 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.

Roster

1972 Cincinnati Reds roster
Roster
Pitchers

Game log

|-style=background:#fbb | 1 || April 15 || Dodgers || 1–3 || Sutton (1–0) || Billingham (0–1) || Brewer (1) || 37,895 || 0–1 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 2 || April 16 || Dodgers || 10–1 || Nolan (1–0) || Downing (0–1) || Carroll (1) || 16,410 || 1–1 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 3 || April 18 || Astros || 4–8 || Forsch (1–0) || Gullett (0–1) || Gladding (1) || 8,347 || 1–2 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 4 || April 19 || Astros || 5–7 || Reuss (1–0) || Billingham (0–2) || Culver (1) || 6,217 || 1–3 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 5 || April 21 || @ Braves || 4–3 || Nolan (2–0) || Reed (1–1) || Hall (1) || 6,762 || 2–3 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 6 || April 22 || @ Braves || 7–11 || Jarvis (1–1) || Gullett (0–2) || Nash (1) || 10,141 || 2–4 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 7 || April 23 || @ Braves || 3–4 (11) || Schueler (1–0) || McGlothlin (0–1) || || 13,377 || 2–5 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 8 || April 25 || @ Pirates || 2–5 (13) || Miller (1–1) || McGlothlin (0–2) || || 6,509 || 2–6 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 9 || April 26 || @ Pirates || 7–6 || Nolan (3–0) || Blass (1–1) || Borbón (1) || 6,380 || 3–6 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 10 || April 27 || @ Pirates || 5–4 || Carroll (1–0) || Giusti (0–1) || || 12,504 || 4–6 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 11 || April 28 || @ Cubs || 8–10 || Jenkins (1–2) || Billingham (0–3) || || 12,185 || 4–7 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 12 || April 29 || @ Cubs || 3–2 || Hall (1–0) || Pappas (1–2) || || 19,560 || 5–7 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 13 || April 30 || @ Cubs || 4–6 || Hooton (2–2) || Carroll (1–1) || McGinn (2) || 21,924 || 5–8 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 14 || May 2 || @ Cardinals || 7–6 || Merritt (1–0) || Shaw (0–1) || Hall (2) || 11,091 || 6–8 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 15 || May 3 || @ Cardinals || 1–2 || Cleveland (2–0) || Billingham (0–4) || || 6,935 || 6–9 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 16 || May 4 || @ Cardinals || 9–5 || Carroll (2–1) || Santorini (2–2) || || 9,299 || 7–9 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 17 || May 5 || Pirates || 5–4 (10) || Carroll (3–1) || Giusti (0–3) || || 24,722 || 8–9 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 18 || May 6 || Pirates || 1–8 || Blass (2–1) || Borbón (0–1) || || 12,284 || 8–10 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 19 || May 7 || Pirates || 6–9 || Briles (2–0) || Billingham (0–5) || Moose (1) || 19,281 || 8–11 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 20 || May 9 || Cubs || 1–7 || Jenkins (3–2) || McGlothlin (0–3) || || 7,906 || 8–12 || L3 |-style=background:#fbb | 21 || May 10 || Cubs || 2–4 || Pappas (3–2) || Nolan (3–1) || McGinn (3) || 7,051 || 8–13 || L4 |-style=background:#bfb | 22 || May 12 || Cardinals || 5–4 || Grimsley (1–0) || Cleveland (3–1) || Carroll (2) || 23,376 || 9–13 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 23 || May 13 || Cardinals || 11–2 || Simpson (1–0) || Clemons (0–1) || Borbón (2) || 10,471 || 10–13 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 24 || May 14 || Cardinals || 4–3 || Gullett (1–2) || Drabowsky (0–1) || Carroll (3) || – || 11–13 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 25 || May 14 || Cardinals || 2–0 || Hall (2–0) || Santorini (2–4) || || 33,486 || 12–13 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 26 || May 16 || @ Giants || 4–3 || Nolan (4–1) || Bryant (1–3) || Carroll (4) || – || 13–13 || W5 |-style=background:#bfb | 27 || May 16 || @ Giants || 2–0 || Billingham (1–5) || Stone (0–3) || || 7,571 || 14–13 || W6 |-style=background:#bfb | 28 || May 17 || @ Giants || 2–1 || Grimsley (2–0) || Marichal (1–7) || Carroll (5) || 2,670 || 15–13 || W7 |-style=background:#bfb | 29 || May 18 || @ Giants || 8–5 || Borbón (1–1) || McDowell (5–1) || Carroll (6) || 2,847 || 16–13 || W8 |-style=background:#bfb | 30 || May 19 || @ Padres || 1–0 || McGlothlin (1–3) || Kirby (3–3) || || 35,423 || 17–13 || W9 |-style=background:#fbb | 31 || May 20 || @ Padres || 3–5 || Arlin (3–3) || Billingham (1–6) || Corkins (2) || 8,102 || 17–14 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 32 || May 21 || @ Padres || 7–2 || Nolan (5–1) || Greif (3–5) || || – || 18–14 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 33 || May 21 || @ Padres || 0–7 || Norman (4–2) || Hall (2–1) || || 17,543 || 18–15 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 34 || May 23 || Braves || 1–2 || Niekro (6–4) || McGlothlin (1–4) || || 13,784 || 18–16 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 35 || May 24 || Braves || 2–4 || Kelley (3–4) || Simpson (1–1) || Upshaw (3) || 10,156 || 18–17 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 36 || May 26 || Padres || 4–0 || Nolan (6–1) || Norman (4–3) || || 15,270 || 19–17 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 37 || May 27 || Padres || 9–4 || McGlothlin (2–4) || Kirby (3–5) || Carroll (7) || 15,055 || 20–17 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 38 || May 28 || Padres || 2–5 || Arlin (4–4) || Grimsley (2–1) || || 19,647 || 20–18 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 39 || May 29 || @ Astros || 8–3 || Simpson (2–1) || Griffin (1–1) || Carroll (8) || 14,885 || 21–18 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 40 || May 30 || @ Astros || 9–5 || Billingham (2–6) || Wilson (3–4) || Carroll (9) || 14,539 || 22–18 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 41 || May 31 || @ Astros || 12–4 || Nolan (7–1) || Roberts (3–3) || || 15,702 || 23–18 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 42 || June 1 || @ Astros || 10–3 || Sprague (1–0) || Reuss (3–4) || Borbón (3) || 14,466 || 24–18 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 43 || June 2 || @ Phillies || 6–3 (17) || Gullett (2–2) || Twitchell (2–1) || Borbón (4) || 16,251 || 25–18 || W5 |-style=background:#bfb | 44 || June 3 || @ Phillies || 6–5 (10) || Hall (3–1) || Reynolds (0–2) || || 16,623 || 26–18 || W6 |-style=background:#bfb | 45 || June 4 || @ Phillies || 2–0 || Billingham (3–6) || Champion (3–3) || Carroll (10) || 15,861 || 27–18 || W7 |-style=background:#fbb | 46 || June 6 || @ Mets || 2–3 || McAndrew (5–1) || Gullett (2–3) || McGraw (9) || 29,353 || 27–19 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 47 || June 7 || @ Mets || 6–3 || McGlothlin (3–4) || Gentry (3–4) || Hall (3) || 35,995 || 28–19 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 48 || June 8 || @ Mets || 5–3 || Borbón (2–1) || Seaver (8–3) || Carroll (11) || 35,593 || 29–19 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 49 || June 9 || @ Expos || 6–3 || Simpson (3–1) || Morton (2–7) || Borbón (5) || 11,193 || 30–19 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 50 || June 11 || @ Expos || 11–1 || Nolan (8–1) || Renko (1–4) || || 28,589 || 31–19 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 51 || June 13 || Phillies || 8–4 || Hall (4–1) || Champion (4–4) || Carroll (12) || – || 32–19 || W5 |-style=background:#bfb | 52 || June 13 || Phillies || 4–2 || Grimsley (3–1) || Reynolds (0–3) || Borbón (6) || 31,509 || 33–19 || W6 |-style=background:#bfb | 53 || June 14 || Phillies || 2–1 || Billingham (4–6) || Lersch (1–3) || Carroll (13) || 16,127 || 34–19 || W7 |-style=background:#fbb | 54 || June 16 || Mets || 1–2 || Frisella (2–1) || Nolan (8–2) || McGraw (11) || 30,709 || 34–20 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 55 || June 17 || Mets || 8–2 || Simpson (4–1) || Gentry (3–5) || Hall (4) || 51,617 || 35–20 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 56 || June 18 || Mets || 1–2 || Seaver (9–3) || Grimsley (3–2) || || 33,134 || 35–21 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 57 || June 19 || Expos || 0–2 || Stoneman (6–5) || Billingham (4–7) || || 11,145 || 35–22 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 58 || June 20 || Expos || 2–7 || Morton (3–7) || McGlothlin (3–5) || Marshall (5) || 12,287 || 35–23 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 59 || June 21 || Expos || 6–4 || Nolan (9–2) || Renko (1–6) || Carroll (14) || 11,892 || 36–23 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 60 || June 22 || Astros || 5–9 || Culver (2–0) || Simpson (4–2) || Ray (6) || 22,164 || 36–24 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 61 || June 23 || Astros || 7–1 || Grimsley (4–2) || Reuss (5–6) || || 20,401 || 37–24 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 62 || June 24 || Astros || 1–4 || Dierker (7–4) || Billingham (4–8) || || 31,907 || 37–25 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 63 || June 25 || Astros || 5–4 (10) || Carroll (4–1) || Gladding (1–3) || || 30,019 || 38–25 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 64 || June 26 || @ Dodgers || 5–0 || Nolan (10–2) || Osteen (7–5) || || 33,130 || 39–25 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 65 || June 27 || @ Dodgers || 5–4 || Gullett (3–3) || Downing (4–4) || Carroll (15) || 27,395 || 40–25 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 66 || June 28 || @ Giants || 4–2 || Grimsley (5–2) || Carrithers (2–5) || Hall (5) || 5,828 || 41–25 || W4 |-style=background:#fbb | 67 || June 29 || @ Giants || 2–3 || Barr (1–2) || Billingham (4–9) || || 6,337 || 41–26 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 68 || June 30 || @ Padres || 3–4 (13) || Norman (5–6) || Borbón (2–2) || || 6,119 || 41–27 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 69 || July 1 || @ Padres || 3–2 || Sprague (2–0) || Arlin (7–8) || Billingham (1) || 24,972 || 42–27 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 70 || July 2 || @ Padres || 12–2 || Nolan (11–2) || Corkins (0–4) || Carroll (16) || 12,754 || 43–27 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 71 || July 3 || Cardinals || 2–4 || Wise (9–7) || Gullett (3–4) || || 30,830 || 43–28 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 72 || July 4 || Cardinals || 6–1 || Grimsley (6–2) || Spinks (5–5) || || 15,729 || 44–28 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 73 || July 7 || Cubs || 1–2 || Hooton (7–7) || Simpson (4–3) || Aker (3) || 40,042 || 44–29 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 74 || July 8 || Cubs || 3–2 || Nolan (12–2) || Reuschel (3–1) || Carroll (17) || 47,310 || 45–29 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 75 || July 9 || Cubs || 0–5 || Jenkins (11–7) || Gullett (3–5) || || – || 45–30 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 76 || July 9 || Cubs || 5–10 || Pappas (6–5) || Grimsley (6–3) || || 52,116 || 45–31 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 77 || July 11 || Pirates || 5–0 || Billingham (5–9) || Moose (5–5) || || 24,047 || 46–31 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 78 || July 12 || Pirates || 6–3 || Simpson (5–3) || Walker (3–5) || Carroll (18) || 28,058 || 47–31 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 79 || July 13 || Pirates || 2–0 || Nolan (13–2) || Blass (10–3) || Carroll (19) || 32,060 || 48–31 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 80 || July 14 || @ Cardinals || 6–3 || Grimsley (7–3) || Wise (9–9) || Carroll (20) || 22,849 || 49–31 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 81 || July 15 || @ Cardinals || 12–2 || McGlothlin (4–5) || Santorini (4–7) || Hall (6) || 35,094 || 50–31 || W5 |-style=background:#bfb | 82 || July 16 || @ Cardinals || 4–1 || Billingham (6–9) || Durham (0–1) || || 32,760 || 51–31 || W6 |-style=background:#bfb | 83 || July 17 || @ Cubs || 7–2 || Simpson (6–3) || Reuschel (3–3) || Carroll (21) || 20,420 || 52–31 || W7 |-style=background:#fbb | 84 || July 18 || @ Cubs || 1–2 (10) || Jenkins (12–8) || Carroll (4–2) || || 16,716 || 52–32 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 85 || July 19 || @ Cubs || 6–1 || Grimsley (8–3) || Pappas (6–6) || || 31,475 || 53–32 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 86 || July 21 || @ Pirates || 11–5 || Borbón (3–2) || Kison (4–3) || Gullett (1) || 32,255 || 54–32 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 87 || July 22 || @ Pirates || 6–3 || Sprague (3–0) || Moose (5–6) || Carroll (22) || 40,837 || 55–32 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 88 || July 23 || @ Pirates || 2–3 || Blass (11–4) || Grimsley (8–4) || R. Hernández (6) || 29,487 || 55–33 || L1 |-style=background:#bbcaff | ASG || July 25 || All-Star Game || AL 3–4 NL || McGraw (1–0) || McNally (0–1) || || 53,107 || || |-style=background:#bfb | 89 || July 27 || Padres || 8–2 || Billingham (7–9) || Arlin (8–12) || || 21,852 || 56–33 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 90 || July 28 || Padres || 1–3 || Kirby (7–11) || Simpson (6–4) || || 21,728 || 56–34 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 91 || July 29 || Padres || 3–4 (17) || Acosta (2–5) || Sprague (3–1) || Schaeffer (1) || 33,094 || 56–35 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 92 || July 30 || Giants || 4–0 || Grimsley (9–4) || Marichal (4–11) || || – || 57–35 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 93 || July 30 || Giants || 1–6 (10) || Barr (4–3) || Carroll (4–3) || || 48,351 || 57–36 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 94 || July 31 || Giants || 2–7 || Carrithers (3–6) || Billingham (7–10) || || 18,458 || 57–37 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 95 || August 1 || @ Astros || 3–1 || Simpson (7–4) || Culver (3–2) || || 31,405 || 58–37 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 96 || August 2 || @ Astros || 1–10 || Wilson (7–7) || Nolan (13–3) || || 31,838 || 58–38 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 97 || August 4 || Braves || 6–5 (11) || Carroll (5–3) || Jarvis (9–5) || || – || 59–38 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 98 || August 4 || Braves || 3–2 || Grimsley (10–4) || McLain (2–2) || Gullett (2) || 42,385 || 60–38 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 99 || August 5 || Braves || 4–2 || Borbón (4–2) || Schueler (4–6) || Carroll (23) || 36,792 || 61–38 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 100 || August 6 || Braves || 3–4 (10) || Niekro (10–10) || Gullett (3–6) || || 29,149 || 61–39 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 101 || August 7 || Braves || 9–1 || McGlothlin (5–5) || Reed (9–11) || || 20,150 || 62–39 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 102 || August 8 || Dodgers || 2–1 (19) || Borbón (5–2) || Mikkelsen (3–5) || || 24,453 || 63–39 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 103 || August 9 || Dodgers || 6–3 || Hall (5–1) || Singer (4–11) || Carroll (24) || 26,146 || 64–39 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 104 || August 10 || Dodgers || 2–6 || Osteen (13–8) || Gullett (3–7) || Brewer (13) || 28,279 || 64–40 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 105 || August 11 || @ Braves || 5–7 || Upshaw (2–5) || Carroll (5–4) || Hardin (2) || 13,268 || 64–41 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 106 || August 12 || @ Braves || 2–7 || Reed (10–11) || Grimsley (10–5) || || 26,857 || 64–42 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 107 || August 13 || @ Braves || 9–4 || Borbón (6–2) || McLain (3–3) || || 20,219 || 65–42 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 108 || August 14 || @ Braves || 12–2 || Billingham (8–10) || Stone (4–9) || || 15,318 || 66–42 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 109 || August 15 || @ Phillies || 3–0 || Gullett (4–7) || Twitchell (2–4) || || 17,106 || 67–42 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 110 || August 16 || @ Phillies || 8–2 || McGlothlin (6–5) || Reynolds (0–10) || Borbón (7) || 10,385 || 68–42 || W4 |-style=background:#fbb | 111 || August 17 || @ Phillies || 4–9 || Carlton (20–6) || Grimsley (10–6) || || 42,635 || 68–43 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 112 || August 18 || @ Mets || 8–2 || Hall (6–1) || Koosman (8–9) || Borbón (8) || 47,957 || 69–43 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 113 || August 19 || @ Mets || 5–0 || Billingham (9–10) || Strom (0–1) || || 43,257 || 70–43 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 114 || August 20 || @ Mets || 8–1 || Gullett (5–7) || McAndrew (9–4) || Carroll (25) || 42,555 || 71–43 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 115 || August 21 || @ Expos || 4–1 || McGlothlin (7–5) || Torrez (13–9) || || 21,080 || 72–43 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 116 || August 22 || @ Expos || 5–3 || Grimsley (11–6) || Morton (5–11) || Borbón (9) || 19,712 || 73–43 || W5 |-style=background:#fbb | 117 || August 23 || @ Expos || 0–11 || Moore (5–6) || Simpson (7–5) || || 13,804 || 73–44 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 118 || August 24 || @ Expos || 6–0 || Billingham (10–10) || McAnally (2–14) || || 14,241 || 74–44 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 119 || August 25 || Phillies || 6–1 || Gullett (6–7) || Reynolds (0–10) || || 32,017 || 75–44 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 120 || August 26 || Phillies || 3–4 || Carlton (21–7) || McGlothlin (7–6) || Scarce (2) || 34,028 || 75–45 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 121 || August 27 || Phillies || 7–2 || Grimsley (12–6) || Twitchell (3–6) || Borbón (10) || 37,167 || 76–45 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 122 || August 28 || Mets || 5–2 || Nolan (14–3) || Strom (0–2) || Hall (7) || 18,508 || 77–45 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 123 || August 29 || Mets || 0–3 || McAndrew (10–5) || Billingham (10–11) || McGraw (19) || 22,114 || 77–46 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 124 || August 30 || Mets || 4–2 || Gullett (7–7) || Matlack (11–8) || Hall (8) || 22,008 || 78–46 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 125 || September 1 || Expos || 1–0 (10) || Carroll (6–4) || Stoneman (10–10) || || 13,500 || 79–46 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 126 || September 2 || Expos || 2–7 || Torrez (14–9) || Nolan (14–4) || Marshall (15) || 20,569 || 79–47 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 127 || September 3 || Expos || 4–3 || Hall (7–1) || Moore (6–7) || || 15,464 || 80–47 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 128 || September 4 || @ Dodgers || 5–6 || Brewer (8–6) || Sprague (3–2) || || – || 80–48 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 129 || September 4 || @ Dodgers || 8–4 || Gullett (8–7) || Osteen (15–10) || Borbón (11) || 40,366 || 81–48 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 130 || September 5 || @ Dodgers || 4–9 || Sutton (15–9) || Grimsley (12–7) || || 18,155 || 81–49 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 131 || September 6 || @ Dodgers || 6–3 || Simpson (8–5) || Downing (8–7) || Carroll (26) || 16,965 || 82–49 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 132 || September 7 || @ Padres || 0–2 || Caldwell (7–8) || Nolan (14–5) || || – || 82–50 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 133 || September 7 || @ Padres || 1–5 || Norman (8–9) || Billingham (10–12) || || 5,396 || 82–51 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 134 || September 9 || @ Giants || 1–2 || Willoughby (5–2) || Gullett (8–8) || || 6,199 || 82–52 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 135 || September 10 || @ Giants || 8–7 || Hall (8–1) || Moffitt (1–4) || Carroll (27) || – || 83–52 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 136 || September 10 || @ Giants || 2–8 || Marichal (6–15) || McGlothlin (7–7) || Johnson (8) || 13,584 || 83–53 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 137 || September 12 || @ Braves || 7–5 || Borbón (7–2) || McLain (3–5) || Carroll (28) || 4,050 || 84–53 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 138 || September 13 || @ Braves || 8–6 (10) || Hall (9–1) || Hoerner (1–5) || || 3,141 || 85–53 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 139 || September 15 || Padres || 0–1 || Norman (9–9) || Gullett (8–9) || || 14,021 || 85–54 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 140 || September 16 || Padres || 6–3 || Grimsley (13–7) || Corkins (6–9) || Carroll (29) || 20,571 || 86–54 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 141 || September 17 || Padres || 7–10 || Schaeffer (1–0) || Sprague (3–3) || Simpson (1) || 18,300 || 86–55 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 142 || September 18 || Giants || 2–0 || McGlothlin (8–7) || Barr (7–9) || Carroll (30) || 8,608 || 87–55 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 143 || September 19 || Giants || 5–4 || Borbón (8–2) || Marichal (6–16) || Carroll (31) || 10,353 || 88–55 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 144 || September 20 || Giants || 8–6 || Hall (10–1) || Sosa (0–1) || Carroll (32) || 11,174 || 89–55 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 145 || September 22 || @ Astros || 4–3 || Grimsley (14–7) || Dierker (15–8) || Carroll (33) || 15,490 || 90–55 || W4 |-style=background:#fbb | 146 || September 23 || @ Astros || 1–7 || Wilson (14–9) || McGlothlin (8–8) || || 16,657 || 90–56 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 147 || September 24 || @ Astros || 10–2 || Billingham (11–12) || Forsch (5–7) || Carroll (34) || 12,709 || 91–56 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 148 || September 26 || Braves || 9–10 || Hardin (5–2) || Gullett (8–10) || Upshaw (13) || 7,234 || 91–57 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 149 || September 27 || Braves || 5–8 || Niekro (16–11) || Grimsley (14–8) || || 7,033 || 91–58 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 150 || September 29 || Dodgers || 4–1 || Billingham (12–12) || Downing (9–9) || Carroll (35) || 14,454 || 92–58 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 151 || September 30 || Dodgers || 2–4 (10) || Osteen (19–11) || Borbón (8–3) || || 20,080 || 92–59 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 152 || October 1 || Dodgers || 1–0 || Gullett (9–10) || Rau (2–2) || Carroll (36) || 40,046 || 93–59 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 153 || October 3 || Astros || 6–1 || Nolan (15–5) || Forsch (6–8) || Grimsley (1) || 10,069 || 94–59 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 154 || October 4 || Astros || 4–2 || McGlothlin (9–8) || Cosgrove (0–1) || Carroll (37) || 10,079 || 95–59 || W3

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	147	538	145	.270	40	125
1B	136	515	146	.283	21	90
2B	149	552	161	.292	16	73
SS	119	378	79	.209	2	29
3B	140	447	104	.233	9	50
LF	154	645	198	.307	6	57
CF	149	604	171	.283	8	82
RF	120	255	70	.275	4	29

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
	83	196	48	.250	2	19
	59	145	29	.200	2	12
Joe Hague	69	138	34	.246	4	20
	73	113	18	.159	0	6
	38	102	19	.186	2	9
	61	97	27	.278	5	26
	44	91	19	.209	2	12
	19	21	3	.143	0	0
	2	3	0	.000	0	0
	2	1	0	.000	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

G	GS	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
36	31	217.2	12	12	3.18	137
30	28	197.2	14	8	3.05	79
25	25	176.0	15	5	1.99	90
31	21	145.0	9	8	3.91	69
24	22	130.1	8	5	4.14	70

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
	31	134.2	9	10	3.94	96
	4	8.0	1	0	4.50	4

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; SV = Saves

G	W	L	ERA	SO	SV
65	6	4	2.25	51	37
62	8	3	3.17	48	11
47	10	1	2.61	134	8
33	3	3	4.13	25	0
3	0	0	9.00	2	0
2	0	0	54.00	1	0

Postseason

1972 National League Championship Series

Main article: 1972 National League Championship Series

The Reds rallied to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates in five games to win the National League title. In Game 5, Johnny Bench's ninth-inning home run tied the game before George Foster scored the game-winner on a wild pitch by Pirates' reliever Bob Moose.

Game 1

October 7: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	8	0
Pittsburgh	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	X	5	6	0
W: Steve Blass (1–0) L: Don Gullett (0–1) S: Ramón Hernández (1)
HR: CIN – Joe Morgan (1) PIT – Al Oliver (1)
Pitchers: CIN – Gullett, Borbón (7) PIT – Blass, Hernández (9)
Attendance: 50,476

Game 2

October 8: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5	8	1
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	3	7	1
W: Tom Hall (1–0) L: Bob Moose (0–1) S: None
HR: CIN – Joe Morgan (2) PIT – none
Pitchers: CIN – Billingham, Hall (5) PIT – Moose, Johnson (1), Kison (6), Hernández (7), Giusti (9)
Attendance: 50,584

Game 3

October 9: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	3	7	0
Cincinnati	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	1
W: Bruce Kison (1–0) L: Clay Carroll (0–1) S: Dave Giusti (1)
HR: PIT – Manny Sanguillén (1) CIN – none
Pitchers: PIT – Briles, Kison (7), Giusti (8) CIN – Nolan, Borbón (7), Carroll (7), McGlothlin (9)
Attendance: 52,420

Game 4

October 10: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	3
Cincinnati	1	0	0	2	0	2	2	0	0	7	11	1
W: Ross Grimsley (1–0) L: Dock Ellis (0–1) S: none
HR: PIT – Roberto Clemente (1) CIN – none
Pitchers: PIT – Ellis, Johnson (6), Walker (7), Miller (8) CIN – Grimsley
Attendance: 39,447

Game 5

October 11: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	8	0
Cincinnati	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	4	7	1
W: Clay Carroll (1–1) L: Dave Giusti (0–1) S: none
HR: PIT – none CIN – César Gerónimo (1), Johnny Bench (1)
Pitchers: PIT – Blass, Hernández (8), Giusti (9), Moose (9) CIN – Gullett, Borbón (4), Hall (6), Carroll (9)
Attendance: 41,887

1972 World Series

Main article: 1972 World Series

The Reds were a prohibitive favorite to win the World Series over the Oakland Athletics, who lost top slugger Reggie Jackson to a hamstring injury in the playoffs. But Gene Tenace, who hit just five home runs in the regular season, crushed four against the Reds in a series that saw six of the seven games decided by one run. Oakland dealt the Reds three losses on their home AstroTurf of Riverfront Stadium. Tenace had two hits and two RBI in Game 7 as Oakland scored two in the sixth inning and held on for a 3–2 victory for the A's first World Series title since 1930.

Game	Score	Date	Location	Attendance	Time of Game
1	A's – 3, Reds – 2	October 14	Riverfront Stadium	52,918	2:18
2	A's – 2, Reds – 1	October 15	Riverfront Stadium	53,224	2:26
3	Reds – 1, A's – 0	October 18	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	49,410	2:24
4	Reds – 2, A's – 3	October 19	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	49,410	2:06
5	Reds – 5, A's – 4	October 20	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	49,410	2:26
6	A's – 1, Reds – 8	October 21	Riverfront Stadium	52,737	2:21
7	A's – 3, Reds – 2	October 22	Riverfront Stadium	56,040	2:50

Awards and honors

Sparky Anderson, Associated Press NL Manager of the Year
Johnny Bench, National League MVP
Bobby Tolan, Hutch Award

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Melbourne Reds

Notes

References

1972 Cincinnati Reds season at Baseball Reference

References

[https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/morgajo02.shtml Joe Morgan page at Baseball Reference]
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grangwa01.shtml Wayne Granger page at Baseball Reference]
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/q/quallji01.shtml Jim Qualls page at Baseball Reference]
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hassero01.shtml Ron Hassey page at Baseball Reference]
"Hutch Award | Baseball Almanac".
Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition''. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007

Info: Wikipedia Source

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Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	8	0
Pittsburgh	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	X	5	6	0
W: Steve Blass (1–0) L: Don Gullett (0–1) S: Ramón Hernández (1)
HR: CIN – Joe Morgan (1) PIT – Al Oliver (1)
Pitchers: CIN – Gullett, Borbón (7) PIT – Blass, Hernández (9)
Attendance: 50,476

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	5	8	1
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	3	7	1
W: Tom Hall (1–0) L: Bob Moose (0–1) S: None
HR: CIN – Joe Morgan (2) PIT – none
Pitchers: CIN – Billingham, Hall (5) PIT – Moose, Johnson (1), Kison (6), Hernández (7), Giusti (9)
Attendance: 50,584

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	3	7	0
Cincinnati	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	1
W: Bruce Kison (1–0) L: Clay Carroll (0–1) S: Dave Giusti (1)
HR: PIT – Manny Sanguillén (1) CIN – none
Pitchers: PIT – Briles, Kison (7), Giusti (8) CIN – Nolan, Borbón (7), Carroll (7), McGlothlin (9)
Attendance: 52,420

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	3
Cincinnati	1	0	0	2	0	2	2	0	0	7	11	1
W: Ross Grimsley (1–0) L: Dock Ellis (0–1) S: none
HR: PIT – Roberto Clemente (1) CIN – none
Pitchers: PIT – Ellis, Johnson (6), Walker (7), Miller (8) CIN – Grimsley
Attendance: 39,447

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	8	0
Cincinnati	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	4	7	1
W: Clay Carroll (1–1) L: Dave Giusti (0–1) S: none
HR: PIT – none CIN – César Gerónimo (1), Johnny Bench (1)
Pitchers: PIT – Blass, Hernández (8), Giusti (9), Moose (9) CIN – Gullett, Borbón (4), Hall (6), Carroll (9)
Attendance: 41,887