1970s – Page 7 – Society for American Baseball Research

Already a legendary figure in New York before 1969, he guided the Mets from the depths to their first World Series championship.

April 15, 1972: Mets mourn Gil Hodges, win on Opening Day

April 15, 1972: Fingers blows late lead, but A’s rally to beat Twins on Opening Day

April 16, 1972: Dave Kingman’s first four hits of season result in a cycle

April 16, 1972: Pete Broberg’s eight strong innings give Texas Rangers first win in club history

April 16, 1972: Cubs rookie Burt Hooton fires no-hitter

Joe Horlen (Courtesy of the Oakland Athletics)

April 17, 1972: Campus strike moves exhibition between A’s and Cal Bears to Oakland Coliseum

April 18, 1972: Wilbur Wood tosses 3-hit shutout in White Sox’s first night opener

$Frank Howard (SABR-Rucker Archive)$

April 21, 1972: Rangers fans celebrate arrival of major-league baseball in North Texas

Andy Messersmith (TRADING CARD DB)

May 6, 1972: Andy Messersmith writes Angels, Brewers history with 91-minute win

Willie Mays (THE TOPPS COMPANY)

May 9, 1972: Willie Mays pinch-hits in his last game with the Giants

May 10, 1972: Broberg, Rangers suffer hard-luck loss to Orioles

May 12, 1972: Brewers, Twins take two days, 22 innings to finish

Willie Mays (Trading Card DB)

May 14, 1972: Willie Mays homers in New York Mets debut

May 17, 1972: Rangers win 18-inning marathon over Royals

Willie Mays (Trading Card DB)

May 21, 1972: Phooey in Philly! Mets win 11th in a row thanks to Tom Seaver, Willie Mays

May 24, 1972: Angels’ Don Rose homers in first at-bat and earns his only career win

Trading Card Database

May 31, 1972: Momentous day sees Henry Aaron tie Willie Mays in home runs and secure 6,000th total base

Roy Campanella, Jackie Robinson, Sandy Koufax (Trading Card Database)

June 4, 1972: Dodgers retire numbers of Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson before Old-Timers Day loss to Cardinals

Dave Chalk

June 9, 1972: Underdog UConn shocks Texas in College World Series opening round

June 18, 1972: Astros’ Jerry Reuss shuts out Phillies with a gem

Dave McNally (TRADING CARD DB)

June 24, 1972: Division-leading Orioles, Tigers split twin bill in Baltimore

Dave Moates (THE TOPPS COMPANY)

June 24, 1972: Minor-leaguers get ‘call-up’ to Philadelphia’s Veterans Stadium after hurricane

June 25, 1972: Clemente’s two assists help Pirates win again at Wrigley

Bill Nahorodny (TRADING CARD DB)

June 25, 1972: Flood evacuation halts Class A home opener in Auburn, New York