Reading these comments, it’s great to see how many of us were or became A’s fans because of their wonderful early 70’s play and players! I too was hooked on this team, as a 10 year old living in Upstate New York, watching them on tv whenever they were on.
It's a tough time to be an A's fan right now. A's fans are hurting at our lost. This franchise is arguably top 3 most successful if you consider that they're 3rd all time in world series championships with 9, behind the cardinals 13 and the Yankees 27. And another thing they along with the Yankees are the only franchises to go to the world series three times in a row in two different eras. The "swinging A's" 72-74 and the "bash brothers" 88-90. And then you had the money ball team 2000-2003 that made four straight playoff appearances and had consecutive 100+ winning seasons that inspired the movie "money ball". Oakland has lost a treasure.
Two entertaining teams with very large personalities on each side. A very dramatic series. Oakland barely held on against a superb Cincinnati ball club. Reggie Jackson didn’t play in the series and Oakland still took three of four games at Riverfront Stadium, including Game 7. A sign of character.
I am trying to figure out why in Game 5 of the ALCS Reggie Jackson completely ripped his hamstring on the slide to home plate, rendering him totally unfit to play in any of the 7 games of the 1972 World Series. (This also is a reminder of what happened to Cincinnati's Don Gullitt in the 1976 World Series when he hurt his ankle in Game 1 and had to sit out for the rest of that series.) Was it bad sliding technique by Jackson, or was it bad luck?
Every time you look it's Dave Concepcion getting on, stealing a base and making a great play at short. Should be strongly considered for the Hall. One of the great shortstops of all time.
Great memories; I vaguely remember watching the Amazing Mets in'69; I was 7, but '72 was the first year I watched the Series. In Canada , we had the Expos then, but our TV networks didn't carry the LCS, only the World Series. I remember Joe Rudi's amazing catch at Riverfront,
Reds reliever Clay Carroll should be in the HOF as well. A career 2.94 ERA in a long career. His win total combined with his saves is around 250. Solid HOF stats.
I agree. The way the A's did this, in spite of their cheapskate owner Finley, and battling each other on numerous occasions, still worked together when it mattered the most. The fact the A's did this on the east side of SF Bay could be another reason it's not discussed much---but SHOULD. When all was said and done after the 1974 series, the A's did something only the Yankees ever did, a three-peat. And who knows how many more the A's would've won had Finley paid them their market rate (or even a BIT below it in this case) when he should have.
If not for the two blown catches by Bobby Tolan, the Reds win game seven of this series. This is why the Reds quickly got rid of Tolan and installed perennial gold glove centerfielder Cesar Geronimo. He had a great nickname, "The Chief".
The Reds seemed like they were actually the better team. It was actually amazing the A’s won this one, especially without Jackson. In the highlights it kept looking like the Reds where going to blow it open, but the A’s were scrappy and played as a team. Very tough series.
I am still bummed the Reds did not win this series! However, the A's did have great pitching. Cincy hadn't put the whole "Great 8" together yet. Geronimo and Foster were on the team, but not starting all the time. Putting Rose and 3rd base and installing Geronimo as the full time center fielder finally made the difference.
Wikipedia should put this in for Game 2: In the opening part of Game 2, with Oakland runner George Hendricks on second, Catfish Hunter hits a line drive basehit off Reds’ pitcher Ross Grimsley, directly towards Pete Rose who stops the ball quickly, and Rose fires a missile towards home plate. George Hendrick beats the Rose’s throw to Reds’ catcher Johnny Bench as Hendrick does a sit-in slide towards home plate, rendering him safe and leading Oakland to a 1-0 result. Later on, with Oakland’s Dick Green on second, Bert Campaneris hits the same line drive base hit to Rose, and Rose fires another gun towards catcher Johnny Bench, but Dick Green’s running speed is not as fast as Hendricks', as he approaches home plate, which would cost Green and his team a run. Bench catches Rose’s long throw easily and had a good 2-second window (with Bench at a 3-meter distance from the running Green as soon as he catches the ball) to see Dick Green trying to run around Rose to avoid Bench’s tag, but Bench’s extension and lunge to the left was enough to tag Green, rendering Green out at the plate, and keeping the A’s from adding an insurance run.
By game 7 of the series you would have thought that Sparky Anderson would have come to the same conclusion -- i.e. walking Tenace. Instead he elected to pitch to Tenace twice (!) in game 7 with a runner in scoring position and both times Tenace got hits to drive in runs which proved decisive. Sparky FAILED the Reds at a a critical moment.
@@matthewspaltro7142 If it weren't for that erratic hop on Gene Tenace's RBI infield hit due to the astro-turf's seam in Game 7 at Riverfront, the Reds would have a better chance of possibly taking it all in that World Series.
The one the Reds let slip away. As bad as they played in the first four games, Game 5: Oakland ace Catfish Hunter vs. Jim McGlothlin, an emergency starter for the ailing Gary Nolan. The red head McGlothlin wasn't good, giving up 3 runs in three innings but the Reds rallied to win the game to send the series back to Cincinnati where the Reds promptly won 8-1 to even the series. I would have bet anything the Reds were going to complete the comeback with Billingham on the mound in Game 7, but it was not to be.
Yes, I thought we'd have this World series in the bag..Gene Tennace killed us. I thought the reds were the better team, but gave up too many home runs to win out.
As I watched this series in 1972, this was the first year I followed the Reds on a regular basis, starting in July. I was awestruck that they went to the World Series, but was astonished at the precision pitching of Oakland. Rollie Fingers could just as easily have been designated as the Series MVP.
Sparky Anderson and Dick Williams met as managers in two different World Series with different teams. Here, Anderson is with the Reds and Williams is with the A's. In 1984, when the Tigers and Padres met in the Fall Classic, Anderson was managing the Tigers and Williams led the Padres. Has that ever happened before? Any baseball historians out there need to help me out with this one.
Watch what happened at 21:00. Johnny Bench throwing his teammate Pedro Borbon under the bus. Typical Bench bullshit, now I know why very few of his teammates liked or respected him. He needed to shut the fuck up and keep his lame-ass comments to himself.
What a complete asinine statement. "few of his teammates liked or respected him." You whined about Bench in other threads too, assclown. What, did he turn you down years ago?
You're wrong pal! What is Bench supposed to say? That it was right for Borbon to do things without thinking? As far as I'm concerned, Bench was not just a great baseball catcher but also possessed a good baseball mind. You wanna start criticizing people, then I suggest you start with boneheads like Pete Rose, who was known as a talented but very selfish, egotistical player.
spinner90 Either way, both Anderson and Williams were bidding to become the first manager in MLB history to win a World Series in both leagues. Sparky won. Tysons Bench was the greatest catcher in baseball history. Like Rob said, what was he supposed to do, pretend Borbon didn't screw up? The guy was a leader and wanted to win. Leader's don't 'shut the fuck up' when it comes to winning championships.
Tysons Accosta, are you high? Bench wasn't being interviewed by the media, he was talking to his manager after Borbon failed to follow specific instructions in a pivotal moment in the World Series. You're the only human on this earth I've ever heard speak so disparagingly of Bench. Clearly you know more than anybody else, so why don't you tell everybody here what years you were with the Reds, and in what capacity you served. I don't see your name on baseball-reference.com. BTW, they now have medication to treat Tourette syndrome. You should look into that.
Of course they were to win the World Series the next two years as well, and the 1989 Series. Now the A's are looking for every way out of Oakland and have a hard time selling out home games. I think they are set to move in time for the 2024 season.
Here is what I would call about that great Joe Rudi catch in Game 2 - "Menke with the swing....WELL-HIT BALL, Joe Rudi runs up towards the wall, it might be extra bases for Menke, Rudi jumps for the catch - HE GOT THE BALL! LEAPING CATCH! Now he's about to double up Perez, big throw towards first, WILL PEREZ MAKE IT BACK? -- HE DOES MAKE IT BACK! Safe!" "So, this is going to be in the highlight reels for years - Joe denying Menke possibly a triple by making a great leaping grab, and almost producing the double play in the process. If Perez were to double up, I am guessing Joe Rudi could be close to getting the MVP award in the World Series..."
Reggie Jackson out the World Series - and the OAKLAND ATHLETES still won ! That says a lot - And it says that The OAkLAND ATHLETES were a great team - !
He never even came close to tagging him on that pitch-out. That would've been overturned today. They gave so many "automatics" back then but that was just criminal.
So far- I've seen hightlights of 1972 and 1973 A's. I guess I'll hve to search for 1974 against the L.A. Dodgers of Ron Cey, Bill Buckner ("The ball goes through Buckner's legsand Mookie Wilson scores to win the game!" One of Curt Gowdy's best calls ever!), and Steve Garvey...And where is 1969 Orioles vs. The Miracle Mets? Great memories for an old A's fan, though! "Geno Tenache"
I was at game 3 as a 12 year old. The A's didn't win that one but it was an amazing experience. I went by myself... twice! Rain out then the makeup the next day.
Yes, that's what happened. A's would go on to win 3 straight and were a great team, but they got very lucky in this game (also, were lucky in the deciding Game 5 of the ALCS against the Tigers). But, they were without Reggie Jackson. When you consider that, they probably deserved to win the series. The Reds didn't hit for shit in this series.
But, Tolan had a pretty good series with the bat. Other than Tony Perez I think he was the only other Reds player who did. He got some clutch hits. You know who killed the Reds in this series? Denis Menke. He was very good with the glove at third base, but he killed them at the plate. He did hit a home run in a Game 5 win and it was Menke who Joe Rudi robbed in the 9th inning of Game 2 with that great catch against the wall, which probably saved the game and put Oakland up 2-0. But, look at the stats and the boxscores of the series on Baseball Reference. He left a ton of men on base and failed in numerous clutch situations, including in Game 7. Given that all but one of the games (Game 6)were decided by one run, it was even more decisive in their loss. Not surprisingly, he was replaced at third base the next season with the rookie Dan Driessan.
I was 6 years old for this, and I became an A's fan for life, even though I lived on the east coast. Reggie Jackson is still my favorite player of all time, It irks me that people only associate him with the Yankees.
So, I thought the turning point for the Reds in the 1972 series was Game 5, when the Reds was able to throw out Oakland's Blue Moon Odom in the 9th inning trying to score a tie for Oakland. Johnny Bench applies the blocking tag, ending the game and putting the Cincinnati Reds in the win column for Game 5. This was when the Reds were able to get their own second victory in this series. And because of Pete Rose, the Reds thought they would go on to win the series. But Gene Tenace had other ideas for his A's team, and after a seven-game marathon, Pete Rose could only look up at the ball at the series' last pitch, a pop up to Oakland's Joe Rudi in Game 7, and the fate is sealed for the Big Red Machine--they concede the world championship in 1972 to the A's. Gene Tenace pleases Reggie Jackson, who was unable to play for the whole series, with his own MVP award.
See my recent comment above re Sparky Anderson's decision to twice (!) pitch to Gene Tenace with a base open and a runner in scoring position in game 7. Both times Tenace got hits to drive in runs. I think that likely haunted Sparky for the rest of his life.
Has it ever been determined why Tolan fell down on Bando's fly ball in the 6th? That miscue allowed the decisive run in the game/series to score. He appeared to be holding his hamstring after the play, but was there really an injury on that play?
This series was my introduction to baseball. Even became a Raiders fan. It's kind of sad that we are nearing then end of the line for Oakland. With the Raiders already in Vegas, the A's will be heading there soon.
Reminds me of Commissioner Bowie Kuhn disallowing a trade of Vida Blue to the Reds around 79 or 80. Kuhn disallowed the trade because he believed no one else could compete with the Reds if it went through. Competitive balance I guess. Can anyone tell me why this has never been done to Yankees??!???
nah, bowie had a personal grudge against Finley. the OWNER of the A's was strapped for cash! his 2 time WORLD CHAMPIONS drew 600,000 fans at home and 1.2 million on the road. Finley needed the cash from Boston to pay his players and replenish his minor league teams! bowie nixed the deal and drove Finley outta baseball!!!!
This was probably the greatest World Series in MLB history. It went seven games, the A's held a 3-1 lead, Cincy came back to tie it up before Oakland took the marbles and every contest was decided by one run except for the sixth game.
Just because the Series went 7 games, just because 6 games were decided by one run does not make it the greatest series of all time. The Series the year before was far more compelling, with the Orioles in the Series for the third time and Clemente having one of the best individual Series ever. The '72 Series probably would have been over in 5 had Jackson been healthy.
Gotta go with 91 Series with the Twins over Braves, Several games went into extra innings including the nail biting 1-0 pitcher's duel in game 7 between Morris and Smoltz.
@@Gl6619 Dave Concepcion gave a good gripe to the umpire. I saw the replay and Campy had the glove tag missing only less than 1-inch off Concepcion's helmet. The tag very closely touched the helmet. Dave did not like the call and let the umpire have it, but the Reds needed Dave as part of the Big Red Machine, so Dave decides not to argue further after the first arguing...because he knows if he continued further in arguing, he would have been thrown out of the game.
Bruce Baron I can't stand artificial turf. Those multi use stadiums in the 1970-80's we're terrible for both players and fans. Now days the stadiums are phenomenal.
I lived in Massachusetts in the 70s an A's fan they hated me then a Yankee fan being a Reggie Jackson fan loved it as specially 1978 buckey dent I rubbed it in and got into hilarious fights over it good times
Charlie didn't have a whole lot of money. He owned a small insurance company, the A's had low attendance and at times not even a TV contract. Big merchandising deals and luxury taxes were way in the future. He was cheap, yeah, but that was beside the point.
Which other year "should" the A's have won the World Series? 1970? They finished 9 games behind the Twins, who got swept by the Orioles. 1971? They got swept by Orioles, while hitting only .229 in the ALCS. 1975? They got swept by the Red Sox in the ALCS. And even if they'd somehow managed to win that, they'd have faced the Big Red Machine, who finished 10 games better than Oakland. 1976? Even if they'd kept Reggie and didn't finish behind the Royals, and didn't then lose to the Yankees, they would've had to face the Reds again, only this time a version that went undefeated in the post-season. If you're going to go with what "should" have happened, then subtract the 1973 World Series from Oakland's total. Ignoring the fact that the Reds had the best record in baseball, and therefore, by the should-have logic, should have won the World Series, Yogi Berra blew that series for the Mets. Instead of starting well-rested George Stone (who had gone 12-3 for the Mets) in Game 6 and pitched Tom Seaver on normal rest in Game 7, Berra pitched Seaver on short rest in Game 6. Seaver was outpitched by Catfish Hunter, and then Berra went with Jon Matlack on short rest for Game 7. Matlack got roughed up, and the Mets blew a 3 games to 2 series lead in Oakland.
Sparky Anderson did not think the A's were very good as reported by Curt Gowdy on national TV before game 5 in Oakland. His lack of respect for the A's came back to haunt him in game 7 when twice he elected to pitch to Gene Tenace with a runner in scoring position and first base open. Mind you, Tenace had already homered four times in the series! Both times in game 7 Tenace got hits to drive in runs which proved decisive. Had Anderson walked Tenace as almost every other manager would have, the A's might have been shut out and the Reds would have been world champs.
Who was that spectator who had long hair and went out of the left field stands towards the stairs near the foul pole to chase that Gene Tenace home-run ball in Game 5 of the series? No one else was chasing that spectator, the stadium fireworks were going, and the A's fans thought that homer is going to be the clincher for the series...but it was not to be.
What is the name of the song that used mostly a piano in the 28th minute? It existed as early as 1965 and the same song was played in a commercial about The Boys Club! It also was used in the original Football Follies in 1969.
As a Detroit Tigers fan, had mixed feelings on this one. The A's beat the Tigers in the ALCS, with Campaneris infuriating Detroit fans when he threw his bat at pitcher Lerrin LaGrow. Didn't know if I wanted the A's to win because they were in the AL, or the Red's to win because they were right down the road on I-75.
Campy shouldn't have thrown that bat, for sure, but then Billy Martin shouldn't have ordered LaGrow to throw at him. Apparently everybody could hear Billy yelling in the dugout, and it was well known anyway that Billy always ordered his pitchers to throw at the other team's hottest hitter. Ironically Billy, who was from neighboring Berkeley, became an extremely popular manager for the A's in the early 80's.
@@jamesmatthew3681 Campy should have been banned from the 1972 World Series to send a message that throwing bats at pitchers (like he did in Game 2 of the 1972 ALCS) is extremely inappropriate, but Campy was allowed back in to play in the WS anyway.
28:12 I'll say Dick Williams got around pretty well, too. Anyone does when the film of them is sped up. (The honky-tonk piano playing always seems to help somehow).
Did anybody notice how wide of a turn at third Dick Green took on the thrown home by Rose. My gosh, no wonder he was thrown out. He looks lined up with the third base coaches box from the home plate view.
Yes, Tony Kubek mentioned that during the broadcast. You can find most of game two (in excellent video quality!) by going to the Oakland A's video uploads here on youtube or by doing a search on game 2. That game was an all-time classic. I MISS those days.
Jackie Robinson, a man who has my admiration and respect is always outspoken about his race. He passed away much too young. Mr. Robinson is one of my heroes. A truly GREAT American.
Johnny Bench would show up in spring training and walk around naked in the apartment the players were staying 4 to a flat freaking out the rookies who were too traumatized to do much of anything afterwards.
See how baseball has gotten soft @ 19:17. And, the only thing I did not like about 1970's baseball... artificial turf stadiums. Thank goodness they are now obsolete.
Who was that A's fan couple--man and lady---going on top of the roof of the Oakland dugout at Riverfront Stadium as the A's got the title, along with Charles Finley and her wife who went up to the roof also--at the end credits of this MLB video? Looks like they were proposing marriage to each other in front of the A's president and the president accepted. Only guessing that young couple were die-hard A's fans for at least several years before 1972 before they watched their A's get the biggest win in Bay Area sports, breaking a pretty long drought in the process.
Williams did come back the next year. He quite after the '73 season, and it actually had nothing to do with him kissing Finley's wife. He was just fed up with Finley trying to boss him around, calling him in the middle of the night, and treating the players like shit.
20:52 - Pedro Bombon was, as I saw him throw a slider way outside of the zone to the right side of Gene Tenace, afraid. The pitch caused Tenace to have a count of 2-1, which made Sparky Anderson very upset. He (Pedro) might have had severe nerves after seeing Gene Tenace blast a homer and probably afraid Gene would hit another one and cause more fireworks for Oakland, which Bombon did not want. Sparky had enough of Pedro's nerves and was told to go to the showers, and Clay Carroll comes in. Later on, analyzing the 3 basehits that Clay threw at 3 Oakland batters, including 2 pinch hitters, in my opinion, I am guessing that if I were to be Sparky Anderson, I would replace Bombon after Mitcher's pinch-hit, with Tom Hall, knowing that Angel Manqual was a dangerous hitter, and keep Carroll from pitching into a string of basehits which could cost my Reds team the game. Tom Hall would have a better chance to put out Manqual than Clay Carroll would do it, and prevent the A's from scoring the winning run and give the Reds a fighting chance.
that was when Baseball was Baseball the Greatest Show on Earth Awesome
The first MLB game I ever saw on TV was the 9th inning of Game 7. I was 10 years old and for some reason I became a Reds' fan after that.
Reading these comments, it’s great to see how many of us were or became A’s fans because of their wonderful early 70’s play and players! I too was hooked on this team, as a 10 year old living in Upstate New York, watching them on tv whenever they were on.
Yes Upstate New York - a wonderful place - The Catskill area and more - Monroe - Hamburg - Schenectady - Medina - Roxbury - Lyons - Plattsburgh - Rushville - Warsaw - Attica - DeKalb - Cold Brook - Natural Bridge - -Cooperstown - Wurtsboro - Bid Indian - Waterville - Hammond - Massena - Silver Springs - Corning - Fulton - Berkshire - Alder Creek - Bath - Keuka - Hunter - Arkville - Seneca - Wayne - Greenville - Margaretville - Niagara Falls - Glens Falls - Wells - Big Moose - Hobart - Oxford - Morris - Oneonta - Castorland - Long Lake - Meridale - Walton - Fulton - Lockport- Otego - Utica - Boiceville - Indian Lake - Florida - Alder Creek - Ames - Unadilla - Port Henry - Cedarville - Pulaski - Boonville - Nyack - Marion - Delevan - Savona - Cape Vincent - Andes- Hamden - Pine Hill - Auburn-Syracuse - Ellsburg - Frankin - Lake George - West Hurley - Clayton - Delancey - Star Lake - Bloomville- Stamford-Elmira - Old Forge - Tupper Lake -Watertown-Malone- Albany-Troy-Woodstock-Ithaca- Rochester -Cortland- Oswego - Erie- Bethel White Lake - Oneida - Camden - Williamsville -
It's a tough time to be an A's fan right now. A's fans are hurting at our lost. This franchise is arguably top 3 most successful if you consider that they're 3rd all time in world series championships with 9, behind the cardinals 13 and the Yankees 27. And another thing they along with the Yankees are the only franchises to go to the world series three times in a row in two different eras. The "swinging A's" 72-74 and the "bash brothers" 88-90. And then you had the money ball team 2000-2003 that made four straight playoff appearances and had consecutive 100+ winning seasons that inspired the movie "money ball". Oakland has lost a treasure.
Concepcion's good hitting, base stealing, 5 Gold Gloves and 9 All Star games should put him in the Hall. One of the best short stops of all time.
No question about it!!! Billy martin and luis tiant are 70s stars that should be in as well
under rated ball player
If Larkin is in definitely concepcion should be in
I also feel Reds reliever Clay Carroll and Boston pitcher should be enshrined in Cooperstown.
great world series, two great teams, its so nice to see again
Two entertaining teams with very large personalities on each side. A very dramatic series. Oakland barely held on against a superb Cincinnati ball club. Reggie Jackson didn’t play in the series and Oakland still took three of four games at Riverfront Stadium, including Game 7. A sign of character.
A series dubbed the Hairs vs. the Squares.
I am trying to figure out why in Game 5 of the ALCS Reggie Jackson completely ripped his hamstring on the slide to home plate, rendering him totally unfit to play in any of the 7 games of the 1972 World Series. (This also is a reminder of what happened to Cincinnati's Don Gullitt in the 1976 World Series when he hurt his ankle in Game 1 and had to sit out for the rest of that series.) Was it bad sliding technique by Jackson, or was it bad luck?
@@charlessmith263 No, it was matter of Reggie over exerting himself on that play.
Two great ballclubs.
Every time you look it's Dave Concepcion getting on, stealing a base and making a great play at short. Should be strongly considered for the Hall. One of the great shortstops of all time.
He oughta be in the HOF. So should Clay Carroll.
Curt Gowdy. One of the greatest. When baseball was at it's best.
i agree 100%.
6 Hall of Famers playing, 1 more that should be a Hall of Famer, and 2 Hall of Fame Managers what an amazing series.
Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, Catfish Hunter, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, obviously Pete Rose, Dick Williams and Sparky Anderson.
@@spinner9057 and dave concepicion?
What an amazing series ... all those hall of famers and a career .241 hitter take the series MVP with 4 HRs
Great memories; I vaguely remember watching the Amazing Mets in'69; I was 7, but '72 was the first year I watched the Series. In Canada , we had the Expos then, but our TV networks didn't carry the LCS, only the World Series. I remember Joe Rudi's amazing catch at Riverfront,
Reds reliever Clay Carroll should be in the HOF as well. A career 2.94 ERA in a long career. His win total combined with his saves is around 250. Solid HOF stats.
A very underrated World Series. Each game except 1 was decided by 1 run
Yes, and so evenly matched that both teams had the same 46 hits in 220 at bats for the series. Obviously, pitching dominant.
One of the best catches in the outfield EVER.
The 72 series in my opinion is top 5
Joe Rudi was a good ball player.
Great player
One of the best in left field and boy can he hit in the clutch 👍
Billy Martin wanted Steinbrenner to sign Rudi as a FA instead of Jackson.
The 1970S A's the most disrespected team ever 3 in a row & never discussed
I agree. The way the A's did this, in spite of their cheapskate owner Finley, and battling each other on numerous occasions, still worked together when it mattered the most. The fact the A's did this on the east side of SF Bay could be another reason it's not discussed much---but SHOULD. When all was said and done after the 1974 series, the A's did something only the Yankees ever did, a three-peat. And who knows how many more the A's would've won had Finley paid them their market rate (or even a BIT below it in this case) when he should have.
I agree, what a team.
3 WS and 5x division
Very true indeed.
@@nflmlbclassics east coast bias,
I guess I'm pretty off topic but does anyone know a good website to stream new tv shows online?
Thanks for uploading these and preserving history!
If not for the two blown catches by Bobby Tolan, the Reds win game seven of this series. This is why the Reds quickly got rid of Tolan and installed perennial gold glove centerfielder Cesar Geronimo. He had a great nickname, "The Chief".
How do you know Pete did not lay 10K on Oakland? would have made a KILLING with Reggie out
Ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a nice Xmas
The Reds seemed like they were actually the better team. It was actually amazing the A’s won this one, especially without Jackson. In the highlights it kept looking like the Reds where going to blow it open, but the A’s were scrappy and played as a team. Very tough series.
Great series.
That game 7 is painful to watch. Bobby Tolan really screwed the Reds with two miscues in the outfield.
I am still bummed the Reds did not win this series! However, the A's did have great pitching. Cincy hadn't put the whole "Great 8" together yet. Geronimo and Foster were on the team, but not starting all the time. Putting Rose and 3rd base and installing Geronimo as the full time center fielder finally made the difference.
That and playing Foster every game. Foster put them over the top IMHO
The reds were almost shut out in game 2.what pitching oakland had.thats why they won 3 straight.
Adding Griffey, an All Star, to RF and Foster to LF in '75 put the Great Eight together.
And Ken Griffey, Sr., was not yet in the majors. He really helped the Reds get over the hump.
I’m an A’s fan to this day because they won the World Series the year i was born,1972.
October 22?
@@michaelleroy9281 1972, 73 ,74 ….take a class, read a baseball book or something….damn
Sure seems like an inordinate number of seeing-eye grounders for hits for the A's in this series. At least in the highlights.
Campaneris throwing his bat at Lagrow, wrong though it was, was somehow totally understandable.
Wikipedia should put this in for Game 2:
In the opening part of Game 2, with Oakland runner George Hendricks on second, Catfish Hunter hits a line drive basehit off Reds’ pitcher Ross Grimsley, directly towards Pete Rose
who stops the ball quickly, and Rose fires a missile towards home plate. George
Hendrick beats the Rose’s throw to Reds’ catcher Johnny Bench as Hendrick does a
sit-in slide towards home plate, rendering him safe and leading Oakland to a 1-0 result.
Later on, with Oakland’s Dick Green on second, Bert Campaneris hits the same line drive base hit to Rose, and Rose fires another gun towards catcher Johnny Bench, but Dick Green’s running speed is not as fast as Hendricks', as he approaches home plate, which would cost Green and his team a run. Bench catches Rose’s long throw easily and had a good 2-second window (with Bench at a 3-meter distance from the running Green as soon as he catches the ball) to see Dick Green trying to run around Rose to avoid Bench’s tag, but Bench’s extension and lunge to the left was enough to tag Green, rendering
Green out at the plate, and keeping the A’s from adding an insurance run.
Great video love it coming from A A’s fan love the interviews after big plays as well
These two Managers faced off again in the 1984 World Series with different teams. I wonder how many times that has happened?
Sparky’s team won that ‘84 Series handily. That Tigers team was awesome. Dick Williams managed the John Birch Society Padres. 😜
@@stevegnash1 Stupid libtard idiot! 😠😠😠😠😠
And they switched leagues.
@@stevegnash1 I think Eric Show was.
@@michael.prescott4016 Thurmond and Dravecky too
Go back in time tell the Reds to walk Gene Tenace every time.
Sparky learned his lesson. After this WS he started walking the big bats.
@MANCHESTER UNITED Soccer sucks. It's so unimaginative. Every player does the same thing. It lacks majesty. Keep your soccer. We'll keep our baseball.
Why? he is a journeyman. He got hot. Journeyman do this.
@M Soccer is game for simpletons, those incapable of understanding the intricacies of baseball or the strategy of American football.
By game 7 of the series you would have thought that Sparky Anderson would have come to the same conclusion -- i.e. walking Tenace. Instead he elected to pitch to Tenace twice (!) in game 7 with a runner in scoring position and both times Tenace got hits to drive in runs which proved decisive. Sparky FAILED the Reds at a a critical moment.
Grass is so much better than carpet.
Very true.
wheelinthesky300 Agreed!!!
YA THINK?!? 🙄😒
@@matthewspaltro7142 If it weren't for that erratic hop on Gene Tenace's RBI infield hit due to the astro-turf's seam in Game 7 at Riverfront, the Reds would have a better chance of possibly taking it all in that World Series.
He said that
The one the Reds let slip away. As bad as they played in the first four games, Game 5: Oakland ace Catfish Hunter vs. Jim McGlothlin, an emergency starter for the ailing Gary Nolan. The red head McGlothlin wasn't good, giving up 3 runs in three innings but the Reds rallied to win the game to send the series back to Cincinnati where the Reds promptly won 8-1 to even the series. I would have bet anything the Reds were going to complete the comeback with Billingham on the mound in Game 7, but it was not to be.
Exactly. They just didn't hit in the clutch. Hal McRae should have played more. He was money in 1970 WS and in '72. He just didn't get enough at bats.
Yes, I thought we'd have this World series in the bag..Gene Tennace killed us. I thought the reds were the better team, but gave up too many home runs to win out.
As I watched this series in 1972, this was the first year I followed the Reds on a regular basis, starting in July. I was awestruck that they went to the World Series, but was astonished at the precision pitching of Oakland. Rollie Fingers could just as easily have been designated as the Series MVP.
Awesome games.
Great clutch pitching by the A' s. A very versatile and resilient team.
Sparky Anderson and Dick Williams met as managers in two different World Series with different teams. Here, Anderson is with the Reds and Williams is with the A's. In 1984, when the Tigers and Padres met in the Fall Classic, Anderson was managing the Tigers and Williams led the Padres. Has that ever happened before? Any baseball historians out there need to help me out with this one.
Watch what happened at 21:00. Johnny Bench throwing his teammate Pedro Borbon under the bus. Typical Bench bullshit, now I know why very few of his teammates liked or respected him. He needed to shut the fuck up and keep his lame-ass comments to himself.
What a complete asinine statement. "few of his teammates liked or respected him." You whined about Bench in other threads too, assclown. What, did he turn you down years ago?
You're wrong pal! What is Bench supposed to say? That it was right for Borbon to do things without thinking? As far as I'm concerned, Bench was not just a great baseball catcher but also possessed a good baseball mind. You wanna start criticizing people, then I suggest you start with boneheads like Pete Rose, who was known as a talented but very selfish, egotistical player.
spinner90 Either way, both Anderson and Williams were bidding to become the first manager in MLB history to win a World Series in both leagues. Sparky won.
Tysons Bench was the greatest catcher in baseball history. Like Rob said, what was he supposed to do, pretend Borbon didn't screw up? The guy was a leader and wanted to win. Leader's don't 'shut the fuck up' when it comes to winning championships.
Tysons Accosta, are you high? Bench wasn't being interviewed by the media, he was talking to his manager after Borbon failed to follow specific instructions in a pivotal moment in the World Series.
You're the only human on this earth I've ever heard speak so disparagingly of Bench. Clearly you know more than anybody else, so why don't you tell everybody here what years you were with the Reds, and in what capacity you served. I don't see your name on baseball-reference.com.
BTW, they now have medication to treat Tourette syndrome. You should look into that.
While it was the Athletic's 6th world championship victory, it marked the end of the team's 42 year championship drought.
Of course they were to win the World Series the next two years as well, and the 1989 Series. Now the A's are looking for every way out of Oakland and have a hard time selling out home games. I think they are set to move in time for the 2024 season.
@@docadams7099 The 1989 Championship was overshadowed by the earthquake
@docadams7099 Final season at the Coliseum is 2024 but it's a long time until Vegas in 2028
Johnny Bench always came through.
You can say THAT again!
Thats what the guys say!
Here is what I would call about that great Joe Rudi catch in Game 2 -
"Menke with the swing....WELL-HIT BALL, Joe Rudi runs up towards the wall, it might be extra bases for Menke, Rudi jumps for the catch - HE GOT THE BALL! LEAPING CATCH! Now he's about to double up Perez, big throw towards first, WILL PEREZ MAKE IT BACK? -- HE DOES MAKE IT BACK! Safe!"
"So, this is going to be in the highlight reels for years - Joe denying Menke possibly a triple by making a great leaping grab, and almost producing the double play in the process. If Perez were to double up, I am guessing Joe Rudi could be close to getting the MVP award in the World Series..."
Reggie Jackson out the World Series - and the OAKLAND ATHLETES still won ! That says a lot - And it says that The OAkLAND ATHLETES were a great team - !
He never even came close to tagging him on that pitch-out. That would've been overturned today. They gave so many "automatics" back then but that was just criminal.
Bluesdude 0808 Looking at that replay, a poor angle, it seemed like the glove brushed the runner around the kidneys and elbow.
So far- I've seen hightlights of 1972 and 1973 A's. I guess I'll hve to search for 1974 against the L.A. Dodgers of Ron Cey, Bill Buckner ("The ball goes through Buckner's legsand Mookie Wilson scores to win the game!" One of Curt Gowdy's best calls ever!), and Steve Garvey...And where is 1969 Orioles vs. The Miracle Mets? Great memories for an old A's fan, though! "Geno Tenache"
I was at game 3 as a 12 year old. The A's didn't win that one but it was an amazing experience. I went by myself... twice! Rain out then the makeup the next day.
Wow, Bobby Tolan's abysmal CF play in Game 7 choked away the Reds' chances.
After the game in their clubhouse, Tolan went to every member of the Reds and apologized for letting them down with his play.
- Yep, Tolan's two misplays in center essentially was the difference in the A's eeking out a dramatic Game 7 win on the road in Cincy.
Yeah, I could see where it'd be kind of hollow after-the-fact.
Yes, that's what happened. A's would go on to win 3 straight and were a great team, but they got very lucky in this game (also, were lucky in the deciding Game 5 of the ALCS against the Tigers). But, they were without Reggie Jackson. When you consider that, they probably deserved to win the series. The Reds didn't hit for shit in this series.
But, Tolan had a pretty good series with the bat. Other than Tony Perez I think he was the only other Reds player who did. He got some clutch hits.
You know who killed the Reds in this series? Denis Menke. He was very good with the glove at third base, but he killed them at the plate. He did hit a home run in a Game 5 win and it was Menke who Joe Rudi robbed in the 9th inning of Game 2 with that great catch against the wall, which probably saved the game and put Oakland up 2-0. But, look at the stats and the boxscores of the series on Baseball Reference. He left a ton of men on base and failed in numerous clutch situations, including in Game 7. Given that all but one of the games (Game 6)were decided by one run, it was even more decisive in their loss. Not surprisingly, he was replaced at third base the next season with the rookie Dan Driessan.
I was 6 years old for this, and I became an A's fan for life, even though I lived on the east coast. Reggie Jackson is still my favorite player of all time, It irks me that people only associate him with the Yankees.
So, I thought the turning point for the Reds in the 1972 series was Game 5, when the Reds was able to throw out Oakland's Blue Moon Odom in the 9th inning trying to score a tie for Oakland. Johnny Bench applies the blocking tag, ending the game and putting the Cincinnati Reds in the win column for Game 5. This was when the Reds were able to get their own second victory in this series. And because of Pete Rose, the Reds thought they would go on to win the series. But Gene Tenace had other ideas for his A's team, and after a seven-game marathon, Pete Rose could only look up at the ball at the series' last pitch, a pop up to Oakland's Joe Rudi in Game 7, and the fate is sealed for the Big Red Machine--they concede the world championship in 1972 to the A's. Gene Tenace pleases Reggie Jackson, who was unable to play for the whole series, with his own MVP award.
Oakland had great pitching and clutch hitting.
See my recent comment above re Sparky Anderson's decision to twice (!) pitch to Gene Tenace with a base open and a runner in scoring position in game 7. Both times Tenace got hits to drive in runs. I think that likely haunted Sparky for the rest of his life.
Great series!Let's go A's it was a friendly series between those two clubs!
Baseball was so popular in that era that even Fidel Castro enjoyed watching 👍
Has it ever been determined why Tolan fell down on Bando's fly ball in the 6th? That miscue allowed the decisive run in the game/series to score. He appeared to be holding his hamstring after the play, but was there really an injury on that play?
he obtained a sudden injury in his leg...............Willie
Hard fought series you didn't really know who was going to win it
The Hairs vs. the Squares.
I was watching every game from Ohio, I was 15 years old. I thought the ' hairs versus the squares ' was amusing in a tacky way.
The Reds needed to get with it as far as hair this was the 70s
This series was my introduction to baseball. Even became a Raiders fan. It's kind of sad that we are nearing then end of the line for Oakland. With the Raiders already in Vegas, the A's will be heading there soon.
Reminds me of Commissioner Bowie Kuhn disallowing a trade of Vida Blue to the Reds around 79 or 80. Kuhn disallowed the trade because he believed no one else could compete with the Reds if it went through. Competitive balance I guess. Can anyone tell me why this has never been done to Yankees??!???
nah, bowie had a personal grudge against Finley. the OWNER of the A's was strapped for cash! his 2 time WORLD CHAMPIONS drew 600,000 fans at home and 1.2 million on the road. Finley needed the cash from Boston to pay his players and replenish his minor league teams! bowie nixed the deal and drove Finley outta baseball!!!!
This was probably the greatest World Series in MLB history. It went seven games, the A's held a 3-1 lead, Cincy came back to tie it up before Oakland took the marbles and every contest was decided by one run except for the sixth game.
Just because the Series went 7 games, just because 6 games were decided by one run does not make it the greatest series of all time. The Series the year before was far more compelling, with the Orioles in the Series for the third time and Clemente having one of the best individual Series ever. The '72 Series probably would have been over in 5 had Jackson been healthy.
ers47163 Maybe not THE greatest, but I think it's a top 10 WS
Gotta go with 91 Series with the Twins over Braves, Several games went into extra innings including the nail biting 1-0 pitcher's duel in game 7 between Morris and Smoltz.
It’s certainly an underrated World Series. ⚾️
It was a classic World Series but I'd still have to go with the 1991 Braves vs. Twins as the best ever. That one ranks as my all time favorite.
6:17 what tag on Concepcion ?!
Anon Frank bet they wish they had instant replay back then👍🏽
@@Gl6619 Dave Concepcion gave a good gripe to the umpire. I saw the replay and Campy had the glove tag missing only less than 1-inch off Concepcion's helmet. The tag very closely touched the helmet. Dave did not like the call and let the umpire have it, but the Reds needed Dave as part of the Big Red Machine, so Dave decides not to argue further after the first arguing...because he knows if he continued further in arguing, he would have been thrown out of the game.
Good times.
Baseball on astro-turf is like pinball
The World Series taking place during the day is like Cinderella leaving the ball to go home at noon instead of midnight.
Bruce Baron I can't stand artificial turf. Those multi use stadiums in the 1970-80's we're terrible for both players and fans. Now days the stadiums are phenomenal.
The Big Red Machine
Charlie Finley had fireworks. However they had to stop when neighbors complained.
Gene Tenace had monster series MVP
“The Gene Tenace Show”
Game 1: OAK 3 CIN 2
Game 2: OAK 2 CIN 1
Game 3: CIN 1 OAK 0
Game 4: CIN 2 OAK 3
Game 5: CIN 5 OAK 4
Game 6: OAK 1 CIN 8
Game 7: OAK 3 CIN 2
my grandpa is dave hamilton 😊😊
I lived in Massachusetts in the 70s an A's fan they hated me then a Yankee fan being a Reggie Jackson fan loved it as specially 1978 buckey dent I rubbed it in and got into hilarious fights over it good times
0:53 perfect throw by Campaneris
The 1972 Oakland Athletics are excellent. 😀👍⚾️
So were the A's of 1973 and 1974
@@michaelleroy9281 them too. 😀👍⚾️
The A's should have won more World Series than the 3 consecutive they did. Too bad Charlie Finley broke up the team at their peak.
He sure did-what a cheapskate he was!!
Charlie didn't have a whole lot of money.
He owned a small insurance company,
the A's had low attendance
and at times not even a TV contract.
Big merchandising deals and luxury taxes were way in the future.
He was cheap, yeah, but that was beside the point.
Which other year "should" the A's have won the World Series?
1970? They finished 9 games behind the Twins, who got swept by the Orioles.
1971? They got swept by Orioles, while hitting only .229 in the ALCS.
1975? They got swept by the Red Sox in the ALCS. And even if they'd somehow managed to win that, they'd have faced the Big Red Machine, who finished 10 games better than Oakland.
1976? Even if they'd kept Reggie and didn't finish behind the Royals, and didn't then lose to the Yankees, they would've had to face the Reds again, only this time a version that went undefeated in the post-season.
If you're going to go with what "should" have happened, then subtract the 1973 World Series from Oakland's total. Ignoring the fact that the Reds had the best record in baseball, and therefore, by the should-have logic, should have won the World Series, Yogi Berra blew that series for the Mets. Instead of starting well-rested George Stone (who had gone 12-3 for the Mets) in Game 6 and pitched Tom Seaver on normal rest in Game 7, Berra pitched Seaver on short rest in Game 6. Seaver was outpitched by Catfish Hunter, and then Berra went with Jon Matlack on short rest for Game 7. Matlack got roughed up, and the Mets blew a 3 games to 2 series lead in Oakland.
Oh, and in 1974, the Dodgers finished 12 games better than Oakland, so I guess Los Angeles "should have" won in '74.
They should not have won in 1972. The Reds were a far better team!
REDS should have won this Series 4 to 2. They gave game 4 away.
I wish I was a teenager in the 70s.
It was fun!
It was overrated.
It sucked
I was I survived it
When baseball was King
I saw Tenace play near the end of his career with the Padres. I think he hit a Homer in that game too.
A lil OAKTOWN LOVE⚾️
I’m sure going to miss Oakland As john fisher just destroy this proud team.
Sparky Anderson did not think the A's were very good as reported by Curt Gowdy on national TV before game 5 in Oakland. His lack of respect for the A's came back to haunt him in game 7 when twice he elected to pitch to Gene Tenace with a runner in scoring position and first base open. Mind you, Tenace had already homered four times in the series! Both times in game 7 Tenace got hits to drive in runs which proved decisive. Had Anderson walked Tenace as almost every other manager would have, the A's might have been shut out and the Reds would have been world champs.
Who was that spectator who had long hair and went out of the left field stands towards the stairs near the foul pole to chase that Gene Tenace home-run ball in Game 5 of the series? No one else was chasing that spectator, the stadium fireworks were going, and the A's fans thought that homer is going to be the clincher for the series...but it was not to be.
My buddy raul the weatherman kennedy of rat war fame!
What is the name of the song that used mostly a piano in the 28th minute? It existed as early as 1965 and the same song was played in a commercial about The Boys Club! It also was used in the original Football Follies in 1969.
Thanks RUclips time, machine. I'm in the 5th grade again.
As a Detroit Tigers fan, had mixed feelings on this one. The A's beat the Tigers in the ALCS, with Campaneris infuriating Detroit fans when he threw his bat at pitcher Lerrin LaGrow. Didn't know if I wanted the A's to win because they were in the AL, or the Red's to win because they were right down the road on I-75.
Campy shouldn't have thrown that bat, for sure, but then Billy Martin shouldn't have ordered LaGrow to throw at him. Apparently everybody could hear Billy yelling in the dugout, and it was well known anyway that Billy always ordered his pitchers to throw at the other team's hottest hitter. Ironically Billy, who was from neighboring Berkeley, became an extremely popular manager for the A's in the early 80's.
Billy and Campy were about to brawl with each other afterwards, but thankfully, that never happened because the umpires had restrained Billy.
@@jamesmatthew3681 Campy should have been banned from the 1972 World Series to send a message that throwing bats at pitchers (like he did in Game 2 of the 1972 ALCS) is extremely inappropriate, but Campy was allowed back in to play in the WS anyway.
Awesome closing song 🎵 🎵
Sparky and Dick Williams again to meet twelve years later in the '84 Series.
great job
Jackie Robinson would pass away shortly after this. He was about my age.
2 days after game 7
@@michaelleroy9281That was so sad too. I was 12 years old living here in oakland where I still live.
What caused the hamstring tear for Jackson? THIS IS EXTREMELY DEVASTATING! ;( :( COULD NOT PLAY IN THE 1972 WORLD SERIES! THAT'S LIFE FOLKS!!!!
28:12 I'll say Dick Williams got around pretty well, too. Anyone does when the film of them is sped up. (The honky-tonk piano playing always seems to help somehow).
Go back in time and tell Sparky not to pull Billingham for Borbon in game 7.
Did Sparky actually say to an umpire, "You might be right"? Incredible.
Did anybody notice how wide of a turn at third Dick Green took on the thrown home by Rose. My gosh, no wonder he was thrown out. He looks lined up with the third base coaches box from the home plate view.
Yes, Tony Kubek mentioned that during the broadcast. You can find most of game two (in excellent video quality!) by going to the Oakland A's video uploads here on youtube or by doing a search on game 2. That game was an all-time classic. I MISS those days.
@@jamesmmahoney Yes, miss the 60's through 80's baseball the teams, players, and strategy.
8:06…Jackie will be proud Roberts and Cito the only two black mangers to win the golden flags in different eras
Bouie Kuhn MLB Commissioned did everything he could to screw Charlie Finley and the A's
Jackie Robinson, a man who has my admiration and respect is always outspoken about his race. He passed away much too young. Mr. Robinson is one of my heroes. A truly GREAT American.
RIP Jackie Robinson he passed away 2 days after game 7
Johnny Bench would show up in spring training and walk around naked in the apartment the players were staying 4 to a flat freaking out the rookies who were too traumatized to do much of anything afterwards.
Why does the sunshine look different in California?
Iam not sure!!!!
Reflective mirrors. They think solar is good.
The sun didn't shine at all in Cincinnati and only one game was played in the day in Oakland
How come I can't find the entire 7th game anywhere?
I recall during that WS broadcast that Gene Tenace’s name is pronounced "teh-NOT-Chee.", not “tennis”. Can anyone confirm this.
Cuki Mangual de mi isla Boriken jugo con mis amados Cangrejeros del Santurce
the A's did it without Mr. October in the lineup.
When he wasn't Mr October yet
They won this Series WITHOUT Reggie Jackson!!! That's insane!!!😊
I wonder why Williams used Vida Blue out of the bullpen so much in that series?
Reggie steals home to win the pennant
And couldn't play in the World Series because of it( injury)
See how baseball has gotten soft @ 19:17. And, the only thing I did not like about 1970's baseball... artificial turf stadiums. Thank goodness they are now obsolete.
A's win all 4 games by 1 run. Bobby Tolan error loses the series for the reds.
Sparky Anderson error yanking the best WS pitcher for Borbon. He was a workhorse but not a closer.
With an assist from Sparky Anderson who appeared to be brain dead in this series, esp. in game 7.
@james mahoney But he still is the first manager to win a World Series in both leagues he can't be that dumb
Who was that A's fan couple--man and lady---going on top of the roof of the Oakland dugout at Riverfront Stadium as the A's got the title, along with Charles Finley and her wife who went up to the roof also--at the end credits of this MLB video? Looks like they were proposing marriage to each other in front of the A's president and the president accepted. Only guessing that young couple were die-hard A's fans for at least several years before 1972 before they watched their A's get the biggest win in Bay Area sports, breaking a pretty long drought in the process.
It was the manager of the A"s, Dick Williams and his wife.
That was the A's manager Dick Williams and, I presume, his wife.
WinConsinSportsNutRW -Never, ever kiss the Bosses wife on the lips in front of him. Twice? That's why he didn't come back. lol
Williams did come back the next year. He quite after the '73 season, and it actually had nothing to do with him kissing Finley's wife. He was just fed up with Finley trying to boss him around, calling him in the middle of the night, and treating the players like shit.
20:52 - Pedro Bombon was, as I saw him throw a slider way outside of the zone to the right side of Gene Tenace, afraid. The pitch caused Tenace to have a count of 2-1, which made Sparky Anderson very upset. He (Pedro) might have had severe nerves after seeing Gene Tenace blast a homer and probably afraid Gene would hit another one and cause more fireworks for Oakland, which Bombon did not want. Sparky had enough of Pedro's nerves and was told to go to the showers, and Clay Carroll comes in.
Later on, analyzing the 3 basehits that Clay threw at 3 Oakland batters, including 2 pinch hitters, in my opinion, I am guessing that if I were to be Sparky Anderson, I would replace Bombon after Mitcher's pinch-hit, with Tom Hall, knowing that Angel Manqual was a dangerous hitter, and keep Carroll from pitching into a string of basehits which could cost my Reds team the game. Tom Hall would have a better chance to put out Manqual than Clay Carroll would do it, and prevent the A's from scoring the winning run and give the Reds a fighting chance.
!0:36 Shades of things to come some 3 years later: a controversial bunt attempt.
Gene Tenace was a beast 💪
The big red machine great club