1972 New York Yankees

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1972 New York Yankees season: Summary

Amidst the crack of the bat and the roar of the Yankee Stadium crowd, the 1972 New York Yankees faced a season filled with highs and lows. 

Home games at Yankee Stadium became a fortress of dreams for the Bronx Bombers, with an impressive record of 46 wins and 31 losses—a winning percentage of 0.597. The iconic pinstripes seemed to carry a special magic within those familiar walls, as fans cheered on their team with unwavering support.

However, the road presented a tougher challenge. Away from the comforts of home, the Yankees struggled, tallying 33 wins and 45 losses in unfamiliar territory. Yet, each away game was a test of character, an opportunity for the team to dig deep and find the resilience that defined their season.

Amid the victories and defeats, one shining moment stood out—the day Bobby Murcer hit for the cycle. Murcer’s remarkable achievement, which includes a single, double, triple, and home run in a single game, became a beacon of success in the 1972 season. His extraordinary contribution, reflected in a +0.722 Win Probability Added (WPA), showcased the impact of individual brilliance on team success.

As the season drew to a close, the Yankees found themselves just outside the gates of the postseason. While they fell short of October glory, the echoes of the crowd in Yankee Stadium and the brilliance of Bobby Murcer’s cycle lingered in the hearts of fans. The 1972 season became more than a series of wins and losses—it became a testament to the enduring spirit of the New York Yankees, ready to face whatever challenges the next season would bring. The memories of that season would serve as inspiration for future triumphs and a reminder that, in the world of baseball, the journey is as important as the destination.

1972 New York Yankees: Unforgettable doubleheader vs. Royals

August 27, 1972, marked a doubleheader between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals that would go down in baseball history as one of the craziest spectacles ever witnessed on the diamond. The two games, filled with twists and turns, unfolded over a marathon of seven hours and 28 minutes, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.

The opening act saw Mel Stottlemyre taking the mound for the Yankees in the first game. However, a rocky start forced him out early, and he was replaced by Wade Blasingame. The Royals built a formidable 6-0 lead, but the Yankees, resilient as ever, chipped away. Ron Klimkowski’s two scoreless innings set the stage for a dramatic comeback, culminating in a game-tying rally in the eighth.

The climax unfolded in the bottom of the ninth when Johnny Callison seemingly hit a walk-off grand slam. The stadium erupted in joy, but a peculiar twist left Callison with just a single, bouncing off the scoreboard. Nevertheless, it secured a dramatic 7-6 victory for the Yankees.

If the first game was a rollercoaster, the second game took the crowd on an even wilder ride. Fritz Peterson dominated early, allowing only two singles and a hit batter through four innings. The Yankees built a comfortable 5-0 lead, seemingly cruising to victory. However, the script flipped in the eighth when Sparky Lyle faced future teammate Lou Piniella, who launched a three-run homer, closing the gap to 6-5.

Lyle’s eventful day continued as he came to bat in the bottom of the eighth, contributing a leadoff single. A series of events, including Lyle being picked off second, left the Yankees with no insurance runs. Lyle returned to the mound in the ninth, needing three outs to seal the win. Instead, the Royals staged a stunning comeback, scoring four runs and taking a 7-6 lead.

The Yankees, down to their final outs, refused to go quietly. In the bottom of the ninth, they rallied back, tying the game with clutch hits. The marathon continued, with missed opportunities on both sides until the Yankees loaded the bases in the 16th inning. Horace Clark’s deep fly ball, reminiscent of the ninth inning, allowed Celerino Sanchez to tag up and score, sealing a dramatic 9-8 victory in 16 innings.

In the midst of the chaos, Sparky Lyle emerged as the central figure. His day included a win, a blown save, a hit, and even an unexpected pickoff—a unique combination that cemented his place in the annals of baseball oddities. The doubleheader of August 27, 1972, became a legend, etching itself into the collective memory of Yankees fans and baseball enthusiasts alike.

1972 New York Yankees in videos

Postseason

(Did not qualify – Eliminated in Regular Season)

1972 New York Yankees roster

1972 New York Yankees: Player additions, transactions, and trades

November 1971

• November 29: Drafted Jim Magnuson from the Chicago White Sox in the 1971 rule 5 draft.

December 1971

• December 2: Traded Gary Jones and Terry Ley to the Texas Rangers. Received Bernie Allen. Traded Stan Bahnsen to the Chicago White Sox. Received Rich McKinney.
• December 6: Traded Ossie Chavarria to Mexico City Tigers (Mexican). Received Celerino Sanchez.

January 1972

• January 12: Drafted Rick Anderson in the 1st round (5th pick) of the 1972 amateur draft (January Secondary). Drafted Larry Wolfe in the 4th round of the 1972 amateur draft (January Secondary), but did not sign the player.
• January 19: Traded a player to be named later to the Baltimore Orioles. Received Fred Beene. The New York Yankees sent Dale Spier (minors) (April 10, 1972) to the Baltimore Orioles to complete the trade.
• January 20: Traded a player to be named later to the Chicago Cubs. Received Johnny Callison. The New York Yankees sent Jack Aker (May 17, 1972) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade.

February 1972

• February 2: Purchased Hal Lanier from the San Francisco Giants.
• February 14: Released Ron Hansen.

March 1972

• March 22: Traded a player to be named later and Danny Cater to the Boston Red Sox. Received Sparky Lyle. The New York Yankees sent Mario Guerrero (June 30, 1972) to the Boston Red Sox to complete the trade.
• March 31: Purchased Frank Tepedino from the Milwaukee Brewers.

April 1972

• April 3: Released Jim Hardin. Released Gary Waslewski.
• April 11: Released Don DeMola.
• April 28: Purchased Jim Roland from the Oakland Athletics.

May 1972

• May 22: Signed Ron Klimkowski as a free agent.

June 1972

• June 6: Drafted Scott McGregor in the 1st round (14th pick) of the 1972 amateur draft. Drafted Ken Clay in the 2nd round of the 1972 amateur draft. Drafted Mickey Klutts in the 4th round of the 1972 amateur draft. Drafted Darryl Jones in the 5th round of the 1972 amateur draft. Drafted Bob Kammeyer in the 21st round of the 1972 amateur draft.
• June 7: Received Wade Blasingame from the Houston Astros as part of a conditional deal.

July 1972

• July 15: As part of a 3-team trade, traded Tommie Sheppard (minors) to the Montreal Expos. Received . In addition, the Montreal Expos sent Dave McDonald to the New York Mets.
• July 22: Signed Tippy Martinez as an amateur free agent.

August 1972

• August 21: Signed Dell Alston as an amateur free agent.
• August 31: Traded Jim Roland to the Texas Rangers. Received Casey Cox.

September 1972

• September 7: Rich Hinton player rights sold to the Texas Rangers.
• September 16: Received Steve Blateric from the Cincinnati Reds as part of a conditional deal.

October 1972

• October 24: Traded George Pena (minors) to the San Diego Padres. Received Fred Stanley.
• October 27: Traded Danny Walton to the Minnesota Twins. Received Rick Dempsey.

1972 New York Yankees: Player debuts

• Larry Gowell – 09-21-1972 – 24 years old
• Doc Medich – 09-05-1972 – 23 years old
• Celerino Sanchez – 06-13-1972 – 28 years old
• Charlie Spikes – 09-01-1972 – 21 years old

1972 New York Yankees team stats (batting)

1972 New York Yankees team stats (pitching)

1972 New York Yankees: Record vs. opponents/ Team splits

1972 New York Yankees: Monthly record

1972 New York Yankees All-Stars

• Bobby Murcer

1972 New York Yankees: Awards and honors

Gold Glove

• Bobby Murcer

All-Star Appearances

• Bobby Murcer

Other Achievements

• Sparky Lyle finished 3rd in AL MVP Voting.
• Bobby Murcer finished 5th in AL MVP Voting.
• Sparky Lyle finished 7th in AL Cy Young Voting.

League Leaders

• Sparky Lyle led the American League in saves with 35.
• Bobby Murcer led the American League in runs with 102.

1972 New York Yankees: Swapping tale of Peterson and Kekich

In the early 1970s, New York Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich shocked the sports world with a bizarre decision. Both left-handers, along with their wives Marilyn and Suzanne, concluded they were married to the wrong people. In an unprecedented move, they swapped partners, children, and even pets, declaring, “We didn’t swap wives, we swapped lives.”

The aftermath was far from harmonious. While Fritz and Suzanne thrived in their new arrangement, Kekich and Marilyn’s relationship crumbled. Marilyn moved to Illinois with the children, leaving Kekich in solitude, watching his former family being raised by his ex-teammate.

This unconventional tale unfolded in a different era, the early ’70s, marked by cultural shifts and societal uncertainties. Unlike the instant news and social media scrutiny athletes face today, Peterson and Kekich navigated their post-swap lives with surprising normalcy.

The story, a curious relic of a bygone era, highlights the confluence of individual choices and cultural circumstances. In today’s meticulously regulated sports landscape, such a narrative seems inconceivable, making the “Big Trade” a product of a unique moment in history.

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