Game 1 October 7, 1972 @ Oakland Coliseum, Oakland
Baltimore 2
Oakland 6
Oakland leads series 1-0
Jim Palmer (0-0) v Catfish Hunter (0-0)
The Orioles grabbed the lead in the first inning before everyone had even found their seats. Merv Rettenmund hit a one out, two run homer to put the O's up 2-0. It stayed that way until the A's tied it in the 3rd. Dave Duncan led off with solo home run. With one out Bert Campaneris singled. Joe Rudi flew out, but Matty Alou came through with a single to tie the game. The game remained tied until the 7th inning. The A's loaded the bases off of Palmer with nobody out. Mike Epstein walked, Sal Bando singled and pinch hitter Don Mincher walked. Tim Cullen singled to make it 3-2. Hunter grounded out, but another run scored to make it 4-2. Campaneris walked and then Rudi hit a sac fly to make the game 5-2. In the 8th, Reggie Jackson hit a solo homer to produce the final score of 6-2. Hunter gets the win allowing only four hits. Palmer gives up all six runs and takes the loss.
The Orioles grabbed the lead in the first inning before everyone had even found their seats. Merv Rettenmund hit a one out, two run homer to put the O's up 2-0. It stayed that way until the A's tied it in the 3rd. Dave Duncan led off with solo home run. With one out Bert Campaneris singled. Joe Rudi flew out, but Matty Alou came through with a single to tie the game. The game remained tied until the 7th inning. The A's loaded the bases off of Palmer with nobody out. Mike Epstein walked, Sal Bando singled and pinch hitter Don Mincher walked. Tim Cullen singled to make it 3-2. Hunter grounded out, but another run scored to make it 4-2. Campaneris walked and then Rudi hit a sac fly to make the game 5-2. In the 8th, Reggie Jackson hit a solo homer to produce the final score of 6-2. Hunter gets the win allowing only four hits. Palmer gives up all six runs and takes the loss.
Game 2 October 8, 1972 @ Oakland Coliseum, Oakland
Baltimore 0
Oakland 2
Oakland leads series 2-0
Pat Dobson (0-0) v Ken Holtzman (0-0)
The pitchers ruled the day in this close game. The A's took advantage of a rare error by Mark Belanger to plate a run in the first. With two outs, Matty Alou singled (the first of what would be three hits for him) and made it to second base on an error by Belanger. Reggie Jackson followed with a single to score him and put the A's up 1-0. Holtzman made that run stand up as he was outstanding striking out five and like Catfish Hunter in game one, holding the Orioles to just four hits. In the 7th inning, Oakland manufactured one more run. Dal Maxvil doubled, Dave Duncan flew out. Holtzman bunted moving Maxvil to third. Bert Campaneris then laid down a beautiful bunt for a single scoring Maxvil. That would be all the scoring. Dobson himself pitched good enough to win allowing just seven hits and only one earned run, but the A's win 2-0 and head to Baltimore up 2-0 as well.
The pitchers ruled the day in this close game. The A's took advantage of a rare error by Mark Belanger to plate a run in the first. With two outs, Matty Alou singled (the first of what would be three hits for him) and made it to second base on an error by Belanger. Reggie Jackson followed with a single to score him and put the A's up 1-0. Holtzman made that run stand up as he was outstanding striking out five and like Catfish Hunter in game one, holding the Orioles to just four hits. In the 7th inning, Oakland manufactured one more run. Dal Maxvil doubled, Dave Duncan flew out. Holtzman bunted moving Maxvil to third. Bert Campaneris then laid down a beautiful bunt for a single scoring Maxvil. That would be all the scoring. Dobson himself pitched good enough to win allowing just seven hits and only one earned run, but the A's win 2-0 and head to Baltimore up 2-0 as well.
Game 3 October 10, 1972 @ Memorial Stadium, Baltimore
Oakland 2
Baltimore 0
Oakland wins series 3-0
Blue Moon Odom (0-0) v Dave McNally (0-0)
Just like in game two, the starting pitchers controlled the game. Neither team had base runner reach 3rd base until the 6th inning. That was Oakland who managed it with two outs, but Mike Epstein struck out to end the inning. In the 7th inning it was Oakland that finally broke through and it was the pitcher Odom that made it happen. With one out Larry Brown singled. Dave Duncan grounded out for the 2nd out, leaving it up to Odom. There was some hesitation as to if he would be pinch hit for, but the decision was made to leave him in the game. It could not have worked out any better for Oakland. Odom connected for a two run homer to put the A's up 2-0 and just nine outs away from a trip to the World Series. Odom breezed through the next two innings and the Orioles came to bat in the 9th needing two runs to tie. Bob Locker took the mound for Oakland in the 9th. Johnny Oates pinch hit and singled. Rich Coggins followed with a pinch hit single as well. The Orioles were in business with the tying runs on and nobody out. Bobby Grich popped out for the first out. Terry Crowley came to the plate and hit sharp ground ball to second baseman Larry Brown. Brown flipped to Bert Campaneris for one who then relayed to Don Mincher for a series ending 4-6-3 double play. The Oakland A's win 2-0 and head to the World Series after sweeping the Orioles three games to none.
Just like in game two, the starting pitchers controlled the game. Neither team had base runner reach 3rd base until the 6th inning. That was Oakland who managed it with two outs, but Mike Epstein struck out to end the inning. In the 7th inning it was Oakland that finally broke through and it was the pitcher Odom that made it happen. With one out Larry Brown singled. Dave Duncan grounded out for the 2nd out, leaving it up to Odom. There was some hesitation as to if he would be pinch hit for, but the decision was made to leave him in the game. It could not have worked out any better for Oakland. Odom connected for a two run homer to put the A's up 2-0 and just nine outs away from a trip to the World Series. Odom breezed through the next two innings and the Orioles came to bat in the 9th needing two runs to tie. Bob Locker took the mound for Oakland in the 9th. Johnny Oates pinch hit and singled. Rich Coggins followed with a pinch hit single as well. The Orioles were in business with the tying runs on and nobody out. Bobby Grich popped out for the first out. Terry Crowley came to the plate and hit sharp ground ball to second baseman Larry Brown. Brown flipped to Bert Campaneris for one who then relayed to Don Mincher for a series ending 4-6-3 double play. The Oakland A's win 2-0 and head to the World Series after sweeping the Orioles three games to none.
1972 ALCS MVP - Matty Alou, Oakland
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/4/6/18466176/1404233688.jpg)
Matty Alou was named MVP of the AL Championship Series. In three games Matty batted .500 (6 for 12) with one RBI and he scored once. It was a tough call on MVP as Reggie Jackson and Blue Moon Odom were the only A's with more than one RBI. A case could be made to give it to the whole Oakland pitching staff. They posted a 0.67 staff ERA for the Series. Baltimore scored two runs in the first inning of game one and never scored again. A string of 26 scoreless innings!