Lip Man 1
07-15-2012, 08:15 PM
If you read the earlier story wrapping up the 1972 celebration you know that there was a second story to go along with it. Here is that story…a review of the highlights of the 1972 season:
1972 Year In Review -- (Part 1)
“Oh what a season it was…”
By Mark Liptak
White Sox Interactive
The White Sox opened the 1972 season after a labor impasse delayed the start of the year, in Kansas City. Dick Allen’s long blast in the 9th inning on opening day gave the Sox a 1-0 lead but they couldn’t hold it and lost 2-1 in 11 innings. In fact the Sox lost the entire three game series, all by one run and two in extra innings. Sox closer Bart Johnson suffered two of the losses and was ineffective because of a knee injury. “I hurt my right knee the off season playing basketball. I immediately told the Sox about it and they examined me and said the knee was basically OK but I did tear some cartilage. When I went out to pitch I just couldn’t push off it. They wound up operating on my knee that September.”
The Sox home opener wasn’t played until April 18th against the new Texas Rangers. It was also the first night home opener in franchise history. Allen received a warm welcome which turned into a standing ovation after going 2 for 3 with three runs scored and two RBI’s in the Sox 14-0 win. Allen said after the game, “I think I’m going to like it here.” Carlos May had quite a night with six RBI’s. It was the start of a seven game winning streak.
By May 21st the Sox were fighting for first place and capped off a double header sweep of the Angels 9-8 thanks to a two out, three run, 9th inning home run from May off Alan Foster. It pushed the Sox to an 18-10 record and they were 16-2 at Comiskey Park. The home run was sweet for May because of something that happened a few years before. ”I knew Foster from spring training because he was with the Dodgers for a few years. One time in the spring he jammed me with a pitch and broke my bat. Then he said to me ‘did you get all of that?’ I didn’t say anything to him but swore that I’d get him some day.”
June 4th was one of the most memorable days in franchise history. The Sox had already won the first game against the Yankees behind Tom Bradley 6-1 and were going for the sweep in the second game. Allen, who had played every inning of every previous game, was held out by manager Chuck Tanner to give him a rest. Tanner joked to the media between games that Allen would come off the bench to win the game with a home run. With two out and two on in the 9th inning, and the Sox trailing 4-2, Allen came up as a pinch hitter. A bat day crowd of over 51-thousand waited. On the third pitch from Sparky Lyle, Allen hammered a drive into the lower deck in left field winning the game 5-4 and sending the crowd into a frenzy. Tanner later remarked, “after the game, after the home run, the fans were so loud, so excited, that you could feel the locker room shake from the vibrations. I’ve never seen that before in my life. When I was in the locker room I looked at Dick and got chills, I still do thinking about it.”
All was not right with the Sox however. 1971 American League home run king Bill Melton was struggling due to a lower back injury suffered the previous off season at his home. The Sox tried everything to remedy the situation including injections made from the extract of papayas in an effort to relieve the pain he was suffering to no avail. He was put on the disabled list in late June. Roland Hemond, the Sox director of player personnel, reached out and got Joliet native Ed Spiezio from the Padres to try to fill Melton’s shoes. Spiezio proved to be a most capable replacement.
On July 23rd right before the All Star Break and the Sox trailing the red hot A’s by over six games, May struck again. This time he blasted a 9th inning game winning home run off future Sox pitcher and broadcaster Ed Farmer, then with Cleveland. The Sox won the nightcap 4-3 after winning the opening game 2-1. They were still in the race.
Allen received the most votes from the fans and started at 1st base in the All Star Game in Atlanta, won by the National League 4-3 in 10 innings. He was joined on the team by Wilbur Wood and May.
Lip
1972 Year In Review -- (Part 1)
“Oh what a season it was…”
By Mark Liptak
White Sox Interactive
The White Sox opened the 1972 season after a labor impasse delayed the start of the year, in Kansas City. Dick Allen’s long blast in the 9th inning on opening day gave the Sox a 1-0 lead but they couldn’t hold it and lost 2-1 in 11 innings. In fact the Sox lost the entire three game series, all by one run and two in extra innings. Sox closer Bart Johnson suffered two of the losses and was ineffective because of a knee injury. “I hurt my right knee the off season playing basketball. I immediately told the Sox about it and they examined me and said the knee was basically OK but I did tear some cartilage. When I went out to pitch I just couldn’t push off it. They wound up operating on my knee that September.”
The Sox home opener wasn’t played until April 18th against the new Texas Rangers. It was also the first night home opener in franchise history. Allen received a warm welcome which turned into a standing ovation after going 2 for 3 with three runs scored and two RBI’s in the Sox 14-0 win. Allen said after the game, “I think I’m going to like it here.” Carlos May had quite a night with six RBI’s. It was the start of a seven game winning streak.
By May 21st the Sox were fighting for first place and capped off a double header sweep of the Angels 9-8 thanks to a two out, three run, 9th inning home run from May off Alan Foster. It pushed the Sox to an 18-10 record and they were 16-2 at Comiskey Park. The home run was sweet for May because of something that happened a few years before. ”I knew Foster from spring training because he was with the Dodgers for a few years. One time in the spring he jammed me with a pitch and broke my bat. Then he said to me ‘did you get all of that?’ I didn’t say anything to him but swore that I’d get him some day.”
June 4th was one of the most memorable days in franchise history. The Sox had already won the first game against the Yankees behind Tom Bradley 6-1 and were going for the sweep in the second game. Allen, who had played every inning of every previous game, was held out by manager Chuck Tanner to give him a rest. Tanner joked to the media between games that Allen would come off the bench to win the game with a home run. With two out and two on in the 9th inning, and the Sox trailing 4-2, Allen came up as a pinch hitter. A bat day crowd of over 51-thousand waited. On the third pitch from Sparky Lyle, Allen hammered a drive into the lower deck in left field winning the game 5-4 and sending the crowd into a frenzy. Tanner later remarked, “after the game, after the home run, the fans were so loud, so excited, that you could feel the locker room shake from the vibrations. I’ve never seen that before in my life. When I was in the locker room I looked at Dick and got chills, I still do thinking about it.”
All was not right with the Sox however. 1971 American League home run king Bill Melton was struggling due to a lower back injury suffered the previous off season at his home. The Sox tried everything to remedy the situation including injections made from the extract of papayas in an effort to relieve the pain he was suffering to no avail. He was put on the disabled list in late June. Roland Hemond, the Sox director of player personnel, reached out and got Joliet native Ed Spiezio from the Padres to try to fill Melton’s shoes. Spiezio proved to be a most capable replacement.
On July 23rd right before the All Star Break and the Sox trailing the red hot A’s by over six games, May struck again. This time he blasted a 9th inning game winning home run off future Sox pitcher and broadcaster Ed Farmer, then with Cleveland. The Sox won the nightcap 4-3 after winning the opening game 2-1. They were still in the race.
Allen received the most votes from the fans and started at 1st base in the All Star Game in Atlanta, won by the National League 4-3 in 10 innings. He was joined on the team by Wilbur Wood and May.
Lip