The 1972 Cleveland Indians season was the 72nd season in franchise history. The Indians finished 5th place in the American League East Division. with a record of 72 wins and 84 losses, 14 games behind the Detroit Tigers.

Offseason

George Steinbrenner offer On December 6, 1971, George Steinbrenner led a group of investors (including Ted Bonda, Ed Jeffrey, Howard Metzenbaum, Steve O'Neill, Gabe Paul and Al Rosen) that negotiated with Jim Stouffer, the son of Indians owner Vernon Stouffer about the potential purchase of the franchise. The group offered $8.6 million and agreed to absorb $300,000 in debt (Stouffer borrowed against the Indians television contract for 1972).Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball, p. 6, Bill Madden, Harper Collins Publishing, New York, 2010, Although Steinbrenner and Jim Stouffer agreed to a sale, Vernon Stouffer disapproved of the deal. He felt that he was able of getting $10 million for the franchise.Steinbrenner: The Last Lion of Baseball, pp. 6–7

Notable transactions November 29, 1971: Sam McDowell was traded by the Indians to the San Francisco Giants for Gaylord Perry and Frank Duffy.Sam McDowell page at Baseball Reference December 2, 1971: Roy Foster, Ken Suarez, Mike Paul, and Rich Hand were traded by the Indians to the Texas Rangers for Del Unser, Gary Jones, Terry Ley, and Denny Riddleberger.Del Unser page at Baseball Reference December 6, 1971: Adolfo Phillips was purchased by the Indians from the Montreal Expos.Adolfo Phillips page at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions June 6, 1972: 1972 Major League Baseball draft Rick Manning was drafted by the Indians in the 1st round (2nd pick).Rick Manning page at Baseball Reference Dennis Eckersley was drafted by the Indians in the 3rd round. Player signed June 12, 1972.Dennis Eckersley page at Baseball Reference Rick Langford was drafted by the Indians in the 36th round, but did not sign.Rick Langford page at Baseball Reference September 18, 1972: Lowell Palmer was selected off waivers by the Indians from the St. Louis Cardinals.Lowell Palmer page at Baseball-Reference

Opening Day Lineup +Opening Day Starters # Name Position1 Del Unser CF11 Eddie Leon 2B20 Alex Johnson LF12 Graig Nettles 3B14 Chris Chambliss 1B8 Ray Fosse C9 Buddy Bell RF15 Frank Duffy SS 36 Gaylord Perry P 1972 Opening Day Lineup at Baseball-Reference

Roster 1972 Cleveland Indians Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders Manager

Coaches

(Third Base) (First Base) (Pitching)

Player stats Batting Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG SB 132 466 49 119 21 1 9 36 .255 5 19 35 2 4 0 0 1 1 .114 0 136 527 49 123 13 2 5 35 .233 3 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 39 41 2 6 2 0 0 3 .146 0 121 466 51 136 27 2 6 44 .292 3 23 20 1 4 1 0 0 0 .200 0 130 385 23 92 16 4 3 27 .239 6 20 33 6 9 1 0 3 4 .273 0 46 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 ,143 0 134 457 42 110 20 1 10 41 .241 5 73 143 19 32 4 0 4 13 .224 0 12 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 10 20 0 3 0 0 0 0 .150 0 38 12 1 1 0 0 0 0 .083 0 19 13 0 1 0 0 0 1 .077 0 108 356 31 85 10 1 8 37 .239 6 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500 0 22 14 0 1 0 0 0 0 .071 0 34 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 89 225 14 45 2 1 4 16 .200 0 24 80 4 15 1 0 2 8 .188 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 68 151 16 32 8 1 6 21 .212 2 129 391 43 101 12 5 7 33 ,258 12 42 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 .125 0 52 141 9 31 3 0 4 14 ,220 0 150 557 65 141 28 0 17 70 .253 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 41 110 5 17 2 0 1 9 .155 0 12 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 38 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 6 12 1 2 1 0 0 0 .167 0 39 70 5 7 0 0 0 6 .100 0 132 383 29 91 12 0 1 17 .238 5 32 45 3 9 2 0 0 4 .200 0 Team totals 156 5207 472 1220 186 18 91 440 .234 49

Pitching Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts Player W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER BB K 0 0 1.54 6 2 0 11.2 9 3 2 10 6 1 7 4.58 22 11 0 74.2 74 42 38 38 36 6 4 3.26 16 16 0 105.0 98 39 38 43 52 2 5 4.40 46 1 7 61.1 51 32 30 27 33 0 3 5.85 12 1 0 20.0 23 16 13 15 10 5 3 2.67 38 1 6 67.1 54 20 20 18 44 3 1 2.68 19 5 0 47.0 51 16 14 21 25 4 1 3.41 22 7 1 58.0 51 23 22 39 44 5 6 3.09 34 9 0 107.2 101 42 37 29 64 0 0 5.40 4 2 0 8.1 8 5 5 10 1 0 6 3.95 41 0 10 57.0 67 28 25 36 47 0 0 4.50 1 0 0 2.0 2 1 1 2 3 24 16 1.92 41 40 1 342.2 253 79 73 82 234 1 3 2.50 38 0 0 54.0 45 23 15 22 34 14 15 2.77 39 34 0 237.1 200 83 73 70 123 7 14 3.40 32 27 0 156.0 145 67 59 72 90 Team totals 72 84 2.92 156 156 25 1410.0 1232 519 457 534 846

Awards and honors

All-Star Game Gaylord Perry, pitcher, reserve

Farm system

Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007

Notes

References 1972 Cleveland Indians team page at Baseball Reference 1972 Cleveland Indians team page at www.baseball-almanac.com