1972 Chicago White Sox

BR Team Page

Record: 87-67, Finished 2nd in AL Western Division (1972 AL)

Managed by Chuck Tanner

Coaches: Joe Lonnett, Jim Mahoney, Al Monchak and Johnny Sain

Ballpark: Comiskey Park

History, Comments, Contributions

After a sub-.500 1971 season, the 1972 Chicago White Sox made a blockbuster trade during the off-season, sending veteran starting pitcher Tommy John to the Los Angeles Dodgers for first baseman Dick Allen. Allen hit .308 with 37 homers in 1972 and went on to win the 1972 American League Most Valuable Player Award. The pitching staff was led by a pair of 20-game winners. Wilbur Wood pitched 376 innings and won 24 games, and Stan Bahnsen notched 21 victories. The Sox challenged the Oakland Athletics for the American League West title that year, leading their division as late as August, but ultimately ended up falling 5 1/2 games short.

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Dick Allen, Carlos May and Wilbur Wood
• AL MVP: Dick Allen
• Manager of the Year Award: Chuck Tanner

1972 Opening Day Lineup

Walt Williams, rf

Mike Andrews, 2b

Dick Allen, 1b

Bill Melton, 3b

Carlos May, lf

Rick Reichardt, cf

Ed Herrmann, c

Luis Alvarado, ss

Wilbur Wood, p

Further Reading

• John Owens and David J. Fletcher: Chili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, The 1972 White Sox and A Transforming Chicago, Eckhartz Press, Chicago, IL, 2022. ISBN 978-1-7379-2363-3