Neither of the National League division races in 1972 were particularly close or exciting. In the East, the defending world champion Pirates ran away from the field, finishing 11 games ahead of the second-place Cubs. In the West Division, the Reds, after a slow start, also breezed to a title by a wide margin, 10 ½ games ahead of the dual runners-up Astros and Dodgers.

The American League, however, was more competitive. The Tigers beat out the Red Sox by a half-game in the East Division while the bickering, battling Oakland A's, who fought among themselves and with their manager Dick Williams and owner Charlie Finley, took the West Division crown with a more comfortable five-and-a-half-game edge over the White Sox.

In October the mustachioed, colorful A's gained entry to the World Series by beating the Tigers in five playoff games while losing the services of their top slugger Reggie Jackson for the Fall Classic. Jackson suffered a pulled hamstring muscle in a collision at home plate in game five. In doing so he scored the A's first run in their 2-1 tension-packed victory.

The Reds also reached the World Series in five playoff games, but they made it with a touch of good luck. They vanquished the Pirates in the deciding National League playoff game on one errant pitch.

In 1972 the Pirates were a close match for the Reds. They had four starting pitchers who won in double figures, including Steve Blass, 19-8; Dock Ellis, 15-7; Nelson Briles, 14-11; and Bob Moose, 13-10, plus tough relievers in Dave Giusti, Ramon Hernandez, and Bruce Kison.

The Bucs also had solid hitting, with Roberto Clemente and center fielder Al Oliver both battling .312; third baseman Richie Hebner, .300; left fielder Vic Davalillo, .318; catcher Manny Sanguillen, .298; and first baseman Willie Stargell, .293 with 33 home runs and 112 RBI.

As a team the Pirates outhit the Reds .274 to .251, and in staff ERA bettered them 2.81 to 3.21. Cincinnati held the edge in fielding, .982 to .974, but the Pirates completed more double plays, 171 to 143.

"I thought we were a better team in '72 than when we won it all in 1971," said Nellie Briles. "We were counting going back to the World Series."

Danny Murtaugh had retired as Pittsburgh manager after the Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles in the Series the previous October, and Bill Virdon had taken his place. Murtaugh was an easygoing skipper; Virdon was intense and more of a disciplinarian. "They were both good managers," said Al Oliver, "but no matter which one was running the team, you'd better hustle or you were in trouble."

"I remember Virdon saying that year we had the best all-around team he ever managed," added Steve Blass.

Testimony to the club's ability and staying power was the fact that Clemente, the Pirates' brightest star, played in only 102 games because of two rheumatic heels, tendonitis in his ankles, inflammation near both Achilles tendons, and repeated bouts with a viral infection. He played only 94 of those games in right field, the rest as a pinch-hitter.

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