August 10, 1972-Tigers vs. Yankees (WMCA Radio)

Steve Klein was terrific while he lasted,but a sore arm took him down soon after

Remember this stretch well. NYY were playing well. Attended several Sunday doubleheaders during this time period.

This Yankee Team was in the pennant race thru September.

The Yankees were actually in the race until at least early September that year. Maybe veering towards mid September. I mean within a couple games of the division lead. Then they fell way off. It wasn't 74, but they were in it pretty late. This was the summer of Pomp and Circumstace and Sparky Lyle. Celerino Sanchez became a cult hero of sorts. Now, I'm not saying they were particularly good. It was a 4 team race with record 10 to 15 games over .500.

To this day it amazes me that MLB would allow a division winner based on 1 team playing more games than the second place team. The Tigers played 1 more game than the Red Sox, won it, and won the division by 1/2 game. There was so much bad blood between the owners and players after the strike that they just picked up the season as it was originally scheduled from that day forward. Still, try to find a way that every team plays the same amount of games just in case this scenario plays out. I've never read anu quotes about it, that I recall, but I can't imagine the Red Sox not being upset.

John Sterling. If you ever find the Yankees 1977 old timers game, vs the Angels, Nolan Ryan pitching. Sterling was in the booth that day and did a little play by play. Maybe a couple innings, but definitely somel Don't know why I remember that. If you get the game, though, I think it will check out.

Yeah, it is a myth that all of the late 60s and early 70s (the "Horace Clarke" era) were all bad. The had some good clubs -- 1970 (93 wins and would've had more if Baltimore hadn't run away with the division), 1972 (Sparky Lyle arrived and was superb -- they were in it till nearly the end; only to lose to Billy Martin's 1972 'last hurrah' Tigers). The 1974 Yankes lost on nearly the last day of the season to the 'big red machine' of the American League. Honorable mention to the 1973 Yankees, George Steinbrenner's first season, The Yanks were in first place all summer until August 1, when their pitching inexplicably failed them. Still some good teams -- just a player short in many cases (hence free agency).