Gene Tenace hit four home runs in the 1972 Fall Classic. The rest of his teammates had a combined total of one. Tenace had nine RBIs, while no other teammate had more than one. Yep, the Oakland A's got a one-man show in the '72 World Series.
With Reggie Jackson out, it was up to Tenace to help Oakland overcome the strong Cincinnati Reds. Tenace provided the power and timely hitting.
In game one alone, Tenace hit two home runs. The A's, playing on the road at Riverfront Stadium, were held to just four hits. Tenace had three RBIs. Oh, it was enough, by the way. Oakland won, 3-2.
The A's won game two as well, but again it was close. This time, Tenace was held to no home runs, no hits and no RBIs. The A's did him a home run, but it was by Joe Rudi. Catfish Hunter, threw a gem of a game for Oakland and won, 2-1. And he added an RBI for good measure. Hunter was in a tie with a bunch of A's players for second in RBIs.
The wheels seem to come off the chariot for Oakland as they came home. They lost game three 1-0. Tenace had no hits again. Actually, the Athletics got just three hits total. A real shame, too. The Reds managed just four hits themselves this game. A healthy Reggie or some better hitting and Oakland would have won this game and been up, three games to none. The A's would have liked that kind of an advantage at this point.
But Oakland won the next game, anyways. They had to do it in the bottom of the ninth, walkoff style. Earlier in the game, Oakland scored a run when Tenace hit his third home run of the 1972 World Series. Two other players had an RBI each. But both of them came in the bottom of the ninth. So for a while, it was just Gene keeping the A's around. But now up three games to one, Oakland had a chance to wrap it up in game five at home.
Superbowl or World Series, huh? Where were we? Oh, on to game 5! Oakland needs one more win!
It didn't work out that way, though. Gene Tenace, though, accounted for three of the four Oakland runs with still another home run. Four four-baggers in five games? What more could you ask of a player who'd hit five total in the regular season and none in the ALCS. The problem was, Cincinnati scored five times to edge Oakland, 5-4.
Things didn't get much better in game six back in Cincinnati. The Reds won in crushing fashion, 8-1. Tenace got a hit but did not get an RBI. That went to Dick Green. It was on to a game seven.
Oakland won it. Again it was close. Again, Tenace came through. His single in the top of the first scored the game's first run. His double in the top of the top of the sixth broke a 1-1 tie. The A's tacked on another run there to negate a final tally by the Reds. It went into the books as a 3-2 Oakland win. And while Catfish Hunter finished 2-0 on the hill for Oakland, there could be no double the way this Fall Classic was going to be remembered!
Gene Tenace, 1972 Fall Classic. MVP. One Man Show!
With Reggie Jackson out, it was up to Tenace to help Oakland overcome the strong Cincinnati Reds. Tenace provided the power and timely hitting.
In game one alone, Tenace hit two home runs. The A's, playing on the road at Riverfront Stadium, were held to just four hits. Tenace had three RBIs. Oh, it was enough, by the way. Oakland won, 3-2.
The A's won game two as well, but again it was close. This time, Tenace was held to no home runs, no hits and no RBIs. The A's did him a home run, but it was by Joe Rudi. Catfish Hunter, threw a gem of a game for Oakland and won, 2-1. And he added an RBI for good measure. Hunter was in a tie with a bunch of A's players for second in RBIs.
The wheels seem to come off the chariot for Oakland as they came home. They lost game three 1-0. Tenace had no hits again. Actually, the Athletics got just three hits total. A real shame, too. The Reds managed just four hits themselves this game. A healthy Reggie or some better hitting and Oakland would have won this game and been up, three games to none. The A's would have liked that kind of an advantage at this point.
But Oakland won the next game, anyways. They had to do it in the bottom of the ninth, walkoff style. Earlier in the game, Oakland scored a run when Tenace hit his third home run of the 1972 World Series. Two other players had an RBI each. But both of them came in the bottom of the ninth. So for a while, it was just Gene keeping the A's around. But now up three games to one, Oakland had a chance to wrap it up in game five at home.
Superbowl or World Series, huh? Where were we? Oh, on to game 5! Oakland needs one more win!
It didn't work out that way, though. Gene Tenace, though, accounted for three of the four Oakland runs with still another home run. Four four-baggers in five games? What more could you ask of a player who'd hit five total in the regular season and none in the ALCS. The problem was, Cincinnati scored five times to edge Oakland, 5-4.
Things didn't get much better in game six back in Cincinnati. The Reds won in crushing fashion, 8-1. Tenace got a hit but did not get an RBI. That went to Dick Green. It was on to a game seven.
Oakland won it. Again it was close. Again, Tenace came through. His single in the top of the first scored the game's first run. His double in the top of the top of the sixth broke a 1-1 tie. The A's tacked on another run there to negate a final tally by the Reds. It went into the books as a 3-2 Oakland win. And while Catfish Hunter finished 2-0 on the hill for Oakland, there could be no double the way this Fall Classic was going to be remembered!
Gene Tenace, 1972 Fall Classic. MVP. One Man Show!
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