The Baseball Guru - Analysis Markusen Oakland A's Archive

OAKLAND A'S DIARY - ARCHIVE

By Bruce Markusen

DATE: 02/14

Beginning today and continuing throughout spring training, the regular season, and the post-season of 2002, I will present a daily feature that celebrates the 30^th anniversary of the Oakland A’s’ 1972 World Championship team. The feature, entitled “Memories of the Mustache Gang,” will allow fans and researchers to relive one of the most memorable seasons—not only in the history of the Oakland franchise—but in all of baseball lore.

Presented in a diary-type format, the feature will be updated each day, with the exception of the few dates when the A’s did not play games in 1972, or on occasional dates when work and travel commitments may prevent me from writing new material. The objective will be to give readers as much information as possible about the ’72 A’s, who won the first World Championship team in the history of the Oakland franchise. Those A’s also became known as the “Mustache Gang” because of their unique physical appearance at a time when the baseball world remained very conservative. Among the many topics that I’ll explore include the following: Vida Blue’s celebrated holdout and his tumultuous contract negotiations with owner and general manager Charlie Finley; the player strike that delayed the start of the 1972 season; the advent of new Finley-mandated uniforms that continued the A’s’ trend toward color and non-conformity; the 65 player transactions that Finley engineered during the season; looks at each of the 47 different players that the A’s used throughout the year; the near-firing of Dick Williams in mid-season; the suspension of Bert “Campy” Campaneris during the American League Championship Series; and dramatic post-season series against both the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds.

In today’s first installment, I’ll begin to set the stage for the start of spring training in 1972 by recapping the events that took place from October of 1971 through early February of 1972. Here are some of the biggest news items from that fall and winter:

*After winning 101 games to claim the American League West in a runway, the A’s lost the American League playoffs in three straight games to the powerhouse Baltimore Orioles, the defending World Champions. The sweep at the hands of the Birds underscored the A’s’ lack of pitching depth, especially in the starting rotation.

*On November 29, the first day of baseball’s winter meetings in Phoenix, Arizona, the A’s made a move to lengthen their starting pitching. Owner Charlie Finley, acting in his usual role as general manager, acquired veteran left-hander Ken Holtzman from the Chicago Cubs for starting center fielder Rick Monday. The No. 1 draft choice of the Kansas City A’s in the first-ever amateur draft held in 1965, Monday had shown flashes of stardom, but had struggled in his ability to hit left-handed pitching, a shortcoming that prevented him from becoming the impact player the franchise envisioned.

*One day after acquiring Holtzman, the A’s made a surprising move by waiving veteran relief pitcher Jim “Mudcat” Grant for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Grant had pitched effectively for the A’s since being reacquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in June, winning one game, saving four, and posting an ERA of 1.98. Grant had also helped an unproven Rollie Fingers make the transition from starter to reliever, by giving the young right-hander advice on how to warm up and how to prepare to come into games in the late innings. So why did the A’s release Grant, who had been so helpful both on the field and in the clubhouse? The reason was simple: money. Finley did not want to pay Grant a salary of $60,000—a sum that the owner considered too high a price for a set-up reliever in 1971.

*The A’s contemplated another move by offering first baseman Mike Epstein to the New York Yankees for a frontline starting pitcher, believed to be either Mel Stottlemyre or Fritz Peterson. The Yankees turned down the offer. The inability to swing the trade might have proved fortunate, given that Epstein lost a reported 30 pounds from his sizeable frame during the winter and also equipped himself with new contact lenses, giving him hope of an improved batting eye in 1972.

*On January 5, 1972, one of Oakland’s starting rotation hopefuls barely avoided tragedy. John “Blue Moon” Odom, who had been beset with elbow soreness in 1971, tried to stop a burglary in his hometown of Macon, Georgia. Odom’s wife, Perrie, noticing some intruders at a neighbor’s house, had called her husband at his work place, a nearby liquor store that was located four blocks away. Odom hurried to the scene and tried to confront three youths involved in the robbery. One of the youths, a 16-year-old boy, responded by firing three shots with a .38 caliber pistol at Odom, from “about 15 feet away,” according to the pitcher’s testimony. Two of the shots hit Odom, one in the neck and one in the side of the chest. Fortunately, doctors were able to treat the bullet wounds without surgery and gave Odom clearance to report to spring training as scheduled. With tragic circumstances averted, the A’s hoped that Odom would compete with Chuck Dobson for the No. 4 spot in the starting rotation, behind staff aces Vida Blue and Jim “Catfish” Hunter, and the newly acquired Ken Holtzman.

DATE: 02/15

On February 15, Charlie Finley called a press conference—not to announce the acquisition of a new player, but to herald the arrival of new uniforms for the 1972 season.

Finley has retained his favored color scheme of green and gold, but has eliminated the effect of a sleeveless jersey over a contrasting colored undershirt. The new double-knit stretch (AKA polyester) uniforms will replace the traditional baseball flannels and now feature bright, pullover V-neck tops with sleeves, elastic waistlines instead of the traditional buckle belts, and shimmering white pants with green and gold racing stripes. Finley also announced that the A’s will alternate jerseys, wearing a bright “Kelly green” one day, followed by a gaudy “California gold” the next, and a “Polar bear” white at Sunday home games. The new shirts feature “A’s” in white lettering on the left side of the chest, the player’s uniform number in smaller white lettering to the right, and three bright stripes—either green or gold—on the edge of the sleeves.

The A’s first adopted the green and gold pattern in 1963, while still in Kansas City. In breaking with the tradition of wearing white, gray, and one-color trim—a color scheme that Finley disdainfully referred to as “eggshell white and prison gray”—the A’s became the first major league team to employ multicolored uniforms, along with their radical white shoes.

The changes for 1972, which further stamp the A’s as the team with the gaudiest and most garish uniforms, represent the latest stage in Finley’s efforts to promote his club. Finley hopes that the latest change in uniforms will stimulate marketing and fan interest.

(Editor’s note: Fans at the Oakland Coliseum quickly caught on, buying replicas of the new A’s’ caps and jerseys, while giving the stadium a unique feel and appearance.)

DATE: 02/16

The biggest concerning facing the A’s in mid-February involves the contract status of their superstar pitcher Vida Blue. The American League’s Cy Young Award winner and Most Valuable Player in 1971, Blue was also baseball’s biggest bargain. He won 24 games and led the league in ERA at 1.82, while earning a salary of only $14,750. That amount of money is going to have to change in 1972, but the question remains: by how much?

On January 8, the ace pitcher, his representative (that term was used more often than the word “agent” in 1971) Bob Gerst, and A’s owner Charlie Finley met face-to-face to discuss a new contract for the coming season. Finley offered what amounted to a raise of more than 300 per cent—to $50,000 for a one-year contract. Blue and Gerst had a different number in mind, more than double what Finley was offering. They requested a salary of $115,000, which would have placed the youthful Blue among the highest paid pitchers in the game.

Blue and Gerst based part of their argument on Blue’s drawing power. In 1971, he drew 43 per cent of the A’s’ overall home attendance at the Oakland Coliseum. Given that Blue was one of only four regular starters to make at least 25 starts (along with Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Chuck Dobson, and John “Blue Moon” Odom) during the 1971 season, that figure represented a staggering percentage of fan interest in the Bay Area.

Based on the public comments of Gerst, Blue appears willing to take a hard-line approach in negotiations. “He is a tough SOB,” Gerst told Ron Bergman, corresponding for The Sporting News, in assessing his client. “He’s not going to back down from Finley. He’s not a guy who gives in.” Of course, Finley owns his own reputation for stubbornness, as evidenced by protracted—and often heated—contract negotiations that he had held with star outfielder Reggie Jackson after his breakthrough season in 1969. The current talks between Finley, Blue, and Gerst seem destined for a similar mix of contentious rhetoric and general nastiness.

DATE: 02/17

As the A’s prepare to begin spring training in 1972, three catchers figured to share playing time behind the plate. With two right-handed hitters and a left-handed batter available to him among his receiving corps, manager Dick Williams appears to have plenty of maneuverability with the following trio of catchers:

*Dave Duncan: At times a lightning rod for controversy (especially after butting heads with Charlie Finley over John McNamara’s dismissal in 1970) Duncan enters the 1972 season as the A’s’ No. 1 catcher. The A’s consider Duncan their best defensive catcher, based in part on his strong throwing arm. Although defensively superior to either Curt Blefary or Gene Tenace, Duncan has never fulfilled the potential that he displayed in the minor leagues. In 1966, he had hit 46 home runs for Modesto—one of Oakland’s Class-A affiliates in the California League—but has never come close to duplicating such power numbers in the major leagues.

*Gene Tenace: A relatively little known player heading into 1972, Tenace figures to back up Duncan and provide some right-handed pinch-hitting in the late innings. On August 8, 1971, Tenace flashed indications of future exploits when he hit home runs in each end of a doubleheader, catching each game from start to finish. In 1970 and ’71 stints with the team, Tenace’s power and extraordinary patience at the plate impressed the A’s. He also owns above-average speed, even though he’s been given the nickname “Steamboat” for the awkward way that he runs. In spite of his offensive talents, the A’s still question whether his defensive abilities will allow him to catch on an everyday basis.

*Curt Blefary: Owning a reputation as a clutch hitter in the late innings, Blefary hit three pinch-hit home runs in 1970 and ’71, while splitting time between the A’s and New York Yankees. The left-handed hitting Blefary entered the 1972 season as Oakland’s third-string catcher—behind Duncan and Tenace. In addition to giving the A’s their best left-handed power bat off the bench, Blefary provides depth as a backup outfielder and first baseman, and as an emergency third baseman and second baseman. Although a versatile player, Blefary previously earned the nickname “Clank” for his inability to play any position particularly well. Still, Blefary carries around as many as eight gloves with him, always at the ready to fill in as a catcher, infielder, or outfielder.

DATE: 02/18

Like the catching position, first base offers the A’s superior depth in the spring of 1972. Three veterans, all capable of playing either significant part-time or fulltime roles, figure to vie for playing time, either as first basemen or as pinch-hitters. One veteran, however, remains the clear-cut favorite to be Oakland’s No. 1 first baseman.

*Mike Epstein: This burly left-handed hitting slugger split the 1971 season between the A’s and the Washington Senators, coming over in a mid-season trade that netted Oakland lefty relief pitcher Darold Knowles in exchange for first baseman Don Mincher, reliever Paul Lindblad, and catcher Frank Fernandez. At his best, Epstein provides the A’s with a fearsome power threat from the left side; on June 15 and 16 in 1971, he tied a major league record by hitting four consecutive home runs, coincidentally all coming against his former Senators mates. At his worst, Epstein has struggled to make contact, batting only .234 with the A’s, and playing first base stiffly with little range. During the off-season, the A’s offered Epstein around in trades, but failed to make a move, including one rumored deal with the New York Yankees. The enigmatic first baseman allayed some of their fears by dropping 30 pounds of excess weight and fitting himself with new and improved contact lenses. As a result, the A’s expect Epstein to play first base almost every day in 1972, except for occasional sit-downs against tough left-handed pitchers.

*Tommy Davis: Although no longer the star that once drove in 153 runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1962, Davis was the A’s’ best bench player in 1971. In 219 at-bats, spent mostly as a platoon first baseman and pinch-hitter, Davis hit .324 with 42 RBIs. In spite of his success, Davis played only occasionally against left-handers during the second half of the season, compiling most of his at-bats against those southpaws that gave Epstein the most trouble. Davis lobbied manager Dick Williams for more playing time, making a sound argument for playing first base against all left-handed pitchers. Yet, Davis once again appears destined to fulfill the same role that he had in the latter stages of 1971.

*Mike Hegan: Like Epstein, Mike Hegan joined the A’s in the middle of the 1971 season, the result of a mid-season trade with the Milwaukee Brewers. Stuck behind both Epstein and Davis, Hegan didn’t play much, accumulating only 55 at-bats in 65 games with the A’s. Still, the A’s like Hegan as part of their bench, given his ability and willingness to serve as a pinch-hitter. Even more importantly, Dick Williams appreciates Hegan’s superior defensive play at first base, making him an ideal “caddy” for Epstein in the late innings of close games.

DATE: 02/19

The success of Oakland’s middle infield continues to depend on the status of second baseman Dick Green, who was contemplating retirement after the 1971 season. Even with spring training just a matter of days away, the 30-year-old Green has still not announced his decision. With Green, the A’s feature one of the best defensive middle infields in the game. Without him, they have a major hole to fill at second base.

*Dick Green: The rangy, surehanded Green forged a solid season in 1971. He finished second among American League second basemen in both putouts (366) and games played (143), while hitting 12 home runs in 475 at-bats. Although Green batted only .244, the mediocre average represented a major improvement over his .190 batting mark in 1970.

*Bert “Campy” Campaneris: Even in 1972, Campaneris is still best remembered for becoming the first player in major league history to play all nine positions in one game—which he had accomplished at the behest of Charlie Finley on September 9, 1995. After experiencing his best major league season in 1970, with a career-high 22 home runs and 64 RBIs, Campaneris fell off in every major statistical category in 1971—except for triples. He batted .251 with only five home runs, numbers more consistent with his previous career totals. Even if Campaneris fails to improve on those statistics in 1972, his overall speed and basestealing ability, coupled with his quick feet and superb range in the field, remain crucial to any of Oakland’s blueprints for success.

*Larry Brown: The A’s acquired this veteran utility infielder from the Cleveland Indians in the middle of the 1971 season. Brown didn’t hit much—.196 in 189 at-bats—but showed himself capable of handling defensive chores at either second base or shortstop. As a fill-in player, the A’s feel satisfied with Brown as their primary utility infielder; they just hope that neither Green or Campaneris will land on the disabled list for any extended period of time, thus exposing Brown’s lifetime batting average of .235.

DATE: 02/20

Of all the positions on their infield, the A’s feel most comfortable with the play of their third baseman. In 1971, he was quite simply their best everyday player, superior even to the more publicized Reggie Jackson.

*Sal Bando: The A’s’ captain put together the second-best season of his career in 1971, finishing second to teammate Vida Blue in the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award balloting. Bando hit 24 home runs and drew 86 walks, giving him an on-base percentage of 380, an excellent figure in a year top-heavy with good pitching. “Captain Sal” also played well defensively in 1971—not at the standard of a Brooks Robinson, but probably at an American League level second only to that of the “Human Vacuum Cleaner.” If Bando were to suffer an injury that sidelined him for any length of time, the A’s will face real problems at third base. Utility infielder Larry Brown can be relied upon to handle the position defensively, but has no power and little ability to hit for average. Another backup, utilityman Curt Blefary, swings a potent bat from the left side, but has little experience at the hot corner defensively. A fielding liability anywhere on the field, Blefary can’t be expected to play third base for any extended stretch of time without making repeated errors—and without making life miserable for Campy Campaneris at shortstop.

DATE: 02/21

Oakland’s outfield offers Dick Williams a mixed bag of possibilities—and questions. Which Joe Rudi will show up in 1972, the one who had hit .309 in 1970, or the one who tailed off badly in 1971? With Rick Monday gone, will 1971 Rookie of the Year Candidate Angel Mangual be able to maintain his level of play as the everyday center fielder? In right field, the A’s have fewer worries, with budding superstar Reggie Jackson poised to build on his solid 1971 season.

*Joe Rudi: In 1971, the young outfielder pleased the A’s with his improved play in left field, which at one time had been atrocious. Yet, the A’s still harbor concerns over the 25-year-old Rudi’s inconsistent hitting. In 1971, his batting average fell off by 42 points. One possible reason? Rudi’s periodic stints in the Marine Reserves may have hindered his timing at the plate.

*Angel Mangual: Dubbed the “Little Clemente” because of his resemblance to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ All-Star, Mangual played well enough in 1971 to earn selection to the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star team. Still, Mangual played in only 94 games while sharing time with Rick Monday. With Monday now sporting the pinstripes of the Cubs, Mangual faces the pressure of having to fill the center field slot on a daily basis.

*Reggie Jackson: After a disappointing, contract-haggling 1970 season, Jackson rebounded to blast 32 home runs and hit a career-high .277. His home runs—and emotional displays—provided some of the most memorable moments of the season. In the 1971 All-Star Game, Jackson became a household name when he ripped a tape-measure home run that caromed off a light towers high above Tiger Stadium. Then, in the American League Championship Series, Jackson hit two home runs in Game Three against the vaunted pitching staff of the Baltimore Orioles. In spite of Jackson’s play, the A’s lost the game and the series—falling in three straight—prompting Reggie to cry openly on the top step of the dugout at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium. Photos of Jackson’s emotional outpouring provided a lasting image of a disappointing end to what had been such a prosperous season.

*Brant Alyea: A Rule Five draft acquisition from the Minnesota Twins, Alyea has embodied extreme inconsistency by showing power and promise in 1970, only to bat a dismal .177 with a mere two home runs in 158 at-bats in 1971. A weak defensive outfielder with a below-average arm, Alyea must rebound sufficiently at the plate to fill a role as a right-handed pinch-hitter and backup to corner outfielders Rudi and Jackson.

*George Hendrick: One of Oakland’s most talented prospects, Hendrick presents the A’s with a mild quandary as spring training approached. Should they send him back to play regularly at Triple-A Iowa, where he played well enough to earn American Association All-Star honors, or keep him on the roster as a rarely-used backup to Angel Mangual in center field? As the first player chosen in the January phase of the 1968 amateur draft, Hendrick has impressed the A’s with the power created by his quick wrists at the plate and his ability to cover ground with long, gliding strides in center field. Based purely on physical abilities, Hendrick possesses as much five-tool talent as any of Oakland’s veteran outfielders, with the exception of the stronger-armed Reggie Jackson.

DATE: 2/22

Charlie Finley announced a player signing today—but it didn’t involve celebrated outcast Vida Blue. Instead, Finley announced that he had signed starting left fielder Joe Rudi to a new one-year contract at a “damned good raise.” It was certainly an unusual choice of words by the owner in describing Rudi’s increased salary. “I get tired of that term ‘substantial,’ ” Finley explained to Bay Area writer Ron Bergman. “It was a damned good raise.” It was also a bit surprising, considering that Rudi had suffered an off year in 1971, after hitting a career-high .309 in 1970.

Rudi claimed that stints in the U.S. Marine Reserves, which caused him to miss 35 to 40 games a year, had affected his timing and rhythm at the plate. Now that Rudi’s military obligations have ended, he is free to pursue the art of hitting to the fullest in 1972. Rudi also underwent a more extensive offseason conditioning and weight program, which was designed to add to his strength and stamina. Given the elimination of his military-induced interruptions and the definition of his newly sculpted body, Rudi expects major improvement in 1972.

A pull-hitting power hitter in the minor leagues, Rudi has transformed himself into a gap-hitting offensive player who liked to use the opposite field. Under former Oakland batting coach Charley Lau’s tutelage in 1970, Rudi worked hard to radically change his batting approach. Rudi began choking up on the bat while adopting a severely closed stance with a deep crouch at the plate. Using an unusual diagonal stance, Rudi places his left foot close to the front corner of the plate, while nearly planting his right foot outside of the batter’s box. In the meantime, Rudi rests his bat flatly on his right shoulder, making it parallel to the ground. Although an awkward-looking Rudi hardly seems ready to handle incoming pitches, the new stance actually makes his swing quicker and more compact. “Charley Lau changed my whole theory on hitting and what I was trying to do with the ball,” said Rudi, making sure to credit his former batting instructor. “He taught me about hitting behind the runner, thinking about what I wanted to do with the ball... All of a sudden, it was there. It was like being in the boonies all your life and walking into a big city and finding a metropolitan library. I just milked that guy every second I could about hitting.”

DATE: 2/23

The A’s officially opened spring training today, with all pitchers and catchers reporting to Mesa, Arizona on schedule—with one notable exception. Vida Blue, last year’s 24-game winner, officially became a holdout. Blue’s absence dominated the headlines in the Bay Area, but did little to bother Dick Williams. The manager, claiming that he had never known a player to sit out an entire season over a contract squabble, expressed confidence that Blue would return soon enough to have plenty of impact in 1972.

The issue of Blue aside, Williams raves about the composition of his A’s team, what with most of the players from the 1971 Western Division championship returning to the fore. “I like our ballclub,” the second-year Oakland manager tells Ron Bergman flatly. “I like our chances of repeating. I think we are the best ballclub, barring major injuries. And I’m quite sure we are going to win it.”

Williams did concede that as many as three teams have the capability of challenging the A’s in the West. He considers the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox, and possibly the California Angels, as strong contenders in a deep division.

While some of those teams face the task of trying to answer questions at certain positions, Williams sees no major holes throughout his starting lineup, in starting pitching, or among his core of relievers. “We have no overriding needs to remake an position on the club,” says Williams. “I feel we’re the best team in our division.”

DATE: 02/24

With the offseason acquisition of Ken Holtzman from the Cubs, starting pitching ranks as potentially the strongest area on the A’s. Yet, questions remain. When will Vida Blue end his holdout? If negotiations reach an impasse, will the A’s consider the possibility of trading him? Will the sore-armed duo of Chuck Dobson and Blue Moon Odom return to health? If the A’s can find positive answers to those questions, they will have five above-average starters in 1972. If the questions yield only negative results, only Holtzman and Catfish Hunter can be counted upon to give the A’s first-tier starting pitching.

*Vida Blue: While most of the media focused on Blue’s 24 wins in 1971, his ERA told the true tale of his effectiveness. A 1.82 ERA not only led the American League, but set an all-time record for the A’s’ franchise, surpassing the best marks of Hall of Famers Chief Bender, Lefty Grove, and Eddie Plank. Blue also hurled a league-leading eight shutouts, ranked second in the league in strikeouts, and tossed 24 complete games. When healthy—and signed—an overpowering Blue features the most explosive arsenal of all the Oakland pitchers.

*Jim “Catfish” Hunter: After years of flashing stardom, Hunter finally stamped himself as one of the league’s elite starters in 1971. Reaching the 20-victory plateau for the first time, “The Cat” finished in the top 10 in wins and strikeouts, completed 16 games, and tossed four shutouts. Although Hunter’s repertoire of pitches ranks as the least impressive of the A’s’ starters, he compensates with staff-best control and savvy—and a congenial personality—making him the most favored pitcher among Oakland’s catchers.

*Ken Holtzman: On the surface, Holtzman’s 9-15 record and 4.48 ERA for the Cubs in 1971 looked ghastly. Mitigating factors, however, may have played a part in Holtzman’s decline. His contentious relationship with manager Leo Durocher, who repeatedly referred to him with ethnic slurs about his Jewish heritage, most likely contributed to his worst season in the major leagues. Given his intelligence, two effective pitches—a good fastball and a terrific overhand curve—and the move from hitter-happy Wrigley Field to the pitching-friendly Oakland Coliseum, the A’s feel confident that Holtzman can regain the form that saw him win 17 games in each of the previous two seasons.

*Chuck Dobson: At his peak, Dobson ranked as one of the best right-handers in the American League. An example of his potential brilliance could be found during one stretch in 1970, when Dobson won eight consecutive starts from July 16 through August 14. Yet, at his worst, Dobson faces nagging problems with consistency—and health. A sore elbow prevented him from pitching during the 1971Championship Series, dampening a season that saw him win 15 of 20 decisions. A 3.81 ERA also belied his won-lost record, indicating Dobson’s tendency to implode during occasional starts and his too-heavy reliance on run support from the A’s’ lineup.

John “Blue Moon” Odom: Blue Moon’s 4.28 ERA in 1971 was the highest among Oakland starters, but was more a product of continuing arm soreness than a lack of talent or effort. Still recovering from elbow surgery during the 1970 offseason, Odom made only 25 intermittent starts and had to skip the postseason series against Baltimore. When healthy, Odom and his ever-moving fastball made him unpleasant opposition for American League hitters. At his best, Odom managed to pitch three complete games and one shutout in 1971. Now one full season removed from surgery, the A’s expect both of those numbers to increase substantially in 1972.

DATE: 02/25

One of the A’s’ principal offseason targets was traded today—but not to Oakland. The St. Louis Cardinals sent talented left-hander Steve Carlton, who had been mentioned as part of trade rumors with the A’s during the winter meetings, to the Philadelphia Phillies for veteran right-hander Rick Wise. The A’s had discussed the possibility of trading one or more of their outfielders—with names like Rick Monday and George Hendrick among the possibilities—to the Cardinals in exchange for Carlton. When the A’s couldn’t satisfy the Cardinals’ demands at the winter meetings, they instead made a move with the Chicago Cubs, acquiring Ken Holtzman for Monday in a straight-up one-for-one deal.

While the success of the A’s’ starting pitching hinges on health, the bullpen offers no similar concerns. In fact, Oakland’s relief corps appears to be the deepest area on the ballclub, with two veteran left-handers and three talented right-handers poised to take the mound in 1972.

*Rollie Fingers: In less than one year, this talented right-hander converted himself from mediocre starter into established bullpen fireman (1970s parlance for “closer”). Fingers’ 17 saves helped him rank sixth in the American League’s Fireman of the Year race, despite the fact that he opened the season in a starting role. By season’s end, the rubber-armed Fingers racked up 48 appearances, the most on the A’s’ staff. Still, two important questions linger with regards to Fingers. How effective will he pitch as a reliever the second time around, now that opposing hitters have come to expect that he would throw his devastating slider in most key situations? And how will he react to the departure of Jim “Mudcat” Grant, the savvy right-hander who helped him learn the fundamentals of pitching in relief, including something as basic as how to warm up? The A’s will have to wait and see how Grant’s departure, fueled by Charlie Finley’s penny-pinching ways, will affect Fingers over the long term.

*Diego Segui: The veteran forkballer (often referred to as a spitballer by skeptical opponents) started Game Three of the 1971 playoffs against the Orioles, but the A’s had a different role in mind for the 1970 American League ERA champion. Dick Williams hopes to use the right-hander exclusively in relief, as a replacement for Mudcat Grant, who had served as Rollie Fingers’ set-up man toward the tail end of the ’71 season. That plan, however, hinges on the health of starters Chuck Dobson and Blue Moon Odom. If either or both go down with sore arms, Williams will likely have no choice but to use Segui as a member of his thinning rotation.

*Bob Locker: Even without Segui, Williams knows that he owns another solid right-handed middle man in Locker, the onetime relief ace of the Chicago White Sox. The colorful Locker lacks the overpowering stuff of Fingers, but his control features pinpoint accuracy; in 72 innings, he walked only 19 batters. Locker’s sidearm motion also proves extremely difficult for right-handed hitters, making him an ideal situational reliever in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.

*Darold Knowles: Acquired in the middle of the 1971 season as part of the Don Mincher-for-Mike Epstein swap, this talented left-hander pitched solidly, if not spectacularly, in an Oakland uniform. While Knowles’ 3.59 ERA was only so-so, the A’s came away most encouraged with the liveliness and control of his pitches. In 50 innings, Knowles struck out 43 batters while walking only 16, giving him a strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly 3-to-1. Knowles’ ability to pick up strikeouts make him a candidate to come into pressurized situations with runners on base in the late innings. And on days when Fingers might be unavailable due to overwork, Knowles gives manager Dick Williams another option as a game-ending fireman.

*Jim Roland: Although virtually unknown outside of the Bay Area, the quietly efficient left-hander has pitched solidly in middle and long relief for the A’s over the last two seasons. A veteran of both the A’s and Minnesota Twins, Roland has posted only one ERA higher than 4.00 in nine major league seasons. The versatile Roland also possesses the ability to work different roles, providing the A’s with a spot starter in the event of injuries or a pileup of doubleheaders.

DATE: 02/26

The A’s’ non-pitchers and catchers reported to Mesa today, joining the batterymen who had reported three days earlier. As usual, Reggie Jackson made the biggest stir by showing up with a fully-grown mustache, the origins of which had begun to sprout during last year’s Championship Series against the Orioles. Jackson made additional news when he announced that he would still be wearing the mustache come Opening Day. If so, Jackson would become the first major leaguer to sport a mustache during the regular season since Wally Schang (of the Philadelphia A’s) in 1914.

Since the days of Schang, several major leaguers have worn mustaches during spring training, only to remove them prior to the start of the season. In the 1930s, Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder Stanley “Frenchy” Bordagaray created a sensation with a spring mustache, but was ordered to shave it off by a stringent team management. More recently, Dick Allen wore a mustache and long sideburns in the spring of 1970, but rid himself of the facial hair before his St. Louis Cardinals played on Opening Day.

(Editor’s note: Unlike Allen, Bordagaray, and a few others, Jackson would not give in to the pressure to conform. The saga of the rebellious A’s—and their new identity as baseball trendsetters—was just beginning.)

DATE: 02/27

One of the A’s’ greatest fears of the offseason was calmed by the start of spring training. Starting second baseman Dick Green, who had hinted at the possibility of retirement, decided to return for another season. In a sense, the A’s should have become used to speculation about Green’s future; his threats of retirement had become an annual ritual. It wasn’t that Green disliked Charlie Finley or his A’s teammate; he had simply grown disenchanted with the general lifestyle of a baseball player. He didn’t like the constant travel. He especially didn’t like to fly. Even more importantly, he didn’t like to spend long stretches away from his family. Yet, he had decided to play at least one more season—perhaps in part because of a desire to win a World Championship.

Although Green’s inconsistent hitting relegated him to the nether regions of the Oakland lineup, he remained an indispensable part of the team because of his rock-solid fielding abilities. While several American League second basemen had surpassed in terms of range and flashiness, he remained the standard-bearer in other categories. No American League second baseman had better hands. None turned the double play as efficiently. And none inspired as much confidence from his pitchers as Richard Larry Green.

DATE: 02/28

Of the 40 men listed on the A’s’ winter roster, 38 showed up to camp on time. The lone exceptions are Vida Blue, the game’s most celebrated holdout, and little-known minor league pitcher Jim Panther. While the moral righteousness of Blue’s holdout remained a topic of spirited debate, few could quarrel with Panther’s reason for avoiding the start of spring training. As a high school teacher in Highland Park, Illinois, Panther wants to continue his educational responsibilities before beginning the baseball season.

As of the start of spring training, Oakland’s 40-man roster consists of the following players and positional breakdowns:

*Catchers (4): Dave Duncan, Gene Dusan, Larry Haney, Gene Tenace

*Infielders (8): Dwain Anderson, Sal Bando, Larry Brown, Bert “Campy” Campaneris, Mike Epstein, Dick Green, Mike Hegan, Reggie Sanders

*Outfielders (8): Brant Alyea, Curt Blefary, Tommy Davis, George Hendrick, Reggie Jackson, Angel Mangual, Joe Rudi, Greg Schubert

*Pitchers: Vida Blue, Chuck Dobson, Rollie Fingers, Chris Floethe, Dave Hamilton, Ken Holtzman, Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Ron Klimkowski, Darold Knowles, Steve Lawson, Bob Locker, Gilberto Marcano, Dennis Myers, John “Blue Moon” Odom, Jim Panther, Darryl Patterson, Jim Roland, Diego Segui, Don Stanhouse, Pat Tatom

The roster breakdown includes two striking features, one a curiosity and the other an oddity. The curiosity? Exactly half of the 40-man roster features pitchers, even though Dick Williams already has as many as 10 established pitchers (not even including Blue) ready to stake claim to jobs on the Opening Day staff. The excessive number of pitchers serves as a testament to the depth of both Oakland’s experienced mound talent and the number of minor league prospects on the horizon at Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Iowa. And the oddity? Both Curt Blefary and Tommy Davis are listed as outfielders, even though both figure to play more often at other positions—Blefary as a catcher and Davis as a first baseman. In 1971, Davis made 35 appearances at first base but only 16 in the outfield. In Blefary’s case, his 1971 outfield appearances did outnumber his catching appearances, 20 to 14, but a similar scenario seems unlikely in 1972. With the emergence of Angel Mangual, the off-season addition of veteran Brant Alyea, and the possible inclusion of George Hendrick on the Opening Day roster, Blefary doesn’t appear likely to be needed for much outfield duty during the upcoming season.

DATE: 02/29

Minor league right-hander Darryl Patterson suffered a small injury in workouts today. An errant throw struck Patterson in the nose, giving him a severe laceration and bringing his practice session to an abrupt end. Further examination showed no break of the nose, but the A’s expects Patterson to miss at least the next few days of spring training. In spite of the injury, Patterson stands as an outside contender for the last spot in the Oakland bullpen, assuming that Vida Blue remains a holdout and Chuck Dobson continued his slow return from elbow surgery.

DATE: 03/01

In addition to the 38 rostered players in camp, the A’s also have four non-roster players who have been invited to Mesa. Of the four, none has stood out as much as Bill “Sugar Bear” Daniels, a 17-year-old right-hander attending his first spring training. As the A’s’ first pick in the June 1971 draft, Daniels brought with him a set of lofty expectations. Already billed as a “right-handed Vida Blue,” Daniels’ overpowering repertoire and impressive physique make him arguably the A’s’ best pitching prospect. The A’s like Daniels’ potential so much that Dick Williams refused to rule out the possibility that the teenager might be a part of the Opening Day 25-man roster—especially if Blue’s holdout stretches into the start of the regular season.

Three other non-roster players also received invitations to camp. One is catcher Bill Fitzgerald, who hit .277 with seven home runs in only 42 at-bats at Class-A Burlington, but is given no chance of making a major league team that already has Dave Duncan, Gene Tenace, Curt Blefary, and Larry Haney. With 20 pitchers in camp, the A’s simply needed another catcher to handle all of the hurlers in workouts. Another non-roster invitee is Venezuelan first baseman Gonzalo Marquez, who refused to sign a minor league contract in 1971 after hitting .341 for Iowa in 1970 and appeared to have only the smallest chances of making the A’s’ roster. The last of the non-roster invites is muscular outfielder Bobby “The Hammer” Brooks, a power-hitting career minor leaguer. Unlike Fitzgerald and Marquez, Brooks has a more realistic chance—although still an outside one—of sticking as an extra outfielder, given the offseason departure of Rick Monday. Brooks certainly played well at Triple-A Iowa in 1971, hitting 23 home runs with 70 RBIs, while drawing 83 walks, batting a respectable .272, and stealing 10 bases. Brooks’ power and speed, combined with his ability to play center field, make him an intriguing option for Oakland’s Opening Day roster.

DATE: 03/02

So who will make the A’s’ 25-man Opening Day roster? Barring trades and injuries, the following 21 players seem like certainties to be with the team come April:

*Catchers (2): Dave Duncan and Gene Tenace

*Infielders (6): Mike Epstein, Dick Green, Campy Campaneris, Sal Bando, Tommy Davis, and Larry Brown

*Outfielders (4): Joe Rudi, Angel Mangual, Reggie Jackson, and Brant Alyea

*Pitchers (9): Catfish Hunter, Ken Holtzman, Blue Moon Odom, Ron Klimkowski, Diego Segui, Bob Locker, Rollie Fingers, Darold Knowles, and Jim Roland

With the above roster spots solidified, that leaves only four positions up for grabs. At least one will go to a third-string catcher. At the beginning of spring training, that seemed like Curt Blefary’s job safely and securely, but the A’s like the defensive work of Larry Haney, who spent all of 1971 in the minors. A right-handed batter, Haney doesn’t give the A’s an offensive bench threat like Blefary, but his ability to catch and throw far outweigh the defensive abilities of “Clank.” If the A’s keep Haney, they might trade Blefary, who has already expressed grief over a lack of playing time.

Another open roster spot will go to a second backup infielder, who will join veteran Larry Brown in a utility role. The favorite? It might be prospect Dwain Anderson, who regressed in 1971 after playing well in his Triple-A debut in 1970. While Anderson’s speed and defensive ability impress the A’s, his bat and versatility rank as question marks. The A’s also don’t know if Anderson—a natural shortstop—could play second and third base well enough to merit inclusion as a utility infielder. Another possibility is outfielder-first baseman Reggie Sanders, whom the A’s are trying to convert to third base. If the power-hitting Sanders can play third base adequately, the A’s will have a solid backup to Sal Bando and another right-handed pinch-hitting option for their bench.

A third open roster spot will likely go to a backup outfielder, specifically one who could back up Angel Mangual in center field. One possibility is George Hendrick, the A’s’ best prospect among position players. Another is Bobby Brooks, the non-roster invite who is making a good impression on the Oakland coaching staff.

Finally, the A’s might have to consider the possibility of carrying a 10^th pitcher. If Chuck Dobson regains his pitching health, he would become a likely candidate. Otherwise, the A’s could make room for one of their many impressive young pitchers, such as Chris Floethe, Dennis Myers, or Sugar Bear Daniels. And then there is always the possibility that Vida Blue will end his holdout, thereby changing the entire structure of the pitching staff.

03/03

Non-roster first baseman Gonzalo Marquez hurt his knee in workouts today, doing enough damage to mandate the use of crutches for the immediate future. The A’s deem the knee strain serious enough to list him as being out “indefinitely,” making him unavailable for the start of the exhibition season, scheduled to begin in exactly one week. The injury has reduced Marquez’ chances of making the Opening Day roster from remote to nonexistent.

The presence of the smooth-swinging Venezuelan in camp provides an intriguing side story. Scheduled to play for Triple-A Iowa in 1971, Marquez refused to sign his minor league contract, which he considered insufficient reward for batting .341 at Triple-A in 1970. As a result, Marquez stayed home in Caracas throughout the season, making him the most unusual kind of holdout—a minor league holdout.

In spite of his prior hitting success at Triple-A, the A’s don’t consider Marquez a true prospect. The A’s know that he can hit for average, but also realized that he lacks power and speed, and doesn’t play first base particularly well, either. At best, the A’s view him as a potential pinch-hitter at the major league level, but certainly not an everyday or even a platoon player.

Now hobbled by injury, Marquez has to hope that he can recover in time to start the minor league season at Iowa.

(Editor’s note: No one knew it at the time, but the mercurial Marquez would make a name for himself in Oakland by the end of the season.)

DATE: 03/04

Worried about the painstakingly slow comeback of Chuck Dobson and the lingering holdout of Vida Blue, the A’s made a major move today to bolster their skeleton-thin starting staff. Charlie Finley sent minor league right-handers Jim Panther and Don Stanhouse to the fledgling Texas Rangers for two-time Cy Young Award winner and onetime Most Valuable Player Denny McLain. With the addition of McLain, the A’s now have three Cy Young awards and two MVPs represented on their 40 man roster; of course, the absent Blue owns all of the American League hardware not belonging to McLain.

Unfortunately for the A’s, McLain’s award-winning seasons might have to be placed in the category of “ancient history.” In 1968, he won 31 games and claimed both the Cy Young and MVP awards in helping the Detroit Tigers to the World Championship. The following season, McLain won an American-League best 24 games, posted a league-leading nine shutouts, and shared Cy Young Award honors with Baltimore’s Mike Cuellar.

The last two years, however, have seen McLain fall into near oblivion. In 1970, he missed half of the season while suspended by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn for unsavory ties to bookmakers and the gambling world. After his return, he received another suspension for dumping a bucket of ice water on two Detroit baseball writers who had angered him with negative comments in print. So disturbed by his continuing bad behavior, the Tigers traded their onetime ace to the Washington Senators after the season. McLain responded to the trade by losing a major league-high 22 games in 1971, all the while displaying a shortened fastball, a growing waistline, and a surly attitude.

McLain’s strained relationship with Senators (and now Rangers) manager Ted Williams also contributed to his Oakland relocation. McLain wanted to pitch as part of a four-man rotation; Williams preferred using a five-man setup. McLain argued that he had pitched successfully for the Tigers under the four-man plan, but Williams pointed to more recent statistics that showed McLain to be more effective with an extra day—or two—of rest.

While McLain fell into disfavor with Ted Williams and the Rangers, he fills a specific short-term need for the A’s. As a result of the faltering negotiations with Vida Blue, and the concerns over the physical well-being of Dobson and Blue Moon Odom, the A’s need another body to fill out their starting rotation. “We started talking on and off with other clubs when it looked like we would have trouble signing Vida,” Dick Williams told The Sporting News. “When you don’t have your big starter in camp, and it’s been open for two weeks, you’ve got to take action.”

The acquisition of McLain did not come without a considerable price tag. Although the Rangers agreed to pick up $25,000 of McLain’s $75,000 salary, that still leaves the A’s with a payroll jump of fifty grand. Coincidentally, the sum of $50,000 is just about the difference between what Charlie Finley offered Vida Blue and what Blue’s agent asked for during contract negotiations.

The addition of McLain also cost the A’s in terms of talent; Rangers owner Bob Short refers to Jim Panther and Don Stanhouse as the two best pitching prospects in Oakland’s organization. While the 27-year-old Panther is a bit too old to be considered a top-of-the-line prospect, the 21-year-old Stanhouse has received rave reviews from both the A’s internally and scouts externally. (Editor’s note: The colorful Stanhouse would go on enjoy a mildly successful career with the Rangers, Orioles, and Montreal Expos, while earning the nicknames “Full Pack” and “Stan the Man Unusual.”) Preferring not to surrender such young pitching talent, the A’s previously offered either Dobson or Odom to the Rangers as part of the package for McLain. Short rejected the offer, in part because of the fragile condition of their right arms and in part because of his desire to beef up a sagging farm system. Insisting on rookies over proven commodities, Short convinced Charlie Finley to make the two-for-one deal.

Still, the A’s consider the deal for McLain a reasonable gamble. The depth of pitching prospects throughout their farm system lessens the blow of losing Panther and Stanhouse. Even more importantly, the A’s have a crying need for starting pitching at the major league level. The talks with Blue have only regressed, making it a longshot that he will sign in time for the start of the season. And other than Catfish Hunter and Ken Holtzman, Dick Williams has almost no healthy and proven commodities ready to claim berths in the starting rotation. Perhaps by default, the newly acquired McLain might have to be considered the team’s No. 3 starter by the time the calendar turns from March to April.

DATE: 03/05

Pitching has become the main theme of spring training, but one of the more interesting backstories in camp can be found in the outfield, where 31-year-old journeyman Brant Alyea resides. At one time a surefire hitting prospect with the Washington Senators, Alyea made a memorable major league debut by hitting a home run in his first at-bat—a 1965 pinch-hitting appearance against the California Angels. After his auspicious beginning, the slow-footed, defensively-challenged Alyea struggled to find a niche with the Senators, who eventually traded him to the Minnesota Twins. In 1970, Alyea enjoyed a breakthrough, batting .291 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs in only 94 games. His single best day came in the Twins’ opener that year, when he drove in seven runs in support of veteran right-hander Jim Perry.

Alyea even achieved some notoriety on defense, where he usually struggled. In an April 25^th game against the Detroit Tigers, Alyea and the rest of the Twins’ players mistakenly assumed a third out on what appeared to be a strikeout of opposing pitcher Earl Wilson. As Alyea—and the other Twins—ran off the field, he suddenly realized that Wilson had not been called out because of catcher Paul Ratliff’s inability to catch the third strike cleanly. Alyea stopped near the mound and picked up the ball, which Ratliff had rolled toward the hill. Noticing that Wilson had already rounded third and begun his sprint toward home, Alyea fired the ball to Ratliff, who engaged Wilson in a rundown. Alyea caught the return throw and tagged Wilson, marking the first time in 20^th century major league history that a left fielder had received credit for a putout on a strikeout.

The bizarre play typified the fortuitous nature of Alyea’s 1970 season. The following season, however, Alyea’s luck turned sour. He slumped at the plate, encountered injuries, and angered Minnesota management with his outspoken rhetoric. As a result, the Twins left Alyea off their 40-man roster and assigned him to Triple-A Portland, making him eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. The A’s decided to take a flyer on Alyea, selecting him in the draft and compensating the Twins with the standard draft payment. Under the rules of the draft, the A’s will have to keep Alyea on their 25-man roster throughout the 1972 season or else offer him back to the Twins for half of the purchase price.

Even with a bad spring, Alyea figures to make the Opening Day roster because of the Rule 5 stipulation. Yet, Alyea has shown no signs of complacency during the early days of spring training. To the contrary, he has impressed Dick Williams with his attitude—and his powerful swing in the batting cage. “When he’s hot,” Williams told sportswriter Ron Bergman, “he hits anything.” Alyea feels that he has not only regained his 1970 batting stroke, but has actually surpassed it. “Right now, I’m the best hitter I’ve ever been,” Alyea told The Sporting News. Such words typify Alyea’s brash nature.

(Editor’s Note: Although it was not reported at the time, Alyea had also achieved some off-the-field “notoriety”—so to speak. During the offseason, Alyea typically played winter ball in the Caribbean. One winter, he met a nurse in Nicaragua and dated her for several months. The following year, Alyea returned to Nicaragua—only to be informed by several local players that he now had a son. Alyea spent the winter with his newfound son and the woman, but left because of civil unrest in Nicaragua. For nearly 20 years, Alyea would not be able to see his child again because of political revolution in the Latin American country.

Alyea would finally enjoy a reunion with his son during the spring of 1986. By then, young Brant Alyea Jr. had signed a professional contract with the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization. He had already played one season with the team’s affiliate in Medicine Hat, Alberta, having escaped Nicaragua when the Blue Jays’ Latin American scouting director reportedly bribed an airport official. The younger Alyea would never make the major leagues, but would come to know the father who had once been a part of Charlie Finley’s baseball world.)

DATE: 03/06

At the beginning of spring training, the health of starting pitchers Chuck Dobson and Blue Moon Odom headed up the list of concerns for Oakland management. By now, two weeks since pitchers and catchers had first reported to Mesa, only one of the two seems to have much of hope of making the Opening Day roster. “Dobson is throwing about 35 per cent,” Dick Williams told The Sporting News, offering a less-than-glowing prognosis of his 1971 15-game winner, “and he won’t do any more until we get approval from a doctor.” With Dobson nowhere near the physical peak that he had reached prior to his 1971 arm problems, he has almost no chance of breaking camp with the team—and nearly a 100 per cent chance of landing on the disabled list.

In contrast, the pre-season throwing sessions of Odom gives Williams a small degree of confidence. “He said he’ll be ready and strong in two weeks,” Williams told The Sporting News in recalling a recent conversation with his talented right-hander. If healthy, Odom gives the A’s a fourth proven starter, after Catfish Hunter, Ken Holtzman, and the newly acquired Denny McLain. Without Odom, the A’s face the unenviable task of trying to find at least one other starting pitcher amidst the continuing absence of Vida Blue.

DATE: O3/07

With the regular season only a month away, Charlie Finley announced a front office hiring today. Finley brought in former major league outfielder Jimmy Piersall to head up group sales and season ticket sales. Aside from the timing, it was an unusual move, given that most former players became broadcasters, scouts, or general managers—not directors of group sales. Yet, it was not at all an unusual move in the context of Charlie Finley’s Oakland A’s.

During a 17-year playing career, Piersall batted a respectable .272 with 104 home runs, all the while establishing himself as one of the game’s best defensive center fielders. (Casey Stengel went as far as to say that Piersall played center field better than his own Hall of Famer, Joe DiMaggio.)Yet, Piersall is not best known for his playing ability—but for a severe mental breakdown and depression that he suffered shortly after beginning his major league career. Piersall was placed in a mental hospital, where he received shock therapy, considered an appropriate treatment for mental illness at the time. When Piersall returned to baseball, he played well (going 6-for-6 in his first game back), but suffered the verbal slings and arrows of taunting fans in opposing cities. Piersall’s plight became even more well-known in 1957, when the film Fear Strikes Out, starring Anthony Perkins as Piersall, aired in theaters nationwide.

Piersall’s hiring by Finley—considered equally as unstable as the former player in some circles—figures to draw catcalls and one-liners from around the baseball world. Some observers may wonder how long the two men can co-exist within the same organization. Then again, on a team that already featured strong personalities in Mike Epstein, Reggie Jackson, and Denny McLain, among others, perhaps Piersall will blend in rather nicely.

DATE: 03/08

It didn’t take long for Denny McLain to make his unique presence felt at the A’s’ spring camp. Upon his arrival at the A’s’ spring training hotel, the Newton’s Sands in Phoenix, McLain found himself being approached by a member of the national media. As McLain relaxed by the hotel pool, a reporter from ABC television asked him about his reaction to the recent trade from Texas. The unpredictable right-hander, who had once dumped water on two sportswriters during his days in Detroit, yelled at the reporter and made indirect threats against ABC sportscaster Howard Cosell, who had previously criticized McLain. McLain also made reference to Cosell’s Jewish heritage, a remark that became slightly more forgivable when the pitcher revealed that he was also part Jewish. Still, it was another unpleasant incident involving McLain and the media. While McLain had changed teams, he had unfortunately retained the same unpleasant streak that he had displayed in both Detroit and Washington.

DATE: 03/09

The A’s began their Cactus League season today with an afternoon matchup against the Giants, their Bay Area rivals and defending National League West champions. Preparing to face right-hander Jim Barr, manager Dick Williams filled out the following names on his first lineup card of the spring:

Campy Campaneris, ss

Angel Mangual, cf

Reggie Jackson, rf

Sal Bando, 3b

Tommy Davis, 1b

Gene Tenace, c

Bobby Brooks, lf

Dick Green, 2b

Ken Holtzman, p

Other than Davis at first, Brooks in left, and possibly Tenace behind the plate, all of the above players figure to be mainstays in the Oakland lineup during the regular season. Davis went 3-for-3 with a run scored and Jackson drove in two runs on one hit in the Cactus League lidlifter, but the A’s lost to the Giants, 8-5. Catfish Hunter, the second of four Oakland pitchers, allowed five runs on five hits in three innings, taking the loss. The A’s played sloppily in the field, committing four errors, which contributed to two unearned runs against Holtzman. Campaneris made two miscues before leaving shortstop duties to young Dwain Anderson, while Brooks and Bando each made an error, Bando’s coming in a limited stint before giving way to Curt Blefary at third.

Thoroughly unimpressive in their spring debut, the A’s look forward to an off day on the 10^th before resuming the exhibition season the following day against the Milwaukee Brewers.

DATE: 03/11

Playing the start of a home-and-home series in Mesa, the A’s picked up their first exhibition win of spring training with a 3-1 decision over the Milwaukee Brewers. Starting first baseman Mike Epstein (hoping to prove himself worthy of playing every day) and rookie outfielder George Hendrick (vying for a backup spot on the roster) each hit home runs in support of a quartet of effective pitchers. The most impressive of the four hurlers was journeyman Ron Klimkowski, who made a strong opening bid for the fourth spot in the starting rotation. The 28-year-old right-hander, who had compiled a mediocre 3.40 ERA in long relief in 1971, allowed one hit and no walks in pinning down Milwaukee’s order over the first three innings. With Chuck Dobson struggling and Blue Moon Odom showing an unwillingness to throw his good fastball, Klimkowski’s sparkling spring debut puts him into viable contention for the No. 4 spot in the rotation.

In the meantime, the victory over the Brewers evened Oakland’s spring record at 1-and-1. The A’s prepare to wrap up the weekend with another game against the Brewers, this time in Tempe, on Sunday afternoon.

A’s Acorns: The A’s banged out 10 hits, with the “unretired” Dick Green collecting two safeties in three at-bats… The usually steady Sal Bando committed his second error in two games… Minor league right-hander Darryl Patterson earned the win despite walking three batters in two innings and giving up Milwaukee’s lone run.

DATE: 03/12

Denny McLain made his much-anticipated spring debut for Oakland today—but the results were anything but what Charlie Finley had anticipated eight days earlier, when he agreed to surrender two prospects for the veteran right-hander. Tommy Davis’ error at first base allowed two unearned runs against McLain’s record, but most of the damage against the ex-Senator was self-inflicted. Plodding through three innings against the Brewers, McLain surrendered 10 runs (eight earned) on eight hits, six walks, and one hit batsman, while striking out nary a single batter. Poor enough in and of itself, McLain’s performance looked even worse considering the lack of firepower in Milwaukee’s starting lineup, which featured immortals like Rick Auerbach, Joe Lahoud, Frank Tepedino, Paul Ratliff, and Bobby Heise. McLain’s debut helped saddle the A’s with a 14-4 loss, dropping their spring record to 1-and-2.

The only positive performances of the day were turned in by right fielder Brant Alyea, who continued to impress with a 2-for-4 day, and Davis, who tried to make up for his fielding miscue with two hits in four at-bats, two runs scored, and an RBI.

A’s Acorns: Curt Blefary made his first catching appearance of the spring, spelling Gene Tenace behind the plate and picking up a hit and an RBI in two at-bats. Blefary had played a few innings at third base in the spring opener… Rookie infielder Dwain Anderson, vying for a utility role, batted leadoff and went 1-for-3 with an RBI while playing a flawless shortstop… Minor league right-hander Chris Floethe, already facing long odds of making the staff, allowed three hits and two runs in a two-inning relief stint.

DATE: 03/13

Three different A’s hit home runs today, but a lack of control on the part of Ken Holtzman and a crucial error by Larry Brown at second base led to a 7-6 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Uncharacteristically wild, Holtzman walked seven batters in five innings, allowing all seven Indians runs. Three of the runs came across as unearned, as a result of Brown’s first spring training error.

Offensively, the A’s showed signs of explosiveness for the first time in the early Cactus League season. First baseman Mike Epstein and center fielder Bobby Brooks (continuing to surprise this spring) hit solo home runs, while Reggie Jackson contributed a two-run shot in a pinch-hitting role. Another bright spot could be found in the pitching performance of Blue Moon Odom, who made his spring debut with two scoreless innings in relief of Holtzman. Odom, while walking three batters, allowed no hits and pitched without pain, giving Dick Williams some hope that he might be ready to vie for the fourth spot in the starting rotation.

A’s Acorns: Jackson’s two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth brought the A’s within three runs of the Indians, who had raced out to leads of 4-0 and 7-2. Jackson did not stay in the game to play right field, where rookie Greg Schubert played most of the game before being replaced by a pinch-hitting Tommy Davis… Only 615 fans showed up in Mesa to watch the A’s drop to 1-and-3 on the spring.

DATE: 03/14

Oakland’s frontline pitching continued to struggle, as Catfish Hunter allowed 11 hits and seven runs in a 7-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs today. The A’s’ offense staked “The Cat” to an early 2-0 lead, but the Cubs exploded against Hunter in the fourth inning, sending 11 men to bat during a seven-run frame. Longtime Cubs third baseman Ron Santo both started and finished the rally, beginning with a solo home run and ending with a two-run double. Veteran slugger Jim Hickman, pinch-hitting for starting pitcher Joe Decker, also contributed a two-run double, as the Cubs scored all of their runs in one inning.

While Chicago’s offense did plenty of damage against Hunter, the A’s mustered little against a trio of Cub pitchers, managing a total of five hits. Most of the offensive highlights were supplied by a pair of rookie outfielders contending for a backup spot on the 25-man roster. Right fielder Greg Schubert continued to make an impression with two runs scored and a double in four at-bats. Another minor league flychaser, Bobby Brooks, added a run, an RBI, and a triple in four times to the plate.

A’s Acorns: For the first time this spring, the A’s played an errorless game in the field. Oakland’s infield contributed to five double plays… Minor league pitcher Dennis Myers made a bid for the last spot in the bullpen with two shutout innings of relief. Veterans Jim Roland and Rollie Fingers each followed with a scoreless inning… Veteran infielder Tim Cullen, just signed after being released by the Texas Rangers, made his debut in an Oakland uniform. Expected to battle Larry Brown and Dwain Anderson for a utility infield spot on the 25-man roster, Cullen went 0-for-3 in playing the entire game at third base… With the loss, the A’s fell to 1-and-4 in Cactus League play.

DATE: 03/15

Prior to the spring of 1972, few A’s fans had even heard of Bobby “The Hammer” Brooks. By the middle of March, Brooks was now threatening to make himself a household name in Oakland—or at least in Mesa, where the A’s played their home games in the spring. The Hammer banged out two more home runs today, capping off a 3-for-4 performance at the plate and helping the A’s to a 12-1 bombing of the rival California Angels.

Batting fifth in Dick Williams’ starting lineup, Brooks finished the game with two runs, three hits, and four RBIs. Another rookie outfielder, Greg Schubert, came off the bench to hit a home run, with two RBIs, and two runs scored. Joe Rudi and Brant Alyea also went deep, as the A’s hit a preseason-high four home runs in by far their most impressive game of the spring.

A’s Acorns: The recently-signed Tim Cullen made his second consecutive start, this time at shortstop. Batting leadoff, Cullen went 2-for-5 with a run scored… Alyea, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter for starter Diego Segui, stayed in the game to play second base. The veteran outfielder had never before played the middle infield during his major league career… Segui looked impressive in his first spring start, striking out five Angels and allowing only one run in four innings… The A’s are now 2-4 on the spring.

DATE: 03/16

Vida Blue announced his retirement today, but no one in A’s camp took the “news” seriously. Speaking in between giggles at a press conference, the celebrated holdout declared that he will work for Dura Steel Products as the vice president of public relations. While his agent tried to maintain a straight face, Blue smirked and laughed repeatedly throughout the press conference, leading most observers to doubt the credibility of his future in plumbing. On the surface, Dick Williams tried to offer a serious reaction to Blue’s announcement. “We certainly hate to lose Vida,” Williams told sportswriter Ron Bergman, “and that has to be the understatement of the year. But I feel we can win with or without Vida.”

Without Vida, the A’s continued their early pre-season schedule. Ron Klimkowski made his second straight eye-opening start of the spring, blanking the San Diego Padres over the first three innings of Oakland’s 4-0 shutout win. “Klem” scattered four harmless hits and picked up three strikeouts, while rookie hopefuls Chris Floethe and Dave Hamilton each chipped in with two scoreless innings of relief, as the A’s won consecutive games for the first time in Cactus League play.

The A’s scored three of their runs in the fourth inning, thanks mostly to three Padre errors, but helped also by Reggie Jackson’s double and Floethe’s run-scoring single. The A’s also played sloppily in the field—with Mike Epstein, Larry Haney, and Larry Brown committing miscues—but their mistakes did not hurt Oakland pitchers, who helped their own cause by combining to issue only one walk.

A’s Acorns: The A’s’ hottest hitter in the pre-season, outfielder Bobby Brooks, did not play… Newcomer Tim Cullen made his third straight appearance, this time not as a starter but in relief of Sal Bando at third base… The versatile Curt Blefary, who has appeared sparingly this spring, played the final few innings of the game in right field. He had caught and played third base in his previous Cactus League appearances… The A’s are now 3-and-4 in the pre-season.

DATE: 03/17

The A’s lost a heartbreaker today to the rival Giants, who plated the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for a 9-8 victory in Phoenix. Two of the Giants’ young outfielders teamed up for the winning rally: left fielder Bernie Williams delivered a triple that scored center fielder Jimmy Rosario, who had tried but failed to advance a baserunner with a sacrifice bunt earlier in the inning.

In what has become a disturbing trend, the A’s once again played atrociously in the field. Three more errors—including two committed by the usually reliable likes of Sal Bando and Joe Rudi—raised Oakland’s spring training total to an alarming 15 in only eight games, including six in the last two games. The defensive shortcomings betrayed the efforts of Ken Holtzman, who allowed three runs—but only one earned—in five innings. The loss dropped the A’s to a lackluster 3-and-5 in the Cactus League.

A’s Acorns: Darold Knowles picked up the loss, retiring only one of three batters he faced in the ninth, the out coming when he fielded Rosario’s bunt and caught Giants third baseman Alan “Dirty Al” Gallagher in a rundown between second and third… Tommy Davis continued his impressive spring at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles, an RBI, and a run scored after entering the game to play left field… Sal Bando hit the only home run of the game for either team… Yesterday’s day off did little to hamper the pre-season swing of Bobby Brooks, who picked up two more hits in five at-bats, while scoring a run and driving in another. With Angel Mangual bothered off and on by injury, Brooks has now emerged as a legitimate contender for the center field slot left vacant by the off-season trade of Rick Monday.

DATE: 03/18

Another day and another lackluster spring performance for the defending champions of the American League West. The A’s lost for the sixth time in nine Cactus League games, dropping a flat 5-0 decision to the Chicago Cubs in Mesa. Catfish Hunter allowed three runs in five innings, the Oakland offense mustered a grand total of four hits, and the defense once again lapsed, this time in the form of Bobby Brooks’ second error of the spring.

Perhaps the only amount of satisfaction that Charlie Finley could extract from the game was the performance of ex-Athletic Rick Monday. Now the Cubs’ starting center fielder, Monday went 0-for-4 against Oakland pitching.

A’s Acorns: Accounting for the A’s’ only extra-base hit of the day with a harmless double, Brooks started the game in the cleanup slot against Cubs ace Ferguson Jenkins… In a six-inning stint, Jenkins allowed only one hit—a bad-hop single… Billy Williams and Ron Santo each drove in two runs for Chicago, which improved to 2-and-0 against Oakland in head-to-head Cactus League play.

DATE: 03/19

Throughout his career with the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, and New York Yankees, Curt Blefary gained a reputation as something of a malcontent, a player who hesitated little when it came to complaining about playing time and alleged mistreatment by management. Blefary has tried to change that reputation during his tenure in Oakland, becoming an important part of Dick Williams’ bench in 1971. In the spring of ’72, Blefary vows to continue his recent transition from “clubhouse lawyer” to “clubhouse contributor.” “I’ve got three things to do this spring,” Blefary tells The Sporting News. “I’m going to get in shape, take my swings, and keep my mouth shut.”

If Blefary can fulfill those three promises, he figures to be the A’s’ most important bench player, even more so than pinch-hitter extraordinaire Tommy Davis. No one on Oakland’s roster possesses as much versatility as Blefary, who lists catcher, first base, third base, and the outfield as his areas of experience. While Blefary’s defensive limitations prevent him from playing any of those positions on an extended basis, his ability to fill in at a moment’s notice gives Williams the option to rest regulars, pinch-hit in the late innings, and maneuver his defensive alignments.

Additionally, Blefary provides Williams with his only proven left-handed hitting option off the bench. The rest of the team’s projected reserves—Gene Tenace, Tommy Davis, Larry Brown, George Hendrick, and either Dwain Anderson or Tim Cullen—all bat from the right side. Blefary’s ability to hit the long ball—or work out a walk with his patient batting eye—make him an attractive pinch-hitting commodity against the league’s tougher right-handed relievers.

A’s Acorns: The A’s took the day off from Cactus League play today, instead playing their second spring exhibition against the Tokyo Lotte Orions. Tokyo, one of the oldest franchises in the Japanese Leagues, is spending the spring touring Arizona and Florida while playing exhibition games against major league clubs.

DATE: 03/20

Playing some of their most inspired ball of the spring, the A’s bounced back from an early 5-1 deficit to defeat the Chicago Cubs, 7-6. Rookie infielder Dwain Anderson made his strongest impression of the spring, rapping out three doubles as the starting shortstop and leadoff man. Anderson, who drove in three runs and scored three times, combined to form a dominating tandem with No. 2 hitter Joe Rudi, who also enjoyed a three-hit, three-RBI afternoon.

With the score tied at 6-6 in the fifth inning, one of the newest A’s—and Anderson’s main competitor for a roster spot —played a role in pushing across the game-deciding run. Sal Bando started the inning with a single, before giving way to a pinch-runner. Veteran infielder Tim Cullen, recently claimed off the waiver wire, replaced “Captain Sal” on the basepaths. Cullen proceeded to move up to second base on an infield out, then deftly stole third base, before alertly coming home on Mike Hegan’s infield grounder. Darryl Patterson, Chris Floethe, and Darold Knowles combined to pitch scoreless relief over the final four innings, with Patterson picking up his second win of the exhibition season.

A’s Acorns: Anderson and Rudi teamed up on six of Oakland’s nine hits, as the A’s improved to 4-and-6. Only Bando, Dave Duncan, and the torrid Bobby Brooks managed singles among the rest of the A’s hitters… Former Athletic “Broadway” Frank Fernandez clubbed a grand slam for the Cubs in the second inning, when Chicago scored five times. Fernandez had spent the 1971 season as a human yo-yo, starting off with the A’s before being shuttled off to Washington, eventually returning to Oakland, and then finishing up the year in the Windy City. “Broadway Frank” also spent time with the A’s’ and Cubs’ minor league affiliates… For only the second time all spring, the A’s did not commit an error.

DATE: 03/21

In his first few exhibition starts, Ken Holtzman had been harmed by Oakland’s shoddy defense and his own wildness. He had pitched creditably, but nowhere near the level that he had shown in his National League heyday.

Facing the Angels in Palm Springs today, Holtzman looked very much like the pitcher who had thrown two no-hitters during his best days with the Cubs. The talented left-hander blanked the Angels over six innings, scattering only four hits, allowing no walks, and earning the victory in the A’s’ 6-0 whitewash. It was by far Holtzman’s best performance in the green and gold of the A’s, and gave Dick Williams hope that he still had a left-handed ace to turn to, even with the continuing absence of holdout Vida Blue.

Dick Green supplied half of Oakland’s offense with three RBIs. Brant Alyea and Holtzman also drove in runs, as the A’s won their second consecutive Cactus League game. The A’s are now 5-and-6 in exhibition play.

A’s Acorns: Alyea, who had played as an outfielder and second baseman in earlier games, made his first spring appearance at first base… The A’s’ offense managed five runs and six walks against Angels starter Nolan Ryan, an offseason acquisition from the New York Mets. Two of the runs against Ryan were unearned, as California’s defense committed a total of five errors… Ron Klimkowski continued his fine spring showing for Oakland, pitching two more scoreless innings in relief of Holtzman. Rollie Fingers finished off the shutout with a scoreless ninth.

DATE: 03/22

The A’s made it three straight spring training victories with another 6-0 blanking of the Angels, matching the score from yesterday’s game. With the two teams playing at the neutral site of Holtville, California, Catfish Hunter scattered five hits in an impressive five-inning stint, but was overshadowed by the performance of Blue Moon Odom. According to the Oakland coaching staff, Odom threw harder and more effectively than he has at any time in the last two and a half years. Throwing without pain, Odom shut down the Halos on two hits and one walk over the final four innings of the game. Odom pitched so impressively that he might have put himself in the lead for the No. 4 slot in the starting rotation, after Hunter, Ken Holtzman, and Denny McLain.

A’s Acorns: Making the most of his one at-bat, Brant Alyea continued a promising spring by delivering a three-run double in a pinch-hitting role. Alyea came in for Joe Rudi in the sixth inning, helping the A’s open up a 5-0 lead, and then gave way to rookie Greg Schubert in left field… Sal Bando and George Hendrick each had two hits… Tim Cullen continued his push for a roster spot with a pinch-hit single in place of Sal Bando… The A’s played errorless baseball for the third straight game… With the win, the A’s reached .500 in Cactus League play.

DATE: 03/23

Denny McLain’s second start in an Oakland uniform was better than his first, but that hardly represented good news for the A’s. McLain, who had surrendered eight earned runs in three innings in his A’s debut, lasted five innings in his second start, but gave up seven runs (all earned) on a whopping 14 hits. Unable to recover from the 7-1 deficit that McLain had left them with, the A’s lost to the San Diego Padres, 8-3, in Yuma.

McLain pitched fairly well through the first four innings, allowing only single runs in the second and fourth. In the fifth inning, he tired badly, surrendering triples to Derrel Thomas and “Downtown” Ollie Brown, a double to opposing pitcher Tom Phoebus, three singles, and a sacrifice fly. Manager Dick Williams opted to leave McLain in for the entire inning, wanting to extend his pitch count at the expense of a spring training loss.

A’s Acorns: The defeat ended the A’s’ winning streak at three games, dropping their record below .500 at 6-and-7… Making his first appearance at first base, Curt Blefary went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bert Campaneris and Sal Bando also had two-hit days, with Campy adding a stolen base… Joe Rudi drove in two of Oakland’s runs with a single… Dick Green committed his first error of the spring… Derrel Thomas and Dave Campbell (Editor’s note: the future ESPN broadcaster) each had three hits for the Padres.

DATE: 03/24

The A’s continued to struggle against the lowly Padres, shut down by the hardly indestructible pitching combination of Bill Grief and Mike Corkins, 1-0.

With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the ninth inning, A’s reliever Darold Knowles allowed a leadoff single to left fielder Leron Lee. After retiring slugging first baseman Nate Colbert, Knowles faced center fielder Jerry Morales, who tripled in the game-winning run. The loss dropped the A’s to 6-and-8 in exhibition play.

Oakland’s offense mustered only eight baserunners, including two walks, and struck out eight times. The anemic hitting might have been deemed a bit disturbing considering that Dick Williams started what could be his Opening Day lineup:

Campaneris, ss

Rudi, lf

Jackson, rf