Editor’s note: Fenway Park opened on April 20, 1912. NESN.com will be celebrating Fenway’s 100-year anniversary with unique content from now until April 20, 2012.
A late start to the season and a tough ending highlighted the 1972 season for the Red Sox.
A players' strike — the first work stoppage in baseball history — caused the season to start on April 15. The teams did not revise the schedule due to the late start, which ended up hurting the Sox at the very end of the season. The Sox went into their final series of the year in first place, and their opponent, the Detroit Tigers, were only a half game back. Due to the imbalanced schedule, there was no possibility of a tie. The Tigers ended up winning the series and the pennant.
Sox legend Carlton Fisk was unanimously voted AL Rookie of the Year in 1972, leading the team with 22 home runs. Luis Tiant was also given an accolade for his performance on the season. He was voted Comeback Player of the year after finishing the season with a 15-6 record and a sparkling 1.91 ERA.
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