1972 National League Championship Series
The 1972 National League Championship Series was played between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates from October 7 to 11. It was the fourth NLCS. Cincinnati won the series three games to two to advance to the World Series against the Oakland Athletics. The Reds became the first team in major league history to advance to the World Series without the best record in their respective league, made possible by the Junior and Senior Circuits each splitting into two divisions in 1969. In the previous three post seasons, the team with the best record in each league advanced to the World Series.
| 1972 National League Championship Series | ||||||||||
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| Dates | October 7–11 | |||||||||
| Umpires | Augie Donatelli (crew chief) Ken Burkhart Doug Harvey Billy Williams John Kibler Harry Wendelstedt | |||||||||
| Broadcast | ||||||||||
| Television | NBC | |||||||||
| TV announcers | Jim Simpson and Sandy Koufax (Game 1) Curt Gowdy and Tony Kubek (in Cincinnati) NBC did not televise Game 2 due to conflicts with its NFL coverage. Radio: Al Michaels called the game for WLW 700. | |||||||||
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The 1972 NLCS ended with a dramatic ninth inning rally in the fifth and deciding game. The series was also notable as the last on-field appearance by Pittsburgh's future Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, who would die in a plane crash on December 31.