1972 in sports explained

1972 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.

Alpine skiing

Alpine Skiing World Cup
- Men's overall season champion: Gustav Thöni, Italy
- Women's overall season champion: Annemarie Pröll, Austria

American football

16 January − Super Bowl VI: the Dallas Cowboys (NFC) won 24−3 over the Miami Dolphins (AFC)
- Location: Tulane Stadium
- Attendance: 81,023
- MVP: Roger Staubach, QB (Dallas)
Orange Bowl (1971 season):
- The Nebraska Cornhuskers won 38–6 over the Alabama Crimson Tide to win the college football national championship
23 December – In the first Pittsburgh Steelers playoff game in 25 years (and the franchises first playoff win), rookie Franco Harris salvages and converts into a touchdown a final seconds Terry Bradshaw incomplete pass in what has been called the greatest play in NFL history—The Immaculate Reception—to beat the Oakland Raiders 13–7.

Association football

Brazil – Palmeiras wins the Campeonato Brasileiro
England – FA Cup – Leeds United won 1–0 over Arsenal
Europe – Cup Winners' Cup – Rangers F.C. won 3–2 over Dinamo Moscow
West Germany beat the Soviet Union 3–0 to win the European Championship.

Athletics

September – Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich

Australian rules football

Victorian Football League
- Carlton wins the 76th VFL Premiership (Carlton 28.9 (177) d Richmond 22.18 (150))
- Brownlow Medal awarded to Len Thompson (Collingwood)

Baseball

See main article: 1972 in baseball.

The Washington Senators move to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas to become the Texas Rangers.
19 January – The BBWAA elects Sandy Koufax (344 votes), Yogi Berra (339), and Early Wynn (301) to the Hall of Fame.
Sparky Lyle saves 35 games for the New York Yankees, breaking Ron Perranoski's 1970 records for AL pitchers and left-handers. Lyle also becomes the first left-hander to save 100 career games in the American League.
World Series – Oakland Athletics win their first World Championship since the team was based in Philadelphia in 1930, and sixth in franchise history, by defeating the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 3.
31 December – The Pittsburgh Pirates' legendary right fielder Roberto Clemente dies in a plane crash near Puerto Rico on his way to bring relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.

Basketball

NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship –
- UCLA wins 81–76 over Florida St.
NBA Finals –
- Los Angeles Lakers won 4 games to 1 over the New York Knicks
1972 ABA Finals –
- Indiana Pacers defeat New York Nets 4 games to 2

Boxing

26 June – Roberto Durán stopped Ken Buchanan in the thirteenth round to win the WBA Lightweight Championship.

Canadian football

Grey Cup – Hamilton Tiger-Cats won 13–10 over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Vanier Cup – Alberta Golden Bears won 20–7 over the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks

Cycling

Giro d'Italia won by Eddy Merckx of Belgium
Tour de France – Eddy Merckx of Belgium
UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race – Marino Basso of Italy

Disc sports

Disc sports are introduced to Canada at the Canadian Open Frisbee Championships in Toronto

Field hockey

Olympic Games (Men's Competition) in Munich, West Germany
- Gold Medal: West Germany
- Silver Medal: Pakistan
- Bronze Medal:

Figure skating

World Figure Skating Championships –
- Men's champion: Ondrej Nepela, Czechoslovakia
- Ladies' champion: Trixi Schuba, Austria
- Pair skating champions: Irina Rodnina & Alexei Ulyanov, Soviet Union
- Ice dancing champions: Lyudmila Pakhomova & Alexandr Gorshkov, Soviet Union

Golf

Men's professional

Masters Tournament – Jack Nicklaus
U.S. Open – Jack Nicklaus
British Open – Lee Trevino
PGA Championship – Gary Player
PGA Tour money leader – Jack Nicklaus – $320,542
The European Tour begins its first season of competition.

Men's amateur

British Amateur – Trevor Homer
U.S. Amateur – Vinny Giles

Women's professional

LPGA Championship – Kathy Ahern
U.S. Women's Open – Susie Berning
Titleholders Championship – Sandra Palmer
LPGA Tour money leader – Kathy Whitworth – $65,063

Harness racing

21 September – Strike Out became the first Canadian owned harness racing horse to ever win the Little Brown Jug.
United States Pacing Triple Crown races –
1. Cane Pace – Hilarious Way
2. Little Brown Jug – Strike Out
3. Messenger Stakes – Silent Majority
Super Bowl wins the United States Trotting Triple Crown races –
1. Hambletonian – Super Bowl
2. Yonkers Trot – Super Bowl
3. Kentucky Futurity – Super Bowl
Australian Inter Dominion Harness Racing Championship –
- Pacers: Welcome Advice

Horse racing

Steeplechases

Cheltenham Gold Cup – Glencaraig Lady
Grand National – Well To Do

Flat races

Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Piping Lane
Canada – Queen's Plate won by Victoria Song
France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by San San
Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Steel Pulse
English Triple Crown Races:
1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – High Top
2. The Derby – Roberto^[1]
3. St. Leger Stakes – Boucher
United States Triple Crown Races:
1. Kentucky Derby – Riva Ridge
2. Preakness Stakes – Bee Bee Bee
3. Belmont Stakes – Riva Ridge

Ice hockey

18 March - NCAA Men's Ice Hockey Championship – Boston University Terriers defeat Cornell University Big Red 4–0 in Boston, Massachusetts
22 April - Czechoslovakia defeats the Soviet Union to win the 1972 Ice Hockey World Championships.
11 May - The Boston Bruins defeat the New York Rangers 3–0 to win the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals four games to two.
14 May - The Cornwall Royals defeat the Peterborough Petes to win the 1972 Memorial Cup Canadian amateur ice hockey junior men's championship.
15 May - The Spokane Jets defeat the Barrie Flyers 6–3 to win the 1972 Allan Cup Canadian amateur ice hockey senior men's championship.^[2]
Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer during the regular season: Phil Esposito, Boston Bruins
Hart Memorial Trophy – for the NHL's Most Valuable Player: Bobby Orr, Boston Bruins
28 September – Paul Henderson scored the "goal of the century" to give Canada the win in the Summit Series, the first ever Canada versus the Soviet Union challenge series.
7 October - The National Hockey League begins the 1972–73 season.
11 October - The World Hockey Association (WHA) professional league begins play in its first season. This new league signed several of the top NHL stars including Bobby Hull and Derek Sanderson.

Lacrosse

The Long Branch P.C.O.'s win the first Founders Cup.
The New Westminster Salmonbellies win the Mann Cup.
The Peterborough PCO's win the Minto Cup.

Motorsport

See main article: 1972 in motorsport and List of 1972 motorsport champions.

Rugby league

Rugby union

78th Five Nations Championship series is undecided after two matches are not played for political reasons

Snooker

World Snooker Championship – Alex Higgins beats John Spencer 37–32

Swimming

XX Olympic Games, held in Munich, West Germany (28 August – 4 September)

Tennis

Grand Slam in tennis men's results:
1. Australian Open – Ken Rosewall
2. French Open – Andrés Gimeno
3. Wimbledon championships – Stan Smith
4. U.S. Open – Ilie Năstase
Grand Slam in tennis women's results:
1. Australian Open – Virginia Wade
2. French Open – Billie Jean King
3. Wimbledon championships – Billie Jean King
4. U.S. Open – Billie Jean King (first player in Open Era to repeat as singles champion)
Davis Cup – United States wins 3–2 over Romania in world tennis.

General sporting events

1972 Summer Olympics takes place in Munich, Germany
- USSR wins the most medals (99), and the most gold medals (50)
1972 Winter Olympics takes place in Sapporo, Japan
- USSR wins the most medals (16), and the most gold medals (8)
Seventh Winter Universiade held in Lake Placid, New York, United States

Awards

Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year – Mark Spitz, Swimming
Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year – Olga Korbut, Gymnastics

Notes and References

Web site: Epsom Derby History, Winners, & Facts Britannica . www.britannica.com . 3 January 2022 . en.
News: Spokane Chronicle . May 17, 1972 . Jets' Coach Relaxing After Triumphant Year. Chuck . Stewart . 12.