Dick Allen, Chicago White Sox, 1B (AL) Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds, C (NL) Cy Young Award Gaylord Perry, Cleveland Indians (AL) Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies (NL) Rookie of the Year Carlton Fisk, Boston Red Sox, C (AL) Jon Matlack, New York Mets, P (NL) Gold Glove Award George Scott (1B) (AL) Doug Griffin (2B) (AL) Brooks Robinson (3B) (AL) Ed Brinkman (SS) (AL) Ken Berry (OF) (AL) Paul Blair (OF) (AL) Bobby Murcer (OF) (AL) Carlton Fisk (C) (AL) Jim Kaat (P) (AL) Wes Parker (1B) (NL) Félix Millán (2B) (NL) Doug Rader (3B) (NL) Larry Bowa (SS) (NL) César Cedeño (OF) (NL) Roberto Clemente (OF) (NL) Willie Davis (OF) (NL) Johnny Bench (C) (NL) Bob Gibson (P) (NL) Statistical leaders Major league baseball final standings American League final standings National League final standings Events January–March January 13 – Bernice Gera wins a discrimination suit against organized baseball, opening the door for her to become the first female umpire in professional baseball. January 19 – The Baseball Writers' Association of America elects Sandy Koufax, Yogi Berra and Early Wynn to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Koufax makes it in his first try and, at age of 36, is the youngest honoree in history. January 20 – The Chicago Cubs trade Johnny Callison to the New York Yankees for Jack Aker. February 8 – Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announces that the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues has selected Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard for the Hall of Fame. March 16 – Reigning Cy Young and MVP award winner Vida Blue announces his retirement. It will be a short one as he will join the Oakland Athletics in May. April–June April 1 – 13 – The first players' strike in baseball history wipes 6–8 games off the schedule of each MLB team. It is agreed that those games will be canceled (i.e., not even played to resolve pennant races). This results in teams not being scheduled for the same number of games in the 1972 season; the schedule imbalance would lead to the Detroit Tigers edging the Boston Red Sox by only one-half game to win the American League East Division championship. The strike results in the team owners adding salary arbitration to the collective bargaining agreement, and increasing pension fund payments. April 2 – With the sudden death of Gil Hodges, Yogi Berra is named manager of the New York Mets.