1972 Boston Red Sox season

The Red Sox finished second in the American League East with a record of 85 wins and 70 losses, one-half game behind the Detroit Tigers.

George Scott, who had fallen out of favor with the Red Sox management,[citation needed] was packaged with Billy Conigliaro (younger brother of former Red Sox star Tony Conigliaro), outfielders Joe Lahoud and Don Pavletich, pitchers Ken Brett (George Brett's older brother) and Jim Lonborg and exchanged for pitchers Marty Pattin and Lew Krausse Jr. and outfielders Tommy Harper and Pat Skrable.

The Red Sox played a total of 155 games of their original 162-game schedule, and finished with a record of 85–70.

[18] Carl Yastrzemski hit a ball that looked to be a triple; Harper scored, but Aparicio fell as he rounded third base.

[19] Aparicio falling as he rounded third base is looked back upon as a key play that could have made a difference.