The Tigers won the American League East championship with a record of 86–70 (.551), finishing one-half game ahead of the Boston Red Sox.
Joe Coleman had 19 wins and 222 strikeouts, and the early August acquisition of Woodie Fryman proved to be a key element in a tight pennant race.
Despite a .205 batting average, Brinkman won the "Tiger of the Year" award from the Detroit baseball writers and finished ninth in the American League MVP voting.
Infielders Other batters Coaches Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg.
In the top of the 11th inning, Al Kaline hit a solo home run off Rollie Fingers to put Detroit ahead.
After Sal Bando and Mike Epstein singled to open the bottom of the 11th, Chuck Seelbach came on in relief of Lolich who had pitched 10 innings.
October 8, 1972, at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Game 2 was a lopsided 5–0 win for the A's, as Blue Moon Odom (15–6) pitched a complete-game shutout and held the Tigers to three hits.
A bench-clearing brawl ensued, and Tigers manager Billy Martin had to be restrained by umpires and teammates to prevent him from going after Campaneris.
The Tigers won, 3–0, as Ike Brown hit a single in the 4th inning that drove in Al Kaline and Bill Freehan.
Dick McAuliffe and Al Kaline opened the inning with singles, and Gates Brown walked to load the bases with nobody out.
Bill Freehan bounced a double play ball to third, but Sal Bando's throw to second baseman Gene Tenace was dropped, allowing McAuliffe to score.
October 12, 1972, at Tiger Stadium The decisive Game 5 was another pitching duel between Blue Moon Odom and Woodie Fryman.
In the fourth inning, George Hendrick reached base on a controversial throwing error (umpire John Rice ruled that first baseman Norm Cash had pulled his foot off the bag but replays showed otherwise).