1972 NLCS Game 5 vs Reds
A single dropped ball and a controversial call ended the Cubs' dream in heartbreaking fashion.
The 1972 National League Championship Series Game 5 remains etched in memory as one of the most agonizing moments in Chicago Cubs franchise history. Played at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, this contest pitted the Cubs against the heavily favored Reds in a winner-take-all showdown for a World Series berth. The game is remembered not just for its dramatic conclusion, but for how it encapsulated the heartbreak that would plague the team for decades to come.
In a season where the Cubs had surged from last place to win the NL East by a single game, this match represented their highest peak before an immediate and devastating fall. The final play, involving a controversial call at home plate, instantly transformed a potential championship celebration into a scene of stunned silence for the traveling fans in Cincinnati.
- Date
- October 11, 1972
- Venue
- Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati
- Result
- Cincinnati Reds win 4-3 (in 10 innings)
- Key Moment
- Johnny Bench's run scoring on a dropped third strike
- Series Outcome
- Reds win NLCS 3-2
Lore & Background
The 1972 season was a miracle run for the Cubs, led by manager Leo Durocher and stars like Billy Williams and Ron Santo. They had clawed their way to the division title, only to face a Reds team that would go on to dominate baseball as part of the "Big Red Machine." By Game 5, the series was tied 2-2, setting the stage for a classic duel between two powerhouse offenses.
The game itself was a gritty affair, with both teams trading blows until it reached extra innings. In the bottom of the tenth inning, the score remained deadlocked at three-all. The tension in Riverfront Stadium was palpable as Cubs catcher Randy Hundley faced Reds slugger Johnny Bench. What followed became the stuff of legend: Bench swung and missed for strike three, but the ball hit the dirt and rolled away. Under the rules, this allowed Bench to run to first base instead of being called out. He arrived safely just ahead of a late throw from Hundley. On the very next pitch, Ken Griffey Sr. drilled a single into right field that drove Bench home with the winning run.
In Their Own Story
The air in Riverfront Stadium hung heavy, thick with the humidity of an October evening and the weight of a decade's worth of hope resting on one final inning. Randy Hundley crouched behind the plate, his eyes locked on Johnny Bench. The count was full. The crowd roared as Bench swung, connecting with nothing but air. The ball hit the dirt, skittering toward the backstop. For a split second, there was silence, then chaos. Hundley scrambled, scooping the ball and firing to first base, his throw arriving just a fraction too late. Bench was safe. The umpire signaled strike three, but the runner lived. In the next breath, Ken Griffey Sr. lashed a single into right field. The run crossed home plate, and the Reds erupted, leaving the Cubs' dugout frozen in a tableau of disbelief.
Reader's Guide
The occasion was Game 5 of the 1972 National League Championship Series, a winner-take-all battle between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium. The Cubs, having won the NL East by a single game, were looking to advance to their first World Series since 1945. The series was tied 2-2, setting the stage for an epic conclusion.
The game remained tight until the bottom of the tenth inning. With one out and runners on base, Reds catcher Johnny Bench struck out swinging on a pitch that rolled into foul territory. Cubs catcher Randy Hundley retrieved the ball and threw to first base to try to retire Bench, who had become a runner because the third strike was not caught. However, Bench was ruled safe at first because he reached the bag before being tagged. On the very next play, Ken Griffey Sr. hit a single that scored the winning run from second base, giving Cincinnati a 4-3 victory.
This match is remembered as one of the most heartbreaking moments in Cubs history due to the controversial nature of the final out and the dropped third strike rule application. It marked the end of a miraculous season and reinforced the narrative of bad luck that would haunt the franchise for years. The play remains a subject of debate among historians and fans, symbolizing the fine line between glory and despair.
Did You Know?
- The game ended on a controversial interpretation of the dropped third strike rule, where the batter (Johnny Bench) was allowed to run to first base because the catcher failed to catch the ball.
- This loss prevented the Cubs from reaching their first World Series since 1945, extending their championship drought by several more decades.
- The Reds went on to win the 1972 World Series against the Oakland Athletics, cementing the start of the 'Big Red Machine' dynasty.
- Ron Santo and Billy Williams, two of the Cubs' greatest legends, watched helplessly from the dugout as the season ended in such dramatic fashion.