In 1972, Hall of Fame manager Dick Williams led the Oakland Athletics to their first American League pennant since 1931 despite the machinations and gimmicks foisted upon the team by the eccentric owner Charlie Finley, setting up a World Series matchup with the formidable Big Red Machine of the Cincinnati Reds. Williams proceeded to turn in one of the great managing performances of baseball history, dealing with the absence of star slugger Reggie Jackson to lead the Athletics to an improbable seven game World Series victory.

Every game except Game 6, an 8-1 Cincinnati victory, was decided by one run, with the A’s picking up victories by scores of 3-2, 2-1, 3-2, and 3-2 in the deciding Game 7. Gene Tenace won the World Series Most Valuable Player award, crushing four home runs and knocking in nine of Oakland’s 16 total runs.

31 members of the 1972 World Champion Oakland A’s have signed this Official National League Charles S. Feeney stamped baseball. Hall of Famer and Manager Sparky Anderson signed his name on the sweet spot. Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan (signed twice, clubhouse on sweet spot), Dave Concepcion and Tony Perez, Pete Rose, Hal McRae, George Foster, Don Gullett, Julian Javier, Ted Kluszewski, Gary Nolan, Jim McGlothian, Denis Menke, Bill Plummer, George Scherger, Larry Shepard, Wayne Simpson, Ed Sprague, Bobby Tolan and several others. This item comes with a LOA from JSA.

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