1972 held at Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
1971 East World Champ played the 1971 West World Champ in the 1972 World Series best of 7 series Marasco Variety Faire of Milwaukee, WI defeated the Big Apple of Phoenix, AZ (4 games to 1).
The big story in this World Series is that the West managed to win a game. Vero McKinn hurled a brilliant 5 hitter to defeat Marasco’s 2-1 in the sceond game. He helped his own cause by going 1-3. Other than that, it was all Marasco’s on Offense. They out scored Big Apple 48 to 10 in the four games they won. The hitting of Dick Polgar, Jim Mortl, John Wegner, Ted Budny, George Mortl, Daryl Greenmeier and Carl Bruce was jus too much for Big Apple to deal with. These seven players were a total of 66-97 for a .680 clip. They also drove in 34 of the total 49 runs scored by Marasco’s in the five games. Big Apple’s Team Batting Average was .276 (40-145).
- MVP – Dick Polgar, Marasco’s (10-19, 526, 5 RBI)
- Home Run Leader – none were hit
- Batting Leader – George Mortl – Marasco’s (9-14) – .643
USSSA ALL WORLD TEAM
No All-World Team was selected – just a best of 7 series between 2 teams. The East and West selected All World Teams in their respective Tournaments.
Game Scores
- Game 1 – Marasco’s Variety Faire 13 vs. Big Apple 5 – Darryl Greenmeier and Ted Budny were both 3-3 for Marasco; Pitcher Vero McKinn was 2-4 for Big Apple.
- Game 2 – Big Apple 2 vs. Marasco’s Variety Faire 1- Vero McKinn was 1-3 and pitched a 5-hitter for Big Apple. Pitcher Jack Moser drove in the only run for Marasco.
- Game 3 – Marasco’s Variety Faire 12 vs. Big Apple 3 – Greenmeier, Jim Mortl, Dick Polgar and Jack Baird all had 3 hits for Marasco. Vero McKinn had the only RBI for Big Apple.
- Game 4 – Marasco’s Variety Faire 12 vs. Big Apple 1 – Once again, it was Jim Mortl and Dick Polgar with 3 hits apiece. McKinn and Calderon each had 2 hits for Big Apple
- Game 5 – Marasco’s Variety Faire 11 vs. Big Apple 1 – George Mortl and Carl Bruce were both 3-3 and combined for 5 RBIs. Richard Lopez was 3-3 for Big Apple.
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Marasco’s Variety Faire, Milwaukee, WI (4-1)
2. Big Apple, Phoenix, AZ (1-4)
1972 World Series Stats (at least 10 AB)
George Mortl, Marasco (9-14, .643, 6 RBIs, 6 Runs)
Ted Budny, Marasco (7-11, .636, 6 RBIs, 4 Runs)
John Wegner, Marasco (8-14, .571, 7 RBIs, 6 Runs)
Dick Polgar, Marasco (10-19, .526, 4 RBIs, 5 Runs)
Jim Mortl, Marasco (10-20, .500, 4 RBIs, 8 Runs)
Sal Martinez, Big Apple (5-10, .500, 4 RBIs, 3 Runs)
Daryl Greenmeier, Marasco, (6-14, .429, 1 RBI, 5 Runs)
Carl Bruce, Marasco (6-15, .400, 6 RBIs, 2 Runs)
Alex Calderon, Big Apple (6-17, .353, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs)
Vero McKinn, Big Apple (5-16, .313, 1 RBI, 1 Run)
George Leon, Big Apple (4-13, .308, 2 Runs)
Dennis Meadow, Big Apple (3-11, .273, 1 Run)
Richard Lopez, Big Apple (4-15, .267, 1 RBI, 1 Run) – Also 1-4 Pitching
Jack Baird, Marasco (4-16, .250, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs)
Joe Conteras, Big Apple (3-14, .214, 1 Run)
Birdie Murillo, Big Apple (2-10, .200, 2 Runs)
Vince Peralta, Big Apple (1-14, .071, 1 Run)
Jack Moser, Marasco (2-1 Pitching)
Jim Cody, Marasco (2-0 Pitching)
1972 East Worlds – Petersburg, Virginia.
Champion – Dino’s Pizza, Detroit, Michigan
Runner Up – Rolling Hills, Covington, Kentucky
Rolling Hills of Kentucky lost to Dino’s and was sent to the loser’s bracket. Snyder’s of Detroit and Dino’s of Detroit (both play in the same league incidently) Squared off in the Winner’s Bracket final. The two teams combined for 14 HRs as Dino’s defeated Snyders 24-15. Rolling Hill’s eliminated Mertz Bake Shoppe of Oak Park Michigan in a defensive struggle 3-1 to advance to play Snyders with the winner getting another crack at Dino’s. Rolling Hills prevailed 16-9 to advance to the Championship game. Jerry Johnston of Dino’s was 3-4 with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs to lead Snyders to a 13-10 title clinching victory. Jim Haislip and Joe Theison both went 2-4 with homers to help Pitcher Cal Carman nail down the victory. Rolling Hills was led by Sonny Rider’s 3-4 performance.
- East MVP – Cal Carmen, Dino’s Pizza (.740, 8 HR)
- East HR Leader – Tom Louria, Snyder’s – 10
- East Batting Leader – Cal Carmen, Dino’s Pizza – .740
1972 USSSA EAST ALL WORLD TEAM
Pitcher – Cal Carmen, Dino’s Pizza (.740, 8 HRs)
Catcher – John Hinds, Snyder’s (.627, 9 HRs)
First Base – Hudson Knock, Rolling Hills
Second Base – Jerry Johnson, Dino’s Pizza
Third Base – Dave Holt, 5&10 Tap
Shortstop – Jim Taliseky, Dino’s Pizza
Infield – Hank Cluess, Pinters Net
Outfield – Joe Thiesan, Dino’s Pizza
Outfield – Bill Schlessinger, Century Tire
Outfield – Jim Haislip, Dino’s Pizza
Outfield – Tom Louria, Snyder’s (.654, 10 HRs)
Utility – Dave McLanger, Mertz Bake Shop
Utility – Jim Gum, Rolling Hills
FINAL STANDINGS (top-10 listed only, 58 teams played)
1. Dino’s Pizza, Detroit, MI (7-0)
2. Rolling Hills, Covington, KY (7-2)
3. Snyder’s, Redford, MI (7-2)
4. Mertz Bake Shop, Oak Park, MI (7-2)
5. Century Tire, Cincinnati, OH (5-2)
6. Pinter’s Nets, Long Island, NY (4-2)
7. Builders Hardware, Milwaukee, WI (6-2)
8. Iron Dukes, New Castle, PA (4-2)
9. Knights of St. John, Louisville, KY (4-2)
10. Milwaukee Commandos, Milwaukee, WI (3-2)
1972 West Worlds held at Sun City, Arizona.
Champion – Gonzales Mexican Food, Richmond, California
Runner Up – Blinky’s, Fullerton, California
Gonzales ran through the Western Worlds with speed and power. They had six players hit at least .500 and banged out 11 HRs total as a team. They defeated Blinky’s twice; 17-9 in the winner’s bracket final and then in the Championship game, Gonzales prevailed by a 9-6 score. Larry Sheppard of Gonzales had an incredible tournament at the plate as he was 20-22 and scored 15 runs to earn the Most Valuable Player Award.
- West MVP – Larry Sheppard, Gonzales (20-22, .909, 15 runs)
- West HR Leader – Leonard Bowen, Bemco – 4
- West Batting Leader – Larry Sheppard, Gonzales Mexican Food – .909
1972 USSSA WEST ALL WORLD TEAM
Pitcher – Mike Matthews, Gonzales (over .500)
Catcher – Leonard Bowen, Bemco (over .600, 4 HR)
Infield – Frank Coppa, Gonzales (over .500)
2B-Larry Sheppard, Gonzales (20-22, .909, 15 Runs, also walked 5 times)
Infield – Rancy Rozati, Blinky’s (over .500)
Infield – Dan Derch, Blinky’s (over .500)
Outfield – Mike Edwards, Bemco (over .500)
Outfield – Amata Sotelo, Bemco over (.600)
Outfield – Bob Woodriff, Blinky’s (over .600)
Outfield – Charles Pierce, Gonzales
Utility – Ed Green, Gonzales
FINAL STANDINGS (top-10 listed only, 16 teams played)
1. Gonzales Mexican Food, Richmond, CA (5-0)
2. Blinky’s, Fullerton, CA (4-2)
3. Bemco, Industry, CA (5-2)
4. Goettl’s Metals, Mesa, AZ (3-2)
5. CBAC, San Gabriel Valley, CA (3-2)
6. Little Big O, Downey, CA (2-2)
7. Carpetbaggers, Las Vegas, NV (2-2)
8. Maloof Rockets, NV (2-2)
9. Spot and Blotter (1-2)
10. Buccaneers (1-2)
