In 1972, Herrmann led the American League in intentional walks with 19, and led all American League catchers in baserunners caught stealing and in caught stealing percentage, as the White Sox battled the Oakland Athletics for the American League West Division championship, coming from eight and a half games behind on July 17 to take first place on August 20, before finishing the season five and a half games behind the eventual world champion Athletics. In a game against the Oakland Athletics on June 24, 1973, Herrmann hit a three-run home run, a two-run double and a two-run single, for a total of seven runs batted in, one short of the White Sox team record of eight.