Roberto Clemente
Baseball continued its upward movement through more relocation and expansion. In 1972, the Seattle Pilots became the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Senators became the Texas Rangers. In 1977, new teams were granted to Seattle(Mariners) and Toronto(Blue Jays). In 1973 a big change occurred in the American League with the creation of the designated hitter (DH) position.
On the field the creation of league subdivisions helped to correct the imbalance of competition. The first half of the seventies was all about the young Oakland A’s who won three consecutive World Series behind the pitching of Catfish Hunter and Vida Blue and a young slugging outfielder named Reggie Jackson. In the mid seventies, the Cincinnati Reds became known as the Big Red Machine. Led by the all time hits leader Pete “ Charlie Hustle” Rose, future Hall of Famers second baseman Joe Morgan and catcher Johnny Bench, they wreaked havoc on opposing pitchers. They won the 1975 World Series by outdueling the Boston Red Sox in what many consider the most exciting World Series game ever played. In Game 6 of a back and forth game, Boston was trailing 6-3 in the eighth inning when pinch hitter Bernie Carbo hit a three run homer to tie the game. Three innings later after both team missed numerous opportunities to score, Boston catcher Carlton Fisk hit one out of the park to win the game. Th e next day the Reds were victorious in another nail biter, 4 to 3, to win the championship. By the end of the decade the Yankees, with new owner George Steinbrenner spending a lot of money accumulating free agents like Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson, were back on track and once again playing the Dodgers for the World Series championship.
There were many individual achievements. Hall of Famers outfielder Frank Robinson and third baseman Brooks Robinson (not related) led the Orioles to two World Series appearances. Frank Robinson was a two time MVP and only player to win the award in both leagues In 1975, he would become the first black manager in major league history when he became a player manage for the Cleveland Indians in 1975. Willie McCovey, first baseman for the San Francisco Giants, succeeded Willie Mays as the team’s slugger. On April 8, 1974 “Hammerin” Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run off of Dodger pitcher Al Downing to break Babe Ruth’s all time record for home runs. Pitcher Nolan Ryan of the California Angels won the American League Cy Young award in 1973 by throwing two no hitters and striking out 383 batters. Just as amazing was the season Steve “Lefty” Carlton had for the last place Phillies in1972. He won 27 games for a team that only won 59. Tom Seaver displayed his excellent pitching for the Mets and won a Cy Young Award in 1973. Outfielder Rod Carew of the Minnesota Twins won four consecutive batting titles which included batting .388 in1977.
On a somber note two of baseball’s greatest players died tragically in plane crashes. On December31, 1972, Pirate outfielder Roberto Clemente’s plane crashed while delivering emergency supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Clemente, a former MVP had recorded his 3000th hit on the final day of the 1972 season. Seven years late Yankee catcher and former MVP, Thurmond Munson, died in a private plane crash.
Next Week: The Best Pennant Races of the 1970s