Great Pennant Races of the 1970s
Four exciting finishes
The Divisional playoffs paid off reaching more fans, and more TV exposure, which of course meant more money into the pockets of the owners.
1971 National League West Division
It was like old times as the Dodgers and Giants fought down to the final weekend. Most of the season was quite mundane with the Giants holding a 8 1/2 game leader over LA on September 1. But things changed due to a Giant’s swoon winning only 8 of the final 24 games. It was Bobby Bond’s bat, 33 home runs and 102 RBIs, and Juan Marichal’s arm, 18 wins that allowed the Giant’s to hang on to win by 1 game and move on to the NLCS. However, their poor end of season play continued into the NLCS versus Pittsburgh as the Bucs took the series three games to one.
1972 American League East Division
A classic finish in the AL East ended on the final weekend when the Tigers took 2 of 3 from the second place Bosox to move onto the ALCS by 1/2 game. The division had been a seesaw battle between four of the six teams all season long. The Tigers pick up of pitcher Woody Fryman from the Phillies on August 2 made the difference. The Red Sox competed because of solid starting pitching headed up by Luis Tiant’s 15 wins and lowest era in the AL, 1.91. Unfortunately, the Tigers encountered the maturing Oakland A’s in the ALCS and lost the final and fifth game to the A’s 2-1 behind pitcher Blue Moon Odom.
1973 National League East
The surprising Mets survived a battle between four teams that carried into the last day of the season. The Cardinals finished the season by beating the last place Phillies setting the stage for the must win by the Mets over the Cubs on the final day. The Met’s Jon Matlack threw a two hit shutout to send then to the NLCS. The Mets counted on the pitching of Cy Young winner Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman to outlast the Reds 3 games to 2 and move on to the World Series.
1978 American League East
Bostonians to this day will never forget or forgive Bucky Dent of the New York Yankees. The Yanks were languishing in fourth place, 14 games behind in mid July. But Catfish Hunter rebounded after a slow start due to an arm injury to lead the staff in the second half of the season. On September 7, they came into Fenway within 4 games of the first place Sox . They swept the 4 game series and eventually took a 1 1/2 game lead before Boston woke up and forced a one game playoff at Fenway. The rest is history. Boston was in control leading 2-0 in the seventh when the Yanks put two men on base. There was little fear in the hearts of Bosox fans. Shortstop Dent was the weakest hitter in the Yanks line up - no power with a .240 batting average. But sure enough, Dent hit one over the Green Monster in left field and the Yanks held on to win 3-2. The Yanks carried the momentum into the ALCS and beat a frustrated Royals team for a third consecutive time in the ALDS, 3 games to 2 , and to moved on to the World Series.