The Seventies

America and Baseball

 

The chaos of the sixties in America continued. Adding to the pain of Vietnam was the political scandal of Watergate and the resignation of President Richard Nixon. The civil roghts movement spread to the women and gay communities. In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Roe versus Wade case granting women the right to chose abortion. We were hearing more about the environmental issues that were plaquing our planet. President Carter was instrumental in reaching a long sought peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. However his term was faced significant challenges with labor movements, the nation’s economy, and an international crisis when 52 American diplomats were taken hostage by Iran.

MLB had its own chaos. The new Executive Director of the Players Association, Marvin Miller, used the momentum gained by Curt Flood’s reserve clause suit to aggressively strengthen the players’ union. In 1972, the players conducted a 13 day strike. This was followed by two players Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally sitting out seasons to become eligible for free agency. In 1976, players earned the rights to free agency upon conclusion of six years of service. Thus, the start of the high salaried players

On the field the Yankees and the Dodgers gave way to four teams that each won 5 division titles in the seventies - the A’s, Orioles, Reds and Pirates. The “Big Red Machine’s roster captured 5 MVP awards. The upstart A’s titles were consecutive. They featured a pitching trio of Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue and Rollie Fingers along with the power of Reggie Jackson. The Pirates with Willie Stargell leading the way formed a dynamite team with a “We are Family” mantra. The Birds counted on two-time Cy Young pitcher Jim Palmer. The Cy Young Award also went twice to Tom Seaver of the Mets.  Other Cy Young winners included Steve Carlton who won 27 games for a last place Phillies whose total team wins for the season was 59 and Ron Guidry posted a 25-3 record in leading the Yanks back to prominence in 1977. Two names that made headlines were Yankee owner George Steinbrenner and his notorious spending and Hank Aaron when he passed Babe Ruth’s career homerun record with his 715^th on April 8, 1974. The AL continued its expansion adding the Rangers and Blue Jays. The deserted cities of Milwaukee and Seattle received new replacement teams.  The tragic deaths of Yankee catcher Thurman Munson and Prates outfielder Roberto Clement rocked the baseball community.