Major League Baseball during the 1970s usually brings a few things to mind: The Big Red Machine, Charley Finley’s Oakland A’s and those uniforms, Earl Weaver and the Baltimore Orioles, and the beginning of free agency. The 70s was the last decade in which baseball ruled the American sports landscape. Some of the greatest careers in the game’s history ended and a few others began. We said goodbye to Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, and we were introduced to George Brett, Robin Yount, and a skinny slick fielding shortstop named Ozzie Smith.
With the culmination of so many great careers the decade saw many career milestones reached. Seven hitters, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente, Al Kaline, Pete Rose, Lou Brock, and Carl Yastrzemski all joined the 3,000 hit club. Ernie Banks, Harmon Killebrew, Frank Robinson, and Willie McCovey all joined the the 500 home run club taking the total from eight to 12. While no pitcher collected their 300th career win Bob Gibson and Gaylord Perry did strikeout their 3,000th batter.
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Catcher, Johnny Bench
- Age: 22 – 31
- Years: 1970 – 1979
- Teams: Cincinnati Reds
- MVP: 1970, 1972
- All-Star: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
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First Base, Dick Allen
- Age: 28 – 35
- Years: 1970 – 1977
- Teams: St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Oakland Athletics
- MVP: 1970
- All-Star: 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974
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Second Base, Joe Morgan
- Age: 26 – 35
- Years: 1970 – 1979
- Teams: Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds
- MVP: 1975, 1976
- All-Star: 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
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Third Base, Mike Schmidt
- Age: 22 – 29
- Years: 1972 – 1979
- Teams: Philadelphia Phillies
- All-Star: 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979
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Shortstop, Toby Harrah
- Age: 22 – 30
- Years: 1971 – 1979
- Teams: Washington Senators / Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians
- All-Star: 1972, 1975, 1976
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Outfield, Willie Stargell
- Age: 30 – 39
- Years: 1970 – 1979
- Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates
- MVP: 1979
- All-Star: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978
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Outfield, Reggie Jackson
- Age: 24 – 33
- Years: 1970 – 1979
- Teams: Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees
- MVP: 1973
- All-Star: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979
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Outfield, Reggie Smith
- Age: 25 – 34
- Years: 1970 – 1979
- Teams: Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers
- All-Star: 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978
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Starting Pitcher, Tom Seaver
- Age: 25 – 34
- Years: 1970 – 1979
- Teams: New York Mets
- Cy Young Award: 1973, 1975
- All-Star: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978
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Starting Pitcher, Bert Blyleven
- Age: 19 – 28
- Years: 1970 – 1979
- Teams: Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates
- All-Star: 1973
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Starting Pitcher, Gaylord Perry
- Age: 31 – 40
- Years: 1970 – 1979
- Teams: San Francisco Giants, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres
- Cy Young Award: 1972, 1978
- All-Star: 1970, 1972, 1974, 1979
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Starting Pitcher, Ron Guidry
- Age: 24 – 28
- Years: 1975 – 1979
- Teams: New York Yankees
- Cy Young Award: 1978
- All-Star: 1978, 1979
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Starting Pitcher, Jim Palmer
- Age: 24 – 33
- Years: 1970 – 1979
- Teams: Baltimore Orioles
- Cy Young Award: 1973, 1975, 1976
- All-Star: 1970, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1978
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Relief Pitcher, Bruce Sutter
- Age: 23 – 26
- Years: 1976 – 1979
- Teams: Chicago Cubs
- Cy Young Award: 1979
- All-Star: 1977, 1978, 1979
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Relief Pitcher, Jim Kern
- Age: 25 – 30
- Years: 1974 – 1979
- Teams: Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers
- All-Star: 1977, 1978, 1979
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Relief Pitcher, Rollie Fingers
- Age: 23 – 32
- Years: 1970 – 1979
- Teams: Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres
- All-Star: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978
- Catcher – Gene Tenace
- First Base – Willie McCovey
- Second Base – Rod Carew
- Third Base – Darrell Evans
- Shortstop – Roy Smalley
- Oufield – Jim Rice
- Oufield – George Foster
- Starting Pitcher – Dennis Eckersley
- Starting Pitcher – Don Sutton
- Relief Pitcher – Kent Tekulve
| WAR | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58.8 | 1,435 | 5,229 | 792 | 1,396 | 264 | 18 | 290 | 1,013 | 56 | 24 | 687 | 896 | .267 | .349 | .491 | .840 |
| WAR | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.5 | 883 | 3,111 | 508 | 882 | 153 | 19 | 174 | 575 | 69 | 25 | 472 | 705 | .284 | .377 | .513 | .889 |
| WAR | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66.9 | 1,458 | 5,139 | 1,005 | 1,451 | 275 | 47 | 173 | 720 | 488 | 105 | 1,071 | 517 | .282 | .404 | .455 | .860 |
| WAR | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50.1 | 1,084 | 3,713 | 674 | 947 | 183 | 31 | 235 | 666 | 117 | 54 | 689 | 958 | .255 | .374 | .511 | .885 |
| WAR | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.5 | 1,275 | 4,413 | 625 | 1,151 | 176 | 20 | 128 | 560 | 160 | 69 | 640 | 522 | .261 | .355 | .397 | .752 |
| WAR | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37.8 | 1,255 | 4,399 | 718 | 1,261 | 253 | 19 | 296 | 906 | 6 | 8 | 595 | 1,100 | .287 | .374 | .555 | .928 |
| WAR | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51.2 | 1,440 | 5,129 | 833 | 1,410 | 270 | 24 | 292 | 922 | 183 | 85 | 677 | 1,247 | .275 | .363 | .508 | .870 |
| WAR | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44.7 | 1,286 | 4,646 | 776 | 1,355 | 247 | 39 | 225 | 750 | 80 | 43 | 621 | 669 | .292 | .374 | .507 | .881 |
| WAR | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | SHO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | SO/9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67.3 | 348 | 345 | 178 | 101 | 2.61 | 2,652.1 | 147 | 40 | 0 | 843 | 768 | 741 | 2,304 | 7.8 | 1.073 |
| WAR | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | SHO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | SO/9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58.2 | 353 | 350 | 148 | 128 | 2.88 | 2,624.2 | 145 | 39 | 0 | 949 | 841 | 711 | 2,082 | 7.1 | 1.161 |
| WAR | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | SHO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | SO/9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59.4 | 369 | 368 | 184 | 133 | 2.92 | 2,905 | 197 | 36 | 1 | 1,088 | 942 | 758 | 1,907 | 5.9 | 1.142 |
| WAR | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | SHO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | SO/9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.7 | 116 | 91 | 59 | 19 | 2.49 | 752.1 | 40 | 16 | 3 | 234 | 208 | 221 | 652 | 7.8 | 1.090 |
| WAR | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | SHO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | SO/9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54.6 | 355 | 352 | 186 | 103 | 2.58 | 2,745 | 175 | 44 | 2 | 883 | 787 | 861 | 1,559 | 5.1 | 1.142 |
| WAR | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | SHO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | SO/9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.2 | 240 | 0 | 27 | 22 | 2.33 | 390.2 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 121 | 101 | 115 | 418 | 9.6 | 1.014 |
| WAR | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | SHO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | SO/9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14.2 | 256 | 12 | 42 | 35 | 2.72 | 539 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 188 | 163 | 276 | 499 | 8.3 | 1.306 |
| WAR | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | SHO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | SO/9 | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.1 | 640 | 29 | 84 | 85 | 2.89 | 1,219 | 3 | 1 | 209 | 438 | 391 | 353 | 973 | 7.2 | 1.141 |
The Baseball Scholar 
We didn’t say goodbye to Yaz in the 70’s. He actually played four years into the 80’s — and made two more All-Star appearances…
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I grew up watching 1970s Baseball. The first half and the second half have different players so ts hard to create a best team of the 1970s.
C Johnny Bench, Thurman Munson. then Gary Carter, Ted Simmons, Manny Sanguillen, Carton Fisk
1B Tony Perez, Willie Stargell. then Lee May, George Scott, Steve Garvey .
2B Joe Morgan, Rod Carew
3B Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Ron Cey, Bill Madlock, Graig Nettles… The first half was Brooks Robinson and Sal Bando
SS Dave Concepcion, Bert Campaneris
LF Pete Rose, Carl Yastrzemski
CF Cesar Cedeno, Amos Otis, Al Oliver
RF Reggie Jackson, Bobby Bonds, Rusty Staub, Dave Parker, Dave Winfield
DH Hal McRae
Every team went at least three deep with quality starters.
SP Steve Carlton
SP Tom Seaver
SP Jim Palmer
SP Gaylord Perry
SP Fergie Jenkins
SP Vida Blue
SP Nolan Ryan
SP Don Sutton
SP Bert Blyleven
SP Phil Niekro
SP Tommy John
SP Catfish Hunter
SP Luis Tiant
SP Frank Tanana
SP JR Richard
SP Dennis Leonard
RP Rollie Fingers
RP Rich Gossage
RP Tug McGraw
RP Mike Marshall
RP John Hiller
RP Sparky Lyle
RP Bill Campbell
RP Kent Tekulve
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It’s almost impossible to disagree with having Bench on top for catchers. One of the all time greats. However, as runner up I’d have to pick Thurman Munson, Carlton Fisk or even…. Jim Sundberg (based on his defense).
By the way, love the site. Keep up the good work!
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Scott, I’m glad you enjoy the site. The 70s, unlike a majority of decades, produced several great options to backup Bench. I wouldn’t argue with any of your alternatives except Jim Sundberg. Because I never saw Sundberg play and nearly all of his value is defense I’d pass on him.
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Steve Carlton? Not even an Honorable Mention?
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For the pitchers, are they in order of accomplishment? If so, they are out of order because wins are all that counted to the men who played the game. I have interviewed them.
Difficult to understand your rankings.
You might want to check out the man who led MLB in wins from 1967 to1980.
Ferguson Jenkins had 251 wins in that period while throwing the only six straight 20 wins or more seasons since Warren Spahn. Warren Spahn would tell you wins are the only stat that counted, everything else was details.
Jenkins is still the only Ranger with 25 wins. Guidry had one 25-win year and only three 20 wins or more seasons in his whole career. How could Guidry be mentioned in a best of the decade when he did not play the full decade?
Have you ever interviewed any of these pitchers, or talked to anyone who ever batted against them?
Difficult to fathom some of your choices except perhaps you enjoyed watching them in postseason play. That is called pro-postseason bias. Those stats do not count for their careers and yet your choices are heavy postseason play.
And yet you left off Steve Carlton, that is strange.
Again, during his major-league-best 14 seasons from 1967 to 1980, Jenkins’ 251 victories led Steve Carlton (four Cy Youngs, MLB’s second-most career strikeouts) with 246 wins and Tom Seaver (three Cy Youngs) with 245. Gaylord Perry (two Cy Youngs) won 244 games and Phil Niekro was fifth with 227. Jenkins had even greater margins over future Hall of Famers Jim Palmer (three Cy Young Awards) and Nolan Ryan (most MLB career strikeouts).
Good Luck
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I think I would put MCovey at first base and maybe Keith Hernandez. Sure he’s known for his defense but if you look back he had some quality seasons hitting, 1979 he tied Willie Stargell for MVP. Not that Dick Allen isn’t good. Anyway love the site keep it up.
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Rod Carew at 2B over Joe Morgan
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All Time 70’s Team
LF Lou Brock
DH Rod Carew
2B Joe Morgan
3B George Brett
CF ?????
RF Reggie Jackson
1B Willie Stargell
C Johnny Bench
SS Robin Yount
P: Tom Seaver, Jim Palmer & Steve Carlton
All of these are HoFers. Yount played six seasons in the 70’s even though he wasn’t an AS until the 80’s. It’s sort of like how we use Pete Rose in the 60’s at 2B. At CF I couldn’t find a HoFer, but there was Al Oliver, Cedeno and Geronimo who were great during this time. Everybody has Jackson, Morgan. and Bench on their list. I know Rose was player of the decade for the 70’s but I have him in the 60’s. He played LF for part of this decade, and 3B for part of this decade, then moved to 1B on the last year of this decade.
Very tough team to beat with the pitching this decade. Other pitchers to input as you did, Jenkins, Perry and so on.
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I’ve just looked at the All-Decade teams from the 50s, 60s and 70s, and I’ve yet to see Hank Aaron mentioned. Is this some kind of a joke?
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