1970s All-Decade Team

August 7, 2017

3–5 minutes

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.

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

Johnny Bench Batting Statistics
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

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

Dick Allen Batting Statistics
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

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

Joe Morgan Batting Statistics
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

Third Base, Mike Schmidt

Age: 22 – 29
Years: 1972 – 1979
Teams: Philadelphia Phillies
All-Star: 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979

Mike Schmidt Batting Statistics
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

Shortstop, Toby Harrah

Age: 22 – 30
Years: 1971 – 1979
Teams: Washington Senators / Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians
All-Star: 1972, 1975, 1976

Toby Harrah Batting Statistics
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

Outfield, Willie Stargell

Age: 30 – 39
Years: 1970 – 1979
Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates
MVP: 1979
All-Star: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1978

Willie Stargell Batting Statistics
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

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

Reggie Jackson Batting Statistics
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

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

Reggie Smith Batting Statistics
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

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

Tom Seaver Pitching Statistics
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

Starting Pitcher, Bert Blyleven

Age: 19 – 28

Years: 1970 – 1979

Teams: Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates

All-Star: 1973

Bert Blyleven Pitching Statistics
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

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

Gaylord Perry Pitching Statistics
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

Starting Pitcher, Ron Guidry

Age: 24 – 28

Years: 1975 – 1979

Teams: New York Yankees

Cy Young Award: 1978

All-Star: 1978, 1979

Ron Guidry Pitching Statistics
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

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

Jim Palmer Pitching Statistics
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

Relief Pitcher, Bruce Sutter

Age: 23 – 26

Years: 1976 – 1979

Teams: Chicago Cubs

Cy Young Award: 1979

All-Star: 1977, 1978, 1979

Bruce Sutter Pitching Statistics
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

Relief Pitcher, Jim Kern

Age: 25 – 30

Years: 1974 – 1979

Teams: Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers

All-Star: 1977, 1978, 1979

Jim Kern Pitching Statistics
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

Relief Pitcher, Rollie Fingers

Age: 23 – 32

Years: 1970 – 1979

Teams: Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres

All-Star: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978

Rollie Fingers Pitching Statistics
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

Honorable Mention

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

13 responses to “1970s All-Decade Team”

Anonymous

September 3, 2017 at 11:44 pm

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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Garry Harris

October 21, 2017 at 5:30 pm

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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Scott Perry

March 15, 2018 at 12:20 pm

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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1. Dave Franks
  
  March 15, 2018 at 12:28 pm
  
  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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Anonymous

April 4, 2020 at 6:07 am

Steve Carlton? Not even an Honorable Mention?

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Darl DeVault

August 9, 2020 at 9:25 pm

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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Gunnar

April 26, 2021 at 10:03 am

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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Anonymous

December 19, 2021 at 3:58 pm

Rod Carew at 2B over Joe Morgan

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Matthew

July 29, 2022 at 8:29 pm

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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Bo Hiers

May 7, 2023 at 7:36 pm

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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Anonymous

July 4, 2024 at 3:22 pm

Bobby Bonds was the only player in that decade to have 850 runs scored and 850 RBI’s.
How you can leave him with no honorable mention is beyond me. He was top 10 in almost every offensive stat including home runs and stolen bases. He was also a very good defender.

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Anonymous

January 18, 2025 at 7:34 am

Gene Tenace is bad enough but naming him as a catcher — when he didn’t even play 1000 games at catcher and effectively was a second-string to Ray Fosse on the Oakland teams of 1973-74 — is absurd. Or maybe it’s a typo and misspelled Thurman Munson.

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1. Dave Franks
  
  January 18, 2025 at 7:46 am
  
  Between 1970-1979 Tenace logged 5,200 innings at catcher and 4,200 innings at first base. The numbers are per Baseball-Reference https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tenacge01.shtml
  
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