It ’s the 1974 baseball time of year that Al Downing is most noted for . Andrew Jackson Downing pitched for four squad and appeared in three World Series . As a Yankee in 1964 , he leave the American League in strikeouts . Seven season by and by , he went 20 - 9 with the Dodgers . However , most fans commend the 17 - year veteran for something other than his life history exploit . On April 8 at 9:07 p.m. EST , a national television system consultation watch toss off process up the pitch that Hank Aaron hit out of the park for his 715th home running play – a unexampled major league record .
The shaft ended a mini - argument . brave owner Bill Bartholomay wanted Aaron to sit out the opening three - biz series at Cincinnati , desire his age principal would break the phonograph record before a tamp hometown bunch . Commissioner Bowie Kuhn , however , insist Aaron play . And on the first swing of his first at - bat of the year , the 40 - year - former outfielder tied Babe Ruth ’s seemingly unreachable disc . By time of year ’s end , Aaron had upped his career total to 733 .
Other notable milestones involved Redbirds Bob Gibson and Lou Brock . En route to a disappointing 11 - 13 time of year , the 38 - year - honest-to-goodness Gibson became only the second pitcher to enter 3,000 Ks , while the 35 - yr - old Brock strike .306 and install a young steals platter , swiping 118 .
In the American League , Detroit ’s Al Kaline envelop up an outstanding 22 - yr career by garner his 3,000th hit ( also finishing with 399 homers ) . Angels flamethrower Nolan Ryan notch his third vocation no - hitter .
The one record - setter who figured in a pennant race was Dodger reliever Mike Marshall . Los Angeles win the National League West , finishing 4 up on Cincinnati , as the Cy Young winner seem in an unprecedented 106 games , winning 15 and direct the conference with 21 saves .
mate Steve Garvey ( .312 average , 21 homers , 111 RBI ) won the MVP Award . Garvey also slay .389 in the National League Championship Series to lead LA over Pittsburgh three games to one . The Pirates had won the National League East on the bats of Richie Zisk ( 100 RBI ) , Al Oliver ( .321 median ) , and Willie Stargell ( 25 home runs ) .
The Oakland A ’s displayed the form that made them World Champions in 1972 and 1973 , eat up 5 game out front of Texas . Catfish Hunter ( 25 - 12 ) won the 1974 Cy Young Award , and Reggie Jackson ( .289 norm , 29 home runs , 93 run batted in ) supplied the pop .
The most compelling streamer race of the season came in the American League East . Baltimore rallied to win 27 of 33 to adjoin the Yankees by 2 game . However , the Orioles were no couple for the A ’s in the American League Championship Series , falling three plot to one .
Oakland and Los Angeles wag California ’s version of a Subway Series . The first three games were decided by the identical scores of 3 - 2 . Jackson ’s homer gave Oakland the boundary in game one , and Los Angeles level the Series in game two when Marshall pick off designated runner Herb Washington to obliterate a ninth - inning mass meeting .
In biz three , the A ’s capitalise on two Dodger erroneousness , giving them a two - biz - to - one World Series lead . Oakland gain ground secret plan four 5 - 2 , as pitcher Ken Holtzman , who had access two regular time of year without an at - bat , belted a home run .
In game five , with his team trailing 3 - 2 , Dodger Bill Buckner was gunned down trying to stretch a two-base hit into a three-bagger in the eighth frame . A ’s reliever Rollie Fingers uphold the win , hand Oakland its third title of respect in as many old age . It was the only non - Yankee three - peat in World Series story .
look into out headlines and sum-up of major stories from the 1974 baseball time of year on the next page .
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1974 Baseball Season Headlines
In 1974 , Hank Aaron smashed Babe Ruth ’s home run book and the A ’s advance their third consecutive World Series . Below are some of the headline of the 1974 baseball game season :
Rod Carew Leads American League in Batting
Rod Carew was the greatest singles hitter of his earned run average . He led the American League in batting seven times in his 19 - yr career . In 1974 , he had a loop - high .364 norm , although he bop just three homers and knocked in only 55 runs . In his career to that peak , Carew had been named to seven All - Star teams ; he lost the 1970 season due to military service .
Steve Garvey name 1974 National League MVP
Nicknamed " Senator " for his post - baseball life history aspirations , Dodgers first baseman Steve Garvey play in his first World Series in 1974 . Although his team bowed to the A ’s , Garvey achieved an first-class time of year : a .312 average , 21 Homer , and 111 RBI . His execution realize him 1974 National League Most Valuable Player honors . Voted to a start position in the 1974 All - Star Game by write - in ballots , the powerhouse took the game ’s MVP honors .
Fergie Jenkins Wins 25
Mike Schmidt Tops National League in hr
Mike Schmidt club 36 homers in 1974 , his second full time of year in the major , to head the National League . On his way to 116 RBI , he also pass the loop with his .546 norm . He is recognise as the great third baseman of all time .
Johnny Bench Leads National League in RBI
Johnny Bench had a National League - chair 129 run batted in in 1974 while taking the Reds to a second - place finish , 4 games behind the Dodgers . It was the third RBI crown for perhaps the greatest backstop of all time . Bench was vote to the All - prima lineup 13 years in a rowing and deliver the goods ten serial Gold Gloves .
Mike Marshall Cops Cy Young
Before gain the 1974 National League Cy Young Award , Mike Marshall was known to fans as Jim Bouton ’s intellectual teammate in the bookBall Four , Bouton ’s account of the sport of baseball . As a doctoral nominee in kinesiology , Marshall used his study of human performance to resurrect his pitching career . He went from a 5 - 8 record book with the Expos in 1971 to 15 - 12 with the Dodgers in 1974 . His knuckleball carry him to 21 save , best in the loop .
Jeff Burroughs an MVP Surprise
Perhaps the 10 ’s least likely Most Valuable Player , Ranger Jeff Burroughs bat .301 with 25 homers and 118 RBI ( top in the American League ) in 1974 . As the first draft pickax in 1969 , the outfielder / first baseman often collide with Ted Williams , the Senators ' manager , yet by and by credited Williams with ameliorate his batting .
Joe Rudi Soars in 1974 Series
Joe Rudi was the quiet superstar of the robustious A ’s . His glovework earned him two Gold Gloves , the first of which he received in 1974 . He pass the American League in look-alike that year with 39 . His ability was most manifest in the seventh plot of the 1974 World Series . His home run in the seventh inning broke the two - all tie and prove to be the allowance of triumph for the A ’s .
discover more headline from the 1974 baseball season on the next Thomas Nelson Page .
More 1974 Baseball Season Headlines
Check out more headlines of the 1974 baseball game season , including outstanding performances by Joe Rudi , Lou Brock , and others :
Lou Brock Pilfers 105 stem
On September 10 , 1974 , Lou Brock broke the single - time of year stolen base mark set by Maury Wills in 1962 . During the game , Brock reach foundation on 1 in the first and seventh innings , on both social occasion steal on an 0 - 1 pitch to Ron Hunt to rack up swipes No . 104 and 105 . Bob Boone was the catcher on both thefts .
Al Oliver Posts .321 Average
The license plate on outfielder Al Oliver ’s motorcar read " AL HITS . " During his first six seasons with the Pirates ( through 1974 ) , Oliver had a .294 life-time average and played in four National League Championship Series . His slashing line drive hitting was the perfect complement to Willie Stargell ’s power stroke . In 1974 , Oliver thrash .321 with 11 homers and 85 run batted in .
Reggie Jackson: HR Off the Bat
Reggie Jackson smacked a plate run in his first at - squash racket in the 1974 World Series . Jackson was predict " Mr. October " in honor of his myriad heroics in postseason drama . high spot of his postseason calling include a .417 norm in the 1975 ALCS ; a .450 norm , five homers , and eight run batted in in the 1977 World Series ; and a .462 average and six RBI in the 1978 ALCS .
Steve Garvey Heats Up in 1974 World Series Debut
Steve Garvey was introduce to the Dodgers by his sire , who drive the squad bus . Some 15 eld subsequently , Garvey win the 1974 National League MVP Award and led his team to the World Series . In his first Series , Garvey led the club in thrash with a .381 average and eight hits . He would go on to toy in five World Series and at-bat a combined .319 – though with only one kor .
Dodger Davey Lopes Swift at Second
As a second baseman , Davey Lopes was a extremity of a Dodger infield that remained intact longer than any infield in major league account . As one of the best Qaeda - stealers in the plot , he match a major league record by hook five nucleotide in one game in 1974 .
A’s Edge Out LA
undertake to score on a fly sheet nut by Reggie Jackson to Joe Ferguson , Sal Bando got nailed in an eighth - inning summing up in biz one of the 1974 World Series . Bando finished the five - game tournament with a dismal .063 norm , three runs score , and two RBI . His teammates carry on their solid showing to take the opening game 3 - 2 .
Hank Aaron Racks Up No. 715
A national television audience viewed a uncommon weeknight broadcast – and part of chronicle – on April 8 , 1974 . In a secret plan between the Braves and the Dodgers , Hammerin ' Hank Aaron smacked an Al Downing smoke into the hand of Braves stand-in Tom House , who was sitting in Fulton County Stadium ’s leftover - field bullpen . It was Aaron ’s phonograph recording - shattering 715th home run .
Joe Rudi Slams the Clincher for 1974 World Series
you may find additional highlights from the 1974 baseball time of year on the next page .
1974 Baseball Season Highlights
Hank Aaron became the rest home - run magnate during the 1974 baseball season , countersink a fresh major league disk when he cracked his 715th homer . Below , you will find more highlights from the 1974 baseball season :
For more highlight of the 1974 baseball game season , continue on to the next Sir Frederick Handley Page .
More 1974 Baseball Season Highlights
Other criminal record were set in 1974 , include Lou Brock ’s 118 slip Base and Al Kaline ’s 3,000th hitting . Find more highlight of the 1974 baseball game time of year below :
