Look Back at Some of Baseball’s All-Time Greats From the 1970s

Remind Staff October 1, 4:59 pm

American baseball player Pete Rose, of the Cincinatti Reds, crouches on the field before a game at Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, New York, New York, July 24, 1978. The game, against the New York Mets, resulted in Rose increasing his hitting streak to 37 consecutive games (the streak eventually lasted 44 games). — Gary Gershoff/Getty Images

From “Hammerin’ Hank” to “Tom Terrific,” some of the greatest players in Major League Baseball became legends during the 1970s. Here are five of the biggest icons who defined that era:

1. Hank Aaron

Shelly Roseman/TV Guide/courtesy Everett Collection

During Henry Louis Aaron’s 23-season stint in the Major Leagues (with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves from 1954-74 and Milwaukee Brewers from 1975-76), he more than earned the nickname of “Hammerin’ Hank.” The National League’s home run leader four times, Aaron captivated the nation in 1973 and ’74 as he approached Babe Ruth’s career home run record of 714. Despite much racial animosity and death threats from those who did not want him to break this record, Aaron did hit home run number 715 on April 8, 1974. By the end of his career, Aaron had blasted 755 homers, a record later broken in 2007 by Barry Bonds (though some purists still consider Aaron the champ, since Bonds’ achievement came during baseball’s steroid era). In 1975, Aaron broke another of Ruth’s records that wasn’t as hyped as the home run chase: the all-time RBI record, which he still holds (2,297), along with the records for extra base hits (1,477) and total bases (6,856). Hank Aaron passed away in 2021 at the age of 86.

2. Nolan Ryan

Montage of highlights from the career of American baseball player Nolan Ryan, 1970s.

Getty Images

“The Ryan Express” was a nearly unstoppable (or -hittable) force during the 27 years that pitcher Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. threw in the majors (he played with the New York Mets in 1966, and 1968-71; California Angels from 1972-79; Houston Astros from 1980-88; and Texas Rangers from 1989-93). The dominant right-hander helped lead the “Miracle Mets” to a World Series championship in 1969, and for a long time he almost seemed ageless (the last of his eight All-Star appearances came in 1989, when he was in his early 40s). Ryan racked up MLB records that still stand: career strikeouts (5,714) and career no-hitters (seven). Nolan is now 77 and resides in Texas and runs a cattle ranching company.

3. Pete Rose

While Pete Rose — aka “Charlie Hustle” — has unfortunately had his name associated with a different type of hustle due to his betting on baseball while he was a player and manager, his impact on the sport during his playing days from 1963-86 cannot be denied (even if he is ineligible to be admitted to the MLB Hall of Fame). Rose was a major contributor to the dominance of the Cincinnati Reds’ “Big Red Machine” during the 1970s (he later returned to manage the team from 1984-89). He helped the Reds win the World Series in 1975 and 1976 (he was series MVP in ’75) and was also part of the Philadelphia Phillies’ championship in 1980. Rose still holds the MLB records for career hits (4,256), career singles (3,215), career games played (3,562), career at-bats (14,053) and career plate appearances (15,890). Rose just passed away on Sept. 30, 2024, at the age of 83.

FLUSHING, NY - UNDATED: Joe Morgan #8 and Pete Rose #14 of the Cincinnati Reds pose for the camera during batting practice before a game against the Mets at Shea Stadium during the late 1970s in Flushing, New York.

Teammates Joe Morgan and Pete Rose pose for the camera Focus on Sport via Getty Images

4. Joe Morgan

Following his time with the Houston Colt .45s/Astros from 1963-71, second baseman Joe Morgan began his most famous playing days as a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ “Big Red Machine” from 1972-79, joining the likes of Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and other heavy hitters in bringing home two consecutive World Series titles to Cincinnati (1975 and 1976). While with the Reds, the eventual first-ballot Hall-of-Famer made eight straight All-Star appearances, won five straight Gold Gloves and was National League MVP twice. After retiring, Morgan embarked on a successful second career as a broadcaster, most famously as part of ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball announcing team from 1990-2010. He died in 2020 at the age of 77.

5. Tom Seaver

THE CBS FESTIVAL OF LIVELY ARTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, Tom Seaver, at Shea Stadium to promote 'Dance of the Athletes,' aired September 26, 1976.

Christopher Little/TV Guide/CBS/courtesy Everett Collection

Hall of Famer George Thomas Seaver pitched for four different major league teams over his storied 20-year career. But “Tom Terrific” is, of course, most associated with the New York Mets, with whom he spent the 1967-77 seasons, helping the fairly young expansion team win its first World Series title in 1969. For the 1983 season, Seaver returned to the Mets, and he is also enshrined in the team’s Hall of Fame. The hurler also played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1977-82, during which time he threw what was amazingly the only no-hitter of his career; for the Chicago White Sox in 1984-86; and finally, for the Boston Red Sox in 1986. To date, only Seaver and Walter Johnson have racked up more than 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts and an earned run average under 3.00 during their pitching careers. Among his many honors, Seaver won the National League Cy Young Award in 1969, 1973 and 1975, and was a 12-time All Star. He passed away in 2020 at the age of 75.

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