1974 Baseball Season

Al Downing is best remembered for his role in the 1974 baseball season. Pitching for four teams and participating in three World Series, Downing made his mark. In 1964, as a Yankee, he topped the American League in strikeouts, and by 1971, he achieved a 20-9 record with the Dodgers. Yet, his most iconic moment came on April 8 at 9:07 p.m. EST, when a nationwide audience witnessed him throw the pitch that Hank Aaron sent over the fence for his 715th home run, breaking the major league record.

This historic home run resolved a minor dispute. Braves owner Bill Bartholomay had hoped Aaron would skip the opening series in Cincinnati, aiming for the record to be broken in front of a home crowd. However, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn demanded Aaron's participation. In his first at-bat of the season, the 40-year-old outfielder matched Babe Ruth's legendary record. By the end of the season, Aaron had increased his career home runs to 733.

The season also saw significant achievements from Cardinals players Bob Gibson and Lou Brock. Despite a lackluster 11-13 season, Gibson, at 38, became the second pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Brock, aged 35, set a new steals record with 118, batting .306.

In the American League, Detroit's Al Kaline concluded a remarkable 22-year career by securing his 3,000th hit, just shy of 400 home runs. Additionally, Angels pitcher Nolan Ryan achieved his third career no-hitter, further cementing his legacy.

Dodgers reliever Mike Marshall, a record-setter, played a pivotal role in the pennant race. Los Angeles secured the National League West title, finishing four games ahead of Cincinnati. Marshall, the Cy Young winner, made history by appearing in 106 games, securing 15 wins, and leading the league with 21 saves.

Steve Garvey, Marshall's teammate, earned the MVP Award with a .312 average, 21 home runs, and 111 RBI. Garvey also shone in the National League Championship Series, hitting .389 to help LA defeat Pittsburgh three games to one. The Pirates had clinched the National League East thanks to strong performances from Richie Zisk (100 RBI), Al Oliver (.321 average), and Willie Stargell (25 home runs).

The Oakland A's demonstrated their championship pedigree, finishing five games ahead of Texas. Catfish Hunter, with a 25-12 record, claimed the 1974 Cy Young Award, while Reggie Jackson powered the offense with a .289 average, 29 home runs, and 93 RBI.

The American League East featured the season's most thrilling pennant race. Baltimore surged late, winning 27 of 33 games to narrowly edge out the Yankees by two games. However, the Orioles were outmatched by the A's in the American League Championship Series, losing three games to one.

Oakland and Los Angeles faced off in a California showdown reminiscent of a Subway Series. The first three games ended with identical 3-2 scores. Reggie Jackson's home run secured Oakland's victory in game one, while Marshall's pickoff of designated runner Herb Washington in game two thwarted a ninth-inning rally, allowing Los Angeles to even the series.

In game three, the A's took advantage of two errors by the Dodgers, securing a two-games-to-one lead in the World Series. Oakland clinched game four with a 5-2 victory, highlighted by pitcher Ken Holtzman, who hadn't had an at-bat in two regular seasons, hitting a home run.

During game five, with the Dodgers trailing 3-2, Bill Buckner was thrown out attempting to turn a double into a triple in the eighth inning. A's reliever Rollie Fingers sealed the victory, earning Oakland its third consecutive World Series title, marking the only non-Yankee team to achieve such a feat in history.

Explore the headlines and summaries of the most significant events from the 1974 baseball season on the following page.

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Top Stories from the 1974 Baseball Season

The year 1974 was monumental as Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's long-standing home run record, and the A's clinched their third straight World Series title. Here are some highlights from that season:

Rod Carew Dominates American League Batting

Rod Carew, renowned as the premier singles hitter of his time, secured the American League batting title seven times over his 19-year career. In 1974, he achieved a league-leading .364 average, despite hitting only three home runs and driving in 55 runs. By then, Carew had earned seven All-Star selections, missing the 1970 season due to military obligations.

Steve Garvey Awarded 1974 National League MVP Title

Known as "Senator" due to his ambitions beyond baseball, Dodgers' first baseman Steve Garvey made his World Series debut in 1974. Despite his team's loss to the A's, Garvey delivered an outstanding season with a .312 batting average, 21 home runs, and 111 RBIs. His stellar performance secured him the 1974 National League Most Valuable Player award. Additionally, he was elected to start in the 1974 All-Star Game through write-in votes and claimed the game's MVP title.

Fergie Jenkins Achieves 25 Wins

After a disappointing 1973 season with the Cubs (14-16), Fergie Jenkins was traded to Texas in exchange for Bill Madlock and Vic Harris. The Rangers reaped immediate benefits, as Jenkins notched 25 wins in 1974, tying for the American League lead. Interestingly, the Cubs reacquired Jenkins in 1982. He concluded his career after two more seasons at Wrigley, retiring with an impressive 284 career victories.

Mike Schmidt Leads National League in Home Runs

In his second full major league season, Mike Schmidt dominated the National League with 36 home runs in 1974. Alongside his 116 RBIs, he also led the league with a remarkable .546 slugging percentage. Widely regarded as the finest third baseman in history, Schmidt's legacy remains unparalleled.

Johnny Bench Tops National League in RBIs

Johnny Bench drove in a league-leading 129 RBIs in 1974, propelling the Reds to a second-place finish, just four games behind the Dodgers. This marked his third RBI title, further solidifying his reputation as arguably the best catcher ever. Bench was selected to the All-Star team for 13 consecutive years and earned ten straight Gold Glove awards.

Mike Marshall Secures Cy Young Award

Before clinching the 1974 National League Cy Young Award, Mike Marshall gained fame as Jim Bouton's intellectual teammate in the book Ball Four, which chronicled the world of baseball. As a doctoral student in kinesiology, Marshall applied his knowledge of human performance to revive his pitching career. He transformed from a 5-8 record with the Expos in 1971 to a 15-12 record with the Dodgers in 1974, leading the league with 21 saves thanks to his effective knuckleball.

Jeff Burroughs: An Unexpected MVP Winner

Jeff Burroughs, arguably the most surprising Most Valuable Player of the decade, delivered a standout 1974 season with a .301 batting average, 25 home runs, and a league-leading 118 RBIs in the American League. As the top draft pick in 1969, the versatile outfielder and first baseman frequently butted heads with Ted Williams, the Senators' manager, but later acknowledged Williams for refining his hitting skills.

Joe Rudi Shines in the 1974 World Series

Joe Rudi stood out as the understated star of the lively A's team. His exceptional fielding earned him two Gold Gloves, the first of which came in 1974. That same year, he led the American League with 39 doubles. His talent was on full display during the seventh game of the 1974 World Series, where his seventh-inning home run broke a 2-2 tie, securing the A's victory.

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Additional Headlines from the 1974 Baseball Season

Discover more highlights from the 1974 baseball season, featuring remarkable achievements by Joe Rudi, Lou Brock, and other stars:

Lou Brock Steals 105 Bases

On September 10, 1974, Lou Brock shattered Maury Wills' single-season stolen base record from 1962. During the game, Brock got on base with singles in the first and seventh innings, stealing second base on both occasions during an 0-1 count to Ron Hunt, achieving his 104th and 105th steals. Bob Boone was behind the plate for both instances.

Al Oliver Achieves .321 Batting Average

Outfielder Al Oliver's car bore the license plate "AL HITS," reflecting his prowess at the plate. In his first six seasons with the Pirates (through 1974), Oliver maintained a .294 career average and participated in four National League Championship Series. His sharp line-drive hitting perfectly complemented Willie Stargell's power. In 1974, Oliver hit .321 with 11 home runs and 85 RBIs.

Reggie Jackson: Home Run Hero

Reggie Jackson launched a home run in his very first at-bat during the 1974 World Series. Known as "Mr. October" for his clutch postseason performances, Jackson's highlights include a .417 average in the 1975 ALCS, a .450 average with five homers and eight RBIs in the 1977 World Series, and a .462 average with six RBIs in the 1978 ALCS.

Steve Garvey Shines in His 1974 World Series Debut

Steve Garvey was introduced to the Dodgers by his father, who drove the team bus. Nearly 15 years later, Garvey clinched the 1974 National League MVP Award and guided his team to the World Series. In his first Series appearance, Garvey topped the team with a .381 batting average and eight hits. Over his career, he played in five World Series, maintaining a combined .319 average, though he hit only one home run.

Davey Lopes: Speedy Second Baseman for the Dodgers

Davey Lopes, a key member of the Dodgers' infield, was part of the longest-standing infield in major league history. Renowned for his base-stealing skills, Lopes tied a major league record in 1974 by stealing five bases in a single game.

A's Narrowly Defeat LA

In game one of the 1974 World Series, Sal Bando was caught in an eighth-inning rundown while trying to score on a fly ball hit by Reggie Jackson to Joe Ferguson. Bando ended the five-game series with a poor .063 average, three runs, and two RBIs. Despite his struggles, his teammates delivered a strong performance to secure a 3-2 victory in the opening game.

Hank Aaron Hits Historic Home Run No. 715

On April 8, 1974, a national TV audience witnessed history during a rare weeknight broadcast. In a game between the Braves and Dodgers, Hank Aaron sent an Al Downing fastball soaring into the left-field bullpen at Fulton County Stadium, where Braves reliever Tom House caught it. This marked Aaron's record-breaking 715th home run.

Joe Rudi Delivers Game-Winning Hit in 1974 World Series

After a six-minute delay to clear debris thrown by Oakland fans, Joe Rudi of the A's faced Dodgers' ace Mike Marshall in game five of the 1974 World Series. Rudi hammered Marshall's first pitch into the stands, driving in the decisive third run. Marshall, the 1974 National League Cy Young Award winner, was on the mound for the pivotal moment.

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Key Highlights from the 1974 Baseball Season

During the 1974 baseball season, Hank Aaron made history by becoming the home-run king, breaking the major league record with his 715th homer. Below are additional highlights from that memorable season:

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Additional Highlights from the 1974 Baseball Season

The 1974 season saw several records broken, including Lou Brock's 118 stolen bases and Al Kaline's 3,000th hit. Explore more highlights from the 1974 baseball season below:

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