World Series Heroes of the 1970s

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 29, 2010

World Series Heroes of the 1970s

Brooks Robinson

Robinson cemented his reputation as one of the best-fielding third basemen in MLB history with his stellar glovework in the Series against the Reds. Among his brilliant plays were a diving catch of a Johnny Bench line drive and a backhand stab of a Lee May grounder down the line. Robinson was almost as good at the plate, hitting .429 with six RBIs and the game-winning home run in Game 1 of Baltimore's five-game victory.

Steve Blass

The Pirates trailed the Orioles two-games-to-none when Blass began their comeback by tossing a gem in Game 3, allowing just three hits over nine innings as Pittsburgh won 5-1. Blass would have an encore performance in Game 7, hurling a complete game four-hitter in the Pirates' series-clinching victory.

Gene Tenace

Oakland first baseman Gene Tenace opened the 1972 Fall Classic with a bang, smacking two home runs in his first two at-bats to propel the Athletics to a Game 1 win. A career .241 hitter, Tenace wouldn't slow down, finishing the series batting .348 with four home runs and nine RBIs en route to being named World Series MVP. In the decisive seventh game, he had two hits, two RBIs and scored the game-winning run.

Reggie Jackson

Renowned for his postseason feats, Jackson consistently delivered throughout the 1973 World Series. He hit .355 in the seven-game set, with his timely hitting proving crucial in Athletics' Game 6 and 7 victories over the Mets. He had four RBIs over the final two contests, including a fifth-inning blast to put the decisive game out of reach. He was rewarded with World Series MVP honors.

Rollie Fingers

The A's made quick work of the Dodgers in 1974, taking four out of five games to win their third straight title. That was due in large part to Rollie Fingers, who earned the win in Game 1 and saves in Games 3, 4 and 5, posting an impressive 1.93 ERA over that span.

Carlton Fisk

With Boston and Cincinnati tied at six apiece heading into the bottom of the 12th of Game 6, Fisk lifted a high fly ball deep down the left field line. It seemed to hang in the air forever, with Fisk wildly flailing his arms in an effort to persuade the ball to stay fair. It did, dropping into the foul pole as Boston emerged victorious to send the series to a decisive seventh game. Though the Red Sox lost Game 7, Fisk's home run remains one of the iconic images in MLB postseason history.

Johnny Bench

Leading 3-0 in the series entering Game 4, the Reds were determined to sweep the Yankees and cap a regular season in which they went 102-60. Catcher Johnny Bench made that possible, driving a two-run homer in the fourth inning and a three-run shot in the ninth to cap a Series in which he batted .533 and the Reds won their second consecutive championship.

Reggie Jackson

Game 6 of the 1977 World Series will be forever remembered for the prolific at-bats of Reggie Jackson. He cranked a home run in the fourth inning, another in the fifth, and a third in the eighth, joining Babe Ruth as the only players with three home runs in one World Series game. The Yankees beat the Dodgers that night to win their first World Series in 15 years. It was sweet redemption for Jackson, who had been the subject of rampant turmoil throughout the year in the Bronx. This game gained Jackson the fabled nickname "Mr. October."

Brian Doyle

In his four-yea career, Doyle played just 110 games, hit one home run and batted .161, but he excelled during his only World Series. Doyle hit .438 with seven hits, two RBIs and four runs over the Yankees' six-game victory.

Willie Stargell

At 39, Stargell smacked three home runs over the seven-game Series against the Orioles, one that proved to be the game-winner in the series' decisive final contest. Trailing 1-0 in the sixth, Stargell cranked a towering, two-run homer to put the Pirates up for good, topping off an improbable comeback from a three-games-to-one deficit to claim Pittsburgh's second title of the decade.