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Athletes and Their WAGs: '70s Edition

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 4, 2011

Athletes and Their WAGs: '70s Edition

Rollie Fingers

Oakland pitcher Rollie Fingers and his wife, Jill, enjoy the victory parade for the 1974 World Series winning squad. The couple married in 1967 and divorced seven years later.

Calvin and Janet Hill

While they may best be known as Grant's parents, Calvin and Janet Hill are no slouches themselves. Calvin attended Yale and made four Pro Bowls as a running back for the Cowboys. Janet was a roommate of Hillary Clinton at Wellesley College when she met her husband at a Harvard-Yale football game. The two are still married.

Joe Namath and Randi Oakes

Oakes, who is best known for playing Bonnie Clark on ChiPs , met Namath shortly after the quarterback famously led the Jets to a victory in Super Bowl III. The couple dated on and off for five years.

Julius and Turquoise Erving address reporters during a press conference before Erving's first NBA game in 1976. The two were married over 30 years before divorcing in 2003.

Joe and Dani Torre

Mets infielder Joe Torre relaxes on the beach with wife Dani and daughters Lauren and Tina, during spring training sessions in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Terry Bradshaw and Diane Murchison

Terry Bradshaw and his girlfriend, Diane Murchison are all smiles as they depart from New Orleans after the Steelers beat the Vikings in Super Bowl IX.

Terry Bradshaw and JoJo Starbuck

After ending things with Murchison, Bradshaw met professional ice skater JoJo Starbuck. The two were married in 1975 and divorced in 1983.

Walter and Connie Payton

Payton married his wife, Connie Norwood, in 1976 as he was establishing himself as one of the best running backs in football. We aren't sure if she married him for his moves on the dance floor.

O.J. and Marguerite Simpson

O.J. and Marguerite Simpson are all smiles during a photo shoot in Buffalo, NY. The couple married in 1967 and had three children (the youngest, Aaren, drowned in the family's swimming pool at the age of 2) before divorcing in 1979.

Fritz and Marilyn Peterson, Mike and Susanne Kekich

Yankee pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich sit on a schooner's bowsprit with their wives, Marilyn Peterson and Susanne Kekich, on Long Island Sound in 1972. The two couples would make news a year later when the two teammates swapped families, including wives and children.

Thurman and Diane Munson

Yankees catcher Thurman Munson and his wife, Diana, share a laugh after Munson was named the 1976 American League MVP. The couple married in 1968 and stay together until Munson's unfortunate death in 1979.

Jack and Barbara Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, pose with the US Open trophy, Masters trophy, British Open Claret Jug, US Amateur trophy, and Rodman Wanamaker PGA trophy. The couple have been married since 1960 and have five children.

Bruce and Chrystie Jenner

Bruce Jenner is greeted by his wife, Chrystie, after winning gold in the 1976 Summer Olympics. The couple were married from 1972 to 1980 and have two children. Jenner would later marry Kris Jenner and become a part of the Kardashian clan.

Willie and Cynthia Shoemaker

Jockey Willie Shoemaker poses with his wife, Cynthia, before the start of the 199th Derby Stakes in Great Britain. The couple married in 1978 and divorced in 1994.

Pete and Karolyn Rose

Pete Rose is rewarded with a cup and a kiss by his wife Karolyn for being named Sports Illustrated 's 1975 Sportsman of the Year. The two were married from 1964 to 1980.

Johnny and Vickie Bench

Johnny Bench gets a laugh from his wife, Vickie, as he somehow holds seven baseballs in his hand at one time. The couple were married in 1975 and divorced a year later.

Bobby and Pat Bonds

Bonds and his wife, Pat, relax at their home in San Carlos, Calif. The couple married in 1963 and stayed together until Bobby's death in 2003. They have three children including home run king Barry.

Bjorn Borg and Mariana Simionescu

Bjorn Borg chats with teammate and girlfriend Mariana Simionescu during a 1977 Team Tennis match between Borg's Cleveland Nets and the New York Apples. The couple married in 1980 and divorced four years later.

Dick and Helen Butkus

Dick and Helen Butkus pose at their home in Chicago. The couple, who have been married since 1963, have a daughter and two sons.

Willie and Mae Mays

Willie Mays and his wife, Mae, walk the grounds of their home in Atherton, Calif. The couple married in 1971 after Mays divorced his first wife, Margherite.

Darrell and Stevie Waltrip

Darrell and Stevie Waltrip pose in Victory Lane after the 1979 Nashville 420. Stevie is known for being the first NASCAR wife to attend races and sit in the pit box.

Fred and Jennifer Biletnikoff

Fred Biletnikoff and his wife, Jennifer, sit in a new automobile presented to him for being the most valuable player in Super Bowl XI.

Marvin Webster and Madeira Meadows

College hoops star Marvin Webster, known as "the Human Eraser," walks with his fiancee, Madeira Meadows, across the Morgan State campus in Baltimore.

Richard and Lynda Petty

Richard Petty waves to the cheering crowds as he and his wife, Lynda, celebrate Petty's victory at the 1974 Daytona 500. The couple married in 1959 and have four children and 12 grandchildren.

Bart and Cherry Starr

Bart and Cherry Starr pose together at a ceremony for the former Packers quarterback. The couple eloped in 1954.

Hank and Billye Aaron

"Hammering" Hank married Billye in 1973 as he was on the verge of breaking baseball's all-time home run record. IN 2003, the couple received the Martin Luther King, Jr. "Salute to Greatness" Award.

Johnny and Sandra Unitas

Johnny Unitas with his wife, Sandra speak to reporters after the quarterback's trade to San Diego in early 1973. The two were married in 1954 and stayed together until Unitas' death in 2002.

Len and Jackie Dawson

Len Dawson boosts his wife Jackie onto the hood of his new car in New York, which he received after being named the MVP of Super Bowl IV. The couple were married from 1953 to Jackie's death in 1978.

Mark and Susan Spitz

Mark Spitz relaxes on his sailboat with wife, Susan. The two have been married since 1973.

Muhammad Ali and Belinda Boyd

Muhammad Ali looks at the sky as his wife, Belinda, snaps a picture at the couple's house in Cherry Hill, Mich. The couple were married for 10 years (1967-77) and had four children together.

Roberto and Claudine Duran

Lightweight champion Roberto Duran receives a kiss from his wife, Claudine, after a unanimous decision victory over Edwin Viruet in 10-round non-title bout.

Tom and Linda Watson

Tom and Linda Watson kiss the 1975 British Open trophy after Watson held off Jack Newton in a playoff match to claim the title. The Watsons were married for 25 years before divorcing in 1997.

Wes and Connie Unseld

Wes Unseld and his wife Connie hold the keys to the new Thunderbird he was given for being named Sport Magazine's most valuable player.

Bobby and Marsha Unser

Bobby Unser receives a victory kiss from his wife, Marcia, after capturing the International Race of Champions event at the Riverside, California Raceway.

Chuck and Phylis Wepner

Wepner, who is believed to be the real life inspiration for Sylvester Stallone's Rocky character, and his wife Phylis arrive at Cleveland's Richfield Coliseum, for his weigh-in with heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali.

Emerson and Maria Helena Filttipaldi

Brazilian auto racer Emerson Filttipaldi and his wife Maria Helena hold the 1972 Formula One Driver's Cup. The couple were married from 1970-82 and have three children.