Though
he began his Major League career later in the decade, I have to add
Andre Dawson, aka “The Hawk” to be long-running “Nicknames of the
1970’s” thread:
Dawson came up and took home the National League Rookie of the Year in
1977 and just kept on putting in All-Star seasons for over the next 20
years, punching his ticket for the Hall of Fame.
Eight-time All-Star, eight-time Gold Glove, 1987 N.L. MVP, the man was
one of the best in the game, and yet incredibly was STILL overlooked
through much of his career, playing up North with the Montreal Expos.
The five-time 20/20 guy stole as many as 39 bases in a season (1982),
while hitting as many as 49 homers (1987), twice finishing second in the
MVP race (1981 and 1983).
By the time he retired after the 1996 season he finished with 438 homers
with 314 stolen bases, 2774 hits and 1591 runs batted in, finally
making it into Cooperstown in 2010.
What a player...