In the National league, Steve Garvey had his breakout season, getting written-in to start the All-Star game that Summer, on his way to a season that saw him collect 200 hits, 21 homers and 111 runs batted in for the eventual N.L. Champs.
He would go on to log 200 or more hits in six of seven seasons between 1974 and 1980, while driving in 100 or more runs five times, while collecting five Gold Gloves.
A perennial all-star for the era, it still amazes me that he is not in the Hall of Fame. Sometimes it’s more than just numbers or the modern Sabermetrics.
Sometimes it should also include players who came to almost represent his era by his play, his stature, etc. And guys like Garvey, Dave Parker and Jack Morris fit the bill for me.
But hey, "I ain't votin'", so it's all for naught.
In the American League, former 1969 overall #1 pick Jeff Burroughs followed up a very nice 1973 season with an even better one in ‘74, leading the league with 118 runs batted in while hitting 25 homers and batting a career-high .301 while leading the team to a second place finish in the A.L. West.
He would go on to put together a solid 16-year career, even hitting a career-high 44 home runs in 1977, though overshadowed by the exploits of George Foster.
Nevertheless, Burroughs finished his career with 240 homers and a .261 batting average while driving in 882 over 1689 games.
