1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. MANAGER BILLY MARTIN

Today on the blog we take a look at my pick for the American League Manager of the 1970s, Billy Martin who won no matter which cap he put on his hot-tempered head:

Martin was a winner wherever he managed. Just look it up!

He began his managerial career in 1969 with the Minnesota Twins and took them straight to the Playoffs, guiding the team to a first place finish with a 97-65 record.
He would move on to Detroit, and would take them to a first place finish by his second year in 1972 with a record of 86-70.
He’d move on to the Texas Rangers and they’d have their first successful season in 1974, albeit a second place finish behind league MVP Jeff Burroughs and ace Fergie Jenkins, then of course he would move on to the New York Yankees, where the “Bronx Zoo” was in full swing, eventually bringing Martin a World Championship in 1977.
He’d move on to the Oakland A’s where “Billy-Ball” was in full effect, losing to the Yankees in the Championship Series while burning through every arm on his pitching staff with overuse.
Then finally, there was the back-and-forth period between he and the Yankees, specifically owner George Steinbrenner, where he managed in 1983, 1985 and finally 1988, almost a comedic show of hiring and firing that really was an embarrassment to us Yankee fans of the era.
Nevertheless, Martin was a winner, though one with a temper at that, leaving the game with a .553 winning percentage and over 1200 wins.
Should he be in the Hall of Fame?
I do think so more for his personality than anything else. As a symbol of the wild 1970’s with his managerial style a'la Earl Weaver, arguing and fighting his way through each season.
Rest in Peace Billy, you are missed.

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. MANAGER SPARKY ANDERSON

Time on the blog to go and tab the National league Manager of the Decade for the 1970s, as picked by yours truly, and I went with the "Big Red Machine" skipper Sparky Anderson:

Who else was I going to pick?

Arguably leading the team of the decade, the Cincinnati Reds, Anderson was at the helm of a team that featured many of the top players of the era.

In 1975 the Reds were arguably one of the best teams in baseball history, steamrolling to 108 victories before eventually beating the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

In 1976, more of the same as the team would win 102 games before sweeping the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Throw in the fact that they were also in the World Series in both 1970 and 1972, and it really looked like the team, stacked with guys like Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and George Foster, would be keeping our attention for quite some time.

But alas, according to Sparky, it was the trading of one of their OTHER stars, Tony Perez, that took the heart and soul out of the team, and shockingly the "Big Red Machine" would not bring home another championship, and the franchise would have to wait until 1990 before experiencing it again.

For Anderson however, the man would go down as one of the greatest managers in Major League history, moving on to the Detroit Tigers in 1979, where he would go on to manage 17 years, giving him a combined 26 years of Big League managing, even taking home another title with that great 1984 Tiger team that was in first "wire-to-wire", winning 104 games before beating the San Diego Padres in the World Series.

All told the man won 2194 games as a manager, finishing with a .545 winning percentage, three titles, 5 pennants, and of course a Hall of Fame induction in 2000.

Legend, and perpetually looking like an "old man" even when he was in his 30's!

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. RELIEVER SPARKY LYLE

Today on the blog, we have my pick for the American League relief pitcher of the 1970s, a character if there ever was one, Sparky Lyle:

Benefiting from a FULL decade in the American league, I picked Sparky over guys like Rollie Fingers or Mike Marshall, as he would help the New York Yankees win two championships, take home a Cy Young Award in 1977, and finish top-3 for an MVP Award in 1972 among many other accomplishments!

Coming over from the Boston Red Sox before the 1972 season, which is often cited as terribly one-sided in favor of the Yankees, it paid instant dividends in the Bronx, as Lyle posted a 9-5 record with a 1.92 earned run average and league-leading 35 saves in his first year there.

He'd even finish seventh in Cy Young voting, as well as third in Most Valuable Player voting during the post-season.

Five years later in 1977, Lyle would win the Cy Young Award, going 13-5 with a league-leading 23 saves and a 2.17 E.R.A., and he'd finish fifth in M.V.P. Voting.

But with Rich "Goose" Gossage joining the Yanks the following year, he'd find himself off to Texas by 1979, and retired from the game in 1982 after a handful of games with the White Sox.

All told Sparky would post 238 lifetime saves in 899 games, setting a record for career games all in relief.

I'm not sure, but it still may be the record actually. Have to check.

 

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. RELIEVER TUG McGRAW

Good day everyone!

With today's post, we have my selection for the National League's "Reliever of the 1970s", Tug McGraw, a selection that may surprise some on here:

Now hear me out!

While the popular pick may be guys like Rollie Fingers, Mike Marshall or even Bruce Sutter, I went with McGraw because of his FULL tenure in the N.L. that decade, while also being the "Fireman" for my two starting pitcher picks for the All-Decade team, Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton!

McGraw is easily overlooked these days, posting some solid All-Star seasons that led to four Post Season appearances with the Mets and Phillies, bookended by two World Championship years with 1969 (Mets) and 1980 (Phillies).

His 1971 and 1972 seasons were stellar, posting a 1.70 earned run average each year, while going a combined 19-10 with 35 saves.

After putting in nine solid if not excellent seasons with the Mets between 1965 and 1974, McGraw would go on to turn it up a notch and play ten years for the Phillies, closing out his career after the 1984 season at the age of 39.
He would make the All-Star team twice, get MVP consideration three seasons, and finish fifth in the Cy Young race in 1980 after helping the Phillies to a World Championship.
In that season he had perhaps the best year of his career, posting a record of 5-4 with a miniscule 1.46 earned run average over 57 games, with 20 saves, before posting another four saves in the Post Season, including the final out of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals.
His final numbers were a career record of 96-92, with a 3.14 ERA over 824 appearances, with 180 saves and 1109 strikeouts in 1514.2 innings pitched.
I can’t believe it’s already been 16 years since he passed away on January 5th of 2004 from a brain tumor which was first diagnosed just about a year earlier.
A true character of the game, he was only 59 years old.
R.I.P. Tug.

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. LHP VIDA BLUE

On the blog this fine day, my pick for the 1970s American League left-handed pitcher of the decade, Vida Blue:

Before taking his talents across the Bay to the San Francisco Giants in 1978, Vida Blue anchored the Oakland A’s pitching staff, helping the team to three straight World Championships between 1972 and 1974.
Along the way he posted three 20-win seasons, including his magnificent 1971 campaign that saw him go 24-8 with a 1.83 E.R.A. and 301 strikeouts, with eight shutouts and 24 complete games at the age of 21, taking home league Cy Young and M.V.P. Awards.
A season earlier, he pitched a no-hitter against the Minnesota Twins, facing the minimum 27 batters with nine strikeouts.

Blue would go on to six All-Star games, starting and winning one in each league, and eventually retire with 209 wins and a 3.27 ERA with 37 shutouts, posting three 20-win seasons over his 17-year career.
A true icon of 1970’s baseball.

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. LHP STEVE CARLTON

Today on the blog, a super-easy choice for my 1970s left-handed pitcher of the decade, "Lefty" Steve Carlton, as if there'd be anyone else:

Part of my recent custom released National League set (with different images for the actual printed cards, with the American League team coming soon!)

Carlton made his major League debut during the 1965 season, appearing in 15 games, with two of those starts, not factoring in a decision while pitching to a 2.52 earned run average as a 20-year-old.

In 1966 it would be more of the same, as he'd appear in only nine games, going 3-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 52 innings of work, striking out 25 while walking 18, also tossing the first shutout of his young Big League tenure.

1967 would see him begin his next level of play, as he'd go 14-9 with a 2.98 ERA over 30 appearances and 193 innings, with two shutouts and 168 strikeouts, helping the St. Louis Cardinals win it all, their second championship in three years.

For Carlton, all he did the rest of the way was top 300 wins, 4000 strikeouts, 50 shutouts and 700 starts in his 24 year career!

The first guy to take home four Cy Young Awards, he led his league in wins four times, strikeouts five times, E.R.A. once and was named to ten all-star teams.

Needless to say, by the time he was eligible for the Hall of Fame, he was in on his first try, getting named to 436 of 456 ballots.

Sure we already had "Lefty" Grove, and "Lefty" Gomez, but Carlton was more than worthy of the same nickname for all of his accomplishments.

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. RHP JIM PALMER

Good day everyone!

On the blog today, we have my pick, and I'm sure most everyone else in this matter, for the American League right-handed pitcher of the 1970s, Jim Palmer, Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer:

Honestly, there is no way it could be anyone else, as the man was just incredible not only in the 1970s, but over his stellar career.

Palmer’s road to Cooperstown was a bit rocky at first, with a couple of jumps and starts because of injuries between 1964 and 1968.
As a matter of fact we’d probably be looking at a 300-game winner if not for over a season of missed time between 1967 and 1968.
All the man did was top 20-wins in eight of the next ten seasons of the 1970s, winning three Cy Young Awards, the first American League pitcher to do so, helping the Orioles to a championship in 1970, and eventually finishing with a career 268-152 record along with a brilliant 2.86 ERA and 53 shutouts before he was done in 1984.

Over that magical decade of the 1970s, he was an All-Star six times, got MVP support seven seasons, and took home four Gold Gloves.

Truly one of the All-Time greats of the game!

 

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. RHP TOM SEAVER

OK now!

Today we go and place my favorite player of the 1970's, Mr. Tom Seaver, on my National League "All-Decade" Team, about as easy a pick for me as there can be, the right-handed pitcher of the 1970's, something he was for the Major Leagues, let alone National League:

What needs to be said about the greatest New York Met to ever suit up?

The man would end up with a 311-205 record along with 61 shutouts and 3640 strikeouts to go with a brilliant 2.86 ERA over 20-seasons and 656 appearances, 647 of which were starts.

He was in prime form in the mid-70’s, putting together nine straight 200 strikeouts seasons while getting tabbed to ten all-star teams in his first eleven seasons.

God I loved Tom Seaver when I was a kid. More than any other pitcher of that era I was in awe of this man. He just seemed like a "super-hero" to me.

Just look at all my other posts dedicated to the man here on this blog. He was other-worldly to me growing up in New York City as a kid in the 1970's.

Even if he WAS a Met, to this young Yankee fan he was unquestionably the best pitcher in the game at that time.

Rest in Peace "Tom Terrific"!

 

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. OUTFIELDER JIM RICE

On the blog today, my final outfielder for my American League team of the decade of the 1970s, and I went with Boston's Jim Rice:

It was such a close race for my third and final spot in the A.L. outfield between three teammates: Rice, Fred Lynn and Carl Yastrzemski, but for me Rice was at the head of the pack.

I'm STILL amazed with Rice's run from 1977 through 1979! Even though he only pulled in one M.V.P., he was an absolute terror at the plate.

Over 200 hits each year, along with 39, 46 and 39 homers, as well as averaging 124 runs batted in and a .320 average.

Then you notice that the dude hit 15, 15 and 6 TRIPLES those years, leading the league in homers AND triples in 1978.

I mean, that is just plain RAKING at the plate!

Man, Rice used to terrify me as a young Yankee fan. He was just plain brutal to opposing pitchers, and it was a shame that he had to wait so long to get elected into Cooperstown. 

By the time Rice was done in the Big Leagues, he'd finish with 2400+ hits, 382 homers, 1451 runs batted in and a .298 lifetime average.

Five times would he finish in the running for Most Valuable Player besides the year he took it home.

Absolute STUD!

 

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. OUTFIELDER PETE ROSE

Up on the blog today, my third and final National League outfielder to make my personal "All-Decade" team for the 1970s, and I went with the Sporting News "Player of the Decade" outright, Pete Rose:

Though Rose only played a part of the decade in the outfield, he was definitely going to be a part of my squad here.

In a decade where we had future powerhouse Hall of Famers like Johnny Bench, Tom Seaver, and Reggie Jackson, Rose was the guy who came out in front of them all when it came time for the Sporting News to select someone who would represent the go-go '70's.
In the ten years spanning 1970-1979, he was on two world champion teams, four pennant winners, had six 200-hit seasons, and lead his league in no less than 13 offensive categories!
And that's not all: in NINE of those years he received Most Valuable Player consideration, taking home the award in 1973.

The man excelled no matter what position he played: second, third, outfield, first. That cannot be overlooked.

So my N.L. outfield is built on Greg Luzinski, Lou Brock and Pete Rose.

Of course I gave heavy consideration to George Foster, Dave Parker and Willie Stargell, but for me I figured a well-built line-up would be best served by my three picks to man the outfield grass.

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. OUTFIELDER AMOS OTIS

OK now!

Today I post up my first American League outfielder of the 1970s, often overlooked and underappreciated Kansas City Royal Amos Otis:

The man just needs to get his due when it comes to top outfielders of the 1970s, and I am happy to oblige!

Otis could very well be THE most overlooked player of the 1970's as he was nothing but steady through the entire decade, going on to be the American League's top run scorer with 861. driving in 90+ three times while stealing 30+ bases five times.

He led the A.L. in doubles twice, steals once, and made five All-Star teams while bringing home three Gold Gloves.

By the time he retired after the 1984 season after one year with the Pittsburgh Pirates, he ended up with 193 homers, 341 stolen bases, 1092 runs scored and 2020 hits along with a batting average of .277 and 1007 runs batted in.
Considering the “dead ball” era of the early-70’s in the American League, his numbers are up there with the best of them, and it’s sad he gets lost among his contemporaries when looking back at that time in Major League baseball.

We can easily put together a top-notch squad of overlooked A.L. players from the era, including Roy White, Jim Sundberg, Toby Harrah and Buddy Bell, who I'd put up against just about anyone else!

 

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. OUTFIELDER LOU BROCK

Good day everyone!

Today's blog post has me adding the great, and overlooked, Lou Brock to my National league team of the 1970s, as one of my outfielders for the Senior League:

It's easy to forget about Brock sometimes, as he put in season after season of All-Star level play in the quietest way.

But when you go and look at his performance over both his career and the 1970s, you'll see that he deserves this spot as he averaged around .300 with five seasons of 190+ hits, two of this 200+, with four 100-run years and of course four stolen base titles among his eight overall.

He hit .300 or better seven times in the decade, while making five All-Star teams, and was a national news story in 1974 when he ran mad on the bases and set a new Major League record with 118 stolen bases.

The man made six All-Star squads, finished second in the MVP race for the National League in 1974, and would go on to a Hall of Fame induction thanks to 3000+ hits, an MLB record 938 stolen bases, and 1610 runs scored.
Did you realize that between 1964 and 1974 the LEAST amount of hits he collected in any one season was 182!?
As a matter of fact in those eleven seasons he collected over 190 hits eight times, while scoring less than 90 only once.
Just an amazing 19-year career!

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. OUTFIELDER REGGIE JACKSON

Good day everyone!

On the blog today, we move on to the American League's first outfielder in my "All-Decade" 1970s team, the incomparable Reggie Jackson:

About as big an icon of the game for the era, there was no way he wasn't going to be on my All-Decade team.

He truly became one of the eternal icons of the game, just destined for baseball greatness since his days at Cheltenham High School in Pennsylvania.
Recruited by pro teams and colleges alike, he went on to Arizona State where he was actually on a football scholarship.
Of course we all know the story of the 1966 amateur draft, where the New York Mets held the #1 pick, and opted for high school catcher Steve Chilcott instead of who many considered the true #1 overall amateur, Jackson.
With the second pick, the Kansas City Athletics (later Oakland) picked the slugger and the rest is history, as he would eventually lead the organization to three straight championships between 1972-1974 before being traded in a blockbuster to the Baltimore Orioles where he’d play for one season in 1976.
As a highly coveted free agent before the 1977 season, Jackson signed with the New York Yankees, and with Reggie in NYC, the legend exploded as he helped the Yankees to two championships in 1977-78.
With his larger than life persona, New York ate it up and before you knew it, he was known around the world, even getting his own candy-bar by the end of the decade.
For a kid like me growing up in Brooklyn in the ‘70’s, Reggie was like a God, larger than life, and before he finished up his career in 1987, putting in 21 seasons, he would put together a Hall of Fame career with 563 homers, 1702 runs batted in, an MVP Award in 1973, and five championships.
Add to that 14 all-star nods, four home run titles, a legendary homer in the 1971 All-Star Game against Dock Ellis, his 1977 World Series performance, and you can see why he goes down as one of the most well-known baseball personalities the game has ever seen!

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. OUTFIELDER GREG LUZINSKI

Up on the blog today, we move on to my first pick for one of the "outfielders of the decade" for the National League, and I went with Greg Luzinski, the "Bull":

Any time I can have a guy who slugs the heck out of the ball while also hovering near .300, I'll take him!

Between 1975 and 1978 Luzinski was a top-10 MVP candidate, with two second-place finishes in 1975 and 1977 when he drove in 120 and 130 runs respectively along with 34 and 39 home runs.
And like I stated earlier, he was a .300 hitter! He topped .300 three straight seasons, from 1975 to 1977 while making the All-Star team each year.
Thing about this: Luzinski retired after the 1984 season with 307 homers, 1128 runs batted in, and 1795 hits, and he was only 33 years of age.

He topped 100 RBIs four times, 20 homers seven times, and got MVP attention seven times.

It’s easy to forget that he really put up great numbers while retiring at a relatively young age, even if he played for parts of 15 seasons between 1970 and 1984.

When you see my picks for the other two outfielders in the N.L. for the decade, you'll see how Luzinski compliments my hypothetical line-up!

 

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. THIRD BASEMAN: GEORGE BRETT

OK, now today I post a card that was a tough one for me, my choice for the American League's top third baseman of the 1970s, and I went with George Brett:

Originally I did go with Graig Nettles, since he did put in a full decade in the league and put up some excellent power numbers while helping the New York Yankees to two World Championships.

However, I reconsidered and decided that this guy, as much as I hated him as a young Yankee fan growing up in Brooklyn at that time, was just tops and deserved the "honor".

Brett made his Big League debut in 1973 with 13 games for the Kansas City Royals, the only team he'd suit up for over his magnificent 21 year career.

In that initial showing he hit .125 with five hits in 40 at-bats, including two doubles and two runs scored.

The following season he'd be here to stay, finishing third in the American League Rookie of the Year race in 1974, hitting .282 with 129 hits, 49 runs scored and 47 runs batted in over 133 games for the Kansas City Royals.
He’d have his breakout season quickly, leading the league with 195 hits as well as 13 triples in 1975 before winning his first batting title a year later when he hit .333 with a league-leading 215 hits and 14 triples.

His 1979 season is just not appreciated enough!

That season Brett led the league with 212 hits and 20 triples, while also collecting 42 doubles, 23 homers, 107 runs batted in and 119 runs scored, hitting .329 and also stealing 17 bases!

This was arguably his best season overall for his career, and remember, he hit .390 the following year!

The man was born to hit, and would finish his career with 3154 hits, a .305 average, 317 homers and let’s not forget the 201 stolen bases and 137 triples!
The 13-time all-star was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1993, getting named to 98.2% of the ballot, while taking home the MVP in 1980 after his magical .390 hitting season, while finishing second twice and third once.
Legend!

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. THIRD BASEMAN MIKE SCHMIDT

Good day all!

On the blog today, we move on to the National League and MY pick for the third baseman of the decade, Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies:

For me, what Schmidt did in six seasons of the 1970s was tops among third sackers in the Senior League, taking home three home run titles, four Gold Gloves, three top-10 finishes in the MVP race and four 100-RBI campaigns.

There was some competition from the Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star third baseman Ron Cey, but Schmidt was well on his way to put together a Hall of Fame career that would leave him in the discussion of "greatest of them all" for his position.

What a career: 12 All-Star nods, 10 Gold Gloves, three Most Valuable Player Awards, all while anchoring a Philadelphia Phillies team that would reach their apex in 1980, taking home the World Series with a victory over the Kansas City Royals.
By the time he hung them up in 1989, he’d hit 548 home runs, drive in 1595 runs while scoring 1506, while also stealing 174 bases! Easy to forget he could steal a base or two. As a matter of fact, it’s real easy to forget that he came one stolen base short of joining the (then) exclusive 30-30 club back in 1975, slamming 38 homers to lead the league while swiping 29.
Nevertheless, “Schmitty” rode that success straight to a Hall of Fame induction come 1995, a lock if there ever was one.

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. SHORTSTOP: BERT CAMPANERIS

Let us move on to my pick for the American League's top shortstop of the 1970s, which is All-Star Bert Campaneris:

For me this was somewhat of an easy pick, with "Campy" putting in a great decade playing for the Oakland A's, Texas Rangers and part of 1979 for the California Angels.

He would be named to five All-Star teams, win three World Championships and get some MVP votes in five different seasons.

A spark plug for the three-peat Oakland A's dynasty, he took home two of his six stolen base crowns between 1970 and 1979, stealing 40+ seven times.

By the time he was done as a Major League player in 1983 at the age of 41, he’d finish with 2249 career hits with 1181 runs scored with six all-star game nods in 19 years.
I fondly remember his time with the New York Yankees in 1983, this last action before retiring. Just seemed like a fun veteran to have around giving tips to youngsters like Don Mattingly.

I do have to admit however, that it was a close race between Camaneris and Baltimore Orioles glove man Mark Belanger, who though was as light-hitting as they got, did take home seven Gold Gloves for his defensive work.

But for me, offense came out on top, and "Campy" is my guy at short for the A.L. All-Decade team.

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. SHORTSTOP DAVE CONCEPCION

Today on the blog, we move to shortstop and the National League for my pick as top at the position in his league for the 1970s, and I go with Dave Concepcion:

There were some really good shortstops in the N.L. during the 1970's, especially Philadelphia Phillies Larry Bowa, but I just had to go with a cog of the "Big Red Machine", arguably a Hall of Famer who took home five Gold Gloves and made six All-Star teams.

Often overlooked by teammates like Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan, Concepcion was also a valuable piece to the four-time Pennant winners and two-time World Champs, giving them a solid man up-the-middle to compliment Bench and Morgan.

He would end up putting in 19-seasons in the Major Leagues, all with Cincinnati, finishing up with 2326 hits and a .267 batting average over 2488 games and 8723 at-bats between 1970 and 1988.
He played in all four of the “Big Red Machine” World Series appearances and batted a cool .297 over his Postseason action, with 30 hits in 101 at-bats over 34 games.
I’ll never forget opening up a pack of 1979 cards and seeing that the “All-Star” banner was NOT on his card. I was stunned since he was always the National League All-Star shortstop since I started collecting in 1976.
For me, he became somewhat of a baseball institution, playing through my youth straight through college, retiring at the age of 40.
Anyway, once he became eligible for Hall of Fame induction, he was on the ballot all 15 years and never got more than 16.9% (1998), but really, if it IS called the Hall of “Fame”, I think you can make a pretty good argument for the guy since he was indeed in that upper-echelon during the wild-70’s.

He certainly has my pick for the N.L. shortstop of the decade for the 1970's!

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: A.L. SECOND BASEMAN ROD CAREW

OK now.

On the blog today, my pick for the A.L. second baseman of the 1970's, an easy one in my option, the great Rod Carew of the Minnesota Twins:

Now, indeed we all know that Crew shifted to first base in 1976, but his time at second between 1970 and 1975 was enough to give him the honor in my book.

Of his six years at second, he won four batting titles, while also leading the league in hits twice and triples once.

He made the All-Star team every year and was in the top-3 in the MVP race three times, with a high of a fourth place finish in 1973 when he hit .350 with 208 hits and eleven triples, all league high marks.

He would go on to play in 18 All-Star games, missing only his final season in the Majors in 1985. Just incredible.

The first nine seasons of his career were as an All-Star second baseman, while the last nine were as a first baseman.

The man topped .300 15 years in a row, with a high of .388 in 1977 on his way to a Most Valuable Player Award and capturing the public’s attention with his .400 chase late in the season.
A clear-cut Hall of Fame player, he was inducted on his first year of eligibility in 1991 when he garnered 90.5% of the vote, which leaves me with the question: who the hell are the 9.5% who DIDN’T vote for him!!!???

3053 hits, a .328 career average, 353 stolen bases and 15 straight seasons of .300+ batting.

The man was a hitting machine, and I'm so glad I got to see him play during his magnificent career!

 

1970'S ALL-DECADE TEAM: N.L. SECOND BASEMAN JOE MORGAN

On the blog today, we move on to the National League and my pick for the Senior League's top second baseman of the decade, and it's about as easy as it gets with Joe Morgan:

Who else would get picked over "Little Joe", the two-time MVP who had a phenomenal run between 1970 and 1979?

The man was an All-Star every year except for 1971, MVP in both 1975 and 1976, top-5 in the award in both 1972 and 1973, and a five-time Gold Glove selection.

Oh yeah, he also led the Cincinnati Reds and their "Big Red Machine" juggernaut to two World Championships as well as another World Series appearance 1972.

His 1976 season was the stuff of legend at the time: a .320 batting average, 27 homers, 111 runs batted in, 113 runs scored and 114 base on balls, leading his league in On-Base-Percentage and Slugging while claiming a spot on his seventh National League All-Star team.

By the time he retired after the 1984 season at the age of 40, he finished with two MVP Awards, 10 All-Star nods, five Gold Gloves, 2517 hits, 1650 runs scored, 268 homers and a cool 689 stolen bases with 1865 walks.
One of the all-timers right there at second base, let alone the top man at his position for the decade.