The 5 Most Iconic Baseball Players of the 1970s

From “Hammerin’ Hank” to “Tom Terrific,” some of Major League Baseball’s greatest players became legends in the 1970s. Here are five of the greatest icons who defined the era.

1. Hank Aaron

Henry Louis Aaron more than lived up to the nickname “Hammerin’ Hank” throughout his 23-season Major League career (with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves from 1954–74 and the Milwaukee Brewers from 1975–76). Aaron, who has led the National League in home runs four times, enthralled the country in 1973 and 1974 as he got close to Babe Ruth’s all-time record of 714 home runs.

On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit home run number 715, despite significant racial hate and threats of death from individuals who did not want him to break this record. By the end of his career, Aaron had blasted 755 homers, a record eventually eclipsed in 2007 by Barry Bonds (though some purists still consider Aaron the champ, given Bonds’ performance came during baseball’s steroid era).

In 1975, Aaron broke another of Ruth’s records that was less hyped than the home run record: the career RBI record (2,297), which he still holds, as well as the career records for extra bases (1,477) and bases (6,856). Hank Aaron died in 2021 at the age of 86.

2. Nolan Ryan

During his 27 years in the major leagues, pitcher Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr., often known as “The Ryan Express,” was an almost unstoppable (or hittable) force. He played for the New York Mets in 1966 and 1968–71, the California Angels in 1972–79, the Houston Astros in 1980–88, and the Texas Rangers in 1989–93.

The powerful right-hander appeared to be ageless for a considerable amount of time (the last of his eight All-Star selections came in 1989, when he was in his early 40s), and he helped lead the “Miracle Mets” to a World Series championship in 1969.

Ryan set MLB records for both career strikeouts (5,714) and career no-hitters (seven), both of which are still in place. Currently 77 years old, Nolan owns and operates a cattle ranching business out of Texas.

3. Pete Rose

Pete Rose, also known as “Charlie Hustle,” is unfortunately associated with a different kind of hustle because he bet on baseball as a player and manager, but here is his impact on the sport during his playing days: From 1963 to 1986, there is no denying it (even if he never made it into the MLB Hall of Fame).

Rose helped the Cincinnati Reds “Big Red Machine” dominate in the 1970s (he later returned to manage the team from 1984 to 1989). Helping the Reds win World Series titles in 1975 and 1976 (he was named Series Most Valuable Player in 1975) and the Philadelphia Phillies win the 1980 title, Rose still holds the MLB record for most hits (4,256).

He also led the team to 100 career wins in singles (3,215), games played (3,562), at bats (14,053), and career plate appearances(15,890). Rose passed away in September. 30th 2024, age 83.

4. Joe Morgan

After playing for the Houston Colt .45s/Astros from 1963 to 1971, second baseman Joe Morgan had his most famous seasons as a member of the Cincinnati Reds’ “Big Red Machine” from 1972 to 1979. He played alongside such powerhouses as Pete Rose and Johnny Bench and helped lead Cincinnati to consecutive World Series titles (1975 and 1976).

The future Hall of Famer was an eight-time All-Star, won five consecutive Gold Glove Awards, and was named National League MVP twice during his time with the Reds. After retiring, Morgan had a successful second career as a broadcaster and was best known as a part of the commentary team for ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball from 1990 to 2010. He died in 2020 at age 77.

5. Tom Seaver

Hall of Famer George Thomas Seaver pitched for four different major league teams over his 20-year career. However, “Tom Terrific” is, of course, most associated with the New York Mets. He spent the 1967-1977 seasons there, helping the newly established expansion team win its first World Series championship in 1969.

Seaver returned to the Mets for the 1983 season, and was also inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. The pitcher also played for the Cincinnati Reds from 1977-1982, where he surprisingly threw the only no-hitter of his career. He played for the Chicago White Sox from 1984-1986, and finally moved to the Boston Red Sox in 1986.

To date, Seaver and Walter Johnson are the only two pitchers to have 300 or more wins, 3,000 or more strikeouts and a sub-3.00 earned run average in their careers. Among his many honors, Seaver won the National League Cy Young Award in 1969, 1973 and 1975 and was a 12-time All-Star. He died in 2020 at age 75.