Overview of Baseball Teams in the 70s
The 1970s were an exciting time for baseball, with a number of teams changing their names, moving to different cities, and developing new strategies on the field. In this article, we’ll explore how many baseball teams were in the 70s and what some of the more notable teams were during this time period.
The Major League Baseball Teams
The Major League Baseball (MLB) is the oldest professional sports league in the United States. It was founded in 1869 and is composed of 30 teams, split between the National League and the American League. Major League Baseball teams have been playing since the late 19th century, and the number of teams has changed over the years.
During the 70s, there were 26 Major League Baseball teams. This number included 24 teams that were part of the two leagues – the National League and the American League – and two teams that were part of the short-lived Special Baseball League, which only lasted from 1969 to 1971.
The National League Teams
The National League, founded in 1876, is one of the two leagues that make up Major League Baseball. During the 70s, the National League was composed of twelve teams:
- Atlanta Braves
- Chicago Cubs
- Cincinnati Reds
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Montreal Expos
- New York Mets
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- San Diego Padres
- San Francisco Giants
- St. Louis Cardinals
The American League Teams
The American League was founded in 1901 and is one of the two leagues that make up Major League Baseball. During the 70s, the American League was composed of twelve teams:
- Baltimore Orioles
- Boston Red Sox
- California Angels
- Chicago White Sox
- Cleveland Indians
- Detroit Tigers
- Kansas City Royals
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Minnesota Twins
- New York Yankees
- Oakland Athletics
- Texas Rangers
The Special Baseball League Teams
The Special Baseball League was a short-lived professional baseball league that only lasted from 1969 to 1971. During this time, the league was composed of two teams:
- Washington Senators
- Seattle Pilots
Notable Teams in the 70s
During the 70s, there were a number of notable baseball teams that made an impact on the game. Here are some of the most notable teams of the decade:
The Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds were one of the most dominant teams of the 70s. The team was led by manager Sparky Anderson and featured Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan. The Reds won the World Series in 1975 and 1976, winning four National League pennants during the decade.
The Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics, led by manager Dick Williams and general manager Billy Martin, were one of the most successful teams of the 70s. The team won three consecutive World Series titles from 1972 to 1974, and had a number of Hall of Famers on their roster, including Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter.
The Big Red Machine
The Big Red Machine was the nickname given to the Cincinnati Reds teams of the 70s. Led by manager Sparky Anderson and Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan, the team won four National League pennants and two World Series titles during the decade.
The Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates were led by manager Chuck Tanner and featured Hall of Famers Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, and Bill Madlock. The team won the World Series in 1971 and 1979, and had five consecutive National League East titles from 1970 to 1974.
The New York Yankees
The New York Yankees were led by manager Billy Martin and featured Hall of Famers Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson, and Goose Gossage. The team had consecutive World Series titles in 1977 and 1978, and won five American League East titles during the decade.
Notable Events in the 70s
The 70s were a time of great change and excitement in Major League Baseball. Here are some of the more notable events of the decade:
The Merger of the AL and NL
In 1970, Major League Baseball officially merged the two leagues, the National League and the American League. With the merger, the two leagues were divided into two divisions, the East and West. This allowed teams to play against other teams in their own division, as well as in the other division.
The Designated Hitter Rule
In 1973, the American League adopted the designated hitter rule, which allowed for a player to bat for the pitcher in the lineup. This rule was adopted to increase the number of runs scored in the game, and to make it easier for teams to score more runs.
The Free Agent Era
In 1976, Major League Baseball introduced free agency, which allowed players to negotiate with teams for higher salaries. This ushered in a new era of player movement and led to a number of competitive teams in the league.
The Expansion of the League
In 1977, Major League Baseball expanded to include the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays, the first two expansion teams since 1961. This opened the door for more teams to join the league and increased competition between teams.
Conclusion
The 70s were an exciting time for Major League Baseball, with a number of teams changing their names, moving to different cities, and developing new strategies on the field. During this time, there were 26 teams in the Major League Baseball, including 24 teams in the two leagues – the National League and the American League – and two teams in the short-lived Special Baseball League.
The 70s saw a number of dominant teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, the Oakland Athletics, and the New York Yankees, and a number of notable events, such as the merger of the two leagues, the introduction of the designated hitter rule, the start of the free agent era, and the expansion of the league.
Overall, the 70s were a decade of great change and excitement in Major League Baseball, and it set the stage for the modern era of the game.