Decade in a Box: 1970s Trivia Quiz

Answer: Thurman Munson

Munson was in his 11th season in 1979 when his aircraft accident took place. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1970, then the American League MVP in 1976. He was a seven-time all-star. He died on August 2nd at the age of 32. Some of the other high profile baseball stars who died in the decade were; Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Gil Hodges, Dizzy Dean, Casey Stengel, and Angel Lyman Bostock who was murdered at the age of 27 in 1978.

Answer: Oakland Athletics

Although all the teams went to three World Series in the 1970s, it was the Charles Finley owned team that won three in a row from 1972-1974. The team was led by Gene Tenace, Sal Bando, Reggie Jackson, Bert Campaneris, Jim Hunter, Ken Holtzman, and Vida Blue.

Answer: George Foster

The others listed never hit 50 season home runs in their career. Foster belted out 52 in 1977 with the Cincinnati Reds. This career high for George won him the National League MVP in the season. He also helped the Reds to three World Series appearances in the 1970s, winning two.

Answer: Gaylord Perry

The others never won a Cy Young award. Known for his spitball, and after spending 10 seasons with the Giants, Perry won his first Cy Young as an Indian in 1972 when he went 24-16. With the Padres in 1978, he went 21-6 and won the award over Burt Hooton of the Dodgers.

Answer: Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles of 1971 was the first team ever to accomplish this. With the arms of Mike Cuellar, Pat Dobson, Jim Palmer, and Dave McNally, they all won 20 games with McNally winning 21. The four pitchers threw an amazing 70 complete games in the season. However, it was all for not as they lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series, four games to three.

Answer: Rod Carew

The others all retired before 1977. Carew of the Twins had his career high set in 1977 by batting .388. It earned him the American League MVP. He won the Rookie of the Year award in 1967 also.

Answer: Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays set the record for the decade in their inaugural season in 1977 by losing 107 games. However, they topped their own mark by going 53-109 in 1979. After their first three seasons, manager Roy Hartsfield was fired, and no improvements were seen with their new manager Bobby Mattick.

The team did not see a turnaround until Bobby Cox took the reins to a division championship in 1985.

Answer: Lou Brock

The others were not playing baseball in 1974. Brock broke Maury Wills' record set in 1962, by stealing 118 for the Cardinals in 1974. He also batted .306 with 194 hits, but was still runner-up MVP to Steve Garvey of the Dodgers.

Answer: Nobody did

The others listed all won two of the awards, but not until the 1980s. The Manager of the Year award did not begin until 1983. Tom Lasorda of the Dodgers and Tony LaRussa of the White Sox were the first recepients.

Answer: Willie Mays

The others all retired in the 1950s. After 20 glorious seasons with the Giants, they let Willie go to the Mets in 1972. He retired in 1973, hitting 646 home runs as a Giant, and 14 with the Mets. Mays was an easy Hall of Fame induction in 1979.