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1970s RECAP
Despite the continuing Cold War, the Oil Crisis, Watergate, the Iran Hostage Crisis, leisure suits, bell-bottoms, and disco, the 1970s saw new baseball heroes come forward to captivate the sports world.
EASTERN DIVISION
The Philadelphia Phillies held off a very strong Boston Red Sox team to win the Eastern Division. Third baseman Mike Schmidt (.294 AVG, 55 HR, 121 RBI) was the league’s Most Valuable Player, and he was assisted offensively by left fielder Greg Luzinski (.289 AVG, 38 HR, 119 RBI), right fielder Bake McBride (.288 AVG, 122 Runs, 30 HR, 46 Steals, 91 RBI), and catcher Bob Boone (.328 AVG, 19 HR, 91 RBI). Three pitchers won 20 games: Steve Carlton (20-18, 3.31 ERA), Jim Lonborg (22-12, 3.97 ERA), and Jim Kaat (21-6, 3.67 ERA), and Fireman-of-the Year Tug McGraw led the league with 49 Saves.
The Boston Red Sox gave the Phillies all they could handle, with a bevy of hitters including designated hitter Jim Rice (51 HR, 125 RBI), left fielder Carl Yastrzemski (39 HR, 113 RBI), center fielder Fred Lynn (.296 AVG, 41 HR, 96 RBI), right fielder Dwight Evans (28 HR, 90 RBI), catcher Carlton Fisk (23 HR, 67 RBI), and third baseman Rico Petrocelli (28 HR, 101 RBI). Cy Young Award winner Luis Tiant (26-12, 2.78 ERA, 366 K) and Dennis Eckersley (21-9, 3.82 ERA) led the Boston mound staff.
The Montreal Expos finished a distant third, though catcher Gary Carter (24 HR, 92 RBI), center fielder Andre Dawson (.297 AVG, 27 HR, 87 RBI), right fielder Ellis Valentine (23 HR, 75 RBI), left fielder Tim Raines (.283 AVG, 113 Runs, league-leading 58 Steals) pitcher Steve Rogers (15-16, 3.77 ERA), and closer Dale Murray (32 Saves, 2.27 ERA) all played well, giving hope for the future of the Expos franchise.
The New York Yankees struggled to meet their lofty expectations, though right fielder “Reggie Jackson” (53 HR, 139 RBI), third baseman Graig Nettles (28 HR, 98 RBI), left fielder Roy White (31 HR, 80 RBI), starter Ron Guidry (15-16, 3.77 ERA), and closer Goose Gossage (39 Saves) performed admirably for the Bronx Bombers.
CENTRAL DIVISION
All four Central Division teams battled for the crown, often blurring the lines between parity and mediocrity. The Kansas City Royals wound up with the title, mainly due to the play of batting champion George Brett (.373 AVG, 40 HR, 115 RBI). Brett was assisted offensively by first baseman John Mayberry, right fielder Al Cowens, and designated hitter Hal McRae. Dennis Leonard (21-18, 3.82 ERA) and Dan Quisenberry (16 Saves) pitched well for the Royals.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Lumber Company played well offensively, led by left fielder Willie Stargell (.294 AVG, league-leading 62 HR, 144 RBI), right fielder Dave Parker (.291 AVG, 28 HR, 78 RBI) , third baseman Bill Madlock (.303, 25 HR, 88 RBI), first baseman Al Oliver (.281 AVG, 21 HR), catcher Manny Sanguillen (.304 AVG). Kent Tekulve saved 26 games for the Pirates.
Third place went to the St. Louis Cardinals. Bruce Sutter was a lone pitching bright spot for the Redbirds, with 31 Saves. Catcher Ted Simmons (.285 AVG, 17 HR, 80 RBI), Keith Hernandez (.292 AVG, 82 RBI), Lou Brock (.348 AVG, 24 Steals), and Sixto Lezcano (36 HR, 103 RBI) led the Cardinals at the dish.
The Baltimore Orioles led the division in the early going, but dropped to the cellar by season’s end. Left fielder Frank Robinson (50 HR, 130 RBI), third baseman Brooks Robinson (.301 AVG, 31 HR, 109 RBI), first baseman Boog Powell (28 HR, 85 RBI), right fielder Merv Rettenmund (30 HR, 76 RBI), and Don Buford (125 BB, 105 Runs, 21 Steals) were the offensive standouts for Earl Weaver, but pitching was the team’s downfall, though Dave McNally went 18-19, and Pat Dobson and Dick Hall combined for 30 Saves.
WESTERN DIVISION
The Cincinnati Reds won a rather comfortable Western Division title, besting the rival Dodgers by 7 games. Tom Seaver (21-14, 3.50 ERA) led the staff, along with Don Gullett (20-14), Jack Billingham (18-10) and Rawly Eastwick (24 Saves). The Big Red Machine ran smoothly on offense, led by second baseman Joe Morgan (.283 AVG, 24 HR, 114 RBI, 114 Runs, 29 Steals), first baseman Tony Perez (.286 AVG, 31 HR, 101 RBI), catcher Johnny Bench (27 HR, 82 RBI), left fielder George Foster (51 HR, 135 RBI), and third baseman Pete Rose (101 Runs).
The Los Angeles Dodgers were led at the plate by left fielder Pedro Guerrero (.302 AVG, 50 HR, 113 RBI), first baseman Steve Garvey (34 HR, 135 RBI), third baseman Ron Cey (27 HR, 83 RBI), and right fielder Reggie Smith (34 HR, 83 RBI). Don Sutton (16-14, 3.82 ERA), Rick Sutcliffe (17-14, 4.17 ERA), and Steve Howe (24 Saves) led the Dodgers staff.
The California Angels had two power arms in Nolan Ryan (21-13, 3.46 ERA, 364 K) and Frank Tanana (16-20, 3.83 ERA, 326 K), while the offense was led by first baseman Rod Carew (.356 AVG, 14 HR, 96 RBI, 100 Runs), second baseman Bobby Grich (24 HR, 74 RBI), shortstop Dickie Thon (26 HR, 85 RBI), and right fielder Dan Ford (31 HR, 96 RBI).
The Oakland Athletics fought and argued, but this time it didn’t help, as Charlie O’s A’s floundered to the worst record in the league. Bright spots were starter Catfish Hunter (3.79 ERA), right fielder Reggie Jackson (42 HR, 112 RBI), third baseman Sal Bando (27 HR, 91 RBI), shortstop Bert Campaneris (53 Steals), center fielder Billy North (47 Steals), and designated hitter John Briggs (30 HR, 71 RBI).
SEMI-FINALS
Two 1970s bridesmaids met when the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals fought in the Semi-Finals. Game One was all about pitcher Steve Carlton, who beat the Royals 7-1, scattering 6 hits. Garry Maddox’s home run was the big blow for the Phillies.
Game Two was a tight contest until the 8th inning. The score was tied 2-2, and the Phillies turned to their vaunted bullpen. In the top of the 8th, Darrell Porter singled and George Brett doubled, and both scored on Hal McRae’s single to center off of reliever Gene Garber. In the 9th, the Royals blew the game open against closer Tug McGraw, as Willie Wilson slapped a bases-loaded single, followed by Al Cowens’ home run, giving the Royals a 9-5 victory.
Game Three was a pitcher’s duel in Royals Stadium, with southpaws Jim Kaat and Larry Gura facing off. The Phillies scored in the top of the 2nd when, with Willie Montanez on third, Bake McBride stole second and Darrell Porter’s throw sailed in center. Royals fans were pleased in the bottom of the frame when Al Cowens smashed a home run to center, tying the game. In the top of the 5th, Mike Schmidt followed Dave Cash’s triple with a sacrifice fly, giving the Phils a 2-1 lead. Disaster struck for the Royals in the bottom of the 6th, when George Brett injured his ankle on a close play at first, and was lost to the Royals for the rest of the postseason. The Phillies extended their lead and won by a score of 3-1.
Though the Royals could have been downtrodden following the loss of their star, they instead took out their frustrations of Phillies starter Dick Ruthven. After Rich Gale retired the Phillies in the first, the floodgates opened. Rance Mulliniks singled, followed by back to back home runs from Darrell Porter and John Mayberry. Al Cowens doubled, Amos Otis singled, and Hal McRae then launched a three-run home run to center and the Royals led 6-0, knocking Ruthven out of the game without retiring a batter. Brett replacement Dave Chalk singled, U.L. Washington walked, and Mulliniks homered to center, giving the Royals a 9-0 first inning lead. Back to back singles by Frank White and Chalk drove in 3 more runs in the second and the Royals coasted to a 13-9 victory.
Game Five saw the Phillies place the ball in Steve Carlton’s hands again, and he did not disappoint, leading the Phillies to an 11-3 complete game victory. Dave Cash and Larry Bowa had 3 hits apiece and Mike Schmidt blasted a 3-run home run in the win.
Game Six saw a return to Veterans Stadium. John Mayberry opened the scoring with a long home run to center off Phillies starter Jim Lonborg. In the bottom of the second, Richie Hebner singled, then moved to third on a beautifully executed hit and run by Bob Boone. With runners at the corners, Garry Maddox singled in Hebner, tying the game. Larry Bowa then sacrificed Boone to third and Maddox to second. Dave Cash’s sacrifice fly to center scored Boone, and when Amos Otis’ late throw to the plate sailed over Darrell Porter’s head, Maddox scampered home with the Phillies third run. Maddox drove in Hebner with a single in the 4th, giving the Phillies a 4-1 lead. Hal McRae’s single plated Mayberry in the 6th, but, once Tug McGraw entered the game for the Phillies in the top of the 7th, the Royals could not manage any more runs. The Phillies won 4-2 and would move on the to the World Series.
SEMI-FINALS
The Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds set to do battle in Riverfront Stadium, with Cy Young winner Luis Tiant squaring off against Tom Seaver. Game One was no contest, as Tiant pitched with complete mastery, shutting out the Reds on only 3 hits. Dewey Evans homered in the first and that was all the scoring that was necessary, as the Red Sox won 4-0.
In Game Two, Joe Morgan’s 1st inning single scored Cesar Geronimo and gave the Reds the early lead on Dennis Eckersley. Dwight Evans tied the game with a single in the 3rd, but in the bottom of the 3rd, the Reds answered with back to back home runs by George Foster and Tony Perez. Eckersley and Reds starter Don Gullett pitched well the rest of the way, and the Reds won by a score of 4-1.
The Reds scored two runs in the 1st inning of Game Three, and Dwight Evans blasted yet another home run in the bottom of the 1st to get the Fenway faithful on their feet. Joe Morgan single din a run in the 3rd, and in the top of the 7th, Johnny Bench smashed a two-run homer to center, and the Reds led 5-1. A Jerry Remy run-scoring single in the bottom of the 7th cut the lead to 5-2. In the bottom of the 8th, the Red Sox erupted with a barrage of singles. Yaz walked, Jim Rice singled, and Fred Lynn’s single to right scored Yaz. Carlton Fisk’s sacrifice fly scored Rice, and then George Scott, Rico Petrocelli, and Rick Burleson hit successive singles, culminating in Evans’ run-scoring single to center. The Red Sox had scored 5 runs and now led the contest 7-5. Bob Stanley, who had entered the game in the top of the 7th, went out to face the Reds in the 9th. Dan Driessen and Johnny Bench both singled to start the frame, and Ken Griffey’s slap single to right scored Driessen, with pinch-runner Del Unser moving to third. After an out was recorded, Geronimo walked, and Pete Rose hit a deep sacrifice fly to Lynn in center, tying the game. In the top of the 10th, Griffey came to the plate with runners at the corners and two outs, and this time he lined a single to right, scoring George Foster from third. Rawly Eatswick shut down the Sox in the bottom of the 10th, and the Reds had an 8-7 come from behind victory.
Game Four was well-pitched early, as Jack Billingham and Mike Torrez both pitched effectively, allowing one solo home run apiece from franchise heroes Johnny Bench and Carl Yastrzemski. Billingham continued to pitch well, while Bob Stanley entered the game in relief of Torrez in the 7th. In the 8th, the Reds got to Stanley again, as Tony Perez singled home Pete Rose, followed by a line drive home run to right by Dan Driessen, scoring Joe Morgan and Perez as well, and giving the Red s 5-1 win. The Red Sox were now one loss from elimination.
The ball was now back in the hands of Luis Tiant for Game Five. A 2nd inning home run by Carlton Fisk staked Tiant to an early lead against Tom Seaver. However, Tony Perez ended Tiant’s illusion of invincibility with a two-run home run to left in the 4th. Tiant would not allow another hit for the remainder of the game, and Red Sox postseason hero Dwight Evans gave Tiant all the runs he would need with a two-run home run to center, scoring Jerry Remy. Tiant would go on to throw a two-hitter, giving the Sox a 3-2 victory, sending the series back to Cincinnati.
Game Six would begin in fine fashion for the Red Sox, as they reached Don Gullett for four hits and four runs. Yasztrzemki and Petrocelli began the 1st with singles, and, after an Evans popout, Jim Rice drew a walk, loading the bases. A George Scott double off the center field wall scored Yaz and Petrocelli, and Juan Beniquez grounded to second, allowing Rice to score from third. Rick Burleson then doubled Scott in, giving the Sox a 4-0 lead. Pete Rose doubled in Cesar Geronimo in the bottom of the frame, but Petrocelli answered with a home run in the top of the 2nd. In the top of the 4th, a Tommy Helms home run and another George Scott RBI-double led to two more runs and an 8-1 Sox lead. The Reds finally answered in the bottom of the 5th with four straight singles by Griffey, Concepcion, Geronimo, and Rose, scoring 3 runs. In the bottom of the 6th, after two outs were recorded, Bench walked and Griffey singled to right. Dave Concepcion scorched a liner into the right-center field gap, but Griffey made the mistake of testing the arm of Dwight Evans, who fired a one-hop strike to the plate to cut down Griffey and end the inning. In the bottom of the 8th, Dan Driessen homered to right, and Dennis Eckersley was removed with the Red Sox leading 8-6. Don Gullett, still pitching after Sparky Anderson, Dr. Hook himself, inexplicably had left him in the game, surrendered back to back home runs to the right-handed duo of Dwight Evans and Jim Rice, and the lead was now 10-6. The Red Sox sent the shaky Bob Stanley back out for the 9th, and he promptly allowed singles to Morgan and Foster. Tony Perez struck out, but then Driessen singled to center, scoring Morgan, with Foster moving to second. Johnny Bench singled to left and Foster rounded third as Yastrzemski reached the ball. The throw home beat Foster and Fisk applied the tag for the second out. Stanley then induced a ground ball to short from Griffey, and the series was tied with one game remaining, as the Red Sox won 10-7.
Rick Wise and Gary Nolan took the mound in the pivotal Game Seven. In the top of the 2nd, Jim Rice singled and Yaz doubled, with Rice holding at third. Fisk hit a grounder between third and short, and Pete Rose fielded the ball but had to throw n to first with his momentum moving in that direction, allowing Rice to score. In the top of the 4th Rice and Yaz were again instrumental, as Rice doubled and Yaz singled him in with a sharp line drive to right. The wheels came off for Nolan in the top of the 5th. With one out, Burleson walked and Remy doubled. Dwight Evans singled to left, scoring Burleson and the speedy Remy. Fred Lynn then singled to left. Next, Jim Rice struck again, with a triple over the head of Geronimo in center, scoring Evans and Lynn. Then, completing the Rice/Yastrzemski bashing of Gary Nolan, Yaz yanked a homer into the right field stands, giving the Sox a lead 7-0 and chasing a weary Nolan from the game. Meanwhile, Rick Wise continued to pitch into and out of jams, continuing to shut the Reds out despite allowing 13 baserunners in the first 8 innings. In the top of the 9th, after Lynn walked to lead off the frame, Jim Rice singled, followed by ANOTHER Yastrzemski single, scoring Lynn. Carlton Fisk then belted a shot right down the left field line, culminating in a 3-run home run clanging off the Riverfront foul pole. The Red Sox led 11-0. In the bottom of the 9th, Wise retired Dave Concepcion on a ground ball to second, but then allowed a Geronimo double to right. After Pete Rose flew out to left, Joe Morgan singled to right, scoring Geronimo, but it was too little, too late. Wise then forced George Foster to pop to short, and when gravity did its work, Rick Burleson closed his glove and the Red Sox were off to the World Series after trailing at one point 3 games to 1.
WORLD SERIES
Game One between these two Eastern Division rivals began in Veterans Stadium. Luis Tiant was again the star of the Boston effort, throwing a complete game 3-hitter while striking out 9. Dwight Evans hit his 5th postseason home run in the top of the 3rd and Rico Petrocelli connected for two home runs against Steve Carlton, resulting in 3 RBI and a 6-1 Red Sox Game One win.
Game Two began with the Red Sox scoring early on a familiar combination: Jim Rice with an RBI single and Carl Yazstrzemski tripling in Rice for a 2 run Red Sox lead. Light-hitting shortstop Rick Burleson homered in the 2nd, staking the Sox to a 3-0 lead. Bake McBride hit a solo shot for the Phillies in the 6th, but no more scoring occurred until the 9th. In the bottom of the 9th, with the Phillies trailing 3-1, Greg Luzinski led off with a walk and starter Dennis Eckersley was pulled. J.C. Martin doubled and Bob Boone then singled, scoring Luzinski and moving Martin to third. Garry Maddox grounded out to second, and Larry Bowa was intentionally walked to set up a force play. The strategy backfired when reliever Dick Drago walked Dave Cash, tying the game. Bob Stanley then came on to pitch for the Red Sox, and Bake McBride hit a chopper in front of the plate which Carlton Fisk scooped up, stepped on the plate and then fired to first for the inning-ending double play. The Phillies loaded the base against Stanley again in the bottom of the 11th, but Stanley held firm, getting the needed ground ball to escape the inning. In the top of the 14th inning, the Red Sox began to rally against Phillies closer Tug McGraw. Evans singled, but, after Fred Lynn struck out, Jim Rice scalded a shot at Larry Bowa, who misplayed the ball, resulting in Evans moving to third and Rice pulling in to second base. McGraw intentionally walked Yastrzemski to set up a force, then struck Carlton Fisk out, bringing Rico Petrocelli to the plate with 2 outs and the bases loaded. Petrocelli, who had been destroying lefthanded pitching all season, tattooed McGraw’s second pitch, knocking the fastball into the Veterans Stadium left field stands for a grand slam, giving the Red Sox a 7-3 lead. Stanley shut the Phillies down in the bottom of the 14th and the Red Sox had a 2-0 Series lead.
Game Three began in much the same fashion as the other two games, with a Petrocelli RBI single in the bottom of the 3rd and solo home runs by Rice and Evans in the bottom of the 5th. The Phillies scored in the top of the 7th when Garry Maddox doubled to right-center, driving in Bowa and McBride. As the ball zoomed into the right-field alley, center fielder Juan Beniquez misplayed the ball, and by the time it was retrieved, Maddox had also scored on the error, tying the game at 3. The Phillies took the lead in the top of the 9th when Larry Bowa walked and Garry Maddox doubled to center again, giving the Phils a 4-3 advantage. In the bottom of the 9th, Juan Beniquez somewhat atoned for his outfield blunder, smacking newly-entered Tug McGraw’s first pitch in to the left field screen. McGraw exited the inning without further problems, and the contest moved to extra innings for the second straight game. J.C Martin began the top of the 10th being hit by Bill Lee’s pitch, Willie Montanez flied out to right, followed by a Bob Boone single to center. Bob Stanley entered the game and got Larry Bowa to fly out to center, but the next batter, Bake McBride, singled to right, scoring Martin in front of Evans’ throw. In the bottom of the 9th, Carl Yastrzemski led off with a triple into the triangle in centerfield. Dwight Evans grounded to second, but the ball was hit too hard for Yaz to score. Rico Petrocelli hit a shot to the right of Dave Cash, but Cash made a great play and, with Yastrzemski moving on contact, made an off-balance but perfect throw to the plate to cut down Yastrzemski. McGraw walked Jim Rice, but then escaped when he struck out George Scott. The Phillies had won 5-4.
Game Four saw the Phillies score early, as 1st inning Bake McBride and Jay Johnstone singles were followed by a 3-run home run to center by struggling MVP Mike Schmidt. Gary Maddox later singled in Greg Luzinski and Richie Hebner, and the Phillies led 5-0. Jim Rice’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the frame cut the lead to 5-1. Another sacrifice fly, this time by Petrocelli, and a bases loaded HBP of Juan Beniquez plated two more runs for the Sox in the bottom of the 3rd. Petrocelli scored Yaz with a single in the bottom of the 4th. The game moved uneventfully to the bottom of the 9th. Facing tiring reliever Gene Garber, Yastrzemski hit a long fly to the wall in right, but McBride hauled it in. The next batter, Dwight Evans, the postseason MVP to this point, crushed Garber’s pitch over the wall in left, and the Boston fans went crazy. Petrocelli then grounded out. Jim Rice walked, George Scott reached by error, and Juan Beniquez was hit by pitch once again, loading the bases with one out. Rick Burleson laced a line drive, but Richie Hebner snared the ball and tagged first ahead of a scrambling Beniquez, ending the Red Sox threat. The top of the 10th was a painful one for the Red Sox, as 3 straight extra-inning games had depleted the relief core, leaving lefty specialist Andy Hassler to try to hold down the Phillies. Maddox led off with a single, then scored from first on Larry Bowa’s double to center. Dave Cash then singled and Bowa scored on a passed ball. After McBride and Johnstone recorded outs, Hassler intentionally walked Schmidt, but Greg Luzinski then singled, scoring Cash. Hebner walked, Schmidt scored on a wild pitch, and bases-loaded walk to Garry Maddox ended the scoring. After plating five runs, the Phillies now led 10-5. Ron Reed shut down the Sox in the bottom of the inning, and the Series was tied at 2 games apiece.
In Game Five, Mike Schmidt proved that Luis Tiant was indeed mortal, smacking a 3-run homer over the Green Monster in the top of the 3rd inning. The game remained 3-0 until he top of the 7th when, after a Cash single and a McBride walk, Jay Johnstone hit a 3-run home run to center. A Burleson single in the bottom of the 7th was the only run allowed by Steve Carlton, who gave up only 6 hits in the complete game 6-1 victory. With a 3 game sweep by the Phillies in Fenway Park, the Series would return to Philadelphia with the Phillies one win away from an elusive World Championship.
In Game Six, the Red Sox put the game in the hands of Dennis Eckersley, and then Dwight Evans gave him the early lead with a first inning 2-run home run to left, his EIGHTH home run of the postseason. The Phillies struck back in the bottom of the 3rd, as Bake McBride plated Larry Bowa with a double to center, then stole third and scored on Jay Johnstone groundout to second. Mike Schmidt then smashed his third home run in three games, a massive solo shot deep into the left field bleachers. Tug McGraw entered the game in the top of the 7th, but was again victimized by a left-handed Red Sox bat, this time in the person of Fred Lynn. Lynn hit a solo home run to right center, and the game was tied. The game moved to the bottom of the 8th inning, where a tiring Eckersley gave up a leadoff double to Richie Hebner. Don Zimmer called for beleaguered reliever Bob Stanley, who promptly gave up a Bob Boone double down the left field line, scoring Hebner. Stanley retired the next 3 Phillies, but they had a 4-3 lead going to the top of the 9th. Rick Burleson singled to left and Tommy Helms singled past Bowa, and McGraw then walked wisely walked Dwight Evans. Danny Ozark then called on Gene Garber. With the infield in, Fred Lynn hit a hard grounder to first, which Richie Hebner fielded and fired home to force Burleson. Jim Rice then hit a very shallow pop fly to right, two away. Carl Yastrzemski then came to the plate. On Garber’s second pitch, Yaz lofted a foul pop fly close to the Red Sox dugout. Bob Boone and Mike Schmidt both converged on the ball, and Yaz could only watch helplessly as Boone made the catch, giving the Phillies a 4-3 win and a World Championship, with one caveat; Dwight Evans was named Postseason MVP, with 8 home runs and 15 RBI in 13 games.
Breaking the fourth wall, it is eerie how the Red Sox real 1978 season ended and how their season ended here as well, with Carl Yastrzemski helping to lead the Red Sox to the brink, only to be retired on a foul popout in both instances. I remember rushing home from school to watch the end of the Yankees/Red Sox playoff, only to watch Yaz, one my heroes, pop out.
1977 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
WORLD CHAMPIONS
League Awards
MVP—Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies
CY YOUNG AWARD—Luis Tiant, Boston Red Sox
FIREMAN OF THE YEAR—Tug McGraw, Philadelphia Phillies
League Leaders
Batting Average-George Brett, Kansas City Royals .373 AVG
Home Runs-Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates 62 HR
RBI- Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates 144 RBI
Runs- Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies 127 Runs
Hits- Rod Carew, California Angels 239 Hits
Doubles- Bill Madlock, Pittsburgh Pirates 44 2B
Triples- Rod Carew, California Angels 15 3B
---------Al Cowens, Kansas City Royals 15 3B
Stolen Bases-Tim Raines, Montreal Expos 58 SB
Hit Streak-3 with 21 games
Pitching Leaders
Wins- Luis Tiant, Boston Red Sox 26-12
Saves-Tug McGraw, Philadelphia Phillies 49 Saves
Strikeouts-Tom Seaver, Cincinnati Reds 372 K
ERA-Dale Murray, Montreal Expos 2.27 ERA