Champions
Major League Baseball 1974 World Series: Oakland Athletics over Los Angeles Dodgers (4–1); Rollie Fingers, MVP
All-Star Game, July 23 at Three Rivers Stadium: National League, 7–2; Steve Garvey, MVP
Other champions College World Series: USC Japan Series: Lotte Orions over Chunichi Dragons (4–1) Big League World Series: Taipei, Taiwan Little League World Series: Kaohsiung, Taiwan Senior League World Series: Pingtung, Taiwan Winter Leagues 1974 Caribbean Series: Criollos de Caguas Dominican Republic League: Tigres del Licey Mexican Pacific League: Venados de Mazatlán Puerto Rican League: Criollos de Caguas Venezuelan League: * * The season was canceled due to a player's strike and the Mexican Pacific League's second place, Yaquis de Obregón, played as a replacement in the Caribbean Series.
Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Cool Papa Bell Jim Bottomley Whitey Ford Mickey Mantle Sam Thompson Jocko Conlan (umpire) Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards BBWAA Award National League American League Rookie of the Year Bake McBride (STL) Mike Hargrove (TEX) Cy Young Award Mike Marshall (LAD) Catfish Hunter (OAK) Most Valuable Player Steve Garvey (LAD) Jeff Burroughs (TEX) Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) — Dick Green (OAK)Gold Glove Awards Position National League American League Pitcher Andy Messersmith (LAD) Jim Kaat (CWS) Catcher Johnny Bench (CIN) Thurman Munson (NYY) 1st Base Steve Garvey (LAD) George Scott (MIL) 2nd Base Joe Morgan (CIN) Bobby Grich (BAL) 3rd Base Doug Rader (HOU) Brooks Robinson (BAL) Shortstop Dave Concepción (CIN) Mark Belanger (BAL)Outfield Bobby Bonds (SF) Paul Blair (BAL) César Cedeño (HOU) Amos Otis (KC) César Gerónimo (CIN) Joe Rudi (OAK)
Statistical leaders American LeagueNational League Stat Player Total Player Total AVG Rod Carew (MIN) .364 Ralph Garr (ATL) .353 HR Dick Allen (CWS) 32 Mike Schmidt (PHI) 36 RBI Jeff Burroughs (TEX) 118 Johnny Bench (CIN) 129 W Catfish Hunter (OAK)Ferguson Jenkins (TEX) 25 Andy Messersmith (LAD)Phil Niekro (ATL) 20 ERA Catfish Hunter (OAK) 2.49 Buzz Capra (ATL) 2.28 K Nolan Ryan (CAL) 367 Steve Carlton (PHI) 240
Major league baseball final standings American League final standings
National League final standings
Nippon Professional Baseball final standings Central League final standings +Central League年度別成績 1974年 セントラル・リーグ | NPB.jp 日本野球機構 Team G W L T Pct. GBChunichi Dragons 130 70 49 11 .588 –Yomiuri Giants 130 71 50 9 .587 0.0Yakult Swallows 130 60 63 7 .488 12.0Hanshin Tigers 130 57 64 9 .471 14.0Taiyo Whales 130 55 69 6 .444 17.5Hiroshima Toyo Carp 130 54 72 4 .429 19.5
Pacific League final standings +Pacific League年度別成績 1974年 パシフィック・リーグ | NPB.jp 日本野球機構 Team G W L T Pct. 1st half ranking 2nd half rankingLotte Orions 130 69 50 11 .580 2 1Hankyu Braves 130 69 51 10 .575 1 3Nankai Hawks 130 59 55 16 .518 4 2Taiheiyo Club Lions 130 59 64 7 .480 3 4Kintetsu Buffaloes 130 56 66 8 .459 5 4Nippon-Ham Fighters 130 49 75 6 .395 6 6
Events January
January 1 – Lee MacPhail, 56, becomes the fifth president of the American League. January 3 – Thwarted in their attempt to sign Dick Williams as their manager for 1974—and unwilling to negotiate with Oakland Athletics' owner Charles O. Finley to obtain Williams' release—the New York Yankees hire Bill Virdon as their pilot. Virdon, 42, managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 163–128 record and a National League East Division title from Opening Day 1972 until his unexpected firing on September 6, 1973. Although not the Yankees' first choice, Virdon will win the 1974 The Sporting News Manager of the Year Award. January 9: National League owners reject the proposed sale of the San Diego Padres to the owner of the Hollywood Park Racetrack, Marje Lindheimer Everett, leaving the team's future in Southern California in limbo. The St. Louis Cardinals purchase the contract of outfielder Jay Johnstone from the Oakland Athletics. January 16 – The Baseball Writers' Association of America elects former New York Yankees teammates Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to the Hall of Fame. Mantle becomes only the seventh player to make it in his first try. January 23 – Franchise-restaurant tycoon Ray Kroc, 71, the owner of McDonald's Corporation, steps forward to buy the Padres from embattled founding owner C. Arnholt Smith for $12 million and vows to keep the five-year-old team in San Diego. Kroc will own the Padres until his death, almost ten full years later, and firmly establish their presence in that city. Kroc retains club president Buzzie Bavasi and its general manager, Bavasi's son Peter.
February February 4 – With spring training just days away, the newly sold San Diego Padres hire John McNamara as the third manager in team history. McNamara, 41, managed the Oakland Athletics to a 97–78 record from September 19, 1969, through 1970, and has been the San Francisco Giants' third-base coach since 1971. He replaces Don Zimmer, fired by San Diego at the close of the 1973 season. February 11 – Dick Woodson becomes the first player to invoke the new free agency clause, seeking a $30,000 salary while the Minnesota Twins offer $23,000. The arbitrator sides with Woodson. On May 4, the Twins trade Woodson to the New York Yankees for Mike Pazik and cash. February 13 – Cool Papa Bell is named for Hall of Fame honors by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. February 18 – The Cincinnati Reds obtain 23-year-old right-hander Pat Darcy and cash from the Houston Astros in exchange for veteran infielder Denis Menke. As a rookie in , Darcy will win 11 games for the Reds and earn a World Series ring, and also become known for surrendering Carlton Fisk's famous game-winning home run in Game 6. February 20 – The defending 1973 World Series champion Oakland Athletics fill their managerial vacancy just three days before spring training, hiring Alvin Dark, 52, who managed the Kansas City Athletics from 1966 through August 19, 1967, when he was fired amidst a player uprising against owner Charles O. Finley. In Oakland, Dark succeeds Dick Williams, who quit immediately after winning his second straight world title on October 21, 1973. February 23 – The California Angels send veteran outfielder Vada Pinson to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Barry Raziano and cash considerations. Pinson will call it quits at the end of the season, having rung up 2,757 hits.
March March 19 – The Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians make a three-team trade. The deal sees the Yankees trade catcher Jerry Moses to Detroit for pitcher Ed Farmer, the Tigers send veteran pitcher Jim Perry to Cleveland, and the Indians move outfielder Walt Williams and pitcher Rick Sawyer to New York. Two days later, the Yankees sell Farmer's contract to the Philadelphia Phillies. March 26 – The Boston Red Sox release two future Hall of Famers: shortstop Luis Aparicio, who retires, and designated hitter Orlando Cepeda, who will sign with the Kansas City Royals. March 30 – With 18-year-old future Hall of Famer Robin Yount about to break into their lineup as their regular shortstop, the Milwaukee Brewers acquire Yount's elder brother Larry, a pitcher, from the Houston Astros for outfielder Wilbur Howard.
April April 1 – The Chicago Cubs release pitcher and three time All-Star Milt Pappas. A 17-year veteran, Pappas went 209–164 (3.40 ERA) in 520 games almost evenly split between American and National League service. He never again pitches in the majors. April 3: The Cleveland Indians trade 17-year-old minor-leaguer Pedro Guerrero to the Los Angeles Dodgers for pitcher Bruce Ellingsen. Infielder-outfielder Guerrero will compile a .309 lifetime batting average and be named to the NL All-Star team five times during his 11 seasons (1978–1988) with Los Angeles. The Philadelphia Phillies sign veteran free agent outfielder/pinch hitter Jay Johnstone, released by the St. Louis Cardinals on March 26. Johnstone, 28, will bat .303 in 462 games for the 1974–1978 Phillies, and in the 1976 NLCS, he'll be a bright spot in a losing cause when he goes seven-for-nine (.778) in "The Big Red Machine's" three-game sweep.
April 4 – In his first at bat of the 1974 National League season, on Opening Day at Riverfront Stadium, Hank Aaron smashes the 714th home run of his career, tying Babe Ruth's lifetime record. Jack Billingham surrenders #714, but his homestanding Cincinnati Reds defeat Aaron's Atlanta Braves, 7–6. April 6: Commissioner of Baseball Bowie Kuhn orders Atlanta Braves manager Eddie Mathews to insert Hank Aaron into his club's lineup for tomorrow's game in Cincinnati against the Reds—unless there is a "very strong reason not to." After tying Ruth's record April 4, and an off-day April 5, Aaron was "benched" today. Kuhn is concerned that the Braves are holding Aaron out of the lineup to ensure that he breaks Babe Ruth's record in his home ballpark. Aaron will go hitless in three at bats tomorrow, April 7, in a 5–3 Braves' victory, setting up a potential record-shattering home run in the Braves' home opener at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium on Monday, April 8. The New York Yankees defeat the Cleveland Indians 6–1 in their "home opener" at Shea Stadium. The Yankees will share this ballpark with the Mets for the 1974 and seasons, while Yankee Stadium is being re-furbished. April 8 – Before a national television audience, Atlanta's Hank Aaron hits home run #715, breaking Babe Ruth's lifetime home run record. The blow, off Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Al Downing, comes in the fourth inning of the Braves' home opener and before 53,775 exuberant fans. Two young men run onto the field and congratulate Aaron on his record-breaking achievement as Hank moves past second base. April 9 – In the eighth inning of their home opener, with the San Diego Padres trailing the Houston Astros 9–2 and about to lose their fourth straight game of 1974, the Padres' new owner, hamburger chain millionaire Ray Kroc, commandeers the public-address microphone at San Diego Stadium. "Fans, I suffer with you," a disgusted Kroc booms over the loudspeakers. "I have never seen such stupid ball-playing in my life!" The fans cheer, but players on both sides are furious, resenting what Houston third baseman Doug Rader calls being treated "like a bunch of short-order cooks." Kroc later apologizes for his outburst; then, when Rader's remarks cause offense, he apologizes to short-order cooks. April 10 – The 1973 National League pennant is raised before the home opener in which the New York Mets defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 3–2, before only 17,154 fans at Shea Stadium. Jerry Grote of the Mets homers in that game. April 14 – Graig Nettles of the New York Yankees hits four home runs during a doubleheader split against his former team, the Cleveland Indians. The Yankees win 9–5, then lose 9–6. Nettles will go on to tie a major league record with 11 home runs in the month of April. April 17: At County Stadium, Cooperstown-bound pitcher Gaylord Perry of the Cleveland Indians strikes out 14 and goes 15 full innings against the Milwaukee Brewers, then exits the game with the teams tied, four all. In the home half of the 16th, Cleveland reliever Ken Sanders replaces Perry and is greeted by a walk-off home run from the lead-off hitter, Brewer centerfielder Bob Coluccio. New Chicago Cubs catcher George Mitterwald hits three home runs and drives in eight runs as the Cubs defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates 16–9 at Wrigley Field. As an added oddity, Burt Hooton goes the distance for the Cubs despite giving up 16 hits. April 18 – The Montreal Expos' Jim Cox belts a three-run home run off the New York Mets' Ray Sadecki in the third inning, part of the Expos' 8–5 win over the fading Mets, who have dropped five in a row. The Mets will fail to defend their National League pennant en route to their first losing season since . April 24 – All 21 hits by both teams in the Chicago White Sox 7–2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers are singles. April 26: