With sports on a brief hiatus, here are the most magical American sports moments from each major league from the 1970s
In many ways, America’s rich history can be seen through the perspective of sports.
Baseball’s early issues of segregation resembles the nation’s horrific treatment of African-American citizens throughout U.S. history prior to the civil rights movement. Basketball’s decline of both ratings and talent throughout the end of the ‘70s is attributed to the drug-related issues that plagued disenfranchised communities across the country.
Football’s discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has presented the scientific advancements that the field has made, while also presenting the danger that can be incorporated through games which consist of intense physical contact.
Sport has always held some sort of significance — culturally, scientifically, sociologically or anything in between. Nevertheless, what makes sports so fascinating to fans are the moments that leave all who witnessed them breathless. It is what every fan hopes to witness at least once in their lifetime.
Luckily, American sports have presented numerous of these moments for decades. This is precisely why ZU News is beginning a series entitled “Best of the Decade,” to list the most important moments from the biggest four American sports leagues (the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL) through each decade, beginning with the 1970s.
NFL: The Immaculate Reception (Dec. 23, 1972)
Some may call this moment the greatest in NFL history. It’s hard to oppose. The unpredictability and the attribute of luck makes this catch from Pittsburgh Steelers great Franco Harris a once in a lifetime play.
It is simply too hard to break down every detail of the play, but here are the basics of what happened. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw was moving around in the pocket and sought to complete a pass to John Fuqua when Oakland Raiders safety Jack Tatum disrupted the play. The contact Tatum made somehow ricocheted the ball far enough to where Harris was able to corral the pass despite being more than 10 yards away from the play. He made the reception and ran down the sidelines, reaching the goal line and giving the Steelers a 13-7 lead.
The play itself was, and still is, unlike anything football fans have ever seen. Yet what makes it even more exceptional are the circumstances that surrounded the play. To begin, the contest was a playoff game, with the victor heading to the AFC Championship game. Also, the play occurred with 30 seconds left in the game, meaning the touchdown was essentially a walk-off score.
In addition, it ended an era of complete ruin for the Steelers franchise. It led to the first playoff victory in team history, and in many ways it helped initiate a run by the Steelers as they absolutely dominated the decade, going on to win four Super Bowl titles throughout the 70s.
MLB: Hank Aaron’s 715th (April 8, 1974)
Babe Ruth established himself as the premier long ball hitter in baseball history. He initiated the live-ball era, which allowed for stars such as Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio and others to excel. His 714 home runs seemed like a number that no one would ever be able to conquer.
We now know that the record has been beaten twice, once by a player who illegally used performance-enhancing drugs. But the other player accomplished the feat with pure class. That man was Henry Louis Aaron.
Aaron was already recognized as one of baseball’s finest talents in 1974. He had won an MVP in 1957, after hitting 44 home runs along with 132 RBIs. He would go on to hit 40 or more home runs in a season seven more times. He was a 23-time All-Star. Aaron was unquestionably a first-ballot Hall of Famer already. But on April 8, 1974, an insurmountable level of pressure was on his shoulders.
Of course, Aaron wanted to beat the record, but not everyone else wanted him to. Before the game and throughout the month, he received death threats and racist hate mail. A black man conquering the greatest record in baseball certainly did not sit well with the prejudiced baseball fans that still existed during this era. Yet when he came to the plate for the second time on that Monday night against the Dodgers in front of a hellacious Atlanta crowd, he got a piece of Al Downing’s fastball and smashed it over the left-field wall.
As he crossed the bases, fans joined him celebrating the accomplishment of 715 career home runs. No longer was Ruth the home run king; that title now belonged to No. 44.
NBA: Lakers Win 33 Straight (Nov. 5, 1971 – Jan. 9, 1972)
If you weren’t aware, yes, this is an NBA record. No team in NBA history, not even the 73-win Golden State Warriors of 2016, has won more than 33 straight games. In fact, no team has even reached 30. That’s how impressive these Lakers were.
Run by the illustrious point guard Jerry West, and accompanied by Jim McMillian, Gail Goodrich and four-time MVP Wilt Chamberlain, the Lakers established themselves as the title favorites early in the 1971-72 NBA season.
With the addition of new head coach Bill Sharman, a new level of discipline was introduced to the team that was lacking when Joe Mullaney was the head man. The assertiveness from Sharman allowed the team to play a more aggressive style of basketball, which led to quick wins. They won 14 straight games throughout the month of November, and in December they went a perfect 16-0.
They started the new year winning three more games in January, but the streak came to an end after LA lost to the Bucks 120-104. Nevertheless, the Lakers finished the year with a record-setting 63 wins, which was the highest win total from a team in league history until the Bulls won 72 games in 1995-96.
More importantly, the Lakers finally managed to win a title for the first time since 1954. It was a huge accomplishment, as West and the Lakers had gone 0-6 in NBA Finals matchups throughout the 1960s thanks to the dominant play of Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics. Finally, West had his ring, and the Lakers were once again back on top of the basketball world, as they went on to establish themselves as the greatest franchise in the history of the NBA.
NHL: The Flight (May 10, 1970)
The series was really nothing special. The Boston Bruins swept the St. Louis Blues in four games to win the Stanley Cup, the franchise’s fourth time grasping Lord Stanley. Before Game 4, they had outscored St. Louis 16 goals to four. The Blues simply could not keep pace with the experienced Bruins, run by the vicious first line of Wayne Cashman, Ken Hodge and Phil Esposito.
But the final play of a decisive Game 4 remains the most memorable moment in the history of NHL hockey.
Defenseman Bobby Orr, who wasn’t even a captain for the Bruins at the time, had an exceptional 1969-70 campaign. In fact, it may have been his best season. He led the entire league in scoring with 120 points and assists with 87. Yet his defensive prowess is what made him such a special player, holding a 54 plus-minus (the next season, Orr would shatter the record of a plus-minus total in one season with a 124).
In the playoffs, Orr was just as special, owning 20 points when all was said and done. However, his most important point came in overtime of Game 4. Despite Boston trailing for most of the game, a late goal from veteran John Bucyk tied the game at three heading into overtime. Just 40 seconds into extra time, Orr controlled a give-and-go pass from Derek Sanderson that placed him right in front of St. Louis’ goal. He shot the puck past goalie Glenn Hall, helping Boston secure their first Stanley Cup in 29 years.
The shot was set in the history books thanks to the celebration. Orr was tripped by Blues defenseman Noel Picard during the shot. Once the puck crossed the goal line, Orr was airborne, and he celebrated by extending his arms while off his feet, making it seem like he was flying in midair. This picture perfectly embodied the moment and the city of Boston, who could once again celebrate a hockey championship.