1970s MLB All-Decade Team

The 1970s were truly a great decade for baseball. It was a decade ruled by an impressive cast of starting pitchers, but not without its Hall of Fame position players as well.

The Big Red Machine ruled the National League, while the Oakland A's captured three straight World Series out of the American League.

Overall, it was a truly great time to be a baseball fan—so I've attempted to put together my All-Decade team, which was no easy task.

With a grand total of 12 Hall of Fame players who were in their prime during the '70s, some didn't make the cut, and picking just five starting pitchers was extremely difficult.

Only statistics from '70-79 were taken into account. I look forward to hearing your critiques of my list.

So let's start with our catcher...

CATCHER: JOHNNY BENCH

.267, 290, 1,013
All-Star: 10 (eight starts)
Gold Gloves: 8
1970 NL MVP
1972 NL MVP
HR Titles: 2
RBI Titles: 3

Until Mike Piazza came along, Bench was the unquestioned greatest offensive catcher of all time.

However, the eight Gold Gloves speak to what a complete player he was. He was the centerpiece of the Cincinnati Reds' famed “Big Red Machine.”

RUNNER-UP: Thurman Munson, Yankees

OTHERS RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: Carlton Fisk, Red Sox and Ted Simmons, Cardinals

FIRST BASE: WILLIE STARGELL

.287, 296, 906, 253 doubles
All-Star: 4 (two starts)
1979 NL MVP
1979 WS MVP
HR Titles: 2
RBI Titles: 1

One of the most feared power hitters of all time, Stargell was at his best in the '70s, leading the Pirates to a pair of World Series wins.

In '79, at the age of 39, Stargell won the NL MVP, hitting .415 with five HRs and 13 RBI in the playoffs en route to capturing the NLCS and WS MVP awards as well. He is still the only player to win all three awards within the same season.

RUNNER-UP: Tony Perez, Reds

OTHERS RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: Lee May, Orioles; George Scott, Brewers; Dick Allen, Phillies; and Steve Garvey, Dodgers

SECOND BASE: ROD CAREW

.343, 60, 628, 253 steals, 80 triples
All-Star: 10 (eight starts)
1977 AL MVP
Batting Titles: 6

The Rod Carew vs. Joe Morgan debate was probably the most difficult of all the positions. I just couldn't get past Carew's .343 average for the decade, which was 61 points higher than Morgan's.

Carew posted his best single season average in 1977 with a whopping .388.

RUNNER-UP: Joe Morgan, Reds

OTHERS RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: Bobby Grich, Orioles; Davey Johnson, Braves; Dave Cash, Pirates; and Glenn Beckert, Cubs

OF NOTE: Is anyone else aware that Davey Johnson logged a 43-homer season for the Braves in 1973?

THIRD BASE: MIKE SCHMIDT

.255, 235, 666, 117 steals
All-Star: 5 (one start)
Gold Gloves: 4
HR Titles: 3

Schmidt was certainly at his best in the 1980s, but he still put up stellar numbers early on in his career.

The four Gold Gloves gave Schmidt the edge over Graig Nettles, who had 165 more RBI than Schmidt but only two Gold Gloves.

RUNNER-UP: Graig Nettles, Yankees

OTHERS RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: Sal Bando, A's; Ron Cey, Dodgers; Darrell Evans, Braves; and George Brett, Royals

SHORTSTOP: DAVE CONCEPCION

.270, 70, 529, 220 steals
All-Star: 6 (three starts)
Gold Gloves: 5

One of the catalysts for the "Big Red Machine," Concepcion was a solid offensive shortstop at a time when the position was generally manned by slick fielding, sub-.250 hitters.

RUNNER-UP: Bert Campaneris, A's

OTHERS RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: Don Kessinger, Cubs and Mark Belanger, Orioles

OUTFIELD NO. 1: PETE ROSE

.314, 79, 580, 105 steals
All-Star: 9 (five starts)
Batting Titles: 1
Gold Gloves: 1
1973 NL MVP
1975 WS MVP

All controversy aside, Rose could flat-out hit.

His 2,045 hits in the 1970s were tops for the decade and helped make him the all-time hits leader.

He spent time at first and third as well, but for this team we'll consider him an outfielder.

OUTFIELD NO. 2: REGGIE JACKSON

.275, 292, 922, 183 steals
All-Star: 8 (five starts)
1973 AL MVP
1973 WS MVP
1977 WS MVP
HR Titles: 2
RBI Titles: 1

Mr. October defined the '70s, with 14 postseason home runs in the decade en route to winning four World Series titles—two each with the Yankees and A's.

He was one of the top power hitters of the decade and an All-Star game staple.

OUTFIELD NO. 3: LOU BROCK

.298, 47, 481, 551 steals
All-Star: 5 (one start)
Stolen Base Titles: 4

Aside from Rickey Henderson, I can't think of anyone I would choose over Lou Brock to hit leadoff. His 118 steals in 1974 stand as the fourth highest single season total.

Lou is also a member of the 3,000 hit club.

RUNNER UP: Jim Rice- Red Sox

OTHERS RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: Carl Yastrzemski, Red Sox; George Foster, Reds; Bobby Murcer, Yankees; Cesar Cedeno, Astros; Rusty Staub, Mets; Amos Otis, Royals; Bobby Bonds, Giants; Dave Parker, Reds; and Dave Kingman, multiple teams

STARTING PITCHER NO. 1: JIM PALMER

186 WINS
ALL-STAR: 6 (FOUR STARTS)
CY YOUNG AWARDS: 3
20-WIN SEASONS: 8
WIN TITLES: 3
ERA TITLES: 2

Picking an ace for this staff was tough, but eight 20-win seasons over a 10-year span is absolutely incredible.

Palmer was also a solid big-game pitcher with a 6-2 playoff record, including 3-1 in the World Series.

STARTING PITCHER NO. 2: TOM SEAVER

178 WINS
ALL-STAR: 8 (ONE START)
CY YOUNG AWARDS: 2
20-WIN SEASONS: 4
WIN TITLES: 1
ERA TITLES: 3
STRIKEOUT TITLES: 5

Seaver is probably the best strikeout pitcher of the group here.

He was hugely successful despite pitching for Mets teams that sat at or below .500 most of the decade.

STARTING PITCHER NO. 3: STEVE CARLTON

178 WINS
ALL-STAR: 5 (ONE START)
CY YOUNG AWARDS: 2
20-WIN SEASONS: 4
WIN TITLES: 2
ERA TITLES: 1
STRIKEOUT TITLES: 2

Perhaps the best left-handed pitcher of all time.

Carlton won the pitching Triple Crown in 1972 with 27 wins, 310 strikeouts, and a 1.97 ERA, all career bests.

STARTING PITCHER NO. 4: GAYLORD PERRY

184 WINS
ALL-STAR: 4 (ONE START)
CY YOUNG AWARDS: 2
20-WIN SEASONS: 4
WIN TITLES: 3

Perry's 184 wins were second only to Palmer for the decade.

Perry was definitely one of the better pitchers of the decade. Despite appearing in only one playoff series, he was the ace of every staff he was on.

STARTING PITCHER NO. 5: FERGIE JENKINS

178 WINS
ALL-STAR: 2
CY YOUNG AWARDS: 1
20 WIN SEASONS: 4
WIN TITLES: 2

The last spot came down to Jenkins or Catfish Hunter, with Vida Blue also receiving some consideration.

With Jenkins and Hunter posting nearly identical numbers, Jenkins gets the nod for doing so with some subpar Cubs teams while Hunter did it with the A's and Yankees.

Also, being a Cubs fan, there may have been a bit of bias here on my part.

RUNNER UP: Catfish Hunter, A's and Yankees

OTHERS RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: Vida Blue, A's; Luis Tiant, Red Sox; Rick Reuschel, Cubs; Don Sutton, Dodgers; Bert Blyleven, Twins; Phil Niekro, Braves; Nolan Ryan, Mets; and Ron Guidry, Yankees

CLOSER: ROLLIE FINGERS

209 SAVES
ALL-STAR: 5
SAVE TITLES: 2
ROLAIDS RELIEF MAN AWARDS: 2
1974 WS MVP

Fingers revolutionized the closer position and was the first reliever to make it into the Hall of Fame.

His presence at the end of games played a huge role in the A's' three consecutive World Series titles, as he posted eight postseason saves.

He also registered 84 wins during the decade out of the pen.

RUNNER UP: Mike Marshall, Dodgers

OTHERS RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: Sparky Lyle, Yankees; Tug McGraw, Mets; Bill Campbell, Red Sox; and Rich Gossage, Yankees