All-Decade Team: 1970's AL
Yesterday, we started the process of choosing a 1970's AL squad for our All-Decade Team and today, I'm happy to report that we have some consensus! As we are getting deeper into this, it's becoming more and more difficult to agree and the teams are getting harder to iron out.
We did some finagling with this team to get Thurman Munson and Carlton Fisk on the squad- this is one of the only teams we've done with a catcher at the flex infield position (the Yankees had Berra and Dickey, I think). All told, there are 11 hall of famers on this squad and the pitching is extremely strong. As I mentioned, there was debate at almost every position. We debated whether Bert Campaneris and his steals deserved to make the team or if we were better suited going with Toby Harrah, who had the most pop or Mark Belanger and his Gold Gloves. In the end, we felt that Rick Burleson was the most well rounded AL shortstop in the 1970's. The flex infielder evolved several times as we tossed out names like George Scott, Graig Nettles, Sal Bando, Boog Powell, John Mayberry and Brooks Robinson. In the end, we decided to use two catchers and George Brett at third. Despite the fact that Brett only played limited time in the decade (coming up late 1973), his numbers stack up with the best AL third basemen in the 1970's. We left a few worthy pitchers off of our list; guys like Luis Tiant, Jim Kaat and Vida Blue just missed the cut but considering that the four starters that made our team are all enshrined in Cooperstown, it's hard to argue with our list. And lastly, two of the greatest closers in baseball history played in the AL during the 1970's and since we could only pick one, Goose Gossage just missed out.
Without further adieu, here are our selections for the 1970's AL All-Decade team. Enjoy!
C - Thurman Munson
1B - Carl Yastrzemski
2B - Rod Carew
SS - Rick Burleson
3B - George Brett
IF - Carlton Fisk
OF - Reggie Jackson
OF - Amos Otis
OF - Fred Lynn
OF - Jim Rice
SP - Jim Palmer
SP - Catfish Hunter
SP - Nolan Ryan
SP - Gaylord Perry
RP - Rollie Fingers
Any consideration for Robin Yount at SS, or did he not have enough numbers in the 70's due to not coming up early enough?
ReplyDeleteWe likely considered him but he made our 80's squad and we tried really hard throughout this process to avoid multiple selections for our All-Decade team. We would have to look one decade ahead in many instances to see if a player like Yount was going to make the next decade team. In this case, we knew that Yount would make the 80's squad (that was his best decade- he best represented that decade and that decade best represented him) so we started looking for someone else that could fit here. We only budged on that rule for the truly All-time greats... Gehrig, Mays, Mantle, Williams.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting.
After reading this, I went back and looked at the 80's team. I saw you put him in the outfield which completely threw me off. I forgot that he had moved to the OF later in his career. I still picture him at SS...just like I can't ever picture Pete Rose anywhere but first base, or Edgar Martinez ever playing defense.
DeleteBrett should not be on that list
ReplyDelete