by Marcus Brooks

Created on: April 11, 2011   Last Updated: December 11, 2011

Baseball changed forever in the 1970s.

From the dead ball era to the 1960s, pitchers terrorized hitters.  They used a raised mound and intimidation to confound National and American League offenses.  This era created the likes of Bob Gibson, Denny McClain, Don Drysdale, Whitey Ford and Sandy Koufax.  In 1968, Gibson incurred a microscopic 1.12 ERA (earned run average).  That same year, McClain won 31 games and only lost six!  In addition Drysdale and Koufax won a World Series and had multiple 20-win seasons.  And, Ford anchored a Yankee pitching staff which won multiple World Series titles. 

It was time for a change.

Changes occurred drastically.  The mound was lowered.  Opposing hitters got smarter and more confident.  The decade of the pitcher ended with the coming of seven offensive superstars.  Some later reached baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

REGGIE JACKSON 

In the year of 1969, a slugger was born out of hard knocks of Oakland.  Reggie Jackson invaded major league baseball like a William T. Sherman invaded the South.  He was bold, brash and full of bravado.  He carried a big stick and proceeded to shake up baseball as the West Coast once knew it. 

Jackson joined an Oakland Athletic squad stocked with competitive gamers.  Bert Campaneris, Gene Tenace, Sal Bando, Joe Rudi, John "Blue Moon" Odom, Jim "Catfish" Hunter and Vida Blue welcomed their youthful smasher.  The American League wished they had been warned of his arrival.  From 1969-1976, Oakland dominated the Junior Circuit with three World Series titles and numerous playoff appearances.  In 1973, Jackson won the Most Valuable Player award.  His competitive nature reaped benefits.  However, those benefits came with baggage. 

Jackson combatted with teammates, team management and Oakland's fan base.  His "diva" attitude irked the veterans.  He intimidated rookies by his mere presence.  With a team full of superstar pitchers and hitters, Jackson demanded 100% of the credit for wins and zero responsibility for the losses.  The Athletics parted ways with him.

And then, Jackson met George Steinbrenner.  He invoked Big Apple brashness and bravado also.  He battled with his equally boisterous manager, Billy Martin in the dugout and in the press.  He bought the team and demanded perfection.  Despite, the slugger's egoistical personality,

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