Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr.,nicknamed "the Ryan Express",is an American former professional baseball pitcher and sports executive. Over a record 27-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB),Ryan pitched for the New York Mets,California Angels,Houston Astros,and Texas Rangers. After his retirement in 1993,Ryan served as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Texas Rangers and an executive advisor to the Houston Astros. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999,and is widely considered to be one of the greatest MLB pitchers of all time.
Fredric Michael Lynn is an American former professional baseball center fielder who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB),mostly with the Boston Red Sox and the California Angels. He was the first player to win MLB's Rookie of the Year Award and Most Valuable Player Award in the same year,which he accomplished in 1975 with the Red Sox.
Rodney Cline Carew is a Panamanian-American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman,second baseman and designated hitter from 1967 to 1985 for the Minnesota Twins and the California Angels. The most accomplished contact hitter in Twins history,he won the 1977 AL Most Valuable Player Award,setting a Twins record with a .388 batting average. Carew appeared in 18 straight All-Star Games and led the AL in hits three times,with his 239 hits in 1977 being the twelfth most in a season at the time. He won seven AL batting titles,the second most AL batting titles in history behind Ty Cobb,and on July 12,2016,the AL batting title was renamed to the Rod Carew American League batting title.
Don Edward Baylor,nicknamed "Groove," was an American professional baseball player,coach and manager. During his 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB),Baylor was a power hitter known for standing very close to home plate and was a first baseman,left fielder,and designated hitter. He played for six different American League (AL) teams,primarily the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels,but he also played for the Oakland Athletics,New York Yankees,Minnesota Twins,and Boston Red Sox. In 1979,Baylor was an All-Star and won the AL Most Valuable Player Award. He won three Silver Slugger Awards,the Roberto Clemente Award,and was a member of the 1987 World Series champion Minnesota Twins.
César Leonardo Tovar,nicknamed "Pepito" and "Mr. Versatility",was a Venezuelan professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1965 to 1976,most notably as the leadoff hitter for the Minnesota Twins teams that won two consecutive American League Western Division titles in 1969 and 1970. He later played for the Philadelphia Phillies,Texas Rangers,Oakland Athletics,and New York Yankees.
Tommie Lee Agee was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from 1962 through 1973,most notably as a member of the New York Mets team that became known as the Miracle Mets when,they rose from being perennial losers to defeat the favored Baltimore Orioles in the 1969 World Series for one of the most improbable upsets in World Series history. Agee performed two impressive defensive plays in center field to help preserve a Mets victory in the third game of the series.
Tommy Harper is an American former professional baseball outfielder and third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for seven different franchises from 1962 to 1976,including six seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and three seasons each with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Boston Red Sox.
James Lloyd Spencer was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. Born in Hanover,Pennsylvania,the left-handed Spencer was recognized for his excellent fielding ability,but also served in later years as a designated hitter.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1974 throughout the world.
Leonardo Lazaro Cárdenas Alfonso is a Cuban former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from 1960 to 1975,most prominently as a member of the Cincinnati Reds,where he was the starting shortstop for seven seasons.
Francis Ralph Quilici was an American professional baseball player,coach and manager who spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the Minnesota Twins. Quilici served the team for all or part of five years as an infielder,11⁄2 years as a coach,and 31⁄2 years as manager,then spent six more years as a broadcaster for them. He threw and batted right-handed,stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).
Allen Kent Berry is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from 1962 through 1975,most notably as a member of the Chicago White Sox. The two-time Gold Glove winner was an American League All-Star player in 1967. He also played for the California Angels,Milwaukee Brewers and the Cleveland Indians. In 2015,Berry was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
Kenneth Lee McMullen is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman. Born in Oxnard,California,he batted and threw right-handed,stood 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg).
Donald Alvin Buford is an American former professional baseball player scout,coach and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from 1963 through 1972,most notably as the leadoff hitter for the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that won three consecutive American League pennants from 1969 to 1971 and,won the World Series in 1970. He also played for the Chicago White Sox and played in the Nippon Professional Baseball league from 1973 to 1976. Buford also played as an infielder and was a switch hitter who threw right-handed. In 1993,Buford was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.
Clyde Wright,nicknamed "Skeeter",is an American former professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher,he played all or part of ten seasons in Major League Baseball for the California Angels (1966–73),Milwaukee Brewers (1974) and Texas Rangers (1975). He also pitched three seasons in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants (1976–78). He is the father of Jaret Wright.
John Lawrence Balaz is a Canadian former professional baseball player. Balaz was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 10,1974,with the California Angels.
Carl David Frost was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. The 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m),235 lb (107 kg) right-hander was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round of the 1974 Major League Baseball draft. During a five-year Major League career,Frost played for the White Sox (1978),California Angels (1978–1981),and Kansas City Royals (1982).
Joseph Clifton Martin is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1959 to 1972. Martin played the bulk of his career with the Chicago White Sox,but is most prominent for his involvement in a controversial play that occurred during the 1969 World Series as a member of the New York Mets. He ended his career playing for the Chicago Cubs. After his playing career,he worked as a White Sox color commentator alongside Harry Caray on WSNS television in 1975.
Robert Dennis Doyle was an American professional baseball second baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies,California Angels,and Boston Red Sox. Listed at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and 175 pounds (79 kg),he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was considered a good-fielding second baseman but a weak hitter.
