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** Fun Way To Show Collection
TJMAC
Posts: 864 ✭✭
I have been taking more photos of my collection and I thought it would be fun to show pictures with a brief synopsis of each year. Similar to what you would find in an almanac. I collect primarily 30 key cards in baseball from 1956 to 1985.
1956 –
Americans continue their love affair with “Ike” as Dwight Eisenhower cruises to reelection once again over Adlai Stevenson.
On June 29, President Eisenhower signs the Federal Aid Highway Act, creating the Interstate Highway System.
The 4th of July saw the first Lockheed U-2 spy plane flight over the Soviet Union.
52 people die when the Italian passenger liner S.S. Andrea Doria collides on July 25th off Nantucket Island, Mass. with the Swedish liner S.S. Stockholm.
The iconic 1957 Chevy is released in the fall of 1956.
1956 was a big year for Elvis. On February 22, he enters the United States music charts for the first time, with "Heartbreak Hotel. Elvis appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time and his first movie, "Love Me Tender" opens in New York
Norma Jean Mortenson legally changes her name to Marilyn Monroe.
Making their debut in 1956 were the first hard disk (5MB) invented by IBM, black-and-white portable TVs, Tefal makes the non-stick Frying Pans, Video Tapes, Video Recorders, Comet Cleanser, Play-Doh, Special K Cereal, Wisk, Flav-R-Straws, Salem cigarettes, Raid insect repellent, Alfred E. Neuman, Certs, Glade Air Fresheners and Dove Bars.
In music, Dick Clark hosts American Bandstand for the first time. Roy Orbison signs with Sun Records. Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash record together at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The sessions are later released under the name "the Million Dollar Quartet"
Top hits of 1956 include Que Sera, Sera by Doris Day, Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino, Hound Dog by Elvis Presley, My Prayer by The Platters, I’ve Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra and Tutti-Frutti by Little Richard.
Making their debut on television were the soap opera As the World Turns, the original Price is Right, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, and Queen for a Day. Leaving the airwaves were the Honeymooners and The Jimmy Durante show.
MGM's film The Wizard of Oz is the first major Hollywood film running more than ninety minutes to be televised uncut in one evening.
Top movies of 1956 were The Ten Commandments, The Searches, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, High Society, Giant, Around the World in 80 Days and Forbidden Planet starring Robby the Robot.
In April, Heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano retires without losing a professional boxing match.
In the NFL, the New York Giants crush the Chicago Bears 47-7 to win the championship.
In Hockey, the Canadiens beat the Red Wings in 5 games. Jean Beliveau win the Hart Trophy as the MVP. The Soviet Union beats the United States in the Olympics.
In baseball, New York Yankees win 4 games to 3 over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Yankees pitcher Don Larsen, pitches the only perfect game in World Series history, earning himself MVP honors. What’s interesting is the game was not even a sellout. Larsen’s perfection was achieved in a stadium with at least 10,000 empty seats
Yankees superstar Mickey Mantle wins his first MVP and the major league triple crown with a .353 average, 52 home runs and 130 RBI. Other big years were had by Don Newcombe who wins the NL MVP and CY Young 27 wins and 3.06 ERA. Duke Snider leads the NL in home runs with 43 dingers, but becomes the first player to do so without knocking in over 100 runs. Luis Aparicio wins the AL ROY and becomes a fixture at shortstop for the Go Go White Sox. Frank Robinson begins his prolific career by hitting 38 home runs, scoring a NL high 122 runs and winning the NL ROY.
Here is a good trivia questions, in 1956 Willie Mays became the first player to lead the league in stolen bases with 40 after hitting over 50 home runs the season before.
The great Connie Mack passes at 93.
Jackie Robinson retires from baseball after refusing to accept a trade to the Giants.
Hank Greenberg and Joe Cronin are inducted in the Hall of Fame.
1957 –
October 4 sees the start of the great space race when the Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. The good news is the United States had Tang which was created in 1957, so take that you Commies! The same day would also see the debut of Leave it to Beaver on CBS. The show that features the iconic 50’s Nuclear Family the Cleavers.
The Civil Rights Movement gains momentum in 1957
On September 24 U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sends federal troops to Arkansas to provide safe passage into Little Rock Central High School for the "Little Rock Nine".
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 is enacted, establishing the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
First Nuclear Reactor plant opens for production of electricity in Pennsylvania US.
Toyota begins exporting vehicles to the United States, beginning with the Toyota Crown and the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Making their debut in 1957 was the game of world domination – Risk, Andy Capp, Bubble Wrap (A Card Collector’s Favorite), Burger King’s Whopper, and Formula 409 cleaner.
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the 3rd and final time. He is shown only from the waist up, even during the gospel segment, singing "Peace In The Valley". Ed Sullivan describes Elvis thus: "This is a real decent, fine boy. We've never had a pleasanter experience on our show with a big name than we've had with you. You're thoroughly all right."
An important date in music history on July 6 when John Lennon and Paul McCartney first meet as teenagers at a garden fete at St. Peter's Church, Woolton, Liverpool, England, at which Lennon's skiffle group, The Quarrymen, is playing, 3 years before forming The Beatles.
Top hits of 1957 include All Shook Up by Elvis Presley, Letters in the Sand by Pat Boone, Tammy by Debbie Reynolds, Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On by Jerry Lee Lewis, Special Angel by Bobby Helms, Chances Are by Johnny Mathis and Little Darlin by The Diamonds.
Making their debut on T.V were Perry Mason, Zorro, Maverick, Divorce Court, Wagon Train Have Gun, Will Travel and the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Leaving the air in 1957 were I Love Lucy, The Three Stooge, and The Roy Rogers Show.
American screen actor Humphrey Bogart dies aged 57 in California after a long battle with cancer.
The Bridge on the River Kwai is released in the U.S. It goes on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Other big hits of 1957 include The Ten Commandments, Around the World in Eighty Days, 12 Angry men, Jailhouse Rock starring Elvis Presley and The Three Faces of Eve.
In sports, The Detroit Lions destroy the Cleveland Browns 59-14 to win the NFL Championship. Detroit Lions –Champion, that is an oxymoron, right? The Redwings Gordie Howe wins the Art Ross and Hart trophies. The Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup over the Bruins in 5 games.
In baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley agrees to move the team from Brooklyn, New York, to Los Angeles. Another blow would hit the Dodgers when Jackie Robinson retires rather than move across town to the Giants, to whom he had been traded.
The Giant also bid farewell to NY and head for the coast to San Francisco.
The Milwaukee Braves break the streak of all the New York teams winning the World Series by beating the Yankees in 7 games. Warren Spahn wins the CY Young Award and Hank Aaron wins the NL MVP with a .322 batting average, 44 home runs and 122 RBI. In the AL the MVP goes to Mickey Mantle with a .365 batting average, 34 home runs and an AL leading 121 runs scored. Ted Williams bats .388 and takes the AL batting crown. Stan Musial captures the NL batting crown with a .351 average. Roy Sievers of the lowly Senators knows 42 out of the park and drives in 114. Willie Mays shows his speed by leading the league with 20 triples and stealing 38 bases.
The Hall of Fame inducts Tigers great Sam Crawford and Yankee Manager Joe McCarthy.
Here is your trivia, the Kansas City A’s become the first team in MLB History to have not pitcher earn enough inning to qualify for the ERA title
1958 –
Nikita Khrushchev becomes Premier of the Soviet Union on March 27.
Castro's revolutionary army begins its attacks on Havana.
The bodies of unidentified United States soldiers killed in action during World War II and the Korean War are buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration is formed.
Toyota and Datsun Cars go on sale in The US.
Packard Cars end production as the company closes August 19th.
The U.S. Army inducts Elvis Presley, transforming The King Of Rock & Roll into U.S. Private.
During a visit to Caracas, Venezuela, Vice President Richard Nixon's car is attacked by anti-American demonstrators.
Making their debut in 1958 include Pizza Hut, Jiffy Pop, Ruffles, Spandex, Rolodex, Rice-A-Roni, Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa Krispies, Jif, Mr. Clean and Swedish Fish.
Top songs of 1958 include Volare by Domenico Modugno, Tom Dooley by The Kingston Trio, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by the Platters, Get a Job by The Silhouettes, Rock And Roll Is Here to Stay by Danny & the Juniors and Lollipop by The Chordettes.
Make their debut on TV in 1958 were The Rifleman (one of my favorites), The Donna Reed Show, Peter Gunn and Bat Masterson. Leaving the airwaves was Superman.
Top movies were South Pacific, Vertigo, The Vikings, The Blob, King Creole, and the Academy Award Winner Gigi.
In the world of sports, the Canadian Football League (CFL) is established in its current form. Arnold Palmer is the PGA Tour money leader with a whopping $42,608. In hockey, the Montreal Canadians beat the Bruins in 6 games. The great Gordie Howe wins the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
The NFL begins its ascension as America’s #1 sport when the Baltimore Colts defeat the New York Giants 23-17 in overtime. The game is later called the "Greatest game ever played". The NFL MVP is Jim Brown.
In baseball, the Yankees are now the lone team in New York and win the World Series in 7 by gaining revenge against the Milwaukee Braves who beat them the year before. Mickey Mantle hits a league high 42 home runs and 127 runs scored. Yankee pitcher Bob Turley goes 21-7 and takes the CY Young Award. Ted Williams wins the batting crown with a .328 average and his teammate Jackie Jensen wins the MVP with 35 home runs and 122 RBI. Willie Mays leads the NL in runs 121 and steals 31. The National League MVP was Ernie Banks who was the best offensive shortstop since Honus Wagner.
The Dodgers fall to 7th place, but even worse, star catcher and 3 time MVP is paralyzed in a car accident.
Fun fact: Nellie Fox plays 98 consecutive games without striking out. Imagine someone doing that today!
The Brooks Robinson card makes me laugh. I am sure he thought could they have taken a better picture of me.
1959 – The last year of one of the most stable decades in U.S. History as it enters into one of the most tumultuous.
Charles DE Gaulle is inaugurated as the first President of the French Fifth Republic. The Soviets continue to lead the space race as the lunar probe Luna 3 sends back the first ever photos of the far side of the Moon.
In the movies, Walt Disney releases the animated classic Sleeping Beauty. However, it was Ben Hur that was king of the box office as the #1 grossing film. It also took best film, actor and director at the Academy Awards.
The world of music saw both highs and lows as Barry Gordy founds Motown Records and Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper are killed in a plane crash. The #1 song is Bobby Darrin’s “Mack the Knife.”
1959 saw two classic television series Bonanza and the Twilight Zone make their debuts.
The NFL saw a rematch between the Colts and Giants, but this game was not the classic of 1958. The Colts win behind league MVP Johnny Unitas 31-16.
In the NHL, the Montreal Canadians sweep the Maple Leafs. Bobby Hull leads the league in points with 81, but Gordie Howe captures the MVP.
In baseball, the Yankees do not even factor in the pennant race for the first time in over a decade. The great infield combination of MVP Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio take the White Sox to the pennant only to lose to the L.A. Dodgers in 5. It is the first World Series for the Dodgers since moving to the west coast.
Ernie Banks wins his 2nd MVP and become the only 2nd division player to do so in back to back years as he drives in 143 runs. Other great seasons are put in by Willie Mays (.313, 34 Home Runs, and 104 RBI), Don Drysdale (17 wins and 242 strikeouts) and 39 year old Early Wynn (22 wins and 10 losses). On the downside of their careers, Ted Williams (.255) and Stan Musial (.254) both hit under .300 for the first time in their brilliant careers.
1960 – America is entering a new decade on top of the world. All eyes are fixated on the 1960 election between a young idealistic John F. Kenney and the experienced statesman Richard Nixon.
The Cold War rages on as the Soviet Union sentences downed American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers to 10 years in prison for espionage.
Americans were driving around in their classic Chevy, Fords and Pontiacs as they listen to music ranging from the rock sound of Elvis Presley to the easy listening of Percy Faith’s, “Theme from a Summer Place.”
In the movies, Alfred Hitchc***’s thriller Psycho was the #1 grossing film.
On television, My Three Sons begins its 13 year run along with the Andy Griffith Show. The Flintstone’s debuted on ABC and eventually broke the record for the longest running Primetime cartoon. I still find it funny that they actually used Fred and Wilma to advertise for the tobacco companies. Interesting how times have changed.
In the world of sports, the AFL begins its first season as the Houston Oilers top the Los Angeles Chargers in the Championship Game. In the NFL the Eagles win the NFL Championship by beating the Green Bay Packers 17 to 13.
In hockey, the Montreal Canadians sweep the Toronto Maple Leafs to win their 5 Stanley Cup in a row.
In baseball, Mantle and Maris are 1 and 2 in home runs with 40 and 39 as the latter wins his first of back to back MVPs. However, the story of the year was the Pittsburgh Pirates led by MVP Dick Groat and budding superstar Bob (Roberto) Clemente who hit .316 with 16 home runs. In spite of being outscored in the World Series by the Yankees 46 to 17, the Pirates win it in 7 behind the clutch home run by light hitting second basemen Bill Mazeroski.
Other big seasons from Hall of Famers were Willie Mays .319 and 103 RBI, Hank Aaron 40 home runs and 126 RBIs and Ernie Banks a league leading 41 home runs and 117 RBI.
1961 - Marks the beginning of the Kennedy Administration. In March he begins to tap into American Idealism by establishing the Peace Corps. However, one month later America is humiliated at the Bay of Pigs when well-trained Cuban forces overwhelm a brigade of Cuban exiles and small group of CIA operatives.
Barbie gets a boyfriend when the Ken doll is introduced.
Top hits include Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me”, Del Shannon’s “Runaway” and “Blue Moon” by the Marcels.
The top grossing film of 1961 was Disney’s 101 Dalmatians. Other popular movies were West Side Story, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Parent Trap.
On television, ABC’s Wide World of Sports makes its debut as viewers witness, “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” Other shows debuting were the Dick Van Dyke show and one of my favorites as a kid Mr. Ed.
The Green Bay Packers dynasty begins with a 37-0 thumping of the Giants in the NFL Championship Game.
The Chicago Blackhawks knock of the Red Wings in 6 to take the Stanley Cup. Their first since 1938.
In baseball, 1961 was one of the greatest season’s ever. Mickey Mantle slugs 54 home runs only to be topped by teammate Roger Maris who smacks a then MLB record 61* home runs. Norm Cash hits for a .361 batting average, which was the highest in the decade. The Reds win their first division title behind MVP Frank Robinson (.323, 37 HR, 140 RBI) since 1940, but fall to the Yankees in the World Series in 5 games.
Other big seasons come from AL CY Young Award Winner Whitey Ford who wins a career high 25 games, Hank Aaron who bats .327 with 34 home runs and 124 RBIs, and Warren Spahn who wins 21 games at the age of 40! Spahn also wins his 300th game.
1962 – The year begins with the activation of the Navy Seals. Seal Team One is assigned to the Pacific Fleet and Seal Team Two in the Atlantic Fleet. Tensions continue to rise as the Soviets and Cuba sign a trade pact. The United States would later announce an embargo of Cuba. The scariest moment in the Cold War occurs during October as the high stakes game of chicken known as the Cuban Missile Crisis rages. Eventually, President Kennedy strikes a secret deal with Soviet Leader Khrushchev to have the missiles removed from Cuba in exchange for removing missiles from Turkey.
First Lady Jackie Kennedy shows off a refurbished White House to a television audience.
AT&T's Telstar, the world's first commercial communications satellite, is launched into orbit in July.
1962 was a huge year for comic book fans as Hulk #1 is released and Spiderman makes his first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15. If we only had bought several issues of those!!!
The two highest grossing movies were Lawrence of Arabia starring Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif and the Longest Day with John Wayne. I have always been a fan of the latter.
Making their premiere on the tube were The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Jetsons and the Beverley Hillbillies.
The Rolling Stones make their debut at London’s Marquee Club. Musician Acker Bilk’s clarinet hit, Stranger on the Shore becomes the first British recording to reach number one in the US Billboard Hot 100. Now there is a trivia question for you.
The Beatles fire Pete Best and replace him with Ringo Starr.
3 of the 5 biggest hits of 1962 were by Elvis (I Can’t Help Falling in Love, Return to Sender and Good Luck Charm).
In Basketball, Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points in a single game. I can’t see that ever being repeated.
In the NFL, the Green Bay Packers win their 2nd Title in a row knocking off the Giants 16 to 7. The league MVP was Green Bay running back Jim Taylor who was the only one ever to win the rushing title besides Jim Brown during Brown’s 9 year playing career. This is another good trivia question.
In baseball, the Yankees win another World Series Title, which would be their last until 1977. It took them 7 games to defeat the Giants and an incredible Bobby Richardson grab of a Willie McCovey line drive to seal the deal. Mickey Mantle hits .321, bashes 30 HRs and drives in 89 RBI in route to his 3rd and final MVP while playing only 123 games. What is more impressive is Mantle’s .488 OBP and 122 walks.
Other great years were had by Maury Wills who snagged the MVP and a then MLB record 104 bases. Harmon “Killer” Killebrew smashes 48 home runs and drives in 126 RBI. However, he sets a then MLB record by striking out 142 times. Seems funny that was the record given how many times guys strikeout today. On June 30, 1962 Sandy Koufax throws his first career no hitter against the terrible Mets. Willie Mays finishes 2nd in the MVP voting, even though his team wins the pennant and he hits 49 HRs and drives in 141 RBI.
Jackie Robinson is elected to the Hall of Fame along with Bob Feller.
Of course 1963 will be remembered for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22. Alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald is killed two days later.
1963 is also most remembered for Martin Luther King’s famous, I Have A Dream Speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 29. The Civil Rights movement sees other big victories with the admission of Harvey Gantt to Clemson University, which makes South Carolina the last state to desegregate. As seen in the movie Forest Gump, Alabama Governor George Wallace makes a symbolic gesture by blocking the entrance of two black students into the University of Alabama.
Other notable events include Alcatraz Prison closing for good in March. Coca Cola introduces the first diet soft drink – Tab. The Mona Lisa is exhibited in the United States for the first time. It was assessed for insurance purposes at $100 million!
For wrestling fans, Buddy Rogers becomes the first WWF champ on April 29.
The X-Men make their first appearance into Marvel Comics.
In music, The Beatles release their first album, Please Please Me. Country music suffers the tragic loss of Patsy Cline who dies in a plane crash on March 5. Tops hits of 1963 include She Loves You by The Beatles, Louie Louie by Kinsmen and It’s My Party by Leslie Gore.
On television, General Hospital, Petticoat Junction and a show I used to watch on Saturday afternoon’s Mutual Omaha’s Wild Kingdom make their debut. Ward, June, Wally and the Beaver check out as Leave it to Beaver completes its final season.
For the first time, Americans state they get more of their news from television than the newspapers. Funny, now they probably get more from the internet.
The largest grossing film of 1963 was Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Other top films were How the West Was Won, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and Alfred Hitchc***’s The Birds. The Academy Award for Best Picture went to Tom Jones starring Albert Finney.
In football, the Hall of Fame is opened in Canton, Ohio. The first players inducted were Jim Thorpe, Sammy Baugh, Dutch Clark, Red Grange, Mel Hein, Pete Henry, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Blood McNally, Bronco Nagurski and Ernie Nevers. Many are not even known by today’s hardcore football fans. Compare that to baseball.
Commissioner Pete Rozelle suspends Paul Hornung and Alex Karras for betting on their own teams and other NFL games. They would miss the entire season. A small price to pay compared to Pete Rose.
The Chicago Bears defeat the New York Giants led by league MVP Y.A. Tittle 14 to 10. Tittle has the dubious distinction of being the only Hall of Fame quarterback to never win a postseason game.
In baseball, 27 year old Sandy Koufax takes the pitching quadruple crown with 25 wins, 306 strikeouts, 11 shutouts, and a 1.88 ERA. He wins the MVP, CY Young and his Dodger’s take the World Series by sweeping the Yankees. Koufax strikes out a World Series record setting 15 Yankees in game 1. He also has one of the best looking cards in the 1963 Topps set. What a year!!!
Other baseball news, a young rookie name Pete Rose scores 101 runs and takes the NL ROY award. 43 year old Early Wynn wins his 300th game. Carl Yastrzemski hits .321 to win his first batting title. Hank Aaron nearly captures the NL Triple Crown by leading the league in RBI with 130, tying McCovey with 44 home runs and finishing 7 points behind the Dodger’s Tommy Davis for the batting title. One of the greatest and classiest players to ever wear a uniform, Stan Musial retires at the end of the season.
Also, I do not have the 1963 Pete Rose yet. I am debating if I want to get it or not. It is such an ugly card for the $300-$400 it will cost me.
1964 - Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin resolution giving President Johnson greater freedom to authorize combat operations in Vietnam.
Lyndon Johnson is overwhelmingly re-elected over Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. This campaign gives rise to another future conservative candidate, Ronald Reagan as he delivers a famous television address titled, “A Time for Choosing.”
Union leader Jim Hoffa is convicted of fraud, conspiracy and jury tampering.
Soviet Leader Khrushchev falls out of power and is replaced by Leonid Brezhnev.
On April 17, the Ford Mustang is officially unveiled to the American public.
On February 9, The Beatles make their famous appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Tops songs of 1964 include, I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison and House of the Rising Sun by the Animals.
The highest grossing film of 1964 was Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins. Julie Andrews also takes the Academy Award for Best Actress. Other top films include Goldfinger, My Fair Lady, and From Russia with Love.
In television, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer makes its debut. That’s funny, it’s on T.V. tonight. Other shows debuting include classics such as the Addam’s Family, The Munster’s, Bewitched and Gilligan’s Island.
In sports, Muhammad Ali upsets Sonny Liston in Miami Beach, Florida, and is crowned the heavyweight champion of the world.
The Boston Celtics make their 8th straight trip to the finals led by K.C. Johns, John Havlicek and Bill Russell; they easily dispose of the Wilt Chamberlain’s San Francisco Warriors 4 games to 1. Chamberlain dominated, but did not have the supporting cast to beat the talented Celtics.
In the NHL, future Hall of Fame goalie Ken Dryden is drafted by the Bruins in the 3rd round. Imagine a team that would have had Dryden, Esposito and Orr. Wow!
The Cleveland Browns defeat the Baltimore Colts 27-0. This is the last time a Cleveland team has won a major sports championship. Being from Buffalo, I have to recognize the Bills beating the Chargers 20-7 to win their first AFL Championship.
The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the New York Yankees in 7 games to take the World Series. Bob Gibson legend begins by beating the Yankees in game 5 and the critical game 7. Mickey Mantle finishes his last World Series with 3 home runs and 8 RBI.
The most interesting story in baseball in 1964 was the Phillies blowing a 6 ½ game lead to the Cardinals with 2 weeks to go. They ended up losing 10 straight. This is fitting considering the collapses of the Braves and Red Sox this year.
Big years were had by AL MVP Brooks Robinson (.317, 28 homers, and AL leading 118 RBI), AL ROY Tony Olivia wins the batting championship with a 3.23 average. Jim Bunning goes 19-8 and pitches a perfect game on Father’s Day against the Mets. Cardinals 3rd Basemen Ken Boyer wins the NL MVP (.295, 24 home runs and 119 RBI). Roberto Clemente wins his 2nd batting title hitting .339 and knocking 212 hits.
1965 – In January, President Johnson declares war on poverty and urges Congress to pass legislation to make his “Great Society” a reality.
The war in Vietnam escalates as 3,500 Marines enter South Vietnam, becoming the first American combat troops in Vietnam. By May of 1965 more and more draft cards are being burned and a coffin is marched to the Berkeley Draft Board. America already divided by Civil Rights issues is now divided by war.
On January 24, Sir Winston Churchill passes away at the age 90. Wow, no wonder why he always looked old to me. He was in his late 60’s during World War 2. Besides the fact that he didn’t age well.
The first Fotomat kiosk opens in Point Loma, CA. Anybody remember those? They even rented movies in the late 70’s early 80’s.
Kellogg’s introduces Apple Jacks cereal, but it was originally known as Apple O’s.
In television, I Dream of Jeannie, Hogan’s Heroes, Lost in Space, The Dating Game and My Mother, the Car, which T.V. Guide called it the 2nd worst show of all time behind Jerry Springer make their debut.
A Charlie Brown Christmas airs for the first time on CBS.
In the movies, The Sound of Music and Doctor Zhivago lead the way. The 4th James Bond movie Thunderball is released and finishes 3rd at the box office. One of my favorites, The Battle of the Bulge with Robert Shaw and Henry Fonda is also released.
In music, tops songs of 1965 include Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers, Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones and a trio of The Beatles hits, Help!, Yesterday, and Ticket to Ride. The Supremes also had a big year with the release of several #1 hits, Stop! In the Name of Love, Back In My Arms Again and I Hear a Symphony.
In the world of sports, Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston meet in a rematch with Ali knocking out Liston in the first round. Many believe Liston fell due to a phantom punch.
Joe Namath is drafted by the Jets and St. Louis Cardinals, but elects signs with the Jets for $427,000. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Cleveland Browns 23-12 to win the NFL Championship. Jim Brown is selected as the league MVP and then retires.
The Montreal Canadians win their 13th Stanley Cup knocking of Bobby Hull’s Blackhawks in 7 games.
In baseball, the Minnesota Twins win 102 games and face the L.A. Dodgers in the World Series. The Dodgers win in 7 behind a dominant Koufax who hurls two shutouts including one in game 7. Koufax wins 26 games, pitches a perfect game and strikes out a then league record 382 batters to win his 2nd Cy Young Award.
Willie Mays leads the majors with 52 home runs and hits .317 in route to the NL MVP. Other notable years are had by 20 year old Tony Conigliaro who smacks an AL leading 32 home runs becoming the youngest ever home run leader. On the other end of the age scale, Satchel Paige is the oldest player to appear in a game and hurls three shutout innings against the Red Sox at the age of 65! Twins shortstop Zoilo Versalles wins the AL MVP with a league leading 126 runs, 45double and 12 triples.
Casey Stengel retires after 55 years in baseball.
I am particularly pleased with my 1965 cards. I think they present very well for the grade especially, the Mantle.
1966 – The Vietnam War continues to dominate the headlines. American troop totals rise to 360,000 with more than 5,500 killed. Young people are questioning the draft and some students are opposing the releasing class rankings to draft boards as a method of handing out deferments.
On June 13 the Supreme Court rules in Miranda v. Arizona that police must inform suspects of their rights before questioning them.
Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino opens in Las Vegas on August 6.
On December 15, Walt Disney dies while supervising his last film The Jungle Book.
On December 18, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, narrated by Boris Karloff, is shown for the first time on CBS, becoming an annual Christmas tradition.
Items making their debut in 1966 include Doritos, Bugles, Twister, Wite Out and Crunch N’ Munch.
Top grossing films of 1966 are Hawaii, The Bible: In the Beginning and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
In music, Frank Sinatra records the #1 hit Strangers in the Night. His daughter Nancy also reaches #1 with These Boots are Made for Walkin’. The Beach Boys top the charts with Good Vibrations and The Beatles release Yellow Submarine.
Young singer David Jones changes his last name to Bowie to avoid being confused with Davy Jones of the Monkees.
T.V. debuts include Star Trek, The Monkees, Batman, The Hollywood Squares and The Newlywed Game.
Leaving the airwaves were The Flintstones, The Donna Reed Show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mr. Ed and The Munsters.
In sports, the NFL-AFL agrees to officially merge in 1970. They agreed to play an annual AFL-NFL Championship game starting in 1967. League MVP Bart Starr throws 4 touchdowns as the Packers beat the Cowboys 34-27 in the NFL Championship game. The Chiefs beat the Bills 31-7 setting up the first Super Bowl matchup between the Packers and Chiefs. Green Bay ends up routing the Chiefs 35-10 to take Super Bowl 1. The MVP of the game was Bart Starr who threw 2 TD passes both to Max McGee.
In baseball, The Baltimore Orioles defeat the L.A. Dodgers in 4 games. Frank Robinson has a spectacular year winning the Triple Crown and both the league and World Series MVPs. Robinson finishes the year with a .316 AVG, 49 HRs and 122 RBIs. Who else, but Sandy Koufax wins the CY Young with 27 wins, 317 strikeouts and a 1.73 ERA. Sadly, Koufax retires at the end of the season due to arthritis.
The once mighty Yankees finish dead last in the AL standings with a 70-89 record.
Ted Williams is elected to the Hall of Fame receiving 282 of 302 possible votes. What the heck were the 20 voters who casted ballots against him thinking? If Ted Williams does not deserve to be in the Hall of Fame in his first try, who does?
Big years were had by Hank Aaron with 44 HRs and 127 RBI, NL MVP Roberto Clemente bats .317, scores 105 runs and drives in 119. Willie Stargell bats .315, hits 33 home runs and drives in 103. Denny McLain win 20 games in Detroit. Juan Marichal puts together another awesome year only to be outdone by Sandy Koufax. Marichal wins 25 games and sports a 2.23 ERA. A shame he could never win a Cy Young.
1967 – Thurgood Marshall is confirmed as the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
Senator John McCain then a U.S. Navy pilot is shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese and endured over 5 years of torture.
Muhammad Ali is stripped of his heavyweight title and arrested. He did not fight again until 1970.
The supersonic jet Concorde is unveiled for the first time in Toulouse, France on December 11.
Items making their debut in 1967 include the Big Mac, Ho Hos, Pop Tarts, Cool Whip and Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.
The top 5 films of 1967 were The Jungle Book, The Graduate, Bonnie and Clyde, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and The Dirty Dozen. It was a great year for movies. Best picture went to In the Heat of the Night starring Rod Steiger and Sidney Portier.
The first of the “Spaghetti Westerns” A Fistful of Dollars with Clint Eastwood premieres.
On television, Mannix, The Carol Burnett Show, Spiderman and The Flying Nun make their debuts. The Green Hornet, Gilligan’s Island and Flipper leave the air waves.
The story of the year in music is the marriage of Elvis and Priscilla on May 1.
The Doors appear on The Ed Sullivan Show and perform "Light My Fire". Despite having agreed to Sullivan's request that the line "Girl we couldn't get much higher" be changed for the show, Jim Morrison performs it the way it was written and The Doors are banned from the show.
Tops songs of 1967 include A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procul Harum, I’m a Believer by the Monkees and Light My Fire by the Doors.
In sports, the American Basketball Association (ABA) is formed. The Toronto Maple Leafs appear in their last Stanley Cup Finals and it also marks the last year of the original six as the NHL doubles in size.
In the NFL, the league MVP is Johnny Unitas for the third and final time. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Dallas Cowboys in the famed Ice Bowl 21-17 for their 3rd NFL title in a row. The Packers go on to the Super Bowl to knock off the Raiders 33 -14 behind game MVP Bart Starr.
The Cardinals defeat the Red Sox in 7 to take the 1967 World Series. Bob Gibson wins 3 games, but the biggest star was Lou Brock who hit .414, steals 7 bases and scores 8 runs. Tom “Terrific” Seaver is the league’s top rookie with a 16-13 record and 2.76 ERA.
Other big years are had by Carl “Yaz” who is the last Triple Crown winner with a .326 average, 44 home runs and 121 RBI. Orlando Cepeda is the NL MVP hitting .325, 25 home runs and 111 RBI. A couple of lesser known pitchers at least today, Boston’s Jim Lonborg and the Giants Mike McCormick take the AL and NL Cy Young. Lonborg won 24 games and struck out 246. McCormick won 22 and sported a 2.85 ERA.
Tragedy hits Tony Conigliaro as he is beaned by the Angel’s Jack Hamilton in the face and does not play again until 1969. Mickey Mantle hits his 500th home run on May 13. The era of the pitcher continues as AL BA are down to .236. The Red Sox lead the league with a .243 average.
I still need the Tom Seaver for 1967, so I had to substitute a 1969. Looking for a nice 5 or 6 for the right price.
1968 – Was a year of major events. America is still a nation very much divided.
In January, the Tet Offensive begins as the North Vietnamese take the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces by surprise as they attack several civilian areas and military command posts. The North were eventually pushed back, but the Tet Offensive hurt U.S. public opinion on the war as it was believed the North were incapable of such an attack.
Robert Kennedy enters the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination on March 16. He is later shot by Sirhan Sirhan and dies from the wound on June 6.
On March 31, President Johnson announces he will not seek re-election
On April 4, Martin Luther King, Jr. is shot dead at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Riots erupt in major American cities, lasting for several days afterwards.
In November, America elects a new president as Richard M. Nixon with the help of the “Silent Majority” defeats Hubert Humphrey.
Madison Square Garden opens in February.
Making their debut in 1968 were Hot Wheels, 9-1-1, Pringles, Lava Lamps, the game Don’t Break the Ice and Ziploc bags.
In television, 60 Minutes, Laugh-In, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, Hawaii Five-0, Land of the Giants (one of my favorites as a kid), The Banana Splits, Wacky Races, The Mod Squad and the Dick Cavett Show.
The top grossing films of 1968 were Funny Girl, 2001: A Space Odyssey (that was on tonight), Bullitt with Steve McQueen and Rosemary’s Baby. The Academy Award for best movie went to Oliver!
Other popular movies were Plant of the Apes, Barbarella, The Green Berets with John Wayne and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Elvis Presley’s comeback special airs on 12/02 on NBC. The top singles of 1968 include Hey Jude by The Beatles, What a Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong and Sitting on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding.
On November 17, the famous Heidi game takes place. NBC cuts off the final 1:05 of an Oakland Raiders–New York Jets football game to broadcast the pre-scheduled Heidi. Fans are unable to see Oakland (which had been trailing 32–29) score 2 late touchdowns to win 43–32; as a result, thousands of outraged football fans flood the NBC switchboards to protest.
In other NFL happenings, Earl Morrall is elected MVP. The Baltimore Colts finish the year 13-1 and route the Browns 34-0 in the NFL Championship. They enter the Super Bowl III as an overwhelming favorite against the AFL’s New York Jets led by a brash young quarterback named Joe Willie Namath.
In basketball, the Lakers and Celtics meet for the sixth time in ten years with the Celtics winning in six games. It was their 10th championship in 12 years. It was the first title for player/coach Bill Russell (as coach of course).
The Detroit Tigers unite a divided city as they defeat the Cardinals in 7 games. They game back from a 3 to 1 deficit. Al Kaline hits .379 and leads all batters with 8 RBI.
1968 was known as the year of the pitcher. Carl Yastrzemski wins the batting title with a .301 average, which was the lowest ever for a batting champion. Denny McLain wins a remarkable 31 games and carries a 1.96 ERA as he wins the AL MVP and CY Young. Bob Gibson posts a 1.12 ERA, the lowest in the majors since 1914 and also wins the NL MVP and CY Young. Other great years were had by Luis Tiant who throws nine shutouts and leads the AL with a 1.60 ERA. Poor Juan Marichal wins 26 games and completes 30 GAMES but once again is the second best pitcher in the NL.
A young Johnny Bench smacks 15 homers and drives in 82 to win the NL ROY. Catfish Hunter pitches a perfect game against the Twins. Pete Rose wins his first batting title with a .335 average and becomes the first switch hitter to take the NL crown. Frank Howard smacks 44 homers to lead the majors. McCovey hits 36 home runs to lead the NL.
Hank Aaron hits his 500 home run on July 14 and 1968 would be the last season for The Mick.
1969 – History is made on July 20 as the lunar module Eagle lands on the moon. An estimated 500 million people worldwide watch in awe as Neil Armstrong takes his historic first steps on the Moon at 02:56 UTC, the largest television audience for a live broadcast at that time.
Yasser Arafat is elected the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization on February 4.
On January 20 after 147 years the last issue of the Saturday Evening Post is published.
Judy Garland probably most famous for playing Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz dies from a drug overdose in London on June 22.
The very first troop withdrawals are made in Vietnam on July 8. This was part of President Nixon’s commitment to removed 25,000 troops by December.
On July 18, Senator Edward Kennedy drives off a bridge on his way home from a party on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts. Mary Jo Kopechne, a former campaign aide to his brother, dies in the early morning hours of July 19 in the submerged car. Kennedy leaves the scene and does not report the accident until the next day.
The Woodstock Festival is held from August 15 to August 18 in upstate New York, featuring some of the top rock musicians of the era.
On September 2, the first automatic teller machine in the United States is installed in Rockville Centre, New York.
The first draft lottery in the United States is held since World War II on December 1.
The Haunted Mansion attraction opens at Disneyland California on August 9. Later versions opened in Florida, Tokyo and Paris.
Making their debut in 1969 were the internet, Clamato juice, Tic Tacs, barcode readers, Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn, the Major League Baseball logo and Manwich.
Television saw the premiere of three iconic shows Scooby Doo, Sesame Street and The Brady Bunch. Other famous shows making their debut were Hee Haw, The Pink Panther Show and Marcus Welby M.D. Star Trek is canceled.
In the movies, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid led the box office nearly doubling the gross of the second highest movie of the year, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? starring Jane Fonda. Other famous movies were Midnight Cowboy which won the Oscar for best picture, True Grit starring Academy Award Winner John Wayne, Easy Rider and the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Top songs of 1969 include Get Back by The Beatles, Honkey Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones, Sugar, Sugar by the Archies, and Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley. Led Zeppelin, The Jackson Five and Chicago release their debut albums. John Lennon marries Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman.
In sports, it was the year of New York underdogs as Joe Willie Namath predicts the Jets will beat the Colts and backs it up in one of the biggest upsets in football history. In baseball, the Amazin Mets knock off the heavily favored Orioles 4 games to 1.
The Vikings beat the Cleveland Browns 27-7 in the NFL championship game. They go on to play the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV. The NFL MVP is the Rams Roman Gabriel. 1969 also saw the debut of Mean Joe Greene who takes home the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Rocky Marciano dies in a plane crash at the age of 45.
In basketball the Celtics once again beat the Lakers in 7 games.
The Montreal Canadians face the St. Louis Blues in a rematch of the 1968 finals. The Canadians win once again in a sweep. Bruins forward Phil Esposito amasses 126 points to take the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
Baseball see the first year of division play as Orioles knock off the Twins and the Mets sweep the Braves in three. Harmon Killebrew wins the AL MVP batting .276, 49 home runs and 140 RBI. Willie McCovey wins the NL MVP with a .320 average, 45 homers and 126 RBI. Tom Seaver wins his first Cy Young posted a 25-7 record and 2.21 ERA. Denny McClain and Mike Cueller tie for the 1969 AL Cy Young. The Seattle Pilots make their debut and departure in 1969. Jim Bouton talks about the season in his book Ball Four. Rod Carew takes the AL Batting Title with a .332 average and Pete Rose wins his 2nd NL Batting Title with a 348 average.
Willie Stargell becomes the first player to hit a home run out of Dodgers Stadium on August 5, 1969.
Stan Musial and Roy Campanella are elected to the Hall of Fame
1970 – The big event of the year was Apollo 13 being launched in April for a mission to the moon. Two days into their mission, an oxygen tank explodes forcing the crew to abort the mission and make a daring return home. The nation is captivated and their prayers are answered when the astronauts return to the earth’s surface safely.
Tragedy strikes the campus of Kent State on May 4 as four students are killed and 9 wounded by Ohio National Guardsmen, at a protest against the incursion into Cambodia.
On March 21, the first Earth Day proclamation is issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto.
The North Tower of the World Trade Center is topped out on December 23, at 1,368 feet, making it the tallest building in the world.
The famous (or infamous) Ford Pinto is introduced on September 11.
In television, Rankin Bass debuts Santa Claus is Coming to Town on ABC on December 14. Other new shows were All My Children, Josie and the P***ycats, The Flip Wilson Show, The Partridge Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the Odd Couple. Leaving the airwaves were Daniel Boone, Petticoat Junction, Get Smart and Spider-Man.
Love Story with Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw leads the way at the box office. Other top grossing films were Mash, Patton (one of my favorites), Airport and Disney’s the Aristocrats.
1970 was a big year in music. On January 14, Diana Ross & The Supremes perform their farewell live concert together at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, and Ross's replacement, Jean Terrell, is introduced onstage at the end of the last show.
Black Sabbath's debut album hits the shelves in February, Black Sabbath released; often regarded as the first true heavy metal album.
On April 10, Paul McCartney announces that the Beatles have disbanded, while at the same press conference, announcing the release of his first solo album. On the same day, The Elton John album is released, the second album by Elton John, but the first to chart and the first to be released in America.
Jimi Hendrix dies of a drug overdose in London on September 18.
The Boston Bruins win their first Stanley Cup since 1941 when Bobby Orr scores a goal 40 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 victory which completed a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues who made it a habit of being swept in the Stanley Cup finals.
The Kansas Chiefs defeat the Minnesota Vikings and the famed Purple People Eaters 23-7 in the last Super Bowl between the AFL and NFL on January 11,1970. In September, the NFL-AFL merger officially takes effect and the NFL as we know it begins.
Monday Night Football debuts on ABC on September 21; the Cleveland Browns defeat the New York Jets 31-21 in front of more than 85,000 fans at Cleveland Stadium.
The Baltimore Orioles defeat the Cincinnati Reds in Game 5 of the World Series, 9–3, to win the series 4 games to 1 for their 2nd World Championship.
NL MVP Johnny Bench has a monster season hitting .293 with 45 Home Runs and 148 RBI for a CATCHER! Boog Powell is the AL MVP hitting .297, smacking 35 HRs and driving in 114. Frank “Hondo” Howard leads the AL in home runs with 44. A young Yankee catcher by the name of Thurman Munson takes the AL ROY with a .302 average and 53 RBI. Bob Gibson takes the NL Cy Young – his 2nd and Jim Perry wins the AL Cy Young. Hank Aaron and Willie Mays both achieve milestones by getting their 3000th hit. Reds Pitcher Wayne Granger sets the ML Saves record with 35, wow how times have changed.
Probably the most famous image in baseball that year happened at the All Star Game in Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium of all places as Pete Rose barrels into Indians catcher Ray Fosse in the bottom of the 12th to win the game for the NL. Shockingly, Carl Yaz wins the game’s MVP award becoming the last player from a losing team to do so.
1971 – The Pentagon Papers are printed in the New York Times on June 13. They outline the US political-military involvement from 1945-1967. The papers expose how the U.S. Government misled about U.S. intentions in Vietnam.
China is admitted to the United Nations. The U.S. also ends their trade embargo with China.
Evel Knievel sets a world record and jumps 19 cars in Ontario, California on February 28.
The Microprocessor is invented ushering in the digital age.
Prisoners take hostages at Attica Prison in New York, resulting in the death of 10 hostages and 29 inmates.
Walt Disney World Resort opens in Florida on October 1.
Making their introduction in 1971 are Federal Express, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles Cereal, the Walt Disney Monorail, Uno, Hamburger Helper, Whac-A-Mole and Andy Capp Fries/
In cinema, Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol is the highest grossing film. Other popular movies were The French Connection, Diamonds are Forever, Brian’s Song, A Clockwork Orange, Carnal Knowledge and Dirty Harry. Best film goes to the French Connection. Also of note is Steven Spielberg’s directorial debut of the made for T.V. movie Duel.
Making their television debut was All in the Family, The Electric Company and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Well known animated shows Help! It’s the Hair Bear Bunch, The Funky Phantom and the Jackson Five also make their debut. Also of note, the final cigarette ad appears on January 1 during Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show.
In music, Jim Morrison of The Doors is found dead in a bathtub in Paris on July 3. Tops songs of 1971 include Imagine by John Lennon, My Sweet Lord by George Harrison, Maggie May by Rod Stewart, Rose Garden by Lynn Anderson, and I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing by the New Seekers. This song became popular in the 1971 Coke Commercial know as “Hilltop”.
The Baltimore Colts defeat the Dallas Cowboys 16–13 in Super Bowl V at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Dallas Cowboys Linebacker Chuck Howley is the MVP. He was first and last player to date to be awarded the honor from a losing team. Howley was also the first non-quarterback to win the award.
Joe Frazier defeats Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden, in the first of three epic bouts between the two, to retain the World Heavyweight Championship on March 8.
On the diamond, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Baltimore Orioles making their 3rd straight series appearance in7 to take the World Series Title. Roberto Clemente has a phenomenal series batting .414 with 12 hits two home runs to take MVP honors.
Big years were had by Vida Blue who wins the AL MVP and Cy Young with a 24-8 record, 301 strikeouts and a 1.82 ERA. The A’s win the division in 1971 and are starting to build a dynasty. Fergie Jenkins wins the NL Cy Young with 24 wins and a 2.77 ERA. Joe Torre (yes, he was a pretty darn good player too) was the NL MVP .363 average and 137 RBI. Willie Stargell lead the NL with 48 home runs and knock in 125. The Yankees Bobby Murcer bats .331 with 25 home runs. Bobby Bonds hits .288 with 33 home runs and 102 RBI.
The Baltimore Orioles have a record tying four twenty game winners: Dave McNally (21-5), Mike Cuellar (20-9), Pat Dobson (20-8) and Jim Palmer (20-9).
The Cardinals make an un”Wise” trade by sending Steve Carlton to the Phillies for Rick Wise. Supposedly, the deal was made because Carlton wanted a $10,000 raise. The Mets also get rid of Nolan Ryan to the Angels for Jim Fregosi – ouch!
Reggie Jackson hits a 520 foot homer at the All-Star game that hits one of the light standards on the roof of Tiger Stadium.
1972 - Americans overwhelmingly re-elect Richard Nixon President with 60.7% of the vote to George McGovern’s 37.5%. The electoral vote was 520 to 17. It was a year of ups and downs for President Nixon. In February he makes an unprecedented 8-day visit to the People's Republic of China and meets with Mao Zedong. However, what was ignored by most people at the time eventually leads to his downfall as five White House operatives are arrested for burglarizing the offices of the Democratic National Committee on June 17.
Tragedy hits the Olympic Games in Munich as eleven Israeli athletes at the Summer Games are murdered after 8 members of the Arab terrorist group Black September invade the Olympic Village; 5 guerillas and 1 policeman are also killed in a failed hostage rescue.
Governor George C. Wallace of Alabama is shot by Arthur Herman Bremer at a Laurel, Maryland political rally on May 15.
The Volkswagen Beetle sales exceed those of the Ford Model-T when the 15,007,034th Beetle is produced.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 1,000 (1,003.16) for the first time.
Bobby Fischer defeats Boris Spassky in a chess match at Reykjavík, Iceland, becoming the first American to be world chess champion on September 1.
Making their debut in 1972 were the video game Pong, air hockey, the Action Jackson dolls, Garanimals, Mr. Coffee, Egg Beaters, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Snapple, Stove Top Stuffing, Mr. Pibb, Dawn Soap and the Mego Toy Company gets the rights to produce both Marvel and DC Superhero action figures.
In television, The Waltons, The New Price is Right with Bob Barker, Emergency!, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Maude, M*A*S*H, Sanford and Son and The Streets of San Francisco make their debut. Leaving the airwaves are Bewitched and My Three Sons.
The top movies of 1972 were The Godfather, The Poseidon Adventure, Deliverance, Cabaret and Jeremiah Johnson. Marlon Brando wins the Oscar for Best Actor, but declines it due to the treatment of American Indians in Hollywood and television.
Popular songs from 1972 include America’s Horse with No Name, Don McLean’s American Pie, Song Sung Blue by Neil Diamond, Rocket Man by Elton John, Burning Love by Elvis Presley, Candy Man by Sammy Davis Jr. and Brandy by Looking Glass. The first New Year’s Rockin Eve with Dick Clark premiers on December 31. Acts include Three Dog Night, Blood Sweat & Tears, Helen Reddy and Al Green.
The Dallas Cowboys win their first Super Bowl by easily defeating the Miami Dolphins 24–3 January 16. On December 23, Franco Harris makes the Immaculate Reception to knock off the Raiders 13-7.
Bob Douglas becomes the first African American elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Oakland Athletics win their first World Championship since the team was based in Philadelphia in 1930, and sixth in franchise history, by defeating the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 3. For the first time in World Series history, no pitcher turn in a complete game.
The 1972 season lost the first two weeks due to a players strike. This allowed the Detroit Tigers (86-70) to win the AL East by a ½ game over the Red Sox (85-70).
Big years were had by Johnny Bench who captures his 2nd NL MVP with 40 homers and 125 RBI. Richie Allen wins the AL MVP with 37 homers and 113 RBI. Billy Williams win the NL batting title with a .333 average. He also hits 37 HRs and knocks in 122. Rod Carew wins his 2nd AL batting crown with a .318 average. Steve Carlton takes home the NL Cy Young by winning 27 of the Phillies 59 games – Amazing! That achievement will never be touched. Carlton also leads the NL wit 30 complete games and 301 strikeouts. Cleveland’s Gaylord Perry takes home the AL Cy Young with a 24-16 record and 1.92 ERA.
Roberto Clemente dies in a plane crash off the coast of Puerto Rico while en route to deliver aid to Nicaraguan earthquake victims on December 31. He finished his career with exactly 3000 hits.
Sandy Koufax, Yogi Berra and Early Wynn are elected to the Hall of Fame.
Look down a few posts for 1973. I ran out of room.
1956 –
Americans continue their love affair with “Ike” as Dwight Eisenhower cruises to reelection once again over Adlai Stevenson.
On June 29, President Eisenhower signs the Federal Aid Highway Act, creating the Interstate Highway System.
The 4th of July saw the first Lockheed U-2 spy plane flight over the Soviet Union.
52 people die when the Italian passenger liner S.S. Andrea Doria collides on July 25th off Nantucket Island, Mass. with the Swedish liner S.S. Stockholm.
The iconic 1957 Chevy is released in the fall of 1956.
1956 was a big year for Elvis. On February 22, he enters the United States music charts for the first time, with "Heartbreak Hotel. Elvis appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time and his first movie, "Love Me Tender" opens in New York
Norma Jean Mortenson legally changes her name to Marilyn Monroe.
Making their debut in 1956 were the first hard disk (5MB) invented by IBM, black-and-white portable TVs, Tefal makes the non-stick Frying Pans, Video Tapes, Video Recorders, Comet Cleanser, Play-Doh, Special K Cereal, Wisk, Flav-R-Straws, Salem cigarettes, Raid insect repellent, Alfred E. Neuman, Certs, Glade Air Fresheners and Dove Bars.
In music, Dick Clark hosts American Bandstand for the first time. Roy Orbison signs with Sun Records. Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash record together at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The sessions are later released under the name "the Million Dollar Quartet"
Top hits of 1956 include Que Sera, Sera by Doris Day, Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino, Hound Dog by Elvis Presley, My Prayer by The Platters, I’ve Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra and Tutti-Frutti by Little Richard.
Making their debut on television were the soap opera As the World Turns, the original Price is Right, The Adventures of Jim Bowie, and Queen for a Day. Leaving the airwaves were the Honeymooners and The Jimmy Durante show.
MGM's film The Wizard of Oz is the first major Hollywood film running more than ninety minutes to be televised uncut in one evening.
Top movies of 1956 were The Ten Commandments, The Searches, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, High Society, Giant, Around the World in 80 Days and Forbidden Planet starring Robby the Robot.
In April, Heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano retires without losing a professional boxing match.
In the NFL, the New York Giants crush the Chicago Bears 47-7 to win the championship.
In Hockey, the Canadiens beat the Red Wings in 5 games. Jean Beliveau win the Hart Trophy as the MVP. The Soviet Union beats the United States in the Olympics.
In baseball, New York Yankees win 4 games to 3 over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Yankees pitcher Don Larsen, pitches the only perfect game in World Series history, earning himself MVP honors. What’s interesting is the game was not even a sellout. Larsen’s perfection was achieved in a stadium with at least 10,000 empty seats
Yankees superstar Mickey Mantle wins his first MVP and the major league triple crown with a .353 average, 52 home runs and 130 RBI. Other big years were had by Don Newcombe who wins the NL MVP and CY Young 27 wins and 3.06 ERA. Duke Snider leads the NL in home runs with 43 dingers, but becomes the first player to do so without knocking in over 100 runs. Luis Aparicio wins the AL ROY and becomes a fixture at shortstop for the Go Go White Sox. Frank Robinson begins his prolific career by hitting 38 home runs, scoring a NL high 122 runs and winning the NL ROY.
Here is a good trivia questions, in 1956 Willie Mays became the first player to lead the league in stolen bases with 40 after hitting over 50 home runs the season before.
The great Connie Mack passes at 93.
Jackie Robinson retires from baseball after refusing to accept a trade to the Giants.
Hank Greenberg and Joe Cronin are inducted in the Hall of Fame.
1957 –
October 4 sees the start of the great space race when the Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit the earth. The good news is the United States had Tang which was created in 1957, so take that you Commies! The same day would also see the debut of Leave it to Beaver on CBS. The show that features the iconic 50’s Nuclear Family the Cleavers.
The Civil Rights Movement gains momentum in 1957
On September 24 U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sends federal troops to Arkansas to provide safe passage into Little Rock Central High School for the "Little Rock Nine".
The Civil Rights Act of 1957 is enacted, establishing the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
First Nuclear Reactor plant opens for production of electricity in Pennsylvania US.
Toyota begins exporting vehicles to the United States, beginning with the Toyota Crown and the Toyota Land Cruiser.
Making their debut in 1957 was the game of world domination – Risk, Andy Capp, Bubble Wrap (A Card Collector’s Favorite), Burger King’s Whopper, and Formula 409 cleaner.
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show for the 3rd and final time. He is shown only from the waist up, even during the gospel segment, singing "Peace In The Valley". Ed Sullivan describes Elvis thus: "This is a real decent, fine boy. We've never had a pleasanter experience on our show with a big name than we've had with you. You're thoroughly all right."
An important date in music history on July 6 when John Lennon and Paul McCartney first meet as teenagers at a garden fete at St. Peter's Church, Woolton, Liverpool, England, at which Lennon's skiffle group, The Quarrymen, is playing, 3 years before forming The Beatles.
Top hits of 1957 include All Shook Up by Elvis Presley, Letters in the Sand by Pat Boone, Tammy by Debbie Reynolds, Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On by Jerry Lee Lewis, Special Angel by Bobby Helms, Chances Are by Johnny Mathis and Little Darlin by The Diamonds.
Making their debut on T.V were Perry Mason, Zorro, Maverick, Divorce Court, Wagon Train Have Gun, Will Travel and the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour. Leaving the air in 1957 were I Love Lucy, The Three Stooge, and The Roy Rogers Show.
American screen actor Humphrey Bogart dies aged 57 in California after a long battle with cancer.
The Bridge on the River Kwai is released in the U.S. It goes on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Other big hits of 1957 include The Ten Commandments, Around the World in Eighty Days, 12 Angry men, Jailhouse Rock starring Elvis Presley and The Three Faces of Eve.
In sports, The Detroit Lions destroy the Cleveland Browns 59-14 to win the NFL Championship. Detroit Lions –Champion, that is an oxymoron, right? The Redwings Gordie Howe wins the Art Ross and Hart trophies. The Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup over the Bruins in 5 games.
In baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley agrees to move the team from Brooklyn, New York, to Los Angeles. Another blow would hit the Dodgers when Jackie Robinson retires rather than move across town to the Giants, to whom he had been traded.
The Giant also bid farewell to NY and head for the coast to San Francisco.
The Milwaukee Braves break the streak of all the New York teams winning the World Series by beating the Yankees in 7 games. Warren Spahn wins the CY Young Award and Hank Aaron wins the NL MVP with a .322 batting average, 44 home runs and 122 RBI. In the AL the MVP goes to Mickey Mantle with a .365 batting average, 34 home runs and an AL leading 121 runs scored. Ted Williams bats .388 and takes the AL batting crown. Stan Musial captures the NL batting crown with a .351 average. Roy Sievers of the lowly Senators knows 42 out of the park and drives in 114. Willie Mays shows his speed by leading the league with 20 triples and stealing 38 bases.
The Hall of Fame inducts Tigers great Sam Crawford and Yankee Manager Joe McCarthy.
Here is your trivia, the Kansas City A’s become the first team in MLB History to have not pitcher earn enough inning to qualify for the ERA title
1958 –
Nikita Khrushchev becomes Premier of the Soviet Union on March 27.
Castro's revolutionary army begins its attacks on Havana.
The bodies of unidentified United States soldiers killed in action during World War II and the Korean War are buried at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery.
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration is formed.
Toyota and Datsun Cars go on sale in The US.
Packard Cars end production as the company closes August 19th.
The U.S. Army inducts Elvis Presley, transforming The King Of Rock & Roll into U.S. Private.
During a visit to Caracas, Venezuela, Vice President Richard Nixon's car is attacked by anti-American demonstrators.
Making their debut in 1958 include Pizza Hut, Jiffy Pop, Ruffles, Spandex, Rolodex, Rice-A-Roni, Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa Krispies, Jif, Mr. Clean and Swedish Fish.
Top songs of 1958 include Volare by Domenico Modugno, Tom Dooley by The Kingston Trio, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by the Platters, Get a Job by The Silhouettes, Rock And Roll Is Here to Stay by Danny & the Juniors and Lollipop by The Chordettes.
Make their debut on TV in 1958 were The Rifleman (one of my favorites), The Donna Reed Show, Peter Gunn and Bat Masterson. Leaving the airwaves was Superman.
Top movies were South Pacific, Vertigo, The Vikings, The Blob, King Creole, and the Academy Award Winner Gigi.
In the world of sports, the Canadian Football League (CFL) is established in its current form. Arnold Palmer is the PGA Tour money leader with a whopping $42,608. In hockey, the Montreal Canadians beat the Bruins in 6 games. The great Gordie Howe wins the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
The NFL begins its ascension as America’s #1 sport when the Baltimore Colts defeat the New York Giants 23-17 in overtime. The game is later called the "Greatest game ever played". The NFL MVP is Jim Brown.
In baseball, the Yankees are now the lone team in New York and win the World Series in 7 by gaining revenge against the Milwaukee Braves who beat them the year before. Mickey Mantle hits a league high 42 home runs and 127 runs scored. Yankee pitcher Bob Turley goes 21-7 and takes the CY Young Award. Ted Williams wins the batting crown with a .328 average and his teammate Jackie Jensen wins the MVP with 35 home runs and 122 RBI. Willie Mays leads the NL in runs 121 and steals 31. The National League MVP was Ernie Banks who was the best offensive shortstop since Honus Wagner.
The Dodgers fall to 7th place, but even worse, star catcher and 3 time MVP is paralyzed in a car accident.
Fun fact: Nellie Fox plays 98 consecutive games without striking out. Imagine someone doing that today!
The Brooks Robinson card makes me laugh. I am sure he thought could they have taken a better picture of me.
1959 – The last year of one of the most stable decades in U.S. History as it enters into one of the most tumultuous.
Charles DE Gaulle is inaugurated as the first President of the French Fifth Republic. The Soviets continue to lead the space race as the lunar probe Luna 3 sends back the first ever photos of the far side of the Moon.
In the movies, Walt Disney releases the animated classic Sleeping Beauty. However, it was Ben Hur that was king of the box office as the #1 grossing film. It also took best film, actor and director at the Academy Awards.
The world of music saw both highs and lows as Barry Gordy founds Motown Records and Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper are killed in a plane crash. The #1 song is Bobby Darrin’s “Mack the Knife.”
1959 saw two classic television series Bonanza and the Twilight Zone make their debuts.
The NFL saw a rematch between the Colts and Giants, but this game was not the classic of 1958. The Colts win behind league MVP Johnny Unitas 31-16.
In the NHL, the Montreal Canadians sweep the Maple Leafs. Bobby Hull leads the league in points with 81, but Gordie Howe captures the MVP.
In baseball, the Yankees do not even factor in the pennant race for the first time in over a decade. The great infield combination of MVP Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio take the White Sox to the pennant only to lose to the L.A. Dodgers in 5. It is the first World Series for the Dodgers since moving to the west coast.
Ernie Banks wins his 2nd MVP and become the only 2nd division player to do so in back to back years as he drives in 143 runs. Other great seasons are put in by Willie Mays (.313, 34 Home Runs, and 104 RBI), Don Drysdale (17 wins and 242 strikeouts) and 39 year old Early Wynn (22 wins and 10 losses). On the downside of their careers, Ted Williams (.255) and Stan Musial (.254) both hit under .300 for the first time in their brilliant careers.
1960 – America is entering a new decade on top of the world. All eyes are fixated on the 1960 election between a young idealistic John F. Kenney and the experienced statesman Richard Nixon.
The Cold War rages on as the Soviet Union sentences downed American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers to 10 years in prison for espionage.
Americans were driving around in their classic Chevy, Fords and Pontiacs as they listen to music ranging from the rock sound of Elvis Presley to the easy listening of Percy Faith’s, “Theme from a Summer Place.”
In the movies, Alfred Hitchc***’s thriller Psycho was the #1 grossing film.
On television, My Three Sons begins its 13 year run along with the Andy Griffith Show. The Flintstone’s debuted on ABC and eventually broke the record for the longest running Primetime cartoon. I still find it funny that they actually used Fred and Wilma to advertise for the tobacco companies. Interesting how times have changed.
In the world of sports, the AFL begins its first season as the Houston Oilers top the Los Angeles Chargers in the Championship Game. In the NFL the Eagles win the NFL Championship by beating the Green Bay Packers 17 to 13.
In hockey, the Montreal Canadians sweep the Toronto Maple Leafs to win their 5 Stanley Cup in a row.
In baseball, Mantle and Maris are 1 and 2 in home runs with 40 and 39 as the latter wins his first of back to back MVPs. However, the story of the year was the Pittsburgh Pirates led by MVP Dick Groat and budding superstar Bob (Roberto) Clemente who hit .316 with 16 home runs. In spite of being outscored in the World Series by the Yankees 46 to 17, the Pirates win it in 7 behind the clutch home run by light hitting second basemen Bill Mazeroski.
Other big seasons from Hall of Famers were Willie Mays .319 and 103 RBI, Hank Aaron 40 home runs and 126 RBIs and Ernie Banks a league leading 41 home runs and 117 RBI.
1961 - Marks the beginning of the Kennedy Administration. In March he begins to tap into American Idealism by establishing the Peace Corps. However, one month later America is humiliated at the Bay of Pigs when well-trained Cuban forces overwhelm a brigade of Cuban exiles and small group of CIA operatives.
Barbie gets a boyfriend when the Ken doll is introduced.
Top hits include Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me”, Del Shannon’s “Runaway” and “Blue Moon” by the Marcels.
The top grossing film of 1961 was Disney’s 101 Dalmatians. Other popular movies were West Side Story, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the Parent Trap.
On television, ABC’s Wide World of Sports makes its debut as viewers witness, “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.” Other shows debuting were the Dick Van Dyke show and one of my favorites as a kid Mr. Ed.
The Green Bay Packers dynasty begins with a 37-0 thumping of the Giants in the NFL Championship Game.
The Chicago Blackhawks knock of the Red Wings in 6 to take the Stanley Cup. Their first since 1938.
In baseball, 1961 was one of the greatest season’s ever. Mickey Mantle slugs 54 home runs only to be topped by teammate Roger Maris who smacks a then MLB record 61* home runs. Norm Cash hits for a .361 batting average, which was the highest in the decade. The Reds win their first division title behind MVP Frank Robinson (.323, 37 HR, 140 RBI) since 1940, but fall to the Yankees in the World Series in 5 games.
Other big seasons come from AL CY Young Award Winner Whitey Ford who wins a career high 25 games, Hank Aaron who bats .327 with 34 home runs and 124 RBIs, and Warren Spahn who wins 21 games at the age of 40! Spahn also wins his 300th game.
1962 – The year begins with the activation of the Navy Seals. Seal Team One is assigned to the Pacific Fleet and Seal Team Two in the Atlantic Fleet. Tensions continue to rise as the Soviets and Cuba sign a trade pact. The United States would later announce an embargo of Cuba. The scariest moment in the Cold War occurs during October as the high stakes game of chicken known as the Cuban Missile Crisis rages. Eventually, President Kennedy strikes a secret deal with Soviet Leader Khrushchev to have the missiles removed from Cuba in exchange for removing missiles from Turkey.
First Lady Jackie Kennedy shows off a refurbished White House to a television audience.
AT&T's Telstar, the world's first commercial communications satellite, is launched into orbit in July.
1962 was a huge year for comic book fans as Hulk #1 is released and Spiderman makes his first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15. If we only had bought several issues of those!!!
The two highest grossing movies were Lawrence of Arabia starring Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif and the Longest Day with John Wayne. I have always been a fan of the latter.
Making their premiere on the tube were The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Jetsons and the Beverley Hillbillies.
The Rolling Stones make their debut at London’s Marquee Club. Musician Acker Bilk’s clarinet hit, Stranger on the Shore becomes the first British recording to reach number one in the US Billboard Hot 100. Now there is a trivia question for you.
The Beatles fire Pete Best and replace him with Ringo Starr.
3 of the 5 biggest hits of 1962 were by Elvis (I Can’t Help Falling in Love, Return to Sender and Good Luck Charm).
In Basketball, Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points in a single game. I can’t see that ever being repeated.
In the NFL, the Green Bay Packers win their 2nd Title in a row knocking off the Giants 16 to 7. The league MVP was Green Bay running back Jim Taylor who was the only one ever to win the rushing title besides Jim Brown during Brown’s 9 year playing career. This is another good trivia question.
In baseball, the Yankees win another World Series Title, which would be their last until 1977. It took them 7 games to defeat the Giants and an incredible Bobby Richardson grab of a Willie McCovey line drive to seal the deal. Mickey Mantle hits .321, bashes 30 HRs and drives in 89 RBI in route to his 3rd and final MVP while playing only 123 games. What is more impressive is Mantle’s .488 OBP and 122 walks.
Other great years were had by Maury Wills who snagged the MVP and a then MLB record 104 bases. Harmon “Killer” Killebrew smashes 48 home runs and drives in 126 RBI. However, he sets a then MLB record by striking out 142 times. Seems funny that was the record given how many times guys strikeout today. On June 30, 1962 Sandy Koufax throws his first career no hitter against the terrible Mets. Willie Mays finishes 2nd in the MVP voting, even though his team wins the pennant and he hits 49 HRs and drives in 141 RBI.
Jackie Robinson is elected to the Hall of Fame along with Bob Feller.
Of course 1963 will be remembered for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22. Alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald is killed two days later.
1963 is also most remembered for Martin Luther King’s famous, I Have A Dream Speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 29. The Civil Rights movement sees other big victories with the admission of Harvey Gantt to Clemson University, which makes South Carolina the last state to desegregate. As seen in the movie Forest Gump, Alabama Governor George Wallace makes a symbolic gesture by blocking the entrance of two black students into the University of Alabama.
Other notable events include Alcatraz Prison closing for good in March. Coca Cola introduces the first diet soft drink – Tab. The Mona Lisa is exhibited in the United States for the first time. It was assessed for insurance purposes at $100 million!
For wrestling fans, Buddy Rogers becomes the first WWF champ on April 29.
The X-Men make their first appearance into Marvel Comics.
In music, The Beatles release their first album, Please Please Me. Country music suffers the tragic loss of Patsy Cline who dies in a plane crash on March 5. Tops hits of 1963 include She Loves You by The Beatles, Louie Louie by Kinsmen and It’s My Party by Leslie Gore.
On television, General Hospital, Petticoat Junction and a show I used to watch on Saturday afternoon’s Mutual Omaha’s Wild Kingdom make their debut. Ward, June, Wally and the Beaver check out as Leave it to Beaver completes its final season.
For the first time, Americans state they get more of their news from television than the newspapers. Funny, now they probably get more from the internet.
The largest grossing film of 1963 was Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Other top films were How the West Was Won, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and Alfred Hitchc***’s The Birds. The Academy Award for Best Picture went to Tom Jones starring Albert Finney.
In football, the Hall of Fame is opened in Canton, Ohio. The first players inducted were Jim Thorpe, Sammy Baugh, Dutch Clark, Red Grange, Mel Hein, Pete Henry, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Blood McNally, Bronco Nagurski and Ernie Nevers. Many are not even known by today’s hardcore football fans. Compare that to baseball.
Commissioner Pete Rozelle suspends Paul Hornung and Alex Karras for betting on their own teams and other NFL games. They would miss the entire season. A small price to pay compared to Pete Rose.
The Chicago Bears defeat the New York Giants led by league MVP Y.A. Tittle 14 to 10. Tittle has the dubious distinction of being the only Hall of Fame quarterback to never win a postseason game.
In baseball, 27 year old Sandy Koufax takes the pitching quadruple crown with 25 wins, 306 strikeouts, 11 shutouts, and a 1.88 ERA. He wins the MVP, CY Young and his Dodger’s take the World Series by sweeping the Yankees. Koufax strikes out a World Series record setting 15 Yankees in game 1. He also has one of the best looking cards in the 1963 Topps set. What a year!!!
Other baseball news, a young rookie name Pete Rose scores 101 runs and takes the NL ROY award. 43 year old Early Wynn wins his 300th game. Carl Yastrzemski hits .321 to win his first batting title. Hank Aaron nearly captures the NL Triple Crown by leading the league in RBI with 130, tying McCovey with 44 home runs and finishing 7 points behind the Dodger’s Tommy Davis for the batting title. One of the greatest and classiest players to ever wear a uniform, Stan Musial retires at the end of the season.
Also, I do not have the 1963 Pete Rose yet. I am debating if I want to get it or not. It is such an ugly card for the $300-$400 it will cost me.
1964 - Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin resolution giving President Johnson greater freedom to authorize combat operations in Vietnam.
Lyndon Johnson is overwhelmingly re-elected over Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater. This campaign gives rise to another future conservative candidate, Ronald Reagan as he delivers a famous television address titled, “A Time for Choosing.”
Union leader Jim Hoffa is convicted of fraud, conspiracy and jury tampering.
Soviet Leader Khrushchev falls out of power and is replaced by Leonid Brezhnev.
On April 17, the Ford Mustang is officially unveiled to the American public.
On February 9, The Beatles make their famous appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Tops songs of 1964 include, I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison and House of the Rising Sun by the Animals.
The highest grossing film of 1964 was Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins. Julie Andrews also takes the Academy Award for Best Actress. Other top films include Goldfinger, My Fair Lady, and From Russia with Love.
In television, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer makes its debut. That’s funny, it’s on T.V. tonight. Other shows debuting include classics such as the Addam’s Family, The Munster’s, Bewitched and Gilligan’s Island.
In sports, Muhammad Ali upsets Sonny Liston in Miami Beach, Florida, and is crowned the heavyweight champion of the world.
The Boston Celtics make their 8th straight trip to the finals led by K.C. Johns, John Havlicek and Bill Russell; they easily dispose of the Wilt Chamberlain’s San Francisco Warriors 4 games to 1. Chamberlain dominated, but did not have the supporting cast to beat the talented Celtics.
In the NHL, future Hall of Fame goalie Ken Dryden is drafted by the Bruins in the 3rd round. Imagine a team that would have had Dryden, Esposito and Orr. Wow!
The Cleveland Browns defeat the Baltimore Colts 27-0. This is the last time a Cleveland team has won a major sports championship. Being from Buffalo, I have to recognize the Bills beating the Chargers 20-7 to win their first AFL Championship.
The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the New York Yankees in 7 games to take the World Series. Bob Gibson legend begins by beating the Yankees in game 5 and the critical game 7. Mickey Mantle finishes his last World Series with 3 home runs and 8 RBI.
The most interesting story in baseball in 1964 was the Phillies blowing a 6 ½ game lead to the Cardinals with 2 weeks to go. They ended up losing 10 straight. This is fitting considering the collapses of the Braves and Red Sox this year.
Big years were had by AL MVP Brooks Robinson (.317, 28 homers, and AL leading 118 RBI), AL ROY Tony Olivia wins the batting championship with a 3.23 average. Jim Bunning goes 19-8 and pitches a perfect game on Father’s Day against the Mets. Cardinals 3rd Basemen Ken Boyer wins the NL MVP (.295, 24 home runs and 119 RBI). Roberto Clemente wins his 2nd batting title hitting .339 and knocking 212 hits.
1965 – In January, President Johnson declares war on poverty and urges Congress to pass legislation to make his “Great Society” a reality.
The war in Vietnam escalates as 3,500 Marines enter South Vietnam, becoming the first American combat troops in Vietnam. By May of 1965 more and more draft cards are being burned and a coffin is marched to the Berkeley Draft Board. America already divided by Civil Rights issues is now divided by war.
On January 24, Sir Winston Churchill passes away at the age 90. Wow, no wonder why he always looked old to me. He was in his late 60’s during World War 2. Besides the fact that he didn’t age well.
The first Fotomat kiosk opens in Point Loma, CA. Anybody remember those? They even rented movies in the late 70’s early 80’s.
Kellogg’s introduces Apple Jacks cereal, but it was originally known as Apple O’s.
In television, I Dream of Jeannie, Hogan’s Heroes, Lost in Space, The Dating Game and My Mother, the Car, which T.V. Guide called it the 2nd worst show of all time behind Jerry Springer make their debut.
A Charlie Brown Christmas airs for the first time on CBS.
In the movies, The Sound of Music and Doctor Zhivago lead the way. The 4th James Bond movie Thunderball is released and finishes 3rd at the box office. One of my favorites, The Battle of the Bulge with Robert Shaw and Henry Fonda is also released.
In music, tops songs of 1965 include Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers, Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones and a trio of The Beatles hits, Help!, Yesterday, and Ticket to Ride. The Supremes also had a big year with the release of several #1 hits, Stop! In the Name of Love, Back In My Arms Again and I Hear a Symphony.
In the world of sports, Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston meet in a rematch with Ali knocking out Liston in the first round. Many believe Liston fell due to a phantom punch.
Joe Namath is drafted by the Jets and St. Louis Cardinals, but elects signs with the Jets for $427,000. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Cleveland Browns 23-12 to win the NFL Championship. Jim Brown is selected as the league MVP and then retires.
The Montreal Canadians win their 13th Stanley Cup knocking of Bobby Hull’s Blackhawks in 7 games.
In baseball, the Minnesota Twins win 102 games and face the L.A. Dodgers in the World Series. The Dodgers win in 7 behind a dominant Koufax who hurls two shutouts including one in game 7. Koufax wins 26 games, pitches a perfect game and strikes out a then league record 382 batters to win his 2nd Cy Young Award.
Willie Mays leads the majors with 52 home runs and hits .317 in route to the NL MVP. Other notable years are had by 20 year old Tony Conigliaro who smacks an AL leading 32 home runs becoming the youngest ever home run leader. On the other end of the age scale, Satchel Paige is the oldest player to appear in a game and hurls three shutout innings against the Red Sox at the age of 65! Twins shortstop Zoilo Versalles wins the AL MVP with a league leading 126 runs, 45double and 12 triples.
Casey Stengel retires after 55 years in baseball.
I am particularly pleased with my 1965 cards. I think they present very well for the grade especially, the Mantle.
1966 – The Vietnam War continues to dominate the headlines. American troop totals rise to 360,000 with more than 5,500 killed. Young people are questioning the draft and some students are opposing the releasing class rankings to draft boards as a method of handing out deferments.
On June 13 the Supreme Court rules in Miranda v. Arizona that police must inform suspects of their rights before questioning them.
Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino opens in Las Vegas on August 6.
On December 15, Walt Disney dies while supervising his last film The Jungle Book.
On December 18, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, narrated by Boris Karloff, is shown for the first time on CBS, becoming an annual Christmas tradition.
Items making their debut in 1966 include Doritos, Bugles, Twister, Wite Out and Crunch N’ Munch.
Top grossing films of 1966 are Hawaii, The Bible: In the Beginning and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
In music, Frank Sinatra records the #1 hit Strangers in the Night. His daughter Nancy also reaches #1 with These Boots are Made for Walkin’. The Beach Boys top the charts with Good Vibrations and The Beatles release Yellow Submarine.
Young singer David Jones changes his last name to Bowie to avoid being confused with Davy Jones of the Monkees.
T.V. debuts include Star Trek, The Monkees, Batman, The Hollywood Squares and The Newlywed Game.
Leaving the airwaves were The Flintstones, The Donna Reed Show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mr. Ed and The Munsters.
In sports, the NFL-AFL agrees to officially merge in 1970. They agreed to play an annual AFL-NFL Championship game starting in 1967. League MVP Bart Starr throws 4 touchdowns as the Packers beat the Cowboys 34-27 in the NFL Championship game. The Chiefs beat the Bills 31-7 setting up the first Super Bowl matchup between the Packers and Chiefs. Green Bay ends up routing the Chiefs 35-10 to take Super Bowl 1. The MVP of the game was Bart Starr who threw 2 TD passes both to Max McGee.
In baseball, The Baltimore Orioles defeat the L.A. Dodgers in 4 games. Frank Robinson has a spectacular year winning the Triple Crown and both the league and World Series MVPs. Robinson finishes the year with a .316 AVG, 49 HRs and 122 RBIs. Who else, but Sandy Koufax wins the CY Young with 27 wins, 317 strikeouts and a 1.73 ERA. Sadly, Koufax retires at the end of the season due to arthritis.
The once mighty Yankees finish dead last in the AL standings with a 70-89 record.
Ted Williams is elected to the Hall of Fame receiving 282 of 302 possible votes. What the heck were the 20 voters who casted ballots against him thinking? If Ted Williams does not deserve to be in the Hall of Fame in his first try, who does?
Big years were had by Hank Aaron with 44 HRs and 127 RBI, NL MVP Roberto Clemente bats .317, scores 105 runs and drives in 119. Willie Stargell bats .315, hits 33 home runs and drives in 103. Denny McLain win 20 games in Detroit. Juan Marichal puts together another awesome year only to be outdone by Sandy Koufax. Marichal wins 25 games and sports a 2.23 ERA. A shame he could never win a Cy Young.
1967 – Thurgood Marshall is confirmed as the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
Senator John McCain then a U.S. Navy pilot is shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese and endured over 5 years of torture.
Muhammad Ali is stripped of his heavyweight title and arrested. He did not fight again until 1970.
The supersonic jet Concorde is unveiled for the first time in Toulouse, France on December 11.
Items making their debut in 1967 include the Big Mac, Ho Hos, Pop Tarts, Cool Whip and Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots.
The top 5 films of 1967 were The Jungle Book, The Graduate, Bonnie and Clyde, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and The Dirty Dozen. It was a great year for movies. Best picture went to In the Heat of the Night starring Rod Steiger and Sidney Portier.
The first of the “Spaghetti Westerns” A Fistful of Dollars with Clint Eastwood premieres.
On television, Mannix, The Carol Burnett Show, Spiderman and The Flying Nun make their debuts. The Green Hornet, Gilligan’s Island and Flipper leave the air waves.
The story of the year in music is the marriage of Elvis and Priscilla on May 1.
The Doors appear on The Ed Sullivan Show and perform "Light My Fire". Despite having agreed to Sullivan's request that the line "Girl we couldn't get much higher" be changed for the show, Jim Morrison performs it the way it was written and The Doors are banned from the show.
Tops songs of 1967 include A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procul Harum, I’m a Believer by the Monkees and Light My Fire by the Doors.
In sports, the American Basketball Association (ABA) is formed. The Toronto Maple Leafs appear in their last Stanley Cup Finals and it also marks the last year of the original six as the NHL doubles in size.
In the NFL, the league MVP is Johnny Unitas for the third and final time. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Dallas Cowboys in the famed Ice Bowl 21-17 for their 3rd NFL title in a row. The Packers go on to the Super Bowl to knock off the Raiders 33 -14 behind game MVP Bart Starr.
The Cardinals defeat the Red Sox in 7 to take the 1967 World Series. Bob Gibson wins 3 games, but the biggest star was Lou Brock who hit .414, steals 7 bases and scores 8 runs. Tom “Terrific” Seaver is the league’s top rookie with a 16-13 record and 2.76 ERA.
Other big years are had by Carl “Yaz” who is the last Triple Crown winner with a .326 average, 44 home runs and 121 RBI. Orlando Cepeda is the NL MVP hitting .325, 25 home runs and 111 RBI. A couple of lesser known pitchers at least today, Boston’s Jim Lonborg and the Giants Mike McCormick take the AL and NL Cy Young. Lonborg won 24 games and struck out 246. McCormick won 22 and sported a 2.85 ERA.
Tragedy hits Tony Conigliaro as he is beaned by the Angel’s Jack Hamilton in the face and does not play again until 1969. Mickey Mantle hits his 500th home run on May 13. The era of the pitcher continues as AL BA are down to .236. The Red Sox lead the league with a .243 average.
I still need the Tom Seaver for 1967, so I had to substitute a 1969. Looking for a nice 5 or 6 for the right price.
1968 – Was a year of major events. America is still a nation very much divided.
In January, the Tet Offensive begins as the North Vietnamese take the U.S. and South Vietnamese forces by surprise as they attack several civilian areas and military command posts. The North were eventually pushed back, but the Tet Offensive hurt U.S. public opinion on the war as it was believed the North were incapable of such an attack.
Robert Kennedy enters the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination on March 16. He is later shot by Sirhan Sirhan and dies from the wound on June 6.
On March 31, President Johnson announces he will not seek re-election
On April 4, Martin Luther King, Jr. is shot dead at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Riots erupt in major American cities, lasting for several days afterwards.
In November, America elects a new president as Richard M. Nixon with the help of the “Silent Majority” defeats Hubert Humphrey.
Madison Square Garden opens in February.
Making their debut in 1968 were Hot Wheels, 9-1-1, Pringles, Lava Lamps, the game Don’t Break the Ice and Ziploc bags.
In television, 60 Minutes, Laugh-In, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, Hawaii Five-0, Land of the Giants (one of my favorites as a kid), The Banana Splits, Wacky Races, The Mod Squad and the Dick Cavett Show.
The top grossing films of 1968 were Funny Girl, 2001: A Space Odyssey (that was on tonight), Bullitt with Steve McQueen and Rosemary’s Baby. The Academy Award for best movie went to Oliver!
Other popular movies were Plant of the Apes, Barbarella, The Green Berets with John Wayne and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Elvis Presley’s comeback special airs on 12/02 on NBC. The top singles of 1968 include Hey Jude by The Beatles, What a Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong and Sitting on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding.
On November 17, the famous Heidi game takes place. NBC cuts off the final 1:05 of an Oakland Raiders–New York Jets football game to broadcast the pre-scheduled Heidi. Fans are unable to see Oakland (which had been trailing 32–29) score 2 late touchdowns to win 43–32; as a result, thousands of outraged football fans flood the NBC switchboards to protest.
In other NFL happenings, Earl Morrall is elected MVP. The Baltimore Colts finish the year 13-1 and route the Browns 34-0 in the NFL Championship. They enter the Super Bowl III as an overwhelming favorite against the AFL’s New York Jets led by a brash young quarterback named Joe Willie Namath.
In basketball, the Lakers and Celtics meet for the sixth time in ten years with the Celtics winning in six games. It was their 10th championship in 12 years. It was the first title for player/coach Bill Russell (as coach of course).
The Detroit Tigers unite a divided city as they defeat the Cardinals in 7 games. They game back from a 3 to 1 deficit. Al Kaline hits .379 and leads all batters with 8 RBI.
1968 was known as the year of the pitcher. Carl Yastrzemski wins the batting title with a .301 average, which was the lowest ever for a batting champion. Denny McLain wins a remarkable 31 games and carries a 1.96 ERA as he wins the AL MVP and CY Young. Bob Gibson posts a 1.12 ERA, the lowest in the majors since 1914 and also wins the NL MVP and CY Young. Other great years were had by Luis Tiant who throws nine shutouts and leads the AL with a 1.60 ERA. Poor Juan Marichal wins 26 games and completes 30 GAMES but once again is the second best pitcher in the NL.
A young Johnny Bench smacks 15 homers and drives in 82 to win the NL ROY. Catfish Hunter pitches a perfect game against the Twins. Pete Rose wins his first batting title with a .335 average and becomes the first switch hitter to take the NL crown. Frank Howard smacks 44 homers to lead the majors. McCovey hits 36 home runs to lead the NL.
Hank Aaron hits his 500 home run on July 14 and 1968 would be the last season for The Mick.
1969 – History is made on July 20 as the lunar module Eagle lands on the moon. An estimated 500 million people worldwide watch in awe as Neil Armstrong takes his historic first steps on the Moon at 02:56 UTC, the largest television audience for a live broadcast at that time.
Yasser Arafat is elected the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization on February 4.
On January 20 after 147 years the last issue of the Saturday Evening Post is published.
Judy Garland probably most famous for playing Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz dies from a drug overdose in London on June 22.
The very first troop withdrawals are made in Vietnam on July 8. This was part of President Nixon’s commitment to removed 25,000 troops by December.
On July 18, Senator Edward Kennedy drives off a bridge on his way home from a party on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts. Mary Jo Kopechne, a former campaign aide to his brother, dies in the early morning hours of July 19 in the submerged car. Kennedy leaves the scene and does not report the accident until the next day.
The Woodstock Festival is held from August 15 to August 18 in upstate New York, featuring some of the top rock musicians of the era.
On September 2, the first automatic teller machine in the United States is installed in Rockville Centre, New York.
The first draft lottery in the United States is held since World War II on December 1.
The Haunted Mansion attraction opens at Disneyland California on August 9. Later versions opened in Florida, Tokyo and Paris.
Making their debut in 1969 were the internet, Clamato juice, Tic Tacs, barcode readers, Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn, the Major League Baseball logo and Manwich.
Television saw the premiere of three iconic shows Scooby Doo, Sesame Street and The Brady Bunch. Other famous shows making their debut were Hee Haw, The Pink Panther Show and Marcus Welby M.D. Star Trek is canceled.
In the movies, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid led the box office nearly doubling the gross of the second highest movie of the year, They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? starring Jane Fonda. Other famous movies were Midnight Cowboy which won the Oscar for best picture, True Grit starring Academy Award Winner John Wayne, Easy Rider and the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Top songs of 1969 include Get Back by The Beatles, Honkey Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones, Sugar, Sugar by the Archies, and Suspicious Minds by Elvis Presley. Led Zeppelin, The Jackson Five and Chicago release their debut albums. John Lennon marries Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman.
In sports, it was the year of New York underdogs as Joe Willie Namath predicts the Jets will beat the Colts and backs it up in one of the biggest upsets in football history. In baseball, the Amazin Mets knock off the heavily favored Orioles 4 games to 1.
The Vikings beat the Cleveland Browns 27-7 in the NFL championship game. They go on to play the Chiefs in Super Bowl IV. The NFL MVP is the Rams Roman Gabriel. 1969 also saw the debut of Mean Joe Greene who takes home the Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Rocky Marciano dies in a plane crash at the age of 45.
In basketball the Celtics once again beat the Lakers in 7 games.
The Montreal Canadians face the St. Louis Blues in a rematch of the 1968 finals. The Canadians win once again in a sweep. Bruins forward Phil Esposito amasses 126 points to take the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
Baseball see the first year of division play as Orioles knock off the Twins and the Mets sweep the Braves in three. Harmon Killebrew wins the AL MVP batting .276, 49 home runs and 140 RBI. Willie McCovey wins the NL MVP with a .320 average, 45 homers and 126 RBI. Tom Seaver wins his first Cy Young posted a 25-7 record and 2.21 ERA. Denny McClain and Mike Cueller tie for the 1969 AL Cy Young. The Seattle Pilots make their debut and departure in 1969. Jim Bouton talks about the season in his book Ball Four. Rod Carew takes the AL Batting Title with a .332 average and Pete Rose wins his 2nd NL Batting Title with a 348 average.
Willie Stargell becomes the first player to hit a home run out of Dodgers Stadium on August 5, 1969.
Stan Musial and Roy Campanella are elected to the Hall of Fame
1970 – The big event of the year was Apollo 13 being launched in April for a mission to the moon. Two days into their mission, an oxygen tank explodes forcing the crew to abort the mission and make a daring return home. The nation is captivated and their prayers are answered when the astronauts return to the earth’s surface safely.
Tragedy strikes the campus of Kent State on May 4 as four students are killed and 9 wounded by Ohio National Guardsmen, at a protest against the incursion into Cambodia.
On March 21, the first Earth Day proclamation is issued by San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto.
The North Tower of the World Trade Center is topped out on December 23, at 1,368 feet, making it the tallest building in the world.
The famous (or infamous) Ford Pinto is introduced on September 11.
In television, Rankin Bass debuts Santa Claus is Coming to Town on ABC on December 14. Other new shows were All My Children, Josie and the P***ycats, The Flip Wilson Show, The Partridge Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the Odd Couple. Leaving the airwaves were Daniel Boone, Petticoat Junction, Get Smart and Spider-Man.
Love Story with Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw leads the way at the box office. Other top grossing films were Mash, Patton (one of my favorites), Airport and Disney’s the Aristocrats.
1970 was a big year in music. On January 14, Diana Ross & The Supremes perform their farewell live concert together at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas, and Ross's replacement, Jean Terrell, is introduced onstage at the end of the last show.
Black Sabbath's debut album hits the shelves in February, Black Sabbath released; often regarded as the first true heavy metal album.
On April 10, Paul McCartney announces that the Beatles have disbanded, while at the same press conference, announcing the release of his first solo album. On the same day, The Elton John album is released, the second album by Elton John, but the first to chart and the first to be released in America.
Jimi Hendrix dies of a drug overdose in London on September 18.
The Boston Bruins win their first Stanley Cup since 1941 when Bobby Orr scores a goal 40 seconds into overtime for a 4-3 victory which completed a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues who made it a habit of being swept in the Stanley Cup finals.
The Kansas Chiefs defeat the Minnesota Vikings and the famed Purple People Eaters 23-7 in the last Super Bowl between the AFL and NFL on January 11,1970. In September, the NFL-AFL merger officially takes effect and the NFL as we know it begins.
Monday Night Football debuts on ABC on September 21; the Cleveland Browns defeat the New York Jets 31-21 in front of more than 85,000 fans at Cleveland Stadium.
The Baltimore Orioles defeat the Cincinnati Reds in Game 5 of the World Series, 9–3, to win the series 4 games to 1 for their 2nd World Championship.
NL MVP Johnny Bench has a monster season hitting .293 with 45 Home Runs and 148 RBI for a CATCHER! Boog Powell is the AL MVP hitting .297, smacking 35 HRs and driving in 114. Frank “Hondo” Howard leads the AL in home runs with 44. A young Yankee catcher by the name of Thurman Munson takes the AL ROY with a .302 average and 53 RBI. Bob Gibson takes the NL Cy Young – his 2nd and Jim Perry wins the AL Cy Young. Hank Aaron and Willie Mays both achieve milestones by getting their 3000th hit. Reds Pitcher Wayne Granger sets the ML Saves record with 35, wow how times have changed.
Probably the most famous image in baseball that year happened at the All Star Game in Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium of all places as Pete Rose barrels into Indians catcher Ray Fosse in the bottom of the 12th to win the game for the NL. Shockingly, Carl Yaz wins the game’s MVP award becoming the last player from a losing team to do so.
1971 – The Pentagon Papers are printed in the New York Times on June 13. They outline the US political-military involvement from 1945-1967. The papers expose how the U.S. Government misled about U.S. intentions in Vietnam.
China is admitted to the United Nations. The U.S. also ends their trade embargo with China.
Evel Knievel sets a world record and jumps 19 cars in Ontario, California on February 28.
The Microprocessor is invented ushering in the digital age.
Prisoners take hostages at Attica Prison in New York, resulting in the death of 10 hostages and 29 inmates.
Walt Disney World Resort opens in Florida on October 1.
Making their introduction in 1971 are Federal Express, the NASDAQ Stock Exchange, Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles Cereal, the Walt Disney Monorail, Uno, Hamburger Helper, Whac-A-Mole and Andy Capp Fries/
In cinema, Fiddler on the Roof starring Topol is the highest grossing film. Other popular movies were The French Connection, Diamonds are Forever, Brian’s Song, A Clockwork Orange, Carnal Knowledge and Dirty Harry. Best film goes to the French Connection. Also of note is Steven Spielberg’s directorial debut of the made for T.V. movie Duel.
Making their television debut was All in the Family, The Electric Company and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Well known animated shows Help! It’s the Hair Bear Bunch, The Funky Phantom and the Jackson Five also make their debut. Also of note, the final cigarette ad appears on January 1 during Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show.
In music, Jim Morrison of The Doors is found dead in a bathtub in Paris on July 3. Tops songs of 1971 include Imagine by John Lennon, My Sweet Lord by George Harrison, Maggie May by Rod Stewart, Rose Garden by Lynn Anderson, and I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing by the New Seekers. This song became popular in the 1971 Coke Commercial know as “Hilltop”.
The Baltimore Colts defeat the Dallas Cowboys 16–13 in Super Bowl V at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Dallas Cowboys Linebacker Chuck Howley is the MVP. He was first and last player to date to be awarded the honor from a losing team. Howley was also the first non-quarterback to win the award.
Joe Frazier defeats Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden, in the first of three epic bouts between the two, to retain the World Heavyweight Championship on March 8.
On the diamond, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Baltimore Orioles making their 3rd straight series appearance in7 to take the World Series Title. Roberto Clemente has a phenomenal series batting .414 with 12 hits two home runs to take MVP honors.
Big years were had by Vida Blue who wins the AL MVP and Cy Young with a 24-8 record, 301 strikeouts and a 1.82 ERA. The A’s win the division in 1971 and are starting to build a dynasty. Fergie Jenkins wins the NL Cy Young with 24 wins and a 2.77 ERA. Joe Torre (yes, he was a pretty darn good player too) was the NL MVP .363 average and 137 RBI. Willie Stargell lead the NL with 48 home runs and knock in 125. The Yankees Bobby Murcer bats .331 with 25 home runs. Bobby Bonds hits .288 with 33 home runs and 102 RBI.
The Baltimore Orioles have a record tying four twenty game winners: Dave McNally (21-5), Mike Cuellar (20-9), Pat Dobson (20-8) and Jim Palmer (20-9).
The Cardinals make an un”Wise” trade by sending Steve Carlton to the Phillies for Rick Wise. Supposedly, the deal was made because Carlton wanted a $10,000 raise. The Mets also get rid of Nolan Ryan to the Angels for Jim Fregosi – ouch!
Reggie Jackson hits a 520 foot homer at the All-Star game that hits one of the light standards on the roof of Tiger Stadium.
1972 - Americans overwhelmingly re-elect Richard Nixon President with 60.7% of the vote to George McGovern’s 37.5%. The electoral vote was 520 to 17. It was a year of ups and downs for President Nixon. In February he makes an unprecedented 8-day visit to the People's Republic of China and meets with Mao Zedong. However, what was ignored by most people at the time eventually leads to his downfall as five White House operatives are arrested for burglarizing the offices of the Democratic National Committee on June 17.
Tragedy hits the Olympic Games in Munich as eleven Israeli athletes at the Summer Games are murdered after 8 members of the Arab terrorist group Black September invade the Olympic Village; 5 guerillas and 1 policeman are also killed in a failed hostage rescue.
Governor George C. Wallace of Alabama is shot by Arthur Herman Bremer at a Laurel, Maryland political rally on May 15.
The Volkswagen Beetle sales exceed those of the Ford Model-T when the 15,007,034th Beetle is produced.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 1,000 (1,003.16) for the first time.
Bobby Fischer defeats Boris Spassky in a chess match at Reykjavík, Iceland, becoming the first American to be world chess champion on September 1.
Making their debut in 1972 were the video game Pong, air hockey, the Action Jackson dolls, Garanimals, Mr. Coffee, Egg Beaters, Frosted Mini-Wheats, Snapple, Stove Top Stuffing, Mr. Pibb, Dawn Soap and the Mego Toy Company gets the rights to produce both Marvel and DC Superhero action figures.
In television, The Waltons, The New Price is Right with Bob Barker, Emergency!, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, Maude, M*A*S*H, Sanford and Son and The Streets of San Francisco make their debut. Leaving the airwaves are Bewitched and My Three Sons.
The top movies of 1972 were The Godfather, The Poseidon Adventure, Deliverance, Cabaret and Jeremiah Johnson. Marlon Brando wins the Oscar for Best Actor, but declines it due to the treatment of American Indians in Hollywood and television.
Popular songs from 1972 include America’s Horse with No Name, Don McLean’s American Pie, Song Sung Blue by Neil Diamond, Rocket Man by Elton John, Burning Love by Elvis Presley, Candy Man by Sammy Davis Jr. and Brandy by Looking Glass. The first New Year’s Rockin Eve with Dick Clark premiers on December 31. Acts include Three Dog Night, Blood Sweat & Tears, Helen Reddy and Al Green.
The Dallas Cowboys win their first Super Bowl by easily defeating the Miami Dolphins 24–3 January 16. On December 23, Franco Harris makes the Immaculate Reception to knock off the Raiders 13-7.
Bob Douglas becomes the first African American elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Oakland Athletics win their first World Championship since the team was based in Philadelphia in 1930, and sixth in franchise history, by defeating the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 3. For the first time in World Series history, no pitcher turn in a complete game.
The 1972 season lost the first two weeks due to a players strike. This allowed the Detroit Tigers (86-70) to win the AL East by a ½ game over the Red Sox (85-70).
Big years were had by Johnny Bench who captures his 2nd NL MVP with 40 homers and 125 RBI. Richie Allen wins the AL MVP with 37 homers and 113 RBI. Billy Williams win the NL batting title with a .333 average. He also hits 37 HRs and knocks in 122. Rod Carew wins his 2nd AL batting crown with a .318 average. Steve Carlton takes home the NL Cy Young by winning 27 of the Phillies 59 games – Amazing! That achievement will never be touched. Carlton also leads the NL wit 30 complete games and 301 strikeouts. Cleveland’s Gaylord Perry takes home the AL Cy Young with a 24-16 record and 1.92 ERA.
Roberto Clemente dies in a plane crash off the coast of Puerto Rico while en route to deliver aid to Nicaraguan earthquake victims on December 31. He finished his career with exactly 3000 hits.
Sandy Koufax, Yogi Berra and Early Wynn are elected to the Hall of Fame.
Look down a few posts for 1973. I ran out of room.
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Comments
Thanks for posting and welcome back. Enjoyed the read and the nostalgia not to mention the cards. Keep em coming they are great.
Jeff
And that 61 Roger Maris is in my list of cards to own very soon as well.
"Molon Labe"
1973 – U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War ends with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords on January 27. On March 29, the last United States soldier leaves Vietnam.
On October 10, Spiro T. Agnew resigns as Vice President of the United States and then, in federal court in Baltimore, Maryland, pleads no contest to charges of income tax evasion on $29,500 he received in 1967, while he was governor of Maryland. He is fined $10,000 and put on 3 years' probation.
Depending on your view, the famous or infamous Roe v. Wade decision was made by the U.S. Supreme Court on January 23 overturning state bans on abortion.
The World Trade Center officially opens in New York City with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 4.
The first handheld cellular phone call is made by Martin Cooper in New York City. Also, making their debut in 1973 were Hula Hoops (the snack), McDonald’s Quarter Pounder, Aquafresh, Shrinky Dinks, Blow Pops, Jet Ski and the cereal Freakies.
In music, Elvis Presley holds his famous concert in Hawaii on January 14. It was watched by more people than watched the Apollo moon landings. Jim Croce, Maury Muehleisen and four others die in a plane crash in Louisiana on September 20. Kiss becomes the first act signed to Neil Bogart's new label, Casablanca Records on September 1. Top songs of 1973 include The Rolling Stone’s Angie, Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘round the Old Oak Tree by Tony Orlando and Dawn, Crocodile Rock by Elton John, Bad Bad Leroy Brown by Jim Croce and Midnight Train to Georgia by Gladys Knight and the Pips.
At the box office, The Exorcist is the highest grossing film of the year. I will probably never watch that movie again – much too scary! Other top films were The Sting, American Graffiti (Great movie), Enter the Dragon starring a Bruce Lee who died in 1973, Magnum Force with Clint Eastwood and The Way We Were with Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford. Also released was the baseball classic Bang the Drum Slowly with Robert Di Niro.
In television, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving airs on CBS for the first time. Also debuting were Barnaby Jones, The Six Million Dollar Man, Kojak, The Young and the Restless, Schoolhouse Rocks and the animated classics Star Trek and Super Friends. I loved watching Super Friends on WPIX when I was a kid. Ending in 1973 were Mission: Impossible, Bonanza. Laugh-In and the Mod Squad.
George Foreman defeats Joe Frazier to win the heavyweight world boxing championship.
Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in a televised tennis match, 6–4, 6–4, 6–3, at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas in the “Battle of the Sexes.”
Secretariat enthralls the nation by becoming the first horse in 25 years to win the Triple Crown. His win at the Belmont by 31 lengths was remarkable no matter how many horses may have been entered that day.
On the gridiron, The Miami Dolphins complete their perfect season (be it in 1972) by beating the Redskins in Super Bowl VII 14 to 7. The NFL also adopted the jersey number system that most of us remember growing up with. I believe it is still pretty much in effect, but receivers now wear number besides 80-89. On the field, O.J. Simpson of the Buffalo Bills became the first running back to rush for 2,000 yards in a pro football season. Still amazes me it was done in only 14 games.
In baseball, The A’s make it back to back championships by beating a mediocre Mets Team that won the division with a 82-79 record in 7 games.
The American League unveils the designated hitter with the Yankees Ron Blomberg being the first to come to the plate in the new role.
CBS sells the New York Yankees for $10 million to a 12-person syndicate led by George Steinbrenner. What a bargain!
Big years in 1973 were had by Nolan Ryan who whiffs 383 batters breaking Sandy Koufax’s single season record, which still stands. He also tosses two no hitters for good measure. Hank Aaron bashes 40 homers bring his total to 713 – one short of Babe Ruth. Reggie Jackson takes the AL MVP with a .293 average, 32 home runs and 117 RBI. The NL MVP went to Pete Rose who had 230 hits, bat .338 and scored 115 runs. Tom Seaver won the NL Cy Young while winning less than 20 (19). That is a low number of wins considering the era. Jim Palmer wins the AL Cy Young with a 22-9 record and 2.40 ERA.
In a classy move, The Baseball Hall of Fame waives the 5 year eligibility rule and inducts Roberto Clemente. The great Willie Mays hangs up his spikes retiring after the 1973 World Series. It is weird seeing him on his 1973 baseball card in a Mets uniform.
1974 – Faced with the prospect of an impeachment trial, Richard Nixon becomes the first president in United States history to resign on August 9. His successor, President Gerald Ford would later pardon him.
Americans had to deal with long gas lines as the Arab Oil Embargo raged on. To retaliate against the U.S. and other Western Allies for aiding Israel during the Yom Kippur War, OPEC placed an embargo on oil sales to the U.S in October 1973. At its height, the price of gas rose from $.30 cents a gallon to $1.20. The embargo was lifted in March 1974.
The 55 MPH speed limit was imposed by Congress to preserve gas usage nationwide. States that failed to comply were threatened with cuts to highway funding.
Construction of the Alaskan Pipeline stated in April 1974.
New to the world in 1974 were the Rubik’s Cube (though it didn’t reach popularity until the 80’s), Honeycrisp cereal, Skittles, The San Diego Chicken, Miss Piggy, Dungeons and Dragons and Bailey’s Irish Cream.
On television, new shows included Little House on the Prairie, Happy Days, The Rockford Files, Good Times, Land of the Lost, Rhoda, Chico and the Man, Hong Kong Phooey and Shazam!
Leaving the airwaves were Love, American Style, The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family and The Dean Martin Show.
Popular films released in 1974 include The Godfather Part II, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Blazing Saddles, China Town, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, The Man with the Golden Gun and The Towering Inferno.
Top songs of 1974 include The Way We Were by Barbara Streisand, Come and Get Your Love by Redbone, Dancing Maching by the The Jackson 5, Band on the Run by Paul Mcartney and Wings, Jungle Boogie by Cool and the Gang and Bennie and the Jets by Elton John.
NHL great Gordie Howe comes out of retirement for $1 million and signs with the WHA’s Houston Aeros.
Muhammad Ali KOs George Foreman in the 8th round in Kinshasa, Zaire on October, 30.
On January 19, Notre Dame beats UCLA, ending their NCAA record 88 game basketball winning streak.
In the NBA, the Chicago Bulls Nate Thurmond becomes the 1st in NBA history to complete a quadruple double-22 pts, 14 rebounds, 13 assists & 12 blocks
The Miami Dolphins beat the Minnesota Vikings 24-7 in Super Bowl VIII. The MVP was Larry Csonka. NFL franchises are awarded to Tampa Bay and Seattle. Oakland’s Kenny “Snake” Stabler wins the MVP. Joe Greene wins yet another Defensive MVP.
In baseball, the Oakland A’s win their 3rd World Series in a row defeating the Dodgers in 5 games. Though, the series was closer than the number of games indicates as four of the five games were 3 to 2 scores.
Hank Aaron becomes the all-time home run leader as he hits his 715th off of the Dodgers Al Downing on April 8. He finished the year with 733 home runs before being traded to the Brewers. Al Kaline gets his 3000th hit and retires at the end of the year with 3007 hits and 399 home runs. Bob Gibson gets his 3000 strikeout.
Dodgers knuckleballer, Mike Marshall becomes the first reliever to win the NL Cy Young as he appears in a MLB record 106 games, wins 15 and saves 21. The AL Cy Young went to the A’s Catfish Hunter with a 25-12 record. The MVP awards for each respective league went to two surprising players. The Rangers Jeff Burroughs takes the AL MVP batting .301 with 25 home runs and a AL leading 118 RBI. The NL MVP went Steve Garvey who hit .312, knock 21 out of the park and drove in 111. Garvey would also win the All Star MVP after getting elected as a write in vote. Other big years were had by Mike Schmidt who hit a NL leading 36 home runs. Johnny Bench drove in a NL leading 129 RBI, which was his 3rd NL RBI crown. Rod Carew wins yet another AL batting crown with a .364 average and 218 hits. Lou Brock bats .306 and swipes 105 bases to break Maury Wills single season record. Of course it was later broken by Ricky Henderson.
Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and James “Cool Papa” Bell are inducted into the Hall of Fame.
1975 – Bill Gates founds Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 4.
In Sacramento, California, Lynette Fromme, a follower of jailed cult leader Charles Manson, attempts to assassinate U.S. President Gerald Ford, but is thwarted by a Secret Service agent. A few weeks later on September 22, President Ford survives a second assassination attempt, this time by Sara Jane Moore in San Francisco.
The Fall of Saigon takes place on April 30 as the Communist forces from the North take Saigon. The remaining Americans at the U.S. Embassy and South Vietnamese begin mass evacuations. South Vietnam surrenders unconditionally.
Midway releases Gun Fight, the first microprocessor-based video game. Also making their debut in 1975 were Bubble Yum, Aim toothpaste, Miller Lite, Pop Rocks, The Steelers “Terrible Towel”, Playmobil Toys and Big Red chewing gum.
NBC airs the first episode of Saturday Night Live (George Carlin is the first host; Billy Preston and Janis Ian the first musical guests). Other T.V. shows debuting were, Barney Miller, Wheel of Fortune, The Jeffersons, Welcome Back Kotter, Good Morning America, Wonder Women and One Day at a Time. Ending in 1975 were Gunsmoke (one of the best), Ironside, The Odd Couple, Mannix and Kung Fu.
At the box office, Jaws dominated ticket sales in 1975 grossing $260 million. It was higher than nearly the next 3 movies combined. Other popular movies were One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Dog Day Afternoon, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tommy, Shampoo, Rollerball, Rooster Cogburn and The Stepford Wives.
In music, Peter Gabriel leaves Genesis and is replaced by Phil Collins. On December 25, bassist Steve Harris forms Iron Maiden. Top songs of 1975 include Love Will Keep Us Together by The Captain and Tennille, Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell, Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John, Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas, SOS by Abba, Jive Talkin’ by the Bee Gees, Mandy by Barry Manilow and Lady Marmalade by Labelle.
Muhammad Ali defeats Joe Frazier in a boxing match billed as the Thrilla in Manila on October 1.
In the NHL, the Philadelphia Flyers beat my beloved Buffalo Sabres 4 games to 2 in the Stanley Cup Finals.
On January 12, the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Minnesota Vikings 16-6 at Tulane Stadium in Super Bowl IX. The game was supposed to be played in the Superdome, but its opening was delayed. In the fall, for the first time since 1966 the Cowboys are not on Thanksgiving. The NFL schedules a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Buffalo Bills. The 1975 league MVP was Fran Tarkenton. The Defensive Player of the Year was Mel Blount.
In Baseball, The Big Red Machine beat the Red Sox in 7 games to win their first of back to back titles. In one of the greatest series ever played, Carlton Fisk hits a memorable home run in the bottom of the twelfth that he wills fair to cap a 7-6 come from behind victory. Many people forget that game 7 was pretty exciting too as the Reds come back from a 3-0 lead. The Red Sox also ended the Oakland A’s attempt at winning four in a row by knocking them out in the AL Championship series.
Big years were had by Tom Seaver who wins the NL Cy Young with a 22 wins, a 2.38 ERA and 243 strikeouts. Jim Palmer nets his 2nd AL Cy Young with 23 wins and a league leading 2.09 ERA. Joe Morgan wins his first of back to back MVPs with a .327 batting average, 17 home runs, 107 runs and 67 stolen bases. Rookie Fred Lynn becomes the first player in MLB history to be named ROY of the MVP as he wins both AL awards. Lynn finishes with a .331 average, 21 home runs and 105 RBI. Teammate and fellow rookie Jim Rice bats .309, hits 22 HRs and knocks in 102. George Brett gives Royals fans a sign of things to come as he leads the league with 195 hits and bats .309. Mike Schmidt leads the majors with 38 home runs and Reggie Jackson and George Scott tie for the AL lead with 36.
Here is some trivia, the Pirates Rennie Stennett becomes the first player in the 20th Century to go 7 for 7 in a 9 inning game.
Free Agency begins as an arbitrator grants pitchers Dave McNally and Andy Messersmith the right to test the market. The biggest signing goes to the Yankees as they agree to a contract with Catfish Hunter.
The great Frank Robinson is hired by the Cleveland Indians and becomes the first Black manager in MLB history. One of the classiest guys around, the late Harmon Killebrew hangs up his spikes for good.
1976 - America celebrates its Bi-centennial. From coast to coast Americans celebrate the 200th anniversary of the sign of the Declaration of Independence.
After a hard fought primary against popular two-term California Governor Ronald Reagan, President Gerald Ford goes on to clinch the Republican nomination. This probably the last time we will see a sitting president come close to getting knocked out in at the convention. President Ford would go on to lose to Jimmy Carter in November. Carter would become the first candidate from the deep south to win since the Civil War.
On April 1, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak start Apple Computers.
The United States Treasury Department reintroduces the two-dollar bill as a Federal Reserve Note on Thomas Jefferson's 233rd birthday as part of the United States Bicentennial celebration.
The architect and founding father of the People's Republic of China Mao Zedong dies on September 9.
Matsush*ta introduces the VHS home video cassette recorder to compete with Sony's Betamax system. Also making their debut where the Everlasting Gobstopper, Country Time Lemonade, Gore-Tex (makes me think of George Costanzia’s coat), the Ginsu knife, the Micronaut toys (Rumor has it Mego chose this line over toys for some fly by night Science Fiction movie called Star Wars), Stretch Armstrong and the Ink Jet Printer.
The following T.V. shows hit the airwaves, Alice, Battle of the Network Stars, Charlie’s Angels, The Donnie and Marie Show, Family Feud, The Gong Show, In Search Of…w/Leonard Nimoy (used to creep me out), Jabberjaw, The Muppet Show and Quincy.
In music, Hotel California by The Eagles is released. The top songs were Dancing Queen by ABBA, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, If you Leave Me Now by Chicago, Fernando by ABBA and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee. Other popular hits include Disco Duck by Rick Dees, Silly Love Song by Wings, I Write the Songs by Barry Manilow, Afternoon Delight by Starland Vocal Band and December 1963 by the Four Seasons.
At the box office, Rocky was the #1 film and Oscar Winner for Best Picture. Other big hits were The Omen, Midway, All the President’s Men, King Kong, Silver Streak, The Bad News Bears, Network, Carrie and the Outlaw Josey Wales.
July 18 – Nadia Comãneci earns the first of 7 perfect scores of 10 at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
The National Basketball Association and the American Basketball Association agree on the ABA-NBA merger.
In the NHL, the Montreal Canadians sweep the Flyers to win their first of four consecutive Stanley Cups.
On January 18, the Pittsburgh Steelers win back to back Super Bowls as they knock off the Dallas Cowboys 21-17. Lynn Swann catches a 64 yard TD pass to seal the victory and the MVP award. The 1976 season saw two new franchises in Seattle (The Seahawks) and Tampa Bay (The Buccaneers). The MVP of the 1976 season was Baltimore QB Bert Jones and the Defensive POY was Jack Lambert.
In baseball, the Big Red Machine sweep the New York Yankees who were making their first appearance in the World Series since 1964. Joe Morgan wins his second consecutive NL MVP .320 average, 27 home runs, 60 stolen bases and 111 RBI. Thurman Munson was the AL MVP with a .302 average, 17 home runs and 105 RBI. You also couldn’t blame Munson for losing the series as he hit .529 (9 for 17)!
One of the big stories of 1976 was Mark “The Bird” Fidrych who won 19 games and sported a 2.34 ERA for the 5th place Tigers. It is a shame his career would be derailed by injuries. Poor Nolan Ryan finishes 17-18 for the Angels with 8 shutout losses. He also struck out 327/
Other big years were had by Mike Schmidt 38 HRs and 107 RBI, Bill Madlock wins his second of four batting titles with a .339 average, Jim Palmer grabs the AL Cy Young with a 22-13 record and a 2.51 ERA. It would be his 3rd and last Cy Young. San Diego’s Randy Jones wins 22 games and grabs the NL Cy Young. George Brett wins the AL batting title with a .333 average. Hal McRae finishes second with a .332 average and Rod Carew 3rd with a .331.
Hank Aaron hangs up his spikes and leaves with a then major league record 755 career home runs.
Good trivia question, the only rainout in Houston Astrodome history occurs on June 15 when heavy rains prevent fans and umps from getting to the dome.
1977 – Jimmy Carter is sworn in on January 20, 1977 as the 39th President of the United States. President Carter brings an interesting background by serving in the Nuclear Submarine Program and then taking over his father’s peanut farm.
The King, Elvis Presley is found dead in his home at the young age of 42 on August 16. 75,000 fans lined the streets of Memphis for his funeral.
The Son of Sam (David Berkowitz) terrorizes New York City for over a year of shooting young people while sitting in their cars. He is eventually captured on August 10.
On January 28, the famous Blizzard of 1977 pummels the Buffalo-Niagara region in western New York. This is my home area. I was little at the time and it was one he** of a storm!
Lockheed's top-secret stealth aircraft project designated Have Blue, precursor to the U.S. F-117A Nighthawk, makes its first flight on December 1.
On May 25, audiences were taken back a long time ago into a galaxy far, far away as Star Wars opens in theaters becoming the then-highest grossing film of all time.
Fonzie Jumps the Shark on September 20, helping coin the famous phrase and later a website depicting shows that begin their downward slide. Happy Days started resembling more of a cartoon than a T.V. show after this.
On June 25, Roy Sullivan is struck by lightning for a world record seventh time. I guess he was struck while fishing and when he went back to the car a bear tried to steal his fish until he hit it away with a stick. Talk about bad luck!
New items in 1977 include Billy Beer (started by Jimmy Carter’s brother), Bubblicious, Gay Bob doll (I kid you not), Post-It Notes, Slim Fast, The Atari 2600. My parents bought us one and I have no idea how they could afford the $199.00 price tag. They were too good to my brother and me.
Besides Star Wars, other big films in 1977 were Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Saturday Night Fever, Smokey and the Bandit, Oh God!, A Bridge Too Far, Slap Shot and The Spy Who Loved Me.
Making their debut on the tube in 1977 were Three’s Company, Scooby’s All Star Laff-A- Lympics, The Love Boat, Soap, The Amazing Spiderman, ChiPs, Inside the NFL (I used to love this show as a kid). Leaving the airwaves were The Electric Company, Mary Tyler Moore, Emergency and Sanford and Son. I guess there was some crazy spinoff called The Sanford Arms which absolutely bombed. I know a lot about useless information, but never knew that one.
Popular songs of 1977 include Dancing Queen by ABBA, Tonight’s the Night by Rod Stewart, Don’t Leave Me This Way by Thelma Houston, Hotel California by the Eagles, You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone and How Deep is Your Love by the Bee Gees. In addition to Elvis, the great Bing Crosby dies in October.
In the NFL, the Super bowl played in January of 1977 saw the Oakland Raiders defeat the Minnesota Vikings at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena 32-17. The 1977 MVP was Walter Payton who broke the then single game rushing record held by OJ Simpson. The Defensive MVP was Harvey Martin.
In the NBA, Bill Walton leads the Trailblazers to the 1977 title by defeating the 76ers 4 games to 2. As dominating as Walton was in college, he never was that player in the NBA, but the 1977 season was a great one for him.
In baseball, the New York Yankees behind “The Straw that Stirs the Drink’s” three home runs in one World Series game go on to defeat the Dodgers in 6 games. Of course R-E-G-G-I-E is named World Series MVP with a .450 average and 5 home runs. It was manager Billy Martin’s one and only ring.
Other big seasons were had by 1977 AL MVP Rod Carew who makes a run at .400 by finishing the year with a .388 average and 239 hits! George Foster becomes the first player to hit 50 home runs since Willie Mays in 1965. He grabs the NL MVP by hitting .320, with 52 HRs and knocking in 149 RBI. Both of these guys had staggering numbers for the era. The Mets break the fans hearts by trading their most popular player ever Tom Seaver to the Reds. Seaver ends up going 14-3 with Reds on his way to winning 21 games. Carlton wins his 2nd NL Cy Young with a 23-10 record and 2.64 ERA. Yankee reliever Sparkly Lyle grabs the AL hardware with a 26 saves and 13 wins.
Two new franchises start play in Toronto and Seattle.
Here is your trivia question, name the first team with 4 30 home run players. The answer is……The 1977 Dodgers – Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Dusty Baker and Reggie Smith. It has been done 10 times since all after 1995. The Rockies did it 3 times. Surprisingly, the Yankees have never done it.
Brooks Robinson retires after an ML record 23 years with the same team. “Let’s Play Two” Ernie Banks is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
1978 – On September 17, President Carter brokers a peace agreement between Israel and Egypt known as the Camp David Accords named after the place where the meetings were held.
On October 14, President Carter signs a law that allows for the home brewing of beer in the United States.
In Guyana, Jim Jones leads his Peoples Temple cult in a mass murder-suicide that claims 918 lives in all, 909 of them at Jonestown itself, including over 270 children. Congressman Leo J. Ryan is assassinated by members of Peoples Temple shortly beforehand.
John Paul I Becomes Pope from August 26, 1978 and dies just 33 days later on September 28, 1978. After his death, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla becomes Pope John Paul II.
New to the scene in 1978 were Evian water, Coors Light, Reese’s Pieces, Trapper Keepers (used to have one), Whatchamacallit (candy bar), Lego Mini Figurines, Hungry Hungry Hippos Speak and Spell, Laser Disks, Huggies and the game Simon.
A lot of good shows debuted in 1978. Fantasy Island (used to be on Saturdays after the Love Boat), Vega$, 20/20, Taxi, Mork & Mindy, Different Strokes, Battlestar Galactica, Dallas (Used to be on Fridays with the Dukes of Hazzard and the Incredible Hulk), Tarzan and the Super 7 (Saturday Morning Cartoon), The White Shadow, Card Sharks and the Waverly Wonders starring Joe Namath who coached a high school basketball team. I do not remember this show, but it only lasted a month. Leaving the tube were the Six Million Dollar Man, Baretta, The Carol Burnett Show, Rhoda, Maude, The Bob Newhart Show and Chico and the Man.
At the movies, Grease was the box office leader, followed by Superman, Animal House, Every Which Way But Loose, Heaven Can Wait with Warren Beatty, Hooper and just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water Jaws 2 hits the theaters. Other classic films were the greatest horror movie ever – Halloween, Dawn of the Dead, The Deer Hunter and Midnight Express. Best picture went to the Deer Hunter.
In music, The Village People release the sporting event classic Y.M.C.A, the Bee Gees dominate the charts with Stayin Alive and Night Fever. Other top songs were Baby Come Back by Player, You’re the One That I Want by John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, The Gambler by Kenny Rogers, If I Can’t Have You by Yvonne Elliman and Three Times a Lady by the Commodores.
In the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys Dooms Day Defense wins the battle of great defenses over the Denver Broncos Orange Crush 27 to 10 in Super Bowl XII held in January 1978. The MVP of the 1978 NFL Season was Terry Bradshaw and the Defensive MVP was Denver Linebacker Randy Gradishar. Earl Campbell bursts on the scene seizing both the 1978 Offensive Player of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year awards.
In boxing, Leon Spinks defeats Muhammad Ali by decision in 15 rounds to win the world heavyweight title on February 15. Ali later recovers the title by decision over Spinks to become the first 3 time heavyweight champion.
The Yankees win back to back World Series Titles by defeating the Dodgers in six. The Dodgers went up 2-0 in the series only to lose the next four. It was a crazy year for the Yankees. They trailed the Red Sox by 14 games in July only to see the Sox blow their lead. Billy Martin resigned under pressure from owner George Steinbrenner and was replaced by Bob Lemon. One of the keys to comeback was the early September matchup between the Yankees and Sox which became known as “The Boston Massacre.: The Yankees won all 4 games by scores of 15-3, 13-2, 7-0 and 7-4. The two teams ended the season tied and played a one game playoff that was settled by a 7th inning three run shot by Bucky F---in Dent. The final score was 5-4.
Big years in 1978 were had by AL Cy Young winner Ron Guidry who finished with a 25-3 record. The Padres Gaylord Perry at the age of 42 wins the NL Cy Young with a 21-6 record. Billy Martin once remarked of the grease baller, “When you stand next to Perry, he smells like a drug store.” Dave “The Cobra” Parker wins the 1978 NL MVP with a .334 batting average (2nd batting title in a row), 30 home runs and 117 RBI. The AL MVP was won by Jim Rice who had an awesome year. He finished with a .315 average, 46 home runs, 15 triples, 213 hits and 139 RBI. He was also the first major leaguer since DiMaggio in 1937 to have over 400 bases.
Eddie Mathews enters the Hall of Fame.
Tragedy strikes major league baseball as Lyman Bostock of the Angels is murdered in error by a jealous husband.
Pete Rose gets his 3000th hit.
1979 – The last year of the 70’s provide no shortage of big events.
On February 1, the Ayatollah Khomeini (This guy just looked mean) returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile. 11 days later Khomeini seizes power in Iran, overthrowing the US backed Shah. On November 4, 3,000 Iranian radicals invade the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (53 Americans). They demand the United States send the Shah of Iran back to stand trial. We have had problems with Iran ever since.
History is made in England as Lady Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female elected prime minister on May 4.
Probably the most famous actor ever, John Wayne dies on June 11th at the age of 72.
The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan which begins nearly a decade long war only to see the Russians withdraw in defeat.
On Three Mile Island, PA a Nuclear Accident occurs after a reactor catches fire. The accident happened 12 days after the release of the movie The China Syndrome which is about a major nuclear plant crisis. Pretty weird coincidence.
American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport, killing all 271 on board and 2 people on the ground in the deadliest aviation accident in U. S. history.
China institutes the one child per family rule to help control its exploding population. It is believed that this policy has prevented about 400 million births.
On July 1, Sony introduces the Walkman costing $200.00 ($630.91 today) Wow!
Also new in 1979 were McDonald’s Happy Meal, ESPN, Sunkist Soft Drink, Susan B Anthony Dollar, Tostitos, Hubba Bubba, Honey Nut Cheerios and Thinsulate.
The top grossing movie of 1979 was the Academy Award Winning Kramer vs. Kramer with Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep. Other big hits were The Amityville Horror, Apocalypse Now. Rocky 2, The Muppet Movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, The Black Stallion, the Jerk, Meatballs, Moonraker, The Black Hole (One of my favorites as a kid. I used to have the toys.) and Alien.
In television, CSPAN is launched. Debuting in 1979 were Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo, Benson, Nightline, Archie Bunker’s Place, Knots Landing, The Dukes of Hazzard, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo and the groundbreaking PBS show Lap Quilting with Georgia Bonesteel (just checking to see if you are still reading this).
Pink Floyd release the multi award winning concept album "The Wall" with the top selling single "Another Brick in the Wall.
Popular Songs of 1979 include Heart of Glass by Blondie, Hot Stuff by Donna Summer, Born to Be Alive by Patrick Hernandez, Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough by Michael Jackson, Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes and Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles.
In the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys watch their hopes of winning a 3rd Super Bowl slip through the hands of tight end Jackie Smith as the Steelers win their 3rd Super Bowl 35 to 21. The 1979 MVP was Earl Campbell who rushed for 1697 yards and 19 touchdowns. These were huge numbers at the time. The Defensive Player of the Year was the late great Lee Roy Selmon, Defensive End for Tampa Bay.
In the NBA, the Lakers draft Magic Johnson which sets up the great rivalry of the 80s between the Celtics led by Larry Bird and Magic’s Lakers. Also in 1979, Magic’s Michigan State Spartan’s knocked off Larry Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores team 75 to 64.
In hockey, The Great One, Wayne Gretzky makes his NHL debut finishing the year with 51 goals and 137 total points. The effort was good enough to win him his first of 8 straight Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP.
In baseball, The Pittsburgh Pirates rode their “We are Family” theme and the bats of NL Co-MVP Willie “Pops” Stargell and Dave Parker to the World Series. The Pirates overcame a 3 to 1 deficit to beat the Baltimore Orioles in 7. The last two wins were in Baltimore. Stargell hit .400 in the fall classic, racking up 3 home runs and 7 RBI.
Tragedy strikes the Yankees as catcher Thurman Munson is killed in a plane crash on August 2. He was just 32 years old.
Carl Yastrzemski becomes the only American League player to amass 3000 hits and 400 home runs.
40 year old Braves knuckle baller Phil Niekro has a bitter sweet season winning 21 games and dropping 20.
Big years were had by the Angels Fred Lynn fishing first in batting with a .333 average and also smacked 39 home runs and drove in 122. The Cardinals Gary Templeton becomes the first switch hitter to get 100 hits from each side of the plate. NL Co-MVP Keith Hernandez wins the NL Batting Title with a .344 average. Milwaukee’s Gorman Thomas hits 45 home runs and 123 RBI. AL MVP Don Baylor hits .296 with 39 home runs, 139 RBI and 120 runs scored. Baltimore’s Mike Flanagan wins the AL Cy Young with a 23-9 record. The NL Cy Young went to reliever Bruce Sutter as he tops the majors with 37 saves. The Padres Dave Winfield leads the NL with 118 RBI.
Willie Mays is inducted into the Hall of Fame.
1980 – Is the decade when America gets its mojo back. On February 22 in Lake Placid, NY a group of college kids coached by a brash, gutsy hockey innovator in funny checkered pants takes down the most formidable hockey team in the world. Yes, the Miracle on Ice where the US beat the Soviets 4 to 3. The funny thing is the game was broadcast by tape delay due to the Soviets refusing to move it to 8 PM to reach US viewers in prime time. Just how big was it? The Soviets since 1960 in Olympic Hockey play were 27-1-1 and outscored their opponents 175-44.
Also, in 1980 America had a choice between incumbent President Jimmy Carter and former California Governor Ronald Reagan. Much like this year’s election everyone thought it was going to be pretty close, but Reagan pretty much sealed the deal with a convincing win in the elections only debate on October 28. He would go on to win 44 states and 50.7% of the popular vote to Carter’s 6 states and 41.0%.
On December 8, John Lennon is murdered while returning to his apartment in New York city.
In response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, President Carter announces on March 21 that the U.S. will boycott the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow.
On April 12, cancer survivor Terry Fox begins his Marathon of Hope which was a run from the Atlantic coast of Canada to the Pacific in hopes of raising a $1 for every one of the 24 million children of Canada to go towards cancer research. He was forced to end his run after 143 days and 5,373 kilometers as his cancer returned in his lungs. Fox would die on June 28, 1981.
Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, killing 57 people. I remember as a kid the movie was always on HBO. Art Carney dies at the end on his boat.
On May 22, Pac-man the best-selling game of all time is released.
Also new in 1980 were Rubik’s Cube, Magna doodle, Big League Chew, The McChicken Sandwich, Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees, Compact Video Cassettes and the game Milton.
Top movies of 1980 included The Empire Strikes Back, 9 to 5 with Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda, Stir Crazy which I think was the first R rated movie I ever saw with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, Any Which Way You Can, Private Benjamin, Xanadu and The Blue’s Brothers.
On T.V., the nation was gripped by who shot J.R. It turned out to be Sue Ellen’s sister played by the daughter of Bing Crosby - Mary. Shows making their debut in 1980 include the David Letterman Show, Fight Back! With David Horowitz, Bosom Buddies spinoffs Enos form Dukes of Hazzard and Flo from Alice, Thundarr the Barbarian, That’s Incredible and Solid Gold. Leaving the tube were Hawaii Five O, Hollywoood Squares (for now) and the Rockford Files.
Top songs of 1980 include Do That To Me One More Time by Captain and Tennille, Call Me by Blondie, It’s Still Rock N’ Roll to Me by Billy Joel, Magic by Olivia Newton John, Sailing by Christopher Cross and Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen.
The Pittsburgh Steelers win their 4th Super Bowl as they beat the Rams 31 to 19 in Super Bowl XIV. The Steelers were 10 ½ point favorites and after trailing at the half pulled away outscoring the Rams 21 to 6 in the 3rd and 4th quarters. The MVP in 1980 was QB Brian Sipe, the OPOY was Earl Campbell and the DPOY was Oakland’s Lester Hayes.
In other sports action, Larry Holmes defeats Muhammad Ali by knockout in the 11th round to retain his WBC Heavyweight title. It would be Ali’s last heavyweight title bout. In the NBA, rookie phenom Magic Johnson rings in the era of “Showtime” by filling in at center for the injured Kareem Abdul Jabbar and scores 42 points, grabs 15 boards and dishes 7 assists in game 6 to lead the Lakers to the NBA title over the 76ers. It would be the 1st of 5 rings for Magic. The city of Philadelphia places a team in the championship in all 5 major sports, the Eagles, Sixers, Fliers and Phillies. Only the Phillies would win, which leads to…
1980 in Major League Baseball, the Phillies win their first ever World Series by knocking off the Royals in 6 games. They also cleaned up in the hardware department as Schmidt won his first league MVP with 48 HRs and 121 RBI and World Series MVP with .381 average and 7 RBI. Steve Carlton won the CY Young with a 24-9 record and a league leading 286 strikeouts.
Other big years were had by George Brett who hit .390 with 24 HRs and 118 RBI to grab the MVP. Journeyman pitcher Steve Stone of the Orioles went 25-7 to take the AL MVP. Dale Murphy made the move from catcher to the outfield and hit .281 with 33 HRs and 89 RBI. Cecil Cooper hits .352 and leads the AL with 122 RBI. Pitcher Rick Langford becomes the last major league to top 25 complete games with 28 under Oakland Manager Billy Martin. Nolan Ryan whiffs his 3,000 batter.
Manager Dick Howser is fired after leading the Yankees to 103 wins. Wow, I guess he need to win even more games.
Tragedy strikes J.R. Richard when he suffers a stroke shortly after starting in the All Star game. He never pitched in the majors again. He was on the path to being a hall of famer.
The Hall of Fame inducts two great ones in Al Kaline and Duke Snider.
1981 – Ronald Reagan is sworn in on January 20 as the 40th President of the United States. Within minutes afterwards, Iran releases the 52 Americans held for 444 days, ending the Iran Hostage Crisis.
3 months into President Reagan’s term he is nearly assassinated by John Hinckley Jr. as bullet comes within inches of his heart .
President Ronald Reagan nominates the first woman, Sandra Day O'Connor, to the Supreme Court of the United States.
On May 13, Pope John Paul II is shot and nearly killed by Mehmet Ali Aðca, a Turkish gunman, as he enters St. Peter's Square in Vatican City to address a general audience.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on May 5 that 5 homosexual men in Los Angeles, California have a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems (the first recognized cases of AIDS).
The first DeLorean DMC-12 known for its stainless steel body and gull wing doors rolls off the production line. It becomes an iconic car with the release of 1985’s Back to the Future. The original price was $12,000.
Donkey Kong is released, marking the first Mario game produced. Other 1981 debuts were Act II Popcorn (I remember my mom doing Jiffy Pop on the Stove), Care Bears, Lean Cuisine, Eagle Force Figures (Those small die cast guys), Castle Wolfenstein computer game series (I loved these), Mrs. Dash, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Paint Ball & The Space Shuttle.
MTV (Music Television) is launched on cable television in the United States on August 1. Here is your trivia, the first video played was………………….”Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
Raiders of the Lost Ark ruled the year as the #1 grossing film by a mile and the beginning of a great franchise. Other big hits were On Golden Pond, Superman II, Chariots of Fire (Best Picture of 81), Stripes, Time Bandits, Clash of the Titans, Arthur, Halloween II, The Incredible Shrinking Woman and Excalibur.
On television making their debut were Dynasty, The Greatest American Heroes, The Brady Brides, Spider Man and His Amazing Friends (loved watching this Saturday mornings), The Smurfs, The Fall Guy, Gimme a Break, Falcon Crest and Hill Street Blues. Leaving the air waves were Eight is Enough, Soap, Charlie’s Angels, Buck Rogers, The Waltons and Card Sharks.
In music, Simon & Garfunkel perform The Concert in Central Park, a free concert in New York in front of approximately half a million people on September 19. Also in 1981, I am sorry to report the Starland Vocal Band broke up. Hit songs from the year include “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes, “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins, “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell, “Arthur’s Theme” By Christopher Cross, “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton and “Private Eyes” by Hall and Oates.
Luke and Laura marry on the U.S. soap opera General Hospital; it is the highest-rated hour in daytime television history on November 16.
For the Wrestling fans out there, Ric Flair defeats Dusty Rhodes to win his first World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship in Kansas City on September 17.
The Oakland Raiders win the Super Bowl XV defeating the Eagles 27-10. In 1981, the NFL implements the “Lester Hayes Rule” and “Fred Biletnikoff Rule” outlawing the use of adhesive or slippery substances on a player’s body, equipment or uniform. The Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year was Bengal’s QB Ken Anderson, Defensive Player and Rookie of the Year was Lawrence Taylor.
In baseball, a 10 week players strike canceled 713 games. Baseball eventually resumed and went with a controversial split season format. The first half winners played the second half winners in a divisional playoff. Cincinnati and St. Louis had the two best overall records in the NL and didn’t even make the playoffs. In the NL East Playoffs, the Expos knocked off the Phillies and in the NL West the Dodgers beat the Astros. The NL Championship went to the Dodgers in five. In the AL East, the Yankees beat the Brewers and Oakland defeated the Royals in the AL West playoffs. The AL Championship saw the Yankees beat their former manager Billy Martin’s A’s in three straight games. The Yankees took the first two from the Dodgers in the World Series only to lose the next four. The goat of the series was Yankees pitcher George Frazier who went 0-3 with a 17.18 ERA.
The NL MVP went to Mike Schmidt who smack 31 HRs and drove in 91 RBIs. The AL MVP and CY Young went to Brewers closer Rollie Fingers who went 6-3 with 28 saves and an insane 1.04 ERA. The NL Cy Young winner was rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela who went 13-7 and stuck out 180 in only 192 innings. Other big years were had by Reds pitcher Tom Seaver who went 14-2 with a 2.55 ERA, underrated 2B Bobby Grich hit .304 and tied for the AL lead with 22 HRs. Oakland speedster Rickey Henderson steals 56 bases and leads the AL in hits with 135 and runs with 89. Rock Raines unfortunately was in the shadow of “Fernandomania” as he hits .304 and breaks the rookie stolen base record with 71 in a strike shortened year!!!
Pete Rose becomes the NL all-time hits leader passing the late great Stan Musial. He also becomes the only 40+ year old hitter to lead the NL in hits. However this is the last year he hits over .300.
A Minor League Baseball game between the Rochester Red Wings and the Pawtucket Red Sox at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, becomes the longest professional baseball game in history: 8 hours and 25 minutes/33 innings (the 33rd inning is not played until June 23).
The Yankees trade Willie McGee to St. Louis for Bob Sykes (ouch!)
St. Louis trades Garry Templeton for the Padres Ozzie Smith.
Frank Robinson becomes the first black NL manager with the San Francisco Giants.
The Hall of Fame inducts Bob Gibson, Johnny Mize and Rube Foster.
1982 – The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C., on November 13. Thousands of Vietnam War veterans march to the site.
In Orlando, Florida, Walt Disney World opens the second largest theme park, EPCOT Center, to the public for the first time.
President Ronald Reagan becomes the first American chief executive to address a joint session of the British Parliament with his appearance on June 8.
On January 28, United States Army Brigadier General James L. Dozier is rescued by the Italian anti-terrorism Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza (NOCS) force after being held captive for 42 days by the Red Brigades.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average surges 43.41 points, or 4.25% on November 3, to close at 1,065.49, its first all-time high in more than 9 years. It last hit a record on January 11, 1973 when the average closed at 1,051.70. The points gain is the biggest ever up to this point.
Angry with reforms within the Catholic Church, Spanish priest Juan María Fernández y Krohn tries to stab Pope John Paul II with a bayonet during the latter's pilgrimage to the shrine at Fatima.
Making their debut in 1982 were the CD, EA Sports, Glo Worm, Like Cola, My Little Pony, Ferrero Rocher Chocolate, Toyota Camry, Diet Coke and Colecovision. 1982 was a big year for toys with the reboot of GI Joe: Real American Hero and the debut of Masters of the Universe. It was also a great year for video games with the release of Q-Bert, Zaxxon, Dig Dug and Joust.
Debuting on television were Cheers, Cagney and Lacy, Family Ties, The Incredible Hulk (animated), T.J Hooker, Tales of the Golden Monkey (capitalizing on the fame of Raiders of the Lost Ark), The McLaughlin Group, The Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley and Fonz hour (animated), Crossfire, Silver Spoons, St. Elsewhere, Pac Man, U.S. Cartoon Express, Newhart & the classic Joanie loves Chachi. Leaving the airwaves were Mork & Mindy, WKRP in Cincinnati, The Incredible Hulk, Bosom Buddies, The Lawrence Welk Show, Barney Miller & In Search of..
The top grossing films of 1982 were E.T., Tootsie, An Officer and a Gentleman, Rocky III and Porky’s. Other big hits were Potergeist, 48 Hours, Star Trek II (KKKKAAAAHHHHNNNNN!!!!!), First Blood Gandhi and Conan the Barbarian and The Beastmaster (This movie was always on HBO).
In music, Michael Jackson releases Thriller, the biggest selling album of all time on November 13. Other big hits include, Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, I Love Rock n’ Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Come on Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners, Mickey by Toni Basil, Maneater by Hall and Oates and Vacation by the Go Go’s.
Bill Walsh beat his former team as the 49ers beat the Bengals 26 to 21 in Super Bowl XVI. The NFL endured a 57 day long players strike and reduced the season from 16 to 9 games. In one of the most ridiculous MVP selections ever in any sport Mark Moseley, placekicker for Redskins takes the hardware. The Offensive Player of the Year is Dan Fouts and Defensive Player of the Year is Lawrence Taylor. USC RB Marcus Allen is the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Ray Mancini defeats Duk Koo Kim by knockout in 14 rounds in a tragic fight. Kim died five days later and the fight's outcome brought many new resolutions to boxing.
In Baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers, a.k.a. Harvey’s Wallbanger’s after their coach Harvey Kuenn in a 7 game thriller. The Brewers led game 7, 3 to 1, but the Cardinals scored 3 in the 6th and 2 in the 8th to seal the deal.
Big years were had by Rickey Henderson who set the ML stolen base record with 130. AL MVP Robin Yount paces the Brewers with a .331 AVG, 29 HRs and 114 RBI. He also hit an outstanding .414 in the World Series. The NL MVP went to Dale Murphy who led the Braves to an NL West crown with a .281 with 36 HRs and 109 RBI. Other notable performance were had by Steve Carlton who won a then reocrd 4 CY Youngs with 23 wins and 286 strikeouts; Reggie Jackson signs with the Angels and hits 39 HRs with 101 RBI; Cecil Cooper hits .313 with 32 HRs and 121 RBI; Al Oliver wins the NL batting crown with a .331 average.
On May 30, Cal Ripken, Jr. plays the first of what eventually becomes his record-breaking streak of 2,632 consecutive Major League Baseball games. He also wins the 1982 AL ROY.
Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson are inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.
1983 – Cold War: Korean Air Lines Flight 007 is shot down by a Soviet Union Su-15 interceptor near Moneron Island when the commercial aircraft enters Soviet airspace. All 269 on board are killed including U.S. Congressman Larry McDonald.
On April 22nd, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut is bombed killing 63 people.
President Reagan announces that the Global Positioning System (GPS) would be made available for civilian use.
At the White House Rose Garden, President Reagan signs a bill creating a federal holiday on the third Monday of every January to honor American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Britain's Conservative government, led by Margaret Thatcher, is re-elected by a landslide majority on June 9th.
Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on the STS-7 mission. Later in the year Guion Bluford is the first black in space also aboard the Challenger.
The lowest temperature on earth is recorded in Vostok Station, Antarctica with -89.2 °C (-128.6 °F) on July 21.
Making their debut in 1983 were the Chicken McNugget, Wacky WallWalker, Jenga, Camcorder, Internet, Swatch, Hot Pockets, Nerds Candy, Green Arrow (comic book), Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola and the Nintendo Entertainment System. The first laserdisc video game Dragon’s Lair is also released.
New on television in 1983 were The A-Team, Fraggle Rock, Star Search, Rubik, the Amazing Cube (Animated), Dungeon & Dragons (Animated), Mister T (Animated), Webster, Press Your Luck, Scarecrow & Mrs. King, Mama’s Family & Riptide. Leaving the air waves was Mash, The Greatest American Hero, Laverne & Shirley, CHiPs, Taxi, Little House and the Prairie and Archie Bunker’s Place.
The top films of 1983 were Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi which grossed $246 million more than double the next highest grossing film Terms of Endearment. Also at the movies was Flashdance, Trading Places, WarGames, Octop****, Risky Business, Vacation, Scarface, Jaws 3-D, Friday the 13th 3-D, Sudden Impact (Go ahead, make my day!) and arguably after Return of the Jedi the most famous release A Christmas Story.
In music, the rock group Kiss officially appear in public without makeup for the first time on MTV. Michael Jackson’s Thriller becomes the biggest selling album of all time and is #1 on the charts for 37 weeks! Top hits of 1983 include Billie Jean by Michael Jackson, Karma Chameleon by Culture Club, All Time High by Rita Coolidge, Borderline by Madonna, Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant, Faithfully by Journey, True by Spandau Ballet & Uptown Girl by Billy Joel.
In the NFL, Tony Dorsett set the NFL record for the longest run from scrimmage with a 99 yard touchdown run against the Vikings. In Super Bowl XV!! The Redskins beat the Dolphins 27-17. The MVP was Redskins QB - Joe Theismann. The defensive player of the year was Doug Betters, DE for the Dolphins.
The Manassas Mauler, Jack Dempsey dies at the age of 87.
Mike Bossy, Brian Trottier and Denis Potvin lead the Islanders over Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers in a 4 game sweep to win the Stanley Cup.
In the NBA, the 76ers sweep their way to the NBA title by knocking off Magic Johnson’s LA Lakers.
On the diamond, three of the all-time greats had one last day in the sun as Johnny Bench, Carl Yastrzemski & Gaylord Perry wrap up their careers. Steve Carlton notches his 300th victory. Nolan Ryan passes Walter Johnson to become MLBs all-time strikeout leader.
1983 saw the famous pine tar incident. As Billy Martin shrewdly calls out George Brett after hitting a home run for having pine tar beyond the legal limit of 18 inches and the home run was erased.
The World Series was won the World Series by knocking off the Phillies in 5 games. The Phillies in a takeoff from their famous 1950 team known as the “Whiz Kids” became known as the “Wheeze Kids.” They had a roster featuring Pete Rose (42 years old), Joe Morgan (40), Tony Perez (41) and Tug McGraw (39).
Big years were had by Cal Ripken who was named AL MVP with a .318 average, 38 home runs and 102 RBI. The NL MVP was Dale Murphy who won his 2nd in a row with a .302 batting average, 36 home runs, 30 stolen bases and 121 RBI. Wade Bogs wins his first batting title with a.361 batting average. People who are too young to remember, don’t realize what a lock it felt like that this guy would win the batting title every year. Other big years were had by Eddie Murray, 33HRs and 111 RBI, Jim Rice 39 home runs and 126 RBIs, AL CY Young winner Lamar Hoyt with 24 wins, the NL CY Young winner was John Deny with a 19-6 record and 2.37 ERA. The Royals Dan Quisenberry saved a then record 56 games.
The trivia fact of the year was that Pete Rose became the first 1B to play a full season for a pennant winner without hitting a home run since the dead ball era.
The Hall of Fame welcomes Brooks Robinson, Juan Marichal, George Kell and Walter Alston.
1984 – President Ronald Reagan declares it “Morning in America Again” as he rolls to re-election winning 59% of the popular vote and 49 of 50 states. The only state won by Mondale home state of Minnesota by a mere 3,761 votes.
The Olympics are held in Los Angeles as the United States wins 83 medals with Romania trailing a distant second with 20. The Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact nations boycott the games in retaliation to the U.S. boycotting the 1980 games in Moscow.
Crack cocaine, a smoke able form of the drug, is introduced into Los Angeles and soon spreads across the U.S. becoming an epidemic.
On 10/31, Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi is assassinated by her two Sikh security guards in New Delhi. Anti-Sikh riots break out, leaving 10,000 to 20,000 Sikhs dead in Delhi and surrounding areas with majority populations of Hindus. Rajiv Gandhi becomes prime minister of India.
Apple Computer places the Macintosh personal computer on sale in the United States on January 24.
Michael Jackson is accidently burned at the filming of a Pepsi Commercial
New in 1984 were Advil, Extra chewing gum, Commodore 64 (I had one of these), Cinnamon Toast Crunch and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 1984 was also a big year for toys with Superpowers, Transformers and little know Starriors entering the market.
In music, Marvin Gaye was shot and killed during an argument with his father. On August 10 the Red Hot Chili Peppers release their debut album under the same name on August 10. Band Aid releases the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas” on December 3 to raise money to fight famine in Africa. Popular songs of 1984 include Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen, Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham, Footloose by Kenny Loggins, Jump by Van Halen and When Doves Cry by Prince.
Top movies in 1984 include Ghostbusters, Beverly Hills Cop, Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom, Gremlins, The Karate Kid, Footloose, Romancing the Stone, The Natural (one of my favorites) and Revenge of the Nerds.
Making their debut on T.V. were V (The Final Battle), Voltron, Who’s the Boss, Night Court, Miami Vice, Punky Brewster, George Michael Sports Machine, Highway to Heaven, Hunter, Jeopardy! And the iconic The Cosby Show. The greatest sitcom night on T.V. ever was The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers and then Night Court.
Leaving the airwaves were Happy Days, Richie Rich, Fantasy Island, Captain Kangaroo, Hart to Hart (they had a cool baseball card episode) and Three’s Company.
In football, the L.A. Raiders thump the favored Redskins 38-9 as Marcus Allen ran 20 times for 191 years and two touchdowns. Walter Payton broke Jim Brown’s all-time rushing record on October 7.
The Lakers fall to the Celtics in a dramatic 7 game series. Larry Bird was named series MVP. The NBA draft would see Sam Bowie get drafted at #2 by the Portland Trailblazers, the #3 pick was some guy named Michael Jordan.
In baseball, the Detroit Tigers jump out to a 35-5 record and never look back as they sweep the Padres 4-0 to win the World Series. They also swept the Royals in the ALCS.
Willie Hernandez walks away with the AL CY Young and MVP posting 32 saves in 32 opportunities. Ryne Sandberg wins the NL MVP .314 batting average, 19 HRs and 84 RBI. Both MVP winners post rather pedestrian numbers compared to today’s winners. Other big years were had by Don Mattingly who edge out Dave Winfield .343 to .340 to take the AL Batting Title on the final day of the season. Doc Gooden in his debut season wins 17 games, strikes out 276 batters in 218 innings and posts a 2.60 ERA. Rick Sutcliffe wins the NL Cy Young after posting a 16-1 record with Cubs following a trade with the Indians were he was 4-5.
Joe Morgan hits his 265th HR to pass Rogers Hornsby for the all-time record for 2B. Jeff Kent now holds the record.
Mario Soto leads the NL with just 13 complete games, which at the time was the lowest in history by a league leader. Boy, how times have changed.
The Hall of Fame inducts Luis Aparicio, Harmon Killebrew, Don Drysdale, Rick Ferrell & Pee Wee Reese.
1985 – March 15 - In what would be an eventual boost for Soviet/U.S. relations Mikhail Gorbachev becomes General Secretary of the Soviet Union. He is the first Christian Soviet to lead the USSR.
On June 14, TWA Flight 847, carrying 153 passengers from Athens to Rome, is hijacked by a Hezbollah fringe group. One passenger, U.S. Navy Petty Officer Robert Stethem, is killed.
American singer, songwriter and actor Ricky Nelson dies in a plane crash in De Kalb, Texas on New Year’s Eve.
March 31 WrestleMania debuts at Madison Square Garden. I remember watching this on closed circuit T.V. and the announcer saying that King Kong Bundy beat S.D. Jones in 9 seconds. It turns out it was more like 24 seconds. I think Uncle Elmer really owned the record when he beat Gentleman Jerry Valiant in 12 seconds on Saturday Night’s Main Event. I used to love watching SNME. It was so much better than watching stars wrestle scrub guys on Saturday, Sunday & Mondays.
April 23 – A day that will leave in soft drink infamy as New Coke is launched to horrible reviews. It is scrapped for the old formula in less than 3 months.
Fun fact: The plastic thingy (it looks like a table with three legs) that saves hot pizza from the top of the box was invented by Carmela Vitale.
Also new in 1985 was the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Mario Brothers, DNA is first used in a criminal case, Calvin and Hobbes debuts in 35 newspapers in the United States, Microsoft releases Windows 1.0, the compact disk, the hole in the ozone layer, Sour Patch Kids, the Discover Card and Garbage Pail Kids
In music, Live Aid pop concerts in London and Philadelphia raise over 50 million for famine relief in Ethiopia. Top hits of 1985 include Shout by Tears for Fears, Take on Me by a-ha, We Are the World by USA for Africa, Material Girl by Madonna and I want to Know What Love is by Foreigner.
Making their debut on TV in 1985 include MacGyver, Mr. Belvedere, Moonlighting, Larry King Live, ThunderCats, Small Wonder (terrible show), Growing Pains, 227, Jem and GI Joe. Leaving the airwaves were Dukes of Hazzard, Alice, Super Friends, Fat Albert and V.
Top movies of 1985 include Back to the Future, The Goonies, Rocky IV, First Blood Part II, The Color Purple, Commando, Mask, Mad Max Beyond Thunder dome, Fletch and Weird Science.
In the world of sports, the 49ers beyond the great Joe Montana roll the young quarterback prodigy Dan Marino and his Dolphins 38 to 16. The Los Angeles Lakers take down the Boston Celtics in 6 games. In Hockey the Great One and Mark Messier lead the Oilers over the Flyers in 5 games
In baseball, before September 11 became a dark day in U.S. history, it was known by many baseball fans as the day Pete Rose becomes the all-time hit leader in Major League Baseball, with his 4,192nd hit at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati.
The World Series was won by the Kansas Royals as they pull off back to back comebacks to beat the Cardinals in 7 games
Big years were had by AL MVP who hit 35 HRs, drove in 145 RBIs and won his first of four consecutive Gold Gloves. Willie McGee takes the NL MVP with .353 average, the highest batting average by a switch hitter. NL ROY Vince Coleman steals 110 bases and scores 107 runs. Knuckleballer Phil Niekro wins his 300 game at the age of 46. Rod Carew wraps his 3000th hit. However, the story of the year was Dr K, Dwight Gooden who takes the NL CY Young winning the pitching “Triple Crown” leading the NL in wins (24), ERA (1.53) and strikeouts (268) He also finished 16 games.
Inducted into the HOF were Hoyt Wilhelm, Lou Brock, Arky Vaughn and Enos “Big Country” Slaughter.
Stay tuned for more.
Outstanding post, great thread.
http://www.unisquare.com/store/brick/
Ralph
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In the NHL, the Montreal Canadiens sweep the Maple Leafs. Brett Hull leads the league in points with 81, but Gordie Howe captures the MVP.
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you dont have you PM turned on so I had to mentioned this correction here.
Should be Bobby Hull, not Brett(not even born yet) leading league in points.
Otherwise very nice display and commentary
Doug
Doug
Are your cards in some kind of wood case or display? Kind of hard to tell from the pics. Are they hanging on walls in displays? Looks great whatever it is.
Jeff
To be honest, no direction, but...
1966-69 Topps EX+
1975 minis NrMt Kelloggs PSA 9
All Topps Heritage-Master Sets
I have about 4 cases that I display. However, I put all of my cards in the cases from time to time and take pictures to upload to photo bucket. I like how they photograph in the cases. Would love to have the wall space to put over 30 years of key Topps cards.
Thanks again for the nice comments. As I have said in the past, what good is having the cards if you can't share them with others. I also like to capture the nostalgia of collecting and share it.
54 Red Hearts
and now 64 Stand ups
1964 - What a great year to be a kid. Playing ball in the street, buying packs from the ice cream man that came around during the summer; James Bond movies; the Beatles; Gilligan's Island.
"Molon Labe"
What do you collect?
Happy New Year!
My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 2 (2003). My son was diagnosed with Type 1 when he was 17 on December 31, 2009. We were stunned that another child of ours had been diagnosed. Please, if you don't have a favorite charity, consider giving to the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)
JDRF Donation
1935 National Chicle
1961 Golden Press
1962 Bell Brand Dodgers
Top 200 cards in the hobby
Top 250 cards in the hobby
All time lakers
All time Dodgers
1957 Disney Characters
1965 Donruss Disneyland
1966 Get Smart
Brian
Very nicely done
John
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
My daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 2 (2003). My son was diagnosed with Type 1 when he was 17 on December 31, 2009. We were stunned that another child of ours had been diagnosed. Please, if you don't have a favorite charity, consider giving to the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation)
JDRF Donation
MY GOLD TYPE SET https://pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/complete-type-sets/gold-type-set-12-piece-circulation-strikes-1839-1933/publishedset/321940
Those look so good.
however, hammerin' hank finished with 600 more homers than you said he had
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
Do you have an overall picture of the cards, something from acrossed the room that could show the total collection?
Dave
1957 Topps 99% 7.40 GPA
Hank Aaron Basic PSA 7-8(75%)
Thank You!
To be honest, no direction, but...
1966-69 Topps EX+
1975 minis NrMt Kelloggs PSA 9
All Topps Heritage-Master Sets
I will continue to post next with 1978. I am also very close to completing 1957 and 1958 and will post those when finished.