The 1970s were a wild time in baseball. Mustaches were huge, salaries were exploding, and the game was evolving fast. But some players didn’t just keep up with the times; they were playing a style of ball that wouldn’t be fully appreciated until decades later.
These guys were doing things in the ’70s that modern analytics, training regimens, and media hype now celebrate. From versatile skill sets to flashy personalities to advanced approaches at the plate, these 15 MLB stars were truly ahead of their time.
15. Ken Brett
While his brother George got the headlines, Ken was a pitcher who could swing the bat like a position player. If he played today, he’d be talked about like a two-way unicorn.
14. Al Hrabosky
Hrabosky, aka “The Mad Hungarian,” turned the mound into theater. His fiery persona and mental games with hitters would be viral gold in the social media era.
13. Vida Blue
Blue’s electric stuff and poise made him look like he was pitching in 2020, not 1971. His combination of velocity and swagger would fit perfectly into today’s power-pitcher world.
12. Bert Blyleven
Blyleven’s ruinous curveball was lightyears ahead of other pitchers. In this moment’s spin-rate-obsessed MLB, he’d be a Pitching Ninja legend.
11. Lou Brock
Brock was stealing bases before it was cool and way before it became undervalued and then cool again. His speed and basepath IQ would make modern teams drool.
10. Cesar Cedeno
Cedeno had the power-speed combo teams dream of now. He played with a modern skill set before anyone knew what WAR was.
9. Bill Lee
The “Spaceman” wasn’t just quirky, he was forward-thinking in how he approached pitching and life. He questioned baseball’s norms long before it was trendy to do so.
8. Bobby Grich
Grich was one of the original kings of underrated. He walked a ton, hit for power, and played elite defense; analytics would’ve made him a household name today.
7. Don Baylor
Baylor didn’t mind getting hit by a pitch and always brought a mix of pop and presence. He was like a proto-DH who’d thrive in today’s more offense-heavy game.
6. Oscar Gamble
The fro was iconic, but so was his power and plate discipline. Gamble would’ve been a fan-favorite slugger in today’s home-run-happy league.
5. Dave Kingman
Kingman hit tape recording- measure homers and struck out a ton he principally constructed the three-true-outgrowth megahit. His game is virtually the design for ultramodern flyweights.
4. Joe Morgan
Morgan was a sabermetric Ian’s dream sabermetric before anyone knew what OBP meant. His combo of walks, steals, and sneaky power made him a perfect modern leadoff man.
3. Reggie Jackson
Reggie knew the power of branding before athletes had brands. He was a walking highlight reel with a media-savvy edge that would crush it in today’s spotlight.
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2. Nolan Ryan
Ryan’s velocity and strikeout totals would make Statcast explode. He pitched like a guy who knew baseball would eventually be built around his kind of dominance.
Read More: Ranking the 20 Best MLB Players of the 1970s
1. Thurman Munson
Munson was tough, clutch, and could control a game from behind the plate. In today’s catcher-driven analytics world, he’d be seen as the total package.
