The All-Funky 1970s All-Star team as selected by Dan Epstein

This past Saturday the SABR Chicago chapter was honored to welcome renowned author and 1970s savant Dan Epstein (Big Hair and Plastic Grass, Stars and Strikes) for a discussion of his latest book (co-authored with Ron Blomberg), The Captain & Me: On and Off the Field with Thurman Munson.

At the end of the meeting Dan was gracious enough to offer up his “All Funky 1970s All-Star Team.” With Dan’s permission I am sharing his squad here on the SABR Baseball Cards blog. Each selection is illustrated with the 1970s baseball card I think best captures the player’s funkiness.

CATCHER – MANNY SANGUILLEN

FIRST BASE – DICK ALLEN

SECOND BASE – TITO FUENTES

THIRD BASE – BILL MADLOCK

SHORTSTOP – GARRY TEMPLETON

RIGHT FIELD – COBRA

CENTER FIELD – GARRY MADDOX

LEFT FIELD – JOSE CARDENAL

STARTING PITCHERS – LUIS TIANT, BILL LEE, MARK FIDRYCH, VIDA BLUE, DOCK ELLIS

BULLPEN – SPARKY LYLE (LH), DON STANHOUSE (RH)

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DESIGNATED HITTER – OSCAR GAMBLE

PINCH HITTER – JOHN LOWENSTEIN

PINCH RUNNER – LARRY LINTZ

UTILITY MAN – LENNY RANDLE

MASCOT – THE CHICKEN

OWNER – BILL VEECK

Note: No 1970s baseball card of Veeck was available, so I went with one from 1980.

WANT MORE?

Check the video around the 45:23 mark to listen to Dan’s rationales and honorable mentions for this super funky squad or—even better—to catch the entire #StayHomeWithSABR presentation.