Photo Credit: eBay

By Zane Miller

On Thursday, October 17th, 1974, the Oakland A’s (now Oakland Athletics) defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland to win the 71st World Series four games to one. It was the eighth World Series championship for the Athletics franchise and the fourth that was won in California. These are the top five players that I felt most stood out during the series.

5. #20 Don Sutton (Dodgers)- P

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Sutton got player of the game in game two, earning the win with eight innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks in the Dodgers’ 3-2 victory.

4. #38 Jim Holt (A’s)- PH

Photo Credit: SABR

Holt was player of the game in game four, coming in as a pinch hitter and making the most of the opportunity with two RBIs and one hit as the A’s claimed a 5-2 win.

3. #14 Vida Blue (A’s)- P

Photo Credit: Baseball Hall of Fame

Blue earned player of the game honors in game five, as he pitched six and two thirds innings while giving up two earned runs with four hits and five walks as the A’s went on to win it 3-2 to earn the series championship.

2. #27 Catfish Hunter (A’s)- P

Photo Credit: Baseball Hall of Fame

Hunter got player of the game honors in game three, going seven and a third innings while giving up just one earned run on five hits and a pair of walks as the A’s won it 3-2.

1. #30 Ken Holtzman (A’s)- P

Photo Credit: Jewish Baseball Museum

Holtzman picked up player of the game honors in game one, as he went four and a third innings with no earned runs allowed on seven hits and two walks with the A’s going on to claim a 3-2 win to start of the series.

Players of the Game Breakdown:

Link to stats database: https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1974_WS.shtml

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