The 12 Greatest American Sports Moments of the 1970s

Boxing, baseball, tennis and the racetrack each had their decade-defining afternoon. Only one of them can come first here.

1. 1
   Hank Aaron's 715th home run

   Passed Babe Ruth's career record in Atlanta in April 1974 after a year of death threats.
   1000pts
2. 2
   The Immaculate Reception

   Franco Harris caught a deflection off the turf to win a 1972 playoff game for Pittsburgh.
   659pts
3. 3
   Affirmed and Alydar at Belmont

   The 1978 Triple Crown was decided by a head after three races run side by side.
   647pts
4. 4
   Secretariat's 1973 Belmont

   A 31-length victory in record time that completed the first Triple Crown in 25 years.
   647pts
5. 5
   The Battle of the Sexes

   Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in front of 30,000 people and 90 million viewers in 1973.
   571pts
6. 6
   The Rumble in the Jungle

   Ali reclaimed the heavyweight title from George Foreman in Kinshasa in 1974.
   571pts
7. 7
   The Thrilla in Manila

   Ali and Frazier's third fight ended after fourteen rounds in punishing heat in 1975.
   571pts
8. 8
   Bird and Magic in the 1979 final

   The NCAA title game that drew the largest college basketball audience ever recorded.
   571pts
9. 9
   The 1976 Olympic decathlon record

   The Montreal decathlon was won with a world-record score and made its champion a household name.
   483pts
10. 10
    Dorothy Hamill wins Olympic gold

    Her 1976 free skate made her a household name and her haircut a national trend.
    381pts
11. 11
    Reggie Jackson's three-homer World Series game

    Three home runs on three swings in the 1977 clincher earned him the name Mr. October.
    381pts
12. 12
    Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10

    The first perfect score in Olympic gymnastics, at Montreal in 1976.
    0pts

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