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

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

The Immaculate Reception

Franco Harris caught a deflection off the turf to win a 1972 playoff game for Pittsburgh.

659pts

3

Affirmed and Alydar at Belmont

The 1978 Triple Crown was decided by a head after three races run side by side.

647pts

4

Secretariat's 1973 Belmont

A 31-length victory in record time that completed the first Triple Crown in 25 years.

647pts

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

The Rumble in the Jungle

Ali reclaimed the heavyweight title from George Foreman in Kinshasa in 1974.

571pts

7

The Thrilla in Manila

Ali and Frazier's third fight ended after fourteen rounds in punishing heat in 1975.

571pts

8

Bird and Magic in the 1979 final

The NCAA title game that drew the largest college basketball audience ever recorded.

571pts

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

Dorothy Hamill wins Olympic gold

Her 1976 free skate made her a household name and her haircut a national trend.

381pts

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

Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10

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

114pts