The 1970s Sports: Chronology

1970:     January 26 NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announces a four-year, $142-million contract with the three major television networks to broadcast professional football games.

1970:     August 12 In a case brought by Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Curt Flood, federal court judge Ben Cooper rules that a 1922 U.S. Supreme Court decision finding that organized baseball does not violate antitrust laws is still binding. The Major League Baseball Players' Association announces it will take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

1970:     October 26 Muhammad Ali knocks out Jerry Quarry in three rounds in his first fight since his license to box was revoked in 1967.

1971:     February 28 Jack Nicklaus becomes the first golfer to win the PGA championship twice.

1971:     April 27 Professional baseball player Curt Flood, who tested baseball's reserve clause, announces his retirement.

1971:     May 7 The American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) seek congressional approval to merge.

1972:     February 3 to 13 The Winter Olympics are held in Sapporo, Japan.

1972:     June 19 The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirms the exemption of professional baseball from antitrust laws.

1972:     August 22 to September 10 The Summer Olympics are held in Munich, West Germany.

1972:     September 4 Swimmer Mark Spitz wins his seventh gold medal in the Summer Olympic Games.

1972:     September 5 Arab terrorists kill two Israeli athletes and kidnap nine others at the Summer Olympics. The games are suspended for two days after the terrorist attack.

1973:     January 14 The Miami Dolphins win the Super Bowl, becoming the first professional football team to complete a season undefeated.

1973:     February 25 Baseball owners and players sign a three-year contract agreeing to submit salary disputes to binding arbitration.

1973:     September 21 Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in a highly publicized tennis match billed as the "Battle of the Sexes."

1974:     April 8 Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves breaks Babe Ruth's career home run record, hitting number 715.

1974:     October 3 Frank Robinson is named manager of the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first African American manager in major-league baseball.

1974:     October 30 Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman in the eighth round to regain the heavyweight boxing championship.

1975:     February 16 Jimmy Connors becomes the first player to win three straight national indoor tennis tournaments.

1975:     July 5 Arthur Ashe defeats Jimmy Connors to win the Wimbledon men's singles championship, becoming the first African American to do so.

1975:     December 30 A federal court judge rules that free-agency in the NFL violates antitrust laws.

1976:     February 4 to 15 The Winter Olympics are held in Innsbruck, Austria.

1976:     June 17 The NBA accepts four of the six teams in the ABA in a merger recommended by a federal judge to settle antitrust litigation.

1976:     July 17 to August 1 The Summer Olympics are held in Montreal, Canada.

1976:     August 27 Renee Richards, a transsexual, is barred from competition in the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

1977:     June 11 Seattle Slew wins horse racing's Triple Crown. He is the tenth Triple Crown winner in history and the first undefeated winner.

1977:     September 10 Chris Evert wins her third straight U.S. Open women's tennis championship.

1977:     October 26 The NFL signs an agreement with the three major networks for rights to televise NFL games in exchange for $576 million to $656 million.

1978:     June 18 First-year professional golfer Nancy Lopez breaks the LPGA record for consecutive wins, accumulating record earnings for a rookie of $153,336.

1978:     July 15 Jack Nicklaus wins his third British Open golf tournament.

1978:     December 5 Pete Rose, a free agent in the professional baseball draft, signs a $3.2-million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, making him baseball's highest-paid player.

1979:     January 21 The Pittsburgh Steelers win their third Super Bowl, the first NFL team to do so.

1979:     March 22 The National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA) merge.

1979:     May 21 The Montreal Canadiens win their third consecutive Stanley Cup hockey championship.