1974 in baseball

: Oakland Athletics over Los Angeles Dodgers (4-1); Rollie Fingers, MVP

1974 World Series

Baseball Hall of Fame

Most Valuable Player

Cy Young Award

Rookie of the Year

Gold Glove Award

January 3 – Thwarted in their attempt to sign as their manager for 1974—and unwilling to negotiate with Oakland Athletics' owner Charles O. Finley to obtain Williams' release—the New York Yankees hire Bill Virdon as their pilot. Virdon, 42, managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 163–128 record and a National League East Division title from Opening Day 1972 until his unexpected firing on September 6, 1973. Although not the Yankees' first choice, Virdon will win the 1974 Sporting News Manager of the Year Award.

Dick Williams

National League

January 16 – The elects former New York Yankees teammates Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford to the Hall of Fame. Mantle becomes only the seventh player to make it in his first try.

Baseball Writers' Association of America

January 23 – Franchise-restaurant tycoon , 71, the owner of McDonald's Corporation, steps forward to buy the Padres from embattled founding owner C. Arnholt Smith for $12 million and vows to keep the five-year-old team in San Diego. Kroc will own the Padres until his death, almost ten full years later, and firmly establish their presence in that city. Kroc retains club president Buzzie Bavasi and its general manager, Bavasi's son Peter.

Ray Kroc

January 1 –

Kevin Beirne

January 5 –

Damon Minor

January 5 –

Ryan Minor

January 5 –

Mark Redman

January 6 –

Marlon Anderson

January 7 –

Rob Radlosky

January 11 –

Cody McKay

January 11 –

Warren Morris

January 14 –

Mike Frank

January 15 –

Ray King

January 19 –

Amaury Telemaco

January 23 –

Erubiel Durazo

January 23 –

Mark Watson

January 25 –

Dan Serafini

January 27 –

Bryant Nelson

January 28 –

Jermaine Dye

January 28 –

Oscar Henríquez

January 28 –

Magglio Ordóñez

January 1 – , 78, switch-hitting utility infielder who began his career with the Chicago Whales and Baltimore Terrapins of the "outlaw" Federal League, then bounced among five National League clubs: the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Giants, Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds (where he was a member of the 1919 World Series champions) and Philadelphia Phillies; appeared in 360 games over eight seasons (1914–1919, 1921–1922).

Jimmy Smith

January 2 – , 69, infielder who appeared in 437 career games for the Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds between 1930 and 1935.

Gordon Slade

January 12 – , 69, Indiana banker and political figure who was principal owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates from August 8, 1946, to July 18, 1950; longtime owner of his hometown team, the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.

Frank E. McKinney

January 12 – , 84, pitcher who worked in 51 MLB games for the 1917 New York Giants and 1921 Detroit Tigers.

Jim Middleton

January 12 – , 80, catcher who appeared in 14 games for the 1913 New York Yankees.

Joe Smith

January 14 – , 69, left-handed pitcher who won 46 games for the 1930–1932 Washington Senators and also played with the Brooklyn Robins, St. Louis Browns, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies over 12 seasons between 1925 and 1940; later, a scout.

Lloyd Brown

January 14 – , 71, second baseman for the 1927–1928 Brooklyn Robins who appeared in 183 games.

Jay Partridge

January 17 – , 47, pitcher, third baseman and shortstop who played 25 games for the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro National League in 1944 and 1945.

Archie Hinton

January 18 – , 69, relief pitcher for seven teams over 14 seasons between 1927 and 1945, who won 14 games for the 1936 Washington Senators; longtime scout for the Washington/Minnesota Twins franchise; known by his birth name, Jablonowski, until 1934, when he legally changed it.

Pete Appleton

January 18 – , 78, third baseman who appeared in 29 total games for the hapless 1915–1916 Philadelphia Athletics.

Thomas Healy

January 20 – , 94, first baseman and left-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1905–1906, 1908); Princeton grad compiled a won–lost mark of 8–4 and a 2.51 ERA in 18 games and 1141⁄3 innings pitched and batted .237 in 131 at bats at the plate over 47 total MLB games.

Homer Hillebrand

January 20 – , 72, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in the mid-1930s.

George Hockette

January 21 – , 81, outfielder who appeared in 373 career games for the 1913 New York Giants, 1914–1915 Brooklyn Tip-Tops of the "outlaw" Federal League, and 1916–1917 Philadelphia Phillies.

Claude Cooper

January 23 – , 71, two-time Negro American League All-Star pitcher (1947 and 1948) and member of 1943–1944 Negro World Series champion Homestead Grays.

Spoon Carter

January 28 – , 86, left-handed pitcher who took the mound in 25 games for the 1914 Cincinnati Reds and 1917 Philadelphia Phillies; also appeared in five games as an outfielder or pinch hitter.

Paul Fittery