The year 1973 consisted of Sports Championship winners Miami Dolphins (NFL), Montreal Canadiens (NHL), New York Knicks (NBA), Oakland Athletics (MLB)
HIGHLIGHTS
The
1973 NFL Super Bowl VII was a matchup between the
Miami Dolphins and the
Washington Redskins. The Dolphins, led by quarterback Bob Griese, went undefeated in the regular season and were heavily favored to win the game. The Redskins, led by quarterback Billy Kilmer, put up a good fight but ultimately fell short, losing 14-7. The Dolphins' defense, led by linebackers Nick Buoniconti and Larry Csonka, was the key to their victory, as they held the Redskins to just 7 points and forced 4 turnovers. The Dolphins' offense was also effective, as Griese threw for a touchdown and running back Larry Csonka rushed for a touchdown. With the win, the Dolphins became the first and only team in
NFL history to finish a season with a perfect record.
The
1973 Stanley Cup Final was contested by the
Montreal Canadiens and the
Chicago Blackhawks. The Canadiens would go on to win the series in four games to none. The Canadiens were led by the goaltending of Ken Dryden who recorded two shutouts in the series, as well as the offensive production of Yvan Cournoyer who recorded a hat trick in game two. The Blackhawks were led by Tony Esposito who recorded an impressive .921 save percentage in the series. The Canadiens would go on to win the series with a 3-2 victory in game four. This would be the Canadiens' 17th Stanley Cup championship in their history and the first of three consecutive championships.
The
1973 NBA championship final series between the
New York Knicks and
Los Angeles Lakers was an exciting series that lasted seven games. The Knicks were led by star center Willis Reed and guards Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe, while the Lakers featured Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain and guards Jerry West and Gail Goodrich. The Knicks won the first two games of the series at Madison Square Garden, but the Lakers won the next three games to take a 3-2 lead. The Knicks then won the sixth game at home and the decisive seventh game at the
Los Angeles Forum to win the championship. Reed famously played the seventh game despite a severe thigh injury, inspiring his teammates to a 113-99 victory. The Knicks won the series 4-3, and were crowned the
1973 NBA champions.
The
1973 World Series featured the
Oakland Athletics, who had won the American League West division, and the
New York Mets, who had won the National League East division. The Athletics had the best regular season record in the AL, while the Mets had the best regular season record in the NL. The series went to a full seven games, with the Athletics winning the series 4-3. The Athletics were led by their pitching staff, which posted a 2.06 ERA and allowed just four runs in the seven games. The Mets were led offensively by Rusty Staub, who hit two home runs and drove in eight runs in the series. The Athletics' Gene Tenace was named the series MVP, hitting four home runs and driving in eight runs. The Athletics won the series in dramatic fashion, with a 2-1 victory in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7.