The year 1980 consisted of Sports Championship winners Los Angeles Lakers (NBA), New York Islanders (NHL), Philadelphia Phillies (MLB), Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
HIGHLIGHTS
The
1980 NBA championship final series between the
Los Angeles Lakers and
Philadelphia 76ers was a classic battle between two of the greatest teams in
NBA history. The series went all the way to a seventh game, with the Lakers emerging victorious. Led by the dynamic duo of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers won the series 4-2, with Johnson winning the MVP award. The Lakers were able to outlast a 76ers team that featured Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and Bobby Jones. The series was full of great plays and drama, with the Lakers ultimately emerging as the champions.
The
1980 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the
New York Islanders and the
Philadelphia Flyers. The Islanders had finished the regular season with a 54-16-10 record and were the reigning Stanley Cup champions. The Flyers had finished the regular season with a 48-17-15 record and were looking to win their first Stanley Cup. After six games, the Islanders won the series 4-2 and captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup. The Islanders were led by Hall of Famers Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, and Denis Potvin, who combined for 22 points in the series. The Flyers were led by Hall of Famers Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, and Reggie Leach, who combined for 20 points in the series. The Islanders’ victory marked the first time in
NHL history that a team had won back-to-back Stanley Cups.
The
1980 World Series was played between the
Philadelphia Phillies and the
Kansas City Royals. The Phillies won the series 4-2, making them the champions of the Major League Baseball season. The Phillies had the home field advantage, and won the first two games of the series. The Royals were able to win the third and fourth games, but the Phillies won the fifth game and the championship. The Phillies' Mike Schmidt was named the World Series MVP, after hitting two home runs and driving in seven runs during the series. The Phillies' relief pitcher Tug McGraw was also instrumental in their victory, as he only allowed one run in 8.1 innings of work.
The
1980 NFL Super Bowl XIV was played on January 20th,
1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena,
California. The
Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the
Los Angeles Rams 31-19. The Steelers were led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who completed 14 of 21 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Franco Harris also had a great game, rushing for a game-high 158 yards and a touchdown. The Rams, led by quarterback Vince Ferragamo, were able to keep the game close until the fourth quarter when the Steelers pulled away. The Steelers defense also played a key role in the victory, forcing four turnovers and sacking Ferragamo five times. The win marked the fourth Super Bowl victory for the Steelers, and was the first of four Super Bowl wins for Bradshaw.