1974
Skylab returns to earth after 84 days in orbit
President Nixon resigns effective August 9; Gerald Ford become President and pardons Nixon
Price of gas moves to 55 cents per gallon; 20% of gas stations have no gas at all in February, odd-even license plate gas rationing begins
Worst recession in 40 years
Patty Hearst, 19, kidnapped by Symbionese Liberation Army
Steve Prefontaine, one of greatest U.S. runners in history, dies in an auto accident
Bangladesh famine kills 25,000
Miami Dolphins defeat Minnesota Vikings to win the 1974 Super Bowl
Oakland A’s defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the 1974 World Series
Muhammad Ali regains World Heavyweight Boxing title knocking out George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle
Muhammad Ali and Chris Evert win AP Athletes of the Year
Oklahoma 11-0 (AP) and USC 10-1-1 (UPI) share the NCAA Football Championship
Archie Griffin wins Heisman Trophy
Boston Celtics defeat the Milwaukee Bucks to win the 1974 NBA Championship
Hank Aaron eclipses Babe Ruth’s home run record by belting #715 on April 8
Lee Trevino wins PGA Championship over Jack Nicklaus, but Johnny Miller earns over $353,000 and 8 tour events to be the leading PGA money winner
North Carolina State defeats Marquette for 1974 NCAA Basketball title
Cannonade wins Kentucky Derby, but Little Current wins Preakness and Belmont
The Sting wins Best Picture over The Exorcist and American Graffiti at the 1974 Academy Awards
Ann Arbor referendum approves marijuana possession for a $5 fine
Happy Days, 6 million dollar man and People Magazine begin
Heimlich maneuver introduced
James Bond’s Man with the Golden Gun
Streaking becomes a fad
Telephone answering machines starting to become popular
Barcoding is initiated
People Magazine introduced
Michigan's Wrestling Team finishes 14-0 in dual meets and is runner-up at the Big Ten Championship (4 Big Ten Champs) and runner-up in NCAA Championships; Jarrett Hubbard is 2x NCAA Champ and 3x Big Ten Champ
1974 in Television (1974-1975 TV Schedule)
| 2-Feb-74 | Crisler Arena | Bob Dylan |
| 16-Feb-74 | Bowen Fieldhouse | Freddie Hubbard |
| 23-Feb-74 | Bowen Fieldhouse | Black Sabbath/Bedlam |
| 1-Mar-74 | n/a | Michigan's Wrestling Team earns 4 Big Ten Champions, and wins the Big Ten title for the second season in a row. |
| 2-Mar-74 | Grammy's | Bette Midler, Roberta Flack (Killing Me Softly), Cheech & Chong, Gato Barbieri, Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight & The Pips (Neither One of Us) and Stevie Wonder (You are the Sunshine of My Life) are winners at the Grammy's |
| 3-Mar-74 | Bowen Fieldhouse | Weather Report |
| 1-Apr-74 | n/a | Michigan's Wrestling Team finished 2nd in NCAA, and was undefeated in dual meets for the past two years in a row; Jarrett Hubbard wins his 2nd NCAA title at 150 lbs. and is only the 2nd Wolverine to do so, Norvard Nalen was the first in 1954. He also becomes the first 4 time All-American in Michigan wrestling history. Head Coach Rick Bay retires after running team operations from 1966-1974, and being part of the program from 1962-1974. |
| 30-Apr-74 | n/a | Many Class of 1970 students from Ann Arbor complete Bachelor's degree programs |
| 1-May-74 | Second Chance | Chances Are becomes Second Chance until 1984 when it becomes The Nectarine Ballroom |
| 8-Aug-74 | n/a | President Nixon resigns due to Watergate scandal; Gerald Ford becomes President |
| 23-Nov-74 | Columbus, OH | #3 Michigan loses to #4 Ohio State, 10-12, after taking a 10-0 lead in 1st quarter |
| 1-Dec-74 | Ann Arbor | 19.8 inches of snow falls, a record for Ann Arbor |