Are today’s teams hitting by the same standards they did in 1975 and throughout most of the 1970s?

Heading into Friday evening’s games, the Dodgers led the majors with a .262 team batting average. They were followed by the Pirates (.262), Rays (.258), Rockies (.256) and Giants (.255).

The Phillies ranked 23rd at .237, while the Yankees and Mets were tied for 25th at .235.

Yet there has been plenty of discussion about declining batting averages, both individually and collectively. Phillies shortstop Trea Turner won last season’s National League batting title with a .307 average.

Back in 1975, Boston topped the majors with a .275 team average, followed by St. Louis (.273). Cincinnati and Minnesota tied for third at .271, while the Phillies were fifth at .269. The Yankees hit .264, and the Mets finished at .256.

The top five hitters that season were Rod Carew (.359), Bill Madlock (.354), Ted Simmons (.332), Carlton Fisk (.331) and Fred Lynn (.331).

Who was baseball’s best team in 1975? That’s an easy one. It was Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine,” a club that arguably belongs in the same conversation as the legendary 1927 Yankees when discussing baseball’s greatest lineups. (Catasauqua boys basketball coach Eric Snyder remains one of the Reds’ biggest fans.)

In this edition of my Yesterday column — reminiscing about sports and pop culture from the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, and sometimes before and beyond — I’ll revisit some of the decade’s best hitters and lineups while sprinkling in a little pop culture along the way.

Seeing Red ... In 1975, the Reds ruled baseball with former and future MVPs Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, George Foster and Johnny Bench anchoring one of the greatest lineups ever assembled. Cincinnati also featured Tony Perez, Dave Concepcion, Cesar Geronimo and Ken Griffey.

Concepcion is often overlooked among the game’s finest shortstops because of his steady bat and outstanding glove. Geronimo was the perfect complementary player during his nine seasons in Cincinnati.

Morgan, who won the first of his two consecutive MVP awards that season, hit .327, stole 67 bases and led the National League with 132 walks. Rose played all 162 games, led the league with 47 doubles and 112 runs scored, and batted .317. Foster hit .300 with 23 home runs, while Griffey batted .305.

Former Phillies player, coach and manager John Vukovich appeared in 31 games for Cincinnati and hit .217.

Anyone remember outfielder Gene Locklear? He batted .327 as a reserve for the Reds in 1975. Some fans may also remember his brief stint with the Yankees or his time with the Padres. There was also Giants first baseman Von Joshua, who quietly hit .318 that season and has largely been forgotten over time.

The Reds also had promising young first baseman Dan Driessen waiting in the wings.

Another Shade of Red ... The 1975 Phillies also featured one of baseball’s deepest lineups with Dick Allen joining an infield of Dave Cash, Larry Bowa and Mike Schmidt, while Bob Boone handled the catching duties.

Cash led the National League with 699 plate appearances and 213 hits while batting .305.

Jay Johnstone, who platooned with Ollie Brown, ranked sixth in the majors with a .329 average. Greg Luzinski led the league with 120 RBIs, while Garry Maddox, acquired from San Francisco in May for Willie Montañez, solidified center field despite being relatively unknown to Phillies fans at the time.

Who led the Phillies in stolen bases? It was Schmidt with 29. He also led the league with 38 home runs and 180 strikeouts.

Bicentennial Plus Two ... The following season, the Phillies captured the first of three consecutive National League East titles with much of the same lineup.

Luzinski enjoyed another outstanding year with 21 home runs, 95 RBIs and a .304 average. Maddox raised his average to .330, while the ever-reliable Johnstone hit .318.

In 1977, Bake McBride became the club’s major midseason acquisition. “Shake ‘n Bake” took over in right field and batted .339. Richie Hebner and Ted Sizemore replaced Allen and Cash, while Luzinski continued to thrive with 39 home runs, 130 RBIs and a .304 average.

Luzinski’s accomplishments were often overshadowed by Schmidt, but “The Bull” shouldn’t be overlooked. His Phillies career deserves to be remembered for far more than his dropped fly ball during the 1977 playoffs.

In 1978, the Phillies largely kept the same lineup intact, and Johnstone shifted into a reserve role in his final season with the club.

The following year, Pete Rose and Manny Trillo arrived during an otherwise disappointing season before helping lead the remaining core to the franchise’s first World Series championship in 1980.

Speaking of shades, who remembers Procol Harum’s classic “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967?

Or perhaps “1, 2, 3 Red Light” by the 1910 Fruitgum Company, which also climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968?

High-Flying Birds ... Another club that featured one of baseball’s strongest lineups during the late 1960s and early 1970s was the Orioles.

Best known for a pitching staff led by Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally, Baltimore also boasted a sturdy lineup featuring Don Buford, Paul Blair, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, Davey Johnson, Elrod Hendricks and slick-fielding shortstop Mark Belanger.

Blair ranked among the game’s elite defensive center fielders, while Brooks Robinson set the standard at third base before Schmidt came along. Frank Robinson, meanwhile, is another all-time great whose remarkable career is sometimes overlooked.

Pinstripes ... Thurman Munson led the Yankees with a .318 batting average in 1975, and the captain became the catalyst for New York’s back-to-back World Series championships in 1977 and 1978.

Alongside Munson, Reggie Jackson, Chris Chambliss, Willie Randolph, Craig Nettles, Mickey Rivers, Bucky Dent, Lou Piniella, Roy White and Cliff Johnson all played major roles in the Yankees’ success.

Blair provided valuable depth during both championship seasons, while Hendricks and Dave Kingman each spent part of the 1977 season with New York. Johnstone appeared in 36 games for the Yankees during the 1978 campaign.

Swinging A’s ... They may not have featured the most prolific offense, but the Athletics pieced together the right combination to win three consecutive World Series championships.

Like Baltimore, Oakland was known primarily for its pitching, but the lineup featured Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando and Joe Rudi, while Gene Tenace developed into one of the game’s better offensive catchers. Bill North and Bert Campaneris were reliable table-setters, while Dick Green, Ray Fosse, Mike Epstein and Angel Mangual all made important contributions.

Former Phillies first baseman Deron Johnson served as Oakland’s primary designated hitter in 1973, while Manny Trillo had a brief stint with the A’s in 1974.

Dodgerland ... No discussion of the decade’s best lineups would be complete without mentioning the Dodgers.

Steve Yeager, Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Ron Cey formed one of baseball’s finest homegrown cores beginning in the mid-1970s.

Reggie Smith provided both power and average, while Dusty Baker and Bill Buckner helped round out several outstanding lineups. Bill North and Rick Monday also made valuable contributions.

Speaking of lands, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s “Jungleland” appeared on the group’s landmark Born to Run album and remains one of Springsteen’s longest songs at 9 minutes, 33 seconds.

Quick Quiz ... Who was the former Orioles slugger who played a reserve role for the Dodgers in 1977?

(Answer below — don’t cheat!)

Buccoland ... The 1971 Pirates fielded one of baseball’s most balanced lineups with a young Dave Cash, Richie Hebner, Manny Sanguillén, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Gene Alley, Al Oliver and Bob Robertson helping lead Pittsburgh to a World Series title.

At age 37, Clemente remained one of baseball’s premier all-around players with his cannon arm and consistent bat, while Stargell ranked among the game’s top power hitters. Sanguillén and Simmons — along with part-time catcher Joe Torre — were among the decade’s finest offensive catchers.

The Pirates captured another championship in 1979 behind an aging but still productive Stargell, along with Madlock and Dave Parker.

Who was Pittsburgh’s primary catcher that season?

It was Allentown native Ed Ott.

It’s somewhat ironic that Cash and Hebner later became key contributors to the Phillies’ run of National League East championships after beginning their careers with the rival Pirates.

Quick Quiz Answer .. It was Boog Powell, who appeared in 50 games for the Dodgers in 1977 and batted .244. Your thoughts are always welcome and may be published. Email them to tnsports@tnonline.com. Be sure to check out the Times News Lehigh Valley Press Facebook page, leave a comment and subscribe.