The ill-fated "Ten-Cent Beer Night" promotion at a baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and the Texas Rangers in Cleveland on June 4, 1974, led to the biggest riot at a sporting event in North America. On the Rangers team were pitcher and future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins and future Cleveland Indians manager Mike Hargrove.
1974 was also a season of many other memorable events. These included Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record and Ron LeFlore, an ex convict, making his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers. Tommy John surgery, which is credited with saving the careers of many pitchers, was performed for the first time that year.
For more details, you can purchase my ebook "Ten-Cent Beer Night and the 1974 Baseball Season" on the store page.