1979 – Philip Barzilla is born in Houston, TX. The lefthander tosses 1/3rd of an inning for the hometown team in 2006, much to the joy of his family, including one proud uncle.
On January 23, 1979, Willie Mays, considered one of the greatest players of his generation, is elected to the Hall of Fame. Mays garners 409 out of 432 votes and becomes the 14th man to gain election in his first year on the ballot. Mays will officially enter the Hall on August 5, along with…
Lindsey Nelson, selected by the expansion Mets as the team’s lead announcer in 1962, reveals he will not be returning to the Mets broadcast booth this season, ending a 17-year partnership with Ralph Kiner and Bob Murphy. The colorfully-clad Hall of Fame announcer, who will eventually do play-by-play for the Giants, is replaced by Steve Albert, the younger brother of the well-known NBA Knicks and NHL Rangers’ broadcaster, Marv Albert.
On January 19, 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Lee Lacy to a six-year deal worth over $1,00,000. The 30-year-old Lacy spent the first seven years of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he was a .270 hitter in 497 games and he played five different positions. In six years with the Pirates, Lacy…
1979 – Danny O’Brien signs a contract as president and chief executive officer of the Seattle Mariners, nine days after resigning as the Rangers’ General Manager.
1979 – In the January draft, secondary phase, the Phillies take pitcher Mark Davis with the top pick.
1979 – The Minnesota Twins re-sign reentry free agent pitcher Mike Marshall.
Lorinda de Roulet replaces the very unpopular M. Donald Grant as the Mets’ Chairman of the Board. The daughter of franchise founder Joan Payson became the first woman to direct the day-to-day operations of an MLB club when elected as the team president and named to its board of directors following the death of her…
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!