On November 14, 1979 — Don Baylor of the California Angels wins the MVP Award in the American League. The league leader in both runs scored (120) and runs batted in (139), Baylor also hit .296 with 36 home runs, helping the Angels win the AL West Division and reach the postseason for the first time in…
David Goltz, the first player to be selected by the maximum thirteen teams in the first round of the free-agent draft, signs a six-year, three-million dollar contract with the Dodgers. The former Twins’ pitcher (14-13, 4.16) will post a 9-19 record during his 2+ seasons with the club.
1979 – For the first time in major league history, two players share the Most Valuable Player Award. The National League co-winners are Willie Stargell, the spiritual leader of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who hit .281 with 32 home runs, and St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Keith Hernandez, who led the NL in runs (116), doubles (48) and batting average (.344).
New York Mets president Lorinda de Roulet announces the team is for sale, beginning a two-month bidding war.
On November 8, 1979, the New York Yankees sign two veteran free agents to long-term contracts: first baseman Bob “The Bull” Watson and pitcher Rudy May. The two veterans will help the Yankees to an American League-leading 103 wins in 1980. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Play by Play, Box Scores, News Paper Reports and other…
The American League Rookie of the Year Award balloting ends in a tie with Twins third baseman John Castino and Blue Jays shortstop Alfredo Griffin each receiving seven of the 28 votes cast by the writers. The deadlock will prompt a change in the method used for next season’s selection.
1979 – Chicago Cubs closer Bruce Sutter, who had a 6-6 record with a 2.23 ERA and saved 37 of his team’s 80 victories, wins the National League Cy Young Award by a 72-66 margin over Houston Astros starter Joe Niekro.
The AL and NL all-star teams depart on an exhibition tour of Japan. The National League squad will take four of seven from the American League counterparts, but the teams will combine to split a pair of games with the Japanese all-stars.
1979 – Nolan Ryan and Joe Morgan are the top names available in the free agent reentry draft held at the New York Plaza Hotel.
In separate deals, the New York Yankees acquire OF Ruppert Jones from the Seattle Mariners and C Rick Cerone and P Tom Underwood from the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up seven players, including popular 1B Chris Chambliss, SS Damaso Garcia, OF Juan Beniquez, and Ps Jim Beattie and Paul Mirabella. Chambliss will be with the Blue Jays a month before they swap him to the Atlanta Braves.
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