Chris Chambliss is traded to the Atlanta Braves

Chris Chambliss is traded to the Atlanta Braves

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On this day December 5 in 1979, A month after being acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays, 1B Chris Chambliss is traded to the Atlanta Braves (with infielder Luis Gomez) for OF Barry Bonnell, SS Pat Rockett, and pitcher Joey McLaughlin. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Play by Play, Box Scores, News Paper Reports and other links…

1979 – San Diego Padres outfielder Dave Winfield and Texas Rangers third baseman Buddy Bell are first-time honorees as The Sporting News announces the 1979 Gold Glove teams.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1979 – San Diego Padres outfielder Dave Winfield and Texas Rangers third baseman Buddy Bell are first-time honorees as The Sporting News announces the 1979 Gold Glove teams.

History of the World Series – 1979

ByThis Day in Baseball

History of the World Series – 1979 “Pops” was veteran first baseman Wilver Dornel Stargell, whose fun-loving nature kept things loose in the clubhouse and whose powerful bat kept the opposition loose on the field. At 38, Willie Stargell thumped 32 home runs for Manager Chuck Tanner’s Pirates, helping the Bucs to a National League…

Astros Sign Nolan Ryan: MLB’s Highest-Paid Player in History

Astros Sign Nolan Ryan: MLB’s Highest-Paid Player in History

ByThis Day in Baseball

1979 – The Houston Astros sign free agent pitcher Nolan Ryan. The former California Angels ace and future Hall of Fame member signs a four-year deal worth $4.5 million, making him the highest-paid player in major league history. Ryan also becomes the first player to earn a $1 million annual salary.

Daniel Okrent sketches out the first draft of rules for what will become Rotisserie League Baseball

ByThis Day in Baseball

1979 – On a flight to Austin, Texas, Daniel Okrent sketches out the first draft of rules for what will become Rotisserie League Baseball. Had the friends he was seeing not ignored these rules, the Rotisserie League would have been called Pit League, after the Austin barbecue joint where Okrent first unveiled them. Two weeks later in New York, he pitches the idea to a more receptive group with whom Okrent lunches monthly at La Rôtisserie Française.

Tony Perez

Boston Red Sox sign free agent slugger Tony Perez

ByThis Day in Baseball

    On November 16, 1979, the Boston Red Sox sign free agent slugger Tony Perez. The veteran first baseman, a standout for Cincinnati’s “Big Red Machine” teams of the mid-1970s, played for the Montreal Expos in 1979. The future Hall of Famer will spend three seasons in Boston, compiling a .266 batting average while…

1Minnesota Twins pitcher David Goltz becomes the first major league player to be selected by the maximum thirteen teams in the first round of the free agent reentry draft

ByThis Day in Baseball

1979 – Minnesota Twins pitcher David Goltz, who had a 14-13 mark with a 4.16 ERA, becomes the first major league player to be selected by the maximum thirteen teams in the first round of the free agent reentry draft. Goltz will sign a six-year, three-million dollar contract with the Dodgers, but will be a huge bust.

Don Baylor wins the 1979 American League’s Most Valuable Player Award

Don Baylor wins the 1979 American League’s Most Valuable Player Award

ByThis Day in Baseball

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…

Two players share the Most Valuable Player Award for the first time in history

Two players share the Most Valuable Player Award for the first time in history

ByThis Day in Baseball

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).