1979 – Third baseman John Castino, who batted .285 for the Twins, and shortstop Alfredo Griffin, who hit .287 for the Blue Jays, tie for the American League Rookie of the Year Award, each receiving seven of the 28 votes. The deadlock will precipitate a change in the voting system, effective in 1980.

ByTom

1979 – Third baseman John Castino, who batted .285 for the Twins, and shortstop Alfredo Griffin, who hit .287 for the Blue Jays, tie for the American League Rookie of the Year Award, each receiving seven of the 28 votes. The deadlock will precipitate a change in the voting system, effective in 1980.

1979 – The Atlanta Braves sign relief pitcher Al Hrabosky, a reentry free agent formerly with the Kansas City Royals, to a five-year pact worth $2.2 million.

ByBaseball

1979 – The Atlanta Braves sign relief pitcher Al Hrabosky, a reentry free agent formerly with the Kansas City Royals, to a five-year pact worth $2.2 million.

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.

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.

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.

ByBaseball

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.

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.

ByThis Day in Baseball

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.

Edward Bennett Williams buys the Orioles for a reported $12.3 million from Jerold Hoffberger

ByThis Day in Baseball

Edward Bennett Williams buys the Orioles for a reported $12.3 million from Jerold Hoffberger. The successful trial attorney will own the club until his death in 1988, and under his ownership, the team will sign a new long-term lease with the city of Baltimore that will pay for the innovative Oriole Park at Camden Yards, a ballpark he will not live to see.