Major League Season Recap 1978

World Series – New York Yankees AL over Los Angeles Dodgers NL 4 games to 2

World Series MVP – Bucky Dent
Babe Ruth Award – Bucky Dent

ALCS New York Yankees over Kansas City Royals 3 games to 1 ALCS MVP –
NLCS Los Angeles Dodgers over Philadelphia Phillies 3 games to 1 NLCS MVP – Steve Garvey

Awards –

Cy Young Award National League –  Gaylord Perry
Cy Young Award American League – Ron Guidry

MVP Awards –
NL – Dave Parker
AL – Jim Rice

NL Rookie of The Year – Bob Horner
AL Rookie of The Year – Lou Whitaker

Roberto Clemente Award – Greg Luzinski

All-Star Game – July 11th 1978 – N.L. 7 over A.L. 3 , played at San Diego Stadium (NL)
AL Starter J. Palmer  NL Starter –  V. Blue  MVP –  S. Garvey

1978 Baseball Season Headlines

Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest)

January 1, 1979

Lorinda de Roulet replaces the very unpopular M. Donald Grant as the Mets’ Chairman of the Board

January 5, 1979

The Minnesota Twins re-sign reentry free agent pitcher Mike Marshall.

January 9, 1979

1979 – In the January draft, secondary phase, the Phillies take pitcher Mark Davis with the top pick.

January 17, 1979

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.

January 19, 1979

Lee Lacy signs 6 year deal with Pirates

January 22, 1979

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.

January 23, 1979

Willie Mays, considered one of the greatest players of his generation, is elected to the Hall of Fame

January 25, 1979

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. 

February 3, 1979

The Minnesota Twins trade star first baseman Rod Carew to the California Angels 

February 7, 1979

Jesse Orosco Joins the Mets as the Unforgettable Player to be Named Later

February 23, 1979

The Philadelphia Phillies trade five players to the Chicago Cubs for 2B Manny Trillo

March 7, 1979

Hack Wilson and longtime executive Warren Giles are elected to the Hall of Fame

March 7, 1979

At spring training, exhibition season opens with semi-pro and amateur umpires in place of major league arbiters, who are staging a collective holdout which won’t be resolved until a few weeks into the season.

March 9, 1979

Fearing legal consequences, Bowie Kuhn gives access to female reporters to enter major league locker rooms. The commissioner’s unpopular ruling puts the players in an awkward position in their once all-male domain.

March 26, 1979

1979 – The San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants announce that the 1980 exhibition series between the two teams will be played in Tokyo, Japan. Nevertheless, Giants owner Bob Lurie leaves the decision up to his players, who reject the agreement.

March 29, 1979

Negro leagues and Cleveland Indians star Luke Easter is murdered at the age of 63 in Euclid, Ohio

March 30, 1979

Major League Baseball umpires vote 50-2 to reject new offers from the American and National leagues

April 5, 1979

Ron Guidry gives up the most runs since 1977

April 6, 1979

The Astros beat the Braves, 2 – 1. Atlanta loses the services of Rookie of the Year 3B Bob Horner for the next 32 games due to an ankle injury.

April 6, 1979

At Baltimore‚ manager Earl Weaver wins his 1‚000th game as a manager

April 7, 1979

Ken Forsch tosses no hitters

April 7, 1979

The Pirates trade Jerry Reuss to the Dodgers

April 7, 1979

Ken Forsch fires no hitter blanking Atlanta 6-0.

April 9, 1979

Dave Parker and Jim Rice SI Cover

April 10, 1979

Veeck offers free admision

April 10, 1979

J.R. Richard sets a major-league record with six wild pitches, but he strikes out 13 Dodgers as the Astros win, 2 – 1.

April 10, 1979

J.R. Richard ties a major-league record by throwing six wild pitches in a game against Los Angeles, but he also strikes out 13 in a 2-1 victory. Cesar Cedeno, Jose Cruz and Enos Cabell tag consecutive doubles off Burt Hooton in the fourth for the Houston runs. 

April 19, 1979

Rich Gossage and Cliff Johnson of the New York Yankees brawl in the clubhouse after a 6 – 3 loss

April 19, 1979

The Mets trade Tim Foli, along with minor league prospect Greg Field, to the Pirates in exchange for second baseman Frank Taveras

April 24, 1979

4/24/1979: Jerry Morales homered off pitcher Jim Slaton in Milwaukee. The blow came in the second inning with one out and no one on base. The game was rained out.

April 25, 1979

4/25/1979: For the second consecutive day, a homer was lost to rain in Milwaukee. Jim Wohlford was the victim this time as he homered off Milt Wilcox in the fourth inning with one out and no one on.

April 27, 1979

1979 – Art Howe singles home Craig Reynolds for a 9-8 triumph over Pittsburgh in eleven innings. It is Howe’s fourth hit and fourth RBI of the game. Reynolds also has four hits. 

April 28, 1979

Larry Bird plays his first baseball game

April 30, 1979

1979 – Alexandria Mariners third baseman Gary Pellant homers from both sides of the plate in the 7th inning of a 20 – 7 win in the Carolina League. It is only the second time in Organized Baseball history that a player has accomplished this feat.

May 3, 1979

Bobby Bonds of the Cleveland Indians hits his 300th career home run 

May 8, 1979

Consecutive home runs by Eddie Murray, Lee May and Gary Roenicke in the 6th inning power the Orioles to an 8 – 2 win over Oakland. Murray has now hit in 19 straight games.

May 8, 1979

The Twins roll by the Toronto Blue Jays, 16 – 6. In the 7th, Twins Roy Smalley, Craig Kusick and Ken Landreaux all homer off Toronto’s Balor Moore.

May 8, 1979

During an 8 – 7 loss to Texas, Kansas City loses two regulars, both as a result of being hit by pitches from Ed Farmer. OF Al Cowens suffers a fractured jaw and will miss 21 games; 2B Frank White sustains a broken hand and will sit out 33 contests. Farmer will be traded three times in the next 12 months. On June 20, 1980, Cowens will hit a grounder off Farmer and charge the mound in retaliation for today’s game.

May 9, 1979

The Yanks release Paul Blair, who signs with the Reds.

May 9, 1979

At the Astrodome, substitute umpire Dave Pallone ejects the entire Cardinal bench after the players throw helmets and bats onto the field to protest a call. The minor league arbitrator was pressed into duty due to the major league umpire strike.

May 9, 1979

Gary Roenicke spoils Mike Norris’s no-hit bid by hitting a double in the 7th inning. It’s the only hit Norris allows as Oakland tops the Orioles, 4 – 2.

May 9, 1979

Four bench-clearing brawls and two grand slams, by Gary Matthews and John Milner, highlight the Pirates’ wild 17 – 9 victory over the Braves. Substitute umpires eject five players, four managers, and a coach.

May 10, 1979

1979 – Dr. John McMullen purchases the Astros from the Ford Motor Credit Corporation. The shipping magnate, a former partner of New York Yankee boss George Steinbrenner, jokes that nothing is more limited than being Steinbrenner’s limited partner. 

May 12, 1979

Bill Murray, anchorman on Saturday Night Live Weekend Update reports 42 year-old Chico Escuela (a fictional baseball player portrayed by Garrett Morris) has informed the Mets that he is quitting baseball. Although baseball has been “berra berra good…” to him, a crushing blow off the bat of Dodger first baseman Steve Garvey into the Dominican’s infielder’s crotch ends an inspiring comeback.

May 16, 1979

 National League owners approve the sale of the Houston Astros from the Ford Motor Credit Company to John McMullen for a reported $19 million.

May 17, 1979

Dave Kingman slugs 3 homeruns in Cubs 23-22 loss

May 18, 1979

Dale Murphy hits three home runs with five RBI in three at bats, to pace the Atlanta Braves to a 6 – 4 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

May 19, 1979

After a bitter six-week strike, the major league umpires return to work. During the work stoppage, the men in blue were replaced by amateur and minor league arbiters.

May 20, 1979

Don Sutton becomes the franchise’s winningest pitcher when he is credited with the victory, tossing eight innings in the Dodgers’ 6-4 victory over the Reds at Riverfront Stadium. The 34 year-old right-hander’s 210th win surpasses the team mark established in 1969 by Don Drysdale.

May 23, 1979

The Rangers’ Al Oliver hits 3 home runs in a 7 – 2 win over the Twins at Texas.

May 23, 1979

The Yankees trade pitchers with the Cubs‚ sending Dick Tidrow to Chicago for Ray Burris. Tidrow will regain his form in the Windy City‚ while Burris will be just 1-3 in pinstripes before being banished to the Mets.

May 24, 1979

Billy Martin issues a public apology to Reno sportswriter Ray Hagar‚ with whom he brawled last November. Hagar had filed suit for assault‚ leading to an out-of-court settlement.

May 25, 1979

When Pirates left fielder Bill Robinson loses Joel Youngblood’s ball in the Shea Stadium outfield mist, the umpires stop play. Due to the fog, the 11-inning contest ends after a 73-minute delay in a 3-3 tie.

May 29, 1979

Former Indians 1B Luke Easter‚ working as a bank guard in Cleveland‚ is shot to death in a holdup.

May 31, 1979

Pat Underwood, in his major league debut, blanks the Blue Jays for 8 1/3 innings, earning the victory when the Tigers beat Toronto, 1-0, thanks to Jerry Morales’ eighth inning solo home run. The 22 year-old rookie’s mound opponent is his older brother Tom, now winless in seven decisions, who goes the distance in the Exhibition Stadium contest.

June 5, 1979

6/5/1979: Seattle’s Willie Horton hit a towering fly ball in the eighth inning of a game in the Kingdome. The drive, off Detroit’s John Hiller, hit a speaker in left field and became a single. If it had not, it would have been Horton’s 300th home run, which came the next day off Jack Morris.

June 7, 1979

Charlotte Knights pitcher Mike Boddicker sets a Southern League record with 18 strikeouts in an 8 – 2 win over Knoxville.

June 7, 1979

Texas Rangers back-up C/1B John Ellis hits two home runs with a double and six RBI to back Ferguson Jenkins and propel the Rangers to a 7 – 1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. John Grubb singles in the 9th inning to extend his hitting streak to 20 games.

June 8, 1979

6/8/1979: Two more rained out homers in Milwaukee. Lamar Johnson and Alan Bannister hit back-to-back drives to lead off the second inning. The pitcher was Bill Travers.

June 9, 1979

Willie Wilson hits walkoff inside the Park homerun

June 11, 1979

The Cardinals’ Ted Simmons homers from both sides of the plate in a 9 – 7 win over the Dodgers.

June 12, 1979

Tiger skipper Les Moss, who was hired early in the offseason to replace Ralph Houk, is terminated 53 games into his first season as a major league manager, having compiled a 27-26 record with the team. Detroit makes the unusual managerial move to hire an unexpectedly available Sparky Anderson, the fired Reds skipper who will spend 17 seasons in Detroit, compiling a 1331-1248 (.516) record, and capturing a World Championship in 1984.

June 12, 1979

The Mets enjoy the most productive inning in franchise history when ten runners cross the plate in the sixth fame of their 12-6 victory over the Reds at Shea Stadium. The highlight of the double-digit deluge is Doug Flynn’s three-run inside-the-park home run.

June 14, 1979

Willie McCovey of the San Francisco Giants hits his 513th home run, off Dennis Lamp, establishing him as the National League all-time left-handed home run leader, but the Chicago Cubs beat the Giants, 8 – 6, at Candlestick Park.

June 17, 1979

1979 – Montreal puts a 19-3 hurt on the Astros, touching Joe Niekro for eight runs in the first three innings. George Throop and Randy Niemann are also blasted. Even winning pitcher Dan Schatzeder gets two hits. 

June 17, 1979

Sparky gets first Tiger Win

June 18, 1979

Billy Martin returns to the dugout to manage the Yankees for the second time, replacing Bob Lemon, the skipper who replaced him last season and led the team to a World Championship. Martin will be at the helm this season for 95 games, and the fourth-place team will win 55 of those games.

June 18, 1979

Dave Kingman hits a titanic homerun

June 19, 1979

At Yankee Stadium, 36,211 fans show up to witness the return of Billy Martin as Yankees manager in a 5 – 4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Martin was named to replace Bob Lemon the previous day, and begins his second stint as Yankee skipper a season earlier than previously announced.

June 22, 1979

With the Orioles trailing 5-3, going into the bottom of the ninth inning, Doug DeCinces hits a two-out walk-off home run off reliever Dave Tobik to give the team a 6-5 victory over the Tigers at Memorial Stadium. The win is credited for triggering the start of “Oriole Magic”, igniting an atmosphere of unbridled enthusiasm in the Charm City for the franchise.

June 24, 1979

The Redbirds’ Ted Simmons suffers a broken bone in his left wrist during a 6 – 2 loss to the Mets. He will miss 28 games.

June 24, 1979

Rickey Henderson debuts with A’s and picks up 2 hits and a stolen base

June 26, 1979

New York Yankees re-acquire outfielder Bobby Murcer

June 28, 1979

Pittsburgh acquires third baseman Bill Madlock, infielder Lenny Randle, and pitcher Dave Roberts

June 28, 1979

The Reds sell Ken Henderson to the Cubs and swap P Pedro Borbon to the Giants for Hector Cruz.

June 28, 1979

It should’ve been 5. At Honolulu, Hawaii (Pacific Coast League) tops Phoenix, 6 – 5, in 17 innings. Steve Brye of Hawaii is given a PCL-record four consecutive intentional walks before he drives in the winning run in the 17th inning.

June 28, 1979

The Pirates trade pitchers Ed Whitson, Al Holland and Fred Breining to the Giants for P Dave Roberts and infielders Bill Madlock and Lenny Randle. Madlock, whose average dropped after the Giants moved him to 2B, will rebound with the Bucs.

June 28, 1979

George Brett hits for the cycle in the Royals’ 5-4 victory over Baltimore. The third baseman’s second home run of the game gives Kansas City a 5-4 walk-off victory in the bottom of the 16th inning.

June 29, 1979

1979 – The Astros witness the re-hatching of the famous San Diego Chicken before a 4-1 victory. Heavy traffic delays the game for a half-hour before Ted Giannoulas breaks out of a five-foot egg to thunderous cheers. Unimpressed, Terry Puhl bashes Gaylord Perry’s first pitch for a homer and Houston gets the last cluck.

June 30, 1979

fledgling Inter-American League folds after a stormy half-season of existence

June 30, 1979

Led by Mike Vail’s grand slam, the Mets score six runs in the top of the 11th to break a 3 – 3 tie with the Cubs. Chicago storms back with five runs in the bottom of the frame, but New York hangs on to win the game, 9 – 8.

June 30, 1979

In San Francisco, the Reds’ Tom Seaver fires a 3-hitter, beating the Giants, 2 – 0. Tom Terrific retires the last 21 straight batters and the Reds push over two runs in the 9th off Ed Whitson to win.

June 30, 1979

Less than halfway into its maiden season, the Inter-American League – planned as a new Triple-A circuit – folds. The Miami Amigos, with a 43-17 record, are declared the league champions.

June 30, 1979

1979 – J.R. Richard blanks the Padres on three hits, 3-0. Cesar Cedeno belts a homer and Jose Cruz adds three hits to spark the offense. 

July 1, 1979

New York hits five homers off Red Sox starter Dennis Eckersley to win, 6 – 5. Boston also loses speedster Jerry Remy, batting .304 on the season, when he injures a knee sliding home. Remy will appear in only seven more games all year. Remy will never swipe more than 16 bases after coming back, after averaging 35 steals his first four seasons.

July 1, 1979

Paul Molitor hits a leadoff HR-his 2nd in two days-as the Brewers roll by the Mariners‚ 10-3

July 2, 1979

Indians manager Jeff Torborg announces his resignation effective at the end of the season. In three weeks he will be fired and replaced by Dave Garcia.

July 2, 1979

Don Kessinger (46-60) is fired mid-season as the player-manager of the White Sox and will be replaced by rookie skipper Tony La Russa, who had been managing the club’s Triple-A Iowa Oaks in the American Association. During his eight-year tenure with Chicago, La Russa will compile a 522-510 record, with his team winning the AL West title in 1983.

July 4, 1979

The Phillies’ Steve Carlton shuts out the Mets, 1 – 0, on a one-hitter, but the Phils manage to lose three other hurlers on the same day: Larry Christenson pulls a groin muscle, Dick Ruthven goes on the disabled list, and Randy Lerch fractures his thumb in a brawl.

July 4, 1979

Fireworks in Cincinnati as Ray Knight and Joaquin Andujar spark old flames

July 5, 1979

University of Hawaii lefty Derek Tatsuno, selected in the 2nd round of the June draft by the Padres, signs with a subsidiary of the Seibu Lions for $750,000. Tatsuno, of Japanese-American descent, set an NCAA record of 20 wins (in 22 starts). He will finally sign with the Milwaukee Brewers, who select him in January of 1982 but he will be ineffective in the minors.

July 6, 1979

Los Angeles Dodgers purchase the contract of Fernando Valenzuela

July 7, 1979

Mike Schmidt homers in his first three times up for the Phillies, to give him a major league record-tying four straight over two games. Schmidt flies to the warning track in his next at bat, and the Phils lose, 8 – 6 to the Giants. Schmidt will hit three more home runs in the next three games to tie the National League record of seven home runs in five games.

July 8, 1979

Ben Oglivie has three home runs in three at bats as the Brewers beat the Tigers, 5 – 4 in the first game of a doubleheader. Oglivie drives in the winning run in the second game as the Brewers take it, 3 – 1.

July 8, 1979

The Mets announce the selection of Mettle as the name for the team’s new mascot mule. Dolores Mapps of Mercerville, N.J., who submitted the winning entry, believes the moniker captures the team’s “spirit, ardor, stamina, and courage, all of which the Mets have in abundance.”

July 9, 1979

The fans elect three Red Sox to start in the American League outfield for the All-Star Game: Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice and Fred Lynn.

July 10, 1979

Scoring four runs in the 13th after two are out, the Giants beat the Expos, 11 – 7. Losing pitcher Woodie Fryman balks in the last run. In the 4th inning, Expo RF Ellis Valentine picks up a line drive and his throw beats Darrell Evans at first base for a 9 – 3 putout.

July 10, 1979

Philadelphia’s Del Unser homers in his 3rd consecutive pinch-hit appearance a walk off 3 run shot vs Rollie Fingers to tie the MLB record.

July 12, 1979

Disco Demolition Night” at Comiskey Park

July 13, 1979

California’s Nolan Ryan and Boston’s Steve Renko (with one-out help from Bill Campbell) each lose no-hitters in the 9th inning, and each settle for one-hit victories: 6 – 1 over New York, and 2 – 0 over Oakland, respectively. Rickey Henderson has the one-out hit off Renko.

July 14, 1979

The Chicago White Sox’s Claudell Washington has three home runs and five RBI in a 12 – 4 defeat of the Detroit Tigers.

July 15, 1979

The Geneva Cubs score 15 runs in the 9th inning to cap a 29 – 4 romp over the Utica Blue Jays in a New York-Pennsylvania League game. Scott Fletcher paces the attack with two singles, four doubles, a home run, and eight RBI.

July 17, 1979

Dave Parker, with two outstanding throws, is named the All Star game’s MVP

July 19, 1979

1979 – Ray Knight drives in six runs to lead the Reds to a 16 – 4 clipping of the Cardinals in St. Louis.

July 19, 1979

New York Yankees president Al Rosen resigns after a year and a half on the job. Rosen continually found himself in disagreements with Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner.

July 20, 1979

Rusty Staub, a spring holdout who got off to a slow start, is traded by Detroit to his former team Montreal for a minor league player to be named later.

July 20, 1979

At Los Angeles, Steve Garvey saves the Dodgers from a defeat by belting a two-run homer in the 10th to tie, and another two-run homer in the 11th by Bill Russell wins it, 6 – 5, over the Expos. Montreal takes the lead in the 11th when Rodney Scott drives in a run with his 5th straight hit. Dave Patterson wins his first major league game, while Manny Mota has a single for the 139th pinch hit of his career.

July 22, 1979

In the first of two at Wrigley Field, the Reds roll over the Cubs, 12 – 1, behind Bill Bonham. Johnny Bench ties the National League record by collecting five walks and Dave Concepcion hits an 8th-inning grand slam off Willie Hernandez to put the score in double digits. The Cubs come back in the second game to win, 8 – 4.

July 22, 1979

1979 – Houston rallies for a 7-6 victory in St. Louis as Jose Cruz singles home Julio Gonzalez in the ninth for the game-winner. Terry Puhl homers. Enos Cabell and Jeff Leonard chime in with three hits apiece. Joe Sambito tosses two scoreless innings of relief for the win. It’s just their second win in their past 14 games, shrinking what was a ten-game division lead two weeks ago down to four games.

July 22, 1979

George Brett clubs three home runs and piles up five RBIs against the Texas Rangers

July 23, 1979

1979 – At Wrigley Field, the Reds and Cubs complete a game suspended on May 10th because the Cubs had to catch a plane. That contest was tied 7 – 7 after nine innings. Both teams score in the 11th and the Cubs win in the 18th on a run-scoring single by Steve Ontiveros. The Cubs then win the regularly-scheduled game, 2 – 1, with Willie Hernandez getting the victory.

July 24, 1979

In the first game of a doubleheader, Seattle C Bob Stinson ties a major-league record by allowing two Baltimore batters to reach base on catcher’s interference. The Birds win, 7 – 6, then complete the sweep, 11 – 3.

July 24, 1979

In Pittsburgh, a 4th-inning call results in a 34-minute rhubarb during the Pirates-Reds game. With Buc runners on first and third base, a 3-1 pitch to Omar Moreno is called a ball, but Johnny Bench throws to second base ahead of the runner from first, Lee Lacy, who is attempting to steal. Lacy is called out by Dick Stello even though Moreno has just received a walk (therefore entitling Lacy to the base), and walks off the bag. He is then tagged out by Dave Concepcion, precipitating the argument. The subsequent protest is rejected by National League president Chub Feeney, and the Pirates’ 6 – 5 loss is upheld.

July 24, 1979

Carl Yastrzemski hits 400th

July 27, 1979

The Brewers edge the Yankees, 6 – 5, and Cecil Cooper becomes the 4th American League player this month to hit three home runs in a game.

July 27, 1979

The Cubs top the Mets at Shea Stadium, 4 – 2, behind Dave Kingman’s two home runs.

July 27, 1979

On his first day back in a home uniform, eight years after leaving the Expos, Rusty Staub receives the longest standing ovation in franchise history when he pinch-hits for Elias Sosa in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh. The first-place Montreal club re-acquired ‘Le Grand Orange’ from the Tigers to come off the bench as an experienced pinch-hitter and to fill in at first base.

July 28, 1979

At Texas, the Boston Red Sox pull off a 1st-inning triple play – 9-4-3 – against the Rangers. It’s Boston’s third triple play of the year (July 23rd and May 10th) tying a major-league record, and it’s needed as the Sox win, 1 – 0. Dennis Eckersley beats Fergie Jenkins.

July 28, 1979

The Cubs’ Dave Kingman continues his slugging with a single and three consecutive home runs during a 6 – 4 loss to the Mets. Kingman ties two records by having his second three-homer game of the season (the first was on May 17th) and hitting five home runs over two consecutive games.

July 28, 1979

1979 – Ken Forsch twirls a three-hitter as the Astros top the Dodgers, 5-2, but the talk is about a brawl that clears the benches. Cesar Cedeno spikes Steve Yeager during a play at the plate. Yeager later tosses a ball out to Cedeno at first who fires it back into the L.A. bench. Ken Brett then hits Enos Cabell with a pitch and away they go. Tommy Lasorda beat the rush, getting tossed three innings earlier.

August 1, 1979

Following the Yankees’ 9 – 1 win over the White Sox, members of the New York club create a minor scandal by autographing the bare behind of a young woman who boards the team bus outside Comiskey Park.

August 1, 1979

In an 8-player deal, the Rangers send OF Oscar Gamble, minor leaguer Amos Lewis (a 1st round pick in the 1978 draft) and two players to be named to the Yankees and finally acquire OF Mickey Rivers and three players to be named. Rivers had been traded to the Rangers in June but the deal fell through. Both of the players to be named with Gamble will make the majors: Gene Nelson and Ray Fontenot, something that can’t be said for the three unnamed to Texas.

August 2, 1979

Thurman Munson of the New York Yankees is killed in the crash of his private plane in Canton, Ohio

August 3, 1979

At Seattle, the Mariners edge the A’s, 1 – 0 behind Floyd Bannister. During the game a foul ball hits a speaker and is caught by the A’s pitcher for an out.

August 3, 1979

Tony LaRussa takes over as manager of the White Sox, a day after the resignation of Don Kessinger.

August 3, 1979

At Yankee Stadium, over 51,000 mourners attend a memorial service for Thurman Munson. The Bronx Bombers’ captain was killed yesterday piloting a plane that crashed 1,000 feet short of the runway at Akron-Canton Airport.

August 3, 1979

The Yankees purchase Lenny Randle from Pittsburgh to fill the roster spot of Thurman Munson, who died in a plane crash yesterday. The 31 year-old former Pirates utility outfielder and designated hitter will appear in only 20 games for the Bronx Bombers, with Jerry Narron replacing the Captain as the team’s backstop.

August 4, 1979

During a 6 – 2 loss to the Astros, Braves knuckleballer Phil Niekro sets modern major league records with four wild pitches in one inning (the 5th) and six in one game.

August 4, 1979

Mariners’ Ruppert Jones hits a foul ball that sticks in the speaker above the first base dugout

August 4, 1979

1979 – Houston sweeps the Braves, 4-3 and 6-2, to move five games ahead of second-place Cincinnati. Atlanta knuckleballer Phil Niekro ties major league marks with four wild pitches in one inning and six for the game. The Astros also set a team record for a nine-inning game by stranding 16 runners in the opener. 

August 5, 1979

Willie Mays is inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility

August 5, 1979

At Chavez Ravine, Don Sutton fans six batters in LA’s 8-1 victory over San Francisco, surpassing Don Drysdale, to become the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout leader with 2,487. After establishing the mark and receiving a two-minute standing ovation that he acknowledges by tipping his cap, the right-hander is charged with an automatic ball due to running his fingers across his lips while thanking the crowd.

August 5, 1979

The Red Sox demolish the Brewers in a doubleheader, 7 – 2 and 19 – 5. The Sox amass 27 hits in the second game, and are the first team in 30 years to score in eight innings. The only inning in which they fail to score is the 4th, when the first two batters reach base. The scoring deluge makes it easy for manager Don Zimmer, who uses three relief pitchers, each tossing three innings. Dutch-born Win Remmerswaal, the middle pitcher, picks up his first major league win.

August 5, 1979

The Phillies beat the Pirates, 12 – 8, in the first game of a doubleheader. Philadelphia’s Greg Luzinski and Pittsburgh’s John Milner each hit a grand slam, and Pete Rose collects his 2,427th career single to break Honus Wagner’s National League record.

August 5, 1979

In pre-game ceremonies at Wrigley Field, announcer Jack Brickhouse is honored. Today’s broadcast is his 5,000th television broadcast of a game.

August 6, 1979

The Rangers blast the Padres, 12 – 5, in the Hall of Fame Game which features a record nine home runs.

August 6, 1979

After delivering the eulogy at Thurman Munson’s funeral in Ohio, Bobby Murcer, a teammate and close friend of the deceased Yankee catcher, drives in all the runs in the Yankee 5-4 comeback victory over the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. The New York outfielder, with a bat he will never use again, hits a three-run home run and wins the game with a two-run single in 9th inning.

August 8, 1979

Oakland’s Matt Keough loses to California, 8 – 1‚ running his season record to 0-14‚ and tying a dubious major league record. His 14 straight losses ties him for the 4th most in American League history.

August 8, 1979

At Riverfront Stadium‚ Reds P Bill Bonham surrenders just 2 hits in beating the Braves‚ 3 – 1.

August 8, 1979

1979 – J.R. Richard fans 12 and delivers the game-winning hit during a 4-1 victory over Los Angeles. Terry Puhl opens the scoring with a first-inning blast off Burt Hooton. Richard’s two-run single in the fifth ends the stalemate. It is J.R.’s tenth straight win over the Dodgers. 

August 9, 1979

1979 – Long-time Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley dies at age 75.

August 10, 1979

 Dan Ford hits for the cycle but his Angels lose, 8 – 6, to the Mariners.

August 10, 1979

Dodger hurler Don Sutton sets a franchise record with his 50th shutout, blanking San Francisco at Candlestick Park, 9-0. The 34 year-old right-hander has previously shared the mark with Don Drysdale.

August 11, 1979

Red Sox slugger Jim Rice becomes the third player in franchise history to hit 30 home runs in three consecutive seasons

August 11, 1979

The Pirates’ Ed Ott hits a grand slam off Phillie reliever Tug McGraw in the 8th inning as the Bucs win, 14 – 11. It is the 4th grand slam that McGraw has yielded this year‚ setting a new National League mark and tying him for this questionable honor with Detroit’s Ray Narleski (1959).

August 13, 1979

Lou Brock of the St. Louis Cardinals collects his 3000th hit

August 13, 1979

Against the team that traded him, Lou Brock reaches the 3000 hitsmilestone when his line drive caroms off Dennis Lamp’s pitching hand in the 3-2 Cardinal victory over the Cubs at Busch Stadium. The 40 year-old Redbird outfielder, who will retire at the end of the season with a lifetime .293 batting average, is the fourteenth major leaguer to reach the coveted plateau.

August 14, 1979

1979 – The Astros’ Joaquin Andujar hurls a four-hitter and hits a two-run inside-the-park homer, to defeat the Expos, 2 – 1.

August 14, 1979

Montreal’s noted flake, Bill “Spaceman” Lee, surrenders a two-run inside-the-park homer to Houston’s noted flake, Joaquin Andujar

August 15, 1979

Eddie Murray steals home in 12th to give Baltimore a 2-1 win over Chicago

August 17, 1979

The Royals release George Scott, who will sign with the Yankees on August 26th.

August 17, 1979

The Cubs sell veteran Ted Sizemore to the Red Sox for a player to be named later (C Mike O’Berry).

August 18, 1979

The Yankees sell Ray Burris (1-3) to the Mets.

August 18, 1979

After six straight wins, the 3rd-place Brewers lose to Texas, 7 – 3. But the 49,172 fans give Milwaukee a new season record. They’ll finish in 2nd place with a team record 1,918,343 in attendance.

August 18, 1979

In a 6-5 victory at Veterans Stadium, Giants’ first baseman Willie McCovey hits his 505th home run off Larry Christenson, establishing him as the National League all-time left-handed home run leader. Southpaw swinger Eddie Mathews had previously led the NL, collecting 504 round-trippers playing for the Braves and Astros, adding another nine for Detroit in the American League at the end of his 17-year career.

August 21, 1979

1979 – The Mets win a protested game against the Astros, 5 – 0. With two outs in the 9th inning, Houston’s Jeffrey Leonard flies to CF to apparently end the game. Umpire Doug Harvey rules that time had been called, and orders Leonard back to the plate. He then singles to left. The Mets were without a first baseman, however, so the umps order Leonard to bat once more. He flies to LF to end the game.

August 21, 1979

1979 – A bizarre ending comes to Pete Falcone’s 5-0 shutout of Houston. Jeff Leonard gets three turns at bat. He flies out to right for the final out but an umpire had called time before the pitch. Three pitches later, Leonard singles while Met first baseman Ed Kranepool is sitting in the clubhouse. Finally, with Kranepool back on the field, Leonard flies out again. Houston wins the protest but Jose Cruz finishes it the next day, grounding out with Leonard on first. 

August 22, 1979

1979 – In a 7 – 2 win over the visiting Expos, Johnny Bench belts his 325th homer, the most ever by a player in a Reds uniform. The previous club record of 324 was held by Frank Robinson.

August 23, 1979

At Cleveland, the A’s Rick Langford gives up six hits and six runs in the 1st inning, including a grand slam to Andre Thornton and a solo by Ron Hassey. He then allows just one hit over the next eight innings, and the A’s come back to win, 8 – 6.

August 23, 1979

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn slaps Padres owner Ray Kroc with a $100,000 fine for tampering, following remarks Kroc made about potential free agents Joe Morgan and Graig Nettles.

August 23, 1979

Rickey Henderson swipes three bases in the A’s 8-6 victory over the Indians at Cleveland Stadium. At the age of 20 years 241 days old, the rookie outfielder becomes the youngest player to accomplish the feat.

August 25, 1979

Angel Don Baylor ties a club record by knocking in eight runs during a 24 – 2 slaughter of the Blue Jays. The 24 runs the 26 hits are both Angel records. After the first three Jays pitchers are cuffed around, 1B Craig Kusicktakes the mound in his only major league pitching appearance. He does a creditable job, pitching 2 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and two runs. No walks or K’s.

August 25, 1979

Willie Horton has two homers, including his 9th career grand slam, to pace Seattle to an 8 – 4 win over Detroit. Champ Summers has a pair of homers for the Tigers.

August 25, 1979

In a Hollywood Stars vs. the Media game played at Dodger Stadium, Robin Williams, the star of the hit television show, Mork and Mindy, in which he plays an alien, runs the bases backwards. The comedian explains circling the bags clockwise is very common on the Planet Ork, his character’s home in the universe.

August 26, 1979

1979 – At Shea Stadium, the Reds’ Tom Seaver shuts out the Mets, 8 – 0, for his 11th consecutive win.

August 26, 1979

1979 – Cesar Cedeno goes five-for-five to lead a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia. His eighth-inning triple off Kevin Saucier starts a tie-breaking rally. Craig Reynolds singles him home. Pete Ladd gets his first big-league win while Joe Sambito notches his 17th save. 

August 28, 1979

1979 – The Dodgers release P Andy Messersmith, ending his 12-year career with a 130-99 record and 2.86 ERA.

August 29, 1979

Kansas City blasts Milwaukee pitching for an 18 – 8 victory. George Brett and Amos Otis hit back-to-back home runs in the 8-run 4th, after Pete LaCock hits a 3-run home run in the 5-run 3rd. Milwaukee finally uses 3B Sal Bando for three innings on the mound (2 runs), 2B Jim Gantner for an inning (no runs), and C Buck Martinez (1 run) in relief.

August 29, 1979

Eddie Murray drives in all the Baltimore runs during a 7 – 4 win in the second game of a doubleheader with the Twins. Murray belts three consecutive home runs – two righthanded, one lefthanded. Scott McGregor gives the Birds a win in game 1, allowing eight hits in winning, 4 – 0.

August 31, 1979

The Angels regain 1st place in the AL West by beating the Indians, 9 – 8. California scores five runs in the 8th on three homers, then watches as Cleveland scores four to tie.

August 31, 1979

The Phillies fire Danny Ozark, senior manager (since 1973) in the National League. Farm director Dallas Green takes over as interim manager. The Phils will remove the “interim” on [[October 18 and Green will lead the team to its first World Championship in 1980.

September 1, 1979

Carney Lansford hits three consecutive home runs in California’s 7-4 victory over the Tribe at Cleveland Stadium. The Angels third baseman’s trio of round-trippers comes in the first, third, and fifth innings, each time with the bases empty.

September 2, 1979

1979 – With his 145th career pinch-hit, Dodger Manny Mota sets a major league record.

September 3, 1979

1979 – The Orioles win a pair from Toronto, 2 – 1 in 11 innings, and 5 – 1. Eddie Murray provides the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 11th. Tippy Martinez is the winner. Mike Flanagan is the winner in the nitecap, the major league’s first 20-game winner this year.

September 5, 1979

A’s starting pitcher Matt Keough snaps his eighteen-game consecutive losing streak

September 6, 1979

1979 – The Giants fire manager Joe Altobelli‚ promoting coach Dave Bristol in his place.

September 7, 1979

Carl Yastrzemski of the Red Sox gets three hits to pass Ted Williams on the all-time total base list. ‘Teddy Ballgame’ collected 2,654 hits during his 19 seasons with Boston.

September 8, 1979

Graig Nettles hits an 8th-inning home run to help the Yankees and Ron Guidry beat Detroit, 5 – 4. It is Guidry’s 10th straight win.

September 8, 1979

In Oakland’s 2 – 1 win over the White Sox, A’s Rob Picciolo (.234 career) gets his only intentional walk as the Sox elect to pitch to rookie Rickey Henderson. Rickey walks in a run to beat the Sox. Picciolo will have just 25 career walks in nine seasons.

September 9, 1979

Bob Montgomery becomes the last player to step into the batter’s box without wearing a helmet

September 11, 1979

The Expos beat the Cubs at Olympic Stadium, 8-6, for their 82nd win of the campaign. The victory ensures Montreal of a winning season for the first in the 11-year history of the franchise.

September 11, 1979

Cincinnati tops Houston lead NL West

September 12, 1979

Carl Yastrzemski 3,000th hit

September 15, 1979

Bob Watson becomes the first modern major leaguer to hit for the cycle in both leagues.

September 15, 1979

At Los Angeles, the Reds’ Dan Driessen hits a long drive to CF with two outs in the 9th that bounces off the glove off Derrel Thomas and over the wall for a home run. The Reds win it over the Dodgers, 2 – 1.

September 16, 1979

Willie Wilson hits his 5th inside-the-park homer this season in a 6 – 3 loss to Seattle at Kansas City. It is the most inside-the-park homers hit in a season since Kiki Cuyler hit eight for the Pirates in 1925.

September 16, 1979

At Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers hold Catfish Hunter Day to honor their future Hall of Fame pitcher who will be retiring at the end of the season at the age of 33. A 20 year-old left-hander named Dave Righetti makes his major league debut for the hometown team.

September 17, 1979

1979 – The Royals’ George Brett collects his 20th triple of the season in a 16 – 4 romp over the Angels. Brett becomes the 6th player ever, and the first since Willie Mays in 1957, to collect 20 doubles, 20 triples and 20 home runs in the same season. He will finish with totals of 42, 20 and 23.

September 18, 1979

1979 – Yankees manager Billy Martin reportedly pays rookie P Bob Kammeyer $100 to hit former Yankee Cliff Johnson with a pitch in Cleveland’s 16 – 3 rout of the Bronx Bombers. Johnson belts two homers as does Toby Harrah and the two combine for nine RBIs. The loss goes to Paul Mirabella but Kammeyer gives up all eight Tribe scores in the 4th inning without recording an out in his only appearance of the season.

September 20, 1979

Gary Hargis makes his only appearance as a punch runner

September 21, 1979

In the Royals’ 13-4 rout of the A’s at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, U.L. Washington hits two three-run home runs, one left-handed, one right-handed. The pair of round-trippers will be the only ones the Kansas City shortstop hits in the 101 games he plays this season.

September 21, 1979

Bruce Bochy singles home Craig Reynolds with the game-winner as Houston clips the Reds, 3-2, in 13 innings

September 23, 1979

Lou Brock steals his 938th and final base to surpass Billy Hamilton’s mark established last century

September 24, 1979

With a week to go, Herman Franks resigns as Cubs manager, and is replaced by Preston Gomez, most recently a coach with the Dodgers. After resigning, Franks criticizes a number of Cubs players, including Barry Foote, Mike Vail, Bill Buckner and Ted Sizemore.

September 24, 1979

Pete Rose singles in the Phillies’ 7 – 2 loss to the Cardinals, giving him 200 hits in a season for the 10th time. He breaks the major-league record of nine formerly held by Ty Cobb. Rose hits safely in his 18th straight game, and will extend it to 23 by the end of the season.

September 25, 1979

Mickey Mahler and Rick Mahler hurl in the same game as the Braves fall to the Astros, 8 – 0. It is the most recent instance of brothers pitching for the same team in the same game.

September 25, 1979

Frank Tanana leads the Angels to win first American League West title

September 25, 1979

J.R. Richard tops the 300-strikeout barrier for the second straight year

September 26, 1979

Atlanta’s Phil Niekro notches his 20th win of the season by beating his brother Joe

September 26, 1979

Dennis Leonard shuts out California, 4 – 0, and Royals SS Frank White hits for the cycle.

September 26, 1979

Frank White becomes the fourth player in the team’s 11-year history to hit for the cycle when he triples in the ninth inning of the Royals’ 4-0 victory over California at Anaheim Stadium. The Kansas City second baseman joins Freddie Patek (1971), John Mayberry (1977), and George Brett (1979), who also have completed the rare feat playing for the franchise.

September 27, 1979

9/27/1979: Padre Dave Winfield homered off Mike LaCoss in Cincinnati. The hit occurred in the first inning with two on and one out and was lost to rain.

September 28, 1979

In a twin bill at Busch Stadium, Cardinal infielder Garry Templeton collects three hits against the Mets to become the first player to get 100 hits from each side of the plate. The St. Louis shortstop bats just right-handed during the last nine games to establish the unprecedented switch-hitting mark.

September 29, 1979

Manny Mota sets a major league record with his 145th career pinch hit, a single to right field, in LA’s 6-2 victory over Chicago at Dodger Stadium. The Dominican Republic native surpasses the all-time record set by Smoky Burgess, who collected his last hit as a pinch-hitter in 1967.

September 30, 1979

In his last big league game, Ed Kranepool pinch hits in the top of the seventh inning and doubles off Bob Forsch when the Mets beat the Cardinals in the season finale at Busch Stadium, 4-2. The James Monroe High School graduate, who made his debut with the team in 1962 at the age of 17, had been the last original Met left in the majors.

September 30, 1979

Minnesota’s Jerry Koosman defeats Milwaukee 5 – 0 on the final day of the season for his 20th win of the year. It is the only time the Brewers are shut out the entire year, as they fail to tie a record set by the Yankees in 1932. The Brew Crew scored in 213 straight games.

September 30, 1979

Two ML managers bite the dust. The Padres fire Roger Craig and the Blue Jays do the same to Roy Hartsfield. San Diego will hire broadcaster Jerry Coleman the next day, while Toronto will hire scout Bobby Mattick on October 18.

September 30, 1979

With his 5th-inning, solo HR, Willie Stargell passes Honus Wagner as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ all-time RBI leader, bringing his career total thus far to 1,476. His milestone shot makes it 3 – 0, Bucs, and they will hang on to beat Chicago, 5 – 3, clinching the National League Eastern Division title in the process. Exactly seven years after his late friend and mentor Roberto Clemente would enter the 3,000-hit club on his final regular season at-bat, Stargell, one of his era’s premier run-producers, culminates his 1979 MVP season by gaining this gratifying and much-deserved distinction. In a sense, the season itself could be seen as a culmination of his entire career, both by virtue of winning at least part of the NL MVP award he should have won in 1971 (the current edition being awarded jointly to Stargell and Keith Hernandez of the Cards) and by getting a retroactive mulligan on his 1971 World Series no-show and making the most of it, following in Clemente’s footsteps by winning a World Series MVP on his second try. In addition, Stargell will be named NLCS MVP, the only player ever to receive all three awards in the same season.

September 30, 1979

Joe Niekro becomes the first 21-game winner in club history with a 3-2 triumph over the Dodgers. An eighth-inning sacrifice fly by Danny Heep plates the game-winner. The Astros finish with a best-to-date 89 wins but fall 1-1/2 games short of Cincinnati for the N.L. West title. 

October 4, 1979

1979 – Baltimore takes a 9 – 1 lead in the ALCS Game 1, but the Angels score seven runs in the last four innings only to fall short, 9 – 8. Eddie Murray drives in four runs for Baltimore.

October 5, 1979

1979 – The Pittsburgh Pirates complete a sweep of their National League Championship Series, beating the Cincinnati Reds, 7 – 1. Willie Stargell, who hit a home run, is named the Series MVP.

October 10, 1979

Baltimore scores five runs off Bruce Kison in the 1st inning of Game 1, then hangs on to defeat the Pirates, 5 – 4.

October 12, 1979

1979 – Kiko Garcia drives in four runs to lead the Orioles to an 8 – 4 triumph over Pittsburgh in Game 3 of the World Series.

October 13, 1979

Baltimore Orioles score six runs in the 8th inning en route to a 9 – 6 win, taking a 3-1 Series advantage over the Pittsburgh Pirates

October 16, 1979

1979 – Pittsburgh Pirates starter John Candelaria and closer Kent Tekulve combine on a 4 – 0 shutout over the Baltimore Orioles as the Pirates send the World Series to its seventh game. Jim Palmer is the losing pitcher.

October 17, 1979

Pirates Win The 1979 World Series

October 22, 1979

Ed Kranepool declares his free-agency, ending his 18-year major league career, played entirely with the Mets. The first baseman and pinch-hitter, who signed with the expansion team in 1962 at the age of 17 as an amateur free agent, set franchise records in eight categories, including the most hits (1,418), most games played (1,853), at-bats (5,436), and pinch-hits (90).

October 23, 1979

Billy Martin is involved in a barroom altercation with Joseph Cooper, a Minnesota marshmallow salesman

October 26, 1979

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn notifies Hall of Famer Willie Mays that if he accepts a position with the Bally Manufacturing Corporation he must disassociate himself from major league baseball

October 28, 1979

The New York Yankees replace fired manager Billy Martin with Dick Howser

October 29, 1979

Hall of Fame outfielder Willie Mays, one of the game’s most popular players, severs all ties with major league baseball when he accepts a public relations job with an Atlantic City casino. Due to the gambling aspect of the position, he had been given an ultimatum by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn to disassociate himself from the national pastime.

October 31, 1979

Mike Flanagan (23-9, 3.08) wins the Cy Young Award, easily outdistancing New York’s Tommy John (21-9, 2.97)

November 1, 1979

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

November 1, 1979

In separate deals, the New York Yankees acquire OF Ruppert Jones from the Seattle Mariners and C Rick Cerone and P Tom Underwood

November 2, 1979

1Nolan Ryan and Joe Morgan are the top names available in the free agent reentry draft held at the New York Plaza Hotel.

November 3, 1979

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.

November 7, 1979

Chicago Cubs closer Bruce Sutterwins the National League Cy Young Award 

November 7, 1979

The American League Rookie of the Year Award balloting ends in a tie John Castino and Alfredo Griffin

November 8, 1979

New York Yankees sign two veteran free agents to long-term contracts: first baseman Bob “The Bull” Watson and pitcher Rudy May

November 8, 1979

New York Mets president Lorinda de Roulet announces the team is for sale, beginning a two-month bidding war.

November 13, 1979

For the first time in major league history, two players share the Most Valuable Player Award

November 13, 1979

Two players are named co-winners of the National League MVP award for the first time in major league history. Cardinal first baseman Keith Hernandez and Pirates outfielder Willie Stargell share the honor with both garnering 216 points in the BBWAA balloting, but ‘Pops’ receives ten first-place votes compared to the four cast for the Redbird infielder.

November 14, 1979

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.

November 14, 1979

Don Baylor of the California Angels wins the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award

November 15, 1979

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

November 16, 1979

Boston Red Sox sign free agent slugger Tony Perez

November 17, 1979

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

November 19, 1979

The Houston Astros sign free agent pitcher Nolan Ryan making him the highest-paid player in major league history

November 20, 1979

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.

November 21, 1979

Righthander Julio Solano is signed as a free agent

November 26, 1979

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.

November 28, 1979

1979 – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Rick Sutcliffe, who posted a 17-10 record for a sub-.500 team, receives 20 of 24 votes to earn National League Rookie of the Year honors.

November 29, 1979

Commissioner Bowie Kuhn lets Billy Martin off after his altercation with a marshmallow salesman.

December 1, 1979

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.

December 5, 1979

1979 – A month after being acquired by the Blue Jays, Chris Chambliss goes to the Atlanta Braves with Luis Gomez for Barry Bonnell, Pat Rockett and Joey McLaughlin. Chambliss will play eight seasons for the Braves.

December 5, 1979

Chris Chambliss is traded to the Atlanta Braves

December 6, 1979

1979 – In one of their better trades‚ the Royals acquire 1B Willie Aikens and IF Rance Mulliniks from the Angels for OF Al Cowens‚ SS Todd Cruz‚ and P Craig Eaton. Aikens will have four solid years in Kansas City‚ including two two-homer games in the 1980 World Series.

December 7, 1979

The Tigers swap OF Ron LeFlore to the Expos for P Dan Schatzeder.

December 7, 1979

The Cardinals trade OF Jerry Mumphrey and P John Denny to the Indians for OF Bobby Bonds.

December 12, 1979

1979 – The Giants sign re-entry free agents 2B Rennie Stennett, C Milt May, and OF Jim Wohlford to contracts worth a total of $4.825 million.

December 25, 1979

Major League Season Recap 1979

December 26, 1979

Jim Kerns wins the Rolaids Relief Pitcher Award

December 31, 1979

1979 – The Basic Agreement between players and owners expires, precipitating more than 19 months of bitter negotiations, that will culminate in the 1981 player strike.

August 2, 2019

Podcast – July 29 – August 4

August 7, 2019

Episode 2 – Daily Rewind Willie Mays goes to the Hall of Fame

SEASON RECAP FOR 1978 

The 1978 baseball season revolved around the American League East. For the final ten weeks of the season, the Red Sox and Yankees were involved in a wild, exciting race, full of memorable moments on and off the field. 

Through mid-July, it was all Red Sox. They were enjoying a 13-1/2 game lead over the Brewers and had outstanding performances from a host of players, especially Jim Rice. Rice was on his way to an MVP season, in which he would bat .315 with 46 homers and 139 RBI. 

Even better for Red Sox rooters, the Yankees were in the midst of intense turmoil. Reggie Jackson had been suspended for five games by manager Billy Martin, and a week later Martin was forced to resign after making derogatory remarks about Jackson and owner George Steinbrenner. 

Amid the pandemonium, the Yankees began to play good baseball, arriving at Fenway in early September down by only 4 games. The Yankees went on to rock the Sox 15-3, 13-2, 7-0, and 7-4 in what became known as the “Boston Massacre.” 

There were exciting moments in other parks as well. Pete Rose got his 3,000th career hit, and ran a 44-game hitting streak through June and July. His efforts couldn’t carry the Reds, though, as they fell 2½ games short of the Dodgers in the National League West. 

The Phillies, led by Greg Luzinski’s 35 homers, edged out the Pirates to capture their third straight National League East title. 

The Royals, led by manager Whitey Herzog, won the American League West. Herzog had his team on the run, as they led the league with 216 stolen bases. Even George Brett had a career-high 23 thefts. 

Back in Boston, the battle between the Sox and Yanks was reaching its climax. Tied after the regulation 162 games, the teams played a single game at Fenway to determine the division champ. 

The Red Sox went into the seventh inning with a 2-0 lead, but then Yankee shortstop Bucky Dent swatted a three-run homer into the left-field netting. The Yanks never relinquished the lead. 

Set against the dramatic one-game playoff, postseason play paled in comparison. The Yankees beat the Royals for the third year running, three games to one. Game three featured three home runs by Brett, but Thurman Munson belted a two-run homer to win the game 6-5. A Roy White solo shot in game four secured the American League flag for the Yanks. 

The Dodgers also won their playoffs three to one, beating Danny Ozark’s Phillies. A tenth-inning single by shortstop Bill Russell drove in the winning run in the final game and put the Dodgers back in the World Series, setting the stage for a rematch of the 1977 Series. 

Although the conclusion was a repeat of last year’s World Series — the Yankees beat the Dodgers in six games — the storyline was different. After the Dodgers won the first two contests, the Yankees shut them down the rest of the way. 

The left side of the Yankees’ infield was spectacular in the fall classic. Anyone who watched game three will never forget the amazing defensive might of Graig Nettles, who made several diving stops.Cy Young winner Ron Guidry, 25-3 during the regular season, went the distance in game three to earn the win.

The Yankees wrapped it up in game six. Dent, the 1978 World Series MVP, banged out three hits, lifting the Bombers to a 7-2 victory and to their 22nd World Title.
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