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…