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.

ByBaseball

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.

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.

ByThis Day in Baseball

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.

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.

ByBaseball

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.

At Three Rivers Stadium, the Phillies clinch their third consecutive NL East title, defeating the Pirates, 10-8. The victory, which features winning pitcher Randy Lerch hitting two home runs, snaps Pittsburgh’s 24-game home winning streak.

ByTom

At Three Rivers Stadium, the Phillies clinch their third consecutive NL East title, defeating the Pirates, 10-8. The victory, which features winning pitcher Randy Lerch hitting two home runs, snaps Pittsburgh’s 24-game home winning streak.

At Fenway Park, Dennis Eckersley notches his 20th win of the year as the Red Sox defeat the Blue Jays, 5 – 1. Eck allows just four hits, including Roy Howell’s 8th homer, in completing his 16th start.

ByThis Day in Baseball

At Fenway Park, Dennis Eckersley notches his 20th win of the year as the Red Sox defeat the Blue Jays, 5 – 1. Eck allows just four hits, including Roy Howell’s 8th homer, in completing his 16th start.

Baltimore 2B Rich Dauer makes his only error of the season in the final game, a 5 – 4 loss to Detroit. Dauer’s 86 games and 425 chances without a miscue are American League records.

ByBaseball

Baltimore 2B Rich Dauer makes his only error of the season in the final game, a 5 – 4 loss to Detroit. Dauer’s 86 games and 425 chances without a miscue are American League records.

1976 – The Chicago White Sox try a different approach against California, using a lineup in numerical order by field position. The batting order is: Brian Downing – 2: Lamar Johnson – 3: Bill Stein – 4: Kevin Bell – 5: Bucky Dent – 6: Alan Bannister – 7: Chet Lemon – 8: Jerry Hairston – 9. Finishing off the lineup is 53-year-old DH Minnie Minoso. The Angels are unimpressed, winning, 7 – 3.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1976 – The Chicago White Sox try a different approach against California, using a lineup in numerical order by field position. The batting order is: Brian Downing – 2: Lamar Johnson – 3: Bill Stein – 4: Kevin Bell – 5: Bucky Dent – 6: Alan Bannister – 7: Chet Lemon – 8: Jerry Hairston – 9. Finishing off the lineup is 53-year-old DH Minnie Minoso. The Angels are unimpressed, winning, 7 – 3.

After posting an 88-73 record, Eddie Kasko is fired as manager of the second place Red Sox on the last day of the season. Triple-A Pawtucket pilot Darrell Johnson is named as next season’s skipper.

ByTom

After posting an 88-73 record, Eddie Kasko is fired as manager of the second place Red Sox on the last day of the season. Triple-A Pawtucket pilot Darrell Johnson is named as next season’s skipper.

At the close of the season, the American League’s new DH rule appears to have worked when the Junior Circuit’s league’s batting average increases by 20 points to .259, its highest point since 1956, outhitting the NL for the first time in a decade. There were 112 more complete games than last season, and the total of 614 is the most since 1928 in either league.

ByTom

At the close of the season, the American League’s new DH rule appears to have worked when the Junior Circuit’s league’s batting average increases by 20 points to .259, its highest point since 1956, outhitting the NL for the first time in a decade. There were 112 more complete games than last season, and the total of 614 is the most since 1928 in either league.