Major Leagues

Major League umpires refused to sign individual contracts before the season. They were replaced by amateur and minor league umpires until they settled their dispute on May 18.

Regular-season attendance of 43,548,450 broke the record for the fourth straight year. Eight teams bettered 2 million at home, and 15 exceeded 1.5 million.

On August 13, 1979, Baltimore Oriole Lou Brock singled off Chicago Cubs pitcher Dennis Lamp at Busch Stadium to collect the 3,000th hit of his major league career.

Lou Brock acknowledges fans after getting the 3,000th hit of his career

Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox joined the 3,000 Hit Club at Fenway Park on September 12. He became the first American League player to get 3,000 hits and 400 home runs in his career.

Carl Yastrzemski after the 3,000th hit of his career

The New York Yankees endured a season of turmoil and tragedy and were never contenders in their division. In April, relief pitcher Rich Gossage and reserve catcher Cliff Johnson fought in the shower. Gossage suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb and was on the disabled list for three months. Johnson was traded to the Cleveland Indians. In June, Manager Bob Lemon was replaced by Billy Martin (whom Lemon had replaced the previous July). In August, catcher Thurman Munson was killed in the crash of a twin-engine jet plane he owned and piloted. In October, when Martin tried to cover up details of a barroom fight, he was fired and replaced by Dick Howser.

Billy Martin being welcomed back by Yankees fans

The Cincinnati Reds played the 1979 season without Manager Sparky Anderson and third baseman Pete Rose. Anderson was fired unexpectedly after the Reds lost the two previous division titles to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Rose, bitter because the Reds refused to make an acceptable salary offer, became a free agent and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Final Standings

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Montreal Expos by two games in the National League Eastern Division on the last day of the regular season, while the Reds finished 1½ games ahead of the Houston Astros in the West. The Pirates beat the Reds in three straight games -- 5-2 (in 11 innings), 3-2 (in 10 innings), and 7-1 -- to win the pennant.

The Baltimore Orioles scored 102 victoires, the most in the majors, and ended the regular season with an eight-game lead in the American League East. In the West, the California Angels finished with a three-game lead. The Orioles defeated the Angels three games to two to win the pennant.

World Series

The Pirates came from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series over the Orioles, October 10-17. They were only the fourth team to ever come from 3 games behind to win the Series.

Pirates first baseman Willie Stargell was named Most Valuable Player in the Series.

the Pirates celebrate their World Series win

Individual Performance Leaders

The Cy Young Awards went to Baltimore's 23-game winner Mike Flanagan in the American League, and to Cubs reliever Bruce Sutter, who saved 37 games, in the National League.

Willie Stargell shared National League Most Valuable Player honors with Cardinals first baseman Keith Hernandez, who led both leagues in batting with a .344 average. It was the first tie in the 49-year history of the award. American League MVP honors went to Don Baylor of the Orioles, who led the AL in RBI's (139).

Baseball Hall of Fame

Two former players -- Willie Mays and Hack Wilson -- and former league president Warren Giles were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on August 5.

Willie Mays at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony

Little League

On July 16 Crystal Fields became the first girl to win the Pitch, Hit, and Run Championship at the Little League All-Star Game in Seattle, Washington. The 11-year-old, 90-pound all-star shortstop for the Cumberland (Maryland) Phillies defeated seven 9- to 12-year-old boys in all three categories.

The Little League World Series was held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, August 21-25. In the champiionship game, the team from Pu-tzu, Taiwan, defeated the team from Campbell, California, 2-1, in eight innings. The winning pitcher, Dai Han-chao, struck out 17 batters and pitched a no-hitter, but a first inning error gave the Californians their first run. Chen Chao-en hit a home run to tie the game in the fifth inning. The winning run was scored by Lu Chang-kuen, who was awarded first base when hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch, and scored on a hit by Hou Chia-mou.

Dai Han-chao, star pitcher for Pu-tzu, Taiwan

When the Californians scored in the title game, it was the first run allowed by Taiwan after eight consecutive shutouts, stretching back to preliminary competition in the Pacific region.

SEE ALSO
In the Year 1979

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This page was last updated on May 28, 2017.