1979 in baseball

Last updated January 17, 2025

The following are the baseball events of the year 1979 throughout the world.

Champions

Major League Baseball

World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over Baltimore Orioles (4–3); Willie Stargell, MVP


League Championship Series (ALCS, NLCS)						World Series



East	Baltimore	6¹⁰*	9	3	8

West	California	3	8	4*	0
						AL	Baltimore	5	2	8	9	1	0	1

						NL	Pittsburgh	4	3	4	6	7	4	4
East	Pittsburgh		5¹¹	3¹⁰	7

West	Cincinnati		2	2	1

*Denotes walk-off

American League Championship Series MVP: None.
National League Championship Series MVP: Willie Stargell
All-Star Game, July 17 at the Kingdome: National League, 7–6; Dave Parker, MVP

Awards and honors

Baseball Hall of Fame
Most Valuable Player
- Don Baylor, California Angels, OF (AL)
- Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates, 1B and Keith Hernandez, St. Louis Cardinals, 1B (NL)
Cy Young Award
- Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles (AL)
- Bruce Sutter, Chicago Cubs (NL)
Rookie of the Year
- John Castino, Minnesota Twins, 3B and Alfredo Griffin, Toronto Blue Jays, SS (AL)
- Rick Sutcliffe, Los Angeles Dodgers, P (NL)
Woman Executive of the Year (major or minor league)
- Doris Krucker, Midwest League
Gold Glove Award
(P) Jim Palmer, Baltimore Orioles (AL); Phil Niekro, Atlanta Braves (NL)
(C) Jim Sundberg, Texas Rangers (AL); Bob Boone, Philadelphia Phillies (NL)
(1B) Cecil Cooper, Milwaukee Brewers (AL); Keith Hernandez, St. Louis Cardinals (NL)
(2B) Frank White, Kansas City Royals (AL); Manny Trillo, Philadelphia Phillies (NL)
(3B) Buddy Bell, Texas Rangers (AL); Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (NL)
(SS) Rick Burleson, Boston Red Sox (AL); Dave Concepción, Cincinnati Reds (NL)
(OF) Dwight Evans, Boston Red Sox (AL); Garry Maddox, Philadelphia Phillies (NL)
(OF) Sixto Lezcano, Milwaukee Brewers (AL); Dave Parker, Pittsburgh Pirates (NL)
(OF) Fred Lynn, Boston Red Sox (AL); Dave Winfield, San Diego Padres (NL)

MLB statistical leaders

Type	Name	Stat	Name	Stat
	American League		National League
AVG	Fred Lynn BOS	.333	Keith Hernandez STL	.344
HR	Gorman Thomas MIL	45	Dave Kingman CHC	48
RBI	Don Baylor CAL	139	Dave Winfield SDP	118
Wins	Mike Flanagan BAL	23	Joe Niekro HOU Phil Niekro ATL	21
ERA	Ron Guidry NYY	2.78	J. R. Richard HOU	2.71

Major league baseball final standings

American League
Rank	Club	Wins	Losses	Win %	GB
East Division
1st	Baltimore Orioles	102	57	.642	--
2nd	Milwaukee Brewers	95	66	.590	8
3rd	Boston Red Sox	91	69	.569	11.5
4th	New York Yankees	89	71	.556	13.5
5th	Detroit Tigers	85	76	.528	18
6th	Cleveland Indians	81	80	.503	22
7th	Toronto Blue Jays	53	109	.327	50.5
West Division
1st	California Angels	88	74	.543	--
2nd	Kansas City Royals	85	77	.525	3
3rd	Texas Rangers	83	79	.512	5
4th	Minnesota Twins	82	80	.506	6
5th	Chicago White Sox	73	87	.456	14
6th	Seattle Mariners	67	95	.414	21
7th	Oakland Athletics	54	108	.333	34

National League
Rank	Club	Wins	Losses	Win %	GB
East Division
1st	Pittsburgh Pirates	98	64	.605	--
2nd	Montreal Expos	95	65	.594	2
3rd	St. Louis Cardinals	86	76	.531	12
4th	Philadelphia Phillies	84	78	.519	14
5th	Chicago Cubs	80	82	.494	18
6th	New York Mets	63	99	.389	35
West Division
1st	Cincinnati Reds	90	71	.559	--
2nd	Houston Astros	89	73	.549	1.5
3rd	Los Angeles Dodgers	79	83	.488	11.5
4th	San Francisco Giants	71	91	.438	19.5
5th	San Diego Padres	68	93	.422	22
6th	Atlanta Braves	66	94	.413	23.5

Events

January

January 6 – The Minnesota Twins re-sign veteran relief ace Mike Marshall, who had been granted free agency on November 2, 1978. In the coming season, his second as a Twin, Marshall will lead the American League in games pitched (90) and saves (32).
January 8 – Dan O'Brien, general manager of the Texas Rangers since September 2, 1973, resigns his post and is succeeded by Eddie Robinson, former GM of the Atlanta Braves from 1972 to 1976. Nine days later, O'Brien, 49, is appointed president and CEO of the Seattle Mariners, the Rangers' rivals in the AL West.
January 15 – The Seattle Mariners re-sign outfielder Tom Paciorek, 32, who had been granted free agency after playing 103 games for Seattle in 1978. Paciorek will make the 1981 AL All-Star team in a Mariner uniform.
January 19 – The Pittsburgh Pirates sign veteran free-agent infielder Lee Lacy, formerly of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
January 23:
- Willie Mays receives 409 of 432 votes in the Baseball Writers' Association of America election to earn enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.
- The Toronto Blue Jays sell the contract of designated hitter Sam Ewing to the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Japanese Pacific League.
January 27 – The Seattle Mariners sign veteran free-agent slugger Willie Horton, granted free agency from the Toronto Blue Jays on December 2, 1978. Horton, 36, will play in all 162 Mariners' games in 1979 as their designated hitter, blast 29 homers, and collect 106 runs batted in.

February

February 3:
- The Minnesota Twins are forced to trade first baseman Rod Carew to the California Angels for four young players:^[1]^[2]^[3] Ken Landreaux, Dave Engle, Paul Hartzell and Brad Havens. In his first season with the Angels, he helps his new team reach the post season for the first time, batting over .300 for the next five seasons, and is selected for the next six American League All-Star teams.
- The Oakland Athletics sell the contract of catching prospect Bruce Robinson to the New York Yankees for a reported $400,000—the highest cash amount Oakland owner Charlie Finley can demand, as dictated by Commissioner of Baseball Bowie Kuhn.
February 12 – The Oakland Athletics fill their managerial vacancy by hiring Jim Marshall, previously skipper of the Chicago Cubs between July 25, 1974 and the end of 1976. Ex-first baseman Marshall, 47, replaces Jack McKeon, who parted company with the Athletics and owner Charlie Finley after the 1978 season ended.
February 15 – The Los Angeles Dodgers trade catcher Brad Gulden to the New York Yankees for outfielder Gary Thomasson. Gulden will later this season start the August 6 game against the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees' first game after the funeral for Thurman Munson, who had died days earlier in a plane crash.
February 23 – The Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, NL East division rivals, pull off an eight-player trade. Chicago sends catcher Dave Rader, second baseman Manny Trillo and outfielder Greg Gross to Philadelphia for pitchers Derek Botelho and Henry Mack, catcher Barry Foote, second baseman Ted Sizemore and outfielder Jerry Martin. In Trillo's four years as a Phillie, he will win three Gold Gloves and make three NL All-Star teams.

March

March 7:
- The Special Veterans Committee selects Warren Giles, late National League executive who died February 7, and Hack Wilson, the all-time holder of the record for most runs batted in a single season (191 in 1930), for induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Cactus League and Grapefruit League exhibition contests begin with amateur umpires officiating on the field, when the Major League Umpires Association calls for a strike designed to improve working conditions, pay and benefits.^[4]
March 10 – The St. Louis Cardinals sign veteran outfielder and pinch hitter Bernie Carbo, granted free agency from the Cleveland Indians on November 2, 1978.
March 26 – The New York Mets release infielder Bobby Valentine.
March 27:
- The New York Mets acquire Richie Hebner and infielder/outfielder José Moreno from the Philadelphia Phillies for right-hander Nino Espinosa. The Phils expect recently signed Pete Rose to take over Hebner's old first base position.
- The California Angels sign free-agent veteran outfielder Willie Davis, 38, who spent 1977 and 1978 playing in Nippon Professional Baseball.
March 28 – Pitcher Tom House is released by the Seattle Mariners.
March 29:
- The Philadelphia Phillies sign veteran outfielder Del Unser, granted free agency from the Montreal Expos on December 2, 1978. The 34-year-old Unser will be a valuable left-handed pinch hitter and role player for the Phils, batting .455 (five for 11) during the 1980 NLCS and 1980 World Series, and earning a ring as a member of Philadelphia's 1980 world champions.
- The New York Mets release third baseman Lenny Randle.

April

April 4 – The 1979 championship season begins with almost all MLB umpires on the picket lines. The only exceptions are Paul Pryor of the National League and Ted Hendry of the American League, who signed their contracts before the strike vote was taken and take the field on the advice of MLUA executive director Richie Phillips. Later this month, Pryor and Hendry notify their league presidents that they are joining their union brethren in the walkout. The leagues hire retired MLB arbiters, eight minor-league umpires, and amateur officials as "strikebreakers" during the work stoppage.^[4]
April 7:
- In the earliest no-hitter in major league history, the Houston Astros' Ken Forsch shuts down the Atlanta Braves 6–0. His brother, the St. Louis Cardinals' Bob Forsch, had hurled a no-hitter the previous season against the Philadelphia Phillies—making them the first big league brothers to each toss a no-hitter.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers trade right-handed starting pitcher Rick Rhoden to the Pittsburgh Pirates for southpaw starter Jerry Reuss. Although Rhoden, 25, makes only one appearance in 1979 before he undergoes season-ending shoulder surgery, he becomes a dependable member of the Pirates' rotation the following year through 1986. The 29-year-old Reuss, likewise, establishes himself as a Dodger, twice winning 18 games and taking a regular turn in the rotation through April 10, 1987.
April 13 – The Chicago White Sox trade pitcher Jack Kucek to the Philadelphia Phillies for a "player to be named later". On July 10, the White Sox receive hard-hitting utility infielder Jim Morrison from the Phils to complete the deal.
April 15 – The New York Mets sign 16-year-old infielder Jose Oquendo as a free agent.
April 17 – The Oakland Athletics defeat the Seattle Mariners 6–5 before only 653 fans at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, and some reports say that as few as 250 people attend the night game.
April 19:
- New York Yankees' ace closer Rich Gossage breaks his right thumb in a clubhouse fight with teammate Cliff Johnson. Gossage will miss almost two months, while 1978 American League Cy Young Award winner Ron Guidry voluntarily replaces him in the bullpen for a short time.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Mets exchange veteran shortstops, with the Bucs obtaining Tim Foli, 28, from New York for Frank Taveras, 29. Both become regulars for their new teams.
April 24 – The Toronto Blue Jays sign their shortstop of the future, 16-year-old Tony Fernández of San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic. Fernández will enter MLB in 1983, help turn the Blue Jays into a winner, and win four consecutive Gold Glove Awards and make three AL All-Star teams through 1990. Then, after being traded away, he will return to Toronto in 1993 to lash 14 hits in 45 at bats (.311) in the postseason and collect nine RBIs in the six-game 1993 World Series along with a world championship ring.

May

May 2 – Bill Lucas, 43, director of player personnel and de facto general manager of the Atlanta Braves—the first African-American to attain GM responsibilities and the highest-ranking Black executive in MLB—suffers an early-morning, massive brain hemorrhage at his home. He dies three days later without regaining consciousness.
May 9:
- At the Astrodome, the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston are tied 4–4 in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Astros' Jimmy Sexton on first base with no outs, when Terry Puhl lays down a sacrifice bunt. The Cardinals attempt to get the lead runner on the play; however, second base umpire (then a "replacement umpire" working during the ongoing arbiter strike) Dave Pallone calls Sexton safe, claiming that Garry Templeton never touched the bag. During the ensuing argument, Pallone ejects Cardinals manager Ken Boyer, first baseman Keith Hernandez and catcher Ted Simmons, and players on the Cardinal bench begin throwing bats and helmets onto the field in protest. As a result, Pallone orders the entire Cardinals squad into their clubhouse, allowing players only to come onto the field as needed. The Redbirds get out of the inning without a run scoring; however, they lose 5–4 in the 16th inning on a run-scoring single by the Astros' Bob Watson.^[5]
- The Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Atlanta Braves 17–9 at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in a bizarre ejection- and hit by pitch-marred game that features grand slam home runs hit on both sides, by Gary Matthews for the Braves and John Milner for the Pirates. In the fifth inning, the Braves' Phil Niekro is hit by a pitch by Don Robinson while swinging the bat, but awarded first base, prompting a heated argument from Pirates' manager Chuck Tanner and coach Joe Lonnett. Both are thrown out of the game by replacement umpire Hank Rountree, but refuse to leave the Bucs' dugout. The Pirates play the game under protest over the HBP call, and the Braves file a protest as well because Tanner and Lonnett did not exit the dugout in a timely manner after ejection. Neither protest will be upheld (Tanner and Lonnett eventually repair to the clubhouse). Later, Rennie Stennett and Dave Parker of the Pirates are ejected, Stennett in the seventh inning for arguing a call at second base and Parker in the ninth for charging the mound after being hit by a pitch from Gene Garber. In addition, Rowland Office of the Braves is ejected in the ninth for charging the mound after two close inside pitches by Kent Tekulve.^[6]
May 11 – The New York Yankees purchase the contract of left-hander Jim Kaat, 40, from the Philadelphia Phillies.
May 13 – The Atlanta Braves name John Mullen, 54, to replace the late Bill Lucas as general manager. Mullen, assistant general manager of the Houston Astros since 1967, previously worked in the Braves' front office between 1947 and 1966, including a stint as farm system director. Lucas, 43, died from a cerebral hemorrhage on May 5; he was baseball's first Black general manager.
May 16 – National League owners approve the purchase of the Houston Astros by an ownership group led by naval architect and marine engineer Dr. John McMullen, a former limited partner in George Steinbrenner's syndicate that owns the New York Yankees. McMullen's consortium pays $19 million to Ford Motor Credit Company for the former holdings of FMCC debtor Roy Hofheinz.
May 17 – Dave Kingman of the Chicago Cubs hits three home runs and Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies belts two, the second of which proves to be the game-winner in the tenth inning, as the Phillies beat the Cubs 23–22 at Wrigley Field. Bill Buckner slugs a grand slam and collects seven RBIs for Chicago. The game includes a then MLB-record 11 home runs and 50 hits.
May 18 – The end of the 1979 Major League umpires strike is hailed by players and managers as union members return to work. The settlement provides umpires with in-season vacations, pay hikes, and pension and 401(k) plans. It also results in the permanent hiring of the eight minor-league arbiters who crossed picket lines: Derryl Cousins, Dallas Parks, Fred Spenn and John Shulock of the American League, and Fred Brocklander, Steve Fields, Lanny Harris and Dave Pallone of the National League.^[4] However, ostracism by and lingering bitterness from the union umpires will plague the eight former replacement umpires over their careers.^[7]^[8]
May 21 – Batting ninth for the Toronto Blue Jays, Danny Ainge makes his MLB debut. Ainge collects three hits in four at bats and drives in a run as Toronto defeats the Cleveland Indians 8–1. While Ainge will play just three seasons for the Blue Jays, he'll go on to greater fame for a five-decade-long career in the NBA as a shooting guard, coach, television broadcaster, and front-office executive, during which he will win three titles as a player and executive for the Boston Celtics.
May 25 – Starter Ross Baumgarten and reliever Randy Scarbery pitch the first combined one-hitter in Chicago White Sox history, defeating Nolan Ryan and the California Angels 6–1 at Comiskey Park.
May 28 – After Texas Rangers first baseman Mike Jorgensen is hit in the head by a pitch from Boston Red Sox pitcher Andy Hassler, doctors discover a blood clot in Jorgensen's brain, which apparently caused a grand mal seizure that could have proved fatal. Apart from a pinch-hitting appearance on May 31, Jorgensen does not return to the active roster July 1, but he goes only eight for 63 for the rest of the 1979 season.^[9]
May 31 – Detroit Tigers pitcher Pat Underwood makes his major league debut against his brother, Tom, pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays. Both brothers hold the opposing team scoreless until Tom surrendered a solo home run to Jerry Morales leading off the eighth.

June

June 5:
- At the Astrodome, Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies shuts out Houston on one hit, Jeffrey Leonard's seventh-inning single. The Phils bang out 17 hits, including two singles from Carlton himself, and rout the Astros, 8–0.
- In the June amateur draft, the Kansas City Royals use their fourth overall pick to draft the University of Pittsburgh's Dan Marino, a right-handed pitcher. In the 17th round, they select Stanford's John Elway, an outfielder. Neither two-sport star will sign with the Royals, and they will go on to record-breaking careers as quarterbacks in the National Football League.
  - The Los Angeles Dodgers, meanwhile, select right-hander Orel Hershiser in the 17th round (440th overall) out of Bowling Green State University. They sign Hershiser almost immediately and in his 13 seasons (1983–1995) as a Dodger, he becomes a three-time National League All-Star and, in 1988, wins 23 games, the NL Cy Young Award, World Series MVP Award, and a World Series ring. Moreover, he sets a new MLB record by throwing 591⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings between August 30 and September 28.
June 12 – In a move that stuns baseball, the Detroit Tigers fire first-year manager Les Moss and replace him with Sparky Anderson, signing him to a five-year contract with an annual salary of $125,000. Anderson, 45, was dismissed by the Cincinnati Reds in November 1978 after his nine years at the helm produced five National League West championships, four NL pennants and World Series rings in 1975 and 1976. The Tigers are 27–26 but have won 11 of their last 16 games under Moss dating to May 27. Bound for the Baseball Hall of Fame, Anderson will pilot the Tigers through the end of the 1995 season, winning two AL East titles and both the 1984 American League pennant and World Series; Moss, 54, stays in baseball as a pitching coach but never receives another chance to manage.^[10]
June 13 – The Boston Red Sox make two trades. They deal veteran first baseman George Scott to the Kansas City Royals for outfielder Tom Poquette, then acquire first-sacker Bob Watson from the Houston Astros for pitchers Pete Ladd and Bobby Sprowl (player to be named later/PTBNL). Hitting only .224, former eight-time Gold Glove Award winner Scott, 35, is in the midst of what will be his 14th and last MLB season. Watson, 32, a 14-year Astro veteran, bats .337 for the Bosox with 105 hits in 84 games before departing as a free agent during the off-season.
June 14 – The San Diego Padres trade first baseman Mike Hargrove to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for outfielder Paul Dade.
June 15 – At the "no-waivers" trading deadline then in effect, the New York Yankees send DH Cliff Johnson to the Indians for left-hander Don Hood, and deal outfielder/pinch hitter Jay Johnstone to the San Diego Padres for right-hander Dave Wehrmeister.
June 18:
- Bob Lemon is fired as manager of the defending World Series champion New York Yankees after a sluggish 34–31 start. Billy Martin, originally not slated to take over until the 1980 season, is brought back early by George Steinbrenner, drawing the ire of Reggie Jackson.
- At the Astrodome, the New York Mets and Houston Astros battle into the 18th inning to settle a 2–2 tie before Craig Reynolds' RBI single drives in Reggie Baldwin with Houston's winning run. The Mets, who tallied twice in the first inning, are shut out the rest of the way by five Astro pitchers.
June 23 – At Olympic Stadium, Steve Rogers, the Montreal Expos' ace starting pitcher, one-hits the Philadelphia Phillies, 3–0. Dave Rader's eighth-inning single is the Phils' only safety. In winning, the Expos—enjoying the finest season yet in their eleven-year history—increase their NL East lead to 4½ games over the St. Louis Cardinals.
June 24 – In a 5–1 loss to the Rangers, Rickey Henderson debuts for the Oakland Athletics. He singles and doubles for the first two of his 3,055 career regular-season hits, and steals the first of his all-time best 1,406 bases.
June 26 – Outfielder Bobby Murcer returns to the New York Yankees after being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs for minor-league pitcher Paul Semall. During his 1969–1974 star turn as the Yankees' right- and center-fielder, he had hit 139 home runs, made four American League All-Star teams, and won a Gold Glove Award.
June 28 – The San Francisco Giants acquire pitchers Al Holland, Ed Whitson and Fred Breining from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for third baseman Bill Madlock, second baseman Lenny Randle and pitcher Dave Roberts. Madlock (who hits .328 in 85 games) and shortstop Tim Foli (.291 in 133 games since his April 19 acquisition) will play key roles in the Pirates' pennant drive and postseason.

July

July 4:
- Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies fires his second one-hitter in 30 days, and scores the only run of the game, defeating the New York Mets, 1–0, at Veterans Stadium. Elliott Maddox doubles in the seventh for the Mets' lone "knock". Future Hall-of-Famer Carlton walks none and fans nine during his fifth career one-hit game.
- At the unofficial half-way point of the MLB season there are three close divisional races. The Texas Rangers (47–34) and California Angels (48–35), expansion teams born in 1961 who've never made the postseason in the 19 years of their existence, are in a virtual tie at the top of the American League West Division, while the Minnesota Twins (43–35) are 2½ out. In the AL East, the Baltimore Orioles (54–27) have the best record in MLB, but are only 3½ games in front of the Boston Red Sox (49–29). In the NL East, the 11-year-old Montreal Expos (45–28) remain hopeful of their first-ever playoff berth, 5½ lengths in front of the Pittsburgh Pirates (40–34). The only seeming shoo-in is in the NL West, where the 18-year-old Houston Astros (52–31)—like the Rangers, Angels and Expos an expansion team from the 1960s—appear a lock for their first playoff appearance, leading the Cincinnati Reds (41–40) by ten full games.
July 6 – The Los Angeles Dodgers purchase the contract of left-handed pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, 18, from Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League.
July 7 – Hall-of-Fame-bound Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies belts three home runs and drives in five runs, but his club bows to the San Francisco Giants, 8–6, at Veterans Stadium. It's Schmidt's first of two career three-homer games, although he slugged an MLB-record-tying four (in ten innings) at Wrigley Field on April 17, 1976.
July 11 – At the Kingdome, the Seattle Mariners chase Tommy John from the mound in the bottom of the first inning, scoring nine runs and going on to defeat John's New York Yankees, 16–1. John's record falls to 13–4 and his ERA rises by 0.39 to 2.62.
July 12 – The Detroit Tigers win the first game of a scheduled doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox, 4–1, on Disco Demolition Night at Chicago's Comiskey Park. Thousands of young fans swarm onto the field between the games, damaging the field and causing mayhem throughout the stadium. The White Sox are forced to forfeit the second game.
July 13:
- In a rare event, Nolan Ryan of the California Angels and Steve Renko of the Boston Red Sox take separate no-hitters into the ninth inning before they both lose the no-hit bids.
  - Ryan's no-hit bid against the New York Yankees benefits from some questionable official scoring; Jim Spencer's drive to center that Angels centerfielder Rick Miller barely got a glove on is ruled an error. In the ninth, Thurman Munson reaches on an error by shortstop Jim Anderson. Two batters later, Reggie Jackson singles to center to unquestionably break up the no-hitter. The next batter, Lou Piniella, hits a sacrifice fly to score Munson, and break up the shutout. The run is, however, unearned. Ryan's Angels defeat the Yankees, 6–1.
  - Renko's no-hit bid against the Oakland Athletics is broken up by Rickey Henderson with one out. After recording a second out, Renko walks Mitchell Page, and is pulled in favor of Bill Campbell by Red Sox manager Don Zimmer. Campbell strikes out the only batter he faces, Dave Revering to earn the save; however, Renko is denied the shutout as a result. The Red Sox defeat the A's, 2–0. Ryan's feat, however, receives considerably more attention as the game is nationally televised on ABC's Monday Night Baseball and Ryan (while pitching the game) was on the ensuing issue's cover of Sports Illustrated.
- In a marathon, 17-inning contest at County Stadium, the Milwaukee Brewers score twice in the home half of the final frame to overcome a short-lived 3–2 deficit and defeat the visiting Cleveland Indians, 4–3.
July 17 – The National League wins its eighth straight All-Star Game, 7–6, at Seattle. Lee Mazzilli homers to tie the game in the eighth, and walks in the ninth to bring in the winning run. Dave Parker, with two outstanding throws, is named the MVP, and Pete Rose appears in the game playing first base, making him the only player in MLB history to appear in the game at five different positions in the field in his All-Star game career.
July 19 – Al Rosen resigns as president of the New York Yankees following a series of disagreements with principal owner George Steinbrenner. After a stint with Bally's casino operations in Atlantic City, the 1953 AL MVP will resume his executive career in baseball the following season in the National League with the Houston Astros.
July 20 – Le Grand Orange returns to Montréal when the Expos acquire Rusty Staub from the Detroit Tigers for cash and a minor-league "player to be named later". Staub, 35, was the Expos' first star, playing for the expansion team from 1969–1971. In this second stint, he will appear in 38 games as a first baseman, outfielder and pinch hitter through the end of the season, then be traded back to the American League, where he can serve as a designated hitter.
July 22 – After his Cleveland Indians drop a doubleheader to the Milwaukee Brewers and fall to 43–52, 20 games out of first place, Jeff Torborg is fired as manager and replaced by coach Dave Garcia. Torborg, 37, has led the Tribe to a 157–201 (.439) record since taking the reins on June 19, 1977.
July 23 – At light-less Wrigley Field, the Cincinnati Reds and home-standing Chicago Cubs resume a May 10 game that was suspended in the top of the tenth inning and the teams knotted at 7–7. Both teams score in the 11th frame, then battle into the 18th inning tied, eight-all. In the home half of the 18th, Steve Ontiveros' one-out single plates Ken Henderson and delivers a 9–8 Cub victory.
July 24 – Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox hits his 400th home run off Oakland Athletics pitcher Mike Morgan in the seventh inning of the Red Sox's 7–3 win over the Athletics at Fenway Park.
July 27 – Bert Blyleven of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches a 9–1 complete game victory against the Montreal Expos. However, he also strikes out five times as a hitter in the game, becoming the only pitcher in major league history to do so.
July 30 – The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers make a four for four swap, with five of the men exchanged termed "players to be named later", or "PTBNL". In the deal, the Rangers send pitchers Ray Fontenot (PTBNL) and Gene Nelson (PTBNL), minor-league infielder Amos Lewis, and outfielder Oscar Gamble to the Yankees for three pitchers, all players to be named later (Neal Mersch, Bob Polonsky and Mark Softy), and outfielder Mickey Rivers. The deal closes the book on Rivers' three-plus years in the Bronx: he hits .299 in 490 regular-season games, with 93 stolen bases, and wins two World Series rings.

August

Munson's locker, with retired #15 uniform, at Yankee Stadium's museum Yankees-museum8.jpg — Munson's locker, with retired #15 uniform, at Yankee Stadium's museum

August 2:
- In a tragedy that shocks the New York Yankees and the baseball world, Yankees captain and seven-time All-Star catcher Thurman Munson dies at the controls of his newly purchased private jet when it crashes short of a runway at Akron-Canton Airport. Munson, 32, a licensed pilot with extensive experience flying propeller-driven aircraft, was practicing touch-and-go landings of his twin-engine Cessna Citation 501 ^[11] jet while visiting his family during an off-day. Two passengers—a flight instructor and a friend of Munson’s—are injured but survive the crash. (See also Deaths entry for this date below.)^[12]
- The Chicago White Sox fire manager Don Kessinger and promote Tony La Russa from Triple-A Iowa to replace him. Kessinger, 37, was scuffling as a player-manager, hitting only .200 in 56 games while leading the ChiSox to a 46–60 record; they're 14 games behind the California Angels and in fifth place in the AL West. This is the first MLB managerial assignment in the 34-year-old La Russa's Hall-of-Fame career.
- Jerry Hoffberger, Baltimore brewer who has been an owner of the Orioles since 1954 and sole owner since 1964, sells the club to Washington, D.C., lawyer Edward Bennett Williams for $12.3 million. Williams is the former owner of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.
August 3 – Over 51,000 mourners attend a memorial service for Thurman Munson at Yankee Stadium, who was killed the previous day in a plane crash.
August 5 – Fred Lynn hits his 100th career home run, helping the Boston Red Sox beat Milwaukee Brewers 7–2.
August 6 – The entire New York Yankee team flies to Canton, Ohio for Thurman Munson's funeral. Hours later, the team returns to New York City and defeats the Baltimore Orioles 5–4 at Yankee Stadium, before a national viewing audience on ABC's Monday Night Baseball . Bobby Murcer, one of Munson's best friends, drives in all five Yankee runs with a three-run home run in the seventh inning and a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth.
August 9 – The death at 75 of one of baseball's most powerful and controversial owners,^[13]^[14] the Dodgers' Walter O'Malley, stirs fresh debate over his legacy.^[15]^[16] (See Deaths entry for this date below.) The Dodgers will remain in the O'Malley family, with son Peter as president, until 1998.
August 12 – The Texas Rangers, in fourth place in the AL West but only 6½ games out of the lead, acquire veteran first baseman Willie Montañez from the New York Mets for two PTBNLs, right-handed pitching prospect Ed Lynch and former Met first baseman Mike Jorgensen, who will be sent to New York during the off-season.
August 13 – The St. Louis Cardinals' Lou Brock slashes his 3,000th hit off the hand of Chicago Cubs pitcher Dennis Lamp in a 3–2 Cardinal win at Busch Memorial Stadium.
August 15 – Mike Flanagan of the Baltimore Orioles gives up a lead-off homer to the first batter he faces, Jim Morrison of the Chicago White Sox, then shuts down Chicago for 12 innings at Memorial Stadium. Then, eventual Hall-of-Fame slugger Eddie Murray wins the game for the Orioles, 2–1, by stealing home. Flanagan's 12-inning complete game win improves his record to 16–7.
August 21–22 – The New York Mets defeat the Houston Astros 5–0 at Shea Stadium in a game that ends three different times and takes two days to finish. In the ninth inning with two out and no baserunners, Houston's Jeffrey Leonard flies out to left field to seemingly end the contest, but it's ruled that New York shortstop Frank Taveras had called time before the "final" pitch was delivered, forcing the Mets to return to the field. Leonard then singles to keep the Astros alive, but is sent back to hit when the Mets' first baseman, Ed Kranepool, does not take his position on time. Leonard then flies out again to apparently end the contest a second time. But Astro manager Bill Virdon plays the game under protest, which National League president Chub Feeney, in attendance at the stadium, upholds an hour later. Feeney orders that the game be resumed the following night, August 22, with Leonard on first and two out. Finally, the August 21 game is officially over when José Cruz makes the Astros' 27th out by grounding out to Mets' second baseman Doug Flynn.^[17]
August 22 – At Riverfront Stadium, Johnny Bench breaks Frank Robinson's record for most home runs by a Cincinnati Red. His shot, the 325th home run of his career (all with the Reds), comes off Stan Bahnsen in the fourth inning of the Reds' 7–2 victory over the Montreal Expos.
August 24 – The Philadelphia Phillies retire eventual Hall of Famer Richie Ashburn's jersey #1. During Ashburn's 12 seasons (1948–1959) as the Phils' centerfielder, he won two National League batting titles—in 1955 (.338) and 1958 (.350)—exceeded the 200-hit mark three times, and was named to four NL All-Star squads. He has been a member of the club's broadcasting team since 1963.
August 25:
- In one of 1979's longest games, the surging Pittsburgh Pirates tie the San Diego Padres with two out in the top of the ninth, forcing extra innings, then battle the Padres into the 19th frame. Pittsburgh shortstop Tim Foli then delivers the decisive run with an RBI single and Dave Roberts holds off San Diego in the home half for a 4–3 Pirate victory. The Bucs' August record improves to 17–8, which has enabled them to take the lead in the NL East race.^[18]
- At Exhibition Stadium, the California Angels bash the Toronto Blue Jays, 24–2, on the strength of 26 hits, including five home runs.
August 31 - The disappointing, three-time NL East champion Phillies—sitting at 65–67, in fifth place in the division and 12½ games out of first—fire manager Danny Ozark, their skipper since 1973. Former pitcher and current farm system director Dallas Green is named as his replacement. Ozark departs Philadelphia with a 594–510 record and three division titles.

September

September 3 – At the conclusion of the Labor Day holiday weekend, there are three tight divisional races. In the National League West, the onrushing Cincinnati Reds (78–60, after a 19–7 August) have overcome the Houston Astros' once-commanding lead, and hold a half-game advantage over the 77–60 Astros. In the NL East, the Pittsburgh Pirates (82–55) have ridden their strong July and August showing (41–20 overall) to take a 2½-game lead over the Montreal Expos (76–54). In the AL West, the resilient California Angels (75–63), who only days before regained their season-long front-running position, are 1½ games in front of the Kansas City Royals (73–64). All those races will remain competitive into the final week of September. The lone exception is the AL East, where the Baltimore Orioles (90–46) are a comfortable 8½ lengths ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers (83–56).
September 4 – Richard Dotson makes his MLB debut for the Chicago White Sox. He lasts only 11⁄3 innings, giving up five runs and finished with a 33.75 earned run average. However, the White Sox rebound to win 11–7, and Dotson also will rebound to pitch 11 years in the majors.
September 5 – The spiraling San Francisco Giants, who've gone 9–25 since July 31, fire third-year manager Joe Altobelli and name third-base coach Dave Bristol to replace him. Altobelli, hailed after his 1978 Giants posted a strong 89–73 record, has led San Francisco to a 225–239 (.485) overall mark since Opening Day 1977. He'll receive a second chance in 1983 when he is named Earl Weaver's successor with the Baltimore Orioles. The Giants are Bristol's fourth MLB managerial assignment since July 1966.
September 6 – By beating the Chicago Cubs, 1–0, at Wrigley Field, the Montreal Expos advance to within a game of first place in the NL East. David Palmer fires a six-hit shutout and future Hall-of-Famer Gary Carter hits the decisive home run in the ninth inning.
September 8 – Kirk Gibson makes his major league debut for the Detroit Tigers, striking out as a pinch hitter for Dave Stegman in Detroit's 5–4 loss to the New York Yankees.
September 11:
- Dave Concepción and George Foster hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning off Houston Astros ace reliever Joe Sambito and the Cincinnati Reds hold off the Astros, 9–8. The Reds entered the game trailing the Astros by a half-game and, by winning, move into first place to stay in the National League West.
- Tim Raines makes his major league debut. He is inserted into the game as a pinch runner for catcher Gary Carter in the Montreal Expos' 8–6 win over the Chicago Cubs.
September 12 – Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox records his 3,000th career hit with a single off right-hander Jim Beattie during a 9–2 win over the rival New York Yankees at Fenway Park. The 40-year-old Yastrzemski is the first American League player to reach both 3,000 hits and 400 home runs.
September 15 – As part of a 10–2 win over the Baltimore Orioles, Bob Watson of the Red Sox hits for the cycle—becoming the first player to accomplish this feat in both major leagues. The former Houston Astro had previously hit for the cycle June 24, 1977.
September 17 – George Brett hits his 20th triple of the season. He is the first player since Willie Mays in 1957 to join the 20–20–20 club.
September 22 – The Baltimore Orioles (99–53) sew up their first AL East title since 1974 when the second-place Milwaukee Brewers (90–64) drop a 6–3 home contest to the Minnesota Twins, mathematically eliminating them from the divisional race.
September 23:
- Lou Brock steals the 938th and final base of his career, breaking Billy Hamilton's all-time National League record. Brock's St. Louis Cardinals defeat the New York Mets 7–4 in ten innings.
- Herman Franks, 65, steps down as manager of the 78–77 Chicago Cubs after posting a 238–241 (.497) mark since Opening Day 1977. Coach Joey Amalfitano takes the helm for the seven games remaining in the championship season. Preston Gómez, third-base coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers and former skipper of the San Diego Padres and Houston Astros, will be named the Cubs' next "permanent" manager on October 2.
September 24 – Pete Rose collects his 200th hit of the season, giving him ten seasons with at least 200 hits. This breaks the record set by Ty Cobb.
September 24–26 – The two top teams in the NL East, the Montreal Expos (93–60) and Pittsburgh Pirates (93–61), meet for a four-game showdown at Three Rivers Stadium. By the time the series ends on September 26, the Pirates will take the divisional lead with three victories in four games.
- On September 24, the teams split a doubleheader. Bert Blyleven and Kent Tekulve combine to defeat Montreal, 5–2, in Game 1. But in the nightcap, the Expos overcome a 6–2 deficit with five unanswered runs to win, 7–6, on Ellis Valentine's ninth-inning RBI single. With the split, the Expos maintain their half-game lead.
- On September 25, the Bucs' Willie Stargell belts two homers off Scott Sanderson to power a 10–4 Pittsburgh victory. Ed Ott also knocks in three runs.
- On the 26th, the Pirates overwhelm the Expos and their ace starter, Steve Rogers, and win 10–1 behind Bruce Kison. The Pirates, now 96–62, take a 1½-game lead on the strength of their fifth victory over Montreal (94–63) in their six September meetings.
September 25 – Behind Frank Tanana's complete game, the 19-year-old California Angels (87–71) earn their first-ever postseason berth, clinching the AL West with a 4–1 triumph over the second-place Kansas City Royals (82–76). The Angels will face the Baltimore Orioles in the 1979 ALCS.
September 28:
- Garry Templeton of the St. Louis Cardinals collects his 100th hit of the season while batting right-handed. Having already collected 100 hits while batting left-handed, Templeton is the first player in history to accomplish this. He has batted right-handed, exclusively, for the last week of the 1979 season to get the needed hits.
- The Cincinnati Reds' Frank Pastore pitches a complete-game 3–0 shutout over the Atlanta Braves, clinching the NL West title for the Reds.
September 30 – The Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Chicago Cubs, 5–3, at Three Rivers Stadium, while the Montreal Expos are thwarted by Steve Carlton and the Philadelphia Phillies at Olympic Stadium, 2–0, enabling the 98–64 Pirates to clinch their sixth NL East title since 1970. They will face the Cincinnati Reds in the 1979 NLCS, the fourth such meeting over the same span. The 95–65 Expos enjoy their finest season since their 1969 debut, but finish two games behind Pittsburgh.

October

October 1 – The San Diego Padres fire second-year manager Roger Craig after a 93-loss season, and replace him with Jerry Coleman, who as an infielder won six World Series rings with the New York Yankees between 1949 and 1957. Coleman, 55, has spent the last 19 years as a baseball broadcaster, and has been the play-by-play "voice of the Padres" on radio since 1972.
October 2 – After a disappointing, second-place finish in the AL West, the Kansas City Royals fire manager Whitey Herzog, 47, who has led them to a 410–304 (.573) regular season record and three division titles since taking the job on July 25, 1975. Discord between Herzog and owner Ewing Kauffman is later revealed to be the primary reason for the future Hall-of-Fame skipper's dismissal.
October 3 – The San Diego Padres release pitcher Mickey Lolich, ending the southpaw's 16-season MLB career. The 1968 World Series MVP, who won 217 career regular-season games, is notable for his durability during an era that saw increased reliance on relief pitchers. Lolich exceeded 200 innings pitched for 12 consecutive years (1964–1975) and hurled over 300 innings for four straight seasons (1971–1974)—including 376 innings pitched in 1971.
October 6 – In Game 4 of the 1979 ALCS, Scott McGregor shuts out the California Angels on six hits, all singles, enabling his Baltimore Orioles to capture their fifth American League pennant since 1966. In the World Series, they will face the National League champion Pittsburgh Pirates, who swept the Cincinnati Reds in three straight games in the NLCS, which finished a day earlier. The Fall Classic will be a reprise of the 1971 World Series, won by the Pirates, four games to three.
October 17:
- In Game 7 of the World Series, Willie Stargell hits his third home run of the Series to spark the Pittsburgh Pirates to their third straight win over the Baltimore Orioles, to win the World Series championship. Stargell wins Series MVP honors. The Pirates triumph comes after overcoming a deficit of three-games-to-one.
- Although his team lost that series, Earl Weaver is named Sporting News Manager of the Year.
- The Chicago Cubs trade pitcher Donnie Moore to the St. Louis Cardinals for second baseman Mike Tyson.
October 18 – The Toronto Blue Jays raise eyebrows when they name Bobby Mattick the second manager in club history. At 63, Mattick will be one of the oldest "rookie" pilots in MLB annals, and he is a valuable scout and player development official who has signed high-profile players for the Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros and Blue Jays since the early 1950s. He succeeds Roy Hartsfield, the Jays' original skipper, fired earlier this month after compiling a 166–318 (.343) record over three seasons.
October 23:
- Billy Martin, who led the New York Yankees to a 55–40 (.579) record after he regained the Bombers' managing job on June 19, gets into a barroom fight with Joseph Cooper, a marshmallow salesman from Minnesota. Six days later, the Yankees fire Martin and replace him with Dick Howser, 43, the current head baseball coach of the Florida State Seminoles and the Yanks' former longtime third-base coach.
- Days after Howser's hiring, Yankees' principal owner George Steinbrenner shuffles his front office, moving general manager Cedric Tallis, 65, up to executive vice president and naming former Yankee infielder Gene Michael, 41, the club's GM for the 1980 season.
October 24 – Jim Frey, 48, a member of the Baltimore Orioles' coaching staff since 1970, is named to succeed Whitey Herzog as manager of the Kansas City Royals.
October 31 – The Detroit Tigers obtain third baseman Richie Hebner from the New York Mets for infielder Phil Mankowski and outfielder Jerry Morales.

November

November 1:
- Among the veteran players granted free agency from their 1979 clubs are future Hall-of-Famers Nolan Ryan, Joe Morgan, Tony Pérez and Jim Kaat. In all, 42 players who have played out their 1979 contracts hit the market.
- The New York Yankees make two headline-worthy trades. In a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, they acquire pitcher Tom Underwood, catcher Rick Cerone and outfielder Ted Wilborn in exchange for pitcher Paul Mirabella, first baseman Chris Chambliss and second baseman Dámaso García. In the second, they obtain outfielder Ruppert Jones and pitcher Jim Lewis from the Seattle Mariners for pitchers Rick Anderson and Jim Beattie, catcher Jerry Narron and outfielder Juan Beníquez. In 1980, Cerone will be asked to take over the Yankees' regular catching job left vacant by the late Thurman Munson. García will eventually become Toronto's All-Star second baseman.
November 8 – The Yankees sign two top-ranked veterans who were granted free agency on November 1: first baseman Bob Watson, 33, formerly of the Boston Red Sox, and left-handed hurler and ex-Yankee Rudy May, 35, formerly of the Montreal Expos. In 1980, Watson will bat .307 in 130 games, and the versatile May will win 15 of 20 decisions and lead the American League in earned run average (2.46).
November 13 – For the first time, there is a tie for the winner of a Most Valuable Player Award. In the National League, Willie Stargell of the world-champion Pittsburgh Pirates and Keith Hernandez of the St. Louis Cardinals are judged co-MVPs by the BBWAA, in custody of the award since 1931. Each man garners 216 points with Stargell receiving ten first-place votes to Hernandez' four and the Redbird first baseman making up points on Stargell down-ballot. Stargell, 39, becomes the oldest person yet to be named NL MVP (since broken by Barry Bonds in 2004). The Pirates thus win (or share) all four "Most Valuable Player" awards for 1979—All-Star Game (Dave Parker), NLCS (Stargell), World Series (Stargell), and the NL's regular season (Stargell)—the first such sweep in Major League history.
November 14 – The Los Angeles Dodgers sign pitcher Dave Goltz, granted free agency from the Minnesota Twins on November 1.
November 16:
- The Boston Red Sox sign first baseman and future DH Tony Pérez, granted free agency from the Montreal Expos on November 1. As a member of the Cincinnati Reds, future Hall-of-Famer Pérez played a key role in defeating the Red Sox in Game 7 of the 1975 World Series with his two-run homer off Bill Lee's "Lee-phus pitch" that put Cincinnati on the scoreboard in the sixth inning.
- The California Angels sign veteran right-hander Bruce Kison, granted free agency from the Pittsburgh Pirates, also on November 1.
November 17 – The Los Angeles Dodgers sign relief pitcher Don Stanhouse, granted free agency from the Baltimore Orioles on November 1.
November 19:
- In the most expensive free-agent signing since the striking down of the reserve clause in 1975, the Houston Astros sign Nolan Ryan to a four-year, $4.5 million contract. The 32-year-old strikeout king and former Angels mound ace receives the first $1 million a year contract in baseball history.^[19]
- The San Diego Padres sign veteran starting pitcher Rick Wise, granted free agency from the Cleveland Indians.
November 20:
- California Angels outfielder and DH Don Baylor wins the American League Most Valuable Player Award for 1979. Baylor receives 20 of 28 first-place votes to become the first Angel ever to win MVP honors. He was pivotal to the Halos' first-ever AL West title and postseason appearance, hitting .296 with 36 home runs and a major league-leading 120 runs scored and 139 runs batted in.
- The Atlanta Braves sign veteran left-handed reliever Al Hrabosky, who had been granted free agency from the Kansas City Royals.
November 26:
- Sportswriters from the BBWAA also create a tie in American League Rookie of the Year Award voting. Third baseman John Castino, who batted .285 for the Minnesota Twins, and shortstop Alfredo Griffin, who hit .287 for the Toronto Blue Jays, each receive seven of the 28 first-place votes. Near-winners include Mark Clear (five votes) and Ross Baumgarten, Ron Davis and Pat Putnam (each with three). The deadlock precipitates a change in the voting system, effective in 1980. The BBWAA has voted for "ROTY" awards since 1947.
- The San Diego Padres sign veteran left-hander John Curtis, granted free agency from the San Francisco Giants.
November 28 – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Rick Sutcliffe, who posted a 17–10 record with a 3.46 ERA for a sub-.500 team, receives 20 of first-place 24 votes to earn the National League Rookie of the Year honors. Right fielders Jeffrey Leonard of the Houston Astros (three) and Scot Thompson of the Chicago Cubs (one) receive the other votes.

December

December 1 – 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:
- The Toronto Blue Jays trade first baseman Chris Chambliss and shortstop Luis Gómez to the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Joey McLaughlin, shortstop Pat Rockett and outfielder Barry Bonnell. Chambliss, 30, had been obtained in a multiplayer trade from the New York Yankees on November 1.
- The California Angels sign veteran shortstop Freddie Patek, granted free agency from the Kansas City Royals.
December 6:
- The Braves keep dealing, acquiring right-hander Doyle Alexander and infielder Larvell Blanks, along with $50,000, from the Texas Rangers for pitcher Adrian Devine and shortstop Pepe Frías.
- After signing Patek the day before, the Angels make a five-player trade with their division rivals, obtaining veteran right-fielder Al Cowens, infielder Todd Cruz and pitcher Craig Eaton ("PTBNL") from the Royals for first baseman Willie Aikens and shortstop Rance Mulliniks.
- The Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles—also division rivals—make a one for one trade, with the Brewers sending second baseman Lenn Sakata to Baltimore for right-handed pitcher John Flinn.
December 7:
- Bobby Bonds' five-year odyssey through the American League ends when the Cleveland Indians swap the 33-year-old outfielder to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitcher John Denny and outfielder Jerry Mumphrey. Bonds, who spent the first seven years of his MLB career in the National League with the San Francisco Giants, making two All-Star teams and winning three Gold Glove Awards, has played for five AL clubs since the start of the 1975 season, with his longest stay consisting of two years (1976–1977) with the California Angels. Still productive, however, Bonds averaged 31 homers over his four healthy AL seasons, and in 1979 posted a robust OPS of .830.
- The Detroit Tigers deal speedy outfielder Ron LeFlore to the Montreal Expos for left-hander Dan Schatzeder. LeFlore, 31, averaged 49 stolen bases over his six seasons with Detroit, including an AL-best 68 in 1978 and 78 more (second to Willie Wilson) in 1979. He will lead the National League in thefts with 87 in 1980, becoming the first player to each league in that category in the post-1901, modern era.
- In a separate transaction, the Tigers sell the contract of veteran third baseman Aurelio Rodríguez to the San Diego Padres for $200,000. Rodríguez has spent nine full seasons with in Detroit manning the "hot corner".
December 10 – The New York Mets trade catching prospect Jody Davis to the St. Louis Cardinals for southpaw pitcher Ray Searage. Davis, 23, was the Double-A Texas League's All-Star catcher in 1979.
December 12 – The San Francisco Giants sign three veteran free agents who were granted free agency from their 1979 clubs: catcher Milt May (formerly of the Chicago White Sox), infielder Rennie Stennett (Pittsburgh Pirates), and outfielder Jim Wohlford (Kansas City Royals). May and Stennett will be regulars on the 1980 Giants.
December 19 – The Cleveland Indians sign Jorge Orta, granted free agency from the White Sox on November 1. Outfielder/DH Orta, 29, will be an American League All-Star in 1980.

Movies

Bleacher Bums (TV)
The Kid from Left Field (TV)