1979 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1979 Pittsburgh Pirates
1979 NL East Champions 1979 NL Champions 1979 World Series Champions
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1887)
Eastern Division (since 1969)
Location
Three Rivers Stadium (since 1970)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1] (since 1907)
Results
Record	98–64 (.605)
Divisional place	1st
Other information
Owner(s)	John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Thomas Johnson (minority shareholder)
General manager(s)	Harding "Pete" Peterson
Manager(s)	Chuck Tanner
Local television	KDKA-TV 2 Milo Hamilton, Lanny Frattare, Nelson Briles
Local radio	KDKA–AM 1020 Milo Hamilton, Lanny Frattare
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The 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates had 98 wins and 64 losses and captured the National League East Division title by two games over the Montreal Expos. The Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds to win their ninth National League title, and the Baltimore Orioles to win their fifth World Series title – and also their last playoff series victory to date. The wildly popular disco hit "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge was used as the team's theme song that season.

Offseason

• October 23, 1978: Will McEnaney was released by the Pirates.^[2]
• December 4, 1978: Ken Macha was drafted from the Pirates by the Montreal Expos in the 1978 rule 5 draft.^[3]
• December 5, 1978: Odell Jones, Rafael Vásquez, and Mario Mendoza were traded by the Pirates to the Seattle Mariners for Enrique Romo, Rick Jones and Tom McMillan.^[4]

Regular season

Season standings

NL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Pittsburgh Pirates	98	64	0.605	—	48–33	50–31
Montreal Expos	95	65	0.594	2	56–25	39–40
St. Louis Cardinals	86	76	0.531	12	42–39	44–37
Philadelphia Phillies	84	78	0.519	14	43–38	41–40
Chicago Cubs	80	82	0.494	18	45–36	35–46
New York Mets	63	99	0.389	35	28–53	35–46

Record vs. opponents

1979 National League Records Sources:
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	HOU	LAD	MON	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	4–8	6–12	7–11	12–6	1–9	4–8	7–5	4–8	6–12	11–7	4–8
Chicago	8–4	—	7–5	6–6	5–7	6–12	8–10	9–9	6–12	9–3	8–4	8–10
Cincinnati	12–6	5–7	—	8–10	11–7	6–6	8–4	8–4	8–4	10–7	6–12	8–4
Houston	11–7	6–6	10–8	—	10–8	7–5	9–3	5–7	4–8	14–4	7–11	6–6
Los Angeles	6–12	7–5	7–11	8–10	—	6–6	9–3	3–9	4–8	9–9	14–4	6–6
Montreal	9–1	12–6	6–6	5–7	6–6	—	15–3	11–7	7–11	7–5	7–5	10–8
New York	8–4	10–8	4–8	3–9	3–9	3–15	—	5–13	8–10–1	4–8	8–4	7–11
Philadelphia	5-7	9–9	4–8	7–5	9–3	7–11	13–5	—	8–10	9–3	6–6	7–11–1
Pittsburgh	8–4	12–6	4–8	8–4	8–4	11–7	10–8–1	10–8	—	7–5	9–3	11–7
San Diego	12–6	3–9	7–10	4–14	9–9	5–7	8–4	3–9	5–7	—	8–10	4–8
San Francisco	7–11	4–8	12–6	11–7	4–14	5–7	4–8	6–6	3–9	10–8	—	5–7
St. Louis	8–4	10–8	4–8	6–6	6–6	8–10	11–7	11–7–1	7–11	8–4	7–5	—

Game log

1979 Game Log: 98–64 (Home: 48–33; Away: 50–31)
April: 7–11 (Home: 5–6; Away: 2–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 6 Expos 2–3 (10) Sosa Tekulve (0–1) — 36,141 0–1 2 April 7 Expos 7–6 Jackson (1–0) Sosa — 8,700 1–1 3 April 8 Expos 4–5 May Romo (0–1) Palmer 8,680 1–2 4 April 10 @ Phillies 3–7 Ruthven Romo (0–2) — 48,235 1–3 5 April 11 @ Phillies 4–5 Carlton Blyleven (0–1) — 26,281 1–4 6 April 12 Cardinals 3–1 Robinson (1–0) Denny — 3,986 2–4 7 April 13 Cardinals 7–6 Bibby (1–0) Schultz Jackson (1) 4,395 3–4 8 April 14 Cardinals 7–4 Whitson (1–0) Forsch Jackson (2) 10,940 4–4 9 April 15 Cardinals 4–9 (10) Littell Tekulve (0–2) — 3,012 4–5 10 April 17 Phillies 2–13 Carlton Blyleven (0–2) — 7,739 4–6 11 April 18 Phillies 2–3 Lerch Robinson (1–1) — 12,195 4–7 12 April 20 @ Astros 4–5 (10) Sambito Bibby (1–1) — 19,834 4–8 13 April 21 @ Astros 4–5 (10) Andujar Tekulve (0–3) — 48,977 4–9 14 April 22 @ Astros 2–3 Andujar Candelaria (0–1) Sambito 22,403 4–10 15 April 24 @ Reds 9–2 Robinson (2–1) Pastore — 18,372 5–10 16 April 25 @ Reds 3–2 (11) Tekulve (1–3) Tomlin — 20,155 6–10 17 April 27 Astros 8–9 (11) Riccelli Whitson (1–1) — 5,767 6–11 18 April 29 Astros 10–5 Kison (1–0) Niekro Jackson (3) 7,598 7–11
May: 16–10 (Home: 7–4; Away: 9–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 19 May 1 Braves 2–5 Niekro Tekulve (1–4) — 5,122 7–12 20 May 2 Braves 10–2 Candelaria (1–1) Mahler — 4,840 8–12 21 May 4 @ Cardinals 3–4 Sykes Robinson (2–2) Schultz 13,525 8–13 22 May 5 @ Cardinals 6–5 Jackson (2–0) Vuckovich Whitson (1) 17,440 9–13 23 May 6 @ Cardinals 2–4 Martinez Kison (1–1) Knowles 20,966 9–14 24 May 7 @ Braves 4–2 Candelaria (2–1) Mahler Tekulve (1) 8,166 10–14 25 May 8 @ Braves 1–4 Solomon Rhoden (0–1) — 5,741 10–15 26 May 9 @ Braves 17–9 Bibby (2–1) Garber Tekulve (2) 6,855 11–15 27 May 11 Reds 4–8 Tomlin Whitson (1–2) Bair 14,115 11–16 28 May 12 Reds 3–2 Bibby (3–1) Pastore Jackson (4) 18,745 12–16 29 May 13 Reds 3–7 LaCoss Candelaria (2–2) — 10,253 12–17 30 May 15 Mets 0–3 Swan Robinson (2–3) Lockwood 6,097 12–18 31 May 16 Mets 4–3 (13) Romo (1–2) Lockwood — 7,621 13–18 32 May 17 Mets 6–5 Tekulve (2–4) Orosco — 6,295 14–18 33 May 18 @ Cubs 9–5 Candelaria (3–2) Holtzman — 12,578 15–18 34 May 19 @ Cubs 3–0 Rooker (1–0) Krukow Jackson (5) 29,460 16–18 35 May 20 @ Cubs 6–5 Robinson (3–3) McGlothen Tekulve (3) 30,998 17–18 36 May 21 @ Expos 4–2 Blyleven (1–2) Sanderson Tekulve (4) 25,154 18–18 37 May 22 @ Expos 3–6 Grimsley Whitson (1–3) Fryman 15,227 18–19 38 May 23 @ Expos 0–3 Rogers Candelaria (3–3) — 7,041 18–20 39 May 25 @ Mets 3–3 (11) — 6,611 18–20 40 May 26 @ Mets 8–10 Lockwood Tekulve (2–5) — 20,272 18–21 41 May 27 @ Mets 2–1 Jackson (3–0) Murray — 25,545 19–21 42 May 28 @ Mets 6–1 Candelaria (4–3) Falcone Jackson (6) 10,619 20–21 43 May 29 Cubs 8–0 Robinson (4–3) Holtzman — 7,196 21–21 44 May 30 Cubs 9–2 Rooker (2–0) McGlothen — 7,107 22–21 45 May 31 Cubs 4–3 (10) Kison (2–1) Sutter — 6,438 23–21
June: 14–13 (Home: 7–9; Away: 7–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 46 June 1 Padres 9–8 Tekulve (3–5) Shirley — 12,928 24–21 47 June 2 Padres 1–3 Perry Candelaria (4–4) — 20,977 24–22 48 June 3 Padres 7–0 Kison (3–1) Owchinko — 13,370 25–22 49 June 4 Dodgers 2–4 Sutcliffe Rooker (2–1) — 14,727 25–23 50 June 5 Dodgers 3–1 Blyleven (2–2) Sutton Tekulve (5) 11,088 26–23 51 June 6 Dodgers 5–4 Romo (2–2) Welch Tekulve (6) 16,666 27–23 52 June 8 Giants 3–2 Romo (3–2) Curtis Jackson (7) 18,227 28–23 53 June 9 Giants 2–6 Blue Kison (3–2) — 25,814 28–24 54 June 10 Giants 4–7 Lavelle Romo (3–3) — 25,536 28–25 55 June 12 @ Padres 3–6 Perry Candelaria (4–5) — 23,759 28–26 56 June 13 @ Padres 2–3 Owchinko Kison (3–3) Fingers 17,845 28–27 57 June 14 @ Padres 1–2 (14) D'Acquisto Candelaria (4–6) — 15,444 28–28 58 June 15 @ Dodgers 6–2 Blyleven (3–2) Sutton Tekulve (7) 50,299 29–28 59 June 16 @ Dodgers 6–3 Robinson (5–3) Welch — 49,448 30–28 60 June 17 @ Dodgers 5–1 Whitson (2–3) Reuss Tekulve (8) 45,835 31–28 61 June 19 @ Giants 9–4 Candelaria (5–6) Montefusco Romo (1) 39,861 32–28 62 June 20 @ Giants 8–5 Jackson (4–0) Lavelle Tekulve (9) 19,637 33–28 63 June 22 Cubs 7–2 Blyleven (4–2) Holtzman — 21,006 34–28 64 June 23 Cubs 3–4 Krukow Robinson (5–4) Sutter 18,513 34–29 65 June 24 Cubs 0–5 Reuschel Kison (3–4) — 43,402 34–30 66 June 25 @ Mets 8–1 Candelaria (6–6) Swan — 35–30 67 June 25 @ Mets 0–4 Falcone Rooker (2–2) — 14,666 35–31 68 June 26 @ Mets 2–1 Blyleven (5–2) Hausman Jackson (8) 11,903 36–31 69 June 27 Mets 9–12 Twitchell Jackson (4–1) — 13,168 36–32 70 June 28 Mets 2–3 Allen Bibby (3–2) Glynn 10,137 36–33 71 June 29 Expos 6–5 Kison (4–4) Lee Tekulve (10) 35,677 37–33 72 June 30 Expos 3–5 Sanderson Blyleven (5–3) Fryman 13,865 37–34
July: 20–11 (Home: 8–5; Away: 12–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 73 July 2 @ Cardinals 5–4 Romo (4–3) Knowles Jackson (9) 18,042 38–34 74 July 3 @ Cardinals 4–1 Candelaria (7–6) Forsch Romo (2) 17,130 39–34 75 July 4 @ Cardinals 6–4 Blyleven (6–3) Vuckovich Jackson (10) 14,766 40–34 76 July 5 @ Cardinals 0–2 Fulgham Rooker (2–3) — 16,626 40–35 77 July 6 @ Reds 1–2 Bair Jackson (4–2) — 32,264 40–36 78 July 7 @ Reds 2–6 Moskau Robinson (5–5) — 36,300 40–37 79 July 8 @ Reds 2–4 Norman Candelaria (7–7) — 40–38 80 July 8 @ Reds 2–1 Jackson (5–2) Tomlin Tekulve (11) 43,099 41–38 81 July 10 @ Astros 4–3 Bibby (4–2) Andujar Tekulve (12) 31,341 42–38 82 July 11 @ Astros 5–1 Kison (5–4) Richard — 25,330 43–38 83 July 12 @ Astros 5–3 Blyleven (7–3) Niekro Tekulve (13) 22,956 44–38 84 July 13 @ Braves 4–13 Niekro Rooker (2–4) — 17,018 44–39 85 July 14 @ Braves 5–1 Candelaria (8–7) Matula — 25,083 45–39 86 July 15 @ Braves 7–3 Bibby (5–2) Solomon — 11,304 46–39 87 July 19 Astros 9–5 Roberts (1–0) Forsch — 47–39 88 July 19 Astros 4–2 Kison (6–4) Niekro Jackson (11) 33,464 48–39 89 July 20 Astros 9–3 Candelaria (9–7) Richard — 23,585 49–39 90 July 21 Astros 6–5 Romo (5–3) Sambito Tekulve (14) 19,570 50–39 91 July 22 Braves 5–4 Robinson (6–5) Solomon Tekulve (15) 51–39 92 July 22 Braves 3–2 Bibby (6–2) Mahler Tekulve (16) 29,533 52–39 93 July 23 Braves 7–1 Blyleven (8–3) Hanna — 53–39 94 July 23 Braves 0–8 Niekro Rooker (2–5) — 27,148 53–40 95 July 24 Reds 5–6 Norman Kison (6–5) Bair 19,517 53–41 96 July 25 Reds 5–6 (10) Bair Tekulve (3–6) — 17,296 53–42 97 July 26 Reds 7–9 Soto Roberts (1–1) Hume 20,339 53–43 98 July 27 @ Expos 5–4 Tekulve (4–6) Sosa Romo (3) 54–43 99 July 27 @ Expos 9–1 Blyleven (9–3) Sanderson — 59,260 55–43 100 July 28 @ Expos 5–3 Bibby (7–2) Schatzeder Tekulve (17) 38,661 56–43 101 July 29 @ Expos 3–5 Rogers Kison (6–6) — 35,245 56–44 102 July 30 Mets 8–5 Jackson (6–2) Bernard Tekulve (18) 11,837 57–44 103 July 31 Mets 1–2 Twitchell Blyleven (9–4) Glynn 10,739 57–45
August: 21–9 (Home: 12–4; Away: 9–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 104 August 1 Cardinals 4–3 Romo (6–3) Forsch Tekulve (19) 16,124 58–45 105 August 2 Cardinals 4–5 Frazier Jackson (6–3) Knowles 25,163 58–46 106 August 3 Phillies 6–3 Romo (7–3) McGraw — 59–46 107 August 3 Phillies 5–1 Bibby (8–2) Christenson — 45,309 60–46 108 August 4 Phillies 4–0 Candelaria (10–7) Espinosa — 34,754 61–46 109 August 5 Phillies 12–8 Tekulve (5–6) Eastwick — 62–46 110 August 5 Phillies 5–2 Romo (8–3) Noles Tekulve (20) 46,006 63–46 111 August 7 @ Cubs 2–15 Reuschel Rooker (2–6) — 34,641 63–47 112 August 8 @ Cubs 5–2 (10) Tekulve (6–6) Tidrow — 34,255 64–47 113 August 9 @ Cubs 3–11 Lamp Candelaria (10–8) — 29,645 64–48 114 August 10 @ Phillies 3–4 (12) Eastwick Jackson (6–4) — 64–49 115 August 10 @ Phillies 3–2 Kison (7–6) Lerch Tekulve (21) 63,346 65–49 116 August 11 @ Phillies 14–11 Romo (9–3) Eastwick Tekulve (22) 51,118 66–49 117 August 13 @ Phillies 9–1 Bibby (9–2) Christenson — 43,111 67–49 118 August 14 Padres 7–1 Candelaria (11–8) D'Acquisto — 23,210 68–49 119 August 15 Padres 5–1 Blyleven (10–4) Jones — 14,219 69–49 120 August 16 Padres 5–4 Kison (8–6) Perry Romo (4) 14,201 70–49 121 August 17 Dodgers 6–7 Patterson Bibby (9–3) Castillo 22,416 70–50 122 August 18 Dodgers 1–5 Reuss Robinson (6–6) — 40,238 70–51 123 August 19 Dodgers 2–0 Tekulve (7–6) Hooton — 28,382 71–51 124 August 20 Giants 6–5 Romo (10–3) Lavelle Tekulve (23) 18,714 72–51 125 August 21 Giants 1–6 Knepper Kison (8–7) — 20,999 72–52 126 August 22 Giants 8–6 Tekulve (8–6) Lavelle — 19,768 73–52 127 August 24 @ Padres 2–3 Jones Romo (10–4) Lee 16,890 73–53 128 August 25 @ Padres 4–3 (19) Roberts (2–1) D'Acquisto — 14,607 74–53 129 August 26 @ Padres 9–2 Kison (9–7) Shirley — 13,006 75–53 130 August 27 @ Dodgers 2–4 Brett Tekulve (8–7) — 35,705 75–54 131 August 28 @ Dodgers 4–1 Candelaria (12–8) Hough — 31,587 76–54 132 August 29 @ Dodgers 4–1 Blyleven (11–4) Reuss Tekulve (24) 32,816 77–54 133 August 31 @ Giants 6–4 Robinson (7–6) Curtis Jackson (12) 19,377 78–54
September: 20–10 (Home: 9–5; Away: 11–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 134 September 1 @ Giants 5–3 Kison (10–7) Montefusco Jackson (13) 25,551 79–54 135 September 1 @ Giants 7–2 Bibby (10–3) Knepper — 27,382 80–54 136 September 2 @ Giants 5–3 Candelaria (13–8) Blue — 15,663 81–54 137 September 3 Phillies 0–2 Carlton Blyleven (11–5) McGraw 81–55 138 September 3 Phillies 7–3 Rooker (3–6) Lerch Tekulve (25) 43,444 82–55 139 September 5 @ Cardinals 7–5 (11) Roberts (3–1) Thomas Tekulve (26) 23,059 83–55 140 September 6 @ Cardinals 6–8 Martinez Bibby (10–4) McEnaney 14,767 83–56 141 September 7 @ Mets 6–4 (14) Jackson (7–4) Allen — 8,290 84–56 142 September 8 @ Mets 2–3 (15) Ellis Rooker (3–7) — 8,095 84–57 143 September 9 @ Mets 6–5 Tekulve (9–7) Glynn — 9,093 85–57 144 September 11 Cardinals 7–3 Roberts (4–1) Denny — 15,757 86–57 145 September 12 Cardinals 2–0 Candelaria (14–8) Forsch Tekulve (27) 17,669 87–57 146 September 15 Mets 5–4 Roberts (5–1) Glynn Tekulve (28) 18,060 88–57 147 September 16 Mets 0–3 Falcone Candelaria (14–9) Allen 25,364 88–58 148 September 17 @ Expos 2–1 Robinson (8–6) Rogers — 54,609 89–58 149 September 18 @ Expos 5–3 (11) Jackson (8–4) Murray Roberts (1) 56,976 90–58 150 September 19 @ Phillies 9–6 Tekulve (10–7) Eastwick Jackson (14) 91–58 151 September 19 @ Phillies 5–6 Kucek Romo (10–5) Saucier 30,566 91–59 152 September 20 @ Phillies 1–2 Lerch Tekulve (10–8) — 16,299 91–60 153 September 21 @ Cubs 0–2 McGlothen Robinson (8–7) — 9,552 91–61 154 September 22 @ Cubs 4–1 Kison (11–7) Riley Tekulve (29) 24,657 92–61 155 September 23 @ Cubs 6–0 Bibby (11–4) Reuschel — 24,571 93–61 156 September 24 Expos 5–2 Blyleven (12–5) Schatzeder Tekulve (30) 94–61 157 September 24 Expos 6–7 Grimsley Jackson (8–5) Sosa 47,268 94–62 158 September 25 Expos 10–4 Rooker (4–7) Sanderson Romo (5) 31,348 95–62 159 September 26 Expos 10–1 Kison (12–7) Rogers — 42,043 96–62 160 September 27 Cardinals 5–9 Forsch Roberts (5–2) Littell 11,172 96–63 161 September 28 Cubs 6–1 Bibby (12–4) Reuschel — 14,778 97–63 162 September 29 Cubs 6–7 (13) Caudill Robinson (8–8) — 25,734 97–64 163 September 30 Cubs 5–3 Kison (13–7) McGlothen Tekulve (31) 42,176 98–64
Legend:           = Win           = Loss           = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

Roster

1979 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 26 Jim Bibby 22 Bert Blyleven 45 John Candelaria 41 Joe Coleman 17 Dock Ellis 23 Grant Jackson 25 Bruce Kison 44 Rick Rhoden 49 Dave Roberts 43 Don Robinson 15 Enrique Romo 19 Jim Rooker 27 Kent Tekulve 31 Ed Whitson		Catchers 16 Steve Nicosia 14 Ed Ott 35 Manny Sanguillén Infielders  4 Dale Berra 10 Tim Foli  3 Phil Garner  5 Bill Madlock  8 Willie Stargell  6 Rennie Stennett 10 Frank Taveras		Outfielders 36 Matt Alexander 24 Mike Easler 17 Lee Lacy 34 John Milner 18 Omar Moreno 39 Dave Parker 28 Bill Robinson Other batters 44 Doe Boyland  2 Gary Hargis 37 Alberto Lois		Manager  7 Chuck Tanner Coaches 57 Harvey Haddix (pitching) 32 Joe Lonnett (third base) 42 Al Monchak (first base) 48 Bob Skinner (hitting)

Opening Day lineup

1. SS Frank Taveras
2. CF Omar Moreno
3. RF Dave Parker
4. 1B Willie Stargell
5. LF Bill Robinson
6. 2B Rennie Stennett
7. C Ed Ott
8. 3B Phil Garner
9. P Bert Blyleven

Player stats

Batting

Pitching

Postseason

Postseason game log

1979 Postseason Game Log (7–3)
1979 NL Championship Series: vs. Cincinnati Reds: Pirates win 3–0[11] # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Series 1 Oct 2 @ Reds 5–2 (11) Jackson (1–0) Hume (0–1) Robinson (1) 55,006 PIT 1–0 2 Oct 3 @ Reds 3–2 (10) Robinson (1–0) Bair (0–1) — 55,000 PIT 2–0 3 Oct 5 Reds 7–1 Blyleven (1–0) LaCoss (0–1) — 42,240 PIT 3–0
1979 World Series: vs. Baltimore Orioles: Pirates win 4–3[12] # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Series Oct 9 @ Orioles Postponed (rain) 1 Oct 10 @ Orioles 4–5 Flanagan (2–0) Kison (0–1) — 53,735 BAL 1–0 2 Oct 11 @ Orioles 3–2 Robinson (2–0) Stanhouse (1–2) Tekulve (1) 53,739 Tied 1–1 3 Oct 12 Orioles 4–8 McGregor (2–0) Candelaria (0–1) — 50,848 BAL 2–1 4 Oct 13 Orioles 6–9 Stoddard (1–0) Tekulve (0–1) — 50,883 BAL 3–1 5 Oct 14 Orioles 7–1 Blyleven (2–0) Flanagan (2–1) — 50,920 BAL 3–2 6 Oct 16 @ Orioles 4–0 Candelaria (1–1) Palmer (0–1) Tekulve (2) 53,739 Tied 3–3 7 Oct 17 @ Orioles 4–1 Jackson (2–0) McGregor (2–1) Tekulve (3) 53,733 PIT 4–3
Legend:           = Win           = Loss           = Postponement Bold = Pirates team member

National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 2, Riverfront Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	10	0
Cincinnati	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	0
W: Grant Jackson (1-0)  L: Tom Hume (0-1)   SV: Don Robinson (1)
HRs: PIT – Phil Garner (1)   Willie Stargell (1)   CIN – George Foster (1)

Game 2

October 3, Riverfront Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	11	0
Cincinnati	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	8	0
W: Don Robinson (1-0)  L: Doug Bair (0-1)   SV: None
HRs: PIT – None   CIN – None

Game 3

October 5, Three Rivers Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	8	1
Pittsburgh	1	1	2	2	0	0	0	1	X	7	7	0
W: Bert Blyleven (1-0)  L: Mike LaCoss (0-1)   SV: None
HRs: CIN – Johnny Bench (1)   PIT – Willie Stargell (2)   Bill Madlock (1)

World Series

The Pirates became one of only six teams in the 20th century to have won a World Series after trailing three games to one. Two of those teams were the Pirates, in 1925 and 1979. The others were the 1903 Boston Red Sox (in a best-of-nine series), 1958 New York Yankees, 1968 Detroit Tigers, and 1985 Kansas City Royals. Five Pirates had 10 or more hits in this series, a World Series record.

Chuck Tanner's mother died the morning of Game 5 (this was mentioned during the telecast by announcer Howard Cosell). 1960 World Series hero Bill Mazeroski threw out the first ball in Game 5. The Pittsburgh Pirates were the last team in the 20th Century to win Game 7 of the World Series on the road. U.S. President Jimmy Carter made an appearance in Game 7, he threw out the first ball, and after the game made a visit to the victorious Pittsburgh locker room.

Willie Stargell at 39 was the oldest player to win MVP honors for both the National League and the World Series. In the World Series, he hit .400 with a record seven extra-base hits and matched Reggie Jackson's record of 25 total bases, set in 1977. Stargell, pitcher Bruce Kison, infielder Rennie Stennett, and catcher Manny Sanguillén were the only players left over from the 1971 World Series, when the Pirates faced the Orioles. Orioles' pitcher Jim Palmer, Mark Belanger, and manager Earl Weaver were the only ones who were still with the team that faced the Pirates in 1971.

As was the case when the same two teams played in the 1971 World Series, a game in Baltimore was rained out. Game 1 of this series was postponed, while Game 2 of the 1971 series had to be moved back a day. In this Series, it was the American League team's "turn" to play by National League rules, meaning that there was no designated hitter and the Orioles' pitchers would have to bat. While this resulted in pitcher Tim Stoddard getting his first major league hit and RBI in Game 4. Overall, it hurt the Orioles because Lee May, their designated hitter for much of the season and a key part of their offense, was only able to bat three times in the whole series. The Pirates wore four different uniform combinations during the series: gold cap, black jersey and gold pants for Games 1 & 5, black cap, gold jersey and black pants for Games 2, 6 & 7, black cap and solid white pinstriped uniform for Game 3 and a black cap and solid gold uniform for Game 4.

Game 1

October 10, 1979 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Attendance: 53,735

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	1	0	4	11	3
Baltimore	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	6	3
W: Mike Flanagan (1-0)   L: Bruce Kison (0-1)
HR: PIT – Willie Stargell (1); BAL – Doug Decinces (1)

Game 2

October 11, 1979 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Attendance: 53,739

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	11	2
Baltimore	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	6	1
W: Don Robinson (1-0)   L: Don Stanhouse (0-1)  S: Kent Tekulve (1)
HR: PIT – none; BAL – Eddie Murray (1)

Game 3

October 12, 1979 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Attendance: 50,848

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Baltimore	0	0	2	5	0	0	1	0	0	8	13	0
Pittsburgh	1	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	9	2
W: Scott McGregor (1-0)   L: John Candelaria (0-1)
HR: BAL – Benny Ayala (1); PIT – none

Game 4

October 13, 1979 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Attendance: 50,883

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Baltimore	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	6	0	9	12	0
Pittsburgh	0	4	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	6	17	1
W: Tim Stoddard (1-0)   L: Kent Tekulve (0-1)
HR: BAL – none; PIT – Willie Stargell (2)

Game 5

October 14, 1979 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Attendance: 50,920

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Baltimore	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	6	2
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	3	x	7	13	1
W: Bert Blyleven (1-0)   L: Mike Flanagan (1-1)
HR: BAL – none; PIT – none

Game 6

October 16, 1979 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Attendance: 53,739

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	4	10	0
Baltimore	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	1
W: John Candelaria (1-1)   L: Jim Palmer (0-1)  S: Kent Tekulve (2)
HR: PIT – none; BAL – none

Game 7

October 17, 1979 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Attendance: 53,733

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	4	10	0
Baltimore	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	2
W: Grant Jackson (1-0)   L: Scott McGregor (1-1)  S: Kent Tekulve (3)
HR: PIT – Willie Stargell (3); BAL – Rich Dauer (1)

Composite Box

1979 World Series (4-3): Pittsburgh Pirates (N.L.) over Baltimore Orioles (A.L.)

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh Pirates	1	8	0	1	1	8	4	6	3	32	81	9
Baltimore Orioles	5	1	6	5	1	1	1	6	0	26	54	9
Total Attendance: 367,597   Average Attendance: 52,514
Winning Player's Share: – $28,264,   Losing Player's Share – $22,114 * Includes Playoffs and World Series

Awards and honors

• Willie Stargell, Associated Press Athlete of the Year
• Willie Stargell, 1B, Babe Ruth Award
• Willie Stargell, 1B, National League Most Valuable Player Award
• Willie Stargell, 1B, National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award
• Willie Stargell, 1B, World Series Most Valuable Player Award

All-Stars

1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

• Dave Parker, OF, starter, game MVP

League leaders

• Omar Moreno, National League stolen base leader, 77^[13]
• Dave Parker, led NL in extra-base hits
• Dave Parker, led NL in sacrifice flies

Other team leaders

• Runs scored – Omar Moreno (110)
• Stolen bases – Omar Moreno (77)
• Walks – Dave Parker (67)

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Portland Beavers	Pacific Coast League	Johnny Lipon
AA	Buffalo Bisons	Eastern League	Steve Demeter
A	Salem Pirates	Carolina League	Jim Mahoney
A	Shelby Pirates	Western Carolinas League	Tom Zimmer
Rookie	GCL Pirates	Gulf Coast League	Woody Huyke

Notes

References

• 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Reference
• 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Almanac
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.