The 1979 World Series was the 76th edition of Major League Baseball’s championship series at the conclusion of the 1979 Major League Baseball season….played between the National League (NL) champion Pittsburgh Pirates (98–64)….and the American League (AL) champion Baltimore Orioles (102–57)….with the Pirates becoming the fourth team in World Series history to come back from a three games to one deficit to win the Series in seven games…..which marked the second time in the 1970’s the Pirates won a World Series Game 7 on the road against Baltimore Orioles….with the previous time being in the 1971 World Series.
Willie Stargell, pitcher Bruce Kison, and catcher Manny Sanguillén were the only players left over from the Pirates team that defeated the Orioles in the 1971 World Series….while Orioles’ pitcher Jim Palmer, shortstop Mark Belanger and manager Earl Weaver were the only remaining Orioles from the 1971 team….whereas Grant Jackson pitched for the Orioles in the 1971 series and for the Pirates in the 1979 series.
In this Series, it was the American League team’s “turn” to play by National League rules….meaning no designated hitter and the Orioles’ pitchers would have to bat….while this resulted in 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. Willie Stargell, the series MVP, hit .400 with a record seven extra-base hits and matched Reggie Jackson’s record of 25 total bases, set in 1977.
