1979 Milwaukee Brewers season
Encyclopedia
The 1979 Milwaukee Brewers
season involved the Brewers' finishing second in the American League East
with a record of 95 wins and 66 losses.
(123), runs scored (97), hits (136), doubles
(29), walks
(98), on base percentage
(.356), total bases
(300), slugging average (.539) and OPS
(.895).
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
season involved the Brewers' finishing second in the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
with a record of 95 wins and 66 losses.
Offseason
- December 21, 1978: Steve LakeSteve LakeSteven "Steve" Michael Lake batted and threw right-handed, and is a former professional baseball backup catcher. He played Major League Baseball from 1983-93 for the following teams: Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, and finishing his career with the Cubs...
was purchased from the Orioles by the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. - February 26, 1979: Eduardo RodríguezEduardo Rodríguez (baseball)Eduardo Rodríguez Reyes [Volanta] was a professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from through for the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals , mostly as a relief pitcher. Listed at 6' 0", 185 lb., Rodríguez batted and threw right-handed...
was purchased from the Brewers by the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. - March 6, 1979: Vic HarrisVic Harris (second baseman)Victor Lanier Harris is a former Major League Baseball player. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors between and...
was signed as a free agent by the Brewers. - March 28, 1979: Gary BeareGary BeareGary Ray Beare is a former Major League Baseball player. He batted right-handed and threw right-handed as well.-Early life and education:Gary Beare was born in San Diego, California and attended California State University, Long Beach....
was traded by the Brewers to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Dan BoitanoDan BoitanoDanny Jon Boitano was a Major League Baseball pitcher from to . Boitano holds the distinction of having been the Philadelphia Phillies' first round pick in the secondary phase of both the and amateur draft. A highly touted prospect, he had also been drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers , St...
.
Regular season
Gorman Thomas enjoyed his best season in the majors, compiling career high numbers in home runs (45, tops in the AL), RBIRun batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(123), runs scored (97), hits (136), doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(29), walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
(98), on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
(.356), total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
(300), slugging average (.539) and OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
(.895).
Opening Day starters
- Sal BandoSal BandoSalvatore Leonard Bando is a former third baseman and executive in professional baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw right-handed. During the A's championship years of 1971-75, he captained the team and led the club in runs batted...
- Mike Caldwell
- Cecil CooperCecil CooperCecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...
- Larry HisleLarry HisleLarry Eugene Hisle is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Philadelphia Phillies , Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw right-handed...
- Sixto LezcanoSixto LezcanoSixto Joaquin Lezcano Curras is a retired baseball player who played for 12 seasons as an outfielder in the Major Leagues between 1974 and 1985. He played for 5 different teams in the Majors and won a Gold Glove during his career.Lezcano was originally signed as an amateur in 1970 by the...
- Don MoneyDon MoneyDonald Wayne Money is a retired major league baseball player. He currently serves as the special instructor of player development for the Milwaukee Brewers....
- Charlie MooreCharlie MooreCharles William Moore Jr. , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a catcher and outfielder from 1973-1987...
- Ben OglivieBen OglivieBenjamin Ambrosio Oglivie Palmer is a former Major League Baseball left fielder for the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and the Milwaukee Brewers . He also played two seasons in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes...
- Gorman Thomas
- Robin YountRobin YountRobin R. Yount is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and center fielder. He spent his entire 20-year baseball career with the Milwaukee Brewers . In 1999, Yount was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.-Early years:Yount was born in Danville, Illinois...
Notable transactions
- June 7, 1979: Randy SteinRandy SteinWilliam Randolph Stein is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of four seasons in the majors, between and , for the Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, and Chicago Cubs.-Sources:...
was traded by the Brewers to the Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for Paul Mitchell.
Roster
| 1979 Milwaukee Brewers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 111 | 337 | 101 | .300 | 5 | 38 | |
| 1B | 150 | 590 | 182 | .308 | 24 | 106 | |
| 3B | 130 | 476 | 117 | .246 | 9 | 43 | |
| LF | 139 | 514 | 145 | .282 | 29 | 81 | |
| CF | 156 | 557 | 136 | .244 | 45 | 123 | |
| RF | 138 | 473 | 152 | .321 | 28 | 101 | |
| DH | 91 | 335 | 89 | .266 | 12 | 41 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 350 | 83 | .237 | 6 | 38 | |
| 26 | 96 | 27 | .281 | 3 | 14 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 235 | 16 | 6 | 3.29 | 89 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 3.47 | 41 | |
| 39 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2.03 | 10 | |
| 31 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4.38 | 28 | |
| 29 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6.71 | 22 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.50 | 5 | |