April 11, 1979

Expos starter Steve Rogers pitches a 1 hitter and shuts out the Mets 2-0 at Shea Stadium. The only hit was a single by Willie Montanez.

Atlanta's Barry Bonnell hits the first grand slam of the season. It came in the bottom of the 2nd inning off Cincinnati starter Tom Hume. The slam accounts for all of the Braves runs as they beat the Reds 4-1 in Atlanta.

Darrell Porter and Pete Lacock each drive in 5 runs to help the Royals thrash the Tigers 16-5 in Kansas City. Porter was a double away from the cycle. Hal McRae also had a good game; going 4-5 with a home run and scoring 5 runs.

Week Ending April 8, 1979

The first week of the 1979 season is done, with most teams only playing 4 games. The California Angels offense highlights the first week with their 4 game sweep in the Kingdome against the Mariners. The Mariners are outscored in the 4 games 52-15. For the Angels, that is an average of 13 runs per game. Two games had very lopsided scores of 14-0 and 18-1. The Angels hit 10 homeruns in the series; 3 by Don Baylor. He drives in 15 of the 52 runs.

April 7, 1979

The A's and the Twins match up for their 2nd game of new season in Oakland. The Twins score 12 runs in the 3rd inning and beat the A's 16-1. The Twins get 16 hits, but 15 are singles. The only extra base hit was a double by Butch Wynegar. The game probably should have been a little closer. The A's got 12 hits themselves and received 6 walks. But they left 17 men on base.

April 5, 1979

It is opening day in Fenway Park and the Red Sox host the Indians. Dennis Eckersley faces his old team and pitches a complete game 1 hitter as the Red Sox win 9-1.

April 4, 1979 OPENING DAY

It's opening day of the 1979 season.

In the traditional opener in Cincinnati, two former Cy Young winners face off in Vida Blue against Tom Seaver. Blue outduels Seaver, despite walking 7 batters. Darrell Evans and Mike Ivie each hit home runs to help Vida Blue and the Giants win 6-0 over the Reds. Blue goes all the way with a 2 hitter.

The only other game is a night game in the Kingdome between the Angels and the Mariners. It's a wild back and forth affair with the Angels blowing a 7-1 lead at one point. But, they prevail and win 12-10, led by Rick Miller's 3 run homer in the top of the 9th off Shane Rawley. The Angels bang out 23 hits while the Mariners have 14. Rod Carew goes 1-4 in his Angels debut.

Preparing for the 1979 APBA Replay

The 1979 season follows two baseball seasons, (1977 and 1978), that had the same division winners in each of the four divisions. The Dodgers and Phillies won in the National League with the Royals and Yankees taking division crowns in the American League. These teams were favored to win the divisions again in 1979, or at least to compete until the very end.

Some significant events occurred during the 1978 off season that created even more anticipation for the 1979 season.

Sparky Lyle, who had won the Cy Young Award for the Yankees just two years earlier, is traded to the Texas Rangers in a major trade.

Luis Tiant and Tommy John sign with the Yankees as free agents.

Sparky Anderson is fired as the Cinnicnati Reds manager and will manage the Detroit Tigers for the 1979 season.

Just one week after Anderson is fired, Pete Rose leaves the Reds and signs as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Trades send Toby Harrah to the Indians in exchange for Buddy Bell. Another trade sends Boston's Bill Lee to the Expos.

Minnesota sends Rod Carew to the Angels.

1979 Season Replay About To Begin

I am about to begin the 1979 replay on ABPA. I will be using the exact line-ups as they occurred each day and will use the actual starting pitchers. Benches and bullpens will be used as accurately as possible.