The 1979 Major League Baseball season. None of the post-season teams of 1977 or 1978 returned to this year's postseason. In a rematch of the 1971 World Series, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles in seven games in the 1979 World Series. Standings American League National League Postseason Bracket Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Warren Giles Willie Mays Hack Wilson Regular Season Awards 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) Postseason Awards World Series MVP: Willie Stargell 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 Gold Glove Award American League Cecil Cooper (1B) Milwaukee Brewers Frank White (2B) Kansas City Royals Buddy Bell (3B) Texas Rangers Rick Burleson (SS) Boston Red Sox Dwight Evans (OF) Boston Red Sox Fred Lynn (OF) Boston Red Sox Sixto Lezcano (OF) Milwaukee Brewers Jim Sundberg (C) Texas Rangers Jim Palmer (P) Baltimore Orioles National League Keith Hernandez (1B) St. Louis Cardinals Manny Trillo (2B) Philadelphia Phillies Mike Schmidt (3B) Philadelphia Phillies Dave Concepcion (SS) Cincinnati Reds Garry Maddox (OF) Philadelphia Phillies Dave Parker (OF) Pittsburgh Pirates Dave Winfield (OF) San Diego Padres Bob Boone (C) Philadelphia Phillies Phil Niekro (P) Atlanta Braves Statistical leaders Home Field Attendance Events January–April 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. February 3 – The Minnesota Twins trade Rod Carew to the California Angels for Ken Landreaux, Dave Engle, Paul Hartzell and Brad Havens. 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 being selected for the next six American League All-Star teams. March 7 – The Special Veterans Committee selects Warren Giles and Hack Wilson for the Hall of Fame. April – The 1979 Major League umpires strike begins with all umpires walking the picket lines, except two umpires (one from each league) who worked Opening Day