The 1979 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 97th season in the history of the franchise, and the 9th season for the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium. The team finished fourth in the National League East, 14 games behind the first-place and eventual World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates.
Offseason Prior to the 1979 season, Pete Rose signed a four-year, $3.2-million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, temporarily making him the highest-paid athlete in team sports. The Phillies were in the middle of the greatest era in the history of the franchise when Rose came on board. They had won the National League East three years running (1976–78) two of which were won with 101 win seasons.
The Phillies entered the 1979 season with one of the strongest lineups in the league with the addition of Rose but with numerous injuries on the pitching staff. AP sports writer Hal Bock picked the Phils to finish second behind the Pirates as the Phillies would enter the season with pitchers Larry Christenson, prospect Jim Wright, and Dick Ruthven all injured.
Notable transactions December 4, 1978: Jeff Schneider was drafted from the Phillies by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1978 rule 5 draft.Jeff Schneider at Baseball Reference December 5, 1978: Carmelo Castillo was drafted by the Cleveland Indians from the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1978 minor league draft. December 5, 1978: Pete Rose was signed as a free agent by the Phillies.Pete Rose at Baseball Reference December 6, 1978: Joe Charboneau was traded by the Phillies to the Cleveland Indians for Cardell Camper.Joe Charboneau at Baseball Reference January 9, 1979: Mark Davis was drafted by the Phillies in the 1st round (1st pick) of the secondary phase of the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.Mark Davis at Baseball-Reference February 23, 1979: Barry Foote, Ted Sizemore, Jerry Martin, Derek Botelho, and Henry Mack (minors) were traded by the Phillies to the Chicago Cubs for Manny Trillo, Greg Gross and Dave Rader.Manny Trillo at Baseball Reference March 27, 1979: Richie Hebner and José Moreno were traded by the Phillies to the New York Mets for Nino Espinosa.Jose Moreno at Baseball Reference March 27, 1979: Rudy Meoli was signed as a free agent by the Phillies.Rudy Meoli at Baseball Reference March 28, 1979: Dan Boitano was traded by the Phillies to the Milwaukee Brewers for Gary Beare.Dan Boitano at Baseball Reference March 29, 1979: Del Unser was signed as a free agent by the Phillies.Del Unser at Baseball Reference
Regular season RichieAshburnOF, TVRetired 1979The Official Site of The Philadelphia Phillies: History: Richie Ashburn
On April 18, in a victory versus the Pirates, Greg Luzinski became the first visiting player to hit a home run into the fifth level of Three Rivers Stadium.Palm Beach Post. 1979 Apr 19.
On May 17, 1979, the Phillies beat the Cubs 23–22 at Wrigley Field in ten innings with a 30-mph wind blowing out to left field. After the game, the Phils were 14 games over .500 and in first place by games over the Montreal Expos.Standings and Games on Thursday, May 17, 1979
On July 10, Del Unser hit his third consecutive pinch hit home run. Unser tied a Major League Baseball record with homers in three straight pinch at bats. The at bats were on June 30, July 5, and July 10.
By August 29, the team had fallen to fifth place and two games under .500, games behind the Pirates.Standings and Games on Wednesday, August 29, 1979 Mid-season injuries to Manny Trillo, Larry Bowa, and Greg Luzinski contributed to hurt the club. The team's decline led to the firing of manager Danny Ozark on August 31 who was replaced by Dallas Green. Green was named interim manager, a position made permanent shortly after the end of the season.
Alternate uniforms The Phillies front office introduced an alternate all-burgundy version of the team uniform for the 1979 season to be worn for Saturday games. They were called "Saturday Night Specials", in a derisive nod to cheap handguns then called by that name and were worn for the first and last time on May 19, 1979, a 10–5 loss to the Expos. The immediate reaction of the media, fans, and players alike was negative, with many describing the despised uniforms as pajama-like.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions April 3, 1979: Todd Cruz was traded by the Phillies to the Kansas City Royals for Doug Bird.Todd Cruz at Baseball Reference May 11, 1979: Jim Kaat was purchased from the Phillies by the New York Yankees.Jim Kaat at Baseball Reference June 5, 1979: Roy Smith was drafted by the Phillies in the 3rd round of the 1979 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed on July 30.Roy Smith at Baseball Reference June 16, 1979: Jim Lonborg was released by the Phillies.Jim Lonborg at Baseball Reference June 29, 1979: Rudy Meoli was purchased from the Phillies by the Minnesota Twins.
1979 Game Log Legend Phillies win Phillies loss Phillies tie PostponementBoldPhillies team member
|- style="background:#fbb" | 1 || April 6 || @ Cardinals || 1–8 || John Denny (1–0) || Steve Carlton (0–1) || None || 40,526 || 0–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 2 || April 7 || @ Cardinals || 2–3 || Pete Vuckovich (1–0) || Ron Reed (0–1) || None || 15,294 || 0–2 |- style="background:#fffdd0" | 3 || April 8 || @ Cardinals || 2–2 (5) || None || None || None || 20,055 || 0–2 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 9 || Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: April 10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 4 || April 10 || Pirates || 7–3 || Dick Ruthven (1–0) || Enrique Romo (0–2) || None || 48,235 || 1–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 11 || Pirates || 5–4 || Steve Carlton (1–1) || Bert Blyleven (0–1) || None || 26,281 || 2–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 6 || April 12 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Pat Zachry (2–0) || Randy Lerch (0–1) || None || 8,719 || 2–3 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 14 || @ Mets || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 2 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 7 || April 15 (1) || @ Mets || 3–2 || Dick Ruthven (2–0) || Craig Swan (1–1) || Tug McGraw (1) || see 2nd game || 3–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 8 || April 15 (2) || @ Mets || 6–3 || Nino Espinosa (1–0) || Neil Allen (0–1) || Ron Reed (1) || 18,401 || 4–3 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || April 16 || @ Pirates || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 3 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#bfb" | 9 || April 17 || @ Pirates || 13–2 || Steve Carlton (2–1) || Bert Blyleven (0–2) || None || 7,739 || 5–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 10 || April 18 || @ Pirates || 3–2 || Randy Lerch (1–1) || Don Robinson (1–1) || None || 12,195 || 6–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 11 || April 20 || Mets || 8–0 || Dick Ruthven (3–0) || Craig Swan (1–2) || None || 33,253 || 7–3 |- style="background:#bfb" | 12 || April 21 || Mets || 3–0 || Nino Espinosa (2–0) || Neil Allen (0–2) || Tug McGraw (2) || 31,851 || 8–3 |- style="background:#fbb" | 13 || April 22 || Mets || 2–4 || Jesse Orosco (1–0) || Steve Carlton (2–2) || Skip Lockwood (2) || 35,020 || 8–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 14 || April 23 || Dodgers || 4–3 (10) || Tug McGraw (1–0) || Lance Rautzhan (0–2) || None || 32,826 || 9–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 15 || April 24 || Dodgers || 7–6 (10) || Ron Reed (1–1) || Jerry Reuss (1–2) || None || 31,140 || 10–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 16 || April 25 || Dodgers || 5–4 || Ron Reed (2–1) || Rick Sutcliffe (1–1) || None || 34,303 || 11–4 |- style="background:#bfb" | 17 || April 27 || Padres || 2–0 || Nino Espinosa (3–0) || Gaylord Perry (2–1) || None || 28,522 || 12–4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 18 || April 28 || Padres || 0–5 || John D'Acquisto (2–1) || Steve Carlton (2–3) || None || 31,633 || 12–5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 19 || April 29 || Padres || 4–3 || Ron Reed (3–1) || Rollie Fingers (1–2) || None || 50,722 || 13–5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 20 || April 30 || Giants || 4–1 || Dick Ruthven (4–0) || Philip Nastu (0–1) || Tug McGraw (3) || 29,169 || 14–5
|- style="background:#fbb" | 21 || May 1 || Giants || 0–7 || Bob Knepper (2–2) || Nino Espinosa (3–1) || None || 29,048 || 14–6 |- style="background:#fbb" | 22 || May 3 || @ Dodgers || 2–5 || Rick Sutcliffe (2–2) || Steve Carlton (2–4) || None || 41,215 || 14–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 23 || May 4 || @ Dodgers || 5–2 || Randy Lerch (2–1) || Don Sutton (3–3) || None || 42,717 || 15–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 24 || May 5 || @ Dodgers || 11–0 || Dick Ruthven (5–0) || Andy Messersmith (1–2) || None || 45,169 || 16–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 25 || May 6 || @ Dodgers || 4–0 || Nino Espinosa (4–1) || Doug Rau (0–4) || None || 42,184 || 17–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 26 || May 7 || @ Padres || 11–6 || Steve Carlton (3–4) || Bob Owchinko (0–1) || Rawly Eastwick (1) || 20,766 || 18–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 27 || May 8 || @ Padres || 9–8 (12) || Jim Kaat (1–0) || John D'Acquisto (2–3) || None || 12,288 || 19–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 28 || May 9 || @ Padres || 2–0 || Dick Ruthven (6–0) || Eric Rasmussen (0–3) || None || 15,606 || 20–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 29 || May 10 || @ Padres || 3–2 || Nino Espinosa (5–1) || Gaylord Perry (3–3) || Ron Reed (2) || 17,208 || 21–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 30 || May 11 || @ Giants || 1–2 || Bob Knepper (3–2) || Steve Carlton (3–5) || Gary Lavelle (4) || 22,860 || 21–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 31 || May 12 || @ Giants || 1–4 || Ed Halicki (3–3) || Randy Lerch (2–2) || None || 23,836 || 21–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 32 || May 13 || @ Giants || 12–3 || Ron Reed (4–1) || Vida Blue (6–3) || None || 32,585 || 22–9 |- style="background:#fbb" | 33 || May 15 || @ Cubs || 1–7 || Lynn McGlothen (5–4) || Nino Espinosa (5–2) || None || 13,834 || 22–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 34 || May 16 || @ Cubs || 13–0 || Steve Carlton (4–5) || Rick Reuschel (2–5) || None || 18,015 || 23–10 |- style="background:#bfb" | 35 || May 17 || @ Cubs || 23–22 (10) || Rawly Eastwick (1–0) || Bruce Sutter (1–1) || None || 14,952 || 24–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 36 || May 18 || Expos || 3–5 || Stan Bahnsen (1–1) || Dick Ruthven (6–1) || Elías Sosa (4) || 31,481 || 24–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 37 || May 19 || Expos || 5–10 || Rudy May (2–0) || Rawly Eastwick (1–1) || Dan Schatzeder (1) || 33,212 || 24–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 38 || May 20 || Expos || 6–10 || Stan Bahnsen (2–1) || Nino Espinosa (5–3) || Elías Sosa (5) || 48,631 || 24–13 |- style="background:#bfb" | 39 || May 21 || Cardinals || 5–3 || Steve Carlton (5–5) || John Denny (3–3) || None || 28,192 || 25–13 |- style="background:#bfb" | 40 || May 22 || Cardinals || 3–1 || Tug McGraw (2–0) || Bob Forsch (1–4) || None || 33,379 || 26–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 41 || May 23 || Cardinals || 1–3 || Silvio Martínez (2–1) || Dick Ruthven (6–2) || Mark Littell (3) || 32,349 || 26–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 42 || May 25 || Cubs || 0–3 || Lynn McGlothen (6–5) || Nino Espinosa (5–4) || Bruce Sutter (8) || 34,456 || 26–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 43 || May 26 || Cubs || 1–4 || Dennis Lamp (4–1) || Larry Christenson (0–1) || Dick Tidrow (3) || 32,313 || 26–16 |- style="background:#bfb" | 44 || May 27 || Cubs || 6–4 || Steve Carlton (6–5) || Bill Caudill (0–1) || None || 47,087 || 27–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 45 || May 28 || Cubs || 1–4 || Dick Tidrow (3–1) || Randy Lerch (2–3) || Bruce Sutter (9) || 51,381 || 27–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 46 || May 29 || @ Expos || 0–9 || Steve Rogers (5–2) || Dick Ruthven (6–3) || None || 32,078 || 27–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 47 || May 30 || @ Expos || 0–2 || Bill Lee (5–2) || Nino Espinosa (5–5) || None || 21,761 || 27–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 48 || May 31 || @ Expos || 0–1 || Scott Sanderson (4–3) || Larry Christenson (0–2) || None || 22,388 || 27–20
|- style="background:#fbb" | 49 || June 1 || @ Reds || 2–4 || Doug Bair (3–0) || Steve Carlton (6–6) || Pedro Borbón (2) || 48,968 || 27–21 |- style="background:#fbb"