1979 World Series Game 7 vs Pirates

Lore & Background

Willie Stargell, Bruce Kison, and Manny Sanguillén were the only players left from the Pirates team that defeated the Orioles in 1971, and Jim Palmer and Mark Belanger, along with manager Earl Weaver, were the only remaining Orioles from the 1971 team. Grant Jackson was on the Orioles roster in 1971 but did not pitch in the World Series that year; he later pitched for the Pirates in the 1979 series. Frank Robinson, the Orioles' hitting coach, played for Baltimore in 1971.

Pirates' infielder Rennie Stennett was not on the team's World Series roster in 1971. In this series, the rules alternated: Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 used the designated hitter, while Games 3, 4, and 5 did not. As a result, the Orioles' pitchers had to bat in those games, and Tim Stoddard got his first major league hit and runs batted in (R.B.I.) in Game 6, not Game 4. Lee May, Baltimore's Designated Hitter, was reduced to three pinch-hitting appearances, but if the DH had been in use throughout, Pittsburgh would have platooned Lee Lacy and Mike Easler in the role, which would have negated any advantage to Baltimore.

Reader's Guide

The 1979 Pirates were the last team to win Game 7 of a World Series on the road until 2014, when the San Francisco Giants defeated the Royals in Kansas City. Pittsburgh became the third city to win the Super Bowl and the World Series in the same season or calendar year, with the Steelers having already won Super Bowl XIII (they would later repeat in Super Bowl XIV following the Pirates' championship). New York's Jets and Mets won championships in the 1969 calendar year, followed by Baltimore (Orioles and Colts) in the 1970 season, New York (Mets and Giants) in the 1986 season, and Boston/New England in the 2004 (Red Sox and Patriots) and 2018 seasons (Red Sox and Patriots).

As of the source, this is Pittsburgh's last World Series victory and appearance, and their second-most recent postseason victory. The Pirates currently hold the longest active World Series appearance drought in the National League, and the fifth longest championship drought in the majors.

Did You Know?

• Willie Stargell was voted World Series Most Valuable Player after batting .400 with a record seven extra-base hits, matching Reggie Jackson's record of 25 total bases set two years earlier.
• At age 39, Stargell became the oldest World Series MVP, breaking the previous mark set by his late teammate Roberto Clemente, who was MVP in 1971 at the age of 37.
• The Pirates were known for adopting Sister Sledge's hit 'We Are Family' as their theme song during the season.
• Stargell hit three home runs in the World Series to become the oldest player to be regular season MVP and World Series MVP in the same year.