1979 Cincinnati Reds season


The 1979 Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West under their first-year manager John McNamara, with a record of 90-71, 1½ games better than the Houston Astros. It was a year of great change for the Reds, who lost long-time star Pete Rose to the Philadelphia Phillies, who signed Rose as an unrestricted free agent. Also, long-time manager and future Hall of Famer Sparky Anderson was fired by new general manager Dick Wagner when Anderson refused to make changes in his coaching staff. McNamara guided the Reds to its first West Division title in three years. Wagner replaced long-time GM Bob Howsam, who retired after running the Reds for 12 years. Through some good drafts and several key trades, Howsam built a team that won six division titles, and played in four World Series, winning two, during the 1970s.
However, the Reds lost the National League Championship Series to the eventual World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates in three straight games. It was the first time in four tries the Pirates had upended the Reds in a divisional playoff series since Major League Baseball went to divisions in 1969. The Reds played their home games at Riverfront Stadium.

Offseason

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C120393102.2602373
1B153524131.2501670
2B132441104.2361375
3B159655198.302752
SS153565170.301667
LF158604170.28140120
CF12229667.226527
RF158614177.2881063

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
122396126.318335
8322060.273117
7418244.242427
7514021.150215
6210021.210112
276012.200111
435612.21405
23347.20604
10133.23102
761.16700
630.00000
721.50000

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
322151663.14131
35205.21483.5073
34195.111133.6495
29175.2973.7978

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
571631092.7680
21106543.8958
3095.1674.2563

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
65117164.2986
532212.6230
302223.4323
253205.3032
230404.6623
51008.530
30000.001

National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 2, Riverfront Stadium

Game 2

October 3, Riverfront Stadium

Game 3

October 5, Three Rivers Stadium

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Nashville