Copyright © Los Angeles Dodgers, Inc.
The 1979 Dodgers
- 1979 Record:
- 79-83, 3rd place in N.L. Western Division
- Postseason:
- None
- Manager:
- Tommy Lasorda
- All-Stars:
- Tommy Lasorda, Mgr.; Ron Cey, 3B; Steve Garvey, 1B; Davey Lopes, 2B
- Home Attendance:
- 2,860,954
Season Recap:
1979 Dodgers Yearbook
Copyright © Los Angeles Dodgers, Inc.
A boatload of injuries slowed the Dodgers after winning back-to-back N.L. Pennants in the 1979 season. They finished 11 1/2 games off the pace of the Western Division-winning Cincinnati Reds. The Dodgers lost Tommy John through free agency, who had won 20 and 17 games in the two previous pennant-winning seasons. Major restructuring of the bullpen and starting staff brought back Andy Messersmith to the Dodger fold, Jerry Reuss from Pittsburgh for Rick Rhoden and thrust Charlie Hough and Lance Rautzhan into key relief roles. Unfortunately, Messersmith was finished in June with season-ending surgery. Doug Rau, a crafty left-hander, also underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. Outfielder Rick Monday went under the knife for his heel problem and pitcher Terry Forster was also operated on. Right-handed pitcher Rick Sutcliffe had a fine season, going 17-10 with a 3.46 ERA and was named N.L. Rookie of the Year. The Dodgers led the league with 183 home runs, as Davey Lopes, Steve Garvey and Ron Cey each had 28. Garvey, a model of consistency, batted .315 with 204 hits and drove in 110 runs while playing in all 162 games for the fourth consecutive season. After dropping 21 games under .500 by the All-Star break, the Dodgers came back to win eight of nine after the layoff to help right the ship. Lopes dropped his role of team captain after a stormy clubhouse meeting to clear the air on July 16. Reggie Smith injured his leg in the second game after the All-Star Game and never started another game. Don Sutton finished with a 12-15 record, while Burt Hooton was 11-10 and had a 2.97 ERA. In a sad turn of events, the First Lady of the Dodgers, Kay Hanson O’Malley, passed away in Los Angeles on July 12. Just 28 days later, Walter Francis O’Malley passed away at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN on August 9. Immediately, tributes and sympathy poured in to the O’Malley family and the Dodgers from all over the world. In Tokyo, prior to a game between the Yomiuri Giants and the Taiyo Whales, a moment of silence was held and a stadium prayer for the “repose of Walter O’ Malley’s soul.” At Dodger Stadium, the flags were lowered to half mast and a moment of silence paid homage to his memory and the baseball shrine that he built. On Sept. 2, Manny Mota collected his 145th pinch-hit with a single against Chicago to break Smokey Burgess’ all-time major league record. In January 1979, left-hander Fernando Valenzuela signed a contract with the Dodger organization after his contract was purchased from Puebla of the Mexican League. In the June Free Agent Draft, pitchers Steve Howe (1st round) and Orel Hershiser (17th round) were selected by the Dodgers.
Below are the Dodger Front Office department heads and personnel, plus scouts who worked for Walter O’Malley.
- Board of Directors
- Walter O’Malley, Chairman of the Board; Peter O’Malley, President; Harry M. Bardt, Treasurer; Roland Seidler, Jr., Secretary; Mrs. Walter (Kay) O’Malley, Mrs. Roland (Terry) Seidler. Director Emeritus — H.C. McClellan
- President:
- Peter O’Malley
- Vice President, Player Personnel:
- Al Campanis
- Vice President, Public Relations & Promotions:
- Fred Claire
- Vice President, Minor League Operations:
- William P. Schweppe
- Vice President, Marketing:
- Merritt Willey
- Special Consultant:
- Walter Alston
- Controller & Assistant Treasurer:
- Ken Hasemann
- Assistant Secretary:
- Irene Tanji
- Director of Advertising, Novelties & Souvenirs:
- Danny Goodman
- Director, Dodgertown:
- Charlie Blaney
- Director, Stadium Operations:
- Bob Smith
- Director, Ticket Operations:
- Walter Nash
- Director, Stadium Club & Transportation:
- Robert J. Schenz
- Director, Dodger Network:
- David Van de Walker
- Director, Scouting:
- Ben Wade
- Director, Publicity:
- Stever Brener
- Director, Community Relations:
- Don Newcombe
- Community Relations:
- Roy Campanella
- Director, Group Sales:
- Barry Stockhamer
- Director, Speakers Bureau:
- Bill Shumard
- Executive Pilot, Dodger 720-B Fan Jet:
- Captain Lewis Carlisle
- Administrative Assistant:
- Ike Ikuhara
- Traveling Secretary:
- Billy DeLury
- Auditor:
- Michael Strange
- Manager:
- Tom Lasorda
- Club Physicians:
- Dr. Frank Jobe, Dr. Robert Woods
- Scouts:
- Rafael Avila, Boyd Bartley, Bill Brenzel, Mike Brito, Jim Garland, Dick Hager, Dennis Haren, Gail Henley, Goldie Holt, Elvio Jimenez, Tony John, Dale Jones, John Keenan, Marty Keough, Ron King, Ed Liberatore, Dale McReynolds, Charlie Metro, Tommy Mixon, Lew Morton, Greg Mulleavy, John O'Neil, Regie Otero, Medardo Perez, Bill Pleis, Ed Roebuck, Jerry Stephenson, Dick Teed, Corito Varona, Guy Wellman, Bert Wells