We have reached the end of the Seventies on our second MLB Monday miniseries, and on Christmas Day 2023, we get to sign, “We are family!” … from us to you, here are wishes to everyone and their loved ones. The Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series for the second time in the decade and bringing some fun cultural spirituality into the public consciousness. Without further noise, let’s get to the awards analysis!

1979 World Series MVP: Willie Stargell, 1B, Pittsburgh (original); Kent Tekulve, RP, Pittsburgh (revised)

The Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles in 7 games, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win Games 6 and 7 on the road by a combined 8-1 score. Pittsburgh first baseman Willie Stargell (3 HRs, 7 RBI, 1.208 OPS) was voted the MVP, but we don’t like how he didn’t draw a single walk while making 2 errors in the field. Are there better candidates on the Pirates roster? Not really, as the team committed 9 errors in the Series total.

That’s pretty crazy, as every hitter with a good stat line also booted the ball at least once. Stargell also led the Pittsburgh lineup with 7 runs scored, so there’s that, as well. No one on the pitching staff stood out, except sidearm closer Kent Tekulve (2.89 ERA, 3 saves, 10 Ks in 9 1/3 IP). He got the saves in both Games 6 and 7 on the road, which is huge, actually. His WHIP (0.750) was also pretty good despite the surprisingly high ERA.

In the end, we think the 2 fielding errors by Stargell—which only cost his team 1 run, in a Game 3 loss by an 8-4 score—are hard to overlook even if the negative impact was relatively minimal. Stargell certainly made up for it offensively, but we also find the lack of walks … odd. Throw in 6 Ks at the plate, and Stargell seemingly was a feast-or-famine guy in this Series who just happened to feast decently in these 7 games.

We’ve been consistent here in dodging MVPs with defensive flaws, so we will do it again here and go with Tekulve for his big saves in Games 2, 6, and 7. Without the first save, the Pirates are in an even bigger hole—and maybe lose the Fall Classic in 4 straight games. And take away his saves in the deciding road games in Baltimore, and Pittsburgh isn’t winning it all. No Orioles really make the cut, either, so it’s Tekulve for us.

1979 AL Championship Series MVP: Pat Kelly, LF, Baltimore

This was the last year without an LCS MVP for the junior circuit, as the Orioles beat the California Angels in 4 games to advance to the Series. Baltimore used just 5 pitchers in the matchup: 4 starters and 1 reliever. Meanwhile, the Orioles were led offensively by 1B Eddie Murray (1 HR, 5 RBI, 5 BBs, 1.255 OPS), who had a dominant run here, despite committing 2 errors as well. So we have a different choice, which is surprising.

Outfielder Pat Kelly—1 HR, 4 RBI, 1.053 WHIP, 2 SBs—is our pick for the ALCS MVP due to his better defense and well-rounded contributions to the Orioles offensive output. He didn’t play in Game 3, coincidentally, the only game of this short series that the Baltimore dropped. Maybe that wasn’t a coincidence, eh? We won’t knock the managerial decisions here (see below), but Kelly deserves this.

1979 NL Championship Series MVP: Stargell (original, confirmed)

Stargell was the voted LCS MVP here after the Pirates swept the Cincinnati Reds in the last gasp for the Big Red Machine. Without committing an error in these 3 games, Pops posted 2 HRs, 6 RBI, 3 BBs, and a 1.753 OPS. Pittsburgh won the first 2 games on the road in extra innings: his 3-run HR in Game 1 won the game, and he was on base 4 times in Game 2’s 3-2 victory. We just will confirm this now, readily, and move on.

1979 AL MOTY: Earl Weaver, Baltimore

In an AL East where 6 of the 7 teams finished over .500 on the year, Orioles Manager Earl Weaver (plus-4 PPP) guided his team to an 8-game cushion for the division crown. We didn’t need to look much further than that, even though second-place Milwaukee got a plus-6 PPP effort from Manager George Bamberger. That is to be commended, but the Brewers never were true contenders here. This is Weaver’s fourth nod.

1979 NL MOTY: Bill Virdon, Houston

Pirates Manager Chuck Tanner (plus-3 PPP) definitely aided his team in holding off the Montréal Expos, who finished 2 games back. All things being equal, though, Pittsburgh would have won the NL East Division, anyway. Meanwhile, in the NL West, Houston Astros Manager Bill Virdon (plus-8 PPP) helped his team finish just 1.5 games behind the Reds in a truly incredible managerial effort. So, we have a dilemma.

We don’t want to minimize Tanner’s effort, which in most years would be enough to win the award, but Virdon’s accomplishment is just too much to overlook—taking an average team down to the wire for a division crown against an established, veteran team from the Big Red Machine era in Cincinnati: overall, in the 1970s, the Reds won 6 NL West title, and Virdon almost took that “dynasty” down with a random roster.