1979 NHL expansion, Final agreement
The former WHA teams were restocked via the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft with the established NHL teams receiving $125,000 per player taken in that draft. However, this compensation formed part of the former WHA teams' $6 million franchise fees. Additionally, a good number of players on the list were either retired or of little value; years later Oilers coach/general manager Glen Sather said that the WHA teams knew this, but went along only because they had to participate.


1979 NHL expansion, Final agreement
As the league considered the agreement to be an expansion as opposed to a merger, it refused to recognize WHA records. The four new NHL franchises were regarded as new entities, not as continuations of the former WHA franchises. The Canadian teams were permitted to operate under their established names, colors, logos and front office personnel, however, to appease and satisfy the Bruins, the NHL insisted that the Whalers drop "New England" from their name and they entered the league as the "Hartford Whalers" instead. The NHL continues to recognize all four franchises as having been founded on June 22, 1979, which is also the date the WHA and its six remaining teams are reckoned to have formally ceased to exist.


1979 NHL expansion, Aftermath
The NHL had originally intended to place its four newest franchises in each of its four divisions (then called the Adams, Norris, Patrick and Smythe), but the Oilers and Jets lobbied to be placed in the same division as the Canucks. The league agreed, although its decision to play a balanced league-wide schedule rendered the divisional alignment irrelevant for the next two seasons. Nevertheless, the divisions were formally retained.


1979 NHL expansion, Aftermath
Although the WHA clubs had performed quite well against their NHL rivals in inter-league exhibition games (of 63 such games played, the WHA won 34, lost 22 and tied 7) as expansion teams were nevertheless expected to struggle on the ice after joining the NHL due to the purging of their rosters. However, the NHL also expanded the Stanley Cup playoffs from 12 teams to 16. This allowed the Whalers and Oilers to qualify for the playoffs in their respective first NHL seasons although both teams were swept in the first round. The following year, the Oilers stunned NHL loyalists when they swept the heavily favoured Canadiens.


1979 NHL expansion, Legacy
In its seven seasons, the WHA paid its players $120 million, and lost over $50 million. The competition for talent introduced by the WHA, and accelerated by the signing of Bobby Hull, led to a rapid escalation of salaries for players in both leagues. For the first time, hockey players had meaningful leverage in contract negotiations.


1979 NHL expansion, Legacy
In its search for talent, the WHA turned to the previously overlooked European market, signing players from Finland and Sweden. Anders Hedberg, Lars-Erik Sjoberg, and Ulf Nilsson signed with the Jets in 1974 and thrived in North America, both in the WHA and later the NHL. The Jets won three of the six remaining WHA championships after signing European players, and their success sparked similar signings league-wide. Many of these players went on to NHL careers.


1979 NHL expansion, Legacy
Of the teams that joined the NHL in 1979, only the Edmonton Oilers remain in their original city today. The other three franchises all moved and acquired new names within a three-year period in the 1990s: the Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995, and won the Stanley Cup in their first year in Denver. The Jets became the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996, a move which remains the only occasion since 1979 the NHL has placed a team in a formerly active WHA city that did not previously host an NHL team.


1979 NHL expansion, Legacy
The Whalers (renamed the Hartford Whalers upon admission to the NHL in 1979) became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997. The Oilers nearly followed the other three teams south the following year after financially strapped owner Peter Pocklington received an offer from a buyer in Houston - itself not only a former WHA city, but one which unlike the previous three relocations was widely expected to keep the team's established nickname due to its prospective new city's well-established history of using it. However, a local ownership group was able to assemble the financing needed to keep the team in Edmonton. The Oilers were eventually acquired by Edmonton-based billionaire Daryl Katz, who became sole owner of the franchise in 2008. In 2016, the Oilers opened their new arena, Rogers Place, replacing Northlands Coliseum, which had been their home since 1974.


1979 NHL expansion, Legacy
Of the three cities to have lost their WHA/NHL teams, only Winnipeg has received one back when the Atlanta Thrashers relocated there in 2011. The Oilers are the only WHA team to win the Stanley Cup while in their WHA city, which they have done on five occasions (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990). The Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 1996, their first year after leaving Quebec, and won a second Cup in 2001. The Hurricanes won their only Stanley Cup in 2006, their ninth year after leaving Hartford. The Jets/Coyotes franchise has never appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals, and has advanced to the second playoff round only three times (1985, 1987, 2012,) and the conference final once (2012).


1979 NHL expansion, Legacy
Notwithstanding the NHL's non-recognition of WHA records, all four surviving WHA teams subsequently retired at least one jersey number in recognition of on-ice endeavors achieved exclusively or primarily in the WHA. The three teams that re-located in the 1990s took different approaches with respect to the retired numbers - both Colorado and Carolina disclaimed their teams' pre-relocation histories in both the WHA and NHL and re-entered all previously retired numbers into circulation, regardless of league (although notably, the Hurricanes have never issued the #9 worn by Gordie Howe and retired by the Whalers).


1979 NHL expansion, Legacy
On the other hand, the Coyotes decided to hang all previously retired Jets' numbers in the rafters including, notably, the #9 of Bobby Hull notwithstanding the fact Hull only played 18 games for the Jets in their first NHL season (the last of his career). In doing so, the Coyotes implicitly recognized the Winnipeg Jets' entire history from 1972 to 1996 as their own. The Coyotes later temporarily un-retired #9 so Hull's son Brett could wear it for the final five games of his NHL career.


1979 NHL expansion, Legacy
By the time the NHL returned to Winnipeg, the league had taken over the Coyotes following bankruptcy and had even entertained an offer from the eventual Thrashers' purchasers to return the Coyotes to Manitoba. The league therefore had to decide whether to allow the former Thrashers to reclaim the Jets' name and history. In the end, the NHL decided to allow Winnipeg to reclaim its former name, but not its pre-1996 history.


1979 NHL expansion, Legacy
The pre-1996 Jets history therefore remained with the Arizona franchise while the Winnipeg franchise retained the Thrashers' history; aside from Gretzky's number 99 that was retired league-wide in 2000, the Thrashers did not officially retire any numbers while in Atlanta, though they did remove 37 from circulation following the death of Dan Snyder. (The number, with Snyder's family's blessing, returned to circulation in 2016.) The "new" Jets immediately and controversially recognized the league's decision by issuing #9 to Evander Kane, who had worn the same number with the Thrashers.


1979 NHL expansion, Legacy
The addition of three new NHL teams in Canada led the league to reconsider other Canadian cities it had previously rejected placing franchises in. One year after the 1979 expansion, the Atlanta Flames relocated to Calgary, becoming archrivals of the Oilers in the process. In 1992, the NHL added an expansion franchise in Ottawa. Both of these teams remain in their respective cities. However, the league has repeatedly rejected bids to bring NHL franchises to the Canadian cities of Hamilton and Saskatoon.


1979 NSL Cup
The 1979 NSL Cup was the third season of the NSL Cup, which was the main national association football knockout cup competition in Australia. All 14 NSL teams from around Australia entered the competition, as well as a further 18 from various state leagues around Australia.


1979 NSL Cup Final
The 1979 NSL Cup Final was the final match of the 1979 NSL Cup. It was played at the Olympic Sports Field in Adelaide, Australia, on 30 September 1979, contested by Adelaide City and St George Budapest. Adelaide City won the match 3–2.


1979 NSWRFL season
The 1979 NSWRFL season was the 72nd season of Sydney's professional rugby league football competition, Australia's first. Twelve New South Wales Rugby Football League clubs competed for the J.J. Giltinan Shield and WD & HO Wills Cup during the season, which culminated in a grand final between the St. George and Canterbury-Bankstown clubs. NSWRFL teams also competed in the 1979 Amco Cup.


1979 NSWRFL season, Season summary
Twenty-two regular season rounds were played from March till August, resulting in a top five of St. George, Parramatta, Cronulla-Sutherland, Western Suburbs and Canterbury-Bankstown who battled it out in the finals.


1979 NSWRFL season, Season summary
Parramatta's Ray Price was the 1979 season's Rothmans Medallist, and also won Rugby League Week’s player of the year award.


1979 NSWRFL season, Season summary
The 1979 season also saw the retirement from the League of future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee, Bob Fulton.


1979 NSWRFL season, Season summary, Teams
Twelve clubs, including six of 1908's foundation teams and another six from around Sydney competed for the NSWRFL premiership.


1979 NSWRFL season, Season summary, Teams
72nd seasonGround: Henson ParkCoach: Warren RyanCaptain: Trevor Ryan→ Ken Wilson


1979 NSWRFL season, Season summary, Teams
72nd seasonGround: Redfern OvalCoach: Jack GibsonCaptain: Bob McMillan, Darrel Bampton, Terry Fahey


1979 NSWRFL season, Season summary, Teams
59th seasonGround: Kogarah Oval Coach: Harry BathCaptain: Steve Edge→Craig Young


1979 NSWRFL season, Finals, Grand Final
St. George finished 22 rounds as minor premiers with 17 wins and were straight into the Grand Final after defeating Parramatta in the major semi. Their Grand Final opponents Canterbury, qualified after defeating Wests, Cronulla and Parramatta.


1979 NSWRFL season, Finals, Grand Final
The pre-game talk had been about the match-up of opposing half-backs Steve Morris and Steve Mortimer and the game didn't disappoint, beginning with a 40-metre flying break on a last tackle by Morris from deep in Dragons territory before he was cut down in a classic covering tackle by Mortimer.


1979 NSWRFL season, Finals, Grand Final
The first half belonged to St. George with new fullback Brian Johnson scoring an easy opening try after taking a pass 10 metres out from the Canterbury line. Soon after, Rod Reddy, who was subduing his opponents with his experience and ruthlessness, put Morris into a gap. “Slippery” kicked ahead and the race was on. Mortimer had a head start and got there first but Morris tackled him into touch.


1979 NSWRFL season, Finals, Grand Final
Soon afterwards Canterbury put a bomb up and toward the St. George in-goal. Brian Johnson was on hand to field the ball and returned it with a 60-metre run ended by a copybook tackle from his opposing fullback Stan Cutler. However the defence was opening up and it wasn't long before the Dragons scored their second try, with winger Mitch Brennan venturing infield and finding a gap courtesy of centre Robert Finch who slipped a short ball to Brennan 30 metres out. The strapping winger made a powerful run to score.


1979 NSWRFL season, Finals, Grand Final
By now, Saints were carving Canterbury up with Morris, on his 20-metre line, putting Graeme Wynn into a gap. The lanky back rower ran 40 metres, leaving defenders in his wake. Next it was “Rocket” Reddy's turn when Morris, Wynn and Reddy combined down the right flank and exposed the Bulldogs defence. ' Rocket' handled twice in scoring a try under the posts. At half time the score was St George 17 – Canterbury 2.


1979 NSWRFL season, Finals, Grand Final
Canterbury fought back gamely after the break. Steve Gearin and then Peter Mortimer crossed, with two further tries being disallowed. The St. George defence rallied and held from that point until Stan Cutler scored a third try out wide late in the match. St. George's goal-kicking second rower George Grant was the difference on the day, kicking four to ensure a 17–13 victory. Grant had kicked brilliantly all season, scoring 211 points in 1979.


1979 NSWRFL season, Finals, Grand Final
The Dave Brown Medal for the best player on field, went to Steve Morris.


1979 NSWRFL season, Finals, Grand Final
St. George 17 (Tries: Johnson, Brennan, Reddy. Goals: Grant 4.)


1979 Nagapattinam by-election
On 17 June 1979 a by-election was held in for the Nagapattinam seat in the Lok Sabha (lower house of the parliament of India). The by-election was called after the murder of the incumbent Communist Party of India parliamentarian S.G. Murugaiyan, one of three prominent communist leaders killed in the state of Tamil Nadu in 1979. The Nagapattinam constituency was reserved for Scheduled Castes.


1979 Nagapattinam by-election
By 1979 CPI had moved away from the Indian National Congress (I). The CPI candidate K. Murugaiyan had the support from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The CPI candidate, himself a bonded labourer, had overwhelming support from the Dalit communities in the constituency.


1979 Nagapattinam by-election
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate M. Mahalingam had the support from the Congress(I). The Nagapattinam by-election was held simultaneously as a by-election in the Thanjavur Lok Sabha constituency. AIADMK supported the Congress(I) candidate in Thanjavur, and AIADMK supremo M.G. Ramachandran toured both constituencies during the election campaign. Nevertheless the Congress(I) leader Indira Gandhi only campaigned in Thanjavur.


1979 Nagapattinam by-election, Aftermath
The CPI hailed the by-election as a victory for left and democratic forces. However, the CPI(M) state chief took a more cautious tone, stating that the by-election outcome "show that autocratic forces are still strong in Tamil Nadu". The head of the Pradesh Congress Committee (I) bitterly accused M.G. Ramachandran of not having supported the party candidate in Nagapattinam sufficiently.


1979 Nagapattinam by-election, Aftermath
K. Murugayian lost the Nagapattinam seat in the subsequent 1980 Lok Sabha election to the DMK candidate Thanzai M. Karunanidhi.


1979 Nahariya attack
The 1979 Nahariya attack (codenamed by its perpetrators as the Nasser Operation) was a raid by four Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) militants in Nahariya, Israel on 22 April 1979.


1979 Nahariya attack
The group, consisting of Abdel Majeed Asslan,  Mhanna Salim al-Muayed, and Ahmed al-Abras, and led by 16-year-old Samir Kuntar, used a small, 55 horsepower (41 kW) boat to travel from Tyre, Lebanon to Israel. During the attack they killed three Israelis, including a father and two of his young children. Another child was accidentally suffocated in efforts to hide her from the attackers. Kuntar and al-Abras were captured, convicted of murder by an Israeli court, and sentenced to several life sentences.


1979 Nahariya attack
Both Kuntar and al-Abras were later set free in prisoner swap deals conducted between Israel and Lebanese militant organizations – al-Abras in 1985, and Kuntar in 2008.


1979 Nahariya attack, Details of the attack, Arrival
On 22 April 1979, a group of four Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) militants entered Israel from Lebanon by boat. The group was headed by Samir Kuntar (born in 1962) and included Abdel Majeed Asslan (born in 1955), Mhanna Salim Al-Muayed (born in 1960) and Ahmed AlAbras (born in 1949) – all members of the PLF under the leadership of Abu Abbas. The group departed from the seashore of Tyre in Southern Lebanon using a 55 horse-powered motorized rubber boat with an 88 km/h speed. Their goal was to attack Nahariya, 10 kilometers away from the Lebanese border. Around midnight they arrived at the coastal town of Nahariya.


1979 Nahariya attack, Details of the attack, Killing of Eliyahu Shahar
Upon landing on the beach in Nahariya, the group followed instructions issued in Beirut – which included finding a police officer and killing him. They knocked on the door of a private house and called out in Arabic via the intercom, frightening the residents into calling the police. Then, they killed responding police officer Eliyahu Shahar. According to the Israeli security services' reconstruction of the incident, Shahar was killed after he got out of his vehicle and fired two warning shots into the air. Kuntar's group responded with a massive burst of gunfire. Samir Kuntar boasted that he alone shot 30 bullets in this incident.


1979 Nahariya attack, Details of the attack, Raid on apartment building and kidnapping
The group then entered an apartment building on 61 Jabotinsky Street planning to abduct two or three people and take them back to Lebanon. One of the PFLP men, Abdel Majeed Asslan, broke into the apartment of Charles Shapiro, 34, a recent immigrant from South Africa, after the doors to his apartment had been shot up. Shapiro, who was armed with a .22 caliber magnum revolver, shot Asslan dead. Next, Kuntar's group encountered Moshe Sasson, a resident who was trying to reach the building's bomb shelter carrying his two young daughters, one under each arm.


1979 Nahariya attack, Details of the attack, Raid on apartment building and kidnapping
Kuntar shoved Sasson and slammed a handgun into the back of his skull. However, Sasson escaped when the hall lights suddenly went out, and hid under a parked car. The three remaining militants then broke into the apartment of the Haran family. They took 31-year-old Danny Haran hostage along with his four-year-old daughter, Einat. The mother, Smadar Haran, was able to hide in a crawl space above the bedroom with her two-year-old daughter Yael, and a neighbor – Sasson's wife. Smadar Haran accidentally suffocated Yael to death while attempting to quiet her whimpering, which would have revealed their hiding place.


1979 Nahariya attack, Details of the attack, Shootout on the beach
Kuntar's group then took Danny and Einat down to the beach, where a shootout erupted with Israeli policemen and a squad of soldiers from the elite Sayeret Golani special forces unit.


1979 Nahariya attack, Details of the attack, Shootout on the beach
According to eyewitnesses, when Kuntar's group found that the rubber boat they'd arrived in was disabled by gunfire, Kuntar shot Danny at close range in the back, in front of his daughter, and drowned him in the sea to ensure he was dead. Next, according to forensic evidence and eyewitness court testimony, Kuntar killed the girl by smashing her skull against the rocks with the butt of his rifle. A second militant, Mhanna Salim Al-Muayed, was killed in the shootout on the beach. Kuntar and the fourth member of the group, Ahmed Assad Abras, were captured.


1979 Nahariya attack, Retaliation
The day after the attack, Israeli Navy gunboats bombarded Nahr el-Bared, a Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut described by an Israeli military spokesman as a major base for the PFLP. The bombardment lasted an hour, and three civilians were reportedly killed.


1979 Nahariya attack, Retaliation
On 19 December 2015, Kuntar was killed by an explosion destroying a six-story residential building in Jaramana on the outskirts of Damascus. Hezbollah and the state run Syrian Arab News Agency reported that the building was destroyed by an air-to-surface missile launched by the Israeli Air Force.


1979 Nahariya attack, Trial
Kuntar went over to Einat Haran and hit her head twice with the butt of his rifle, with the intent of killing her, (...) The other defendant also struck her head forcefully. As a result of the blows, Einat suffered skull fractures and fatal brain damage, causing her death. They murdered the hostages – a helpless father and daughter, in cold blood. (...) By these acts the defendants reached an all-time moral low (...) an unparalleled satanic act (...) the punishments we are about to impose on the defendants cannot begin to match the brutality of their actions."


1979 Nahariya attack, Trial
Samir Kuntar and Ahmed AlAbras were convicted of murdering four people by an Israeli court in 1980, and sentenced to four life sentences, and an additional 47 years for injuries inflicted.


1979 Nahariya attack, Trial
On 13 July 2008, after being classified for nearly thirty years, File No. 578/79, containing the evidence and testimony from Kuntar's 1980 trial, was first published. According to the file, evidence presented by the pathologist at the trial showed that Einat Haran was killed by the force of a blunt instrument – most likely a rifle butt. The pathologist's report also showed that Einat's brain tissue was found on Kuntar's rifle.


1979 Nahariya attack, Trial
Immediately following his capture, when his remand was extended, Kuntar confessed that he had bludgeoned Einat to death with the butt of his rifle. Later, however, when testifying in court, Kuntar denied the charges. In his testimony, Kuntar asserted that Israeli gunfire had killed Danny Haran as soldiers burst in to free him, and that he did not see what happened to Einat after passing out from blood lost from five bullet wounds. He explained that the group's goal had been to take hostages back to Lebanon, and that he had taken the 4-year-old to prevent Israeli police from shooting at them.


1979 Nahariya attack, Trial
According to some sources Samir Kuntar and Ahmed AlAbras were sentenced to 5 life terms and that two Police officers were killed.


1979 Nahariya attack, Aftermath
The killing of Einat Haran is regarded as one of the most brutal terror attacks in the history of Israel. A day after the attack, Abu Abbas, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Front announced from Beirut that the terrorist attack in Nahariya had been carried out "to protest the signing of the Egyptian–Israeli Peace Treaty" at Camp David the previous year.


1979 Nahariya attack, Aftermath
In 1980, Smadar Haran married Yakov Kaiser, a clinical psychologist who had been severely wounded in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. They have two daughters. Smadar is now a psychotherapist with a master's degree in social work. Ahmed AlAbras was freed by Israel in the Jibril Agreement of May 1985.


1979 Nahariya attack, Aftermath
According to Leonard A. Cole, Smadar Haran led a campaign in Israel to honor the victims of terrorism just as it does its fallen soldiers, and in 2003 she opposed the release of Samir Kuntar in exchange for the bodies of the 3 Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah during the 2000 Hezbollah cross-border raid, and for Elchanan Tannenbaum, the Israeli businessman and former IDF colonel who was kidnapped by Hezbollah in Dubai. Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that "The murder of a family in Israel is unforgivable" and refused to release Kuntar in the 2003 swap.


1979 Nahariya attack, Aftermath
Samir Kuntar spent nearly three decades in prison before being released on 16 July 2008 as part of an Israel-Hezbollah prisoner swap. He denied killing Danny and Einat (the child and her father), but admitted to killing Eliyahu Shachar, the policeman. He never expressed remorse for the killings. In Israel, Kuntar was considered the perpetrator of one of the most brutal terrorist attacks in the country's history, while in Lebanon he was widely regarded as a national hero. He was killed on 19 December 2015, in a suspected Israeli airstrike, though Israel did not confirm this and the Free Syrian Army would later take credit for killing Kuntar.


1979 National Camogie League
The 1979 National Camogie League, the second most important elite level inter-county competition in the women's team field sport of camogie was won by Dublin, who defeated Limerick in the final, played at Russell Park.


1979 National Camogie League, Arrangements
For the first time the league was divided into four, rather than two zones. Dublin defeated Derry, Wicklow and Antrim easily but were held to a draw by Cork in the semi-final, scoring 2-2 in the first ten minutes and leading 3-4 to 0-5 at half-time. They won the replay at Blanchardstown by 5-5 to 3-4 despite another brave second half rally by Cork. Limerick defeated the holders Kilkenny and Clare and then Down in the semi-final.


1979 National Camogie League, The Final
The final was the lowest scoring in the history of the League. Agnes Hourigan wrote in the Irish Press:


1979 National Camogie League, The Final
Their busy programme over the past few months was an advantage for Dublin. They were sharper and faster to the ball and would have own by a bigger margin were it not for the superb defensive work of the Limerick side.


1979 National Challenge Cup
The 1979 National Challenge Cup was the 66th edition of the USSF's annual open soccer championship. Teams from the North American Soccer League declined to participate. Brooklyn Dodgers S.C. of Brooklyn, New York defeated the Chicago Croatia of Chicago, Illinois in the final game. The score was 2–0.


1979 National Invitation Tournament
The 1979 National Invitation Tournament was the 1979 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition. Indiana University defeated their rival Purdue University 53–52 in the championship game. Purdue appeared in the 1980 NCAA Men's Final Four while Indiana won the national championship at the 1981 NCAA Men's Final Four.


1979 National Invitation Tournament, Selected teams
Below is a list of the 24 teams selected for the tournament.


1979 National Invitation Tournament, Brackets
Below are the three first round brackets, along with the four-team championship bracket.


1979 National League Championship Series
The 1979 National League Championship Series was played between the National League West champion Cincinnati Reds and the National League East champion Pittsburgh Pirates. It was the 11th NLCS in all.


1979 National League Championship Series
It was the fourth time in the 1970s that the Pirates and Reds had faced off for the pennant; Cincinnati had won all three previous meetings in 1970, 1972 and 1975.


1979 National League Championship Series
The Pirates won the series in a three-game sweep in what would be the last postseason appearance for both franchises until 1990.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
Both sides threw their aces in Game 1 as 14-game winner John Candelaria started for the Pirates, and Tom Seaver started for the Reds. After Omar Moreno grounded out to start the game, a 45-minute rain delay stalled the contest. When play resumed, Seaver retired Tim Foli and Dave Parker for an unusually long 1-2-3 inning.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
Pittsburgh struck first in the third inning when second baseman Phil Garner led off with an opposite-field home run. After Candelaria struck out, Omar Moreno hit a sinking liner to right that Dave Collins attempted a sliding shoestring catch on. The ball skidded off the wet Riverfront Stadium turf in front of Collins and rolled to the wall. The speedy Moreno ended up with a triple, but it could have easily been an inside-the-park homer if not for the hustle of Héctor Cruz in center.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
Foli then drove in Moreno with a sacrifice fly to give the Pirates a 2–0 lead. Seaver then walked Dave Parker and Willie Stargell, but John Milner popped out to end the inning. The Reds tied it in the bottom of the fourth when George Foster hit a two-run homer into left center with Dave Concepción aboard. Despite a sore shoulder, Candelaria gutted out seven painful innings before giving way to Enrique Romo.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
The score stayed at 2–2 until the top of the 11th inning. Tim Foli and Parker singled off Reds reliever Tom Hume. Willie Stargell drilled a three-run homer to almost dead center to make it 5–2, Pirates. The Reds didn't go away silently, though. After Grant Jackson retired the first two batters in the bottom of the 11th, Dave Concepción singled and George Foster walked. Don Robinson came on to replace Jackson and walked Johnny Bench to load the bases. At that point, Chuck Tanner visited the mound, and Willie Stargell jokingly asked Robinson, "Why don't you move to first and I'll pitch?" The barb relaxed Robinson, who settled down and struck out Ray Knight for the final out.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
In another extra inning affair, the Pirates beat the Reds 3–2 to earn a road sweep and send the series to Pittsburgh needing just one win in three home games to make the 1979 World Series. The starting pitchers were Jim Bibby for the Pirates and Frank Pastore for the Reds.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
Pastore helped himself with an RBI sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the second that scored Dan Driessen. Driessen was aboard after singling and moving to third on a Ray Knight single. In the top of the third, Tim Foli and Dave Parker led off with singles. Willie Stargell followed with a base hit to right, but he rounded first base too far and Reds right fielder Dave Collins threw behind him. Stargell was caught in a rundown and retired. Foli, however, surprisingly stayed at third instead of trying to score while Stargell was in the rundown. John Milner was walked intentionally, loading the bases, and Bill Madlock beat out a double-play grounder to score Foli with the tying run.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
The Pirates took the lead in the fifth when Phil Garner sent a sinking liner towards Dave Collins in right that Collins attempted a shoestring catch on, much like his attempt in Game 1. Collins appeared to have caught the ball, but umpire Frank Pulli ruled he trapped it, giving Garner a base hit. Garner moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bibby and scored on a double by Foli. Bibby left after seven innings with discomfort in his neck, having held the Reds to four hits and the single run.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
The Reds mounted a threat in the eighth against the Pirate bullpen. Left-hander Grant Jackson retired lefty-hitting Joe Morgan for the first out, but Chuck Tanner, managing by percentages, brought in Enrique Romo to face right-handed hitting Dave Concepción. The move backfired as Romo gave up back-to-back singles to Concepción and George Foster. Kent Tekulve relieved Romo to face Johnny Bench and, on his second pitch to Bench, wild-pitched the runners to second and third. Tekulve recovered to strike out Bench, intentionally walked Dan Driessen, and then retired Ray Knight for the last out.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
Tekulve encountered trouble in the ninth. With one out, Héctor Cruz, batting for Tom Hume, doubled. Collins then doubled in Cruz to tie the game. Tekulve was then replaced by lefty Dave Roberts, but Roberts walked Morgan. Tanner then brought in Game 1 saver Don Robinson, who struck out Concepción and retired Foster on a groundout to end the threat.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
The Pirates won it in the tenth when Moreno singled, went to second on a bunt by Foli and scored on Parker's single. Robinson retired the Reds in the tenth and the Pirates had a two games to none lead over the Reds. Robinson got the win and Doug Bair got the loss.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
The Pirates made it to their first World Series since 1971 with a blowout win to complete a three-game sweep of the Reds. The starting pitchers were Bert Blyleven for the Pirates, and Mike LaCoss for the Reds. For the second time in three games, the start was delayed by rain.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
After allowing a hit in the first, the Pirates got on the board quickly when leadoff hitter Omar Moreno, a pain in the Reds' side all series, singled and stole second. Tim Foli then grounded to Concepcion, who tried to catch Moreno at third, but Moreno reached third safely and Foli to first. Dave Parker then hit a sacrifice fly for a 1–0 Pirates lead.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
In the second, Phil Garner tripled and scored on Foli's sacrifice fly. LaCoss was then replaced by Fred Norman, who gave up Willie Stargell's second home run of the series and another homer to Bill Madlock in the third. Stargell doubled home two more runs in the fourth for a 6–0 Pirate lead and essentially clinched the NLCS MVP.


1979 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
The Reds got one run back in the sixth when Johnny Bench homered, but it was their last run of the year. The Pirates got that run back in the eighth when Garner scored on an error by Cesar Geronimo, the only error committed in the entire series. Blyleven went the distance and the Pirates had completed an unexpected sweep in advancing to the 1979 World Series. To date, this is the Pirates' most recent pennant.


1979 National League season
The 1979 National League was contested as the second division/tier of Speedway in the United Kingdom.


1979 National League season, Summary
The league was reduced from 20 teams to 19 from the previous season. White City Rebels closure saw their riders move to Eastbourne Eagles who moved up to the British League. Barrow Furness Flyers dropped out and Nottingham Outlaws joined the league. Teesside Tigers changed their name to Middlesbrough Tigers. Scunthorpe Saints changed their name to Scunthorpe Stags.


1979 National League season, Summary
There was a controversial end to the season when Rye House Rockets visited Mildenhall Fen Tigers needing a draw to win the title. Needing a 5-1 in the last heat to tie the match, Rocket Karl Fiala's exclusion prompted team-mate Bob Garrad to withdraw from the re-run in protest. Mildenhall went on to win at bottom club Scunthorpe Saints in the last match of the season to win the title by one point.


1979 National League season, National League Knockout Cup
The 1979 National League Knockout Cup was the 12th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Rye House Rockets were the winners of the competition.


1979 National League season, National League Knockout Cup, Final
Rye House were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 92–64.


1979 National Provincial Championship
The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, was the predecessor to the current Air New Zealand Cup and Heartland Championship in New Zealand rugby. 1979 was the fourth year of the National Provincial Championship, Counties were the winners of Division 1.


1979 National Provincial Championship, Division 1 Standings
These were the NPC Division 1 standings for the 1979 season.


1979 National Provincial Championship, Promotion/Relegation
As the bottom placed North Island team, Taranaki were automatically relegated.


1979 National Provincial Championship, Promotion/Relegation
Division Two North winner Hawkes Bay were promoted to Division One.


1979 National Provincial Championship, Promotion/Relegation
Otago faced Division Two South winner Marlborough, defeating them 15-13, and remained in Division One.


1979 National Provincial Championship, Ranfurly Shield
North Auckland began the season as holders having defeated Manawatu the season before. They defended the Shield in 5 matches before being defeated by Auckland. Auckland then successfully defended against Counties in the final match of the season that pitted the Shield holders against the National Champions.


1979 National Soccer League
The National Soccer League 1979 season was the third season of the National Soccer League in Australia. The champions were Marconi Fairfield.


1979 National Soccer League (Canada) season
The 1979 National Soccer League season was the fifty sixth season under the National Soccer League (NSL) name. The season began in May, 1979 and concluded in September, 1979 with Toronto First Portuguese producing a perfect season, which granted them the NSL Championship. First Portuguese would also secure the double by defeating Toronto Panhellenic for the NSL Cup. Toronto's undefeated streak lasted until the 1980 season and amounted to 52 games with Toronto Panhellenic breaking the streak.


1979 National Soccer League (Canada) season
The NSL was operating a franchise in Northern Ontario, Quebec, and expanded its boundaries into the United States with two franchises in Detroit, Michigan.


1979 National Soccer League (Canada) season, Overview
The membership in the league experienced a sharp decline as a mass exodus of clubs departed from the league, which caused the NSL to dissolve their Second Division. The primary reason for the mass departures revolved around a league bylaw which required all clubs to successfully pay all membership dues on the required deadline in order to avoid suspensions. Members such as Mississauga Hungaria, Ottawa Tigers, St. Catharines Heidelberg, Toronto Polonia, and Windsor Stars disbanded their teams, while Montreal Castors had intentions of acquiring a franchise in the North American Soccer League. Toronto Italia, and Buffalo Blazers were inactive for the season, but returned for the 1980 campaign. Though the league experienced a decline in membership it still expanded further into the United States with the acceptance of Detroit Besa, and Detroit Vardar.


1979 National Soccer League (Canada) season, Overview
The NSL also retained their presence in Quebec with the return of the Montreal Stars and an additional team in the Greater Toronto Area known as Toronto Canadians. Throughout the regular season the standings had to be revised as Detroit Vardar withdrew from the competition. There were also reports circulating about preliminary plans for a potential national soccer league throughout the country.


1979 National Soccer League (Canada) season, Cup
The cup tournament was a separate contest from the rest of the season, in which all fifteen teams took part. The tournament would conclude in a final match for the Cup.


1979 National Society of Film Critics Awards
The 14th National Society of Film Critics Awards, given on 3 January 1980, honored the best filmmaking of 1979.


1979 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Director
1. Woody Allen – Manhattan1. Robert Benton – Kramer vs. Kramer3. Peter Yates – Breaking Away4. Blake Edwards – 10


1979 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Actor
1. Dustin Hoffman – Kramer vs. Kramer and Agatha2. Peter Sellers – Being There3. Nick Nolte – North Dallas Forty4. Jack Lemmon – The China Syndrome5. Klaus Kinski – Nosferatu the Vampyre (Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht) and Woyzeck5. Richard Pryor – Richard Pryor: Live in Concert5. Roy Scheider – All That Jazz


1979 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Actress
1. Sally Field – Norma Rae2. Hanna Schygulla – The Marriage of Maria Braun (Die Ehe der Maria Braun)3. Bette Midler – The Rose4. Diane Keaton – Manhattan


1979 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Supporting Actor
1. Frederic Forrest – Apocalypse Now and The Rose2. Melvyn Douglas – Being There and The Seduction of Joe Tynan3. Paul Dooley – Breaking Away4. James Mason – Murder by Decree4. James Woods – The Onion Field


1979 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Supporting Actress
1. Meryl Streep – Kramer vs. Kramer, Manhattan and The Seduction of Joe Tynan2. Barbara Harris – The Seduction of Joe Tynan3. Jane Alexander – Kramer vs. Kramer3. Barbara Barrie – Breaking Away


1979 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Screenplay
1. Steve Tesich – Breaking Away2. Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman – Manhattan3. Robert Benton – Kramer vs. Kramer4. Jerzy Kosinski and Robert C. Jones – Being There5. Blake Edwards – 10


1979 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners, Best Cinematography
1. Caleb Deschanel – The Black Stallion and Being There2. Vittorio Storaro – Apocalypse Now and Agatha3. Néstor Almendros – Kramer vs. Kramer4. Gordon Willis – Manhattan


1979 Nations Cup (tennis)
The 1979 Nations Cup, also known by its sponsored name Ambre Solaire Nations Cup, was a men's team tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the third edition of the World Team Cup and was part of the 1979 Grand Prix circuit. It took place at the Rochusclub in Düsseldorf in Germany from 7 May through 14 May 1979. Total prize money was $250,000 and in total 44,500 people attended the event. Spain were the defending champions but did not compete that year. Australia defeated Italy in the final, which was delayed by one day due to rain, to win the title for the first time.


1979 Nations Cup (tennis)
The draw consisted of eight teams divided over two round-robin groups. The two best ranked teams from each group proceeded to the semifinals. Each match consisted of two singles and a doubles.


1979 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix
The 1980 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix was the fourth round of the 1979 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 11–13 May 1979 at the Autodromo Dino Ferrari.


1979 Navarrese foral election
The 1979 Navarrese foral election was held on Tuesday, 3 April 1979, to elect the Foral Parliament of Navarre. All 70 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with local elections all throughout Spain.


1979 Navarrese foral election, Overview, Electoral system
Voting for the Foral Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered in Navarre and in full enjoyment of their civil and political rights. The 70 members of the Foral Parliament of Navarre were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of five percent of valid votes—which includes blank ballots—being applied in each constituency.


1979 Navarrese foral election, Overview, Electoral system
Seats were allocated to constituencies, corresponding to the historical merindades of Estella, Pamplona—which was sub-divided into two districts, one comprising the capital and another one for the remaining territory—, Sangüesa, Tafalla–Olite and Tudela, with each being allocated an initial minimum of five seats and the remaining 40 allocated among the constituencies in proportion to their populations (provided that no district was allocated more than 1/3 of the forty seats up for distribution).


1979 Navarrese foral election, Overview, Electoral system
The use of the D'Hondt method might result in a higher effective threshold, depending on the district magnitude.


1979 Navarrese foral election, Overview, Electoral system
The electoral law allowed for parties and federations registered in the interior ministry, coalitions and groupings of electors to present lists of candidates. Parties and federations intending to form a coalition ahead of an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within fifteen days of the election call, whereas groupings of electors needed to secure the signature of at least one-thousandth of the electorate in the constituencies for which they sought election—with a compulsory minimum of 500 signatures—disallowing electors from signing for more than one list of candidates.


1979 Navarrese foral election, Overview, Election date
The foral election was fixed to be held concurrently with the nationwide 1979 local elections.


1979 Navy Midshipmen football team
The 1979 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Roster
Adams, Joe #64 (Jr.) OGBaker, Kim #41 (Jr.) LBBarnett, Bill #97 (Sr.) DTBates, Phil (So.) FBBeach, Jim (So.) DBBergkamp, Tim #36 (Jr.) PKBess, Donnie (So.) DEBloom, Jeff #50 (Sr.) CBoll, Peter (So.) OTBranch, Anthony #4 (So.) WBBrandl, Matt (So.) OGBrown, Kenny #22 (Sr.) WBBrown, Todd #29 (Fr.) SEBruce, Mike #76 (Jr.) OTBush, Anthony (So.) SECarlstrom, Tom #78 (So.) OGClark, David #63 (Jr.) DTCole, Lawrence #81 L. C. Cole(Sr.) DEConneally, Jerry (So.) LBDamkroger, Steve #35 (Fr.) LBDavies, Steve #82 (Jr.) TEDeLoach, Trey #52 (Jr.) CEngland, Gary #70 (Jr.) OTEvans, Brent (So.)


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Roster
FBFinn, Jeff #87 (Jr.) TEFischer, Dan #26 (So.) DBFranklin, Andra #39 (Jr.) FBGary, Russell #9 (Jr.) DBGdowski, Tom (So.) DTGebert, Chris #14 (So.) QBGemar, Scott #1 (Jr.) PKGerlach, Dan (So.) DBGlathar, Kurt (So.) OGGoodspeed, Mark #72 (Sr.) OTHager, Tim #10 (Sr.) QBHavekost, John #69 (Sr.) OGHedrick, Brian #43 (Jr.) DTHill, Dan (So.) TEHineline, Curt #59 (So.) MGHipp, I.M. #32 (Sr.) IBHolbrook, Tim (So.) DBHolmes, Daryl #94 (Jr.) DE


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Roster
Horn, Rod #55 (Sr.) DTHuebert, Randy (So.) WBHunt, Al #49 (So.) FBHurley, Dan #73 (So.) OTIodence, Brian (So.) DBJohnson, Brad (So.) CJohnson, Craig #30 (Jr.) IBKeith, Percy #21 (Jr.) IBKeuten, John #62 (Jr.) OGKirk, Donnie #13 (So.) PKKnoll, Eric (So.) QBKotera, Jim #44 (Jr.) FBKrejci, Jeff #2 (So.) DBKwapick, Jeff (So.) OTLandwehr, Randy #27 (So.) IBLarsen, Pat (So.) DBLee, Oudious #65 (Sr.) MGLeRoy, Mark #23 (Sr.) DBLetcher, Paul #8 (Sr.) DBLewis, Rodney #5 (So.) DBLiegl, David #28 (Jr.) DBLindquist, Ric #15 (So.) DBLindstrom, Dan #98 (Jr.) DELingenfelter, Bruce (So.) OTLynch, Greg (So.) OGMandelko, Mike #68 (So.) OGMathison, Bruce #19 (So.)


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Roster
QBMauer, Mark #17 (So.) QBMcCloney, Maurice #31 (So.) WBMcCrady, Tim #24 (Jr.) WBMcElroy, Mike (So.) CMcWhirter, Steve #45 (Fr.) LBMeans, Andy #34 (Jr.) DBMichaelson, Steve #18 (So.) QBMiles, Darwin #91 (So.) DEMiller, Junior #89 (Sr.) TEMinor, John #86 (Sr.) MGMoravec, Mark (So.) FBNelson, Derrie #92 (Jr.) DENoonan, John (So.) SENyden, Richard (Jr.) SEPensick, Dan #93 (Sr.) DT


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Roster
Peterson, Dick #83 (So.) TEPhillips, Patrick #94 (So.) DEPoppe, Scott (So.) LBPotadle, Paul #61 (Sr.) OGQuinn, Jeff #11 (Jr.) QBRabas, Greg #85 (So.) TERedwine, Jarvis #12 (Jr.) IBReiners, Dan (So.) DERice, Dan #74 (Sr.) CRimington, Dave #56 (Fr.) CRoark, Larry (So.) DBRuud, John #46 (Sr.) LBSaalfeld, Kelly #57 (Sr.) CSantin, John (So.) DESchleusener, Randy #53 (Jr.) OGSculley, Mike (Jr.) MGSearcey, L.G. #37 (So.) DBSeibel, Kevin (Fr.) P/PKSims, Sammy #6 (So.) DBSlobodnik, Tim (Fr.) DBSmith, Tim #84 (Sr.) SESteels, Anthony #33 (So.) WBSteiner, Dan #58 (Sr.) OTStocker, Kevin #20 (Fr.) PKSukup, Dean #3 (Sr.) PKTheiss, Randy (So.) OTTheissen, Gordon #90 (Sr.)


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Roster
DETrent, Phil #16 (Fr.) DBVair, Duke (So.) IBVan Lent, Bill (Fr.) DTVan Norman, Kris #38 (So.) DBVergith, Tom (So.) WBVering, Tom #47 (Sr.) LBWaechter, Henry #75 (So.) DTWallace, Walter (So.) IBWees, Dennis (So.) LBWeinmaster, Kerry #51 (Sr.) MGWilliams, Jamie (Fr.) TEWilliams, Brent (Jr.) LBWilliams, Jimmy #96 (So.) DEWoodard, Scott #88 (Jr.) SEWurth, Tim #25 (Sr.) FB


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Utah State
Nebraska started out the 1979 season with less than convincing power, as relatively unheralded Utah State was still in the game as the teams entered intermission tied at 14. After adjustments were made, coaching and conditioning put the distance between the two teams as the Aggies failed to score again while the Cornhuskers added 21 with the help of 455 yards on the ground for the day.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Iowa
For the second week in a row, an unranked team came out strong against Nebraska, as Iowa scored first and held Nebraska to the 7-7 tie at the half. The situation wasn't looking up for the Cornhuskers as Iowa moved ahead to 21-14 by the end of the 3rd, but finally the Blackshirts put the brakes on Iowa's offensive output and eventually forced a fumble as the 4th quarter wound down which Nebraska successfully converted into the winning field goal before the Cornhuskers escaped Iowa City with the win.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Penn State
Nebraska continued their season trend of posting weak starts, as Penn State surged to a 14-point lead in the 1st quarter, but the Blackshirts seemed to figure out the Nittany Lions from that point forward, allowing only a 3rd-quarter field goal, while the Cornhusker offense came to life and put up 42 points to pass by Penn State and quell any hopes of an upset in Lincoln.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, New Mexico State
This game was all Nebraska, as IB Jarvis Redwine made his first start and racked up 120 yards in just 16 carries, leaving the game before halftime. Eighty four Cornhuskers saw playing time, including some true freshmen, as Nebraska coasted to an easy 57-0 pasting of the Aggies.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Kansas
Nebraska again dominated, although the Kansas defense prevented three of four touchdown attempts in the first half and forced the Cornhuskers to settle for field goals instead. This was little help for the Jayhawks, however, who could not muster any kind of response to get onto the scoreboard. By the end of the game, Kansas had acquired only 8 first downs, 79 total yards, and suffered 3 interceptions as Nebraska's 611 offensive yards allowed them to steamroll to a 42-0 shutout victory.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma State
Nebraska settled into a remarkable groove, posting their 3rd straight shutout victory on the road in Stillwater. Two Nebraska runners exceeded 100 yards as the Cornhuskers rolled up 433 yards on the ground compared to only 37 by the Cowboys, who only crossed midfield twice.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Colorado
Colorado's only touchdown came on an interception return, which left intact a record 19 straight quarters that the Blackshirts had prevented a touchdown, while IB Jarvis Redwine amassed over 200 yards and three touchdowns as the Cornhuskers defeated the Buffaloes for the 12th consecutive time.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Missouri
Nebraska pulled out to an early 20-6 lead shortly after halftime, and a relatively easy win seemed to be on the horizon, but someone forgot to tell Missouri to give up. The Tigers came right back, scoring 14 straight to tie the game at 20 as the 3rd quarter ended, and the game was on.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Missouri
Both teams struggled to make progress until Nebraska was able to muster a single field goal with a little over 3 minutes left to play, but the game was not decided until the final play, as Missouri opted out of the easy, game-tying field goal and went for the win from the Nebraska 11 with 3 seconds left, only for QB Phil Bradley to get sacked by the Blackshirts before he could unload the ball.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Kansas State
Kansas State turned over four interceptions, but it seemed as if Nebraska was intent on repaying the favor by losing five of seven fumbles to help keep the Wildcats in the game. By the beginning of the 4th quarter, the Wildcats trailed the Cornhuskers by just 2 points. Halfway through the 4th, Nebraska put up 7 more points to create some breathing room, and held off Kansas State until time expired.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Iowa State
Nebraska experienced yet another slow start as the 1st quarter ended with only a Cornhusker field goal on the board, but in the second quarter things seemed to fall into place as Nebraska posted another 25 points by halftime without any response from Iowa State. The Cyclones managed to avoid the shutout with a field goal in the 4th, but avoiding the disgrace of the shutout was about all they accomplished for the day as they departed Lincoln with a 3-34 loss on the books.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Oklahoma
A hard fought battle for the Big 8 title resulted in disappointment for Nebraska, who surrendered a 4-point halftime lead as Oklahoma overpowered the Blackshirts, who had been ranked #1 against the run leading up to this game. The final score of the day came from Nebraska's second-ever fumblerooski, picked up by All-American guard Randy Schleusener.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Houston
The Cornhuskers got onto the scoreboard first with a 1st-quarter touchdown, but offensive production stalled as Houston caught up and tied the Cornhuskers before halftime. The Cougers gave up an interception and lost three of seven fumbles during the game, giving Nebraska a 4-1 turnover margin edge, but Houston's passing and rushing efforts were successful enough to overcome the setbacks. Nebraska gained a slim 3-point lead with little more than 3 minutes to play, but Houston marched down the field and put one more touchdown into the end zone with just 12 seconds on the clock, handing Nebraska a loss to close the season.


1979 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Rankings, NFL and Pro Players
The following Nebraska players who participated in the 1979 season later moved on to the next level and joined a professional or semi-pro team as draftees or free agents.


1979 Nemzeti Bajnokság I (women's handball)
The 1979 Nemzeti Bajnokság I is the 29th season of the Nemzeti Bajnokság I, Hungary's premier Handball league.


1979 Nemzeti Bajnokság I (women's handball), Final list
* M: Matches W: Win D: Drawn L: Lost G+: Goals earned G-: Goals got P: Point


1979 Nepalese student protests
The 1979 student protests in Nepal (Nepali: २०३६ सालको आन्दोलन, 2036 Saal ko Aandolan) were a series of protests amongst the student community in Nepal during the months of April and May 1979 (2036 B.S.). The clashes that occurred had a significant historical impact, as they forced the monarchy to concede to holding a referendum on the possibility of a multiparty system in the country. Official figures stated that 11 persons were killed during the agitation, and 164 wounded.


1979 Nepalese student protests, April 6 rally
On April 6 a group of students demonstrated in the capital Kathmandu, protesting against the execution of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan. As the manifestation came nearer the Pakistani embassy, the student procession was stopped by police at Lainchour. Reportedly, the police blocked the students as King Birendra's vehicle was travelling nearby. Clashes between students and riot police occurred.


1979 Nepalese student protests, Spark of protests
After the violent clashes of April 6, representatives of the student community composed a list of 22 demands to the authorities, urging an end to police repression against the student movement. A series of other protests were held by students in the days to come. In an effort to quell the dissent, the authorities decided to close the campuses in Kathmandu valley between April 13 and April 21.


1979 Nepalese student protests, Spark of protests
On April 9 (B.S 2035 Chaitra), a nine-member central Action Committee of students was formed in order to write the 25-point chart of demands. The members of the Action Committee were as follows:


1979 Nepalese student protests, Spark of protests
Among them, 'chief action committees' consisting of three members were also formed, of Bal Bahadur K.C. of Nepal Students Union (connected to Nepali Congress), Kailash Karki of the Nepal National Students Federation (connected to the pro-Soviet Communist Party) and Sharan Bikram Malla of the All Nepal National Free Students Union  (connected to the pro-Chinese communist, Pushpa lal group).


1979 Nepalese student protests, April 23 Ascol clashes
On April 23 students of the Amrit Science College (Ascol) held a public manifestation, protesting against violence committed by the pro-government outfit Rashtravadi Swatantra Vidhyarthi Mandal (nicknamed mandales). At that manifestation, the police not only decided to break up the demonstration in the open areas of the campus, but surrounded the entire area and began violently assaulting the students. Sources from the student community claimed that two or three students were killed by the police. Police sources, on their hand, claimed that 64 amongst their ranks had been injured in the clashes.


1979 Nepalese student protests, April 23 Ascol clashes
Following the Amrit Science College clashes, the authorities took a decision that would essentially turn local student unrest in the capital into a national rebellion. They decided to close the campuses and student hostels; students were given 24 hours to clear their rooms. Students from remote areas left the capital to return to their family residences. To their villages and hometowns they brought news about the brutality of the state forces, and soon protests began to appear around the country.


1979 Nepalese student protests, Nationwide Escalation
On April 27 a visit by a minister to Hetauda sparked protests by the local population. Demonstrators held the minister incommunicado for ten hours. The crowd was broken up by police firing. Official records say that three demonstrators were killed, but opposition sources claimed that the death toll could have reached 17. The morning after, the state forces clamped down on known opposition leaders in the capital, arresting several prominent figures. Former Prime Minister B.P. Koirala was placed under house arrest.


1979 Nepalese student protests, Nationwide Escalation
The unrest then gained momentum and spread throughout the country. Protests occurred in Bhaktapur, Patan, Bharatpur, Birganj, Kalaiya, Janakpur, Biratnagar, Rajbiraj, Siraha, Sarlahi, Pokhara and Syangja. In total, clashes occurred in 37 out of 75 districts of Nepal. The education minister, Pashupati Shamsher Rana, resigned.


1979 Nepalese student protests, Royal commission and negotiations
On May 2 King Birendra, in response to the protests, formed a five-member commission headed by Dhanendra Bahadur Singh, Chief Justice of Supreme Court, present a report on how to deal with student movement. On May 2–3, 160 students arrested during the protests were released. The royal commission suggested giving in to the students' demands concerning academic issues, and on May 9 the 64 remaining arrested students were released alongside political opposition leaders.


1979 Nepalese student protests, Royal commission and negotiations
The Central Student Action Committee, Bal Bahadur K.C.-Nepal Biddhyarthi Sangh, Sharan Bikram Malla- All Nepal Free Student Union, Kailash Karki- National Student Federation were the three members of central action committee of the students movement of 1979 was able to reach an agreement with the royal commission including abolishing the 1972 new education policy, scrapping entrance exams for universities, giving the right to form independent unions and abolishing the Mandales. The Student Action Committee on their behalf urged fellow students to return to the campuses.


1979 Nepalese student protests, Royal declaration on plebiscite
On May 23 King Birendra made a public declaration that a referendum with universal adult suffrage with secret vote would be held in which the people of Nepal would be able to choose between introducing a multiparty system or retain the non-party panchayat regime. The referendum was held on May 2, 1980.


1979 Netherlands Antilles island council elections
Island council elections were held in the Netherlands Antilles in April 1979. They were the eighth elections for the Island Council.


1979 Netherlands Antilles island council elections, Saba
General elections were held in Saba on 27 April 1979. The result was a victory for the Windward Islands People's Movement, which won all five Island Council seats.


1979 Netherlands Antilles island council elections, Sint Maarten
General elections were held in Sint Maarten on 27 April 1979 to elect the 5 members of the Island Council. The result was a victory for the Democratic Party, which won three of the five Island Council seats.


1979 Nevada Wolf Pack football team
The 1979 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno during the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Nevada competed as a first–year member of the Big Sky Conference (BSC). The Wolf Pack were led by fourth–year head coach Chris Ault and played their home games at Mackay Stadium.


1979 Nevada Wolf Pack football team, Previous season
The Wolf Pack finished the 1978 season 11–1 and lost the Div. I-AA Semifinals against UMass by 21 to 44.


1979 New Caledonian legislative election
Early legislative elections were held in New Caledonia on 1 July 1979 after the Government Council was dismissed by the French government and the High Commissioner dissolved the Assembly elected in 1977.


1979 New Caledonian legislative election, Background
In March 1979 the Government Council of New Caledonia – controlled by the pro-independence Caledonian Union – was dismissed by the French government after failing to vote in favour of a ten-year plan for the territory. High Commissioner Claude Charbonniaud given executive power.


1979 New Caledonian legislative election, Background
A 10% electoral threshold was introduced for the elections, which was reported by Pacific Islands Monthly to mainly affect the prospects of indigenous and pro-independence parties. As a result, the pro-independence Caledonian Union, Caledonian Socialist Party, Melanesian Progressive Union, Party of Kanak Liberation and United Front of Kanak Liberation formed the Independence Front.


1979 New England Patriots season
The 1979 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 10th season in the National Football League and 20th overall. The Patriots ended the season with a record of nine wins and seven losses and finished second in the AFC East Division. Ron Erhardt was named the Patriots the new coach. In their season opener, the Patriots faced the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night as Darryl Stingley returned to Schaffer Stadium. Patriots fans gave the paralyzed star a long sustained standing ovation. However, the emotion did not carry over as the Pats lost 16-13 in overtime. The Pats would find themselves at 8-4, as the team featured a more wide-open offense under quarterback Steve Grogan. However, a three-game losing streak ended their playoff chances, as the team settled for a disappointing 9–7 season.


1979 New Hampshire Wildcats football team
The 1979 New Hampshire Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Hampshire as a member of the Yankee Conference during the 1979 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In its eighth year under head coach Bill Bowes, the team compiled a 5–4–2 record (2–2–1 against conference opponents) and finished fourth out of six teams in the Yankee Conference.


1979 New Hebridean general election
General elections were held in the New Hebrides on 14 November 1979, the last before independence the following year. The result was a victory for the Vanua'aku Pati, which won 25 of the 39 seats, with its partner party Natui Tanno winning one. Voter turnout was 90.3%.


1979 New Hebridean general election, Background
Prior to the elections, the New Hebrides Federal Party was formed by former members of Tanunion and Natatok, as well as members of Nagriamel.


1979 New Hebridean general election, Aftermath
After it was announced that the Vanua'aku Pati had also won a majority on the regional assembly election of Espiritu Santo were announced, supporters of Nagriamel and Tabwemasana took to the streets with weapons to tell immigrants to leave the island. Almost 360 people took sanctuary in the Anglican church compound and around 350–500 people fled the island.


1979 New Hebridean general election, Aftermath
On 29 November the Representative Assembly elected Walter Lini as Chief Minister. Lini received 26 votes, defeating Gérard Leymang who received three; three members abstained and seven MHAs from Espiritu Santo boycotted the session, claiming there had been electoral fraud.


1979 New Mexico Lobos football team
The 1979 New Mexico Lobos football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Mexico in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their sixth and final season under head coach Bill Mondt, the Lobos compiled a 6–6 record (3–4 against WAC opponents) and were outscored by a total of 229 to 211.


1979 New Mexico Lobos football team
The team's statistical leaders included Casey Miller with 555 passing yards, Jimmy Sayers with 696 rushing yards, Derwin Williams with 250 receiving yards, and kicker Alan Moore with 49 points scored.


1979 New Mexico State Aggies football team
The 1979 New Mexico State Aggies football team was an American football team that represented New Mexico State University in the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach Gil Krueger, the Aggies compiled a 2–9 record. The team played its home games at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, New Mexico.


1979 New Orleans Saints season
The 1979 New Orleans Saints season was the team's thirteenth season in the National Football League. The Saints finished the season at 8–8, the franchise's first non-losing season. After starting 0–3, New Orleans won seven of its next 10 and was tied for first place with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West with three weeks to play, but the season unraveled in a Monday Night Football contest at home vs. the Oakland Raiders, when the Saints squandered a 35–14 lead and lost, 42–35. The Raiders returned to the Superdome a little over a year later and won Super Bowl XV.


1979 New Orleans Saints season
The Saints were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15 when they were blown out 35–0 at home by the San Diego Chargers, but defeated the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams in the regular season finale. While the Rams went on to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XIV, the Saints ended their season with a record of 8-8, the first time in the history of the franchise that the team finished with a non-losing record. Not counting the 1976 expansion Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans was one of three franchises which failed to make the playoffs in the 1970s, joined by the Giants and the Jets (the other 1976 expansion team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, won the NFC Central Division in 1979).


1979 New Orleans Saints season
Following the season, running back Chuck Muncie was named Most Valuable Player of the ensuing Pro Bowl.


1979 New South Wales Open
The 1979 New South Wales Open, also known by its sponsored name Nabisco New South Wales Open, was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament played on outdoor grass courts at the White City Stadium in Sydney. The men's event was part of the 1979 Colgate-Palmolive Grand Prix circuit while the women's event was part of the 1979 Colgate Series. It was the 87th edition of the event and was held from 17 December through 23 December 1979. The singles titles were won by 14th-seeded Phil Dent and third-seeded Hana Mandlíková.


1979 New South Wales Open, Finals, Men's Doubles
Peter McNamara /  Paul McNamee defeated  Steve Docherty /  Christopher Lewis 7–6, 6–3


1979 New South Wales Open, Finals, Women's Doubles
Diane Desfor /  Barbara Hallquist defeated  Barbara Jordan /  Kym Ruddell 4–6, 6–2, 6–2


1979 New Year Honours
The New Year Honours 1979 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 1 January 1979 to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 1979.


1979 New Year Honours
The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour, and arranged by honour, with classes (Knight, Knight Grand Cross, etc.) and then divisions (Military, Civil, etc.) as appropriate.


1979 New Year Honours, United Kingdom and Commonwealth, Royal Victorian Order, Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)
At this time the two lowest classes of the Royal Victorian Order were "Member (fourth class)" and "Member (fifth class)", both with post-nominal letters MVO. "Member (fourth class)" was renamed "Lieutenant" (LVO) from the 1985 New Year Honours onwards.


1979 New Year Honours (New Zealand)
The 1979 New Year Honours in New Zealand were appointments by Elizabeth II on the advice of the New Zealand government to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by New Zealanders. The awards celebrated the passing of 1978 and the beginning of 1979, and were announced on 30 December 1978.


1979 New Year Honours (New Zealand)
The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour.


1979 New York City Marathon
The 1979 New York City Marathon was the 10th edition of the New York City Marathon and took place in New York City on 21 October.


1979 New York Cosmos season
The 1979 New York Cosmos season was the ninth season for the New York Cosmos in the now-defunct North American Soccer League. 1979 saw the club continue their premiership streak to three seasons with the league's highest point total, and match their wins record while achieving a record point total, but the Cosmos' quest for a third straight NASL championship ended with a loss in the conference finals to the Vancouver Whitecaps.


1979 New York Cosmos season, Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season
Pld = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points6 points for a win, 1 point for a shootout win, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each goal scored (up to three per game).


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
April 22, 1979: New York Cosmos 3, Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2 Giants Stadium 72,342


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
April 29, 1979: New York Cosmos 4, Philadelphia Fury 2 Giants Stadium 46,375


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
May 4, 1979: New York Cosmos 1, Toronto Blizzard 0 Varsity Stadium 29,483


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
May 6, 1979: New York Cosmos 3, Houston Hurricane 0 Giants Stadium 50,142


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
May 12, 1979: Tampa Bay Rowdies 3, New York Cosmos 2 Tampa Stadium 40,701


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
May 20, 1979: New York Cosmos 3, Tulsa Roughnecks 1 Giants Stadium 46,344


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
May 26, 1979: New York Cosmos 1, Portland Timber 1 (Cosmos won in shootout) Civic Center 18,254


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
May 28, 1979: Chicago Sting 3, New York Cosmos 1 Wrigley Field 21,127


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
June 3, 1979: New York Cosmos 3, Toronto Blizzard 1 Giants Stadium 38,762


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
June 9, 1979: New York Cosmos 4, Dallas Tornado 1 Giants Stadium 45,031


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
June 13, 1979: New York Cosmos 3, Tulsa Roughnecks 2 Skelly Stadium 30,162


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
June 16, 1979: Vancouver Whitecaps 4, New York Cosmos 1 Empire Stadium 32,372


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
June 20, 1979: Minnesota Kicks 3, New York Cosmos 2 Metropolitan Stadium 43,952


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
June 24, 1979: New York Cosmos 1, New England Tea Men 0 Giants Stadium 41,428


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
June 27, 1979: New York Cosmos 3, Portland Timber 1 Giants Stadium 33,721


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
July 1, 1979: New York Cosmos 5, Rochester Lancers 2 Giants Stadium 40,379


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
July 7, 1979: New York Cosmos 2, New England Tea Men 1 Foxboro Stadium 15,763


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
July 11, 1979: New York Cosmos 1, Seattle Sounders 1 (Sounders won in shootout) Giants Stadium 40,207


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
JUly 15, 1979: Vancouver Whitecaps 4, New York Cosmos 2 Giants Stadium 48,753


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
July 18, 1979: New York Cosmos 4, Fort Lauredale Strikers 3 Lockhart Stadium 19,850


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
July 21, 1979: New York Cosmos 1, Philadelphia Fury 0 Veterans Stadium 17,352


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
July 25, 1979: New York Cosmos 4, Minnesota Kicks 1 Giants Stadium 57,223


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
July 29, 1979: New York Cosmos 5, San Jose Earthquakes 0 Giants Stadium 35,450


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
August 1, 1979: New York Cosmos 3, Los Angeles Aztecs 1 Rose Bowl 38,606


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
August 5, 1979: New York Cosmos 4, Rochester Lancers 2 Holleder Memorial Stadium 18,881


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
August 8, 1979: New York Cosmos 4, Tampa Bay Rowdies 3 Giants Stadium 70,042


1979 New York Cosmos season, Results, Regular season, Matches
August 12, 1979: New York Cosmos 4, Washington Diplomats 4 (Cosmos won in a shootout) Giants Stadium 34,599


1979 New York Film Critics Circle Awards
The 45th New York Film Critics Circle Awards honored the best filmmaking of 1979. The winners were announced on 19 December 1979 and the awards were given on 1 February 1980.


1979 New York Giants season
The 1979 New York Giants season was the franchise's 55th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Giants had a 6–10 record in 1979 and finished in fourth place in the National Football Conference East Division.


1979 New York Giants season
The Giants were one of three franchises, not including the Seattle Seahawks (an expansion team that began play in 1976), which did not make the playoffs during any year of the 1970s. The others were the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints.


1979 New York Giants season, Offseason
Before the 1979 NFL Draft, Bill Walsh, who was the new coach of the San Francisco 49ers, flew to Morehead State University with assistant coach Sam Wyche to work out quarterback Phil Simms. Walsh was so impressed with him that he planned to draft Simms, actually preferring him over another young quarterback they scouted and ultimately drafted, Joe Montana. The Giants, however, decided to make Simms their first-round pick to the surprise of many. As Simms acknowledged, "most people have never heard of me." When Simms' name was announced by Commissioner Pete Rozelle, his selection was booed loudly by Giants fans. However, he became more popular with his teammates, who jokingly dubbed him "Prince Valiant" in his rookie training camp.


1979 New York Giants season, Regular season
Simms won his first four starts in his rookie year. He led the team to a 6–4 record as a starter, throwing for 1,743 yards and 13 touchdown passes, and was named to the NFL All Rookie Team. According to his 1981 Topps trading card, he was runner-up in 1979 for Rookie of the Year, losing out to future teammate Ottis Anderson.


1979 New York Jets season
The 1979 New York Jets season was the 20th season for the franchise and its tenth in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 8–8 record from 1978 under head coach Walt Michaels. The Jets again finished the season with a record of 8–8.


1979 New York Jets season
Matt Robinson started the season at quarterback, but got hurt and Richard Todd took the bulk of the duties at Quarterback as the Jets played .500 football posting an 8–8 record for the second straight season, finishing in third place. With the 1979 season, the Jets became one of only three non-expansion teams to not make the playoffs in the 1970s (the others being the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints).


1979 New York Jets season, Regular season, Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns
Matt Robinson was named starting quarterback for the Jets against the Cleveland Browns but hid a thumb injury on his throwing hand from three days before the game, until swelling forced him to acknowledge the injury to an angered Walt Michaels and team president Jim Kensil.


1979 New York Jets season, Regular season, Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns
The injury was treated and Robinson had the tape taken off late in the game with the Jets leading, but a Brian Sipe drive aided by a roughing the passer call against Mark Gastineau led to a game-tying Don Cockroft field goal; forced to play in overtime, Robinson's thumb swelled again and the result was a sloppy pass that was intercepted and led to the game-winning Cockroft field goal. Michaels seethed, "You work, you plan all week, and then the kid hides an injury from you." He refused to play Robinson the rest of the season.


1979 New York Jets season, Regular season, Week 2: at New England Patriots
The Jets were crushed 56–3 in a game where Steve Grogan of the Patriots set a club touchdown record that would stand until Tom Brady broke it in 2007.


1979 New York Jets season, Regular season, Week 7: vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Jets beat the Minnesota Vikings 14-7 in the first Monday Night Football game broadcast from the New York City area.


1979 New York Jets season, Regular season, Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks
Seahawks cornerback Cornell Webster blocked a punt by the Jets' Chuck Ramsey, leading to a Seattle score in a 30–7 Seahawks win. Following the game Michaels called out Ramsey in front of Jets players by snarling, "I can fart farther than you can kick!"


1979 New York Mets season
The 1979 New York Mets season was the 18th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Led by manager Joe Torre, the team had a 63–99 record and finished in sixth place in the National League's Eastern Division. This was also the first season that the players names appeared on the back of the uniforms.


1979 New York Mets season, 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


1979 New York Mets season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1979 New York Mets season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 New York Mets season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 New York Mets season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 New York Yankees season
The 1979 New York Yankees season was the 77th season for the franchise in New York and its 79th season overall. The season was marked by the death of their starting catcher, Thurman Munson, on August 2. The team finished with a record of 89–71, finishing fourth in the American League East, 13.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles, ending the Yankees' three-year domination of the AL East. New York was managed by Billy Martin, and Bob Lemon. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium.


1979 New York Yankees season
With the end of the Munson period within this season, a new era was about to unfold as this season would prove to be the first time ever for the Yankees to broadcast their games on cable within New York City and surrounding areas, the first ever MLB team to do so, starting Opening Day that year, all Yankees games save for the nationally aired games were broadcast on the then 3-year old cable channel SportsChannel NY aside from the usual WPIX telecast for free to air television viewers in the New York area and nationwide via satellite and cable.


1979 New York Yankees season, Offseason
In January 1979, the Yankees attempted to acquire first baseman Rod Carew from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Chris Chambliss, Juan Beníquez, Dámaso García, and Dave Righetti, but the deal fell through. Carew was later traded to the California Angels.


1979 New York Yankees season, Regular season
In mid-April, Rich Gossage broke the thumb on his pitching hand in a clubhouse fight with teammate Cliff Johnson. Gossage missed the rest of April, all of May, and half of June with the injury. Ron Guidry volunteered to take his place as bullpen closer along with his regular starts and posted two saves. Johnson was later traded to the Cleveland Indians.


1979 New York Yankees season, Regular season
Bob Lemon, who had taken over the team in July 1978 after Billy Martin resigned amid controversy where he called Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner liars, entered the season with the understanding that he would be promoted to a front office position following the season. However, after a 34–31 start to the season, Steinbrenner fired Lemon and asked Martin, who was to take over the team in 1980, to start managing early. Martin agreed, which did not sit well with some of the team including Jackson. The move also did not sit well with team president Al Rosen, who resigned from the Yankees shortly thereafter.


1979 New York Yankees season, Regular season
On August 6, the Yankees flew to Ohio to attend Thurman Munson's memorial service, then flew back to New York to play their schedules game against Baltimore. This game was televised live nationwide on ABC's Monday Night Baseball and featured clips of the memorial and an interview Munson gave to Howard Cosell days before. Bobby Murcer hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, then drove in two more runs in the ninth with a single off former Yankee Tippy Martinez to account for all five Yankee runs in a 5–4 win. After the game, Murcer gave the bat to Munson's widow.


1979 New York Yankees season, Regular season
On September 12, Carl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox joined the 3,000 hit club with a single off Jim Beattie of the Yankees. The same game also marked the final appearance at Fenway Park for Hall of Fame pitcher Catfish Hunter.


1979 New York Yankees season, Regular season
On September 18, pitcher Bob Kammeyer set a single-season record by giving up eight earned runs without recording an out in his only game of the season. It was his last major league appearance.


1979 New York Yankees season, Regular season, Thurman Munson
As his career had progressed, Thurman Munson had become more and more homesick as his schedule did not allow him enough time to spend at home with his wife and children. Since he kept his home in Ohio during the offseason, he decided that air travel was the best solution and began taking flying lessons. Munson bought a Cessna Citation I/SP jet and by 1979 was regularly using it to transport himself to and from various cities and his home.


1979 New York Yankees season, Regular season, Thurman Munson
On one of these trips, where his manager Billy Martin was a passenger, Martin noticed the plane's engine malfunctioned in flight and informed Munson, who discovered the entire engine was destroyed and he had to pay to have a new one installed. Martin grew concerned but was unable to convince Munson to stop.


1979 New York Yankees season, Regular season, Thurman Munson
On August 2, 1979, Munson was at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport practicing takeoffs and landings. On the fourth touch-and-go, Munson failed to lower the flaps for landing and allowed the aircraft to sink too low before increasing engine power, causing the jet to clip a tree and fall short of the runway. The plane then hit a tree stump and burst into flames. Munson suffered a broken neck on impact and thus was trapped inside the aircraft as his companions were able to escape the wreck; unable to move, Munson was consumed by the flames and toxic fumes released by the burning fuselage and died of asphyxiation. He was 32 years old.


1979 New York Yankees season, Regular season, Thurman Munson
Munson's sudden death was major news across the nation and especially sorrowed the baseball community. Munson was survived by his wife, Diana, and their three children. The day after his death, before the start of the Yankees' four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles in the Bronx, the Yankees paid tribute to their fallen captain in a pre-game ceremony during which the starters stood at their defensive positions, save for the catcher's box, which remained empty. At the conclusion of Robert Merrill's musical selection, the fans (announced attendance 51,151) burst into a 10-minute standing ovation.


1979 New York Yankees season, 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


1979 New York Yankees season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


1979 New York Yankees season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 New York Yankees season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 New York Yankees season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts


1979 New York Yankees season, Farm system, Off-season
On October 23, manager Billy Martin got into a barroom fight with Joseph Cooper, a marshmallow salesman from Minnesota. Six days later, Martin was fired from the Yankees by George Steinbrenner and replaced with Dick Howser.


1979 New Zealand Grand Prix
The 1979 New Zealand Grand Prix was a race held at the Pukekohe Park Raceway on 6 January 1979. The race had 15 starters.


1979 New Zealand Grand Prix
It was the 25th New Zealand Grand Prix. The race was won by Italian Teo Fabi for the first time in the March 782. The rest of the podium was completed by Australian Larry Perkins and New Zealander Brett Riley.


1979 New Zealand National Soccer League
The 1979 New Zealand National Soccer League was the tenth season of a nationwide round-robin club competition in New Zealand football. It produced the biggest winning margin in the league's history, with Mount Wellington never being in serious danger of finishing anywhere but first.


1979 New Zealand National Soccer League, Promotion and relegation
Promotion was automatic, with the three lowest placed sides in the 1978 league (Hamilton, Waterside, and Woolston WMC) replaced by the winners of the northern, central, and southern leagues (Manurewa, Manawatu United, and Dunedin City respectively).


1979 New Zealand National Soccer League, Team performance
Mount Wellington produced an emphatic performance to win the league by an unprecedented 14 points, a bigger gap than that between second and last. They won all eleven of their home games, scoring 34 and only letting in four. They also only lost two games away, to Dunedin City and to Nelson united — United proving the Mount's nemesis for the third year in a row. The race for second proved tense, with Christchurch United heading off a pack of teams separated by only a couple of points. North Shore United — who were to go under the sponsorship-related name of Hanimex United from this year until 1985 — finished third, level on points with newly promoted Manurewa and Dunedin City.


1979 New Zealand National Soccer League, Team performance
In mid-table, Nelson United improved one place on the previous season to finish sixth, its good home form buoying it up but its poor away record proving a major hindrance. They were followed by Wellington Diamond United, who saw a late slump in their form after a good opening to the season which briefly had them in second place. Blockhouse Bay were fortunate to finish eighth, a late rally moving them off the foot of the table. Stop Out also narrowly avoided the drop, staying up by virtue of a better goal difference than Manawatu United.


1979 New Zealand National Soccer League, Team performance
Manawatu United's first season in the league proved to be their last until 1986. A dreadful start to the season left them languishing with just four points from their first 11 matches, and despite a greatly improved second half to the season the gap was too much to bridge. They were joined in relegation by Courier Rangers, who started the season brightly but then had a poor run of form which saw only one win in their last 17 games. Last of all were 1971 champions Eastern Suburbs, whose gradual progress down the table since that year finally saw the seam at the foot of the table.


1979 New Zealand Open
The 1979 New Zealand Open was a men's professional tennis tournament. The event was part of the 1979 Grand Prix circuit and was held in Auckland, New Zealand. It was the 12th edition of the tournament and was played on outdoor hardcourts and was held from 2 January through 8 January 1979. Eighth-seeded Tim Wilkison won the singles title.


1979 New Zealand Open, Finals, Singles
Tim Wilkison defeated  Peter Feigl 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2


1979 New Zealand Open, Finals, Doubles
Bernard Mitton /  Kim Warwick defeated  Andrew Jarrett /  Jonathan Smith 6–3, 2–6, 6–3


1979 New Zealand Open – Singles
Tim Wilkison defeated Peter Feigl 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2 to win the 1979 Heineken Open singles competition. Eliot Teltscher was the champion but did not defend his title.


1979 New Zealand Open – Singles, Seeds
A champion seed is indicated in bold text while text in italics indicates the round in which that seed was eliminated.


1979 New Zealand Open – Singles, Draw, Key
NB: The Final was the best of 5 sets while all other rounds were the best of 3 sets.


1979 New Zealand bravery awards
The 1979 New Zealand bravery awards were announced via a Special Honours List on 11 April 1979, and recognised four people for acts of bravery in 1978.


1979 New Zealand bravery awards, Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
For services on the evening of 31 March 1978 when he apprehended an emotionally disturbed 24-year-old man who was in possession of a loaded firearm. During several violent struggles the firearm was discharged but without injury.


1979 New Zealand bravery awards, Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
For disarming an emotionally disturbed man on the 23 August 1978.


1979 New Zealand bravery awards, Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
For services on the 25 August 1978 when she went to the assistance of a woman who was being attacked by her husband who had the intention of killing her with an iron bar. Despite being injured by the man, Mrs Donnelly succeeded in wrestling the iron bar from him, thereby almost certainly saving the woman's life.


1979 New Zealand bravery awards, Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
On 8 November 1978, Captain Nelson was in charge of five Regular Force Cadets on a canoeing exercise on the Tongariro River. After disembarking from his canoe he noticed a cadet had capsized his canoe in a rapid, and was caught and held below the surface by a submerged obstacle. Captain Nelson dived into the rapid and on his second attempt succeeded in the rescue of the cadet who by then had no pulse and had stopped breathing. He applied mouth to mouth resuscitation and the cadet regained consciousness.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season
The 1979 New Zealand rugby league season was the 72nd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
New Zealand lost a series to Great Britain 1-2. New Zealand were coached by Ces Mountford and included; Mark Broadhurst, third Test captain Fred Ah Kuoi, Tony Coll, Warren Collicoat, Barry Edkins, Olsen Filipaina, Kevin Fisher, Mark Graham, Lewis Hudson, James Leuluai, Dane O'Hara, Paul Ravlich, Gordon Smith, John Smith, Dane Sorensen, Howie and Kevin Tamati, Dick Uluave, first and second Test captain Graeme West and Shane Varley.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
The Lions match against Canterbury was cancelled due to flooded fields at the Addington Showgrounds and the need to get the ground prepared for the second Test. Auckland lost to Great Britain 10-18 in the Lions final match on tour in front of 12,500 fans at Carlaw Park. Auckland included Gary Kemble, James Leuluai, Olsen Filipaina, Ken Andersson, Toa Fepuleai, captain Fred Ah Kuoi, Shane Varley, Wayne Robertson, Murray Netzler, Doug Gailey, Alan McCarthy, Owen Wright and Gary Prohm.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
The Otahuhu Leopards defeated the New South Wales Rugby League's Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8-2 at Carlaw Park.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, International competitions
Fred Ah Kuoi won the New Zealand Rugby League's player of the year award.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, Rugby League Cup
Taranaki held the Rugby League Cup at the end of the season.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, Inter-district competition
Central Districts won the Inter-Districts competition, defeating Auckland 26-18, the South Island 21-16 and Northern Districts 22-12.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, Inter-district competition
The South Island defeated Auckland 11-10 at Carlaw Park. Auckland defeated Northern Districts 22-12. The South Island defeated Northern Districts 42-8.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, Inter-district competition
Central Districts included Howie and Kevin Tamati, Graeme West, Bruce Gall and Warren Collicoat.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, District competition
Auckland won the Rothmans trophy, defeating the West Coast 43-19 at Carlaw Park in the final.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, District competition
Fred Ah Kuoi, Olsen Filipaina, Shane Varley, Toa Fepuleai and Gary Kemble played for Auckland, who were coached by Don Hammond.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, National competitions, District competition
Canterbury included Robin Alfeld, Lewis Hudson, Michael O'Donnell, Bob Jarvis, captain Wally Wilson, Alan Rushton, Wayne Wallace, Barry Edkins and Mark Broadhurst.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, Australasian competition
Auckland failed to make the semi-finals of the Amco Cup after losing 5-12 to the Penrith Panthers, 3-12 to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and 10-30 to the Cronulla Sharks. Canterbury 12 (McCartney, McDonald tries, McDonald 3 goals) d Auckland 3 (Varley try) at Leichhardt Oval. Wednesday May 30, 1979. Crowd: 3,000. Referee – Gary Cook.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
Richmond won the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial Trophy and Stormont Shield. They defeated Otahuhu 16-15 in the Fox final. Otahuhu won the Rukutai Shield and Kiwi Shield while Glenora won the Roope Rooster, Northcote won the Sharman Cup and Glenora Corona won the Norton Cup.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
Wayne Robertson (Te Atatu) won the Best and Fairest award. Paul Bridges (Mt Albert) won the Lipscombe Cup, Fred Ah Kuoi (Richmond) won the Rothville Trophy, Alan McCarthy (Ponsonby Marist) and James Leuluai (Mt Wellington) won the Bert Humphries Memorial, Olsen Filipaina (Mangere East) won both the Tetley Trophy and Painter Rosebowl Trophy and Joe Gwynne (Richmond) won the Hyland Memorial Cup.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
The Mt Roskill Red Devils and the Blockhouse Bay Cougars started discussion in 1979 on amalgamation (under direction of the Auckland Rugby League) and in October 1979 the amalgamation papers were signed, forming the Bay Roskill Vikings.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Auckland
Richmond were coached by Joe Gwynne. Eastern United, a combined senior team from the Howick and Pakuranga, finished the season undefeated in the second division with only three draws. The team was coached by Murray Eade and included Paul Matete.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Canterbury
Eastern Suburbs won the Canterbury Rugby League's Pat Smith Challenge Trophy.


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Other Competitions
The Waitara Bears won the Taranaki Rugby League championship. Hawera were the runners up


1979 New Zealand rugby league season, Club competitions, Other Competitions
Runanga defeated Eastern Suburbs 10-6 in Greymouth to win the Thacker Shield. Eastern Suburbs were so upset with the refereeing that they relinquished the right to challenge in 1980.


1979 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia
The 1979 New Zealand tour rugby to Australia was the 23rd tour by the New Zealand national rugby union team to Australia.


1979 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia
It was a short tour (only two matches), arranged between the French tour and the Argentinian tour in New Zealand.


1979 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia
The previous tour of "All Blacks" in Australia was the 1974 tour. Australia has visited New Zealand in 1978 .


1979 New Zealand rugby union tour of Australia
Australia won the only test match played and the Bledisloe Cup.


1979 New Zealand rugby union tour of England, Scotland and Italy
The 1979 New Zealand rugby union tour of England, Scotland and Italy was a series of eleven matches played by the New Zealand national rugby union team (the All Blacks) in England, Scotland and Italy in October and November 1979. The tour was very successful as the team won ten of the eleven games, including the international matches against Scotland and England. The only team to defeat the All Blacks was the English Northern Division.