When Pops Led the Family

The 1979 World Series champion Pirates are one of the most memorable teams in baseball history and helped define an era. One look at their pillbox caps--adorned with stars distributed by team captain Willie Stargell--or their typically garish uniforms, complete with striking yellow jerseys often worn with same-colored pants, and the viewer is transported back to the Steel City at the close of the 1970s.

When Pops Led the Family celebrates this team and its cast of characters, including Willie Stargell, Manny Sanguillen, Frank Tavares, and Dale Berra. Featuring contributions from 39 members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), this book includes biographies of all of the players, members of coaching staff, and some of the the front office, an in-depth season summary, and detailed game accounts from some of the most pivotal games of the season and all of the postseason games. Essays on Three Rivers Stadium, Tanner's use of his bullpen, and the "We Are Family" Song help round out the volume. Includes over 70 photos.

CONTENTS:

Three Rivers Stadium, by Chip Greene

PLAYERS

How the Pirates Were Put Together, by Rod Nelson

Matt Alexander, by Rory Costello

Dale Berra, by Bob Hurte

Jim Bibby, by Rory Costello

Bert Blyleven, by Gregory H. Wolf

Doe Boyland, by Rory Costello

John Candelaria, by Steve West

Joe Coleman, by Gregory H. Wolf

Mike Easler, by Clayton Trutor

Dock Ellis, by Paul Geisler

Tim Foli, by Norm King

Phil Garner, by Norm King

Gary Hargis, by Michael Jaffe

Grant Jackson, by Maxwell Kates

Bruce Kison, by Gregory H. Wolf

Lee Lacy, by Gregory H. Wolf

Alberto Lois, by Tom Crist

Bill Madlock, by Norm King

John Milner, by Jon Springer

Omar Moreno, by Norm King

Steve Nicosia, by Phillip Bolda

Ed Ott, by Bob Hurte

Dave Parker, by J. G. Preston

Rick Rhoden, by Paul Hofmann

Dave Roberts, by Gregory H. Wolf

Bill Robinson, by Alan Cohen

Don Robinson, by Thomas E. Kern

Enrique Romo, by Rory Costello

Jim Rooker, by Rich Shook

Manny Sanguillen, by Bob Hurte

Willie Stargell, by James Forr

Rennie Stennett, by Joseph Wancho

Frank Taveras, by Rory Costello

Kent Tekulve, by Bob Hurte

Ed Whitson, by Michael Huber

Chuck Tanner and the Bullpen, by Rory Costello

MANAGER AND COACHING STAFF

Chuck Tanner, by Dan Fields

Harvey Haddix, by Mark Miller

Joe Lonnett, by David E. Skelton

Al Monchak, by Carole J. Olshavsky

Bob Skinner, by Joseph Wancho

FRONT OFFICE

Harding "Pete" Peterson, by Rich Puerzer

John W. Galbreath, by Warren Corbett

THE REGULAR SEASON REVIEW AND SELECT GAME ACCOUNTS

1979 Pirates Game-by-Game Timeline, by Richard Riis

May 9, 1979, by Frederick C. Bush

May 25, 1979, by Matthew Silverman

June 1, 1979, but Eric Robinson

June 3, 1979, by Gregory H. Wolf

July 21, 1979, by Rock Hoffman

August 19, 1979, by Gregory H. Wolf

August 25, 1979, by Nick Waddell

September 23, 1979, by Gregory H. Wolf

September 30, 1979, by Gregory H. Wolf

THE POSTSEASON

The National League Championship Series, by Thomas E. Schott

The 1979 Baltimore Orioles, by Gordon Gattie

The 1979 World Series, by Frederick C. Bush

STATISTICS AND MORE

"We Are Family" -- the song, by David E. Skelton

By the Numbers, by Dan Fields