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