1979 Nashville Sounds season

The Nashville Sounds' 1979 season was the franchise's second year of play. The team finished the regular season with a record of 83 wins and 61 losses. In post-season play, the team had five wins and two losses on the way to winning the Western Division title and the Southern League championship, the first in franchise history.

Regular season

The Nashville Sounds started the 1979 season at the bottom of the rankings before improving in late May and June. After winning 20 out of 31 games, the team moved into first-place, only a half-game in front of the number two Memphis Chicks on the next-to-last day of the first half. Memphis defeated Nashville on the last day of the half, pulling into first-place and leaving the Sounds in second-place.

Nashville and Memphis approached the end of the second half as the top two teams in the division. The Sounds trailed the Chicks by half game with two games left to play, both against Memphis. The first game was rained-out, forcing a split double header on the last day of the season. Nashville won the afternoon contest in 12 innings by a score of eight runs to seven. Later that night, they beat Memphis three to one to capture the second half Western Division title.

Season standings

Southern League - Western Division

Team

Nashville Sounds

Memphis Chicks

Chattanooga Lookouts

Knoxville Sox

Montgomery Rebels

Game log

1979 Game Log

April

#

Date

Opponent

Score

Win

Loss

Save

Attendance

Record |- align="center" bgcolor="

1

April 16

@ Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

2

April 17

@ Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

3

April 18

@ Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

4

April 19

@ Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

5

April 20

@ Twins

–

—

DH

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

6

April 20

@ Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

7

April 21

@ Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

8

April 22

@ Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

9

April 23

Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

10

April 24

Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

11

April 25

Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

12

April 26

Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

13

April 27

Twins

–

—

DH

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

14

April 27

Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

15

April 28

Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

16

April 29

Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

17

April 30

@ Sox

–

—

–

May

#

Date

Opponent

Score

Win

Loss

Save

Attendance

Record |- align="center" bgcolor="

18

May 1

@ Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

19

May 2

@ Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

20

May 3

@ Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

21

May 4

O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

22

May 5

O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

23

May 6

O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

24

May 7

O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

25

May 8

Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

26

May 9

Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

27

May 10

Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

28

May 11

Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

29

May 12

@ Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

30

May 13

@ Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

31

May 14

@ Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

32

May 15

@ Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

33

May 16

@ Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

34

May 17

@ Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

35

May 18

@ Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

36

May 19

@ Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

37

May 20

Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

38

May 21

Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

39

May 22

Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

40

May 23

Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

41

May 24

Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

42

May 25

Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

43

May 26

Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

44

May 27

Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

45

May 28

@ Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

46

May 29

@ Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

47

May 30

@ Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

48

May 31

@ Astros

–

—

–

June

#

Date

Opponent

Score

Win

Loss

Save

Attendance

Record |- align="center" bgcolor="

49

June 1

@ Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

50

June 2

@ Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

51

June 3

@ Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

52

June 4

@ Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

53

June 5

Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

54

June 6

Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

55

June 7

Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

56

June 8

Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

57

June 9

Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

58

June 10

Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

59

June 11

Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

60

June 12

Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

61

June 13

@ Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

62

June 14

@ Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

63

June 15

Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

64

June 16

Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

65

June 17

@ O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

66

June 18

@ O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

67

June 19

@ O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

68

June 20

@ O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

69

June 21

Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

70

June 22

Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

71

June 23

@ Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

72

June 24

@ Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

73

June 25

@ Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

74

June 26

@ Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

75

June 27

@ Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

76

June 28

@ Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

77

June 29

@ Twins

–

—

DH

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

78

June 29

@ Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

79

June 30

@ Twins

–

—

–

July

#

Date

Opponent

Score

Win

Loss

Save

Attendance

Record |- align="center" bgcolor="

80

July 1

@ Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

81

July 2

Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

82

July 3

Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

83

July 4

Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

84

July 5

Suns

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

85

July 6

Twins

–

—

DH

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

86

July 6

Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

87

July 7

Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

88

July 8

Twins

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

89

July 9

@ Sox

–

—

DH

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

90

July 9

@ Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

91

July 10

@ Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

92

July 11

@ Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

93

July 13

O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

94

July 14

O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

95

July 15

O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

96

July 16

O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

97

July 17

Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

98

July 18

Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

99

July 19

Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

100

July 20

Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

101

July 21

@ Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

102

July 22

@ Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

103

July 23

@ Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

104

July 24

@ Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

105

July 25

@ Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

106

July 26

@ Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

107

July 27

@ Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

108

July 28

@ Lookouts

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

109

July 29

Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

110

July 30

Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

111

July 31

Astros

–

—

–

August

#

Date

Opponent

Score

Win

Loss

Save

Attendance

Record |- align="center" bgcolor="

112

August 1

Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

113

August 2

Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

114

August 3

Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

115

August 4

Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

116

August 5

Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

117

August 6

@ Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

118

August 7

@ Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

119

August 8

@ Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

120

August 9

@ Astros

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

121

August 10

@ Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

122

August 11

@ Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

123

August 12

@ Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

124

August 13

@ Braves

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

125

August 14

Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

126

August 15

Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

127

August 16

Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

128

August 17

Rebels

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

129

August 18

Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

130

August 19

Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

131

August 20

Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

132

August 21

Sox

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

133

August 22

@ Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

134

August 23

@ Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

135

August 24

@ Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

136

August 25

@ Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

137

August 26

@ O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

138

August 27

@ O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

139

August 28

@ O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

140

August 29

@ O's

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

141

August 30

Chicks

–

—

– |- align="center" bgcolor="

142

August 31

Chicks

–

—

–

September

#

Date

Opponent

Score

Win

Loss

Save

Attendance

Record

—

Septebmer 1

Chicks

Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 2

143

September 2

Chicks

8–7 (12)

—

82–61

144

September 2

Chicks

3–1

—

83–61

Post-season

Western Division finals

The Sounds (second-half winner) and Chicks (first-half winner) met again in the best-of-three Western Division championship series. Nashville took the first game 10–2. Pitcher William Kelly recorded the win at home. The second game, held in Memphis, saw the Sounds fall by a score of four runs to three in ten innings. Sounds pitchers Randy Town and Geoff Combe combined for a 5–2 victory over the Chicks, giving Nashville its first Western Division title.

Southern League Championship

Nashville went on to face the Columbus Astros in the Southern League Championship, a best-of-five series. Nashville began the series at home with a 4–3 loss. The next night, they came back to tie the series at one game apiece, beating Columbus 3–1. The second game was attended by 8,102 fans, which set a Southern League playoff record. The series then moved to Columbus for the next two games. Nashville won the third game 14–7. The fourth game was tied 2–2 in the ninth inning. With the bases loaded, Nashville's Dave Van Gorder hit a triple, propelling the Sounds to a 6–2 lead. The Astros were unable to answer in their half of the inning, losing to the Sounds. The game four win gave Nashville its first league championship in only its second year of play.

1979 Post-season

Western Division finals

#

Date

Opponent

Score

Win

Loss

Save

Attendance

Record

1

September 3

Chicks

10–2

Kelly

—

1–0

2

September 4

@ Chicks

3–4 (10)

—

1–1

3

September 5

@ Chicks

5–2

—

2–1

Southern League Championship

#

Date

Opponent

Score

Win

Loss

Save

Attendance

Record

1

September 6

Astros

3–4

—

2–2

2

September 7

Astros

3–1

—

8,102

3–2

3

September 8

@ Astros

14–7

—

4–2

4

September 9

@ Astros

6–2

—

5–2

Roster

1979 Nashville Sounds roster

Players

Pitchers

  • Mike Armstrong
  • Scott Brown
  • George Cappuzzello
  • Geoff Combe
  • Bill Dawley
  • Raul Ferreyra
  • Greg Hughes
  • William Kelly
  • Jeff Lahti
  • Richard Lombardo
  • Robert Mayer
  • Rick O'Keeffe
  • Joe Price
  • Randall Town
  • Joel Willett

Awards and honors

Pitcher Geoff Combe was selected as the league's Most Outstanding Pitcher. Outfielders Paul Householder and Duane Walker were named to the league's post-season All-Star team. Walker was named to the team as an outfielder and as "best hustler."

Pitcher Greg Hughes lead the league with a .733 (11–4) winning percentage. Geoff Combe led the league and set a new Southern League record with 28 saves. Scott Brown led the league with a 2.34 ERA. Duane Walker finished the season with a league leading 9 triples. Paul Householder had the best fielding percentage for an outfielder (.989) and Dave Van Gorder had the best among catchers (.982).

References

See Also

1981 Nashville Sounds season

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1984 Nashville Sounds season

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1983 Nashville Sounds season

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1980 Nashville Sounds season

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1982 Nashville Sounds season

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