1979 Hall of Fame Game

The Texas Rangers hit nine home runs to defeat the San Diego Padres 12-5 in the 37th Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6, 1979, at Doubleday Field.

Richie Zisk and Pat Putnam each hit two home runs for the Rangers, who scored runs in six of nine innings.

Zisk put Texas on the board early with a solo shot in the top of the first inning. Teammate Larvell Blanks hit a two-run home run in the second to give the Rangers a quick 3-0 lead.

Zisk’s second home run and Putnam’s first came in the third inning to make the score 5-0.

The Padres rallied off four consecutive hits in the bottom of the fifth to score a pair of runs, but Texas got them right back in the top of the sixth with Putnam’s second home run of the day, a two-run shot to right-center field.

San Diego scored twice more in the bottom of the seventh and once in the eighth, but Texas’ three-run ninth inning cemented the Rangers' victory.

John Carey, Dave Winfield, American Legion Player of the Year Ross Jones and Rollie Fingers pause for a photo at Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6, 1979, in Cooperstown. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

  • "The
    The Texas Rangers line up along the third base line for the National Anthem on Aug. 6, 1979, at the Hall of Fame Game. Rangers manager Pat Corrales is at far left. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)
  • "The
    The San Diego Padres line up along the first base line for the National Anthem at the 1979 Hall of Fame Game. Manager Roger Craig is nearest to home plate. (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

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Generations of the game's greats have played in Cooperstown.
Read more

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Mentioned Hall of Famers

Rollie Fingers

Pitcher

Class of 1992

Dave Winfield

Right Fielder

Class of 2001