On this day in 1979 the Pittsburgh Pirates made a key trade that would help bring them the World Series Championship that season. The Pirates sent shortstop Frank Taveras to the Mets for shortstop Tim Foli.The Pirates were getting very inconsistent play from Frank Taveras. Taveras was the type who would make an outstanding play one inning but then boot a routine ground ball the next. Taveras was one of the best base stealers in the league for a couple years but the Pirates had reached the point where they had to make a move. Tim Foli was a different type of player from Taveras. He made the routine play. He was a hustling, tough as nails type player who provided very consistent play that season for the Pirates. He would go on to have his finest offensive season, hitting .291 and batting second in the line-up behind speedster Omar Moreno. Later that summer the Pirates would complete the puzzle by trading for third baseman Bill Madlock. I remember the moment I heard the Pirates had gotten Madlock and my first thought was “The Pirates are going to win the World Series.” The Pirates would beat the Orioles in the 1979 World Series in 7 games. They wouldn’t have even gotten to the World Series without the additions of Foli and Madlock.