May 20, 1979: The Last WHA Game

Gary Smith (left) and Rich Preston

with the last AVCO World Trophy

May 20, 1979: The Winnipeg Jets defeat the Edmonton Oilers, 7-3 at the Winnipeg Arena, to win Game 6 and take their 3rd World Hockey Association Championship in 4 years.

It is the last game in WHA history: Both of these teams, and the Hartford Whalers and the Quebec Nordiques, were accepted into the NHL. The Indianapolis Racers, Gretzky's 1st "major league" team, had folded earlier in the 1978-79 season. The Cincinnati Stingers, Mark Messier's 1st team, and the Birmingham Bulls, the closest Alabama has ever had to a major league team in one of the "Big Four" sports, lasted the season, but were not admitted into the NHL with the Jets, the Oilers, the Whalers and the Nordiques.

Willy Lindström scored the Jets' 1st and last goals in this game. Dave Semenko scored with 12 seconds left in the game, for the last goal in WHA history.

The Oilers would reach the Stanley Cup Finals in 1983, and win the Cup in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990. The other 3 would find it rough going. The Jets set a NHL record for longest winless streak. The Nordiques would have more 1st picks in the NHL Draft than any other team.

In 1995, the Nordiques moved to Denver, becoming the Colorado Avalanche. In 1996, the Jets moved to Phoenix, becoming the Phoenix Coyotes, eventually the Arizona Coyotes. (UPDATE: In 2024, they moved again, to Salt Lake City, becoming the Utah Mammoth.) In 1997, the Whalers moved to North Carolina, becoming the Carolina Hurricanes, playing 2 seasons in Greensboro before their Raleigh arena was ready. In 2011, the Atlanta Thrashers failed, and moved, becoming the new Winnipeg Jets.

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May 20, 1979 was a Sunday. Game 1 of the NBA Finals was played. The Washington Bullets beat the Seattle SuperSonics, 99-97 at the Capital Centre in the Washington suburb of Landover, Maryland. But the Sonics, whom the Bullets had beaten in 7 games the year before, won the next 4 to take the title.

The Stanley Cup Finals were between Games 4 and 5. The Montreal Canadiens were about to beat the New York Rangers in Game 5, and win the Cup. Football was out of season. And these Major League Baseball games were played:

* The New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox, 2-0 at Fenway Park in Boston. Tommy John outpitched Dennis Eckersley, allowing only a double to Fred Lynn and a single to Jerry Remy. The Yankee runs came on home runs by Reggie Jackson and Graig Nettles.

* The New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-7 at Shea Stadium. Both teams scored 3 runs in the 10th inning. In the bottom of the 11th, Frank Taveras singled Joel Youngblood home with the winning run. This made Neil Allen a winning pitcher in relief of Craig Swan. John Stearns and Richie Hebner hit home runs for the Metropolitans. Lou Brock, in his last season as a player, hit a home run for the Cards.

* The Montreal Expos beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-6 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Warren Cromartie hit a home run for the Expos. For the Phils, Mike Schmidt went 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI, and Pete Rose went 2-for-5 with an RBI.

* The San Francisco Giants beat the Atlanta Braves, 8-1 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

* The Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-2 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. Eddie Murray went 0-for-3 with 2 walks.

* The Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers, 9-7 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.

* The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Cincinnati Reds, 6-4 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Johnny Bench went 1-for-4.

* The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs, 6-5 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Willie Stargell went 1-for-4.

* The Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-1 at Royals Stadium (now Kauffman Stadium) in Kansas City. George Brett hit a home run.

* The Houston Astros swept a doubleheader from the San Diego Padres, 1-0 and 6-3 at the Astrodome in Houston. Rick Williams pitched a 5-hit shutout in the 1st game.

* The California Angels beat the Chicago White Sox, 4-0 at Anaheim Stadium (now Angel Stadium of Anaheim). Nolan Ryan pitched a 2-hit shutout, striking out 11.

* The Oakland Athletics swept a doubleheader from the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6 and 2-1 at the Oakland Coliseum. Over the 2 games, Robin Yount went 2-for-10, and Paul Molitor went 4-for-6 with 2 walks.

* And the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners, 6-4 at the Kingdome in Seattle.