1971 World Series

From BR Bullpen

[edit] Summary

The 1971 World Series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Baltimore Orioles was an epic pitching battle that energized the baseball world in both Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The Orioles took an early two games to none lead in Baltimore behind the stellar pitching of Dave McNally and Jim Palmer. The next three games in Pittsburgh were dominated by the Pirates who swept the homestand behind the strong arms of Steve Blass and Nelson Briles who both pitched and won complete games for the Pirates. Finally, the two teams returned to Baltimore, the Pirates holding a 3 games to 2 lead in the series. Game six resulted in the Orioles using both Palmer (as a starter) and McNally (as a reliever) to win a one run game and tie the series at 3 games apiece. This forced a game seven, which was a rematch of Game 3 with Mike Cuellar of the Orioles, a 20-game winner in 1971, and Steve Blass, who had won the third game of the series just five days before. In a tight game, Blass pitched his second complete game of the Series and the Pirates won 2-1.

Besides the incredible pitching talent in these games, the talent in the field was even more impressive with greats like Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, and Boog Powell leading the Orioles, and Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski, and Manny Sanguillen leading the Pirates.

One of the more significant events in the series was Game 4 which was played at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. This game was the first night game ever to be played in the World Series. Since that time, nearly every week-day World Series game has been played at night to accommodate the television audience.

[edit] Significant Accomplishments

Pittsburgh Pirates
Roberto Clemente hit .414 in the series (12 for 29) with 2 Home Runs. He hit safely in all 7 games of the series.

Steve Blass pitched 2 complete game victories and won game 7 for the Pirates. He gave up only one run in each start.

Manny Sanguillen hit .379 and Bob Robertson had 2 Home Runs and 5 RBIs in the series.

Baltimore Orioles
Frank Robinson started out strong with 7 hits and 2 Home Runs in the first 3 games in the series.

Brooks Robinson hit .318 with 5 RBIs in the series.

Don Buford hit well with 2 Home Runs and 2 RBIs.

Brooks Robinson and Mark Belanger made remarkable plays on the left side of the infield to keep the Orioles in the series.

Jim Palmer and Dave McNally held the Orioles pitching staff together and helped the team with 2 quick wins at home to start the series.

[edit] Game Summaries:

Game 1:
Pirates  : 3
Orioles  : 5

Winning Pitcher: Dave McNally
Losing Pitcher : Dock Ellis

Home Runs:
Orioles : Frank Robinson, Rettenmund, Buford

Game 2:
Pirates  : 3
Orioles  : 11

Winning Pitcher : Jim Palmer
Losing Pitcher  : Bob Johnson

Home Runs:
Pirates : Richie Hebner

Game 3:
Orioles  : 1
Pirates  : 5

Winning Pitcher : Steve Blass
Losing Pitcher  : Mike Cuellar

Home Runs:
Orioles : Frank Robinson
Pirates : Bob Robertson

Game 4:
Orioles  : 3
Pirates  : 4

Winning Pitcher : Bruce Kison
Losing Pitcher  : Eddie Watt

Home Runs: none

Game 5:
Orioles  : 0
Pirates  : 4

Winning Pitcher : Nelson Briles
Losing Pitcher  : Dave McNally

Home Runs:
Pirates : Bob Robertson

Game 6:
Pirates  : 2
Orioles  : 3

Winning Pitcher : Dave McNally
Losing Pitcher  : Bobby Miller

Home Runs:
Pirates  : Roberto Clemente
Orioles  : Don Buford

In Baltimore's extra-inning Game Six win, Pittsburgh's Roberto Clemente does all he can to win this Series in six, single-handed. Stranded after his 1st-inning triple to the wall in left center, his 3rd-inning solo shot puts Pittsburgh up, 2 - 0. He's retired on long flies in the 5th and 8th innings while Pittsburgh fritters away its modest margin. By his next at-bat, in the 10th inning, the go-ahead run standing at second with first base open thanks to Dave Cash's ill-advised decision to steal second base with two strikes on the batter immediately preceding Clemente, one would have to be a fool let this man beat you (even with Willie Stargell on deck, albeit an injured Stargell who's done nothing the entire postseason). Well, whatever else he may be, Baltimore manager Earl Weaver is no fool. Clemente is walked intentionally, Stargell is walked semi-intentionally, and Al Oliver flies out to center. Just moments later, the ailing Frank Robinson will proceed to carry his team to one more tomorrow, challenging the somewhat suspect arm of centerfielder Vic Davalillo on two consecutive plays – going first to third on Merv Rettenmund's single up the middle and scoring on Brooks Robinson's relatively shallow fly ball.

All of Clemente's offensive contributions notwithstanding, the reason this game even gets to the 10th inning is the defensive play pulled off in the bottom of the ninth, namely his no-look, one-hop strike from Memorial Stadium's right field corner, 310 feet away, to catcher Manny Sanguillen, preventing Mark Belanger at first, running on contact on Don Buford's two-out double, from even attempting to score. The game will then go to extra innings and, while obviously Clemente's play has not affected the game's outcome, it has enormous significance nonetheless. By extending the game, he has forced Baltimore's best player, the banged up Robinson, to win this game with his legs – which he does but at a great cost, namely an aggravated right Achilles tendon and, worse still, a torn left hamstring. Thus, in Game Seven, the O's will have the services of their best player in name only. The spirit is willing, but the visibly hobbled Robinson's flesh is, sadly, unable.

Game 7:
Pirates  : 2
Orioles  : 1

Winning Pitcher : Steve Blass
Losing Pitcher  : Mike Cuellar

Home Runs :
Pirates : Roberto Clemente

[edit] Further Reading

• Bruce Markusen: The Team That Changed Baseball: Roberto Clemente and the 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates, Westholme Publishing, Yardley, PA, 2006.

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