Pirates and Orioles

This year the Pittsburgh Pirates have been a pleasant surprise as they battle to make post season baseball for the first time in 20 years. Coincidentally, the Baltimore Orioles are also a pleasant surprise as they do the same in a bid to make the post season for the first time in 15 years.

The Pirates defeated the Orioles in two excellent 7 game World Series in 1971 and 1979. A pair of baseball greats were World Series MVP’s for Pittsburgh. In 1971, the great Roberto Clemente had one of the greatest “Fall Classics” ever in leading the Pirates to the title. Sadly, he died a little over a year later on the last day of 1972.

In 1979, another great, Willie Stargell lead the Pirates 7 game win vs Baltimore. Both World Series ended in Baltimore with Clemente (1971) and Stargell (in 1979) each hitting big home runs in the decisive game. Stargell was also on the 1971 team and while he did not have a good World Series, did score what proved to be the World Series winning run in an eventual (2-1) win in game 7 behind the brilliant pitching of Steve Blass.

The Orioles are honoring their 6 Hall of Famers with statues this year. The six are Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Ed Murray, Cal Ripken Jr. and manager Earl Weaver. All but Ripken participated in at least one of the World Series vs the Pirates. Additionally, all six were on at least one World Series winning Orioles team. Jim Palmer was on all 3 Orioles  title teams, sticking around long enough to win Game 3 of the 1983 World Series. Both Frank and Brooks Robinson played with Palmer on both the 1966 and 1970 Orioles’ World title teams.

Earl Weaver managed the 1970 team, the lone World Series winner that he managed as his teams lost World Series in 1969 to the Mets and as cited above to the Pirates in both 1971 and 1979. Eddie Murray hit two home runs in the 1983 World Series clincher after having a bad World Series in 1979. Ripken playing in what proved to be his only World Series, caught the final out of the 1983 World Series.