Pirates ’71 Notes

On October 6, 1971, in a game that was tied at 5 after 2 innings , the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the S.F. Giants to win the NLCS 3 games to 1.

Perhaps more details on the specific tilt sent our way in New York on WMCA 570 Radio with the now deceased Vin Scully and pitching great Bob Gibson on the broadcast.

In the pivotal third game the day before (more and more I hear decisive games referred to as pivotal games, another sign of the apocalypse, per the old Sports Illustrated tidbit each week), the Pirates Richie Hebner hit a decisive bottom 8th, 3rhr off another pitching great, Juan Marichal to yield a Buccos’ victory and a (2-1) best of 5/NLCS lead.

The next day Wednesday October 6, 1971, Hebner doubled b1, sending Dave Cash, who had singled to third. Next the immortal (sadly, as President Kennedy said and the world still does not heed, “we are all mortal” and Mr. Clemente died nearly 50 years ago, helping others) Roberto Clemente singled up the middle, “tuning” both Cash and Hebner.

In the game’s second inning the Giants tied the game at 2 on Chris Speier’s solo HR and took a (5-2) lead on Willie Mc Covey’s 3 run blast off eventual World Series pitching hero, Steve Blass.

Hebner hit a game tying 3 run homer in the bottom of the second meaning batting in 3 consecutive Pirates’ innings he sandwiched a double in between two 3 run home runs.

Quite a feat for Mr. Hebner, who will turn 75 years old on November 26th.

Richie Hebner, pictured above.