Pirates/Mets August 1967 Notes

It is August 13, 1967 and both the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates and homestanding New York Mets have players in their starting lineup with either past, future or both significant World Series moments.

Start with the Buccos second sacker, Bill Mazeroski, whose game ending solo home run gave Pittsburgh its first crown in 35 years.

Maz’ solo home run came in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 7. An inning earlier, Hal Smith unloaded a key three run home run that transformed a Yankees’ (7-6) lead into one for the Pirates at (9-7).

In that 8th inning, the great player, Roberto Clemente, who hit safely in all 14 of his World Series tilts, had an rbi hit.

Both Clemente in right field on 8/13/67, in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader, and Willie Stargell in left were future World Series MVP’s.

Jose Pagan, pictured below as an S.F. Giants player, for whom he played in a 7 game World Series/one run loss in 1962, had what proved to be the game winning hit for the Pirates in #7/1971 World Series.

His extra base hit scored Willie Stargell from first, T8 to make it (2-0) and behind Steve Blass’ brilliant 3 hitter and another big hit from Series MVP, Clemente (Stargell would be the W.S. MVP 8 years later when the Pirates again 7’d the Baltimore Orioles), a solo homer, Pittsburgh won (2-1) to take the crown.

On August 13, 1967 Steve Blass was the Pirates’ starting pitcher facing a rookie Mets hurler named Tom Seaver.

Jose Pagan