It's a moment frozen in time. Maybe the last real iconic moment in recent Pirates history. It was Game 7 of the 1979 World Series, and the Pirates found themselves trailing, 1-0, with two outs in the top of the 6th inning. Bill Robinson was on first base after a single. Willie Stargell, the heart and soul of the '79 Pirates, stood in the batters box, winding his bat in his familiar clock-wise manner. Orioles starter Scott Mcgregor unloaded a pitch, and much like he often did during his MVP '79 season, "Pops" brought his team from behind as he deposited the pitch over the right field wall and into the Pirates bullpen to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead that they would never relinquish. The Pirates went on to win, 4-1, and capture their fifth World Series title.
It was a tremendous victory for the Pirates, one that has been celebrated time and time again. But there may not have been a Game 7 if not for the heroics of Manny Sanguillen in Game 2.
After dropping the first game, 5-4, the Pirates found themselves in a 2-2 tie with the Orioles in the top of the 9th inning.
There were two-outs and Ed Ott was on 2nd base and Phil Garner on first. Sanguillen, in the twilight of his career and appearing in only 56 games in '79, pitch-hit for Bill Robinson and came through with a two-out single to right-field that barely scored Ott for the eventual game-winning run.
Sanguillen got a hero's welcome before game 3 in Pittsburgh, but his efforts were quickly forgotten as the Orioles took the next two games to go up 3-1 in the Series.
The only bright spot for the team through the first four games was Manny's clutch hit in Game 2. Otherwise, it would have been a clean-sweep for Baltimore.
Fortunately, the Pirates responded like few teams have in World Series play and staged an historic comeback. Once momentum shifted in Pittsburgh's favor, there was no turning back.
However, much like Hal Smith's three-run homer in the bottom of the 8th inning in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series that eventually paved the way for Maz's historic shot, the amazing performances by Omar Moreno, Tim Foli, John Candelaria, Jim Rooker, Phil Garner and Willie Stargell would never have been possible without the clutch hit from Manny in Game 2 that kept the team afloat through the rough first four games of the series.
Sanguillen accomplished a lot during his career--he made several All Star appearances and was the starting catcher of the '71 World Series team--but what he did in '79 as a little used utility player may have been his most significant contribution to Pirates history.
Sanguillen frequents a bar near my house. One of these days, I'm going to go up to him and shake his hand. He was just as responsible for that World Series title as any other member of "The Family."
However, if I never get the chance to shake his hand, maybe he'll read this blog and know how much I appreciate what he did.
Thanks, Manny!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
One Down, Four to Go: Pitt Defeats St. John's, 73-59, in First Round of Big East Tournament
Every long journey starts with the first step, and Pitt took what they hope will be the first of five huge steps to the NCAA tournament after knocking off St. John's, 73-59, in the first round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden.
In recent years, the Panthers have responded in the conference tournament when their backs were against the wall, and they needed a good showing to either make the NCAAs or enhance their seed.
Obviously, this year, the Panthers are going to need to win the whole thing in order to earn an unexpected berth in the field of 68.
The last time the Panthers were in this position, 2001, they responded by winning three games in three nights and made it all the way to the Big East championship game before losing to Boston College.
Can Pitt go one step further this year? It's doubtful, but they can't worry about that right now. The only thing they can concentrate on is Georgetown tomorrow afternoon at 2pm. That would be step number two.
In recent years, the Panthers have responded in the conference tournament when their backs were against the wall, and they needed a good showing to either make the NCAAs or enhance their seed.
Obviously, this year, the Panthers are going to need to win the whole thing in order to earn an unexpected berth in the field of 68.
The last time the Panthers were in this position, 2001, they responded by winning three games in three nights and made it all the way to the Big East championship game before losing to Boston College.
Can Pitt go one step further this year? It's doubtful, but they can't worry about that right now. The only thing they can concentrate on is Georgetown tomorrow afternoon at 2pm. That would be step number two.
It's official: The Pirates sign Andrew McCutchen
The Pirates and centerfielder Andrew McCutchen agreed on a six year/$51.5 million contract and officially announced the signing today in their spring training home in Bradenton, Florida.
There was a lot of angst among Pirates fans in recents weeks and months after it appeared that the Pirates and McCutchen were too far apart to get a deal done.
Speaking of angst, some Pirates fans are still a bit skeptical of the deal and are comparing it to the Nate Mclouth signing and then subsequent trade to the Atlanta Braves in 2009.
There are people out there who completely distrust the Pirates front office, and they are just waiting for the team to now trade the newly-minted McCutchen for a bag of balls and some prospects.
If they were going to do that, wouldn't they have done it already, before going through the trouble of negotiating?
In my opinion, it's not even close to being anything like the Mclouth deal. Mclouth had his career year in 2008, when he made the All-star team, and give Pirates general manager Neal Huntington credit for recognizing that. Was it his master plan to sign Mclouth and then deal him away? I don't know, but when an offer was presented to him for three above average prospects, he had no choice but to act on it.
When the new front office took over in 2008, the Pirates had NOTHING in their farm system. In fact, an anonymous baseball executive was quoted as saying that the Pirates had, maybe, a half a dozen players in their entire system who could possibly play in the majors someday.
One of those players was obviously McCutchen, and that probably made it a little easier for Huntington to unload Mclouth.
And, for all of the skeptics out there, the Pirates got the better end of that deal. Charlie Morton, Jeff Locke and Gorkys Hernandez all still figure in the Pirates future in some capacity, and Mclouth barely did anything with the Braves. Heck, for all of you fans who are still bitter about losing Nate the Great, he re-signed with the Pirates this past winter. If you ask me, it's the best of both worlds.
No, I think a better comparison for the McCutchen signing would be the signings of Brian Giles and Jason Kendall back in 2000. Both players were considered cornerstones to the future of the team, and ownership wanted to show the fans that they were serious about having a successful future.
It didn't work out, but McCutchen seems to be a much more talented player than Giles and Kendall were, and the Pirates appear to be in a little better shape both financially and in terms of their minor league system than they were back in the late 90's.
Besides, I think McCutchen has only scratched the surface of the type of player he can become.
By the middle of this contract, McCutchen is going to seem like a bargain.
I think it's a good day for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
There was a lot of angst among Pirates fans in recents weeks and months after it appeared that the Pirates and McCutchen were too far apart to get a deal done.
Speaking of angst, some Pirates fans are still a bit skeptical of the deal and are comparing it to the Nate Mclouth signing and then subsequent trade to the Atlanta Braves in 2009.
There are people out there who completely distrust the Pirates front office, and they are just waiting for the team to now trade the newly-minted McCutchen for a bag of balls and some prospects.
If they were going to do that, wouldn't they have done it already, before going through the trouble of negotiating?
In my opinion, it's not even close to being anything like the Mclouth deal. Mclouth had his career year in 2008, when he made the All-star team, and give Pirates general manager Neal Huntington credit for recognizing that. Was it his master plan to sign Mclouth and then deal him away? I don't know, but when an offer was presented to him for three above average prospects, he had no choice but to act on it.
When the new front office took over in 2008, the Pirates had NOTHING in their farm system. In fact, an anonymous baseball executive was quoted as saying that the Pirates had, maybe, a half a dozen players in their entire system who could possibly play in the majors someday.
One of those players was obviously McCutchen, and that probably made it a little easier for Huntington to unload Mclouth.
And, for all of the skeptics out there, the Pirates got the better end of that deal. Charlie Morton, Jeff Locke and Gorkys Hernandez all still figure in the Pirates future in some capacity, and Mclouth barely did anything with the Braves. Heck, for all of you fans who are still bitter about losing Nate the Great, he re-signed with the Pirates this past winter. If you ask me, it's the best of both worlds.
No, I think a better comparison for the McCutchen signing would be the signings of Brian Giles and Jason Kendall back in 2000. Both players were considered cornerstones to the future of the team, and ownership wanted to show the fans that they were serious about having a successful future.
It didn't work out, but McCutchen seems to be a much more talented player than Giles and Kendall were, and the Pirates appear to be in a little better shape both financially and in terms of their minor league system than they were back in the late 90's.
Besides, I think McCutchen has only scratched the surface of the type of player he can become.
By the middle of this contract, McCutchen is going to seem like a bargain.
I think it's a good day for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Link to a story about the new NFL bounty scandal
This story on the new NFL bounty scandal involving the Saints pretty much says it all. And I get the feeling much, much more will be coming out about this stuff.
For the past couple of years, the NFL has been trying to do a better job of protecting its players from head-shots that result in concussions, and this might undo all that they've been trying to work towards.
As this story points out, this might be a league-wide problem that involves more than just the saints, and teams that Gregg Williams coached on.
This might be the 2012 version of Spygate.
For the past couple of years, the NFL has been trying to do a better job of protecting its players from head-shots that result in concussions, and this might undo all that they've been trying to work towards.
As this story points out, this might be a league-wide problem that involves more than just the saints, and teams that Gregg Williams coached on.
This might be the 2012 version of Spygate.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
America's Game: The Super Steelers edition
I was out today and decided to pick up the America's Game Steelers collection. It's a five-disc set covering the Steelers first five Super Bowl championships.
I'm not going to do a review of this right now, but I will say that I've only watched one episode so far, and it was tremendous. I've read some reviews of this on Amazon, and there were complaints about it being a re-hash of stuff that most long-time Steelers fans have known about for years. Well, I've been following the Steelers since 1980, and there were things discussed in interviews with Franco Harris, Andy Russell and Joe Greene that I never heard before. There was also tremendous footage that I hadn't seen.
There's even some awesome network post-game footage of the locker room Lombardi presentation that, for someone my age, was completely new.
One Amazon reviewer did bring up a good point. Why is it so hard to find old network broadcasts of games in their entirety other than the Super Bowls? I'd love to get my hands on a copy of the Steelers 1974 AFC Championship victory over the Raiders, but other than a few snippets on Youtube, I doubt I'll ever see that game or have a chance to buy it on DVD.
Just a minor complaint.
Anyway, I hate to sound like just another Amazon reviewer, but this collection is a must have for all Steelers fans, and you owe it to yourself to go out and buy it now. You won't be sorry!
And, you probably should order it on Amazon or another online broker. It'll probably be way cheaper than what I paid for it at Parkway Center Mall.
I'm not going to do a review of this right now, but I will say that I've only watched one episode so far, and it was tremendous. I've read some reviews of this on Amazon, and there were complaints about it being a re-hash of stuff that most long-time Steelers fans have known about for years. Well, I've been following the Steelers since 1980, and there were things discussed in interviews with Franco Harris, Andy Russell and Joe Greene that I never heard before. There was also tremendous footage that I hadn't seen.
There's even some awesome network post-game footage of the locker room Lombardi presentation that, for someone my age, was completely new.
One Amazon reviewer did bring up a good point. Why is it so hard to find old network broadcasts of games in their entirety other than the Super Bowls? I'd love to get my hands on a copy of the Steelers 1974 AFC Championship victory over the Raiders, but other than a few snippets on Youtube, I doubt I'll ever see that game or have a chance to buy it on DVD.
Just a minor complaint.
Anyway, I hate to sound like just another Amazon reviewer, but this collection is a must have for all Steelers fans, and you owe it to yourself to go out and buy it now. You won't be sorry!
And, you probably should order it on Amazon or another online broker. It'll probably be way cheaper than what I paid for it at Parkway Center Mall.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Hines Ward No Longer a Steeler
Well, the inevitable has finally happened. It is being reported that the Steelers are going to release legendary receiver Hines Ward after 14 seasons with the team.
Ward, the team's all-time leader in both receiving yards and receptions, was known not only for his pass-catching skills, but for his abilities as a blocker on running plays.
Ward may be done as a Steeler, but I doubt he's done as a football player. He has indicated he'd like to continue playing football.
I'm sure releasing Ward was a tough decision for the team's front office, but with their salary cap issues, and with the "Young Money" trio of Wallace, Brown and Sanders emerging as one of the best young receiving groups in the NFL, the Steelers had no choice but to release the long-time Steeler.
It'll be interesting to see where Ward will wind up, but with all that he accomplished in Pittsburgh, including being named Super Bowl XL MVP, there is no doubt that number 86's legacy in Pittsburgh is safe and sound.
Like I said a few weeks ago in a post on Behind The Steel Curtain, no matter where Ward ends his career, it won't ruin his legacy with the Steelers.
Hines will be a Steeler forever.
Ward, the team's all-time leader in both receiving yards and receptions, was known not only for his pass-catching skills, but for his abilities as a blocker on running plays.
Ward may be done as a Steeler, but I doubt he's done as a football player. He has indicated he'd like to continue playing football.
I'm sure releasing Ward was a tough decision for the team's front office, but with their salary cap issues, and with the "Young Money" trio of Wallace, Brown and Sanders emerging as one of the best young receiving groups in the NFL, the Steelers had no choice but to release the long-time Steeler.
It'll be interesting to see where Ward will wind up, but with all that he accomplished in Pittsburgh, including being named Super Bowl XL MVP, there is no doubt that number 86's legacy in Pittsburgh is safe and sound.
Like I said a few weeks ago in a post on Behind The Steel Curtain, no matter where Ward ends his career, it won't ruin his legacy with the Steelers.
Hines will be a Steeler forever.
It's pretty eerie how similar their last games with the Pirates were for both Clemente and Bonds
There is no question that Roberto Clemente and Barry Bonds are two of the greatest Pirates of all-time, and I've always found it kind of weird how both players careers with the Pirates ended pretty much exactly the same way almost exactly 20 years apart.
Clemente was one of the most consistent players of his era, winning multiple gold gloves, batting titles and the 1966 NL MVP. However, it wasn't until his magnificent performance that helped lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to the 1971 World Series title that the world became aware of his greatness.
In 1972, the Pirates were defending champions and found themselves in the NLCS for the third year in a row and faced the Cincinnati Reds for the second time in three seasons. The series was extremely tight and hard-fought, and after the teams split the first four games, the Pirates and Reds would play the deciding game 5 on Wednesday, October 11th, 1972, at the old Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, and led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning. Just three outs away from their second-straight trip to the World Series, the Pirates experienced one of the most depressing sequences of events in team history. Reds catcher Johnny Bench led off the inning by hitting a home run off of reliever Dave Giusti to tie the score at three. Moments later, George Foster was on 3rd base with two-outs and represented the pennant-clinching run for the Reds. The late Bob Moose was in for Giusti, but instead of getting out of the jam, he threw a wild pitch that scored Foster to send Cincinnati to the World Series and the Pirates and their fans into shock and depression.
As for Clemente, at 38, there was no doubt that he was in the twilight of his career, but there wasn't a sense that he was going to retire anytime soon. He had just notched the 3000th hit of his remarkable career in the last regular season game of the '72 season and was expected back the following year.
Unfortunately, on December 31st, 1972, Clemente died in a plane crash while taking relief supplies to Nicaragua, and his remarkable career and admirable life both came to a stunning and tragic end.
Clemente was largely misunderstood for most of his career in Pittsburgh, but in his final years as a player, Pirates fans and the local media began to embrace him, and after his death, Roberto Clemente would become arguably the most iconic sports figure in Pittsburgh history.
Before becoming a controversial home run champion in the later part of his career with the Giants, Barry Bonds was one of the best all-around players in baseball. While with the Pirates, Bonds won two NL MVP awards and was regarded by many as the best left-fielder in the game, winning three-straight Gold Glove Awards from 1990-1992.
In 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates won their third-straight National League East title and would meet the Atlanta Braves in the in the NLCS for the second year in a row.
Unlike '91, the Pirates were underdogs to the Braves and quickly fell behind in the series, 2-0 and then 3-1. After battling back to tie the series at three games a piece, the Pirates and Braves would meet for the deciding game 7 on Wednesday October 14th, 1992, at the old Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. Just like in '72, the Pirates jumped out to an early lead and entered the bottom of the 9th inning ahead 2-0. With ace Doug Drabek on the mound, it looked as if the Pirates would finally get to the World Series after losing in the NLCS the previous two seasons. Unfortunately, the Pirates would suffer maybe the most heartbreaking loss in sports history. Thanks in large part to a Terry Pendleton double and a botched ground ball by Jose Lind, the Braves had the bases loaded with nobody out. Pirates closer Stan Belinda replaced Drabek, and two gut-wrenching outs later, the Braves were now down 2-1, and had the tying run on 3rd and the pennant-clinching run on 2nd base. Francisco Cabrera, the last guy on the Braves bench, stroked a 2-1 pitch into left field. David Justice scored the tying run, and Sid Bream beat Barry Bonds throw to the plate to send the Braves to their second-straight World series and the Pirates into a two-decade spiral.
Bonds would sign with the Giants following the '92 season and would go on to have one of the best and most controversial careers in Major League Baseball history. Bonds home run numbers began to rise in the latter stages of his career and he would eventually become the all-time leader in both single season and career home runs. Bonds was suspected of using performance enhancing drugs in order to achieve his records and was the subject of a federal investigation for many years. Bonds was eventually convicted for obstruction of justice last spring.
As for Bonds' legacy in Pittsburgh, even though he was one of the best players in the game during his time with the Pirates, the fans never fully embraced Bonds, and he certainly didn't have a great relationship with his teammates or the local media.
Unlike Clemente, Bonds' legacy is that of one of the most vilified former Pittsburgh athletes in history along side the likes of Jaromir Jagr and Neil O'Donnell, and I doubt there will be a statue erected in his honor any time soon.
Clemente and Bonds: Two great careers, two distinctely different legacies in Pittsburgh, but two eerily similar endings to their Pirates careers.
Clemente was one of the most consistent players of his era, winning multiple gold gloves, batting titles and the 1966 NL MVP. However, it wasn't until his magnificent performance that helped lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to the 1971 World Series title that the world became aware of his greatness.
In 1972, the Pirates were defending champions and found themselves in the NLCS for the third year in a row and faced the Cincinnati Reds for the second time in three seasons. The series was extremely tight and hard-fought, and after the teams split the first four games, the Pirates and Reds would play the deciding game 5 on Wednesday, October 11th, 1972, at the old Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati. Pittsburgh jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, and led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning. Just three outs away from their second-straight trip to the World Series, the Pirates experienced one of the most depressing sequences of events in team history. Reds catcher Johnny Bench led off the inning by hitting a home run off of reliever Dave Giusti to tie the score at three. Moments later, George Foster was on 3rd base with two-outs and represented the pennant-clinching run for the Reds. The late Bob Moose was in for Giusti, but instead of getting out of the jam, he threw a wild pitch that scored Foster to send Cincinnati to the World Series and the Pirates and their fans into shock and depression.
As for Clemente, at 38, there was no doubt that he was in the twilight of his career, but there wasn't a sense that he was going to retire anytime soon. He had just notched the 3000th hit of his remarkable career in the last regular season game of the '72 season and was expected back the following year.
Unfortunately, on December 31st, 1972, Clemente died in a plane crash while taking relief supplies to Nicaragua, and his remarkable career and admirable life both came to a stunning and tragic end.
Clemente was largely misunderstood for most of his career in Pittsburgh, but in his final years as a player, Pirates fans and the local media began to embrace him, and after his death, Roberto Clemente would become arguably the most iconic sports figure in Pittsburgh history.
Before becoming a controversial home run champion in the later part of his career with the Giants, Barry Bonds was one of the best all-around players in baseball. While with the Pirates, Bonds won two NL MVP awards and was regarded by many as the best left-fielder in the game, winning three-straight Gold Glove Awards from 1990-1992.
In 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates won their third-straight National League East title and would meet the Atlanta Braves in the in the NLCS for the second year in a row.
Unlike '91, the Pirates were underdogs to the Braves and quickly fell behind in the series, 2-0 and then 3-1. After battling back to tie the series at three games a piece, the Pirates and Braves would meet for the deciding game 7 on Wednesday October 14th, 1992, at the old Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. Just like in '72, the Pirates jumped out to an early lead and entered the bottom of the 9th inning ahead 2-0. With ace Doug Drabek on the mound, it looked as if the Pirates would finally get to the World Series after losing in the NLCS the previous two seasons. Unfortunately, the Pirates would suffer maybe the most heartbreaking loss in sports history. Thanks in large part to a Terry Pendleton double and a botched ground ball by Jose Lind, the Braves had the bases loaded with nobody out. Pirates closer Stan Belinda replaced Drabek, and two gut-wrenching outs later, the Braves were now down 2-1, and had the tying run on 3rd and the pennant-clinching run on 2nd base. Francisco Cabrera, the last guy on the Braves bench, stroked a 2-1 pitch into left field. David Justice scored the tying run, and Sid Bream beat Barry Bonds throw to the plate to send the Braves to their second-straight World series and the Pirates into a two-decade spiral.
Bonds would sign with the Giants following the '92 season and would go on to have one of the best and most controversial careers in Major League Baseball history. Bonds home run numbers began to rise in the latter stages of his career and he would eventually become the all-time leader in both single season and career home runs. Bonds was suspected of using performance enhancing drugs in order to achieve his records and was the subject of a federal investigation for many years. Bonds was eventually convicted for obstruction of justice last spring.
As for Bonds' legacy in Pittsburgh, even though he was one of the best players in the game during his time with the Pirates, the fans never fully embraced Bonds, and he certainly didn't have a great relationship with his teammates or the local media.
Unlike Clemente, Bonds' legacy is that of one of the most vilified former Pittsburgh athletes in history along side the likes of Jaromir Jagr and Neil O'Donnell, and I doubt there will be a statue erected in his honor any time soon.
Clemente and Bonds: Two great careers, two distinctely different legacies in Pittsburgh, but two eerily similar endings to their Pirates careers.
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