On October 12, 1971 The Baltimore Orioles took the first games of the World Series outscoring the Pittsburgh Pirates 16-6. Game 3 shifted to Three Rivers Stadium and with Steve Blass available, The Pirates were up 2-1 in the bottom of the 7th as Frank Robinson had just homered to make it a one-run game for the Orioles. But The big blow was about to be provided by Bob Robertson, Robertson had hit 53 homeruns over the past 2 seasons and drove in 150+ runs in less than full-time duty slammed a three-run home run in the seventh off starter Mike Cuellar—after missing the bunt sign. Manager Danny Murtaugh issued the sign to Robertson, who had no sacrifice bunts on the season. Television replays showed Roberto Clemente, who was on second base, appearing to call a timeout, but Cuellar was already in his windup at the time. Blass was sitting next to Murtaugh in the dugout at the time, and told the Pirate manager: “If you fine him (Robertson, for missing the bunt sign), I’ll pay.” Murtaugh didn’t.
HISTORY
Division Winners
Playoff Games/Series
Wild Card Games
Championship Series & World Series History
NLCS
ALCS
Championship Series MVP’s
Pennant Winners
World Series
World Series Clinchers
World Series MVP
Post Season
Pittsburgh Pirates 5, Baltimore Orioles 1
World Series Game 3 Played on Tuesday, October 12, 1971 (D) at Three Rivers Stadium
BAL A 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 - 1 3 3 PIT N 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 x - 5 7 0
WP: Blass (1-0) LP: Cuellar (0-1) HR: F. Robinson (2), Robertson (1)
Play by Play
Umpires: HP - John Rice, 1B - Ed Vargo, 2B - Jim Odom, 3B - John Kibler, LF - Nestor Chylak, RF - Ed Sudol
Time of Game: 2:20 Attendance: 50403
Starting Lineups: Baltimore Orioles Pittsburgh Pirates 1. Buford lf Cash 2b 2. Rettenmund cf Oliver cf 3. Powell 1b Clemente rf 4. F. Robinson rf Stargell lf 5. Hendricks c Robertson 1b 6. B. Robinson 3b Sanguillen c 7. Johnson 2b Pagan 3b 8. Belanger ss Alley ss 9. Cuellar p Blass p ORIOLES 1ST: Buford flied out to left; Rettenmund grounded out (shortstop to first); Powell grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 0. PIRATES 1ST: Cash doubled to left; Oliver reached on an error by Powell [Cash to third, Oliver to first]; Clemente forced Oliver (second to shortstop) [Cash scored]; Stargell walked [Clemente to second]; Robertson lined into a double play (third to second) [Clemente out at second]; 1 R, 1 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 1. ORIOLES 2ND: F. Robinson struck out; Hendricks walked; B. Robinson popped to first in foul territory; Johnson flied out to center; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 1. PIRATES 2ND: Sanguillen flied out to right; Pagan doubled to left; Alley grounded out (second to first) [Pagan to third]; Blass grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 1. ORIOLES 3RD: Belanger popped to second; Cuellar lined to right; Buford flied out to left; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 1. PIRATES 3RD: Cash lined to center; Oliver flied to left in foul territory; Clemente grounded out (third to first); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 1. ORIOLES 4TH: Rettenmund flied to right; Powell was called out on strikes; F. Robinson flied out to right; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 1. PIRATES 4TH: Stargell walked; Robertson was called out on strikes; Sanguillen singled to center [Stargell to second]; Pagan flied out to center; Alley walked [Stargell to third, Sanguillen to second]; Blass forced Alley (third to second); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 1. ORIOLES 5TH: Hendricks struck out; B. Robinson singled; Johnson forced B. Robinson (shortstop to second); Belanger forced Johnson (shortstop unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 1. PIRATES 5TH: Cash flied out to center; Oliver walked; Clemente singled to center [Oliver to third, Clemente to second (error by B. Robinson)]; Stargell was called out on strikes; Robertson struck out; 0 R, 1 H, 1 E, 2 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 1. ORIOLES 6TH: Cuellar walked; Buford was called out on strikes; Rettenmund grounded out (pitcher to first) [Cuellar to second]; Powell grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 1. PIRATES 6TH: Sanguillen doubled; Pagan singled to left [Sanguillen scored]; Alley grounded out (shortstop to first) [Pagan to second]; Blass grounded out (third to first); Cash was walked intentionally; Oliver struck out; 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. Orioles 0, Pirates 2. ORIOLES 7TH: HERNANDEZ REPLACED ALLEY (PLAYING SS); F. Robinson homered; Hendricks struck out; B. Robinson struck out; Johnson grounded out (shortstop to first); 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Orioles 1, Pirates 2. PIRATES 7TH: Clemente reached on an error by Cuellar [Clemente to first]; Stargell walked [Clemente to second]; Robertson homered [Clemente scored (unearned), Stargell scored]; DUKES REPLACED CUELLAR (PITCHING); Sanguillen flied out to right; Pagan flied out to left; Hernandez grounded out (third to first); 3 R (2 ER), 1 H, 1 E, 0 LOB. Orioles 1, Pirates 5. ORIOLES 8TH: Belanger struck out; SHOPAY BATTED FOR DUKES; Shopay grounded out (pitcher to first); Buford grounded out (first to pitcher); 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Orioles 1, Pirates 5. PIRATES 8TH: WATT REPLACED SHOPAY (PITCHING); Blass struck out (catcher to first); Cash flied out to left; Oliver popped to second; 0 R, 0 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. Orioles 1, Pirates 5. ORIOLES 9TH: Rettenmund was called out on strikes; Powell flied to center; F. Robinson singled to left; Hendricks grounded out (second to first); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. Orioles 1, Pirates 5. Final Totals R H E LOB Orioles 1 3 3 4 Pirates 5 7 0 9
Other Resources & Links
Retro Sheet PBP & Box Score
