Roberto Clemente takes the mound in this 1971 spring training
Roberto Clemente takes the mound in this 1971 spring training photo op, having always joking with teammate Steve Blass he’d be a better pitcher.
Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates posts his second consecutive five-hit game
On August 23, 1970 — Roberto Clemente compiles his second straight 5-hit game during an 11 – 0 pasting of Los Angeles. He is the first major leaguer this century to collect 10 hits in two consecutive games. John Wiebusch of the Los Angeles Times reports: “In the Saturday marathon – the 16-inning struggle…
Pittsburgh Pirates hold “Roberto Clemente Night”
On July 24, 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates hold “Roberto Clemente Night” at Three Rivers Stadium, which opened only eight days earlier. After receiving over 100 gifts, Clemente collects two hits and makes two sliding catches but he leaves after suffering a cut left knee making a sliding catch on the gravel warning track. Dock Ellis goes…
Dock Ellis pitches a no-hitter on LSD
On June 12, 1970, Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches a no-hitter despite giving up eight walks. The talented right-hander shuts down the San Diego Padres, 2-0, with help from Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski, who each make terrific defensive plays. Ellis will later admit to pitching the game under the influence of LSD….
Pittsburgh to prevail3, 3 – 2, in 14 innings over Philadelphia
One big hit, one big drop, two wild pitches and one bad hop are what it takes for Pittsburgh to prevail, 3 – 2, in 14 innings over Philadelphia. The big hit is Roberto Clemente’s 3rd-inning triple, a 440-plus-footer off Forbes Field’s left-centerfield light tower, which drives in Freddie Patek with the tying run. In the 8th, John Briggs drops a fly ball hit by Al Oliver, which allows Matty Alou to score the tying run. Alou will also score the game-winner six innings later, courtesy of two consecutive wild pitches by Dick Selma, the latter featuring the aforementioned bad hop, off the cement beneath the backstop screen, which allows Alou to score the walk-off tally from second.
Willie Stargell hits homerun out of Forbes Field
Willie Stargell hits homerun out of Forbes Field
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial All-Star Baseball Classicformer New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio manages the East, and ex-Dodger Roy Campanella directs the fortunes of the West
1970 – In this first (and last?) “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial All-Star Baseball Classic”, solo home runs by Ron Fairly of Montreal and Ron Santo of the Chicago Cubs, plus a three-run 8th-inning brings the East a 5 – 1 victory over the West. A crowd of 31,694 watches the charity game in Dodger Stadium. Proceeds go to the late Dr. King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference and a memorial center planned for Atlanta. For this initial charity game, former New York Yankees great Joe DiMaggio manages the East, and ex-Dodger Roy Campanella, confined to a wheelchair since a 1958 auto accident, directs the fortunes of the West. Jim “Mudcat” Grant of Oakland sings the National Anthem in the pre-game program, and then becomes the victim of a four-hit uprising in the 8th inning that insures the outcome. Al Kaline of Detroit beats out an infield hit to open the frame and moves to second as Tommie Agee drives Hank Aaron to the left field wall. Kaline races home on Lou Brock’s double to left. Brock scores on Roberto Clemente’s double and Clemente comes home on Ken McMullen’s single.
The NL wins the 40th All Star Game 9-3
Willie McCovey hits two home runs as the National League beats the American League, 9 – 3, for its 7th straight All-Star Game win, with McCovey named All-Star MVP. Mel Stottlemyre starts for the AL when Denny McLainis late arriving from a dental appointment. An interesting sidelight is provided by Roberto Clemente’s sole turn at bat. He strikes out at the hands of “Sudden” Sam McDowell but, on the way there, one swing of the bat will furnish Larry Dierker’s most vivid memory from the game: “With all of the long balls, the one I remember most was hit by Roberto Clemente. The Great One hit it all the way into the upper deck, but it was foul. I had seen balls hit farther, but I had never seen a ball hit that far to the opposite field!”
Roberto Clemente’s tape-measure two-run blast ties the game at 3-all after six, en route to a come-from-behind 4 – 3 Pirate win over Houston
1969 – Roberto Clemente’s tape-measure two-run blast ties the game at 3-all after six, en route to a come-from-behind 4 – 3 Pirate win over Houston. “Clemente’s homer – his second in two nights – was a prodigious wallop of some 430 feet that landed about 12 rows up in the steps to the right of the service ramp in center field. In addition to loosening a few boards and frightening small children, it also tied the score at 3-all. Matty Alou was aboard with a walk when Jim Ray tried to fling one pitch too many past the dangerous Clemente. Clemente saw the ball good and he sped up his swing and timed the connection perfectly. Jim Wynn, in center, gave token pursuit of the eighth blast this year off the 34-year-old Puerto Rican hero’s bat. But he’d have needed a ladder to reach the blast which soared far over Wynn’s head.” The Astros wisely do not afford Clemente the opportunity to beat them; his 8th-inning at-bat with 2 outs, the go-ahead run in scoring position and first base open yields the predictable free pass. Ironically, in the 9th, the game’s goat thus far, shortstop Freddie Patek comes up with 2 outs, the go-ahead run in scoring position and first base open; his two-run error had put Pitt in in an early 3 – 1 hole. But manager Larry Shepard, apparently no devotee of the “Hollywood ending”, bats Carl Taylor in his stead. Taylor singles for the 4 – 3 lead and Jim Bunning retires the Astros in order in the bottom of the frame, when Wynn hits a fly ball that sends left fielder Jose Pagan to the fence for the final out.
Roberto Clemente’s tape-measure two-run blast ties the game at 3-all after six, en route to a come-from-behind 4 – 3 Pirate win over Houston. “Clemente’s homer – his second in two nights – was a prodigious wallop of some 430 feet that landed about 12 rows up in the steps to the right of the service ramp in center field. In addition to loosening a few boards and frightening small children, it also tied the score at 3-all. Matty Alou was aboard with a walk when Jim Ray tried to fling one pitch too many past the dangerous Clemente. Clemente saw the ball good and he sped up his swing and timed the connection perfectly. Jim Wynn, in center, gave token pursuit of the eighth blast this year off the 34-year-old Puerto Rican hero’s bat. But he’d have needed a ladder to reach the blast which soared far over Wynn’s head.” The Astros wisely do not afford Clemente the opportunity to beat them; his 8th-inning at-bat with 2 outs, the go-ahead run in scoring position and first base open yields the predictable free pass. Ironically, in the 9th, the game’s goat thus far, shortstop Freddie Patek comes up with 2 outs, the go-ahead run in scoring position and first base open; his two-run error had put Pitt in in an early 3 – 1 hole. But manager Larry Shepard, apparently no devotee of the “Hollywood ending”, bats Carl Taylor in his stead. Taylor singles for the 4 – 3 lead and Jim Bunning retires the Astros in order in the bottom of the frame, when Wynn hits a fly ball that sends left fielder Jose Pagan to the fence for the final out.
On June 12 1969, Roberto Clemente’s tape-measure two-run blast ties the game at 3-all after six, en route to a come-from-behind 4 – 3 Pirate win over Houston. “Clemente’s homer – his second in two nights – was a prodigious wallop of some 430 feet that landed about 12 rows up in the steps to the right of…
