Steve Blass Stats & Facts
Steve Blass Positions: Bats: R Throws: R Height: 72 Weight: 165 Born: Saturday, April 18, 1942 in Canaan, CT USA Died: in , Debut: 5/10/1964 Last Game: 4/17/1974 Full Name: Stephen Robert Blass
Steve Blass fails to win 20th Game
Having yesterday witnessed teammate Roberto Clemente achieve his cherished goal, career hit number 3,000, Pittsburgh’s Steve Blass now attempts to realize his own longstanding dream, a 20-win season, pitching at home against the New York Mets. Unfortunately the dream will not survive the 1st inning as, on the eve of the National League playoffs, Pittsburgh’s ace is knocked out of this game, literally as well as figuratively, the third RBI of the inning coming on a two-out John Milner bullet off Blass’ right elbow. Prior to game, Clemente is honored in a ceremony commemorating his previous day’s feat. But, as he did yesterday regarding Hall of Fame shoo-in Willie Mays, Clemente again takes time to make his feelings known regarding another Cooperstown candidate, albeit a less accaimed one. Al Abrams of the Post Gazette writes: “Bill Mazeroski is retiring from the game as a player. Clemente doesn’t think Maz should quit. “No, no,’ he said. ‘Bill should play two or three more years. Talk to him. Tell him he can get in shape. I know he can play better second base than anybody. He is two years younger than I am.’ Roberto then paid Mazeroski this supreme compliment: ‘He is the greatest second baseman of all time, a real super star. But people forget too fast what he has done for the Pirates. Nobody I ever saw could field with him. He won the World Series in 1960 with his home run against the Yankees. I don’t like to see him retire.’ Nobody does. But Mazeroski himself believes it is time to hang up his Gold Glove and spikes for good. ‘If I had his body,’ Bill grinned, meaning Clemente’s, ‘I would keep on playing. Unfortunately, I don’t. There’s a time for everybody to quit. Mine is here.’ ‘Maz would like to have your body,’ I told Clemente. ‘My body is old and tired,’ Roberto replied. ‘But I’ll bounce back. I think Mazeroski can do the same if he takes off a few pounds and gives them to me. I need them.'”
Clemente caps off MVP performance belting game 7 homerun
Clemente caps off MVP performance belting game 7 homerun On October 17, 1971, Roberto Clemente hits a fourth-inning homer off Baltimore’s Mike Cuellar to put the Pirates ahead, 1-0, in Game 7 of the World Series. The right-fielder has hit safely in all seven games of the series, a feat he also accomplished in 1960 against…
Robertson misses a sign and blasts a 3 run homer in game 3 of 1971 World Series
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…
“If they ever want to rate the 10 greatest catches of all time,” One of the top 10 catches of all time – Roberto Clemente’s fantastic catch of Bob Watson’s line drive in Houston’s Astrodome
1971 – “If they ever want to rate the 10 greatest catches of all time,” maintains The Sporting News’s correspondent and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports editor Charley Feeney, “Roberto Clemente’s fantastic catch of Bob Watson’s line drive in Houston’s Astrodome will have to be among them.” Most of the 16,307 fans give Clemente a standing ovation for his feat, which deprives Watson of a home run in the 8th inning. It would have put the Astros ahead, 2 – 1. Instead, Steve Blass holds on to a 1 – 0 lead and the Bucs will score twice more for a 3 – 0 win. Joe Morgan is on first base with two out when Watson hits his vicious liner toward the right field corner. Clemente, going full speed, races toward the wall and, in one sudden move, makes a twisting leap for a one-handed grab, back to the plate, just before the ball would have hit above the yellow line on the wall, in home run territory. When Clemente comes down, his body hits the wall and he suffers a bruised left ankle and his left elbow also is swollen. Blood spills from a gash on the left knee. Clemente slumps on both knees, back to the infield. The Houston fans stand up and cheer. A second standing ovation will precede Clemente’s at-bat in the top of the 9th. On the preceding play, Clemente made a skidding shoestring catch of Cesar Cedeno’s Texas Leaguer, then threw perfectly to second base while on his knees to prevent Morgan from advancing.
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. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links [et_pb_signup provider=”getresponse” getresponse_list=”Thomas Hannon|zs45L” success_action=”redirect” success_redirect_url=”https://thisdayinbaseball.com/join-the-community/” success_redirect_query=”on|off|off|off|off” title=”Baseball history from Doubleday to Present Day” button_text=”Join us!” description=” This Day In Baseball gives you…
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…
Mets win their first opener at Forbes Field’s final Opening Day
On April 7, 1970, one historic first and one historic last occurred at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. In their ninth try, the New York Mets finally captured their first Opening Day victory, while Forbes Field hosted its final Opening Day after 61 years. The Mets, basking in the glow of their Miracle championship from last year,…
Steve Carlton outduels Steve Blass as St. Louis edges Pittsburgh, 1 – 0, giving the defending World Champs their 4th win in 5 tries and leaving them atop the National League at 20-10, 3 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco. In the next two weeks, the Cards will go into their only significant slump of the season; by May 29th, they’ll have lost 11 of 13 and fallen to 4th place, 3 behind the league-leading Giants.
Steve Carlton outduels Steve Blass as St. Louis edges Pittsburgh, 1 – 0, giving the defending World Champs their 4th win in 5 tries and leaving them atop the National League at 20-10, 3 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco. In the next two weeks, the Cards will go into their only significant slump of the season; by May 29th, they’ll have lost 11 of 13 and fallen to 4th place, 3 behind the league-leading Giants.