Team Checklist - Pittsburgh Pirates

About This Card
The checklist cards are not numbered, but there are 24 total.

422 - Bob Robertson

About This Player
Bob Robertson enjoyed 11 seasons in the Major Leagues and nine of them with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Robertson made his big league debut in 1967.  He missed the entire 1968 season because of a kidney obstruction and returned the following year.  Once Robertson established himself in the starting lineup in 1970, he appeared to have a bright future ahead of him.  Robertson hit 26 and 27 home runs in 1970 and 1971 respectively.  Robertson, described by Pirates announcer Bob Prince as "The Mount Savage Strongboy", was also the first ever to hit a home run in the upper deck at Three Rivers Stadium; the home run came off of San Diego Padres pitcher Steve Arlin in 1971.

His finest moment came in the 1971 postseason.  Robertson hit .438 with four home runs (three of which came in Game 2) and six RBI in the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants.  He later hit two home runs in the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles.  Robertson might be best known for the bunt sign he missed.  With Roberto Clemente on second, Willie Stargell at first and Mike Cuellar pitching, the third base coach called for a bunt.  With Robertson never having bunted and the Pirates down 2-0 in the series, his plan was to hit as far as possible.  In the replays, Clemente can be seen calling a time out, but Cuellar had thrown the pitch and Robertson had hit the ball into the right-center bleachers.  Robertson never knew his "mistake" until returning to the bench and seeing manager, Danny Murtaugh, with his cap over his face and laughing.

For more information:
Pirates remember Bob Robertson; so do O's

However, the following season, Robertson began experiencing chronic back problems and his production declined. After having surgery done on both knees in 1974, Robertson was reducing to being a backup player. Robertson later went on to play one season with the Seattle Mariners and another season with the Toronto Blue Jays before retiring in 1979.

About This Card
Out of all of the members of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bob Robertson probably looked most like a real life pirate.

348 - Rennie Stennett

About This Player
Rennie Stennett enjoyed 11 seasons in the Major Leagues and his first nine with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Stennett made his big league debut in 1971.  As a Pirates, Stennett had been a part of the division winning teams in 1972, 1974 and 1975 and part of the World Series winning team in 1979.

On September 1, 1971 in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Stennett started at second base as part of the first all-black starting lineup in the history of Major League Baseball.

For more information on the Major League Baseball's first all-black starting lineup:
Bruce Markusen: The First All-Black Lineup

Over his first three seasons, Stennett was used primarily as a back up at second base.  In 1974, Stennett earned the starting second base role over Dave Cash and, batting from the leadoff position, responded with a .291 average, 84 runs, 56 RBI, and a career-high 196 hits.

On September 16, 1975, Stennett went 7-for-7 as the Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 22-0.  Stennett became the only player in the 20th century to hit 7-for-7 in a nine-inning game and the Pirates set the record for the largest winning score in a shutout.

For more information on Stennett's 7-for-7 performance:
Baseball Digest: The Game I'll Never Forget - Rennie Stennett

Although known for his defense prowess at second base, in had been having an outstanding season at the plate in 1977.  Stennett had been .336 for the season and has a career high 28 stolen bases before he suffered an injury on August 21, 1977.  Stennett broke his right leg while sliding into second base. He was out for the rest of the year and the injury would hamper his performance through the rest of his career.

After the 1979 season, the Giant signed Stennett as a free agent.  After two years, Stennett was released.

About This Card
Rennie Stennett is listed on the card as an outfielder.  In 1972, Stennett played 41 games in the outfield.  However, he played 49 games at second base.  Stennett would later become the club's regular second baseman.

26 - Pittsburgh Pirates TC

About This Team
The Pittsburgh ball club was first established in 1882.  Playing as the "Pittsburgh Alleghenys," the club was a part of the American Association.  Pittsburgh joined the National League in 1887 and changed the team name to the "Pittsburgh Pirates" in 1891.  Throughout their rich history, the Pirates have won five World Series championships and nine National League pennants.  In 1972, the Pirates won the National League East and made the third of three straight playoff appearances, but lost to the Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS.

About This Card
The Pirates team card is another example of the wide range of conditions in my set.  The card is yellowed and the corners and edges are worn.  The condition is never really important to me as far as trying to build a MINT set, but it does give me a sense of history and longevity of each individual card.

635 - Gene Alley

About This Player
Gene Alley enjoyed his entire 12 year career as a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Alley was known as a player who did all of the little things well.  He was a good base runner, sacrificed runners on cue, a dependable hit-and-run man and was outstanding in the field.  Over his career, Alley won two Gold Gloves and played on two All-Star teams, including a start in the 1976 All-Star Game.  With Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski, they set a Major League record for most double plays (161) turned by a duo in 1966.  Alley was also a part of Pirates team that won the World Series in 1971.

"Baseball is a team sport and meant to be played like a team. You give yourself up for the sake of the team -- sacrificing men around, moving the runners up so that you can score runs to win games. It's not always based on how many home runs you hit or how much you hit for average. It's did you hit the guy from second to third so the next guy can drive him in with a fly ball and win a game?" - Gene Alley

For more information:
The Baseball Biography Project: Gene Alley

About This Card
With this card being in the final series, I wonder if Gene Alley almost didn't make it in the Topps set in 1973.  Alley only played in 76 games in 1973 and missed most of the season from shoulder and knee injuries.  1973 would be Alley's final season.

202 - N.L. Playoffs

About This Playoff Series
The 1972 National League Championship Series paired the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Cincinnati Reds.  In a five-game series, the first two games were played in Three Rivers Stadium and the final three at Riverfront Stadium.  This series went back and forth through the first four game until the pinnacle of the match in the final game.  This series would also be the last on-field appearance of Roberto Clemente.

Game 5 would prove to be one of the most memorable games in postseason history.  The Pirates took the early 2-0 lead with an doubel from Richie Hebner to score Manny Sanguillen and a single right after from Dave Cash to score Hebner.  The Reds would drive in a run in the third inning off of a double from Pete Rose to score Darrel Chaney.  Reds starting pitcher, Don Gullett would be knocked out of the game at the beginning of the 4th inning and Cash would single to score Sanguillen.  Cesar Geronimo would hit a home run in the 5th inning off of Pirates starter, Steve Blass, to cut the Pittsburgh lead at 3-2.

However, the Pirates brought in closer, Dave Guisti in the bottom of the 9th and Pittsburgh would collapse.  Johnny Bench hit a lead off home run tie the game.  Right after, Guisti gave us consecutive hits to Tony Perez and Denis Menke.  George Foster was brought in to pinch-run for Perez and Bob Moose was brought in to relieve Guisti.  Foster would advance to third base on a sacrifice fly from Geronimo.  Moose would retire Chaney with a pop up for the second out.  With pinch-hitter, Hal McRae, at the place, Moose would throw a wild pitch and Foster would score the winning run to end the game and advance the Cincinnati Reds to the World Series.

About This Card
The photograph shows the final play of the series: George Foster after scoring the winning run with Pete Rose and third base coach, Alex Grammas, out to congratulate.

2 - Rich Hebner

About This Player
Rich Hebner enjoyed 18 seasons in the big leagues and his first 11 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Hebner had one plate appearance in 1968 and established himself the following year as the team's starting third baseman.  He was also part of the 1971 World Series Championship team; in that series against the Orioles, Hebner accounted for all of the Pirates' runs in the 11-3 loss in Game 2.  Hebner later played for the Phillies, Tigers, Mets and Cubs throughout his playing career.

About This Card
The Rich Hebner card is one of the worse conditioned cards in my set.  I had gotten this one from the first lot purchased on eBay to start off the set.  Early in my set building, condition is not very important and I am looking just to build up the set.  Usually with the commons, I am not looking actively to replace worse conditioned cards, but, many times I find a copy in better condition from later lots.

95 - Steve Blass

About This Player
Steve Blass enjoyed a ten year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Blass made his Major League debut in 1964 and became a stable in the Pirates' pitching rotation on 1966.  Blass had this finest moment in the 1971 World Series in which he pitched for two complete game victories allowing only seven hits and two earned runs through all 18 innings.  Blass followed in 1972 with his finest season pitching to a 19-8 record, 2.49 ERA, 11 complete games, an All-Star selection and second place in the Cy Young Award vote.

However, Steve Blass might be even more remembered for what followed in the next season.  In 1973, Blass experienced a sudden loss of control of his pitching and was unable to find the plate.  His troubles had coined the term "Steve Blass Disease."  He pitched to a 3-9 record and a ballooning 9.83 ERA that season.  In 1974 after pitching one game, he was sent to the minors and never returned.

For more information on Steve Blass and his pitching troubles:
Sports Illustrated - April 15, 1974

Blass is currently a broadcast announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

About This Card
Steve Blass poses with great confidence after a stellar 1972 season.  Little did he know what would happen the following year.

50 - Roberto Clemente

About This Player
Roberto Clemente, born in Puerto Rico, played made his debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955.  Clemente played 18 seasons as the Pirates' right fielder.  Clemente was a multiple All-Star selection, a multiple Gold Glove Award winner and the National League MVP in 1966.  He currently ranks 27th on the all-time hit list with 3,000.

In addition to his baseball career, Clemente was also well known for his humanitarian work.  Clemente died in a plane crash on December 31, 1972 in an attempt to send emergency relief to Nicaragua.

Today, Major League Baseball presents the Roberto Clemente Award every year to the player who best follows Clemente's example with humanitarian work.

About This Card
The last regular issue card for Robert Clemente makes this card one of the feature cards in the 1973 Topps Baseball set.  As I build this set, I have tried to avoid overspending for a card I need for the set.  However, the Roberto Clemente card has been difficult to come by at a decent price.  Clemente is one of my most recent cards in this set.  I bought this card for $20 at a local card shop.