#1 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates team card

Per Topps tradition, the reigning World Champs take card #1....Beat the favored Orioles who were the seemingly invincible Goliath….upon inspection however Pirates did come in having scored more runs as their opponents….While the Bucs entered the fray with a middle of the road ERA, their bullpen corps was very advanced for time….Opposed to the Orioles pen corps possibly rusty.....Down to the wire Pirates took the 7^th and deciding game....same two opponents would take the field to decide the 1979 champion....once again the 7 game series, their most recent title....Bucs have three other titles giving them 5 total....established 1882 Pirates are tied with the Reds as the third oldest team.... won the baseball championship in 1900 and 1901 before the World Series was established....A hitting club vs. pitching with multiple batting  crowns going to Honus Wagner(8), Roberto Clemente (4),  Paul Waner (3), and Dave Parker (2).....   Ralph Kiner ran a string of 6 consecutive home run titles....Willie Stargell captured two along with the Pirates mark for career homers.....Franchise as of the end of 2022 is 40 games above .500 having been 21,334 contests....A great franchise in the 70’s.....Since the start of the Millennium however, team has struggled on the field to establish consistent a winning record and is consistently relegated to second division status.

#27 Bob Johnson

The pitcher not to be confused with the recently retired utility infielder.....Very impressive rookie debut in the KC Royals sophomore year despite a 8-13 win loss record....known as a power pitcher reaching the 200 K plateau good for 3^rd in AL.... Another talented member of the Mets organization who were once again an  overwhelming loser in a trade.....Joined Amos Otis in what may still be the franchise’s best trade, a swap for one season bust Joe Foy....strange being a throw in given he led the Texas League in ERA, complete games, and shutouts.....despite 1970 numbers was shipped to the Pirates for 1971....did retain the starter role but he seemed to struggle when he opted for finesse on the mound rather than power.....while reaching a career best of nine wins, strikeouts were cut in half, complete games trimmed down.....a redeeming highlight was an impressive NLCS win besting Juan Marichal....In 1972-73 Johnson’s role becomes increasingly vague and progresses to default middle relieving....Found himself in Cleveland in 1974 only served to continue his obscurity....soon was tucked away in various minor league organization with poor results....A short time with the Atlanta Braves proved his career unsalvageable.....nevertheless a colorful journey in the big leagues full of life lessons and obstacles some not overcome.....Problems with alcohol as a player gave him a sigma and may have played role in failing to find a stable home.....he has long since been sober.

#60 Manny Sanguillen

If not for a backstop named Bench, would have the apex of the catching position of the 70's.....played a different game than Bench....hitting for average which he did excelled not for power.....free swinger, never took a pitch be didn’t like...somewhere there may be rare footage of Manny getting a walk.....brought in other assets, strong defensively, a robust arm, great work ethic, positive energy, and speed, unusual for the position......A Panamanian, early liability was his language barrier with the English, but in time adapted and overcame....earned praise as a non-verbal communicator....infectious smile.....a brief tryout in 1967 showed promise but showed a need for seasoning....returning in 1969 wrestled starting spot from Jerry May finishing with a .303 BA....Onward and upwards, Manny improves each of the next two consecutive years with +.300 average....arguably the best NL catcher in 1971, edging Bench who had an off year....Crowning achievement was game management as the Bucs upset the favored Orioles in the Fall Classic.....Manny cools off a bit in next few years but remains near the top of his peers with a BA always above .280....returns to +.300 mark with a .328 accomplishment in 1975 reaching highs in OBP and SLG.....was traded to Oakland for 1977 in a typical swap involving the rights to manager Chuck Tanner.....steady body of work in light of a team gutted by free agency....returned to Steel City in a reserve role for next three years....one last blaze of glory circa 1979.....a walk off hit in game 2 bringing home his replacement Ed Ott as the Pirates repeat another WS victory over the Orioles....Traded to Cleveland for 1980 but was released in spring training.....A Pirate icon hitting .299 over 12 years in the gold and black....personal opinion Manny is the GOAT of Pirate backstops.....still active with the franchise reminding the faithful of better days.   

#72 Bruce Kison

Youngest pitcher in 1971 October classic...and possibly its most clutch performer....took over for a hapless Luke Walker in game 4....unfazed did not allow a run in 6 innings allowing the Bucs to come back....Stayed in Steel town through the 1979 season, collecting another championship ring.... not effective in this fall classic with ERA of 108.00 but was very helpful in the effort to take the NL East chipping in 13 wins for the “We are family” crew..... swan song for the Bucs, leaves for free agency....departed with an excellent ERA of 3.49 over nine summers....Lands with the Halos for 4 seasons....Curtailed by injuries first two years, was able to reach 10 wins in the next two....did stellar work in the 1982 AL playoff in a losing effort.... last year in Anaheim was 1984.....next and final year was spent in Boston....both were truncated affairs of insignificant work.... tall and slender, effective if healthy but output was diminished by being continually hurt......body of work shows 115 wins versus 88 defeats... personal best was 14 victories....  seasons usually were north of a .500 win % over the course of a 15 year career.....once fought Mike Schmidt on the field...bit of a mismatch....give him points for bravery.....went into coaching after leaving the mound....hobbies in the off season included stamp collecting....passed away of cancer in 2018.

#125 Dave Cash

Part of the Pirate youth movement....Location Second Base replacement to the venerable Bill Mazerowski, vanguard of the 60’s ...Starting in 1966, Cash breezed through Pitt’s farm system with solid numbers.....Late season call up in 1969....Midseason call up 1970....Took over 2^nd base in 1971 although playing time was slightly restrained by military service...in 1972-73 had a steady role but sometimes took a back seat to the also talented Reggie Sennett....Seemingly accepted a trade to the lowly Phillies....entered a new phase of careers not achieved in Pittsburgh...became a prolific leadoff man leading the NL in at bats in each of this three years there.....Led NL hits one time....Better yet Cash becomes a catalyst for better things....in addition offered excellence in fielding, speed, and on/off field headship....Coined the phase “yes we can” among the Phillie collective...catapulted them from cellar dweller to a full-fledged contender resulting in a playoff berth 1976....top of his game, took the free agency route to land in Montreal...partially because he felt underappreciated, partially to enhance his coffers in the new found source of income....Reprised his role as an agent of change for the better...continued his everyday durability for two more years, turned valued reserve in his third hitting .321....returned last go round was with Padres who were gambling with a veteran laden squad....a return to regular work at second base but his .227 BA and poor spring training in 1981 spelled the end of his stock and trade in the MLB....dabbled in managing intermittently along with various roving coaching but since gone into full retirement.    

#152 Gene Clines

Platoon player deluxe....especially early on in his first three of 10 MLB season....exited out of 1972 season posting a .327 BA in 600+ at bats....thereafter a mixed bag....some slightly above par seasons but only a shadow of what once was.....from 1972 on career BA dropped 40 points to .277 terminus circa 1979....line drive hitter leaving home runs few and far between....five in over 2500 at bats...oddly enough hit a home run and triple in 15 at bats during 1971 playoffs....no singles or doubles....after an unsuccessful stint with the Mets 1975 (.228) traded to Texas where he posted career highs for games, at bats and comebackish .276 BA....next year in Cubbieland  set personal bests in RBIs and belted three homers in nearly one half of the playing time in Texas....plus raising his hitting by 16 points....played one more full season in Chicago and handful of games in 1980.

#179-180 Dock Ellis-Dock Ellis In Action

OK lets’ get the elephant in room out of the way...Now known for his 1984 claim of pitching a no hitter in 1970 while on LSD to a ragtag assortment of MLB wanta-bes called the Padres first comes to mind in a word association game....somewhat more amusing antidote and the subject of animated short it covers up his career long struggle with drugs and alcohol addiction.....his personal issues surfaced later on, but the duration of his career he was labeled controversial and outspoken on racial relations....given the no hitter in an altered state, he was so close to superstardom, small injuries and the personal issues also pulling him back...when ON carried a team, top winner with Pirates staff 1971 with 19....lowered his ERA but fewer victories in 1972....gradual dimming of his on the field limelight from then on with accumulating confrontations....parted ways with Pittsburgh in 1975 off season a  thrown in a swap with the Yankees...New surroundings agreed with Dock taking in 17 wins and Comeback Player of the Year....his 1976 post season work mirrored his 1971 record pitching a Championship Series win but a poor WS outing....1977 a wild run...ran afoul quickly with NYY management despite 3 quality starts....exiled off to baseball’s version of a post-nuclear wasteland in the 1977 Oakland A’s...horrid results....season was saved by acquisition to the Texas Rangers...pitched decently winning 10 with a sub-3.00 ERA....won 9 in 1978 but 4.20 indicated his skills had eroded....an unimpressive 4-12 record with three teams in 1979 spelled the end of Dock’s saga....in effort to redeem his person, became a drug counselor within and outside the game....eventually his body weakened by years of hard living, succumbed to liver failure in 2008....the animated short on Dock’s no hitter can be seen on Youtube...if one wants to see a complete profile that far exceeds this bio of a complex man check out No-no, A Dockumentary.  
  

#190 Dave Giusti

Best of NL firemen 1971….star making turn in the bullpen spawned by fill in role in 1970... started as a run of the mill yet earnest starter for Colt .45s...Played in the team’s first year….made significant time with the big club circa 1965...over several seasons displayed good ERA with a sub .500 W-L due to the growing pains of his support cast.... had a career high 15 wins in 1966....several times was courted by the Cardinals, first as a College player prior to his Colt .45 debut, was traded to Cardinals in 1968, in turn gave him up in expansion draft to Padres,  who flipped him back to the Cards....circumvent us route was all for naught for Giusti’s neither established himself as a Redbird starter or substantial reliever going 3-7....passed along  to Pirates in a minor deal...Unexpected dividend early in 1970 when he took over the bullpen In April....proceeded to collect 26 saves and propelled the Bucs to the playoffs...contributions not unnoticed finish 4^th and 6^th in Cy Young and MVP voting...1971 continued excellence NL best 30 saves and no runs surrendered in 10 innings of post season work as Pitt rolled to the WS championship.... several years of superior work followed....last year for Pirates was 1976....lost effectiveness and the process of handing over the reins to a young Kent Tekulve began...traded to Oakland in a 9 player trade as the A’s needed bodies after 1977 massive free agent exodus... had a sub 3.00 ERA in 1977 was a strong effort despite being on a gutted squad...sold to Cubs nearing the end of the season but could not regain form and was released at the end of the season....impressive run though.

#219 Rennie Stennett

One of the very impressive rookies to participate in the Pirates championship year…the latest newcomer with a terrific .353 BA in rookie year….Started and tore up AAA then called up to replace an injured Jose Pagan…..despite outstanding numbers excluded from post season…Seeing potential became well entrenched in Pirates line up to the moment of their next WS victory in 1979, staying while others were traded…end result was mostly positive, a bit wavering, sometimes outstanding and one time historical….outstanding like his .336 BA in 1977….historic being his 7-7 day against the woeful Cubs in 1975 who were defeated 22-0….lesser moments were hitting a subpar .242 in 1973 and producing same in his last two years in Pittsburgh 1978-79…after being a member of the “We are Family” Pirates, tried his luck with the Giants with no change in BA; a .242 average.   One of the very impressive rookies to participate in the Pirates championship year…the latest newcomer with a terrific .353 BA in rookie year….Started and tore up AAA then called up to replace an injured Jose Pagan…..despite outstanding numbers excluded from post season…Seeing potential became well entrenched in Pirates line up to the moment of their next WS victory in 1979, staying while others were traded…end result was mostly positive, a bit wavering, sometimes outstanding and one time historical….outstanding like his .336 BA in 1977….historic being his 7-7 day against the woeful Cubs in 1975 who were defeated 22-0….lesser moments were hitting a subpar .242 in 1973 and producing same in his last two years in Pittsburgh 1978-79…after being a member of the “We are Family” Pirates, tried his luck with the Giants with no change in BA; a .242 average....left majors after 1981 and played in Mexico and tried a comeback in AAA Wichita 1983.  

#222-221 A.L./N.L. Playoffs

Personal recollection of the Championship Series: None....I knew Oakland had ran away with the AL West but their destiny was a 3-0 sweep to the Orioles was the same result as the two prior years since the inception of the Championship Series....Orioles scored 5 runs in each and manhandled to upstart A’s....Most of the O’s staff rested, with Mike Cuellar and Jim Palmer carried most the work load with complete games....National League Playoff pitted SF Giants against the Pirates...The Giants were the only team that was coming off the only real pennant race of the season...San Francisco drew first blood with a Gaylord Perry complete game victory...notable in that it was the first time a team wasn’t swept in  the league championship playoff...Game 2 Pirates comeback with a vengeance shelling Giant starter John Cumberland...Pirates score 9 runs five of which came off of Bob Robertson’s 3 home runs.....pitching ruled in game 3 as Bob Johnson out dueled Juan Marichal 2-1....in the deciding 4^th game neither Gaylord Perry or Steve Blass pitched well but the Pirates out slugged the Giants 9-5 to take the series....a swan song for the Giants whose franchise would be staggered by age, bad trades, and injuries in many coming years. 

#230-223 1971 World Series

Since 1959 Topps set aside cards depicting the World Series....1971 a close series, Pirates bent on upsetting and dethroning the 1970 champions, Orioles....Historic in that it  shone the spotlight on the legend of Roberto Clement 15 months before his untimely death.....Baltimore coming into the series  boasted 4 20 game winner...a feat likely never achieved again....Pittsburgh coming off a relatively sedate pennant race breaking persona of good but a also ran that dogged them for decade since their 1960 WS crown.....The start was a standard script of expectation...Game 1 the birds use their veteran savvy to overcome a 3 run defecit with five runs....second game an Oriole beat down at 11-3....A reprise of the 1970 WS is in the works....Historic with  the rescue work by Steve Blass who threw a 3 hitter and takes game 3 by a score of  5-1....Game 4 the first WS night game ever....Horrible start for Bucs and the victim is lefty Luke Walker who yanked after only two outs....enter rookie Bruce Kison who only allow one hit in 6 1/3 innings...Pittsburgh has now evened the series....Game 5 is a two hitter thrown by secret weapon Nelson Briles redeeming his season and his last WS performance....So far all home teams win....Series returns to Baltimore....Orioles pull out all stops, Palmer starts, Dobson middle relief, and McNally closes in a 3-2 extra inning win....Blass takes the hill in Game 7 against Mike Cuellar....Cuellar pitches well but surrenders a home to Clemente in the fourth and a run scoring double to Jose Pagan...Orioles come back with one run but it not enough....Pittsburgh take game and match...MVP Roberto Clemente who had a hit in every game (a feat he also did in the 1961 WS)....Not a miracle but unexpected result....personal recollection indifferent to 1971 baseball season in general (the Twins took a nosedive and no other team I had strong attachment with)....watched the last game of the series and went outside afterward and threw a baseball at my pitch back.  

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#247 Milt May

 A valued reserve catcher on the WS champs….good bat with some pop….career .267 hitter over 15 years…Son of MLB player Pinky May….Stayed up the big club 1971, Milt replaces Jerry May (no relation) as 2nd backstop....one of six men with the last name "May" to see action that year....in 1973, Pirates seeing trade value shipped Milt to Houston….Increased playing time by 2 fold from 1971....Travels then took him to Detroit, Chicago (AL) and San Francisco...had consistent results....Returned to Pirates for a few games, 1983-84.....best output of the bunch was 1981 hitting .310 in a strike shorten year....highlights in his career a game winning hit in game 4 of 1971 WS….low light might have been in the minors when after a particularly hot streak at the plate his father (then an opposing manager) ordered his pitcher to throw at him...interesting family….youthful looking chap in his playing days

#286 Gene Alley

A big deal at first, relegated to semi-obscurity later on….Pirates his only team…excellent glove man and proficient at small ball….after one season of getting his feet wet in 1964 career started to take off…hit .252 in 1965…reaches personal highs in 1966-67 hitting .299 and .287 winning gold gloves and is possibly the best shortstop for the time…because the best NL shortstop Maury Wills was playing about 30 feet to his right….starting 1968 settled into .240ish batting numbers and losing playing time to Fred Patek….played into 1973….major fails in post season…a fact not lost on skipper Danny Murtaugh who replaced him with sub Jackie Herandez in 1971 WS who hit worse than Gene’s pale .227 regular season mark…final post season tally of 1 for 27....Ouch.

#320 Steve Blass

Happily cruising along to an elite status among NL starters after 1972...image helped along by his WS heroics in stymieing the Oriole juggernaut in 1971 winning 2 complete games...1972 fell one game short of 20 wins....then poof it was gone, could not throw strikes....a mystery to this day with old school followers of baseball....AKA Steve Blass disease...Golfer like Johnny Miller has suffered similar issue.....a reminder that performers suffer psychological fates not just injuries....took a demotion to AAA with similar disastrous results...the tail end of Steve’s playing days follies should not cover up he was formidable member of the Pirates staff, sometimes the win leader in the late 60’s to early 70’s....his contributions somewhat covered up by Bob Veale’s strikeout totals and Dock Ellis’ controversy....after baseball reverted to broadcast booth to become the Pirates radioman...despite downfall positive about baseball career...earned his way up to Pirates permanently 1966, regular starter 1968. 

#392 Pirates Rookie Card

Two Pirates with divergent paths....Cambria is just a foot note having seen all the MLB action he would see by the time this card came out...marginal AAA player at time and declined further in 1972....finished with a 1-2 record in the bigs....Richie Zisk was to become a distinguished slugger in both leagues for over 10 campaigns ....stayed in minors 1972 soreal chance came in 1973 as he was pressed into service with the tragic loss of Roberto Clemente...acquitted himself well hitting .324....was able gather 100 RBI in second season.... 1977 traded to join Chicago’s Southside hitmen....output was 30 home runs, 101 RBIs....Joined Texas and took the free agent money...did OK but maybe not up to expectations....after three years in Lone Star State, took his bat to the Pacific Northwest....staged a slight comeback in 1981-2...hit .242 in 1983 and was released thereafter.

#414 Bob Miller

Did not have a nickname but it could have been suitcase, vagabond, or traveling man…or threesome (see below)….One of three Bob Millers who played in the late 1950’s early 1960’s….this Bob Miller was the most successful of the group…Played on 10 different teams over 17 years, seven of which occurred over three seasons…it all started with the hometown boy makes Cardinal pitching staff…given up to expansion, landing in the Polo Grounds ....first pick by the infant Mets….rude awakening went 1-12 and 4.89 ERA….maybe found solace via a teammate Bob Gerald Miller….In 1963 was traded to LAD…initially a starter then reliever with good results…275 games later in Dodger Blue spent 2 years in Minnesota 1968-69….started the 3^rd game of ALCS playoff which was odd because he was mostly a reliever and ace Jim Kaat was available….Maybe Billy M or Cal G had money on losing the series….1970 starts in Cleveland, then White Sox, then finishing with crosstown Cubs….1971 is another tri fecta…Cubs, Padres, and Pirates….hidden in the many uniform changes in 1971 was possibly his finest season with a 1.45 ERA….stays with Pirates 1972 and released at the end despite a decent season…again embarks on his third trifecta in 1973…. Padres, Tigers, Mets….one more season with just one team; the Mets in 1974….a long, strange career....passed away in 1993.