I got to see Al Oliver and Manny Sanguillén play in an Old Timer's game in Cincinnati on the Sunday before the '88 All Star game. Al hit a homerun to right field and when he came back out to play defense all of us in the right field seats gave him a standing ovation. He smiled and tipped his cap to us.
It's a shame that the pure hearts of children can be changed by what they see and hear as they grow up. I was 10 years old in 1971 and a huge sports (especially baseball) fan. I saw no color. Most of my very favorite players were black or hispanic. Many from this team. Thank you for posting this video. I love to see the old greats again; Clemente, Stargell, Oliver, Sanguillen. What fond memories.
Well said. I grew up loving the Pirates and Roberto was my hero. I remember my older brother was a Dodgers fan, and I could pick up the Dodgers games up in the Bay Area on KFI, although you would get that familiar in and out fading sound during the whole game. I was such a passionate Bucs fan, that if his hated Dodgers happened to win, I would start a fight with him just because.
I had to look up the year of the "We are Family!" Pirates. It was the year I graduated High School, 1979. Fun team. A few years earlier, Clemente was one of my all time favorites. Dude had a rocket for an arm, and was great in every facet of the game.
Couldn’t have said it any better. Roberto was my idol growing up and he still is today….. bar none…. I was 13 years old living in Pittsburgh. I am sure that racism existed in 1971, but I see more today where I live, then growing up in Pittsburgh in the 60’s and 70’s
I'm a 77 year old white guy who despises racism with a passion. On that same day, I made my last visit EVER to Wrigley Field and watched future HOF'er Fergie Jenkins hit two home runs and beat the Montreal Expos 5-2. That '71 Pirates team was a helluva lot of fun to watch! Thanks for sharing this awesome video! Another great memory I have is from 1965 at Wrigley. Willie Stargell was NL home run king that year, and I swear I saw one of those homers, a line drive, still rising when it went over the right field wall. He deserved several Stargell Stars for that one! 🙂
How clever, that comment from the bat boy: "The Homestead Grays are playing tonight !!!" Can't believe that he was the first to notice, to anticipate history on the making, obviously a well educated person who knew the cultural importance of the Grays, I'm sure he could also have cited the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Compliments to Mr Murtaugh, who said he wrote a line up comprised of the best 9 players available that day, no other consideration taken on account. This was a 1-derful day for Baseball. The photo of Roberto at the end made me weep. Thank for the video. Blessings from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷.
I had the privilege to meet Jackie Hernandez when he was a third base coach in the 2000’s. Great guy! If the other players from the 1971 Pirates team were like him, and I believe from the other comments here they were, this was one of the best teams ever. Based on hustle, attitude and great character.
As a fan of one of their fiercest rivals, it was tough to dislike them. Hating the Dodgers was as natural as breathing, but Pirates were a great team, from top to bottom and Clemente was the best I ever saw.
Dave Cash normally played 2B, not 3rd. Al Oliver was normally in CF. As a lifetime fan and a kid growing up in the Pittsburgh area, I never thought about race. None of my friends did either. Clemente was a god to us. I can name more players on the ‘71 team than I can on today’s team.
I'll never forget that summer. We listened to Bob Gibson throw a no-hitter on the radio at Three Rivers against the, eventual, World champs. The last 2 batters he struck out were Clemente and Stargell.
This is a great story. I am friends with the 1st baseman from that 71 team Bob Robertson. Bob has told me many stories about his teammates. Bob told me that Dock Ellis was one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Bob said they were a great team that loved each other.
Long time Orioles fan….I’ve never seen a better display of baseball than Roberto Clemente put on for those 7 games…..heartbreaking but you couldn’t help but respect the performance.
In 1971 I turned 15, and it seemed as though the Bucs were on the NBC Game of the Week almost every week. In my memory these guys are always frozen in time, in their mid 20's to their early 30's. To see these fairly old men, now in their 70's comment on something so long ago, makes me feel like I'm watching my young adulthood fade off into the mists. And with the nostalgic back round music, it all seems very sad and wistful. -mikenotpaula.
BBR2 is spot-on. Brought back a lot of great memories for me. I was kind of a late bloomer as a sports fan, but that was the year I became a baseball fan, and I've been a die-hard Pirate fan ever since. Remember the Gunner: "We had 'em alll the way!"
The brothers brought it home for the Bucs. They, and Danny Murtaugh, were correct. Nobody cared who was on the field. They cared about winning. Loved that team. Especially Willie and , of course, Roberto.
I wish that I can turn back the clock of the 1970's. I grew up a Pirates fan and I remember watching Reberto Clemente back in 1972, I was 11 years old at the time before I found out he die in a plane crash but it just something about him and the way he played, including those great Pirates players like Oliver, Sanguillen, Stargell, those were true hero's.
Even though I bleed Dodger Blue, I was 10 years old and remember many of those Pirates and rooted for them in '71 & '72 especially when they beat SF Giants the 1971 NL Playoffs! I then rooted for them against the Orioles. I remember Roberto Clemente's 3,000th hit on the last day of the 1972 season and cried when I heard of his death on New Year's Day 1973 during Rose Bowl Broadcast...
I'm a lifelong Mariners fan, but I will *always* respect the Pirates for this day. Honestly, this may have been the second most important moment in the history of the sport, after only Jackie Robinson's first game.
Super Video. Baseball to me has always been a Little White Ball with Red Stitches, Hours of Fun, Baseball Cards and The Great Teams of the 1970 Decade. Especially The Gold & Black of the Pirates****
Well, sort of. With Doc Ellis as starting pitcher, that is certainly what the starting lineup looked like. But as I look at the box score, I see that Ellis only lasted an inning and a third. He was actually hit pretty hard. So this spell was broken in the second inning when Bob Moose relieved him. Moose didn't last that long either, and Bob Veale was needed to get the last out of the third inning, which I guess you could say reignited the spell. But the record book also shows that the Pirate pitcher who pitched the most effectively that night and who got the W was Luke Walker who entered the game in the top of the fourth inning and pretty much shut down the Phillies from that point on. Luke Walker was not one of the "Homestead Grays". So this game may be an answer to a trivia question, and certainly I respect the Pirates team of 1971. I'm not a Pirate fan but it was a fun team to watch and they were great enough to accomplish the ultimate feat in Major League Baseball . I respect that team enough to say that I'm glad these players received gratification from playing this particular game. But I'm not sure that the game entirely represents what they believe it represents. I mean, Luke Walker was just one player, but pitching is supposed to be anywhere from 50 to 70 percent of the game, isn't it?
This isn't PC. This is black history. 1971 the bigotry was always right around the corner. You have no idea what people had to endure in the 60s and 70s. You have to realize these adults were born and raised in the 30s 40s 50s. They carried that life experience with them into the 70s. This history and its context matters.
@@writerconsidered Bull crap! It is pc and pathetic. So are you. No idea what people had to endure in the stinking 60s and 70s? You mean the destruction of society era?! More like you have no idea about how bad and sad this society is now. And I suppose thanks to you and your PC. Like I said, thankfully only a small viewership. This game and context don’t mean crap. How about talk about white history? Like that?
Roberto Clemente 🇵🇷. Willie Stargel. Dock Ellis. Rennie Stennett🇵🇦 Jackie Hernandez 🇨🇺 Gene Clines. ⚾🏴☠️71 RIP
I got to see Al Oliver and Manny Sanguillén play in an Old Timer's game in Cincinnati on the Sunday before the '88 All Star game. Al hit a homerun to right field and when he came back out to play defense all of us in the right field seats gave him a standing ovation. He smiled and tipped his cap to us.
Scoop Oliver should be in the Hall of Fame! ⚾️
They were so friggin good!
I loved my Buccos! STILL DO.
It's a shame that the pure hearts of children can be changed by what they see and hear as they grow up. I was 10 years old in 1971 and a huge sports (especially baseball) fan. I saw no color. Most of my very favorite players were black or hispanic. Many from this team. Thank you for posting this video. I love to see the old greats again; Clemente, Stargell, Oliver, Sanguillen. What fond memories.
Well said. I grew up loving the Pirates and Roberto was my hero. I remember my older brother was a Dodgers fan, and I could pick up the Dodgers games up in the Bay Area on KFI, although you would get that familiar in and out fading sound during the whole game. I was such a passionate Bucs fan, that if his hated Dodgers happened to win, I would start a fight with him just because.
I had to look up the year of the "We are Family!" Pirates. It was the year I graduated High School, 1979. Fun team. A few years earlier, Clemente was one of my all time favorites. Dude had a rocket for an arm, and was great in every facet of the game.
Couldn’t have said it any better. Roberto was my idol growing up and he still is today….. bar none…. I was 13 years old living in Pittsburgh. I am sure that racism existed in 1971, but I see more today where I live, then growing up in Pittsburgh in the 60’s and 70’s
You guys were my heroes! 😁
Thanks for the correction.
Rennie Stennett went 7 for 7 in a game versus the Cubs at Wrigley Field in September, 1975. The Pirates won the game 22-0.
Im from St. Louis but I loved and still do love the Pirates and this is why. The pride they had was heart warming. Play your best players.
I'm a 77 year old white guy who despises racism with a passion. On that same day, I made my last visit EVER to Wrigley Field and watched future HOF'er Fergie Jenkins hit two home runs and beat the Montreal Expos 5-2. That '71 Pirates team was a helluva lot of fun to watch! Thanks for sharing this awesome video! Another great memory I have is from 1965 at Wrigley. Willie Stargell was NL home run king that year, and I swear I saw one of those homers, a line drive, still rising when it went over the right field wall. He deserved several Stargell Stars for that one! 🙂
How clever, that comment from the bat boy: "The Homestead Grays are playing tonight !!!" Can't believe that he was the first to notice, to anticipate history on the making, obviously a well educated person who knew the cultural importance of the Grays, I'm sure he could also have cited the Pittsburgh Crawfords. Compliments to Mr Murtaugh, who said he wrote a line up comprised of the best 9 players available that day, no other consideration taken on account. This was a 1-derful day for Baseball. The photo of Roberto at the end made me weep. Thank for the video.
Blessings from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷.
I had the privilege to meet Jackie Hernandez when he was a third base coach in the 2000’s. Great guy! If the other players from the 1971 Pirates team were like him, and I believe from the other comments here they were, this was one of the best teams ever. Based on hustle, attitude and great character.
As a fan of one of their fiercest rivals, it was tough to dislike them.
Hating the Dodgers was as natural as breathing, but Pirates were a great team, from top to bottom and Clemente was the best I ever saw.
Dave Cash normally played 2B, not 3rd. Al Oliver was normally in CF. As a lifetime fan and a kid growing up in the Pittsburgh area, I never thought about race. None of my friends did either. Clemente was a god to us. I can name more players on the ‘71 team than I can on today’s team.
So you’re white then? Only white guys “don’t think about race” (even while they’re being racist as shit of course)! 😂
I'll never forget that summer. We listened to Bob Gibson throw a no-hitter on the radio at Three Rivers against the, eventual, World champs. The last 2 batters he struck out were Clemente and Stargell.
@@bluzzedude8111 3 Rivers didn’t open until 1970
@@SouthBaySteelers EXACTLY..Gibson no-hit the Pirates in 1971! I don't understand what you're talking about?
@@bluzzedude8111 I thought it was at Forbes Field
This is a great story. I am friends with the 1st baseman from that 71 team Bob Robertson. Bob has told me many stories about his
teammates. Bob told me that Dock Ellis was one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet. Bob said they were a great team that loved each other.
Long time Orioles fan….I’ve never seen a better display of baseball than Roberto Clemente put on for those 7 games…..heartbreaking but you couldn’t help but respect the performance.
In 1971 I turned 15, and it seemed as though the Bucs were on the NBC Game of the Week almost every week. In my memory these guys are always frozen in time, in their mid 20's to their early 30's. To see these fairly old men, now in their 70's comment on something so long ago, makes me feel like I'm watching my young adulthood fade off into the mists. And with the nostalgic back round music, it all seems very sad and wistful. -mikenotpaula.
BBR2 is spot-on. Brought back a lot of great memories for me. I was kind of a late bloomer as a sports fan, but that was the year I became a baseball fan, and I've been a die-hard Pirate fan ever since. Remember the Gunner: "We had 'em alll the way!"
The brothers brought it home for the Bucs. They, and Danny Murtaugh, were correct. Nobody cared who was on the field. They cared about winning. Loved that team. Especially Willie and , of course, Roberto.
I wish that I can turn back the clock of the 1970's. I grew up a Pirates fan and I remember watching Reberto Clemente back in 1972, I was 11 years old at the time before I found out he die in a plane crash but it just something about him and the way he played, including those great Pirates players like Oliver, Sanguillen, Stargell, those were true hero's.
My Heros
That was a really good ball club. Real good!
Even though I bleed Dodger Blue, I was 10 years old and remember many of those Pirates and rooted for them in '71 & '72 especially when they beat SF Giants the 1971 NL Playoffs! I then rooted for them against the Orioles. I remember Roberto Clemente's 3,000th hit on the last day of the 1972 season and cried when I heard of his death on New Year's Day 1973 during Rose Bowl Broadcast...
I'm a lifelong Mariners fan, but I will *always* respect the Pirates for this day. Honestly, this may have been the second most important moment in the history of the sport, after only Jackie Robinson's first game.
Super Video. Baseball to me has always been a Little White Ball with Red Stitches, Hours of Fun, Baseball Cards and The Great Teams of the 1970 Decade. Especially The Gold & Black of the Pirates****
thanks for sharing
My Bucs forever 71
Saddens me that only three are still with us.
Shout out to the Homestead Grays
Roberto RoBERTo!
Well, sort of. With Doc Ellis as starting pitcher, that is certainly what the starting lineup looked like.
But as I look at the box score, I see that Ellis only lasted an inning and a third. He was actually hit pretty hard.
So this spell was broken in the second inning when Bob Moose relieved him. Moose didn't last that long either, and Bob Veale was needed to get the last out of the third inning, which I guess you could say reignited the spell.
But the record book also shows that the Pirate pitcher who pitched the most effectively that night and who got the W was Luke Walker who entered the game in the top of the fourth inning and pretty much shut down the Phillies from that point on.
Luke Walker was not one of the "Homestead Grays". So this game may be an answer to a trivia question, and certainly I respect the Pirates team of 1971. I'm not a Pirate fan but it was a fun team to watch and they were great enough to accomplish the ultimate feat in Major League Baseball . I respect that team enough to say that I'm glad these players received gratification from playing this particular game.
But I'm not sure that the game entirely represents what they believe it represents. I mean, Luke Walker was just one player, but pitching is supposed to be anywhere from 50 to 70 percent of the game, isn't it?
Cubs fan and I loved and rooted for that team! So happy they won the World Series in ‘71 and ‘79. MLB is so racist. It’s so American.😂😂😂
Major league baseball has been destroyed by greed...but it's time is coming. A salary cap will be next. THAT is the ONLY thing that'll save the game.
No big deal.
Oh gosh, thankfully this only has a small viewership. All about PC with this video 🙄
Does talking about people other than your white ass bother you?
This isn't PC. This is black history. 1971 the bigotry was always right around the corner. You have no idea what people had to endure in the 60s and 70s. You have to realize these adults were born and raised in the 30s 40s 50s. They carried that life experience with them into the 70s. This history and its context matters.
@@writerconsidered Bull crap! It is pc and pathetic. So are you. No idea what people had to endure in the stinking 60s and 70s? You mean the destruction of society era?! More like you have no idea about how bad and sad this society is now. And I suppose thanks to you and your PC. Like I said, thankfully only a small viewership. This game and context don’t mean crap. How about talk about white history? Like that?
@paulgwyn7836 Yes that too.
And it’s all about stupidity with your comment. Seriously, there is something deeply flawed about you if that’s all you get from the video.