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The 1970 World Series champion Baltimore Orioles were heavily favored to repeat in 1971. After a third straight season with 100-plus wins and a sweep of the Twins in the American League Championship Series, the Birds entered the Series with momentum on their side. Their pitching staff featured four 20-game winners. The Pirates hadn't returned to the Fall Classic since Bill Mazerowski's series-clinching, walk-off homer in 1960. In that time, Roberto Clemente grew into a bonafide superstar. Looking for his second ring, Clemente was the key piece for manager Danny Murtaugh on a team that included Willie Stargell, Al Oliver, Dock Ellis and Mazerowski.
The Bucs' Dock Ellis (19-9, 3.06 ERA) faced off against Dave McNally (21-5, 2.89 ERA) in the Series opener at Memorial Stadium. The Orioles give up three quick runs on shaky pitching and defense, but Baltimore rebounded in a hurry, regaining the lead on homers by Frank Robinson and Merv Rettenmund. Don Buford's fifth-inning solo shot sealed the deal for the O's. After early shakiness, McNally buckled down, allowing only three Pirates hits while striking out nine. Baltimore won, 5-3, taking a 1-0 Series lead.
Delayed one day by a rainout, the Series resumed on Oct. 11, with Pittsburgh's Bob Johnson (9-10, 3.45 ERA) going up against Baltimore's Jim Palmer (20-9, 2.68 ERA). Brooks Robinson, the 1970 World Series MVP, ignited the O's offense, collecting three hits, walking twice and scoring two runs. The Bucs' Richie Hebner hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, but it was too little, too late. The Orioles won, 11-3, on 14 hits, to take a 2-0 Series lead.
The Series moved to Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates sent Steve Blass (15-8, 2.85 ERA) to the mound, hoping to stop the momentum of the Birds' offense. Mike Cuellar (20-9, 3.08 ERA) looked to give the O's an almost insurmountable 3-0 lead. But Blass pitched a masterful three-hit complete game, striking out eight. The Orioles' only run came on a Frank Robinson solo homer. Pittsburgh's offense tagged Cuellar for five runs, highlighted by a three-run homer by Bob Roberston and three walks to offensive threat Willie Stargell. The Pirates got back into the Series with the 5-1 win, cutting Baltimore’s lead to 2-1.
This was the first night contest in World Series history. Luke Walker (10-8, 3.55 ERA) went for the Pirates, opposed by Baltimore's Pat Dobson (20-8, 2.90 ERA). Walker didn't make it out of the first, giving up three early runs to the Birds. He was replaced by 21-year-old Bruce Kison (6-5, 3.40 ERA), a Major Leaguer for only three months. Kison earned his place that night, throwing 6 1/3 scoreless innings. The Bucs scratched out three runs, taking a tie game into the seventh, where pinch-hitter Milt May finally put the Pirates ahead. They would stay there and win the game, 4-3, evening the Series at 2-2.
Pittsburgh sent an unlikely starter to the mound in Game 5, as Nelson Briles (8-4, 3.04 ERA) hadn't seen much action during the season. Baltimore went with the more precdictable choice in McNally, who pitched a brilliant Game 1. Bob Robertson started the Bucs' scoring with a solo shot in the second. It was all the Pirates would need. Briles threw a brilliant two-hit shutout. Pittsburgh won, 4-0, coming from two games down to take a 3-2 lead.
Returning home to Baltimore, the Birds sent Palmer to the mound, hoping he would stop their slide. Pittsburgh's starter was Bob Moose (11-7, 4.11 ERA). The Pirates scored two runs, one on a Clemente homer, before Palmer settled down. The Orioles' offense came back to tie it on a Don Buford solo homer and Dave Johnson's RBI single. The 2-2 deadlock continued into extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th, Frank Robinson singled, went from first to third on a Merv Rettenmund’s single and scored on Brooks Robinson's sac fly to give the Birds a 3-2 win. The Series was even at 3-3.
With four 20-game winners and a powerful lineup featuring Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson and Boog Powell, the Orioles were expected to dominate. But with the help of a Roberto Clemente home run in the fourth, and a Willie Stargell run in the eighth, Pirates starter Steve Blass went the distance to make Pittsburgh the surprising World Series champion.
Copyright 1971 by the Office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball
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Audio |
Jim Simpson, play-by-play
Bob Prince, play-by-play
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| Game 1 - October 9, 1971 |
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Pirates |
3 |
3 |
0 |
| Orioles |
5 |
10 |
3 |
| Game 2 - October 11, 1971 |
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Pirates |
3 |
8 |
1 |
| Orioles |
11 |
14 |
1 |
| Game 3 - October 12, 1971 |
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Orioles |
1 |
3 |
3 |
| Pirates |
5 |
7 |
0 |
| Game 4 - October 13, 1971 |
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Orioles |
3 |
4 |
1 |
| Pirates |
4 |
14 |
0 |
| Game 5 - October 14, 1971 |
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Orioles |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| Pirates |
4 |
9 |
0 |
| Game 6 - October 16, 1971 |
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Pirates |
2 |
9 |
1 |
| Orioles |
3 |
8 |
0 |
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