The 1971 World Series was the championship round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1971 season and featured the first night game in its history. The 68th edition of the Fall Classic was a best-of-seven playoff between the defending World Series and American League (AL) champion Baltimore Orioles and the National League (NL) champion Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates won the World Series in seven games,in large part because of superstar right fielder Roberto Clemente,whose all-around brilliance was on full display on a national stage. Game 4 in Pittsburgh was the first World Series game played at night.
Reinaldo Antonio Stennett Porte was a Panamanian professional baseball second baseman,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1971–79) and San Francisco Giants (1980–81). He batted and threw right-handed. A World Series champion with the Pirates in 1979,Stennett is one of two players to collect seven hits in a nine-inning game,which he did in a 22–0 victory over the Chicago Cubs,in 1975. Stennett was also a member of the first all-Black and Latino starting lineup in big league history.
Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was an American professional baseball catcher,pinch hitter,coach,and scout,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1949 to 1967. A nine-time All-Star,Burgess became known,later in his career,for his abilities as an elite pinch hitter,setting the MLB career record for career pinch-hits with 145. He stood 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall,weighing 188 pounds (85 kg). Burgess batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
Clyde Leroy Sukeforth,nicknamed "Sukey",was an American professional baseball catcher,coach,scout and manager. He was best known for signing the first black player in the modern era of Major League Baseball (MLB),Jackie Robinson,after Robinson was scouted by Tom Greenwade in the Negro leagues.
David Cash Jr.,is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman from 1969 to 1980,most prominently as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates where,he was a member of the 1971 World Series winning team and,with the Philadelphia Phillies where he became a three-time All-Star player. He also played for the Montreal Expos and the San Diego Padres. After his playing career,Cash spent several years as a minor league hitting coach for several major league organizations.
William Charles Virdon was an American professional baseball outfielder,manager,and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). Virdon played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 through 1965 and in 1968. He served as a coach for the Pirates and Houston Astros,and managed the Pirates,Astros,New York Yankees,and Montreal Expos.
William Henry Robinson,Jr. was an American professional baseball outfielder,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1966 to 1983,for several teams. He also played some first and third base. Robinson batted and threw right-handed.
Herold Dominic "Muddy" Ruel was an American professional baseball player,coach,manager and general manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1934. One of the top defensive catchers of his era,Ruel was notable for being the personal catcher for Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher,Walter Johnson and for scoring the winning run for the Washington Senators in Game 7 of the 1924 World Series. He also played for the St. Louis Browns,New York Yankees,Boston Red Sox,Detroit Tigers,and the Chicago White Sox during a career that lasted 19 seasons. After his playing career,Ruel served as a coach and a baseball executive.
Jerry Reuss —pronounced "royce"—is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball,best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Manuel De Jesus Sanguillén Magan,better known as Manny Sanguillén or "Sangy",is a Panamanian former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher in 1967 and from 1969 through 1980,most notably as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams that won five National League Eastern Division titles in six years between 1970 and 1975 and won the World Series in 1971 and 1979,twice over the Baltimore Orioles. He also played one season for the Oakland Athletics.
Harding William "Pete" Peterson was an American professional baseball player and general manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1955 to 1959. During his playing days,he was more commonly known as Hardy Peterson.
Donald Robert "Duffy" Dyer is an American former professional baseball player who is the manager of the Kenosha Kingfish of the Northwoods League collegiate summer baseball league. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the New York Mets (1968–1974),Pittsburgh Pirates (1975–1978),Montreal Expos (1979),and Detroit Tigers (1980–1981).
Jack E. Hiatt is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1964 to 1972,most prominently as a member of the San Francisco Giants. After his playing career,he managed in the minor leagues before serving as the Giants' director of player development.
Nathan Edward Ott,nicknamed "Otter",is an American former professional baseball player,coach and manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1974 to 1981,most notably as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates with whom he won a World Series championship in 1979. He also played for the California Angels. Ott was a left-handed batter and threw right-handed.
The 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 90th season for the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise;their 85th in the National League. It involved the Pirates finishing first in the National League East with a record of 97 wins and 65 losses. They defeated the San Francisco Giants three games to one in the National League Championship Series and beat the Baltimore Orioles four games to three in the World Series. The Pirates were managed by Danny Murtaugh,and played their first full season at Three Rivers Stadium,which had opened in July the year before.
The 1974 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 93rd season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise;the 88th in the National League. The Pirates finished first in the National League East with a record of 88–74. The Pirates were defeated three games to one by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1974 National League Championship Series.
The 1972 Major League Baseball season was the first to have games cancelled by a player strike. It was also the last season in which American League pitchers would hit for themselves on a regular basis;the designated hitter rule would go into effect the following season.
Jerry Lee May was an American professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1964 through 1973 for the Pittsburgh Pirates,Kansas City Royals,and New York Mets. May was notable for his defensive skills and ability to handle a pitching staff.
Ricky Joe Sweet is an American former professional baseball catcher and current manager of the Milwaukee Brewers' Triple-A affiliate,the Nashville Sounds. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1978 and 1983 for the San Diego Padres,New York Mets,and Seattle Mariners. Sweet became a major league coach in 1984 and spent two years as a scout before beginning his minor league managerial career in 1987.
Joseph Paul Lonnett was an American professional baseball catcher,and coach,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies. During his playing days,Lonnett stood 5 feet 10+1⁄2 inches (1.791 m) tall,weighing 185 pounds (84 kg). He threw and batted right-handed.
