New Clemente 3000 hit photo?

[ksfarmboy]

I was bored so I checked the three years that's possible for this photo to be from. 1970 was the first year the Pirates wore these jerseys and 1972 was Clemente's last. So I narrowed the search to this.

Next I narrowed it further since the Pirates are at home and playing against the Mets. Duffy Dyer is catching so I checked the box scores of games that included Dyer and Clemente playing in Pittsburgh. This left six possible games with two from each year. While checking the home plate umpires I discovered that a different ump was used for each of these games. John Kibler umped September 30th.

If you can verify that's Kibler then you would know 100%. Hope this helps.

[71buc]

Thanks Clint, I don't know that I can even definitely say that Dyer is the catcher in the photo. The catcher's posture in the photo does align very closely to the video of Dyer from the 3000 clip. The umpires foot position is consistent as well. In the photo a portion of his white sock is visible. This sock is also visible in the video. I really doubt I could ever definitively identify Kibler or Dyer using such a low resolution photo.

[ksfarmboy]

You can see a water stain on the 3b side near home plate. It's in your photo. You can see in the video that it looks like a water mark about 3 foot long or so.

[hcv123]

Congrats Mike!

[baseball tourist]

Great pick up!

[71buc]

I thought I would share an update. I have been in contact with the seller of the Clemente 3000 hit photo. He is the son of the amateur photographer who took this shot. After numerous emails tonight he sold me 88 slides his father shot between August 1971 and August 1973. The items include 10 slides from the first night game in World Series history, nine slides from Game Four of the 1971 World series, 10 slides of a sports banquet in which Clemente was honored as the 1971 Sportsman of the year, a ticket stub to the banquet, 8 slides of the Sept 29th game in which a potential hit was ruled an error, and 7 slides from Sept 30th when he collected 3000. There are also 15 slides taken at Clemente’s HOF induction. I have not viewed these so I’m rolling the dice based on the 3000 print I purchased from the seller. Nonetheless, I am thrilled and cannot wait to receive the slides. The seller attended the sports banquet mentioned above with his father and has the program autographed by Stargell and Clemente. He is considering selling that to me as well. I will post shots printed from the slides once they are done.

[JollyElm]

You're not a nice guy, Mike, leaving us drooling like this. Shame on you!

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by 71buc

I thought I would share an update. I have been in contact with the seller of the Clemente 3000 hit photo. He is the son of the amateur photographer who took this shot. After numerous emails tonight he sold me 88 slides his father shot between August 1971 and August 1973. The items include 10 slides from the first night game in World Series history, nine slides from Game Four of the 1971 World series, 10 slides of a sports banquet in which Clemente was honored as the 1971 Sportsman of the year, a ticket stub to the banquet, 8 slides of the Sept 29th game in which a potential hit was ruled an error, and 7 slides from Sept 30th when he collected 3000. There are also 15 slides taken at Clemente’s HOF induction. I have not viewed these so I’m rolling the dice based on the 3000 print I purchased from the seller. Nonetheless, I am thrilled and cannot wait to receive the slides. The seller attended the sports banquet mentioned above with his father and has the program autographed by Stargell and Clemente. He is considering selling that to me as well. I will post shots printed from the slides once they are done.

Wow!!
Looks like you hit the mother lode. What fun!

[Scott Garner]

Hi Mike,
Happy holidays! Congrats on this cool Clemente pickup.
I'm certainly convinced by your evidence that it is the real deal. The photo matching of so many elements of the event really lock it down for me.

From what I recall, and after doing a photo search, I do not see evidence that Stargell used a batting glove when hitting. You obviously have a wealth of knowledge about your Buccos. Did he ever wear a batting glove when hitting during 1972? He certainly had a habit of wearing a batting glove on his mitt hand when playing 1B. See photos of him hitting and playing 1B.
If he was seen in the on deck circle wearing his batting glove in other photos of the moment, why would he take it off again prior to hitting?
I suspect because he wore it on his glove hand when playing defensively at 1B and took it off prior to the AB in the on deck batters circle. Maybe it was his usual routine, or he was so focused on Clemente's milestone AB that he forgot that he was still wearing it. I guess we will never know...

In any case, congrats once again.
Definitely an epic pickup for your Clemente/ Bucs collection.