September 1, 1971

[GeoPoto]

The starting lineup for the Pirates was: batting leadoff and playing second base, Rennie Stennett; batting second and playing center field, Gene Clines; batting third and playing right field, Roberto Clemente; batting cleanup and playing left field, Willie Stargell; batting fifth and catching, Manny Sanguillen; batting sixth and playing third base, Dave Cash; batting seventh and playing first base, Al Oliver; batting eighth and playing shortstop, Jackie Hernandez; and batting ninth and pitching, Dock Ellis.

Aside from the pitcher, the one position and really the only position where a white player was generally more likely to start at this point in the season, was at first base. Bob Robertson generally played first for the Pirates in 1971, especially against left-handed pitching. Despite the fact that the Phillies were starting former-Bucco Woodie Fryman, a lefthander, lefty-swinging Al Oliver got the start at first base for the Bucs.

Batting second and playing center field: Eugene A. "Gene" Clines. Outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970-1974. 645 hits and 71 stolen bases in 10 MLB seasons. Clines debuted with Pittsburgh and was a member of the September 1971 starting lineup featuring 9 players of color, a first in MLB history. In 1976 he got a career-high 480 plate appearances, posting a .316 OBP, with 52 runs scored. His final stint was 1977-79 with the Chicago Cubs.

[71buc]

I’m more of a memorabilia guy so my contribution here will reflect that quirk. Here are game used bats from each player that day with the exception of Dock Ellis. The scored program is from that game. A ticket stub to this game has long been a white whale for me. I’m aware of only three examples in other collections. Understandably the owners asking prices are a kings ransom and I’m collecting on a peasant’s budget.

[rats60]

It is surprising that it took that long. The Pirates had a roster heavy with Latin and African American players.

P Dock Ellis 31 starts
Bob Veale & Mudcat Grant both long time SP who could have started games.

C Manny Sanguillen 129 starts

1B Al Oliver 21 starts
Willie Stargell at 148 starts at 1B from 63-69 and 99 in 72 could have started games

2B Dave Cash 92 starts
Rennie Stennett 33 starts

3B Jose Pagan 38 starts
Dave Cash 22 starts

SS Jackie Hernandez 65 starts

LF Willie Stargell 137 starts
Gene Clines 12 starts
Vic Davalillo 7 starts

CF Al Oliver 112 starts
Gene Clines 39 starts
Vic Davalillo 11 starts

RF Roberto Clemente 120 starts
Vic Davalillo 30 starts
Gene Clines 10 starts

White Players who had a significant number of starts
Bob Robertson 1B 126 starts
Gene Alley SS 97 starts
Richie Hebner 3B 93 starts
Bill Mazeroski 2B 37 starts
Milt May C 31 starts

[jingram058]

It's a great story, and another interesting thread.

[GeoPoto]

(Thanks to everybody for contributing comments and to Mike for sharing his fantastic collection of items related to the game.)

The occasion of the first all-Black lineup came without any warning. Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh posted the lineup, and may not have realized himself that he had started the game with all Black players. The players themselves did not realize until the game was underway. Al Oliver stated that he had not noticed the lineup until an inning or two into the game when Dave Cash came up to him and said, “Hey Scoop, we’ve got all brothers out there.”

Batting Third and playing right field: Roberto E. Clemente Walker. Outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955-1972. 3,000 hits and 240 home runs in 18 MLB seasons. 15-time All-Star. 2-time World Series champion. 1966 NL Most Valuable Player. 1971 World Series Most Valuable Player. 12-time Gold Glove Award. 4-time NL batting Champion. Pittsburgh Pirate #21 retired. 1973 MLB Hall of Fame. Died in a plane crash while still an active player.

[71buc]

That 71 Clemente is spectacular! I had my first grandchild two years ago. I give him a card for each birthday and Christmas. The first card I gave him was my 1971 Topps Roberto.

I wish I could say this was mine but unfortunately it is not. It’s on loan to my friends at the Clemente Museum in Pittsburgh. On September 1, 1971 a young fan went to his first MLB game. He was a huge Clemente fan. He waited with his father outside the player’s entrance to meet his hero and obtained his autograph on that historic day. Here is his ticket, that cherished autograph, and a snapshot of the Great One signing his autograph book on that amazing day.

[GeoPoto]

The first inning started out very poorly for Dock Ellis as he walked the first two Phillie batters, Ron Stone and Larry Bowa, to lead off the game. Ellis then righted the ship, getting Tim McCarver to fly out, and striking out Deron Johnson. Ellis was not able to get out of the inning unscathed however, as shortstop Jackie Hernandez was not able to handle a groundball hit by Willie Montanez. The play ended with Stone scoring, Montanez at first, and Bowa at third. Oscar Gamble then singled down the third-base line, allowing Bowa to score. Ellis finally got out of the inning after Terry Harmon, flied out to center. The Pirates roared back in the bottom of the first, with six of the first seven batters reaching base on singles or doubles. By the end of the inning, the Pirates had batted around, knocked out starter Fryman who was replaced by Bucky Brandon, and scored five runs.

Batting cleanup and playing left field: Wilver D. "Willie" Stargell. "Pops". Left fielder/first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1962-1982. 2,232 hits and 475 home runs in 21 MLB seasons. Although he won the NL MVP in 1979, his best season was 1973 as he posted 44 home runs and a .392 OBP in 609 plate appearances. 7-time All-Star. 2-time World Series champion. 1979 NL Most Valuable Player. 1979 World Series and NLCS MVP. 2-time NL home run leader. 1973 NL RBI leader. Pittsburgh Pirates #8 retired. Was inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1988.