Author: david bancroft

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS BATTING LEADERS: Average-Clemente-.337; Hits-Clemente-173;Runs Scored-Stargell-111; Runs Batted in-Stargell-124; Doubles-Clemente-35; Triples-Clemente-13; Home Runs-Stargell-46; Strikeouts-Stargell-152; Base on Balls-Stargell-70; PITCHING LEADERS: Wins- Blass, Ellis-tied with 14; Losses-Moose-12; ERA-Miller-2.26; Strikeouts-Blass-106; Complete Games-Blass-6; Shutouts-Blass-4. Most errors: Alley-22 Willie Stargell sets a new Stratball house record for strikeouts in a season, with 152.

GM# 162 SEPTEMBER 30, 1971 VS PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES PIRATES END DISAPPOINTING SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE Well, the ’71 replay is over. The Pittsburgh Pirates were the flagship of the league throughout most of the season, but a late season collapse handed the division crown to the St. Louis Cardinals. On September 20th, Pittsburgh had…

GM# 161 SEPTEMBER 28, 1971 AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES BUCS END SKID, BUT TOO LITTLE TOO LATE, AS CARDS CLINCH DIVISION St. Louis’ Steve Carlton earned his 20th win on the year, as the Cardinals defeated the New York Mets, 5-2, to clinch the National League Eastern Division title. Pittsburgh finally ended a six game losing…

SEPTEMBER 27, 1971 CARDINALS REDUCE MAGIC # TO 1, AS THEY BEAT METS, 6-1 The St. Louis Cardinals, winners of eight straight games, are on the verge of clinching the N.L. East division crown. After looking up at Pittsburgh for most of the season, the redbirds went on a tear down the stretch, while the…

GM# 160 SEPTEMBER 26, 1971 AT NEW YORK METS BUCS ON LIFE SUPPORT AFTER SEAVER TOSSES FIVE HIT SHUTOUT Pittsburgh’s chances of catching the Cardinals are all but over, after the Pirates have been swept for the second straight series. St. Louis was busy sweeping the Expos, winning, 7-1. The Mets won the third and…

GM# 159 SEPTEMBER 25, 1971 AT NEW YORK METS PIRATES IN FREE FALL AFTER METS WIN, 7-3. CARDS NOW IN 1ST PLACE St. Louis roared into first place after Pittsburgh had been there most of the year. They now lead the Bucs by a half game. Pittsburgh has three games left, while the Cardinals have…

GM# 158 SEPTEMBER 24, 1971 VS N.Y. METS FADING PIRATES DROP FOURTH STRAIGHT; LOSE 5-4 TO METS After being swept by the Cardinals, things got no better for the Pirates, as they dropped the opening game against the Mets, 5-4. The Cards pulverized the Expos, 10-6 and are now just a half game behind Pittsburgh…

GM# 157 SEPTEMBER 23, 1971 AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS CARDINALS COMPLETE SWEEP OF PIRATES WITH 4-1 WIN The St. Louis Cardinals handed Pittsburgh a third straight loss, defeating them, 4-1, behind Reggie Cleveland. It truly was the St. Louis blues for the Pirates, whose hopes for the division title are fading fast. The hard charging…

GM# 156 SEPTEMBER 22, 1971 AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS GIBSON, TWO RELIEVERS, WHITEWASH BUCS, 3-0, FOR 2SD WIN OF SERIES Pittsburgh fell again, to the surging Cardinals, who are doing their best to supplant the Pirates as the N.L. East’s best team. Bob Gibson, Darryl Patterson and Moe Drabowski combined for a five hit, 3-0,…

GM# SEPTEMBER 21, 1971 AT ST. LOUIS CARDINALS CARDINALS THROTTLE PIRATES, 8-3, IN SERIES OPENER St. Louis defeated Pittsburgh, 8-3, in the first of three games at Busch Stadium. Dock Ellis lasted just four innings, in all, five Pirate pitchers were used. Two of those, Mudcat Grant and Bob Veale, failed to record a single…