By Bobster

Tuesday, September 20, 1960---Despite a win by the second-place Cardinals (83-60), the Pirates (90-55) reduced their magic number to 5 with a sweep of a doubleheader against the Phillies. The Pirates led St. Louis by 6 games. The Bucs had 9 games remaining on the schedule. The Cardinals had 11 games remaining. In game 1, Bob Friend (17-11) pitched his 16th complete game, a 7-hitter with no walks and 6 Ks as he defeated Robin Roberts (10-16) by a score of 7-1.

By Bobster

Monday, September 19, 1960---The Pirates were off. They led the Cardinals, who won, by 5½ games. The Pirates’ magic number for clinching the pennant remained at 7. In the A.L., the Yankees (86-57) had a 4-game lead over Baltimore (83-62). Groat led the Pirates with a .325 average. Stuart led the team with 21 HRs. Clemente led with 91 RBIs.

By Bobster

Sunday, September 18, 1960---The Pirates (88-55) received a pair of well-pitched games as they swept a doubleheader from the Reds. In the first game, Vern Law got his 20th win (20-8), a complete game 9-hitter over the Reds, 5-3. Dick Stuart’s 21st HR leading off the fourth gave the Bucs a 1-0 lead. The Pirates added another run in the inning when Burgess reached on an error, took third on a double by Mazeroski and scored on Law’s sac fly.

By Bobster

Saturday, September 17, 1960---Rain postponed the Pirates (86-55) and Reds in Cincinnati. The teams would make it up as a doubleheader the next day. With the rainout, the magic number remained at 9 as the Cardinals (80-60) beat the Giants 4-1 to go back into second place, 5½ games behind. The Phillies recovered from being no-hit by the Braves for the second time in about a month by beating Milwaukee 5-2, dropping the Braves (81-62) into third place, 6½ games back. In the A.L. the Yankees (84-57) led the Orioles (83-60) by 2 games.

By Bobster

Friday, September 16, 1960---Harvey Haddix (11-10) lasted only 2 innings as the Reds beat the Pirates (86-55) by a 4-3 score in Cincinnati. The Bucs scored a run in the second inning off Jim O’Toole (12-11) when Hoak drew a 2-out walk and scored when Mazeroski’s single was booted in CF for an error by Vada Pinson. But the Reds struck for 3 in the bottom half of the inning. Willie Jones singled to start the rally and Ed Bailey walked. After a sacrifice, Roy McMillan was intentionally walked. O’Toole forced Jones at the plate but Eddie Kasko cleared the bases with a double to give the Reds a 3-1 lead.

By Bobster

Thursday, September 15, 1960---The Pirates (86-54) got off to a quick start when Gino Cimoli led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and Bob Skinner followed with a 2-run HR (#15). That would be enough for Bob Friend (16-11) who held the Dodgers to 1 run on 6 hits as he pitched his 15th complete game. Ron Fairly’s triple drove in Junior Gilliam in the fourth inning for LA’s only run.

By Bobster

Wednesday, September 14, 1960---For the second straight day, the Pirates (85-54) lost while striking out 13 times. This time it was against Stan Williams and the Dodgers at Forbes Field. The 26 strikeouts against the Pirates in 2 games set an N.L. record. And for the third straight time, Vernon Law failed to get his 20th win. LA scored 2 in the fourth on a single by Maury Wills, a stolen base, a sacrifice by Junior Gilliam, singles by Wally Moon and Norm Larker and a ground out by Ron Fairly. In the fifth, another single by Wills ignited another 2-run rally as the Dodgers took a 4-0 lead.

By Bobster

Tuesday, September 13, 1960---SF left-hander Mike McCormick (13-11) struck out 13 Pirates (85-53) en route to 6-3 win. SF scored a run in the second off Vinegar Bend Mizell (10-5), and the Pirates tied it 1-1 in the second on a walk to Hoak, a single by Schofield and an RBI-single by Skinner. The Giants got 3 more in the sixth to take a 4-1 lead.

By Bobster

Monday, September 12, 1960---The magic number was reduced to 11 with a 6-1 Pirate win over SF at Forbes Field and a St.Louis loss to Milwaukee. The Cardinals and Braves were tied for second place, 7½ games behind. Dick Stuart was the hitting star with single, triple and home run. The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first on consecutive 2-out singles by Clemente, Stuart and Burgess. Wildness cost Giants starter Jack Sanford a run in the second. After Schofield drew a one-out walk and was forced at second by Haddix, Sanford threw a pair of wild pitches to Virdon, enabling Haddix to end up at third base.

By Bobster

Sunday, September 11, 1960---A doubleheader with the Cubs was rained out at Forbes Field while St.Louis defeated the Phillies to close to within 6½ games. Although out with a broken wrist, Groat continued to lead the Pirates with a .325 average. Clemente was at .320. Dick Stuart led with 19 HRs. Don Hoak was second with 15. Clemente led in RBIs with 88 to Skinner’s 79.