Time To Put Up or Shut Up

by SteveK

Until Bob Nutting is willing to spend the money, all the offseason talks will remain smoke and mirrors.

By Steve K

Who will be the next manager of YOUR Pittsburgh Pirates?

It’s November and we live in Pittsburgh. I know almost nobody is thinking about baseball, but here I am writing a column about it. Weird, I know. Something needs to be said and I am going to be the one to say it. Who should be the Pittsburgh Pirates manager in 2011? My answer is, does it really matter?

By Bobster

Wrap up.

The 1960 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates:

Danny Murtaugh, Mgr-Retired after 1964 season due to health problems. Took over 2nd half of 1967 as interim mgr when Harry Walker was fired. Returned as manager for 1970 and 1971, earning another World Series championship in 1971. Retired after 1971 season but returned in September 1973 after Virdon was fired as manager. Remained manager until he retired after the 1976 season, winning 92 games in 1975 and 1976. Died 12/2/76.

By Bobster

Thursday, October 13, 1960---Game 7 of the 1960 WS got underway about 1 p.m. Bob Turley (1-0) vs Vern Law (2-0). It was Law’s 3rd start, again pitching on 3 days rest, and still with a sprained ankle. Murtaugh indicated that if Law could give him 5 to 6 innings, he’d bring in Friend and Face from there. Bobby Richardson led off for NY, making him the 5th different lead-off hitter for Casey Stengel in the 7 game series. Stengel had also used Kubek, Cerv, McDougald and Boyer in that role. Catcher Elston Howard was out for the game with a hand injury sustained in game 6 when he was hit by a pitch.

By Bobster

Wednesday, October 12, 1960---Trailing 3 games to 2, the Yankees had to win at Forbes Field in game 6 to stay alive. Bob Friend had an easy first inning, getting Clete Boyer on a comebacker, Kubek on a grounder to Mazeroski and Maris on a fly to Virdon in CF. Virdon opened the bottom of the first with a single off Ford. But Groat bounced into a Richardson-to Kubek-to Skowron DP. Clemente singled but Stuart struck out.

By Bobster

Tuesday, October 11, 1960---The teams were off as they headed back to Pittsburgh where Bob Friend (0-1) would take on Whitey Ford (1-0). The Pirates, surprisingly up 3 games to 2 after taking 2 of 3 in Yankee Stadium, now needed only to split the 2 remaining games in Pittsburgh to win it all. Bill Mazeroski (6 for 18) led the Pirates at .333 and had their only HR (in game 1) so far. Tony Kubek (9 for 22) led NY at .409. The Yankees had received HRs from Mantle (3), Maris (2), Howard, Richardson and Skowron.

By Bobster

Monday, October 10, 1960---Tied 2 games apiece, Harvey Haddix went for the Pirates against Art Ditmar of NY. Haddix had not yet appeared in the series. Ditmar started and lost game 1, lasting less than one inning.

Ditmar had a much better first inning this time, getting Virdon to pop to catcher Elston Howard, Groat to fly to Cerv in LF and Clemente to bounce to Kubek at SS. Haddix got McDougald to ground to Hoak at 3B and Maris to ground to Maz at 2B. But Cerv got an infield hit and took second on an errant throw by Hoak. Mantle walked and Skowron whiffed.

By Bobster

Sunday, October 9, 1960---Game 4 was pivotal for the Pirates. They would either tie it at 2-2 or go down 3-1 in the series. Vern Law took the mound for the Pirates on 3 days rest and a sprained ankle. Ralph Terry made his first appearance in the series for the Yankees. The 24-year old Terry was 10-8 in the regular season with a 3.40 ERA. He had pitched both as a reliever and a starter for the Yankees. Terry had struggled out of the bullpen with a 7.58 ERA in 12 appearances. But in his 23 starts, Terry had an impressive 2.86 ERA. The Bucs started meekly against Terry. Virdon flied to Mantle in CF, Groat popped to short and Clemente struck out. Cerv opened the first for NY with a single and took third when Kubek followed with a double. Maris flied to Clemente in short RF. Cerv, at third, took a few steps toward home. But Clemente fired a strike to Burgess and Cerv retreated. Mantle walked to load the bases with one out. Berra then hit a hard ground ball to Hoak at third. Hoak stepped on the bag and threw to Stuart for an inning ending double play. It appeared Berra beat the throw to first. But the Pirates caught a break as Law escaped the jam.

By Bobster

Saturday, October 8, 1960---On the heels of their 16-3 shellacking of the Pirates, the Yankees won a 10-0 game in Yankee Stadium before 70,001 fans. The issue was settled quickly. Whitey Ford set down the Pirates in the first inning, getting Virdon to bounce back to Ford, Groat to ground to Richardson at 2B, and striking out Clemente.

By Bobster

Friday, October 7, 1960---With the series tied at one apiece, the Pirates and Yankees were off as they traveled to New York for games 3, 4 and 5 at Yankee Stadium.