RICHMOND, Va. -- I can usually convey the essential details of a Cartoon Canon event in just a caption box or two ... but this game, the Bucs’ NL East clincher in 1974, was so rich with details that it took fully three ... and I could easily have doubled that!
First, there were the details: the Pirates could clinch with a win, of course, but a loss would keep the Cardinals (who had been rained out that day in Montreal) alive with a chance for a tie atop the standings the next day. The Pirates' win sent the Cardinals home to St. Louis early, with no need to make up a meaningless game. I’d have loved to have been in that hotel lobby in Montreal!
Then, there was the setting: It was only 38 degrees at Three Rivers Stadium that night, but the crowd was anything but cool. The Pirates did them no favors, as an ineffective Jim Rooker and lousy defense saw the Cubs charge out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Then, a questionable call wiped out a run by Richie Zisk in the fourth, and the Cubs in the field were showered with bottles, cans and other trash. The precipitation of debris became so troublesome that umpire crew chief Shag Crawford considered awarding Chicago the forfeit… only a plea from the public address announcer to knock it off brought the surly fans at least somewhat under control.
And finally, the ending: Al Oliver’s triple with one out in the bottom of the 10th led the Cubs to issue two intentional walks. Manny Sanguillen dribbled a roller to third, Bill Madlock tried to field it barehanded, but fumbled, and Oliver rambled home to give the Bucs the win. They went on to face the Dodgers in the NLCS, but lost 3 games to 1.
Man, those teams were just SO good. Six first place finishes, three more in second, and two World Series championships. What a decade for the PBC in the NL East.
ROB ULLMAN / DKPS
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