RICHMOND, Va. -- In August of 1961, the Pirates' title defense was very much on the ropes. The team had lost 13 of 15, plummeting to fifth place in the National League, and arrived in St. Louis in desperate need of wins if it had any hope of crawling back into contention for the pennant. Harvey Haddix, Roberto Clemente and Smoky Burgess delivered, handing the Cards the worst shutout loss they'd received on home soil before or since. Perhaps this historic triumph would set the stage for a late-season surge?
Unfortunately, it was not to be. The Bucs continued to struggle, eventually finishing in sixth place. Even still, hanging an all-time beating on the Cardinals is always worth recognizing!
ROB ULLMAN / DKPS
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