Starting Nine: Tops for Pops
The Hall of Fame's Starting Nine includes must-see artifacts from every big league team. Check out the Pirates Starting Nine online.
Willie Stargell had already crafted the majority of his Hall of Fame career when the 1979 World Series began. But by the end of those seven games against the Baltimore Orioles, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lovable slugger had cemented a legacy destined for Cooperstown.
On Oct. 17, 1979, Stargell hammered a two-run homer off Baltimore’s Scott McGregor in the sixth inning of Game 7, erasing a 1-0 Orioles lead. The Pirates went on to win the game 4-1, capturing the World Series title.
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Stargell was named the Most Valuable Player of that World Series, capping a season where he was also the co-National League MVP (along with Keith Hernandez) and the NLCS MVP. Nicknamed "Pops" for his leadership of the "We Are Family" Pirates, Stargell accomplished it all at the age of 39.
“Having (Stargell) on your ballclub,” said Pirates manager Chuck Tanner, “is like having a diamond ring on your finger.”
In Game 7 of the 1979 World Series, McGregor had allowed just three hits in his first five innings – two of which came off the bat of Stargell. In the sixth, Bill Robinson – the Pirates’ cleanup hitter – stroked a one-out single to left field before Stargell followed with a blast to deep right on the first pitch of the at-bat.
The Pirates tacked on two more in the ninth before Kent Tekulve retired the Orioles in order in the last of the ninth to clinch the title for Pittsburgh.
For the World Series, Stargell hit .400 with three homers, four doubles and seven RBI. His 25 total bases are a World Series record, shared with Reggie Jackson in the 1977 World Series.
“(Stargell) doesn’t just hit pitchers,” said Hall of Fame hurler Don Sutton. “He takes away their dignity.”
A Manny Sanguillen-model bat Stargell used in the 1979 World Series is on display in the Museum’s Autumn Glory exhibit.
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Starting Nine
The Hall of Fame's Starting Nine is a lineup of must-see artifacts from our vast collection containing tens of thousands of pieces that preserve the magical moments and memorable stories of our National Pastime. Our curators have spent countless hours hand-picking special objects from every major league team to create a lineup of pieces you simply won’t believe we have!
