A must for Pittsburgh Sports Fans and Baseball Historians
By Marky K. Billson
The 1979 Pirates are remembered among great baseball teams like the Gas House Gang Cardinals and '55 "Boys of Summer" Brooklyn Dodgers; teams remembered as much for their character and personality as their performance on the field.
This is the story of those Wild, Crazy, Rowdy, and even "Disco Dealin'" (yes, they were described that way by Vin Scully once) Buccos, who so caught the nation's fancy Jimmy Carter was personally pulling Willie Stargell up on to the podium in the locker room after the Seventh Game of the World Series.
Sahadi goes in depth with so many of "The Family" with a game-by-game recount of every postseason game and even a season rundown- heavy on player profiles.
Also included in this book is an in-depth profile on Willie Stargell- whose personality left as much of a mark on his fans as the fact he became the only player in baseball history to be named LCS, World Series, and season MVP in the same year in '79.
There is also a chapter remembering Roberto Clemente- who had passed away seven years earlier.
And the book features perhaps the definitive biography of manager Chuck Tanner.
"The Pirates" also features incredible photography, and while there have been many books written about the '79 Pirates- perhaps this should be the one of record since it was written at the time.
If you're a fan from the era- this book will take you back. If you're a younger Bucco fan- prepare to be transformed to a time in which the Pirates were on equal footing with the Steelers, Pittsburgh was on top of the sports world, and the Bucs were regarded as one of the most glamourous franchises in baseball.
Simply put- when I read this book more than 25 years ago as a kid- it forever cemented the "We Are Family" Pirates as my favorite sports team of all time- and I wouldn't be surprised if you came away feeling the same way.
No comments:
Post a Comment