Description
The 1971 World Series matched the defending champions Baltimore Orioles against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with the Pirates winning in seven games. Game 4, played in Pittsburgh, was the first-ever World Series game scheduled to be played at night.
The two teams proved to be evenly matched, as the Series went the full seven games, with the Pirates’ Steve Blasspitching a complete game four-hitter in winning Game 7, 2–1, against Mike Cuellar and the Orioles.
In what would be his final World Series appearance, The Pirates’ Roberto Clemente became the first Spanish-speaking ballplayer to earn World Series MVP honors. Clemente hit safely in all seven games of the Series, duplicating a feat he had performed in 1960.
Bruce Kison, who appeared in two games and finished with 6.1 innings pitched, tied the record set during the 1907 World Series when he hit three batters during a single series.
These two teams would meet again in the fall classic eight years later, with the same result.
