"The Colorful Pirates" 1966 Pittsburgh Pirates Preview Film plus Willie Stargell Profile

[@johnnypastrana6727]

As a team the '66 Pirates batted .279...what they lacked was shutdown relief pitching and one dominant starting pitcher. They finished 3rd with a 92-70 record behind the Giants and Dodgers.

[@stevea6816]

They were in first place during the summer but dodgers snd giants overtook them

[@Bigeazy87]

On April 12, 1966, the Pirates opened Atlanta Stadium by defeating the Braves 3-2 in 13 innings. Willie Stargell hit a 2-run HR in the top of the 13th. Atlanta's Joe Torre hit a solo HR in the bottom of the 13th, his second of the game. It was the Braves' first game in Atlanta after moving from Milwaukee.

[@SouthBaySteelers]

Dr Feingold was the uncle of a friend. I played softball with his son and his nephew while in college. I was at his house in Pittsburgh where Dr Feingold showed me his baseball collection, including one signed by Babe Ruth. Pretty cool. Dr Feingold was a nice guy from what I remember and once showed me around the Pirates locker room. Didn’t meet or talk to any players but it was so cool just to walk through it.

[@captainmorgan1107]

Willie Stargell was a class act and one of the most exciting players that I watched as a kid. FYI, the interview would have been from '73 since Stargell has Clemente's #21 on his left sleeve. Clemente was taken too soon on December 31, 1972. Great video, thanks for posting it!

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

When he was still playing in a Pirates uniform, Willie Stargell (1962-82) used to have a chicken restaurant in Pittsburgh. When Stargell homered during a game, he would give away chicken dinners.

[@TimefortheApocalypse]

@@armorybrunotjr.3204 Chicken on the Hill with Will. When his restaurants went under in the Hill District, Winky's hamburgers started selling his Wille Stargell chicken

[@marknowlin8356]

I think Willie was taken from us too soon, as well. Seemed a most humble and generous man.

[@sdgakatbk]

@@marknowlin8356 Good description of him.

[@sdgakatbk]

Yeah I remember listening to the game where in the bottom of the 9th, Bob Prince said if he hits one here, the chicken is on me. Willie hit one, and the Bucs won and Bob Prince got a big bill for the chicken. I read that Bob said it was worth it.

[@danielharford1864]

That 66 team was good. Many good hitting stars. Clemente MVP. Alou NL Batting title. Stargell.

[@wongleebruce]

Bob Prince was a classic, legend and fixture in the history of Pirates radio

[@TimefortheApocalypse]

When Bob Prince and Nellie King left the KDKA broadcast booth I never listened to another baseball game on the radio. Forbes field bleachers were my second home in the late 60's summertime

[@bobnagel6449]

Prince and King are as much a part of Pittsburgh as Bill Burns and Paul Long.

[@johnnypastrana6727]

​@@bobnagel6449Who is Paul Long? What about Bill Cardill?

[@patotmaster7747]

I first heard Bob Prince when the Pirates were in the World Series. In those days, they worked the Series with the national crew. Consequently, I was happy when he later joined the Astros. I don't think Bob was happy in Houston though, and he was gone after one season.

[@mr.anything424]

Watching 1966 NL MVP Roberto Clemente, what a thrill

[@ericdailey8587]

Pirates finished in 3rd place in 1966. 3 games behind the first place Dodgers. Matty Alou led the league in batting (average); Clemente finished 5th and Stargell 6th. Clemente was the NL MVP.

[@tomnhpenguin6291]

I remember the 1966 Pirates, or as we pronounced it in Pittsburgh "Pahhrrrrrrtz." I followed every game and rooted so hard and they came so close. Bob Prince was, um "unique" but he really supported the team. He started the "Green Weenie" that season. Remember that? It was a heartbreaker when they didn't win the pennant. Many of us hoped and prayed that they would take it in 1967. The "blue weenie" didn't catch on in in 1967. But they took it all in 1971 and again in 1979.

[@TimefortheApocalypse]

'Kiss it Goodbye' and 'Bug on the Rug' were my favorite Bob Prince sayings

[@dr.migalitoloveless1651]

Who pronounces it that way?

[@dr.migalitoloveless1651]

@@TimefortheApocalypse bring out the old hoover.

[@armorybrunotjr.3204]

Bob Prince was the broadcaster of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1948-86.

[@bobnagel6449]

Known affectionately as The Gunner.

[@dr.migalitoloveless1651]

They should of never fired him.

[@johnnypastrana6727]

@@dr.migalitoloveless1651 That Westinghouse executive that brought the heat on Prince should burn in hell.

[@robertritchey1210]

Great video, loved the Willie Stargell interview!!

[@dr.migalitoloveless1651]

Bucs spring training from ft. Myers. 1966. They started training in Bradenton in 69 and they've been there ever since.

[@marknowlin8356]

And I'm here to tell ya, Bradenton is the coldest town on the Gulf Side in mid-March when you've packed for Clearwater Beach! :D

[@thetruth-xb4yh]

Matty Alou won the batting title in 1966

[@jimray4428]

Oh the memories. I was playing Pony League in McKeesport, Pa during the Summer of 1966. I stunk but the 66 Buccos did not. They won 92 games that year and were in the Pennant race until the last weekend of the season. Dropped a heartbreaking double header to the Giants at home on the last Saturday. It was an exciting year of baseball in 66. The next three years they didn't come close but, after retooling a bit, they had a tremendous decade in the 70s.

[@TimefortheApocalypse]

The last game of the DH I got Willie mcCoveys autograph

[@brainscott8198]

Harry "The Hat" Walker won the NL batting title in 1947 after leading the St Louis Cards to the WS title in 1946. His double late in game 7 scored Enos Slaughter and his "mad dash" from first, propelling the Cards to the world title. After he managed the Pirates from 1965-67, he managed the Houston Astros from 1969 to 1972. He got his nickname from adjusting his cap (no batting helmet in those days) between pitches while batting during his playing days. He had a lifetime managing record of 630-604.

[@donaldhall8785]

Growing up in Ft. Myers this video brought back some memories for me. Watching the Bucs in Spring Training every year. My Dad was a drinking buddy of some of the Pirates so I got to meet a lot of them. Anyone who has watched a game at Terry Park in those days will know who I am talking about when I say "The Screecher" was in good form today.

[@ryetim32]

Harry Walker was a great hitting coach

[@TREEHUGGAH1]

many thanks for sharing this excellent and interesting video

[@jakedasnake7703]

I think an era a lot of pirates fans overlook is the 1920-30s era pirates too. We had some really good teams in that era as well. In the roaring 20s we were probably the third best team in baseball only behind the Yankees and probably the New York giants 2 World Series appearances and multiple second place appearances. And the pirates in the 30s were basically like the Steelers from 2010-2020 lol

[@marknowlin8356]

Very astute parallels. Thanks, hadn't considered them before.

[@brianthomas8125]

That was a tremendous club, even though we narrowly missed finishing a hair behind the Dodgers & Giants. Clemente, Alou and Stargell were all stellar. I also miss Gunner.

[@bobmarchinetti9808]

Clendenon and Mazeroski also had very good seasons that year. As did Bob Veale.

[@roguedicers3197]

And Gene Alley hit .299 and was a great fielder/DP partner for Maz.

[@marknowlin8356]

Pirates always were known for their bats when I was a youngster. I have thought it interesting that in my 60+ year lifetime they have never had what would generally be rated as a superstar starting pitcher. I think it unusual too that with its spacious dimensions, a no-hitter never was thrown in Forbes Field over the course of about 4,700 games.

[@sdgakatbk]

@@marknowlin8356 I really started following the Bucs late in the 1969 and I thought with everyone focusing on the hitting, the pitching was underrated. We didn't have the perennial 20 game winner, but there were some good seasons from a number of Pirates' pitchers. And we always seemed to have one of the best closers, with Law, Giusti, Gossage, and Tekulve. However, even though there was never a no hitter in Forbes Field, I think it was generally a pitchers' park for a number of years because of it's dimensions, (until 1947 when the dimensions were changed to help Kiner hit more home runs).

[@jakedasnake7703]

@@sdgakatbk bob friend was literally a superstar pitcher who almost won 200 games but he was overlooked because the first half of his career he was on some absolutely pathetic teams by far the worst in the league. He would have won 250+ games easy if he was on at least average teams the first half of his career.

[@edwardkrajewski5735]

Nick Perry, infamous for the '666' scandal, hosting this show about the '66 Pirates. Couldn't help but find that interesting.

[@markross2124]

I remember that team in those days the Steelers were perpetual losers then. Matty Alou won the batting title and Clemente won MVP. Team lost a double header the final day to Giants and Dodgers won the pennant.

[@dr.migalitoloveless1651]

Harry Walker is the guy responsible turning Alou into a 300 hitter. He was a mediocre hitter before Walker's tutelage.

[@johnnypastrana6727]

That was a great team but they didn't have starting pitching...their bullpen sucked too, but man those guys could hit.

[@tomitstube]

exciting race in the national league 1966. the four teams in the race played each other in the last series... both series in pennsylvania... the giants swept the pirates at home, eliminating them. and it came down to the last game with the dodgers in philadelphia. koufax won... and the dodgers won the pennant. the giants were waiting in pittsburgh because if philadelpia had won that last game the giants would be back 1/2 game, and have to play a make up in cincinnati.

[@ericdailey8587]

@@johnnypastrana6727 They led the league in saves and had the fourth best ERA.

[@areguapiri]

This stuff is pure gold. I can watch these old baseball films all day.

[@brainscott8198]

Stargell held the bat with the pinky of his lower hand wrapped under the knob of the bat, to get a little longer extension.

[@marknowlin8356]

Norm Cash did the same thing, and consequently as a Detroit sandlot kid, so did I.

[@2012photograph]

More folks should do a road trip to PNC Park

[@latinoheat5169]

Clemente and stargell top pirates Mlb ⚾ Rip

[@SouthBaySteelers]

1960s…This was an era when players had jobs in the off season in all professional sports

[@tomitstube]

the great bob prince and his archive. the 1966 pittsburgh pirates were the best hitting team that year, number 1 in almost every category, 4 .300 hitters, matty alou, manny mota, roberto clemente, and willie stargell, and don clendenon and gene alley both hit .299. the stat i love about them is they led the league in hitting, and were last in striking out.

[@RayManzarekRocks]

One of my all-time favorite teams. Still pissed they didn't win it all!

[@dr.migalitoloveless1651]

Big mistake firing Harry Walker after that season. Larry Shepard was a disaster as Walker's replacement.

[@danielcorreard3746]

what a blast from the past this is I remember Bob prince I used to watch him do broadcasts for the pirates when I was a kid on kdka tv a bug on a rug chicken on the hill and no one could've loved the pirates more he must be turning over in his grave over what's happened to the pirates and the fact that they aren't even trying to win in the future or any time else for that matter just no hope in sight. Bob prince will come back to life before the pirates ever have another winning season I"m not trying to be sick but let's face it it's the truth

[@stevefranckhauser7901]

Nick Perry. The future had a curve waiting for him.

[@robertsprouse9282]

What happened?

[@robertsprouse9282]

Nevermind, I just found out. I hope he liked prison food, lol.

[@robertsprouse9282]

Fixed a lotto drawing in Penn., craaaazy.

[@TimefortheApocalypse]

Only in Pittsburgh would they have the lottery broadcast on Bowling for Dollars on WTAE

[@dr.migalitoloveless1651]

Nick Perry 666 👿😀😁😂🤣🤣

[@Fruth37]

Tom Butters is the man who hired Mike Krzyzewski to be Dukes head basketball coach.

[@robertsprouse9282]

Former Chairman of the NCAA MEN'S DIVISION ONE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SELECTION COMMITTEE, TOO..

[@marknowlin8356]

Interesting. Did not know that. Thank you.

[@roguedicers3197]

Clemente, Alou, Stargell - best hitting outfield ever. Two Hall Of Famers and a batting champion with a lifetime .307 average. Alou hit .332 in '68 when the league hit .243! Lost a second batting title to Pete Rose with a dandy battle at season's end.

[@stevea6816]

And donn clendennon who hit 28 HR and batted 299 was a big contributor though underrated

[@SouthBaySteelers]

Nick Perry, 666, got caught fixing the ping pong balls in the Pennsylvania lottery. He used to call the lottery on a TV station and was the bowling for dollars guy…until he was caught in the lottery scandal.

[@samuelbarrett5648]

As this and a few other videos on KZbin successfully illustrate, Major League Baseball in the 1960's was the Golden Age of Baseball. And that's for many reasons. I specialize in the aesthetics of the 60s era, so I'll cover that here: Every team played in great ballparks, whether they were in older, classic ballparks (Phillies' Shibe Park, Reds' Crosley Field, Pirates' Forbes Field, Tigers' namesake Stadium, White Sox' Comiskey Park, Yankee's original namesake Stadium, etc) or in more modern parks (Dodgers' namesake Stadium, Giants' Candlestick Park, Astros' namesake Dome, Angels' Anaheim Stadium, A's Oakland Coliseum, Twins' Metropolitan Stadium, Orioles' Memorial Stadium, etc), they were all great, with the exception of the Cardinals and Senators, who I think were aesthetically better in Busch Stadium I (Sportsmans Park) and Griffith Park, respectively. The dugouts and clubhouses were designed and built to serve the very purpose of a simple area for the players to be in, not virtual apartments like today. The overall look of green seats and steel, simple grandstand construction, and on special occasions, red white and blue bunting, made for a timeless atmosphere that anyone can appreciate. The players also dressed very well. As a comment on a Uni Watch post says, the jersey and pants are trim but not tight. Button down jerseys with short sleeves and true vests reign supreme. The stirrup socks were at the most ideal proportion of stirrup to sanitary sock, allowing for plenty of white (Or yellow in the A's case) while still giving enough space for colorful and creative stripes. It was pre-double knit so every jersey was soft flannel but you still had an injection of powder blue roads. The cap is not quite the exaggerated high peak but isn’t formless either, with green underbrims for reduced glare (The grass is green too) and leather sweatbands with white reeding. No matter what style a team happened to wear, it was almost guaranteed to look like baseball. Teams with classic designs (Yankees, Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cardinals, etc) and those who experimented with their looks (A's, Pilots, White Sox, Expos, Padres, etc) all looked very elegant, particularly because button-front jerseys and belted pants were still in vogue, giving off a classic, formal vibe, going with the notion of baseball being a gentleman's game. The umpires also looked their best, many times being outfitted in dark navy suits, caps, and black ties and dress shoes, with either white shirts, adding to the aforementioned formal and official vibe. The players not only dressed well, but the equipment they used, consisting of Hillerich and Bradsby made Louisville Slugger or Adirondack natural-colored ash wood bats; Rawlings, Wilson, or Spalding tan leather fielding gloves and mitts; the aforementioned black (Or white in the A's case) leather spikes; simple-construction batting helmets with one earflap, which just seems to scream baseball to me; and catcher's equipment with simple patterns on the chest protector, shin guards (Both of which preferably in team colors), and the steel bars of the mask, were also simple compared to today, but elegant. And that's just the aesthetics of that era-not to mention the caliber of players during that time. But I'll let others cover that. I hope my Heaven is 1960's MLB when my time comes.

[@Rokinray]

Nick "666" Perry with the narration

[@dr.migalitoloveless1651]

Pirates made a mistake firing Harry Walker after coming up short in 66.

[@sdgakatbk]

The Society for American Baseball Research has a biography about Harry Walker. He got results, winning 90 and 92 games in '65 and '66 after replacing Murtaugh, so there was immediate success. The change was described as a shock going from the quiet Murtaugh to the motor mouth Walker. There was dissension on the club. A number of players didn't like him, including Stargell and Mazeroski. Virdon reportedly retired after '65 to get away from Walker. However, Clemente and Alou liked him. They were perceived as being favored by Walker and this was a cause of the dissension with the other players. He was replaced by Danny Murtaugh in June '67 with the Pirates at 42-42. He was replaced by Murtaugh who was 39-39. His advice to Alou changed a lifetime .260 hitter into a .300 hitter. He told Matty to use a heavier bat, slap the ball to left, and use his speed to beat out bunts. This was how he had hit. And he did tell Roberto to go more for home runs, helping him to his MVP winning season.

[@kenlucas7025]

@oliverthecat666 My grandparents were from Gulfport, MS and they knew the Walkers very well- Especially Dee Walker. She told me 50 years ago that their whole damn family were racists and Klan sympathizers!

[@marknowlin8356]

@@kenlucas7025 If Harry Walker was racist - and I have no way of knowing if he really was - it did not stop him from rostering numerous black and Latino players when he managed the Pirates, and also it did not seem to affect their performance on the field.

[@davidthomas8260]

Here's Niiick Perry!!! He was better known for Bowling for Dollars, and the 666 1980 Pa. Lottery scandal.

[@cp6111]

The "Great" one. No.21 and his famous follow threw swing. Amazing !!!

[@marknowlin8356]

His swing is beautiful. I love how he ends with his weight on his front foot. Nobody hits like that. He was a shooting star.

[@samsever69]

That was an Awesome assessment of the Clemente Swing

[@robertsprouse9282]

Harry "the Hat" Walker was a good hitter, like his brother Dixie W. was, when The Hat played. He knew hitting. Later, he managed the Houston Astros, getting fired during the season with HOU. over .500 for the first time ever after June 1st, Walker was replaced that season by none other than LEO "THE LIP" DUROCHER. Despite an eight game losing streak immediately after the club had won their first nine games under Durocher, Houston managed to finish over break-even, their first winning year in the then, 10 year history of the COLT.45's/ASTROS Big League club. The season was 1972. When Walker was fired the Astros were around a few games over breakeven. They did not win the NL WEST that season, CINCY did. Since there were no wild cards, Houston with 85 wins in 154 games(eight wiped out due to a players strike)sat home in October.

[@shockinghonesty3971]

360 ft. down the leftfield line?!? What's the distance to straightaway center?

[@marknowlin8356]

I think it was 457 ft., but I will let an old "Beat 'Em Bucs" rooter confirm that. A good portion of the Forbes Field brick wall is still standing, on the campuses of U-Pitt and Carnegie Mellon, near Schenley Park. If you're a vintage baseball fan like me, it is a must-see.

[@ryetim32]

Bucs came very close in 66

[@thetruth-xb4yh]

Nick Perry went to jail for fixing the pa daily number

[@dr.migilitoloveless2385]

The Pirates made a big mistake when they fired manager Harry The Hat Walker after the 66 season.

[@davanmani556]

Harry Walker should have stuck to hitting instructor.

[@brainscott8198]

Who are they playing?...Philly?...Reds??...Cards?

[@ManuelGuzman067]

Liked 70s uniform clemente wore