POLL: For Pirate fans – Which was the best Pirate team in the modern era?

[john4psu]

One may think that just teams that won the World Series should only be listed for consideration. In most cases, I would agree, however, that’s not always the case as sometimes extenuating circumstances come into play. For example, many feel that the ’76 Steelers were the best team ever, Art Rooney, Sr. agreed, but when they lost both of their 1,000-yard rushers, Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, to injury, they were rendered offense-less and defeated by the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game. Some might feel that the 2007 New England Patriots that went 18-1 was New England’s best team ever.

The ’75 Boston Red Sox that lost in that classic World Series to the Big Red Machine, were without their slugger Jim Rice in the Fall Classic. Rice hit. 309 that year with 102 RBI’s and finished third in MVP balloting.

The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 2011 as a Wild Card team. They weren’t great all year, they just got hot at the right time. That is why I listed non-World Series winning teams below as well.

As always, feel free to write in a team that I did not list that you feel merits consideration. Thank you.

 

[lionlurker]

Any team not owned by Nutting.

 

[fairgambit]

I voted for the 60' team. They had less talent than the others, but, against all odds, beat a superior Yankee team to win the World Series.

 

[TheGLOV]

1971 without question!!

You had Maz, Clemente, Stargell, Oliver, Stennett, Sangy, Alley, Hebner, Robertson, Cash etc.

 

[JoeLion]

IMHO they are slowly becoming irrelevant again. A lot has to do with injuries, illness, substance abuse of varies sorts and varieties and missed opportunities. I don't know how they can keep Cole. Cutch appears to be on a sharp decent etc. A bit depressing if you are a fan.

 

[Glen]

I voted for the 60' team. They had less talent than the others, but, against all odds, beat a superior Yankee team to win the World Series.

They may not be the most talented squad, but they probably have the best baseball smarts. Difficult to show more leadership than Stargell, but Hoak may come close. They knew how to win and we're not intimidated by the big stage.

 

[BBHorn86]

IMHO they are slowly becoming irrelevant again. A lot has to do with injuries, illness, substance abuse of varies sorts and varieties and missed opportunities. I don't know how they can keep Cole. Cutch appears to be on a sharp decent etc. A bit depressing if you are a fan.

Agree. The McCutchen fall off is double trouble. They have Austin Meadows waiting in the wings to takeover center but I suspect they were planning to get good return when they trade Cutch this summer. If he is unable to shake off the funk he is in, they won't get much at the trade deadline which means they could lose him outright in the off-season with nothing in return. That is not how you parley talent for younger talent. Marte's suspension was a blow, Jung Ho's DUI is a hit, Polanco with just one homerun and a sub .250 average a hit and now Taillon's cancer. I have trouble faulting Huntingdon too much. With the budget he is given he can't miss on roster decisions. Some of the talent has proven not as strong as hoped for, some of it is just bad luck. If Taillon can return and be effective, Glasnow settles in and Kingham makes it to the bigs they will have a decent rotation to build around but Marte, Polanco, Bell and Meadows will need to carry the load and they need to get something for Cole or another lost decade or two can't be ruled out. In a nutshell until Nutting makes winning a priority (which I doubt happens) the Pirates have no chance of winning anything.

 

[CF LION]

 

[Fox Chapel Lion II]

The '71 team with three Hall of Famers is very tough to overlook. '79 still had Stargell plus add the booming bat of Dave Parker. Each team had secondary guys that got red hot at the right time (eg Grant Jackson).

Both World Champions but since the '71 Orioles with Frank, Boog, Brooks and 4 20-game winners were stronger than the '79 version, I'll go with Steve Blass and the 1971 club.

Earl Weaver was a Hall of Fame manager, but only won 1 championship in four tries. The Pirates got him twice and the Metropolitans in 1969. Kind of interesting there.