Still Pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates—#28 Steve Blass Wayne Herrod
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ld Series winn tes—1971 Wor
Pittsburgh Pira
The bottom of the ninth inning, two outs, and it’s the
seventh game of the 1971 World Series—the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. the Baltimore Orioles. Pittsburgh is leading two to one and Steve Blass has pitched a masterful four-hitter to this point. The count is one strike on the dangerous batter Merv Rettunmund, and one swing can tie this game up. Steve winds and delivers the pitch. Rettunmund hits the ball past Blass, up the middle. Shortstop Jackie Hernandez glides to the left, fields the ball cleanly, and throws to first baseman Bob Robertson for the out. The Pirates win the game and the World Series! This is what it probably sounded like over the airwaves, but to see what happened next was history. Steve ran and jumped into Robertson’s arms. He then turned and ran back towards catcher Manny Sanguillen. The picture of Steve leaping into the air towards Manny was captured by AP Photographer Rusty Kennedy and is one of the most famous sports pictures in Pittsburgh history. I asked Steve how he managed to jump so high. Steve answered, “Total youthful exuberance.” That moment was relived on June 8, 2005, when a bobble head, featuring both Steve and Manny, was given to all fans attending the Pirates vs. the Baltimore Orioles game at PNC Park. The bobble head was the result of the efforts of Joe Billetdeaux, the Pirates director of licensing and promotions. Joe, a five-year resident of Upper St. Clair, is responsible for the development and promotional aspects of the Pirate organization. Steve Blass, also an Upper St. Clair resident, was an outstanding major league pitcher. He won over 100 games and was selected to the National League All Star team during his career. He also won the third game of the 1971 World Series with a magnificent three-hit, five-to-one victory. 14
UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY
Fall 2005
During a five year period, Steve’s record was 84–44 with an ERA of just over 3.00. Those statistics would earn a pitcher a multi-million dollar contract today. I asked Steve if this bothered him. With his sense of humor Steve answered, “Not at all. They couldn’t fool us with money. We got out with our integrity.” Steve Blass is truly a Pittsburgh Pirate forever. Just out of high school, Steve signed with the Pirates in 1960. He pitched for the Pirates until the early 70s and began broadcasting for the Pirates in 1983. Steve has been an integral part of the broadcast team since then and has teamed with Lanny Frattare. I was able to observe them at the Rockies game on May 22. Lanny is the straight man, the play-byplay announcer. Steve is the color man who plays off Lanny with great insight and a sense of humor that doesn’t stop. The two of them never miss a beat. This year, Steve cut his work schedule back to home games only (81 games) so he can spend more time with his wife and grandchildren. Steve and his wife of 42 years, Karen, have lived in Upper St Clair since 1972. The former Karen Lamb was Steve’s high school sweetheart. The Blasses have two sons, Chris and David, and five grandchildren. Steve succinctly described his life story for me. “One wife, one home, one team. I guess I have the hat trick of life.” It’s interesting how Steve and Karen ended up in USC. They were having dinner with the Guistis (Pirate reliever David Guisti) one night when a neighbor stopped by to tell the Guistis that he was relocating and would be selling his house. Steve and Karen, who were presently looking for a home in the South Hills, went to the house that evening, and Karen knew immediately it was
Steve, in his trophy room, with his Dapper Dan award