NetShrine
09-02-2001, 04:56 PM
From T.R. Sullivan of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram:
On Sept. 1, 1971, 30 years ago on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates played the Montreal Expos and manager Danny Murtaugh posted the following as his lineup:
2b Rennie Stennett
CF Gene Clines
RF Roberto Clemente
LF Willie Stargell
C Manny Sanguillen
3B Dave Cash
1B Al Oliver
SS Jackie Hernandez
P Dock Ellis
The team is significant. It was the first time in baseball history that a manager played a lineup that consisted entirely of Latin American or Afro-American players.
The Pirates won the game, 10-7.
The Pirates, with Murtaugh setting the tone, were one of the more open-minded teams in the '60s and '70s when it came to drafting and signing minority players. The policy was were highly successful. Between 1970-79, the Pirates won six division titles and two World Series.
One man within the organization was perceptive enough to see the wisdom in this policy. Sandy Johnson played in the Pirates' minor leagues from 1959-68. He later become the Rangers' scouting director and had a major impact on the franchise by signing players out of Latin America, including Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez.
On Sept. 1, 1971, 30 years ago on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates played the Montreal Expos and manager Danny Murtaugh posted the following as his lineup:
2b Rennie Stennett
CF Gene Clines
RF Roberto Clemente
LF Willie Stargell
C Manny Sanguillen
3B Dave Cash
1B Al Oliver
SS Jackie Hernandez
P Dock Ellis
The team is significant. It was the first time in baseball history that a manager played a lineup that consisted entirely of Latin American or Afro-American players.
The Pirates won the game, 10-7.
The Pirates, with Murtaugh setting the tone, were one of the more open-minded teams in the '60s and '70s when it came to drafting and signing minority players. The policy was were highly successful. Between 1970-79, the Pirates won six division titles and two World Series.
One man within the organization was perceptive enough to see the wisdom in this policy. Sandy Johnson played in the Pirates' minor leagues from 1959-68. He later become the Rangers' scouting director and had a major impact on the franchise by signing players out of Latin America, including Juan Gonzalez and Ivan Rodriguez.