Pittsburgh Pirates Black History Month Tribute: The First All-Minority Lineup in MLB History

How the game went

This team of nine players won the game over the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 10 to 7. The game got off to an interesting start for the Pirates, as they went through three different pitchers through the first 3 innings of a game. Only a game Dock Ellis would start, against the hated Phillies to boot, would end up being that way.  Luke Walker would pitch the final 6 innings of the game, and gave up only 2 hits and one earned run.

The Pirates scored their runs on a Manny Sanguillen home run, and RBI contributions from Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Dave Cash, Al Oliver, Rennie Stennet, and. the forgotten man, Jackie Hernandez. Not only is this line-up significant, but many would go on to help the Pirates win the 1971 World Series

Today, two of the players in this line-up are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Not only is this a significant mark in Pirates history, but also one in baseball history, and one that should go down as a groundbreaking mark in Black History throughout all of sports.