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

By Noah Wright

PITTSBURGH - JUNE 21: Manny Sanguillen #35 of the World Series Champion 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates salutes the crowd after being introduced before the game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 21, 2011 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH - JUNE 21: Manny Sanguillen #35 of the World Series Champion 1971 Pittsburgh Pirates salutes the crowd after being introduced before the game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 21, 2011 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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BRADENTON, FL – MARCH 02: Former player Manny Sanguillen of the Pittsburgh Pirates sits on the batting cage just before the start of the Grapefruit League Spring Training Game against the Minnesota Twins at McKechnie Field on March 2, 2011 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)
BRADENTON, FL – MARCH 02: Former player Manny Sanguillen of the Pittsburgh Pirates sits on the batting cage just before the start of the Grapefruit League Spring Training Game against the Minnesota Twins at McKechnie Field on March 2, 2011 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) /

Catcher: Manny Sanguillen

While the big stars of the 1971 Pirates team were Stargell, Clemente, Dock Ellis, and Steve Blass, Manny Sanguillen kind of flew under the radar as one of the best catchers in baseball at the time. Sanguillen followed up back-to-back seasons with a batting average above .300, and catching over 40% of the runners trying to steal on him with another strong campaign in 1971.

In 559 plate appearances Sanguillen had his best offensive season hitting .319/.345/.426 and launching seven balls out of the park. His 116 OPS+ was the highest of his career to that point and he led the entire MLB in defense. According to FanGraphs, his 18.1 defensive rating was above that of Johnny Bench, and the late Thurman Munson. He also caught exactly 50% of the runners trying to take an extra base on him.

Sanguillen would play the next five seasons with the Bucs batting .296/.331/.403 with 37 long balls and a 107 OPS+, and continuing to post strong fielding numbers. After a brief one year stint with the Oakland A’s, Sanguillen would return to the Bucs in 1978, and primarily served as a first baseman and pinch hitter up until his last season in 1980. Sanguilen went down in history as one of the Pirates’ best catchers ever, and his career 27.3 fWAR is only passed by Jason Kendall (31.2) as the all time Pirates’ catcher fWAR leader.

You can still often times find Manny during Pirates’ home games at his restaurant in PNC Park called Manny’s BBQ.

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