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1960: When the Pittsburgh Pirates Had Them All the Way
This book covers the entire 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates season from spring expectations through a season of destiny culminated by the wildest, most lopsided World Series ever—one which saw a team get battered by outrageous scores, yet prevail over the dynastic Yankees. Profiles of stars such as Roberto Clemente, 1960 Cy Young winner Vern Law, season MVP Dick Groat, and Yankees including Series MVP Bobby Richardson and Mickey Mantle are included.
What a wild ride that season stunning comebacks were routine for the Bucs; Casey Stengel mis-management probably cost the Yankees the Series; Mantle sobs over his most disappointing baseball experience ever; what should arguably be considered as the most important home run ever takes place with Bill Mazeroski’s walkoff, Series-winning blast; a forgotten hero in Hal Smith is also discussed.
There’s Yankee pitcher Ralph Terry heroically speaks of the Mazeroski home he served up…Clemente’s bitterness over his lack of recognition…Danny Murtaugh’s managerial skill was a key…Roy Face’s 1959 mastery and his importance in 1960…much humor and colorful characters surrounded this team, mainly focusing on slugger Dick “Strangeglove” Stuart, a horrible defensive first baseman who once received a standing ovation for snagging a hot dog wrapper which blew across the field toward him…the pitching staff and the defense (especially Clemente and Bill Mazeroski) also are heavily featured.
The author interviewed almost every living Pirate, making this book and the miraculous 1960 season spring to life. Read it and re-live the 1960 Bucs.
What a wild ride that season stunning comebacks were routine for the Bucs; Casey Stengel mis-management probably cost the Yankees the Series; Mantle sobs over his most disappointing baseball experience ever; what should arguably be considered as the most important home run ever takes place with Bill Mazeroski’s walkoff, Series-winning blast; a forgotten hero in Hal Smith is also discussed.
There’s Yankee pitcher Ralph Terry heroically speaks of the Mazeroski home he served up…Clemente’s bitterness over his lack of recognition…Danny Murtaugh’s managerial skill was a key…Roy Face’s 1959 mastery and his importance in 1960…much humor and colorful characters surrounded this team, mainly focusing on slugger Dick “Strangeglove” Stuart, a horrible defensive first baseman who once received a standing ovation for snagging a hot dog wrapper which blew across the field toward him…the pitching staff and the defense (especially Clemente and Bill Mazeroski) also are heavily featured.
The author interviewed almost every living Pirate, making this book and the miraculous 1960 season spring to life. Read it and re-live the 1960 Bucs.
- GenresBaseball
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 22, 2024
19 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Wayne Stewart
78 books5 followersWAYNE STEWART has been a professional sports writer for more than 30 years, and has published hundreds of articles in such publications as USA Today/Baseball Weekly, Baseball Digest, Boy's Life, and Beckett Baseball Card Monthly.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 16, 2025
The only time a World Series has been won by a walk-off home run in game 7occurred in 1960 when Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates belted a home run to give the Pirates a thrilling 10-9 victory over the New York Yankees. This book by Wayne Stewart is a very good account of that special season for the Pirates.
One of the best things about this book is how complete Stewart’s account is of the 1960 Pirates. Going well beyond game summaries and brief biographies, Stewart conducted hundreds of interviews with various players, managers and other people associated with the team. These also included others who observed the team - his interviews with Yankees who played in the 1960 World Series is a great example of this.
Something that is good about the book is that he goes beyond the walls of 1960 in his accounts of various personnel. The best example of this is his write ups on Branch Rickey and Bobby Bragan. Both men worked in the Pirates organization as general manager and field manager respectively. Both were not with the team in 1960, but both men are credited with helping mold the team into what it became in 1960. Keep in mind these write ups are done mostly through interviews, which is how the bulk of the information in the book is obtained.
Stewart also addresses many myths or outright falsehoods that may still be said today about that World Series or the team. The most notable one is that the Yankees were a much superior team to the Pirates. While it was true that the Yankees had more star players and were in the midst of a dynasty in which they won 14 American League championships and 9 World Series championships, in 1960 they had only two more wins in the regular season than the Pirates (97 for New York, 95 for Pittsburgh). It was also considered an upset because all three Yankee wins were blowouts (combined score was 39-3) while all four Pirates wins were close. Also, Stewart address other stories such as why Mazeroski wasn’t with the team after the clubhouse celebration and why Roberto Clemente was upset about being snubbed for being named Most Valuable Player as it went to teammate Dick Groat.
If a reader wants to know anything new about that championship Pirates team, this is a great source to find it. Practically no item is left out in capturing that wonderful year in Pirates history.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
One of the best things about this book is how complete Stewart’s account is of the 1960 Pirates. Going well beyond game summaries and brief biographies, Stewart conducted hundreds of interviews with various players, managers and other people associated with the team. These also included others who observed the team - his interviews with Yankees who played in the 1960 World Series is a great example of this.
Something that is good about the book is that he goes beyond the walls of 1960 in his accounts of various personnel. The best example of this is his write ups on Branch Rickey and Bobby Bragan. Both men worked in the Pirates organization as general manager and field manager respectively. Both were not with the team in 1960, but both men are credited with helping mold the team into what it became in 1960. Keep in mind these write ups are done mostly through interviews, which is how the bulk of the information in the book is obtained.
Stewart also addresses many myths or outright falsehoods that may still be said today about that World Series or the team. The most notable one is that the Yankees were a much superior team to the Pirates. While it was true that the Yankees had more star players and were in the midst of a dynasty in which they won 14 American League championships and 9 World Series championships, in 1960 they had only two more wins in the regular season than the Pirates (97 for New York, 95 for Pittsburgh). It was also considered an upset because all three Yankee wins were blowouts (combined score was 39-3) while all four Pirates wins were close. Also, Stewart address other stories such as why Mazeroski wasn’t with the team after the clubhouse celebration and why Roberto Clemente was upset about being snubbed for being named Most Valuable Player as it went to teammate Dick Groat.
If a reader wants to know anything new about that championship Pirates team, this is a great source to find it. Practically no item is left out in capturing that wonderful year in Pirates history.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
November 14, 2024
You can also see this review, along with others I have written, at my blog, Mr. Book's Book Reviews.
Mr. Book just finished 1960: When The Pittsburgh Pirates Had Them All The Way, by Wayne Stewart.
This is a very good look at the 1960 World Series champion Pirates. The book features bios of every member of the team, along with a look at the team’s season as well as some coverage of other events in the majors at the time. In addition to the long section on the players, the other big portion of the book was on the World Series. The coverage of all of the twists to Game 7 was excellent.
I give this book an A.
Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews, and Goodreads.
Mr. Book finished reading this on November 14, 2024.
Mr. Book just finished 1960: When The Pittsburgh Pirates Had Them All The Way, by Wayne Stewart.
This is a very good look at the 1960 World Series champion Pirates. The book features bios of every member of the team, along with a look at the team’s season as well as some coverage of other events in the majors at the time. In addition to the long section on the players, the other big portion of the book was on the World Series. The coverage of all of the twists to Game 7 was excellent.
I give this book an A.
Goodreads requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
This review has been posted at my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews, and Goodreads.
Mr. Book finished reading this on November 14, 2024.
November 8, 2025
The quote-heavy style works best once the narrative arrives at the World Series, and especially in the extended section on Game 7--the ways the chorus of perspectives slows down time really heightens the drama. It's much less successful, I think, in sections with broader themes (eg, the Pirates' and Yankees' rosters), where the parade of similar quotations gives the impression of rereading an entry in a baseball almanac.
January 3, 2025
solid journal of the 1960 Pirates
A little monotonous at times with extra helpings of personalities and details. Insightful read and definately for the Pirate fan. A unique time in baseball history. Entertaining.
A little monotonous at times with extra helpings of personalities and details. Insightful read and definately for the Pirate fan. A unique time in baseball history. Entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews