I’m not going to give you any fluffy introduction on what this article is about. When you want steak for dinner you throw it on the grill. Let’s do it.
5) Sheffield vs Kendall: On June 28, 1998, the Pirates were trailing the Dodgers 4-1 when Gary Sheffield tried to score during a Paul Konerko rundown between first and second base. He was tagged out at home plate by Jason Kendall. Apparently the future 500 home run club member didn’t understand the point of the game is to get runners out before they cross the plate, and usually it’s wise to slide at home. But Gary had some choice words for the Pirates’ catcher and resident badass. This led to a bench clearing brawl in the City of Angels and Sheffield needed to go to the hospital after the game. It lit a fire under the Pirates and they came from behind to win the game 6-4.
4) Once Bitten Twice Cutch: On August 11, 2024, in the 3rd inning the Pirates were down 4-0 to the trolley Dodgers. Former Pirate Tyler Glasnow was on the hill and Cutch went oppo. It went just off Pages’ glove into the stands to give the Pirates their first runs of the game. Later in the game, the 8th inning to be exact, Cutch decided he didn’t like a Dodger touching his baseball at all and smoked it deep to left field for his 2nd 2-run home run of the game. This guys likes his 2’s. Unfortunately, the Pirates would fall in extras.
3) The Pirates Shutout the Dodgers in Game 3 of the 1974 NLCS: The Pittsburgh Pirates have only twice played a game in the playoffs at Dodger Stadium in LA. Both times came in 1974. Game 3 was the one that kept them alive in the series. They put up five runs in the 1st inning, two more in the 3rd, and pitchers Bruce Kison and Ramon Hernandez were bagels the whole way. Stargell and Richie Hebner each had 3 RBIs with all 3 of Hebner’s coming with 2 outs. Unfortunately the Buccos fell the next day and didn’t advance to the World Series with the Dodgers taking the five game set 3-1.
2) Willie Stargell hits it out of the stadium: No. That’s not a misprint. On August 5th, 1969, Willie Stargell hit the ball out of Dodger Stadium. Like, the whole way out. It went an estimated 506 feet over the right field pavilion into the parking lot. Pops had pop.
Honorable Mention:
Skenes Sits Em Dahn: Our guy struck out 9 on April 25, 2025, outdueling Yamamoto in a Pirates 3-0 win. But most people remember the excitement of 2025’s best pitcher against 2025’s best player. Shohei went 0-3 against Skenes and it was incredible.
The 5-3-5: On June 1st, 2022, this extremely rare double play happened in the 6th inning to help the Pirates secure their first sweep of the Dodgers since 2000. Yes, over twenty years. Ke’Bryan Hayes fielded a ball and threw to first baseman Michael Chavis who then threw back
across the diamond to Ke who tagged out the runner. A key moment in the game to help the Pirates get off the schneid in Hollywoodland.
Here it is. Something you’ve never read before.
Number 1) Willie Stargell hits it out of the stadium, again: No. That’s not a misprint. On May 8th, 1973, Willie Stargell hit the ball out of Dodger Stadium. Like, the whole way out. It went an estimated 470 feet over the right field pavilion into the parking lot. Pops had pop.
If you don’t agree with my list, you can cry about it. Hopefully we get another five moments in this upcoming series against the Dodgers that can make this a list of ten. Until then, my list is official.
