This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/10/2022
The 1971 World Series pitted the Baltimore Orioles against the Pittsburgh Pirates. While the O’s had the great pitching staff of Jim Palmer, Dave McNally, Mike Cuellar, and Pat Dobson who each won 20 or more games, the Bucs had the big bats of Willie Stargell, Al Oliver and Roberto Clemente. The series was a see-saw event, going right down to the deciding seventh game. Clemente, who was well on his way to earning the series MVP Award, put the Pirates on the board first by blasting a solo homer off Cuellar in the fourth. Pittsburgh would go on to beat Baltimore 2-1 for the crown.
This rare Type 1 photo documents the moment Clemente hit his solo homer. The camera captures the quiet moment when both Clemente and the box seat crowd behind him follows the ball’s trajectory, everyone a split second away from erupting in a burst of emotion when they realize it was a home run. The back of the Type 1 photo carries the rather non-cholent handwritten notation, “1971 World Series 7th Game Roberto Clemente hits home run.” A United Press International stamp is present along with an inventory number. The photo shows light edge wear but overall is a beauty. The 8 x 10” photo has been encapsulated by PSA and graded a Type 1 Authentic.