4 games3games

1971 Cardinals defeat 1971 Pirates:  4 games to 3

Game #1 (9/1) @PIT Cards Edge Bucs 4-3 in 10
Game #2 (9/2) @PIT Bucs Beat Cards 7-3, 2 HRs For Robertson
Game #3 (9/4) @STL Pit Pounds St. Louis 15-5
Game #4 (9/5) @STL Cards Clobber Bucs 10-2
Game #5 (9/6) @STL St. Louis Edges Pittsburgh 6-5 in 10
Game #6 (9/8) @PIT Pit knots series at 3 with 10-6 win over Stl
Game #7 (9/9) @PIT Cards outlast Bucs 6-4 to win series

Series Stats: Cardinals and Pirates

THREE RIVERS (AP) - A classic battle between a veteran team that had won 3 pennants in a 5 year stretch vs an up and coming team that had a great balance of veterans and young ball players.  Neither team possessed a dominant pitching staff, although the Cardinals staff had plenty more big game experience.

In a 7 game series one likes to point to a specific turning point that spurred one team on to victory.  In this series there were many turning points, but the key here is that the Cardinals won all the close games, while Pittsburgh relied entirely on their big guns.  The Cardinals had the ability to play small ball when needed, which is evidenced by Lou Brock's .472 on base percentage.  Time and time again Brock would get on base and then steal second or third to help the Cards manufacture runs, especially in the 2 extra inning games that they one.  Game 7 favored the Cardinals since they were able to put the ultimate game 7 pitcher, Bob Gibson on the mound, while the Pirates had to rely on journeyman Nelson Briles.  Simply put, it was no contest.  Gibby went the distance and only gave up 2 earned runs, while Briles was gone by the 5th.  Brock would have to the the hero of the series, while Pirate reliever Dave Giusti who blew to games in the late innings would have to be the goat.