Dream Bracket 2: Bucs tap '60 stars, Fam-a-lee
PITTSBURGH -- Bill Mazeroski and the 1960 Pirates made history. Willie Stargell and the '79 Pirates were a beloved “Fam-a-lee.” Now, we’ll see where both Pittsburgh championship clubs stack up in a simulation against some of the best teams in Major League history.
Last week, Major League Baseball and Out of the Park Baseball 21 unveiled the MLB Dream Bracket 2: Dream Seasons. It’s a 64-team, best-of-seven simulation tournament featuring two of the best post-World War II teams from each of the 30 current Major League franchises as well as three Negro League teams and the 1994 Montreal Expos.
The Round of 64 is underway, and the championship round will take place on June 8-9. Select game simulations will stream live on MLB.com as well as the MLB and MLB Network Twitch channels. MLB Network’s Scott Braun and Jon Paul Morosi will provide play-by-play analysis for the live streaming games.
The 64-team bracket is divided into the American League and National League, with two “regions” for each league. The 1960 Pirates are in NL Region 1, while the ’79 Pirates are in NL Region 2. Hypothetically, it’s possible they could meet to determine who goes on to the final round.
• Complete Dream Bracket 2 rosters
Let’s look at where the Pirates stand in the upcoming Dream Bracket 2 tournament.
1960 Pirates
This championship club went 95-59 in the regular season before famously defeating the favored Yankees in the World Series, a victory clinched by Mazeroski’s walk-off homer at Forbes Field -- the only walk-off home run in Game 7 of a Fall Classic.
This browser does not support the video element.
They were led by shortstop Dick Groat, the 1960 NL MVP, and the slick-fielding second baseman Mazeroski. The lineup also featured a young Roberto Clemente in right field, catchers Smoky Burgess and Hal Smith, first baseman Dick Stuart, third baseman Don Hoak and outfielders Bill Virdon and Bob Skinner.
The rotation featured 1960 NL Cy Young Award winner Vern Law, 18-game winner Bob Friend and Harvey Haddix. Roy Face was the team’s bullpen ace, as he tallied 24 saves while posting a 2.90 ERA in 114 2/3 innings over 68 appearances.
The 1960 club opened tournament play with a seven-game triumph over the 1980 Phillies, a World Series-winning club led by Steve Carlton and Mike Schmidt.
1979 Pirates
Guided by manager Chuck Tanner and accompanied by Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family,” Pittsburgh’s most recent World Series champions went 98-64 in the regular season and blew past the Reds in the NL Championship Series before defeating the Orioles in seven games in the Fall Classic.
This club was full of bright-shining stars and big personalities, including Stargell and right fielder Dave Parker. They’ll have Omar Moreno, who stole 77 bases that season, in center field. Ed Ott and Steve Nicosia will work behind the plate, with veteran Manny Sanguillen available to hit off the bench. The infield includes Tim Foli, Phil Garner and Bill Madlock along with Stargell.
Their top three starting pitchers are John Candelaria, Bert Blyleven and Bruce Kison. Kent Tekulve, who worked 134 1/3 innings over 94 appearances, saved 31 games with a 2.75 ERA. “Teke” has a solid relief corps in front of him, too, including Enrique Romo, Grant Jackson and Jim Bibby.
The 1979 Pirates will begin their Dream Bracket run against the 2003 Marlins, who featured a young Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett along with catcher Ivan Rodriguez and speedy center fielder Juan Pierre.