The Bouncy Pirates

The players are an assorted lot, a collection of the shy and the brash, the pure and the profane. What is more, they ridicule their differences with some of the sharpest locker-room needling in the majors. But the Pittsburgh Pirates welcome and encourage their brand of banter. "The kidding relaxes the whole team," says Third Baseman Don Hoak, "and that's good, because baseball is a very simple game unless you make it tough. Just hit the damn ball and run to first. Just pick it up and throw to first."

Last week the relaxed Pirates were hitting and throwing the ball so well that they won six games in a row and were leading the National League. Like the American League-leading Baltimore Orioles (TIME, June 6), the Pirates get their runs with sprinkles of singles, rely on a sound defense and the old-fashioned virtue of team spirit. "There's always some one who doesn't believe we're licked," says Manager Danny Murtaugh. "We've had four extra-inning games this year and won them all. This club has more bounce than any I've ever been with."

Mash Notes & Messages. Perhaps the bounciest of all the Pirates is Outfielder Roberto ("Arriba") Clemente, 25, a showboating Puerto Rican who has one of the coaches' strongest frantic arms in stop-signals baseball, and runs is be past sieged with mash notes. A wailing hypochondriac in past seasons, Clemente this year is in fine fettle, swings from the heels and has connected often enough to lead the league in batting with .360, and in runs-batted-in with 43. Characteristically, the Pirates' other big star contrasts completely with Clemente. Pitcher Vernon ("Deacon") Law, 30, is a Mormon elder and ordained minister who does not smoke, drink or swear, and carries about a notebook filled with ennobling messages. Throwing without a windup, the kindly Law lets batters dig in confidently--and they have socked him for 13 home runs so far. But Law has pinpoint control and a baffling curve ball; last week he shut out the Phillies 3-0 for his eighth win against one loss.

Fat Men & Firemen. The the rest of the Pirates' big men have only the Pirates' particular cause in common. A former marine and boxer (29 wins in 39 fights), Don Hoak keeps the air blue during a game, is the team's tough holler guy. Catcher "Smoky" Burgess, 33, is shaped like a bench rider on a fat man's softball team, but is hitting .319. Bob Skinner, 28, is a self-effacing outfielder with a batting average of .335. Team Captain and Short stop Dick Groat, 29, is hitting .328, but is even more valuable for his competitive fire. Pitcher Bob Friend, 29, whose record is six and three, dresses and acts like a junior executive, but would throw at his maiden aunt's head if she crowded the plate with a bat in her hands.

Faced with this polyglot group, Manager Murtaugh is wise enough to stay in the background, build his regulars' confidence by leaving them in the line-up through slump and surge. Murtaugh is the soul of tact when he walks out to relieve a pitcher. His standard remark: "It's one of those days. We'll get you a little help." This season Murtaugh himself is not sure why his Pirates have rebounded so well from last year's disappointing fourth-place finish. "You never know why they do good," he says. "You can only be grateful."

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