BACKGROUND: Consistency eluded the Pirates during Chuck Tanner's first three months in charge. The Bucs started 1977 by committing three errors in their first inning in the field and getting swept in a three-game home series with St. Louis. Less than two weeks later, however, they would embark on a 16-wins-in-17-games joyride, surging to a 2.5-game lead in the NL East on May 24 and earning Dave Parker a Sports Illustrated cover appearance. On the pages inside, Walter Bingham opined that Tanner "has given Pittsburgh fresh verve and a new look that has nothing to do with the variety of jazzy uniforms the players are wearing these days.
Pennant Race Flashback: August 5, 1977
