Reporters often forget that athletes are human beings.

Following a Pirate sweep of the Friday-night double-header Stargell belted a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning of the season's penultimate game to give the Pirates an early 4-1 lead although the Pirates would relinquish that lead later in the game and fall two runs short after a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning thus eliminating themselves from contention for the pennant. The practice began during the turbulent 1978 season when the Pirates came from fourth place and 11. In addition the short fence in right field (300 feet to the foul pole) was guarded by a screen more than 20 feet high which ran from the right-field line to the 375-foot mark in right center.

Stargell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988. Over his 21-year career with the Pirates he batted.