Never before in recent history has a team which hasn't won the pennant in seven years been as safe a bet to lead the National League as the Pittsburgh Pirates are in 1967. And seldom has it been so socially acceptable to root for such an overwhelming favorite. The Buccaneers play the majors' most exciting brand of ball, typified by MVP Roberto Clemente. The flashy Puerto Rican makes every catch in right field look tough, consistently throws behind baserunners, even to first, changes bats if a pitcher gets two strikes on him, and wins a couple of games a year by slapping a ninth-inning home run to the opposite field.

Batting champion Matty Alou specializes in infield hits, Bill Mazeroski and Gene Alley are the best doubleplay combination in baseball history, and catcher Jim Pagliaroni once played for the Red Sox. The Corsairs don't have a stopper or a dependable reliever, but their staff is competent and lovable: Woody Fryman is a tobacco farmer, Bob Veale is suing Sport Magazine for a million dollars, "Deacon" Law could be mayor of Pittsburgh or Meridian, Idaho, with no contest, Dennis Ribant is a Met who might make good, Elroy Face ... To understand why baseball will always be the national pastime, tune in the Pirates some night when they're down 3-0 going into the seventh and listen to announcer Bob Prince, the best in the business, root the Buccos on, single by single, as they go all the way.

No one has liked the Braves since they got rid of Gene Conley, Bill Bruton, Johnny Logan, Del Crandall, Milwaukee, and Eddie Mathews, but they're going to finish second this year. Clete Boyer is to third base as Mazeroski is to second and Hank Aaron and the Brave Bats make up for an invisible pitching staff. The Giants have Willie Mays, Juan Marichal, and the uncanny ability to never finish below third.

If anybody's going to beat Pittsburgh, it's St. Louis. The Cards own the Pirates in face-to-face meetings and need only a good season from Ray Washburn or Al Jackson to back up Bob Gibson in a pennant run. The Dodgers are mortal without Koufax and will start three or four players you've never heard of. Cincinnati, to be a challenger, needs a good season from too many people who had their last good season two or three years ago.

Houston has the league's best new pitching in Mike Cuellar, Larry Dierker, Claude Ravmond, and Dave Giusti, while Philadelphia has the best of the oldtimers -- Jim Bunning, Larry Jackson, Dick Ellsworth, and Dick Hall. Youth will tell as the Astros begin their climb.

The Chicago Cubs lineup includes three genuine major leaguers to two for the New York Mets. On the mound, Leo Durocher is going with an exciting crop of unproven youngsters like Ferguson Jenkins, Ken Holtzman, Dick Nye, and Ray Culp. Wes Westrum is counting on a stale harvest of sure-fire hard-luck losers: Jack Fisher, Don Cardwell, Bob Shaw, and Ralph Terry.

For what it's worth: Pirates, Braves, Giants, Cardinals, Dodgers, Reds, Astros, Phillies, Cubs, Mets.