Monday, July 1, 2013

July 1 - The Gunner, Roberto, Orlando and More...

Tight Games, Gunner's B-Day, Streak Broken, Fryman Gem, Roberto, Orlando Merced...

  • 1901 - The Bucs were blanked by the Phillies 1-0 at the Baker Bowl, the only time during the season when Pittsburgh was shut out, a 20th century NL record. Jack Chesbro tossed a four hitter for Pittsburgh, while the Bucs banged nine hits off Red Donahue but couldn’t push a run home.
  • 1916 - The Gunner, Bob Prince, was born in Los Angeles. He joined the club, teaming with Rosey Rowswell in 1948, and became the main announcer when Rowswell’s health began to fail. He and partner Nellie King were let go in 1975 after a long running dispute with KDKA management. The colorful and popular Prince returned to the booth in May, 1985, just weeks before he died of cancer. 
  • 1916 - Behind a Honus Wagner homer and Young O’Brien’s ninth inning single, Al Mamaux’s four hitter was enough to down the Reds and Elmer Knetzer 2-1 at Crosley Field. Mamaux was pretty good with the stick, too, hitting a double and triple while scoring the winning run.
  • 1920 - The Pirates played the Cardinals in the first game ever held at Sportsmans' Park (also the home of the AL's St. Louis Browns) after the Red Birds flew the outdated Robison Field coop. The Bucs took the debut game 6-2 in ten innings, with Hal Carlson getting the W and Babe Adams picking up the save.
  • 1926 - The Bucs broke an eight game losing streak by spanking the Cards at Forbes Field by a 7-3 tally as Kiki Cuyler and Pie Traynor each drove in three. In spite of that losing string, they took first place three weeks later, eventually fading to third with an 84-69 slate, five games out.
  • 1960 - The Bucs used their legs to defeat the Dodgers 4-3 in ten innings at Forbes Field. After LA had taken the lead in the top of the 10th on Charlie Neal’s homer, Joe Christopher doubled and scored on Roberto Clemente’s infield hit to the left side. Then The Great One turned on the jets to come home when Dick Stuart’s lazy fly to right dropped. Vern Law worked 9-2/3 innings, but the win went to Fred Green, who got the last out in the tenth.
  • 1966 - Rookie LHP Woodie Fryman one hit the Mets at Shea Stadium on the way to a 12-0 win. Fryman faced the minimum 27 batters and came this close to perfection. Ron Hunt, who led off the game with a single, was caught stealing by C Jim Pagliaroni and Fryman mowed down the next 26 NY hitters. Jose Pagan chipped in with three runs scored, four RBI and one of the Pirates’ four homers.
  • 1972 - Roberto Clemente’s seventh inning homer helped the Bucs rally to take a 2-1 lead over the Cubs at TRS. After the Cubbies answered with a pair of their own to regain their edge 3-2, Clemente homered again in the ninth with Milt May aboard for a walk-off 4-3 win. Both homers were off Fergie Jenkins, who lost to Dave Guisti in relief of Bob Moose.
  • 1996 - During a 4-1 win over Chicago at TRS‚ RF Orlando Merced pulled off an unassisted DP‚ catching Mark Grace's liner and then beating Scott Bullett to 1B. He also started another DP, catching a short pop and catching Doug Glanville off second with his throw to Jay Bell. Merced added a pair of hits, two RBI and a run scored to help Danny Darwin pick up the win.

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