Wednesday, May 21, 2014

5/21: Sure Shot, Mace Brown, Frankie Gustine, Quail & Groat, Travis Snider Slam, More...

Sure Shot, Mace Brown, Frankie Gustine, Quail & Groat, Travis Snider Slam, More...
  • 1859 - IF Fred “Sure Shot” Dunlap was born in Philadelphia. The slick fielder played for the Alleghenys from 1888-90, hitting .240. He also managed the club to a 61-71 record as a player manager in 1889. 
  • 1907 - In a move applauded over the decades by catchers everywhere, NL president Harry Pulliam dismissed the protest of Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke over NY Giant’s C Roger Bresnahan's donning of shin guards. He was the first, and at the time only, receiver to add them to the tools of ignorance. A safety first guy, Bresnahan also developed a prototype batter’s helmet. 
  • 1909 - RHP Mace Brown was born in North English, Iowa. He tossed seven years (1935-41) for the Pirates and in every role, from starter to closer, with a line of 55-45-29/3.67. Brown was an All-Star in 1938, when he led the NL in outings with 51, winning 15 games and saving five more. 

Mace Brown 1940 Play Ball series

  • 1913 - The Pirates beat Brooklyn 5-2 at Ebbett’s Field‚ and per Greg Beston of Retrosheet, set a small-ball MLB record with four sac bunts in an inning. Babe Adams got the win. 
  • 1924 - C Ed Fitz Gerald was born in Santa Ynez, California. He spent six (1948-53) of his 12 big league years in Pittsburgh, mainly as a reserve, hitting .247. Fitz spent the second half of his career with the Washington Senators. 
  • 1948 - Frankie Gustine went 5-for-5 to lead Pittsburgh to an 8-4 win over the Dodgers. He scored four runs and drove in a pair at Ebbets Field. 
  • 1962 - The Bucs beat the Cubs 8-4 at Forbes Field behind the top two guys in the order, Bill Virdon and Dick Groat. They went 8-for-9 with a walk, two doubles, scored twice and drove in six runs. Tom Sturdivant earned the win; he tossed 6-⅓ shutout frames in relief of Earl Francis. 
  • 2013 - The Cubs scored first and last, but the Bucs scored enough in the middle, keyed by a sixth inning Travis Snider grand slam, to eke out a 5-4 win. Snider’s grannie was his first ever and the first Buc pinch hit slam at PNC Park since 2003, rallying the Pirates from a 3-0 hole to a 5-3 win.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The way the Pirates are playing, your 'today in Bucco history' posts are the only things worth reading these days.

Ron Ieraci said...

Anon, some days it's just easier to think on past glories.