10/9: WS Win In '60, Losses in '09 & '71; Mixed Playoff Bag; Hans 8th BA Crown; Irishman Hired; HBD Bob & Starling

• 1909 - The Tigers jumped on Howie Camnitz early, scoring five times in the second and third innings, in a 7-2 win over the Bucs at Forbes Field, squaring the World Series at a game apiece. Wild Bill Donovan limited the Pirates to five hits with seven K. Tommy Leach was the only Pittsburgh batter to solve him, delivering a pair of doubles. Ty Cobb stole home against reliever Vic Willis to help punctuate the win.
• 1911 - In a 10 inning, 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs at the West Side Grounds, Honus Wagner collected a pair of hits to finish the season with a .334 BA to win his eighth NL batting title. No one would wear that many crowns again until Tony Gwynn equalled Hans’ mark in 1997.
• 1947 - RHP Bob Moose was born in Export. He went to Franklin Regional HS, where he threw three no-hitters and was drafted by the hometown Bucs in 1965 during the 18th round. The righty added one more in the MLB, tossing a no-no against the Mets on September 20th, 1969. He died tragically and much too young in an auto accident while heading to a party celebrating his 29th birthday in 1976.
• 1960 - Vern Law won his second game against the Yankees‚ thanks to his own two out RBI double followed by Bill Virdon's two-run knock in the fifth inning. Roy Face retired the final eight Bronx Bombers for the save at Yankee Stadium. The 3-2 win evened the Series after a pair of NY runaways. The game’s big play was Virdon’s leaping grab of a Bob Cerv drive at the wall in the seventh inning, saving a pair of runs.

Bill Virdon 1960 Topps series

• 1969 - Danny Murtaugh was hired for the third time as Bucco bench boss. He replaced Alex Grammas, who took Larry Shepherd's spot. For 19 of the next 22 years, Grammas coached third base and infield for Sparky Anderson’s staffs, with a three year hiatus as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.
• 1971 - Pittsburgh scored three times in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of the World Series at Memorial Stadium on just one hit. But the Birds came back on the strength of three homers and a big night by Merv Rettenmund, who went long once and chased home three runs, to take the lidlifter 5-3.
• 1972 - The Pirates overcame an early 2-0 deficit and nipped the Cincinnati Reds at Riverfront Stadium 3-2 to take a two games to one lead in the NLCS. Manny Sanguillen homered and had a pair of RBI to back winner Bruce Kison and Dave Giusti, who earned the save.

Manny Sanguillen (image from Tracy Stallard Sports)

• 1974 - The Bucs were eliminated from the NLCS three games to one by LA as Don Sutton tossed a one-hitter in a 12-1 thrashing at Dodger Stadium. Steve Garvey had four hits, including two homers, with four runs scored and four RBI to lead the Big Blue onslaught. The Oakland A’s rolled over the Dodgers in five games to claim their third straight World Series crown.
• 1988 - OF Starling Marte was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He signed as an international free agent in 2007, and joined the big club in 2012, winning a regular OF spot in 2013. He homered on the first pitch he saw in the show off Houston’s Dallas Keuchel.
• 1990 - The Pirates fell behind three games-to-one in the NLCS by dropping a 5-3 decision to the Reds at TRS as Jose Rijo topped Bob Walk. Paul O’Neill and Chris Sabo homered for Cincinnati and Jay Bell went long for Pittsburgh.
• 1991 - Doug Drabek and Bob Walk combined on a five hitter as the Bucs won the opening game of the NLCS 5-1 against the Atlanta Braves at TRS. Andy Van Slyke had two hits, two runs, two RBI and a homer.

Andy Van Slyke 1989 Topps series.

• 1992 - Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield pitched Pittsburgh to a 3-2 victory over the Braves at TRS‚ giving the Pirates their first win in the NLCS. Wakefield was the first rookie to start a NL playoff game since Philadelphia's Charles Hudson in 1983. Gary Redus went 3-for-3 with a 2B, 3B and walk while Don Slaught added a homer.
• 2013 - The Pirate playoff run ended 6-1 at Busch Stadium as two-run homers by David Freese and Matt Adams gave Adam Wainwright all the support he needed to take the fifth and deciding game of the NLDS. Gerrit Cole pitched well, but after he was pulled for a pinch hitter in the sixth, the Cards scored four times off the Bucco bullpen. Pedro Alvarez singled home the lone score, giving him a MLB record for chasing home a run in each of his first six post-season games.