7/8 Happenings: 26 For Hanny; Clemente Statue Unveiled; Owner Concessions; Foul Ball Felony; Cover Boy Bob; ASGs - Arky's 2 HR

• 1921 - A ruling by the City of Pittsburgh allowed fans to keep balls hit into the stands in Forbes Field. Robert Alderdice‚ the Director of Public Safety, made the call following threatened lawsuits against police who had earlier arrested three fans for refusing to return balls to the team. 
• 1935 - SS Arky Vaughan and RF Paul Waner repped the Pirates in the All-Star game at Cleveland Stadium. Vaughan doubled, walked and scored in three at-bats while Waner was 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter in the AL’s 4-1 win. 

Arky Vaughan 1941 Play Ball

• 1941 - At Detroit's Briggs Stadium, SS Arky Vaughan became the first player to hit two home runs in an All-Star Game, cracking a pair of two-run homers in the NL's 7-5 loss. Arky went 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBI in his eighth straight (and final) AS appearance. 3B Bob Elliott and C Al Lopez also played, both going 0-for-1. 
• 1946 - Per BR Bullpen, a special meeting of clubs was held to deal with player demands (desertions to the Mexican League were beginning to dilute the MLB product), and the owners did make some concessions. The results were a $5,000 minimum salary, $25-per-week training-camp expenses, a fixed period for spring training, 25 days for post-season barnstorming, and a maximum pay cut of no more than 25 percent. A pension fund aimed at providing $100 a month for retired 10-year players was set, to be funded by World Series broadcast rights and net proceeds from All-Star Games. Each league will also name a player rep to attend the baseball councils. 
• 1947 - Pittsburgh’s All-Star at Wrigley Field was 3B Frank Gustine, who went 0-for-2 in a 2-1 loss to the junior circuit. 
• 1952 - For the fourth straight year, OF Ralph Kiner was the sole Pirate rep for the All Star Game. The NL won 3-2 in a rain-shortened, five-inning game at Shibe Park. Kiner was scheduled to enter the game in the seventh and didn’t get to play.

Ralph was a loner in ASG's 1952 Star-Cal Decal

• 1958 - The Pirates sent a full contingent of P Bob Friend, 2B Bill Mazeroski, OF Bob Skinner and 3B Frank Thomas to the All Star Game at Memorial Stadium, a 4-3 AL win. Bob Friend took the loss, giving up two runs in 2-1/3 innings, with the last score unearned thanks to a boot by teammate Thomas. Skinner went 1-for-3 with a RBI, Thomas 1-for-3 and Maz 0-for-4. 
• 1967 - Bob Veale was featured as the cover story of The Sporting News in an article titled “Bread and Butter Buccaneer.” He went 16-8/3.64 and worked 203 IP, a down year for him as nagging injuries began to take their toll on the big lefty. 
• 1980 - The NL topped the AL 4-2 at Dodger Stadium in the All Star game with Chuck Tanner as manager. 2B Phil Garner went 1-for-2 with a run, walk and stolen base while RF Dave Parker went 0-for-2. Jim Bibby pitched a clean seventh inning, while Kent Tekulve watched the game from the bullpen. 
• 1994 - The statue of Roberto Clemente, located in front of Roberto Clemente Bridge and designed by sculptor Susan Wagner, was dedicated outside of Gate B at TRS. When PNC Park opened in 2001, it was reinstalled just beyond center field. A neat factoid: under glass blocks representing first, second, and third base is soil from Puerto Rico, Forbes Field and Three Rivers Stadium. 

Clemente Statue (photo Kimberly & Albrecht Powell)

• 1997 - The junior circuit short circuited the NL by a 3-1 score at the All Star game played at Jacobs Field. 2B Tony Womack was the Bucs’ representative and grounded out in his only at bat. 
• 2011 - Joel Hanrahan notched his 26th straight save of the season (although he did suffer a couple of losses in non-save situations) when he pitched a perfect ninth against the Cubs, striking out a pair, in a 7-4 win at PNC Park. He would blow his next save opp 10 days later (the Pirates didn’t have many leads to protect in the latter stages of the 2011 season) when he was tagged with a run-producing double by Houston’s Chris Johnson.