8/28 Thru The 1960s: Arriba Attack, Ray's 27-Gamer, Deacon & Howie Gems, Suhr Streak, Kiki Duet, Jewels Replaces Donie, Shep Signed, HBD Mark, Howie, Wally, Willis, Cholly & Chauncey

1873 - IF Bill “Chauncey” Stuart was born in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania. Bill was a two-sport star, also playing halfback for Penn State football. As a 21-year-old, he got into 19 games and collected 77 at-bats in 1895 with the Pirates, batting .247; he would get one more major league outing in 1899 with the NY Giants, going 0-for-3. He retired after that and went into oil speculation. He died in Fort Worth, but was buried close to home at State College.

1898 - Charlie “Jolly Cholly” Grimm was born in St. Louis. The 1B played six years (1919-24) in Pittsburgh, hitting .286, but made his reputation with Chicago in the following dozen years after a big 1924 trade sent him to the Windy City and played for four teams through 20 campaigns. Charlie became a manager after his playing days with stops in Boston/Milwaukee and the Cubs. He earned his nickname for his cheerful, upbeat manner, ala Chuck Tanner.

1898 - Willis Moody was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia. He came to Pittsburgh as a 21-year-old to play for the Keystones and later spent four seasons with the Homestead Grays. He only got into a dozen games as a Gray (he mostly played for the indy black teams that were based in the area), but left his mark on the City as an amateur sportsman, starting youth teams in Belzhoover, a baseball team in the 18th Ward of Pittsburgh, and managing several local semi-pro clubs.

1902 - OF Wally Roettger was born in St. Louis. Wally ended his eight-year MLB career (spent mostly with the Cards and Reds) in Pittsburgh in 1934, hitting .245. A college hoopster in addition to being a ballplayer, Wally went on to become the baseball skipper at the University of Illinois from 1935-51 and an assistant basketball coach from 1936-49; he started on that trail when he coached hoops at Illinois Wesleyan during the baseball off-season. His tale had a sad ending; at age 49, with heart problems and failing eyesight, he took his own life.

Wally Roettger - 1934 George Burke/Real Photo Postcard

1911 - Pirate super scout Howie Haak was born in Rochester, NY. Pittsburgh discovered much of its legendary Latino talent from the mid-1950s through the 1980s thanks to Haak's efforts. He recommended that Pittsburgh draft Roberto Clemente from the Brooklyn system and signed Manny Sanguillen, Omar Moreno and Rennie Stennett of Panama; Julian Javier, Tony Pena, Jose DeLeon, and Cecilio Guante of the Dominican Republic; Al McBean of the Virgin Islands and Roman Mejias of Cuba. Howie left Pittsburgh after the 1988 season and spent the final five years of his scouting career working for the Houston Astros, retiring at the age of 82. He passed away at age 87 in Palm Springs in 1999. Haak was selected as the first recipient of the Scout of the Year award in 1984.

1925 - The Pirates hung on to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 10-9 at the Baker Bowl. Kiki Cuyler had four hits, including a pair of inside-the-park homers, Eddie Moore and Clyde Barnhart added three knocks apiece and George Grantham homered. Babe Adams and Tom Sheehan gave up five runs in the bottom of the ninth and Ray Kremer had to come on to get the final out with the bases juiced. He retired pinch hitter Nelson “Chicken” Hawks, who was batting for the second time in the inning and already had a hit and run scored under his belt.

1929 - Donie Bush resigned as the Pirate manager, replaced by coach Jewel Ens. Bush took the team to the World Series in 1927, where they were swept by the Murderer’s Row Yankees, playing without Kiki Cuyler, who Bush had benched. The Pirates had lost 8-of-9 when Bush resigned and were 14-½ games behind the eventual titlists, the Chicago Cubs.

1930 - The Pirates scored in double figures for the third straight game, beating the Cincy Reds 11-2 at Forbes Field in the second game of a twin bill after winning 16-12 in the lid lifter. The club started the streak at Wrigley Field with a 10-8 win over the Chicago Cubs. Gus Suhr went 7-for-13 with six runs, eight RBI, two homers, two triples and a double over that span.

Gus Suhr - 1930 Cracker Jack pin

1940 - Homestead Grays RHP Ray Brown earned his 27th consecutive victory (vs. all competition, both barnstorming and league) over a two-year span when he shut out the Baltimore Elite Giants 5-0 on three hits, bringing his record to 12-0 (he finished 15-4). Brown played for Cum Posey's Grays from 1932-45 and again in 1947-48 (in fact, he married Posey’s daughter Ethel), winning 109 games in his career. He was selected for the Hall of Fame in 2006.

1951 - The Bucs ended the New York Giants winning streak at 16 games, the longest since 1935, when LHP Howie Pollet tossed a six-hit shutout for a 2-0 win at the Polo Grounds. The Pirates only had three hits (two by rookie Frank Thomas), but were issued eight free passes (three to Ralph Kiner), and both eighth-inning Bucco runs were unearned following two-out muffs.

1953 - You’d think a seven-run inning would be plenty to ensure a win, but the Pirates proved it not so against the Cards at Forbes Field. The Redbirds scored four runs in the fifth to take a 6-1 lead, but the Bucs, powered by longballs off the bats of Frank Thomas and Vic Janowicz, came right back with a seven spot of their own to regain the lead. But Big Mo proved fickle; St. Louis put up four more runs in the seventh and the Bucs were out of rallies. Pittsburgh scored in the seventh to cut the lead to a run, but left the bases loaded to squelch their last hurrah.

1956 - The Bucs spotted Warren Spahn and the first place Milwaukee Braves a four-run lead at County Stadium, then scored four times in the seventh to tie the game on the back of Dale Long’s three-run homer. The Pirates took command the next frame when Dick Groat’s two-out infield knock to the SS hole plated Frank Thomas and Pittsburgh held on for a 5-4 victory, credited to ElRoy Face. A tag team sixth-inning catch may have ignited the Bucs: per the Milwaukee Journal's Cleon Walfoort "Clemente and Bill Virdon robbed Spahn of an extra-base hit and the Braves of one or more runs. Clemente got his glove on the ball against the fence and Virdon grabbed it as it squirted out. It was just after this remarkable catch that the Pirates came to life."

Dale Long - 1956 Topps

1959 - Vern Law whitewashed the Philadelphia Phillies 9-0 on five hits at Forbes Field, striking out seven and supported by three solo homers off the bats of Roberto Clemente, Smoky Burgess and Rocky Nelson. Clemente’s was an inside-the-park four-bagger that hit off the flagpole in left center 457’ away on one hop. Pittsburgh banged out 10 hits and drew nine walks.

1960 - OF/1B Mark Ryal was born in Henryetta, Oklahoma. Mark closed out a bits-and-pieces five-team, six-year MLB career with the Bucs in 1990, going 1-for-12. He went to Japan for a couple of years afterward. He scouted briefly and got into college coaching; he’s now an amateur coach and private tutor. Mark’s main claim to fame is that he was the last lefty to play shortstop in MLB, manning the spot in 1987 as a California Angel.

1964 - Joe Gibbon and the Phils’ Jim Bunning traded zeroes for the first seven innings at Forbes Field. Then Bunning led a charge of four straight Philadelphia hits in the eighth as the Brotherly Love nine pulled ahead 2-0 before Tommie Sisk and Roy Face could quiet their bats. The score stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth. A Bill Virdon knock and one-out Jerry Lynch walk was followed by a Willie Stargell single to make it 2-1, and then old Shake, Rattle and Roll, Smoky Burgess, lifted an Ed Roebuck offering into the seats to walk off a 4-2 win. 

1967 - Roberto Clemente had three hits, including two homers, to lead the Bucs to a 4-3 win over the Braves. He hit the game winning blast with two outs in the 10th at Atlanta Stadium. Denny Ribant got the win and Juan Pizarro the save.

1968 - The Bucs gave Larry Shepard a new contract. GM Joe Brown said “I’m making the announcement now to give the players an incentive to finish higher, knowing Larry will be back.” The incentive didn’t light much of a fire under the players - Larry managed the Pirates to an 80-82 record in 1968, and the Pirates were 84-73 when the team fired him late in the 1969 campaign and replaced him with Alex Grammas, who was bumped by Danny Murtaugh in 1970.

8/28 From 1970: Byrd Swoops, El Toro Launch, Johan-Brian & Josh Gems, Pops Gun, Game Days, Neagle-Schmidt, HBD TJ

1972 - Willie Stargell almost single-handedly carried the Bucs to a 5-3 win over San Diego at TRS with a pair of two-run blasts off Mike Caldwell. His bombs gave Bob Moose a 5-1 lead to work with, and until the ninth he was cruising before the Padres banged back-to-back long balls with one out; he then gave up a single. Ramon Hernandez was waved in; he gave up another knock to bring the winning run to the plate. Ramon settled down, and a whiff & a pop into short right closed the book. Pops’ blasts were big; the Pirates only had six hits during the contest. 

1974 - The Giants banged out 14 hits at Candlestick Park, but the Bucs took home the bacon with a 3-1 in 11 innings on Ed Kirkpatrick’s two-out double. San Francisco stranded 16 runners as Jerry Reuss and game winner Dave Giusti bent but didn’t break. It was Pittsburgh’s sixth straight win and nudged them 1-1/2 games ahead of the Cardinals.

1978 - John Candelaria, pitching through a bad elbow (he had to skip some starts to let it calm down), went six innings of two-hit, one-run, six-strikeout ball and Ed Whitson followed with three no-hit frames as the Bucs tossed their way past the Reds 3-1 at Riverfront Stadium. It wasn’t much of an attack by the Pirates - Dave Parker’s triple sent home Omar Morena while Bill Robinson had a sac fly & blooper to plate Parker and later, Steve Brye. Pittsburgh stranded 10 runners during the contest, leaving the bases loaded twice to allow the Redlegs some false hope.

1980 - RHP TJ Beam was born in Scottsdale, Arizona. TJ put his second and last MLB campaign in with the Pirates in 2008, slashing 2-2-1/4.14 in 32 appearances. He afterward inked a couple of minor league deals and closed out his playing days in an indie league. Beam served as a pitching coach for Ole Miss for two seasons when he returned to campus to complete his degree.

1988 - The Atlanta Braves sent IF Ken Oberkfell and cash to the Pirates for OF Tommy Gregg. Oberkfell spent a season and change with the Bucs as a seldom used reserve, batting .181 in 34 games, while Gregg played nine more years, mostly as a reserve/platoon outfielder.

Ken Oberkfell - 1989 Topps

1992 - OF Dave Clark, signed as a minor league free agent during the off season, became the first modern-era Buffalo Bison (then the Pirates top farm club) to hit for the cycle during a 16-9 win over the current AAA squad, Indianapolis. He added six RBI, and was called up to the big team in September, starting a run with the Pirates that lasted into the 1996 campaign.

1996 - LHP Denny Neagle was traded to the Atlanta Braves for RHP Jason Schmidt, OF Corey Pointer and 1B Ron Wright. Schmidt continued the series of starters who would be developed by the Bucs (like Neagle) just to blossom elsewhere because of salary constraints in Pittsburgh. Schmidt went 44-47/4.39 in six Bucco seasons before breaking out as a Giant (three All-Star nods & a World Series); Neagle had gone 43-35/4.02 for his five seasons as a Pirate before five strong campaigns with the Braves (All-Star) and Reds, with two World Series. With that deal done, the Bucs and Cards, along with Cleveland, began talking turkey regarding Jeff King, but they couldn’t agree on a return and Jeff made it through the season before being sent to KC in the winter.

2002 - Atlanta’s Greg Maddux hooked up with Brian Meadows in a pitching duel at PNC Park; Maddux went nine innings and Meadows eight, leaving a 0-0 game to their bullpens. Scott Sauerbeck tossed an uneventful ninth, but his next-in-line, Mike Williams, made it exciting in the 10th when he loaded the bases with two outs and went 3-2 on Rafael Furcal before getting him to fan. Mike Remlinger couldn’t match the drama. He worked the bonus frame, walking a pair with one away before Brian Giles shot a ball into the RF corner to chase home the winning run in a 1-0 cliffhanger. It would have been a tough loss to swallow; the Bucs had 10 hits but couldn’t cash anyone in until Giles came through. Family affair: it was the first time the Giles brothers, Brian and Marcus, met in an MLB game.

2003 - Josh Fogg tossed a four-hitter - he didn’t give up a hit until the sixth inning - en route to a 5-0 win over the Marlins and Dontre Willis at TRS. Jack Wilson had four RBI, with the game’s key blow a two-out, bases-loaded double in the fourth to give Fogg a cushion to work with. Mike Lincoln and Julian Taveras got the final four outs to preserve the whitewash. Kip Wells had shutout the Fish in the previous game as the Pirates swept the three-game series.

Josh Fogg - 2003 Upper Deck Vintage

2007 - Freddy Sanchez and Matt Capps were the Bucs’ two-headed monster at PNC Park in a twin sweep of the Reds. Freddy’s grand salami was the big blow in a 6-5 win in the opener while his eighth-inning triple in the nightcap led to the winning tally in a 3-2 victory. The Mad Capper carried his weight, too, saving both ends of the doubleheader for Tom Gorzelanny and Shawn Chacon. The Pirates were riding a bit of a wave, with 14 wins in the last 20 games.

2012 - Pedro Alvarez hit the longest homer by a Pirate at PNC Park, (he bettered his this blast in October, 2015, blasting one 479’), bombing a sixth inning Brandon Dickson delivery 469’ for his 25th dinger. The shot cleared the yard in center and bounced onto the Allegheny Riverwalk during the Bucs 9-0 win over St. Louis. El Toro also added a 422’ shot in the third off Jake Westbrook and finished the game a triple shy of the cycle as James McDonald got the win, giving up two hits with six K in seven frames.  

2013 - Newly acquired Marlon Byrd hit a homer and tallied three RBI in his first game with the Bucs to lead Pittsburgh to a 7-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park. Charlie Morton earned the victory. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Byrd was the third Pirate player to hit a home run and have at least three RBI in his first game with the team after playing for another MLB team earlier in the season. The other quick-off-the-blocks starters: Derrek Lee hit two dingers and had three RBI on August 1st, 2011 after being traded by the Orioles and Shawon Dunston hit two long balls and drove in four runs on September 2nd, 1997 after being acquired from the Cubs.

2022 - The Bucs snapped an ugly seven-game losing streak by dropping the Phils at Citizens Bank Park by a 5-0 score. The stopper was rookie Roansy Contreras, who spun five shutout frames while giving up three hits, two walks and fanning seven. Manny Banuelos, Duane Underwood Jr. and Wil Crowe pitched one-hit ball the rest of the way to toss the Bucs first road shutout of the season. The Pirates banged out three triples (Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz and Tucupita Marcano) and used a balanced attack as all nine Pirates starters posted a hit, RBI or run scored to gang up on Noah Syndergaard. 

Roansy Contreras - 2022 Topps Fire

2023 - Ellwood City native Hack Wilson had a Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission roadside marker dedicated to him on Woodside Avenue (PA Route 65) at the Lincoln HS Baseball Field in Ewing Park, with the event hosted by the Ellwood City Area Historical Society. In 1930 as a Chicago Cub, Hack swatted 56 home runs, the National League record for 68 years, and drove in 191 runs, a mark yet to be topped. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979.

2023 - Johan Oviedo tossed his first career complete game (and, needless to say, his first career shutout), a 112-pitch, two-hit 5-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. He struck out five, walked a pair and didn’t allow a runner to reach second base. The Buccos backed him with a 12-hit attack. Ke’Bryan Hayes went 4-for-4 with a walk to lead the lumbermen, who shot themselves in the foot by bouncing into three double plays.

2024 - The most runs that the Pirates ever yielded to the Cubs in a three-game home series was 27, happening way back in 1890 and 1897. Well, guess what? Even with the Bucs top trio of Mitch Keller, Jared Jones and Paul Skenes on the hill, the mark was shattered with 41 Cubby tallies. The Pirates lost the first two matches 18-8 and 9-5 but were up 10-3 in the seventh inning of today’s game. It didn’t hold - it was 10-8 going into the ninth for David Bednar, but by the time the smoke cleared, the Cubbies had a sweep, running away with a 14-10 decision. One notable detail: Oneil Cruz got his first outing in CF (he had one inning of MLB outfield time in 2022, in LF). And a final note: It’s the first time they’ve blown a seven-run lead since June 2, 2011 (Mets, 9-8).

8/27 Through the 1964: Mota Runnin', Kirby Cavalry, 00 Buccos, Home Thief, Run Record, Game Days, Josh ASG Hero, HBD Mike M, Mike E, Cholly, Eddie & David

1875 - RHP David Wright was born in Dennison, Ohio. He had a slim MLB resume, working one game for the Bucs in 1895 and giving up six runs in two innings featuring a pair of wild pitches, then tossing a barely more successful outing for the Chicago Colts two years later.

1887 - The Alleghenys gave up the most runs in club history when they were bombed by the Boston Beaneaters 28-14 at North Side's Recreation Park. It was the sixth season of the franchise and its first in the NL, with the Alleghenys finishing sixth with a record of 55–69.

1894 - IF Eddie Mulligan was born in St. Louis. Mulligan had a long minor league career with short MLB interludes. He made his big league debut with the 1915-16 Chicago Cubs, then returned to the minors. In 1921, he joined the Chicago White Sox after the Black Sox scandal and after two seasons there, he went back to the minors with the San Francisco Seals. Five years later in 1928, Mulligan spent his final season in the majors as a utility infielder for the Pirates, batting .233. Eddie returned to the Pacific Coast League for another decade. Overall, he spent 17 years in the PCL for eight teams, banging out 2,574 hits. He was elected to the PCL Hall of Fame and was later recognized when honored with the King of Baseball award given by Minor League Baseball.

1903 - IF Charlie “Cholly” Engel was born in New York City. Cholly had a couple of cups of coffee in the show, then got his only real taste of the bigs with Pittsburgh in 1930 when he got into 67 games, manning 2B, SS & 3B while hitting .264. Cholly played in the minors for eight years after that, then managed on the farm through the 1950 season. Engle went on to run a bar/restaurant in San Antonio for 25 years after his baseball days.

Max Carey - 2001 SP Legendary Cuts

1917 - In the fourth inning in New York at the Polo Grounds, Max Carey beat out a bunt and moved to second on a single by Tony Boeckel. Both runners stole on the next pitch from Rube Benton and when Boekel and the Giants 2B Buck Herzog got jumbled up at second, Carey steamed home before they could untangle themselves. Wilbur Cooper made that one run stand up to top Benton and the G-Men, 1-0. It was Carey’s 13th swipe of home; he would set the National League standard of 33 steals of home during his career. The loss didn’t slow down the Gotham nine, which won the NL title with 98 victories. The Pirates went the opposite way, winning just 51 times and finishing in the cellar.

1925 - The Bucs tossed their second straight shutout against Boston at Braves Field, winning 1-0. The Pirates Vic Aldridge and Boston’s Larry Benton traded four-hitters; Pie Traynor drove in Eddie Moore with the game’s only run with a bases-loaded walk. Aldridge won 15 games during the season with two dubs in the World Series, topping Stan Coveleski both times. The day before, Lee Meadows threw a nine-hit 2-0 whitewash of the Braves without striking out a soul; Aldridge struck out three in his win.

1936 - The Pirates beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 6-3 at Forbes Field. The highlight came after the game, when losing pitcher Van Lingle Mungo, in a snit because of the four errors the Dodgers made that led to four unearned runs, left the team and returned to Brooklyn (he got over it and tossed through 1941 for the Dodgers). The righty would later become famous for another 15 minutes when the 1969 song "Van Lingle Mungo" by Dave Frishberg hit the charts.

1939 - Game Two of the Negro League East-West All-Star game was held at Yankee Stadium. The East won 10-2 behind Homestead Gray C Josh Gibson’s four RBI. Teammate Buck Leonard also started. Held in addition to the All Star Game played in Chicago each year, the second ASG gave fans an added opportunity to eyeball the action in the pre-TV days.

1948 - The Philadelphia Phillies lost on a walkoff homer by Bucco pitcher Kirby Higbe. Kirby went long in the ninth frame at Forbes Field to give himself and the club a 4-3 win after working a scoreless inning of relief. It was the last of three career homers for Higbe.

Tiny Bonham - 1949 Bowman

1949 - Pitcher Ernie “Tiny” Bonham won his last MLB start by an 8-2 count over Philadelphia. The ten year vet had complained of stomach problems, and died September 15th at the age of 36 after surgery performed the week before at Presbyterian Hospital uncovered intestinal cancer. His wife Ruth was the first baseball widow to collect a death benefit under the new player pension plan, receiving $90 a month for the next 10 years.

1952 - IF Mike Edwards was born in Fort Lewis, Washington. Mike was drafted four times, finally signing with the Bucs in 1974 as a seventh-round selection from UCLA. He got his first taste of the bigs with Pittsburgh briefly in 1977 before he was shipped to the  Oakland A’s as part of the Manny Sanguillen trade. He had a good year in ‘78, but 1980 would be his last MLB campaign. Edwards closed out his career in 1984, playing in Mexico and Japan.

1961 - RHP Mike Maddux (Greg’s older bro) was born in Dayton, Ohio. Maddux had a 15-year, eight team MLB stay and spent a few weeks with the Bucs in 1995, getting in eight games and going 1-0/9.00. He was released in May and signed with the Red Sox. He retired in 2000 and has since coached in the Astros’ system and on the big league level with the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers (twice), Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals; he last served with the Los Angeles Angels, who let him go in August, 2026.

1963 - The Pirates topped the Mets 2-1 as Bob Friend went wire-to-wire with a seven-hitter while fanning six Mets, besting Grover Powell and Galen Cisco at Forbes Field for his 16th win. NY had a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth when Manny Mota’s little league homer walked off the game. With Ducky Schofield aboard after a one-out walk, Mota singled. The ball scooted past center fielder Duke Carmel, allowing Ducky to score. The ball was run down by right fielder and former Bucco Joe Christopher, who airmailed his peg over the plate. Mota slid home for the win as Cisco, backing up the play, slipped while chasing down the wayward toss and his throw home was a step late. Ironically, Christopher was a late-inning defensive sub for Duke Snider.

8/27 From 1965: Sweep 7, Lee Zee-ro, Dock Rock, Game Days, SI Willie, Mark Goes, Byrd's the Word, HBD Nick & Jordy

1965 - The Bucs scored six times in the ninth at Forbes Field to take the Astros into extra frames, eventually winning their seventh game in a row in 11 innings, 10-9. Andre Rodger’s one-out knock was the game-winning blow; Harry Walker sent him up to pinch hit for Willie Stargell against lefty Danny Coombs. Al McBean, the Pirates sixth pitcher, was credited with the victory and also crossed the plate with the winning run. In the eighth inning, Roberto Clemente threw out a runner going from first to third the hard way. The Pirates ran a wheel play with runners on first and second, and Bob Lillis rolled the ball through the vacant infield. Bill Mazeroski described what followed to Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press "Roberto raced in from right field, dove for the ball, and with his face in the dirt threw out the (back) runner going to third base!" Harry the Hat doubled the emotion, telling Biederman that “Clemente made the doggondest (sic) play I ever saw.” It kept the ‘Stros from running away (they still held a 7-3 lead despite the heroics) and allowed the Bucs to come back.

1974 - Dock Ellis went gate-to-gate pitching and swung a mean stick, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored, in Pittsburgh’s 13-2 win over San Francisco at Candlestick Park. The Giants scored two runs in the first inning before the Bucs put the game away with nine runs (on three hits - the rest of the Bucco runners were aboard via five free passes, two HBP and a pair of boots; Giant hurler Ed Halicki walked two guys with the bases loaded) in the third. Al Oliver went 3-for-5 with five RBI and Ed Kirkpatrick added three knocks and two walks, plating three times. Richie Hebner had three RBI without a hit, walking twice with the bases packed and lifting a sac fly. The Bucs had 12 hits (10 were singles) but were helped greatly by 13 gift runners. 

1979 - Willie Stargell shared the cover of Sports Illustrated with a gang of grizzled all-stars for the feature “Golden Oldies.” Pops was 39 but still hit .281 with 32 long balls. He won the NLCS & World Series MVP awards, was co-winner of the MVP award with St. Louis' Keith Hernandez and shared SI's "Sportsmen of the Year" award with the Steelers’ Terry Bradshaw.

1983 - Lee Tunnell tossed a five-hitter at TRS before 22,811 fans with the Bucs coming out on top of Atlanta 2-0 behind a two-run blast by Bill Madlock in the third inning. Tunnell, who went the distance while serving 131 pitches, faced down his only real threats to his first MLB whitewash in the second when he left the bases loaded with an out by whiffing the pitcher and coaxing a bouncer to escape and then in the ninth, when he had two aboard with two gone before getting a fly to center to seal the deal. Lee tossed three shutouts during the year, the only zippos of his career. Lee Lacy had two hits for Pittsburgh and scored ahead of Mad Dog’s dinger. The two teams were leading their divisions at game time but both finished the race as runnerups behind the Phillies and Dodgers.

Lee Tunnell - 1984 Topps

1986 - SS Jordy Mercer was born in Seiling, Oklahoma. He was a third-round draft choice in 2008, and the Oklahoma State product also played for Team USA. Mercer rode the pine in 2012, saw more playing time in 2013 and won the starting job the next season. He was a dependable if not particularly rangy fielder with a slow-starting bat (he usually ended the year hitting .255-.260) and occasional pop. Jordy signed with Detroit in 2018, moved to the Yankees briefly and later joined the Nats. He retired after the 2021 campaign after a decade in the show.

1990 - RHP Nick Tropeano was born in West Islip, New York. He was a fifth-round draft pick of the Astros in 2011 out of SUNY-Stony Brook and debuted in 2012 with Houston. He was sent to LA in 2014 and tossed for parts of four seasons with the Halos with a line of 11-11/4.51 in 38 outings, then had TJ surgery in 2017. Nick signed with the New York Yankees in 2020, was released in early August and claimed by Pittsburgh, getting a call up on August 23rd and tossing four shutout innings in his Bucco debut. He became a FA after the season and joined the Mets system. He then tossed for four more organizations and hurled in Mexico in 2023 before being released in July. Nick last pitched affiliated ball for Long Island of the Atlantic League in 2025.

1996 - Pittsburgh Pirates president Mark Sauer, eased out of running day-to-day operations following Kevin McClatchy’s takeover in February, resigned. His five-year tenure saw the sell-off of the Pirates star players, the manager’s departure, a strike and the team sale. Under McClatchy’s group, Sauer became the team’s point man with the City while McClatchy took over Sauer’s former duties. He jumped sports to work for the NHL’s St. Louis Blues and after he retired in 2005, Mark headed up non-profit youth projects before passing away in 2025 at age 78 in Delray Beach, Florida.

2008 - Pedro Alvarez was placed on the restricted list after the MLBPA filed a grievance against MLB over draft picks being signed minutes after the August 15th deadline (Petey had made a verbal agreement). On September 22nd, Álvarez and the Bucs signed off on a four-year major league deal worth $6.4M that settled the complaint to the satisfaction of all parties involved.

Pedro Alvarez - 2008 Tristar Prospect Plus

2009 - The first and last Bucco hits left the yard, and that was enough for a 3-2 win against the Phils and future Bucco JA Happ at PNC Park. Cutch opened the game with a long ball, and Garrett Jones ended it with a two-run, two-out game-winning shot in the eighth. Denny Bautista got the win against Philadelphia in relief of Charlie Morton, with Matt Capps earning a save. It capped a rare successful homestand, with the Bucs taking 7-of-9 games. They finished their ‘09 PNC run at 40-41 and 62-99 overall, 28-1/2 games off the Card’s NL Central pace.

2013 - Looking to strengthen the roster down the stretch, the Pirates pulled off a waiver deal with the NY Mets for vets OF Marlon Byrd, C John Buck and $250K for minor league IF Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later (RHP Victor Black). The deal was triggered by Starling Marte’s hand injury, which kept him out of action for three weeks (he returned September 9th) Byrd (.318, three HR, 17 RBI in 30 games) helped the Bucs to a wildcard spot (he last played in 2016 for Cleveland prior to receiving a second PED suspension) while Buck hit well in Pittsburgh (.333 in nine games) before retiring after the 2014 campaign. Dilson bounced around (he last played Latino ball in ‘25) and Black, after a good showing with the Mets in 2013-14, has been injury-bitten and ended his career playing indie ball. He’s now a farm coordinator for the Pirates.  

2020 - The Pirates played their first seven-inning doubleheader, sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium for the first time since 1967. The Bucs squeaked out an eight-inning, 4-3 victory in the opener. Chris Stratton got the dub in relief of Chad Kuhl with Rich Rodriguez picking up the save when he stranded Redbirds on the corners in the ninth by fanning the last two batters. Cole Tucker scored twice and drove in a run to lead the attack to victory. Cody Ponce picked up his first (and so far only) MLB win in the nitecap 2-0 behind third-inning RBIs from Eric Gonzalez and Adam Frazier to defeat future passin’-thru Bucco Johan Oviedo. Nik Turley finished up to earn his only MLB save. 

2025 - The Bucs were going through another ‘wait til next year” phase and auditioning the young ‘uns. Not many sticks were emerging but the pitching was promising - Carmen Mlodzinski, Bubba Chandler, Isaac Mattson and Dennis Santana were shovin; and the Bucs won a duel from the Cards, 2-1. It was Bubba’s first MLB dub, and Santana, who took over the closers’ role from David Bednar, picked up his 10th save. The gang spun a four-hit gem (with five walks, offset by nine Ks) at Busch Stadium. Tommy Pham's two-run, bases-juiced single in the sixth was the Bucs winning blow.

8/26 Through the 1960s: Wally World, Piece Of Pie, Poison-ous, Chief X 3, Dirt Ball, Game Days, KC Deal, Chet - NNL ASG, HBD Jeff, Sparky & Frank

1888 - LHP Frank Allen was born in Newbern, Alabama. Allen spent six years twirling big league ball; the Federal League Pittsburgh Rebels picked him up at the end of the 1914 campaign from the Brooklyn Robins, then rode him the following year when he slashed 23-13/2.51 after 37 starts and 283-1/3 IP. Allen authored the FL’s first no-hitter as a Reb against the St. Louis Terriers in 1915. He tossed for two more MLB seasons with the NL Boston Braves. Allen started out in 1909 for Mobile of the Southern Association as a 20-year old and hung ‘em up after tossing for Gadsen of the Georgia-Alabama League in 1928 as a 39-year old.

1892 - The Bucs mauled the Philadelphia Phils 11-3 at Exposition Park. Elmer “Mike” Smith, Doggie Miller and Jake Beckley led the way with a pair of hits each. Smith, usually an OF’er, was the pitcher (he appeared in 17 games, starting 13), and per the Pittsburgh Press, the “(Phils Ed) Delahanty found a package of lard in centerfield and the Phillies tried to work up a story that the ball had been greased...” The Pirates pleaded innocent, and the victory stood.

1894 - 2B Earl “Sparky” Adams was born in Zerbe, Pennsylvania. He played in Pittsburgh in 1928-29, filling in around the infield as needed and even taking some outfield innings while hitting .272 in 209 games. He was well thought of; he came from the Cubs in a trade for Kiki Cuyler. His Pirates time was in the middle of his 13-year career; he went on to have several good campaigns with the Gashouse Gang in St. Louis until a bad knee forced his retirement after the 1934 season. He got his nickname because he was a little bundle (5’4-1/2”) of energy.

1910 - It was a day for outfielders to work on their tans at Forbes Field. Babe Adams, who took the hill in spite of a stomach bug, tossed a six-hitter to top Carrick native Elmer Knetzer (who came home in 1914-15 to pitch for the Pittsburgh Rebels) and Brooklyn 4-2, both pitchers keeping the ball in the dirt. The Dodger and Pirate outfielders combined for one putout and one assist all afternoon (Pittsburgh’s Chief Wilson gloved a fly to right and the Dodgers’ LF Zack Wheat threw out Bobby Byrnes trying to stretch a double into a triple) to set the MLB record for the least pasture action for two teams in one game.

Babe Adams - 1910 Davis Co. Orange Border

1912 - In a doubleheader split against the Boston Braves at Forbes Field, Chief Wilson whacked three triples during the two contests, and would bang another three-bagger the next day. Chief had a three-game triple streak earlier in the year and a five-game string that he put together in mid-June. He finished the year with 36 triples, which is still the league high water mark. Chief caught lightning in a jar during this campaign, as he never hit more than 14 three-baggers in any other season. Pittsburgh won the opener 5-4 and dropped the evening game, 8-4.

1917 - Kansas City of the American Association sent 1B Fritz Mollwitz to the Bucs in a deal that would stretch into the next year. In February, Pittsburgh received RHP Roy Sanders as a PTBNL and sent the Blues IFs Alex McCarthy & Ike McAuley, along with 1B Ray Miller. Fritz gave the Bucs two decent years, batting .266, faded in 1919 and was sent to St. Louis for his final MLB campaign. Sanders gave Pittsburgh a solid year, going 7-9/2.60 in his final big league season. McCarthy and Miller never played in the show again, while McAuley got a final MLB hurrah in 1925 with the Chicago Cubs.

1926 - Rookie Paul Waner went 6-for-6 with two doubles and a triple as the Pirates beat the New York Giants 15-7 at Forbes Field. Pie Traynor and George Grantham each had three hits; Traynor and Johnny Rawlings added three RBI apiece. Big Poison used six different bats to collect his hits. Per Dom Forker’s “Baseball Brain Teasers,” that was because Waner had been moved up to the second spot in the lineup rather than his customary three-hole slot. Apparently he didn’t check the scorecard and was caught by surprise when he was called to the plate, so he grabbed the first stick he could reach from the bat rack. He banged out a hit, so he went with random bats the rest of the game, each producing a knock. He tried it again in the following contest, went 1-for-3, and returned to his regular twig for the rest of the season, finishing with a .336 BA.

1927 - Boston defeated the Pirates 6-4 at Braves Field. Paul Waner, who went 4-for-4 the day before, added three more consecutive raps off two Beaneater pitchers before his hitting streak was stopped at seven. He may have taken a breath between knocks after that stretch, but they did keep coming - Big Poison won the NL batting title with a .380 average and was the MVP.

Big Poison - 1927 Exhibits

1934 - SS Chet Williams of the Pittsburgh Crawfords led the East with three hits in the East-West Negro League All-Star game at Comiskey Park. The East won 1-0 in front of 30,000 fans when Jud Wilson drove in Cool Papa Bell in the eighth inning, giving Satchel Paige the Summer Classic win.

1935 - 35-year-old player-manager Pie Traynor blasted a grand slam and ended the day with five hits and six RBI as the Bucs battered the NY Giants 10-2 at the Polo Grounds. Woody Jensen and Tom Padden also homered during Ralph Birkofer’s sixth win, evening his record. It would be for all intents and purposes Pie’s last season as a dead arm finally caught up to him.

1947 - The Pirates scored four times each in the first and second innings and added seven more in the fifth (as Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press noted “The Bucs simply had their hitting clothes on...”) as they rolled over the Brooklyn Dodgers, 16-3, at Ebbets Field. Wally Westlake homered, doubled, and drove home five runs as Billy Cox and Cutley Rikard added long balls. Ralph Kiner went 5-for-5 with a walk and Frank Gustine added four hits to help Fritz Ostermueller cruise to victory. Brooklyn’s Dan Bankhead, via the Negro League Memphis Red Sox, became the first black pitcher to work an MLB game when he came on in relief of Hal Gregg. The Bucs gave him a rude welcome on the slab, scoring eight runs in his 3-1/3 frames, though he did swat a two-run homer in his first big league at-bat to help even out his rough debut.

1951 - It was a down-to-the-wire twin bill: The Pirates scored eight runs in the seventh frame to overcome a 9-2 fifth inning deficit and rally past the Dodgers 12-11 at Ebbets Field in the opener of a twin set. Brooklyn loaded the bases with an out in the ninth, but Murry Dickson weathered the storm to save the win for Vernon Law. Pete Castiglione and Bill Howerton had three RBI each to lead the comeback; Pete homered twice and Bill once. The club dropped the nitecap 4-3 in 10 innings with Preacher Roe topping Ted Wilks, pitching in relief of Bob Friend.

Pete Castiglione - 1951 Topps

1956 - Bob Friend was dealing; he tossed a four-hit shutout to top the Cubs 2-0 in the first game of a twin bill at Wrigley, sparked by Roberto Clemente, who chased home the first run with a two-out double and then scored the second in the eighth inning. Fresh off the complete game victory, Friend then came on to get the last four outs to save Ronnie Kline’s victory in the nightcap, a 2-1 win, to finish the Chicago sweep. Bob Skinner doubled in the first tally in the third and came around with the game winner when a Cubbie pickoff throw missed the mark.

1965 - IF Jeff Richardson was born in Grand Island, Nebraska. Richardson spent parts of three seasons (74 games total) in the show, with six games coming in 1991 for the Bucs; he went 1-for-4 during that time with three K. He spent a decade in the minors, closing out his career in 1995 with the Pirates AAA Calgary club. Richardson managed in the Pirates farm system from 1996-1998, then took over as head coach at Louisiana Tech University in 1999. He resigned following the 2002 season to devote more time to his family and business.

1968 - The Bucs beat the Atlanta Braves for the seventh straight time as Steve Blass dodged several bullets to toss a complete game shutout, 4-0. He had only one clean inning, giving up nine hits and a pair of walks but kept the scoreboard blank. Manager Larry Shephard said of his young hurler “He went from my fifth starter (at the beginning of the year) to the top spot” after the win. The Pirates had a small-ball attack: they pushed in their runs on two sac flies, an error and an infield single. Freddie Patek, Maury Wills and Gene Alley each had two raps.

8/26 From 1970: Cole Train, Jordy Slam, Yikes Ike, 9 Straight, Buster Bop, Game Days, Giles Trade, '23 Pgh HoF, '24 To-Do, HBD Eric & Jayson

1975 - The first eight Pirates hit safely against the Braves’ Jamie Easterly and Ray Sadecki - Frank Taveras (triple), Rennie Stennett (single), Al Oliver (single), Willie Stargell (single), Richie Zisk (single), Dave Parker (single), Richie Hebner (single) and Duffy Dyer (single) - before Larry Demery flew out‚ tying the MLB record. The Bucs scored six runs in the frame on their way to an 8-2 victory at TRS. Al Oliver and Richie Zisk each collected three hits to help Demery to the win.

1977 - The Bucs rode Bruce Kison’s arm and bat to a 3-1 win over the Padres at San Diego Stadium. Buster gave up a run over seven innings, had three hits, a run scored, the game-winning RBI and a stolen base before Goose Gossage came up to earn a two-inning save. It was Kison’s first win in eight weeks and 11 starts. Frank Taveras chipped in with four hits and the insurance was provided by Dave Parker’s sixth-inning homer. Both guys had base-running blunders to atone for; Frank was thrown out trying to stretch a double and The Cobra was picked off first twice. Pittsburgh cut Philly’s NL lead to 5-1/2 games, and that’s about how it remained as Philadelphia won 101 games, five games ahead of the Bucs.

1979 - Bruce Kison tossed seven strong innings and smacked a grand slam off Bob Shirley, the first Bucco hurler since Al McBean in 1968 to launch a grannie, to lead the Bucs to a 9-2 win over San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium. He’s one of six Pirates twirlers to hit a grand salami, joining McBean, Deacon Phillippe (1910), Enrique Romo (1980), Don Robinson (1985) and Denny Neagle (1995). Bill “Mad Dog” Madlock had four knocks, a pair of RBI and two runs scored.

1982 - IF Jayson Nix was born in Dallas, Texas. The Rox took him in the first round of the 2001 draft out of Midland HS, and Nix turned into a journeyman jack-of-all-trades, playing for eight teams in seven years and stopping off in Pittsburgh in 2014 for 16 August games. Jayson hit .111 and was waived; KC picked him up, and he played his last MLB games there that season.

Larry McWilliams - 1983 Donruss

1983 - Larry McWilliams tossed a complete game five-hitter against his old teammates, the Atlanta Braves, as the Pirates romped 9-1 at TRS. The Bucs had 10 hits and were helped by a big three-run blast by Tony Pena and a couple of Bravo boots that led to three unearned scores. Pena, Jason Thompson and Johnny Ray each collected a pair of knocks to back McWilliams.

1985 - C Eric Fryer was born in Columbus. He came to Pittsburgh as part of the Eric Hinske deal in 2009 and got a couple of cups of coffee with the Bucs in 2010-11, getting into 16 games as a C, PH, & OF. He returned in 2016 when injuries cut down the Pirates catching depth, went to the St. Louis Cardinals in the following season and then retired in 2018.

1987 - The Bucs put up a three-spot against the Reds in the third inning built around John Cangelosi’s triple, but found themselves behind 5-3 going into the eighth at TRS. Andy Van Slyke tied it with two away when he singled home Bobby Bonilla and Barry Bonds off John Franco; they had just moved up a station thanks to a passed ball. The Pirates used the same two-out formula in the ninth when Al Pedrique’s blooper plated Johnny Ray, who had led off the frame with a double. The win went to Jeff Robinson, who came in for Brian Fisher. 

1992 - Pirates rookie Tim Wakefield defeated Tom Candiotti of the Dodgers 2-0 in the first matchup of knuckleballers in the NL since 1982 when Phil Niekro and Joe Niekro faced off in a Braves-Astros game. Wakefield scattered six hits for the victory while Jose Lind provided the offensive spark for Pittsburgh with a pair of hits, posting an RBI and a run scored.

1998 - The Pirates extended their winning streak to nine games with a 4-3 win over the Arizona D-Backs at Bank One Ballpark, led offensively by unlikely hero Kevin Polcovich. His two-out, two-run single tied the game in the fifth frame, and after the Snakes had retaken the lead, he knotted it again with a sac fly in the seventh. Jason Christiansen got the win in relief of Chris Peters and Rick Loiselle picked up a one-pitch save, coaxing a quick fly to Jose Guillen in right to end it. After an off day, the Big Unit, Randy Johnson, fanned 16 Pirates to end the victory run at Houston, 3-0.

Kevin Polcovich - 1998 Upper Deck Diamond

2003 - The Pirates shipped Brian Giles to San Diego for Jason Bay, Ollie Perez, and Corey Stewart (PTBN). Pittsburgh had wanted Xavier Nady in the deal, but SD refused and threw in Bay instead. That flip worked out pretty well, as Bay ended up the NL Rookie of the Year in 2004 and the persistent Bucs finally reeled in the X-Man in a deal with the New York Mets in 2006.

2014 - Gerrit Cole pitched six no-hit innings at PNC Park, but a seventh inning St. Louis rally tied the score at 2-2. Things looked bleak when both Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez left the game with injuries soon after, but Ike Davis brightened up the room in the eighth. With Gaby Sanchez and Starling Marte aboard, he crushed a two-out, two-strike change up 442’ to lead the Pirates to a 5-2 win. Tony Watson got the victory and Mark Melancon earned a save.

2016 - Jordy Mercer capped off a five-run sixth inning with his first career grand slam off Milwaukee’s Matt Garza to give the Pirates a 5-3 win at Miller Park. The Brew Crew answered Jordy’s blast with a three-spot of their own in the bottom of the frame, but the bullpens shut the door the rest of the way. Mercer’s slam, which came the day before his 30th birthday, was the fourth of the season for the Pirates and made a winner of starter Ryan Vogelsong, who allowed two runs over 5-1/3 innings with Tony Watson notching the save. 

2017 - Gerrit Cole had no success whatsoever against the Reds in his career (he was 0-6 against them in nine outings) until he took matters into his own hands at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park. Not only did he throw seven shutout innings, but he homered to do it all in a 1-0 Bucco win. Cole Train's long ball was the third of his career and the first of the year. Per Elias Sports: Cole became the only Pirates pitcher ever to homer in a 1-0 win and the first in MLB since the Rays’ Nate Karns v the Phillies (July, 2015). Cole also went 8-0 in his last nine road starts; the last Pirates pitcher to win eight straight road decisions was Don Robinson in 1982. Redlegs rookie Luis Castillo was his equal but for that one pitch, tossing a three-hitter with nine K in seven frames.

Gerrit Cole - 2017 Topps Inception

2020 - The Pirates made a waiver deal with the Phils for LHP Austin Davis, sending Philadelphia a PTBNL (24-year-old Class A RHP Joel Cesar) and cash. Davis had parts of five seasons in the show, with a 1-2/5.64 line. He averaged nearly 10 K per nine innings with a problem with long balls (11 in 58 career IP), but fit the Pirates need for pen depth and a lefty. He got into 15 games for the Bucs, slashing 0-1/4.73, and was traded at the 2021 deadline to Boston for IF Michael Chavis. The BoSox used Davis as a middle man and sometime opener starter. He then joined the Twins, then Houston, was let go by both clubs, went indie, pitched in the Padres system in 2025 and is now a free agent.

2021 - Pittsburgh scored eight times before making an out in the seventh inning, storming back for an 11-7 win over St. Louis at PNC Park, overcoming an early 7-1 hole. The seventh-inning rally started with a two-run single from Bryan Reynolds and was capped by Yoshi Tsutsugo’s two-run homer. Pittsburgh banged out 17 hits, with Michael Chavis and Colin Moran each posting four knocks (Captain Redbeard also homered) while Wilmer Difo and Gregory Polanco (two doubles) collected three hits each. Chad Kuhl, the third of five Buc hurlers, took home the win with an inning of scoreless work.

2023 - Before the game against the Cubs at PNC Park started, the Pirates held a ceremony to celebrate their 2023 Hall of Fame Class of Elroy Face, Bob Friend, Dick Groat and Kent Tekulve. They were inducted earlier that afternoon after being named to the Hall in April, bringing PHoF membership up to 23 players. Teke threw out the first pitch and Ke’Bryan homered to lead off the game, but then rookie Jordan Wicks settled in during his MLB debut and K’ed nine while Osvaldo Bido was tagged for eight runs; the Bucs ran out of comebacks and suffered a 10-6 defeat.

2024 - The Pirates began addressing some needs heading into next season. Most surprising was the announcement that Oneil Cruz was going to see time in center field, with deadline pickup Isiah Kiner-Falefa taking over at short and second-year man Nick Gonzales at second. They also outrighted Michael Taylor, who was signed to baby-sit CF in 2024 but hit just .196. The starting rotation had its core set with Mitch Keller, Paul Skenes and Jared Jones, with Bailey Falter, Luis Ortiz and some young guns ready to compete for the remaining spots. The bullpen had some backend consistency issues with David Bednar and Colin Holderman but looked solid. Henry Davis was recalled from Indy; he and Joey Bart (and possibly Endy Rodriguez) were penciled in to share the backstop duties. That left first base, now split between Rowdy Tellez and Connor Joe, and a corner OF’er to go with Cruz/Bryan Reynolds, with plenty of in-house candidates but a thin FA class. Third base was iffy, with Ke’Bryan Hayes' showing a weak bat and being injury-prone with chronic back issues.