7/9 Through 1984: Mario Walkoff, Roofer Willie, Whackin' Waner Bros, Zippos, Game Days, ASGs, Rip & Ted, Nick Signs, Candy Unhappy, HBD Coot

1885 - The Allegheny put a big hurt on the New York Metropolitans, thrashing them 22-0 at Recreation Park before 1,000 fans. Cannonball Ed Morris didn’t need much help, whiffing nine Big Apple boys. He was backed by four hits from 3B Bill Kuehne and three each by C Fred Carroll and 2B Ed Whitney. The North Side nine was helped by some Gotham gifts - three walks, a bopped batter and six errors - to help augment the home side’s 18-hit attack.

1912 - In a duel of young guns, the Pirates Marty O’Toole bested the Phils Eppa Rixey 2-0 at Forbes Field. Max Carey provided the big blow, a sixth-inning triple that was sandwiched around a pair of singles to account for the tallies off Rixey. 23-year-old O’Toole was in the midst of his best season, winning 15 games with a 2.71 ERA and a league-leading six shutouts.

1932 - IF Orville “Coot” Veal was born in Sandersville, Georgia. He spent six seasons playing MLB, with a short stay in Pittsburgh in 1962, when he struck out in his only Bucco at bat as a pinch hitter. The Pirates bought the sweet-fielding Veal’s contract from Washington during the off season, but he spent most of the spring at AAA Columbus before being traded to the Detroit Tigers for a minor leaguer. His last big league year was 1963, and he retired to Macon to become a salesman. Veal’s high school coach gave him the “Coot” tag, telling Veal that he reminded him of a player with that moniker who was on a barnstorming team.

1936 - It was just another day at the office for Paul Waner. He went 4-for-5 with two doubles and a triple, drove in six runs and scored three times as the Bucs blasted the Phils 16-5 at Forbes Field. It was a wild start; the Pirates were up 8-5 when they came to bat in the bottom of the third, and their starter, Red Lucas, was done for the day. But they added four more runs in their half and Ralph Birkofer took care of business from the bump the rest of the way. 3B Bill Brubaker was hot, too, as he posted three hits, including a pair of two-baggers, chased five runners home and tallied twice while four more Corsairs chipped in with a pair of knocks. Big Poison went on to take the batting title with a .373 BA and 157 OPS+.

1937 - The Waner brothers combined for seven hits as the Bucs rolled over the Chicago Cubs 13-1 at Forbes Field. They had lots of help in a true team effort; everyone in the lineup had at least one hit and four of them had a pair of knocks. Of the 10 Pirates that played, seven both scored and knocked in a teammate or two while the other three either touched home or chased in a tally. Joe Bowman tossed a seven-hitter to coast to a complete game win. 

Waner Bros - Helmar Big League Brew

1940 - Pittsburgh was represented by SS Arky Vaughan in the All-Star Game at St. Louis’ Sportsman’s Park. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run in a 4-0 Senior Circuit victory over the Americans.

1942 - The Bucs drew 29,488 fans to Forbes Field on Army-Navy Relief Fund Night, raising over $36,000 in donations with an extra $10,000+ from the gate, and rewarded the patriotic crowd with a 9-0 win over the Phils. It was 1-0 after seven innings, but Philadelphia starter Frank Melton was lifted for a pinch hitter and Pittsburgh then rattled the Philly second-line moundsmen for eight more runs during their two innings. Rip Sewell tossed a five-hitter for the win.

1946 - Bucco Rip Sewell's most famous blooper pitch came in the All-Star game against Ted Williams at Fenway Park. Sewell warned Williams before the game he was going to throw him the blooper (eephus). With the AL ahead 8–0, Williams came to bat and Sewell nodded to let him know the blooper was coming. Williams fouled it off. Sewell nodded again, threw another blooper and then another. With the count 1–2, Williams smacked the next one for a home run, the only homer ever hit off Sewell's trick pitch. As The Kid rounded the bases, Sewell followed him, saying, "the only reason you hit it was because I told you it was coming." Williams laughed back, the fans loved it, and Sewell received a standing ovation when he walked off the mound. (from Donald Honig’s 1975 book "Baseball When the Grass Was Real") The kicker was that The Splendid Splinter took a running start toward the pitch before he blasted it and was out of the batter’s box when he made contact, but there were no rules sticklers to carp about it on that day. 3B Frank Gustine was the other Pirate All-Star and he went 0-for-1 with a walk.

1951 - The Pirates played an exhibition against their alumni as a fundraiser for Hazelwood native Moose Solters, who played in the American League for nine seasons before being blinded when he was hit with a ball during warmups. Organized by Lee Handley & Frankie Gustine, the game featured players like Bullet Bob Feller, Wally Westlake, Stan Rojek, Cliff Chambers, Dixie Howell, Preacher Roe, Billy Cox, Red Ruffing, Johnny Hopp, Bob Elliott, Gene Woodling and others. The Bucs beat the alumni 1-0 in front of 9,553 at Forbes Field and raised around $17,500 for Moose, who left baseball before there was a pension and ran a bar to make ends meet. The prelim was a three-inning match between the Greenfield Cubs and Highland Little Leaguers.

1953 - Soon-to-be-18-year-old C Nick Koback, out of Hartford HS, was signed by the Pirates as a bonus baby via scout Ed McCarrick, with his contract guesstimated to be worth $20K. Per the rules of the era, his contract value mandated that he go straight to the majors. Koback played from 1953-55 (when he debuted on July 29th, he was the youngest Pirate to ever play at 18-years, 10-days old), and in his first career start, Koback caught a complete game shutout tossed by Murry Dickson. But he only hit .121 in 16 career games and then toiled in the minors through the 1960 season. He went home to Connecticut after he retired and switched sports to become a local golf pro.

Nick Koback - Autograph Card

1957 - C Hank Foiles was the Pirate’s rep at the All-Star Game at Busch Stadium, a 6-5 win for the Junior Circuit. Hank hit once, and he singled and scored.

1959 - Starting his first game since injuring his shoulder on May 19th, Roberto Clemente's 10th-inning leadoff single helped Elroy Face to his 18th consecutive win after the Baron of the Bullpen blew a save chance with two outs in the ninth. A bunt by Roman Mejias moved Clemente to second and a single by pinch-hitter Harry Bright sent Arriba home to complete the Bucs 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs at Forbes Field and keep Face’s string alive; it would reach 22 games.

1963 - The NL beat the AL 5-3 at Cleveland Stadium in the All-Star game. Roberto Clemente came in as a late sub, never batting, and Bill Mazeroski was injured and didn’t play. The NL’s middle infield combo consisted of ex-Bucs Dick Groat and Julian Javier, who was traded because Maz blocked him in Pittsburgh, both sporting Redbird logos across their chest.

1967 - Willie Stargell hit a walkoff homer against Reds’ reliever Jim Maloney that carried over the right field roof at Forbes Field to take a 2-1 win. Dennis Ribant tossed a complete game six-hitter to earn the Bucco victory. Cincinnati’s Gary Nolan was working on a seven-inning one-hitter when he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth. The Pirates only score before Pop’s pop was when Cincy botched a two-out grounder to allow Donn Clendenon to plate in the fifth frame. The Reds tied it in the top of the ninth on a two-out single by Vada Pinson.

1968 - All-Star pitching duels don’t get much better than the National League’s 1-0 win over the American League in the ASG at the Astrodome as the only run scored in the first inning on a double play grounder. The Bucs didn’t have much to do with the outcome, as Matty Alou singled in his only at bat and Gene Alley, who was nursing a shoulder injury, never left the pine.

Willie Stargell - 1971 Kellogg's 3-D Super Stars

1971 - The Pirates turned the first triple play of the 1971 season when Atlanta’s Leo Foster banged a grounder to 3B Richie Hebner, who stepped on the hot corner, threw to Dave Cash at second and Dave’s relay to Bob Robertson at first nipped Foster to complete the play as the Pirates rolled past the Braves 11-2 at Three Rivers Stadium. Willie Stargell went 3-for-4 with a homer, three runs scored and four RBI while Manny Sanguillen went 3-for-5 with a triple and four RBI. Richie Hebner also homered as Nellie Briles went the distance for the win.

1972 - The Bucs raced out to a 6-0 lead over the Braves and took home a 7-4 victory from Atlanta Stadium. All the Pirates' runs were the result of long balls swatted by Willie Stargell, Al Oliver, Manny Sanguillen and Bob Robertson, giving Nellie Briles all the support he needed for the complete game win; July 9th seemed a good date to send Briles against the Bravos (see above).

1977 - SS Mario Mendoza smacked the only walkoff hit of his career, a two-out single to right in the 12th off Gene Garber at TRS, for a 9-8 Pirate win over the Phillies. Phil Garner had a good day, going 3-for-6 with a homer, double, two runs and two RBI, while Dave Parker also went downtown. Mendoza, btw, was batting under his own line, hitting just .182 at game time. The run-fest was surprising; the starters were John Candelaria and Lefty Carlton, who gave up 14 runs and 22 hits combined in 13-2/3 IP while Teke blew a two-run, ninth-inning lead. The game’s hot sauce was provided when The Kissing Bandit, Morganna, ran onto the field and planted a wet one on the Candy Man.

1982 - John Candelaria, closing in on free agency, told the Pirates that he would not sign a new contract, saying “I’m not happy here. I don’t want to stay here.” He later backtracked on that thought, signing for four years at close to $700,000/season after the campaign. However, he soon soured on that deal (he wanted it renegotiated after Kent Tekulve got more than Candy Man did with his new contract) and was dealt to the California Angels in early August of 1985. 

1983 - Larry McWilliams continued his strong season with a two-hit 3-0 win over LA at Dodger Stadium with nine whiffs to run his record to 9-5/3.02. It was well tossed by both sides; Alejandro Pena gave up just six singles, and two of the runs against him were unearned. McWilliams ended the year 15-8/3.25 with eight complete games, four shutouts and 199 K. He was solid again in 1984 but not so much in ‘85 & ‘86 and was released before the 1987 season.

7/9 From 1985: Fast Start, Joey, Josh & Jack Slams, Sausage Swat, Game Days, Cutch & Big Daddy All-Stars, ASGs, Tim & Candy Let Go, Paul Inked, Skenes #1, RIP Bill

1987 - RHP Rick Reuschel (7-4/2.32), the National League’s ERA leader, was selected as the Pirates sole rep in the All-Star contest by manager Davey Johnson. It was Reuschel’s second ASG, and he was called on to work 1-1/3 innings, giving up a hit and picking up a whiff.  

1988 - Three was the magic number at Dodger Stadium as the Pirates scored three times in both the fourth & sixth innings, Spanky LaValliere had his second straight three-hit outing (he homered & drove in four runs) and Barry Bonds cracked a three-run bomb to lead the Bucs to an 8-2 win over Los Angeles. Starter Mike Dunne was solid on the hill, carrying the game deep into the eighth inning for the victory with Jeff Robinson serving up the final four outs.

1991 - The AL took home a 4-2 win from the Nationals in the All-Star game played at the Skydome. Bobby Bonilla started at DH and went 2-for-4 with an RBI while pitcher John Smiley faced one batter, Joe Carter, who singled off of him.

1993 - Two Pirates pitchers were let go, and for John Candelaria it was the end of his MLB road. He was a Bucco for 11 years, then went on an eight-year, seven-team odyssey before returning to Pittsburgh as a 39-year-old. The Candy Man slashed 0-3-1/8.24 in 24 relief outings and was waived. Wakefield was on the opposite end of his journey. The knuckleballer was sent to AA Carolina (the team wanted Spin Williams, the Mudcats pitching coach, to tinker under Tim’s hood) and would get a final look as a Buc in September, ending 1993 with a line of 6-11/5.61. The converted infielder was released by Pittsburgh in April of 1995 after spending all of 1994 with the AAA Buffalo Bisons (5-15/5.84) and was signed a few days later by the Boston Red Sox. Wakefield kicked off a 17-year, 3,000+ IP, 186-win run in Beantown. To replace them, starter Randy Tomlin was recalled from the DL and reliever Tony Menendez was promoted from AAA Buffalo.

1996 - The National League shut down the American League nine 6-0 at Veterans Stadium to claim the ASG victory. C Jason Kendall was the Pirates All-Star and came in to catch the ninth.

Mike Williams - 2002 Topps Total

2002 - This was the day of the infamous Nationals-Americans tied 7-7 All-Star game, when Commissioner Bud Selig and the managers, Joe Torre & Bob Brenly, threw in their towels after burning through the pitchers and accepting an 11-inning draw at Miller Park despite the crowd’s howls of “let them play.” MLB decided the following year to award the World Series home field advantage to the winning league, partially to assure the fans that games would be played to a conclusion and partially to provide an impetus for a game effort by the players. That format survived through 2016. The Buccos’ only ASG rep, reliever Mike Williams, worked the third inning cleanly, striking out a pair.

2003 - Inexplicably during a 2-1 Pirate loss, 1B Randall Simon swatted a racing sausage with his bat from the dugout at Miller Park in Milwaukee as it waltzed around the stadium, causing a collision that left the mascots looking like a heaping plate of schnitzel. Simon was questioned by police and later fined $432.10 for disorderly conduct, stupidity not being a crime. Additionally, MLB suspended him for three games and fined him $2,000 while the Bucs traded him away a few weeks later. He issued an apology and gave an autographed bat to Mandy Block, the college student stuffed into the sausage costume. She ended up with a scraped knee, but it ended well for her. Mandy received a free trip to Curaçao, (Simon's home island) for two from the Curaçao Tourism Board. When Simon returned to Miller Park later that season as a Chicago Cub, he purchased Italian sausages as munchies for an entire section, and during the wurst race, his teammates playfully held him back until all the sausages had safely gone by.

2003 - The Pirates signed LHP Paul Maholm, their first-round pick and the eighth overall selection in the draft from Mississippi State, to a contract with a $2.2M bonus. He worked from 2005-11 for the Bucs, making 185 starts and posting a 53-73/4.36 slash. He won 77 games for four teams with a 4.30 ERA during his career that lasted through the 2014 season. 

2004 - Jason Bay went 4-for-5 with two homers, a double, four RBI and four runs scored as the Pirates blanked the Expos 11-0 in San Juan’s Estadio Hiram Bithorn, the Expos’ part-time home until their migration to Washington. Sean Burnett scattered 10 hits for a complete game shutout (his only MLB CG and zippo as he went to the pen the next season) in front of 8,780 fans.

Jack Wilson - 2005 Donruss Studio

2005 - Sparked by Jack Wilson’s first career grand slam, the Bucs broke open a tight game against the New York Mets with a seven-run seventh inning to take an 11-4 win at PNC Park in front of a Saturday night sellout crowd of 36,708. Dave Williams got the win with the finishing touches applied by Ian Snell and Soloman Torres. The two teams played in throwback Negro League uniforms, donning the colors of the Pittsburgh Crawfords and New York Cubans.

2009 - Joel Hanrahan won his first game of the year while sitting in a hotel room in Philadelphia. He was credited with the dub when Washington won a game suspended on May 5th by defeating the Houston Astros, 11-10. Hanrahan, later traded to Pittsburgh, was the pitcher of record when the game was postponed. The winning Nat run was scored by Nyjer Morgan, who was one of the players that the Pirates sent to Washington as part of the Hanny deal.

2009 - RHP Dovydas Neverauskas was signed by the Bucs and international scout Tom Randolph as a 16-year-old. On April 24th, 2017, he became the first Lithuanian-born player to appear in a MLB game. In four years with the Bucs, he slashed 1-4/6.81, was DFA’ed after the 2020 campaign and is now pitching indie ball. At least three other Lithuanians have played in the show - Joe Zapustas, who was born in Latvia and raised in Boston, reached the majors in 1933 for two games, pitcher Joe Krakauskas (1937-42, 1946) was born in Quebec and 1B Eddie Waitkus (1941, 1946–1955) was the child of immigrant parents. 

2011 - Andrew McCutchen, passed over in the ASG voting, was named as a first-time NL All-Star, replacing the injured Ryan Braun. The Pirates announced the honor on the PNC Park jumbotron during the fourth inning, drawing an ovation and a curtain call from the crowd of 39,235. Unfortunately, he suffered through an 0-fer night as the Bucs fell to the Cubs, 6-3.

2016 - Former Pirates public relations director Bill Guilfoile passed away at the age of 84. After starting with the Yankees in 1960, Guilfoile worked for the Pirates from 1970-78 before leaving for greener pastures as the head of the National Baseball Hall of Fame's PR office from 1979 to 1996. Bill was part of many memorable moments, from the World Series to the 1961 Mantle/Maris home run chase, Roberto Clemente’s 3,000th hit and the Hall of Fame’s 50th anniversary.

Josh Bell grannie - 7/9/2016 photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates

2016 - The Pirates pounded out four homers as they took a 12-6 decision from the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. Pinch hitter Josh Bell, in his second MLB at-bat, crushed a hung change over the right field stands and into the Allegheny River for a grand slam as his first MLB long ball while Andrew McCutchen, Sean Rodriguez and Jordy Mercer also left the yard. Starter Chad Kuhl only lasted 2-1/3 frames for Pittsburgh and reliever Juan Nicasio was also bumped around (Chi-town starter Jon Lester was also hit hard, managing just three frames before being chased), but game winner Arquimedes Caminero and Jared Hughes with the save combined for 4-2/3 shutout innings to close the book. During a miserable June stretch, the Pirates had fallen 15-1/2 games behind the Cubs; this win cut the lead to 6-1/2 with Pittsburgh on a roll of winning 12-of-15 games.

2017 - The Pirates ruined Jon Lester’s day by scoring 10 runs in the first inning off the lefty on the way to a 14-3 victory at Wrigley. The Bucco vibe was shaky before the game when scheduled starter Jameson Taillon was scratched a half-hour before first pitch with the flu, but the bats, sparked by Fran Cervelli’s two-out grand slam, were hale and hearty. Cervy's five RBI tied his career-best for a single game. Every Pirates starter reached base safely and scored and/or drove in runs as Pittsburgh collected 14 hits, seven walks and a pair of plunks to go with two Cubbie errors. AJ Schugel, the third of four Pirates pitchers, got the win. Game notes: The last time the Pirates had a 10-spot in an inning was against the Rox in 2007 during an 11-4 win and they hadn’t plated 10 runs in the first frame since 1989 against the Phils; that's the game that Jim Rooker said he'd walk home if they lost. They did, so Rook took a charity walk between Pittsburgh and Philly after the season. The contest topped the Bucs' previous first-inning mark against the Cubs of nine runs in 1975, when Rennie Stennett collected seven hits during a 22-0 romp. Over 12 years and 334 starts, this was the first time Jon Lester didn't make it through the first inning. He was just the fourth pitcher in the last 100 years to allow 10+ runs and not make it out of the first inning.

2019 - The American League hung on to take a 4-3 victory over the Nationals in the All-Star game at Progressive Field. The Pirates reps were 1B Josh Bell and LHP Felipe Vazquez. J-Bell started at DH and went 1-for-2 with an infield single; he was in the Home Run Derby the night before, losing his first-round match to Ronald Acuna, 24-18, in a slugfest. The NL was never ahead in the Midsummer Classic, and closer Vasquez wasn’t called on from the pen.

2021 - The Bucs went through a long rain delay and a 10-run New York inning while being shellacked by the Mets at Citi Field 13-2, but there were a couple of bright rays poking through the gloom. Altoona injury call up Rodolfo Castro, 22, became just the second Bucco to bang a pinch-hit homer for his first MLB hit, joining Craig Wilson, who was the first to do the deed in 2001. Newly acquired John Nogowski, who was hitting .096 when the Pirates purchased his contract, tied a franchise record first set in 1913 with his 10th hit in his first four games with the team as the fresh blood provided a couple of positive short-term sidebars to an otherwise dismal game story.  Castro is now in Japan and Nogo last played pro ball in 2025.

Paul Skenes - 2023 Baseball America

2023 - The  Pirates selected LSU RHP Paul Skenes (12-2/1.69 with 209 strikeouts in 122 2/3 IP) with the first pick in the MLB amateur draft. He was an enlightened pick and an All-Star starter the following year. Next, they selected SS Mitch Jebb from Michigan State in the second round (#42 overall). He hit .337 with 14 steals for the Spartans. In the Competitive Balance B Round (#67), they picked RHP Zander Mueth from Belleville East (IL) High. A Mississippi commit who hit the mid-90s, the 6'6" Mueth opted to go pro. The Pirates chose Oregon State 1B Garret Forrester (3rd round - #97). The 21-year-old hit 10 HRs/12 2Bs/w 52 RBIs in 61 games. The bonus deals for the first five rounds: Skenes signed for $9,200,000, which breaks the 2020 MLB draft bonus record of $8,416,300 of the Tigers' Spencer Torkelson, but is still under the slot value $9,721,000; Mueth signed for $1.8M (slot value $1,128,200), and Forrester signed for $775K (slot value $990,300). They followed with RHP Carlson Reed (4th round - #104), West Virginia’s closer with a line of 2-1-7/2.61 with 60 strikeouts in 38 innings who signed for $646,900 and RHP Patrick Reilly of Vandy, (5th round - #140), who signed for $455,600. All were inked without drama.

2023 - The Bucs had a good day on the field before the draft began, whipping the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 as Ji Man Choi, a couple of days removed from a 60-day IL stint and rehab assignment, homered, doubled and drove in two runs. In a bullpen game going into the All-Star break (seven different Pirates hurlers gave up just four hits), Carmen Mlodzinski made his first MLB start, Osvaldo Bido won his first big league game and David Bednar posted his 17th save.

2024 - The Bucs broke a tie game wide open with a six-run sixth inning to run away with a 12-2 victory over the Brew Crew at American Family Field. Joey Bart hit a grand slam to lead Pittsburgh's five-homer attack with Bryan Reynolds (long ball #115, the franchise mark for a switch hitter), Rowdy Tellez (career dinger #100), Jack Suwinski and Josh Palacios also going deep against Milwaukee. The Pirates, working with a thin, injury-bitten rotation started it out as a bullpen game with Josh Fleming starting, but the pitching hero and winner was just-activated Quinn Priester. He went six strong innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits & two walks while fanning eight.

7/8 Through the 1960s: Top Guns, Walkoff Grannie, Satch No-No, Al's 5th Zip, Game Days, ASGs, New Contract, TSN Veale, HBD Rosario, Bob, Johnny, Jay & Hank

1859 - Umpire and RHP Hank O’Day was born in Chicago. He tossed one year for the Alleghenys, in 1885 (5-7/3.67). Later, he became noted as an arbitrator, calling plays for 30 years, most famously the controversial “Merkle Bonehead'' decision. He wore the blue for 10 World Series and worked 2,710 major league games. O’Day also managed a couple of times, and for his long service to early baseball, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.

1874 - RHP Jay Parker was born in Theresa, New York. Jay had one MLB outing as an 1899 Bucco in late September against the Chicago Orphans; he walked two batters and plunked another. Two of them eventually scored and so he has a lifetime ERA of infinity. In fairness, it should be noted that he was a 1B/C by trade and that was the first time as a pro that he had ever stepped on the slab; it was the second game of a twinbill and ended up a 7-7 draw. He did have a long career in organized ball, starting in 1895 and playing through the 1914 campaign. Jay did pitch again, briefly, going 1-1 for Evansville in 1905.

1915 - Al Mamaux authored a 2-0 shutout, his fifth whitewash of the year, over the Phils at the Baker Bowl. He struck out nine, and the Bucs tied a record by recording only two assists the entire game, both by 2B Jim Viox. Mamaux had to fight to the last out; the Phils loaded the bases with one out in the ninth on three singles before a whiff and CF Eddie “Zip” Collins' running grab at the wall to ice the victory. Mamaux finished the year 21-8/2.04 with eight shutouts.

1921 - A ruling by the City of Pittsburgh allowed fans to keep balls hit into the stands as souvenirs 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 in an era when a game ball was expected to last for, well, the game.

1927 - Johnny Gooch’s two-out single in the seventh inning was the only hit the Bucs got off the Cubs’ Charlie Root as he outdueled Lee Meadows for a 1-0 win at Forbes Field. Meadows scattered eight hits, giving up an unearned score in the second frame, when 3B Pie Traynor threw wildly to first with two outs to allow Charlie Grimm to score from second base.

John Powers - 1958 Topps

1929 - OF Johnny Powers was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Johnny was a legendary minor league masher with 298 long balls during his six-year farm career, but with Pittsburgh between 1955-58, he hit just .190 with four homers in 160 PA. He played two more seasons for three more MLB teams, hit two more long balls during that span and called it a career. 

1932 - In the nightcap of a twin bill, Satchel Paige tossed his second no-hitter of the year and the first ever at Greenlee Field as the Pittsburgh Crawfords defeated the New York Black Yankees, 6-0. Three Hall of Famers took the field with Paige and the Craws: Oscar Charleston at 1B, Judy Johnson at 3B, and Josh Gibson in LF (Josh occasionally played corner infield and some outfield, too). Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe lived up to his nickname by pitching in the first game (a 9-7 loss) and then going behind the plate to backstop Paige's no-no. Per Aaron Tallent of Athlon Sports, “Paige is estimated to have pitched more than 50 no-hitters during his time in the Negro leagues, but this is one of only two that are recorded.” 

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 over the Nationals.

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. Unfortunately for Vaughan, Ted William’s three-run homer in the ninth put the Splendid Splinter in the spotlight that year. Arky went 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBI in his eighth straight (and final) ASG 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 time period for spring training, 25 days for post-season barnstorming, and a maximum pay cut of no more than 25 percent from season-to-season. A pension fund aimed at providing $100 a month for retired 10-year players was agreed upon, to be funded by World Series broadcast rights and net proceeds from All-Star Games. Each league also got to name a player rep to attend the baseball councils in the days before the MLBPA spoke for the players.

Frank Gustine - 1947 Exhibits

1947 - Pittsburgh’s All-Star at Chicago’s Wrigley Field was 3B Frank Gustine, who went 0-for-2 in the NL’s 2-1 Midsummer Classic loss to the Junior Circuit.

1950 - The Bucs beat St. Louis 7-6 at Forbes Field. The Pirates rallied in the ninth inning when pinch-hitter Jack Phillips' long fly ball just eluded Stan Musial’s leap, grazing off his glove at the 376’ mark and landing in the Kiner’s Korner bullpen for a walk-off grand slam, his first ever, to erase a 6-3 deficit. It was also the first time in major league history that a pinch-hit grand slam overcame a three-run deficit to end a game; that particular walk-off scenario wouldn’t be repeated again until 2010. Ralph Kiner and Stan Rojek also homered.

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, but Mr. Swat’s appearance, like the game, was washed out.

1958 - The Pirates sent a full contingent of RHP 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. 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 an RBI, Thomas 1-for-3 and Maz 0-for-4.

1964 - The 2-3-4 batters Manny Mota, Roberto Clemente, and Willie Stargell each drove in three runs during the Pirates 9-1 win over the Reds at Forbes Field. Manny and Pops homered and Roberto tripled as the trio went 5-for-10 (Clemente batted 3-for-4). Bob Veale tossed 6-2/3 shutout frames, giving up three hits with eight K for his eighth win, with Al McBean finishing up.

Bob Kipper - 1991 Nationwide

1964 - LHP Bob Kipper was born in Aurora, Illinois. The lefty tossed for seven seasons (1985-91) for the Bucs. He spent his first three years as a starter and then was converted to the pen. Kipper slashed 24-33-11/4.34 with the Pirates, appearing 195 times in his last four seasons and was part of Jim Leyland’s 1991 NLCS club. After retirement, he began coaching for indie teams and in 1999 joined the Red Sox organization, serving in a variety of positions.

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 during the campaign and worked 203 innings, a down year by Veale’s standards as nagging injuries began to take their toll on the big lefty.

1969 - Roberto Clemente launched a homer over the no-righties-need-apply 436’ mark in right center field at Forbes Field, his third hit of the day, in an 8-1 win over the Expos. Montreal was held to three hits by Steve Blass while Roberto and Freddie Patek banged out three hits each.

1969 - LHP Rosario Rodriguez was born in Los Mochis, Mexico. He spent parts of three seasons in the majors, the first two with the Reds. 18 of his 34 big league appearances were with the Pirates in 1991 as a left-on-left specialist with a line of 1-1-6/4.11. He had an outing during the 1991 NLCS against the Braves, allowing three runs in one inning, and that was his last MLB call. He opened for AAA Buffalo in 1992 but spent three stints on the DL with shoulder issues. His year was shut down in June and the bum wing ended his career at age 23.

7/8 From 1970: The Kid & Cutch Dynamic Duo, Hanny Streak, Rallyin', Quakin', Brawlin', Buster's 1st, Game Days, IF Moves, Oneil HRD, HBD Josh & John

1971 - Bruce Kison made his second start and earned his first MLB victory, going into the eighth inning while defeating the Reds 7-1 at TRS. His teammates helped to chase away the butterflies by scoring four times in the opening frame. His plate support came from Dave Cash and Gene Clines at the top of the order, who reached base eight times and tallied five runs, Roberto Clemente, who chased the pair home four times, and Bob Robertson’s two-run homer. Buster slashed 81-63-6/3.49 with the Pirates in nine seasons (1971-79), went 4-1 in the postseason, and won 115 games during his 15-year big league career.

1973 - The Pirates bought SS Dal Maxville from Oakland with the intention of making him their starting shortstop. “We didn’t get him for his bat,'' said manager Bill Virdon. “We felt we needed to stabilize our infield.” Good glove or no, Dal hit just .189 for the Pirates in ‘73 and was released in April of 1974 after going 4-for-22; 1975 was his last MLB campaign.

1974 - The Pirates sent IF Kurt Bevacqua, who was hitting .114, to the KC Royals for AA IF Calvin Meier after the Bucs had shipped Nellie Briles and Fernando Gonzalez to the Royals for Bevacqua, Ed Kirkpatrick and Winston Cole (who never made it past Class A ball) during the winter. Shaler grad Art Howe was called up to take Bevacqua’s place on the roster; after a couple of challenging years as a Buc, he went on to have a solid career with the Astros and later managed Houston, Oakland and the Mets. Kurt played through 1985, even returning to Pittsburgh in 1980-81, but remained entrenched in a bench role, never reaching 300 at bats in his 15 MLB campaigns.

1977 - The Bucs and Phils had a pair of bench-clearing dances after Mike Schmidt & Willie Stargell were beaned. Per Chuck Tanner, after Kison hit Schmidt in the back, Mike said, while heading to first, “Next time that happens I’ll come and get you.” Kison replied, “Why wait til next time?” They didn’t; Schmidt missed with a roundhouse, then Kison landed a couple of jabs before Ed Ott finished it by tackling Schmidt and keeping him pinned to the ground until peace was restored. Pop's confrontation was better policed; the umps got between him and Tug McGraw before any fists flew. Pittsburgh won the slugfest that counted 8-7, overcoming a 7-3 eighth-inning deficit at TRS. The victory was anticlimactic; after tying the game in the eighth, the Pirates won when pinch hitter Jim Fregosi drew a bases-loaded, ninth inning walk off Warren Brusstar to earn a hard-fought victory for Pittsburgh and Goose Gossage.

1980 - The Nationals topped the Americans 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. Ex-Buc Jerry Reuss earned the win while Jim Bibby pitched a clean seventh inning, as teammate Kent Tekulve watched the game from the bullpen.

Cobra - 1982 Topps In Action

1982 - The Reds entered the ninth trailing the Pirates 4-2 at TRS, then rattled off a six-spot against Manny Sarmiento & Kent Tekulve to take an 8-4 lead and seemingly snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But the Pirates didn’t mail it in - they answered with a two-run homer by pinch hitter Willie Stargell and a bases-clearing double by Jason Thompson to take home a pulse-racing 9-8 win. Between Pop's long ball and Thompson’s double, the Pirates banged out five straight one-out hits against Tom Hume & Joe Price. Dave Parker had three hits, including two big flies, and Bill Madlock also went deep. Teke got the blown save/win combo after being roughed up for three runs in 2/3 of an inning. Post Gazette beatman Charlie Feeney wrote it up as “...the wildest ninth inning in the 12-year history of Three Rivers Stadium.”

1983 - OF/1B John Bowker was born in Sacramento. A third-round pick of the Giants, he played for the Bay Bombers from 2008-10 and was traded to the Pirates at the deadline, along with Joe Martinez, in return for Javier Lopez. He hit .233 as a Bucco and was flipped in late 2011 to the Phillies. John spent 2012-14 in Japan, with a stint in the Mexican League. The Bucs brought him back in 2015, but he never got past AAA Indy and retired after the campaign.

1986 - The Pirates were shaken but not stirred in San Diego when a 2:15 AM earthquake rocked them. Jim Leyland, trainer Kent Biggerstaff, sportswriter Ron Cook and nine Bucco players made it down to the hotel lobby while the 30-second, 6.0 Richter Scale tremor shook, rattled and rolled. But it caused minimal damage and no injuries as the Bucs went on to play that night, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Friars to fall 13 games (34-47) under .500.

1987 - Jack-of-all-trades Josh Harrison was born in Cincinnati. The utility guy was up-and-down with the Bucs since 2011 after coming over in the John Grabow/Tom Gorzelanny deal with the Cubs in 2009. But in 2014, playing LF and later third base, he broke out, winning an All-Star berth with a .315 BA, second best in the NL (he won a second nod in 2017). He inherited second base after Neil Walker was traded to the Mets, and later signed with the Tigers as a free agent in early 2019 after being bumped by Adam Frazier. J-Hay collected his 1,000th hit with the White Sox in ‘22, last played with the Phillies in 2023 and retired in May, 2025.

Clemente Statue - 1994 Topps

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 Three Rivers Stadium. 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, the three places most closely associated with Arriba.

1997 - The junior league short circuited the NL by a 3-1 score at the All-Star game played at Jacobs Field. 2B Tony Womack was the Bucs’ sole representative and grounded out in his only at bat. Ex-Pirates on the NL side were Barry Bonds, Denny Neagle and Moises Alou.

2003 - The Bucs nosed the Milwaukee Brewers 8-7 in 10 innings at Miller Park to win their fifth game in six outings. Wes Helms hit a two-run homer off Mike Williams in the ninth to send the game to overtime; Jack Wilson answered with a two-run shot in the 10th frame. It wasn’t quite done; John Vander Wal singled to left center with two outs and two on in the Brew Crew half to chase a run home, but Geoff Jenkins was thrown out at third by Kenny Lofton to end the game. Matt Stairs and Jason Kendall had three hits. Stairs, Wilson and Lofton also homered.

2005 - Down 5-1, Pittsburgh scored four times in the ninth to send the game into extras, then took a 6-5 win against the Mets in 10 frames at PNC Park. With two gone in the ninth, Tike Redman singled home a pair and Matt Lawton followed with a two-bagger to tie it. Humberto Cota lined a knock to left after a pair were gone in the 10th, scoring Rob Mackowiak, who had reached second on an error. The Mets were just a pitch away from earning a victory; both Redman and Cota’s hits came with two strikes.

Humberto Cota - 2005 photo Ezra Shaw/Getty

2008 - The Pirates tallied three times after two outs and the bases empty in the eighth to top the Houston Astros 4-3 at PNC Park. Adam LaRoche started with a homer, then a HBP, single and walk set up Nate McLouth. He dropped a liner into short right to plate Jose Bautista and Luis Rivas with the tying and winning runs. Damaso Marte saved the win for John Grabow.

2011 - Pinch hitter Mike McKenry broke a tie with the Cubs in the eighth inning when he took an 0-2 pitch deep with two outs off Carlos Marmol for a three-run bomb to give the Bucs a 7-4 win at PNC Park. It was The Fort’s first MLB homer and set the fans to rockin’ - they demanded (and got) a quick curtain call. 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. He would blow his next save opportunity 10 days later (the Pirates didn’t have many leads to protect in the second half of the 2011 season) but it was a great year - Hanny was named an NL All-Star and slashed 1-4-40/1.83 over the year. The Bucs entered the All-Star break above the .500 mark for the first time since 1992 although the good times didn’t last.

2012 - The Pirates kept sole possession of first place in the NL Central for the last time with a 13-2 thumping of the Giants at PNC Park. Neil Walker went 5-for-5 with a double and a home run, drove in a pair and scored four times; Andrew McCutchen homered twice while collecting three hits, four RBI and three runs while Casey McGehee added three knocks to give AJ Burnett his 10th win. It was also the club’s 10th win in the past 12 games. The elation was short-lived as the Bucs collapsed in the dog days to finish with another losing record, but at last, wait ‘til next year wasn’t an empty slogan as the Corsairs won 94 games in ‘13 and made it to the Promised Land of the postseason.

2025 - CF Oneil Cruz was announced as a participant in the 2025 ASG Home Run Derby; he banged 15 long balls to lead the Pirates. Ooops...make that 16, he celebrated by going long later in the day in a 4-3 loss to KC. He joined Atlanta's Ronald Acuña Jr., Seattle's Cal Raleigh, Washington's James Wood, and Minnesota's Byron Buxton for the Classic’s opening act. Cruz is the first Pirate in the showcase since Josh Bell in 2019 and the sixth overall to participate.

7/7 Through the 1950s: B-2-B DH, Pie Day/Cycle, Good Gooch, Max Effort, Cy, Paul, Gus & Arky All-Stars, ASG, HBD Dybber, Chuck, Nonny, Billy, Satch, Merry, Double Duty & Harry

1868 - 2B Harry Gilbert was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. A semi-pro infielder, he played in two games for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys on June 23rd, 1890, starting both ends of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies and going 2-for-8. His brother John was also picked up for the game and went 0-for-8 while playing SS; they both fielded cleanly. They became the first brother act in Pittsburgh franchise history, and neither ever played pro ball again.

1902 - P/C Theodore Roosevelt “Double Duty” Radcliffe was born in Mobile, Alabama. He stopped briefly in Pittsburgh, playing for the 1931 Homestead Grays and the 1932 Pittsburgh Crawfords. Writer Damon Runyon gave him the nickname "Double Duty" because Radcliffe took the field as a catcher one game and as a pitcher the next during a 1932 Negro League championship doubleheader between the Crawfords and the Monroe Monarchs at Yankee Stadium. Radcliffe caught a Satchel Paige whitewash & banged a grand slam in the first game, then pitched a shutout in the nightcap.

1902 - Art “Merry” Merewether was born in East Providence, Rhode Island. The Brown grad got into one big league game in 1922 as a 20-year-old Pirate, unsuccessfully pinch-hitting. He left the Buccos to attend MIT (the only MLB player to get a sheepskin from that school), serving as captain of the college's baseball team, played minor league ball in 1926 and then went on to his true calling, meteorology, and he was an All-Star at it. Merry became the chief meteorologist for United Airlines, president of the American Meteorological Society and discovered a Canadian lake which was named after him.

1906 - Leroy “Satchel” Paige was born in Mobile, Alabama. He pitched in the early-to-mid thirties for the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords. At 42, Paige became the oldest rookie in major league history when he joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948, and in 1971 became the first Negro League star inducted into the Hall of Fame. Paige is on the short list of the game’s great pitchers and one of the sport’s great showmen: One of his favorite acts was to have his fielders sit down nonchalantly at their positions while he’d strike out the side. According to Paige, his nickname originated from a childhood job carrying bags at the train station, although his long-time friends suggested he was actually swiping the satchels.

Billy Herman - photo by Sportsworld

1909 - IF/MGR Billy Herman was born in New Albany, Indiana. The Hall-of-Famer came to Pittsburgh in 1947 as a player/manager, the last one that the Pirates would ever have. Billy played a little, hitting .213, and after compiling a 61-92 record, he resigned as the manager on the last day of the season. That was also his last season as a player; he went on to coach, manage, and work in player development for decades after his playing days, finally retiring in 1978.

1910 - OF Leo “Red”/”Nonny” Nonnenkamp was born in St. Louis. Nonny started his four-year MLB career with one at bat for the Bucs in 1933 (he struck out as a pinch hitter); he’d return to the show for Boston in 1938-40. He played pro ball from 1930-46, with three years off for military duty in the Navy. He retired to Little Rock, his minor league home and became a mailman. Nonny was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1993 and passed on in 2000.

1921 - The Bronx Bombers visited Forbes Field for an exhibition tilt. The Pittsburgh Press wrote “Thousands of fans who attended the exhibition match between the New York Yankees and the Pirates were disappointed when Babe Ruth failed to deliver a circuit clout.” The Bambino, who had 31 homers on his way to swatting 59 on the year, flew out twice and fanned two times in the Bucs 5-2 win as Pirates RF Dave Robertson was the only player to go long.

1922 - OF Max Carey earned his paycheck in an 18-inning 9-8 loss to the Giants at Forbes Field. He got on base nine times in nine at-bats (he set a MLB record with those nine safe touchings, tied since by Johnny Burnett, Stan Hack and Shohei Ohtani) with six hits, three walks, three stolen bases (including home), scored three times, drove home a pair of runs and caught seven flies, several that were hauled in “...after long spectacular runs” per the New York Tribune game coverage. C Johnny Gooch was hot, too, going 6-for-8 with a double despite catching the equivalent of a double header, except without the break. Gooch and Carey both set career-bests with their six hits; it was the first and only time in Pirates history that two players had six or more hits in the same game. 

Pie Traynor - 1923 Maple Crispette

1923 - Bucco bats erupted at the Baker Bowl as the Philadelphia Phillies were swamped by an 18-5 tally. Pie Traynor hit for the cycle, driving in six runs and scoring three times while banging a homer, triple and double and reaching base all six times he was up (Pie walked & reached via error). Reb Russell had four hits, scored five times and chased home four runners while Charlie Grimm doubled and collected four RBI. Max Carey and Carson Bigbee touched the plate three times each during the contest as Lee Meadows cruised on the hill to claim the victory. There was also some off-the-field hardball news as a City Police “Flying Squad” broke up a downtown baseball betting ring.

1928 - The Pirates held a Pie Traynor Day at Forbes Field. The ceremony was in between games of a doubleheader against the Giants, and Pie, an avid reader, was gifted with a 51-volume Harvard Classics collection. He made his big haul at a testimonial dinner held the night before at the Hotel Schenley with 500 guests, including the entire New York Giants squad, when the team gave him a chest that contained $2,000 worth of gold. His day had a perfect ending as the Bucs swept both games, 8-6 and 5-2, while Pie went 2-for-6 with a walk and sac bunt. 

1936 - The Pirates sent 1B Gus Suhr and SS Arky Vaughan to the All-Star Game at Boston Braves Stadium. Neither got in as the National League squeaked out a 4-3 win over the Americans.

1937 - P Cy Blanton, SS Arky Vaughan and RF Paul Waner were selected as Pittsburgh All-Stars for the game at Griffith Stadium. Vaughan went 2-for-5, Waner 0-for-5 with an RBI, and Blanton faced one batter, Joe DiMaggio, whom he whiffed during the American League’s 8-3 romp.

1945 - IF Chuck Goggin was born in Pompano Beach, Florida. Chuck began his brief career (he played for four campaigns) in Pittsburgh in 1972-73, going 3-for-9. Goggin was a good hitter, but his major league journey was filled with injury-related hurdles: he had knee surgery, broke his ankle, and later ruptured a disc. He also suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs and back in 1966 when a mine blew up under him in Vietnam. The Marine was one of only two MLB players to earn a Purple Heart in ‘Nam. He also had one great Bucco moment - he collected his first major league hit in his first major league start on September 30th, 1972, the same day that teammate Roberto Clemente collected his 3,000th hit. After his back problem, Chuck played in the minors and Latino leagues for a while, coached and then took a job as a US Marshall.

Roberto & Chuck share big hits - 9/30/1973 ESPN Image

1955 - Jerry “The Dybber” Dybzinski was born in Cleveland. He closed out his six-year career in Pittsburgh, getting into five games and going 0-for-4 as a 30-year-old in 1985. The Bucs had signed him during the off season as a depth guy, and he spent most of his days at AAA Hawaii. Dybzinski was released after the season, failed to catch on elsewhere in the league, and moved to Chicago to begin his post-baseball career as a financial/business analyst.

1956 - Bill Mazeroski made his Pirate debut. He went 1-for-3 and turned a twin killing (Dick Groat - Maz - Bob Skinner) against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds during a 3-2 Pirate loss. He got his ticket to Pittsburgh to replace Spook Jacobs, who was sent to Hollywood as part of a seven-man roster reshuffling that eventually culminated in the 1960 crown.

1957 - The Pirates swept the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds by 10-6 and 8-1 scores. Frank Thomas and Dick Groat became the first pair of teammates to hit back-to-back home runs in both games of a doubleheader. In the opener, Thomas had two long flies and four RBI; Dick Rand also went deep as Red Swanson got the win and Nellie King picked up a save. In the nightcap, Groat was the man - he was a double short of the cycle and chased home five runs; Hank Foiles also added a homer. Bob Friend went the distance for the victory, tossing a four-hitter. Foiles was named the team’s lone All-Star player, with Bill Mazeroski and Frank Thomas left off the squad. It was a temporary snub; both Maz and Frank were selected to the 1958 AS roster.

1959 - The All-Star Game became a double feature when a new, two-game format was adopted. The first game was played at Forbes Field following the first pitch, tossed by Veep Richard Nixon. The National League won, 5-4 with C Smoky Burgess, RHP Elroy Face, SS Dick Groat and 2B Billy Mazeroski repping the Buccos. Maz went 1-for-1 with a single, Groat batted once and sacrificed, and Smoky didn’t make an appearance. The Baron did, and probably wishes he hadn’t. He gave up three runs in 1-2/3 IP with three hits, two walks, and two K.