7/11 Through the 1970s: Starg HR King, Stu Slam, Lefty Hurt, Game Days, Forbes Field '44, Friend Win, Roberto Roars & ASGs, HBD Javier, Otter, Skeets, Harry & Pop

1865 - C William “Pop” Shriver was born in Brooklyn. He was a part-time catcher for the 1898-1900 Bucs, hitting .265 toward the end of a 16-year career. He played one more year for St. Louis, then hung them up after 1901. He’s part of early baseball’s folklore when in 1894 he was alleged to have caught a ball tossed from the top of the Washington Monument, over 500’ high, by Clark Griffith, who at the time was a pitcher and Pop’s teammate on the Chicago Colts. The usual tale is that he missed the first ball Clark dropped from the memorial, but snagged the second arc, although some say that the ornery ball popped out of his mitt.

1884 - OF Harry Wolter was born in Monterey, California. The seven-year MLB vet started out in 1907 and played for four teams, including Pittsburgh. The Bucs bought his contract from the Cincinnati Reds and he got one outing for the Bucs as a pitcher (he was converted to an outfielder and sometimes 1B in 1910) and worked two innings, giving up a run before being sold to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Santa Clara alum played pro ball from 1905-20, taking his final bow as a player/manager in 1927. Following his playing career, he coached baseball at Stanford University for 26 years (1916, from 1923-1943, and one more time from 1946-49) and also coached the 1936 US Olympic team.

1902 - “Pittsburg won from New York yesterday but at a terrible price. Lefty Davis caught his foot in second base and fell with a fractured leg,” was the lead. Davis had stolen the bag and bounced up to head to third when the throw got away, but stumbled over the sack, breaking his ankle, passing out in pain and then being carried to the clubhouse. The 27-year-old outfielder never quite recovered; Davis was a .287 hitter with 45 steals in 171 big league games up to that point, but missed the rest of the campaign and finished his remaining 177 games batting .234 with 20 thefts. The Pirates won the ballgame at the Polo Grounds, 6-3, as five Bucs banged out a pair of hits in support of Deacon Phillippe, who went the distance for the victory.

1908 - Per the Pittsburgh Press Ralph Davis: "In a game filled with pretty fielding plays and delightful batting rallies..." Vic Willis tossed a complete-game one-hitter in a 6-2 win over the Giants at Exposition Park. Mike Donlin's triple was the only New York knock. Roy Thomas had three hits for the Bucs (two were triples) and Hans Wagner added a pair of knocks.

Vic Willis - Helmar T3

1921 - RHP Hal “Skeets” Gregg was born in Anaheim, California. He worked for three years (1948-50) for the Bucs after a five-year run in Brooklyn. Skeets tossed mostly from the pen and went 3-6-1/4.85 as a Pirate when he was on the downside of his career, suffering arm and back woes. Quick factoid: Gregg was noted for his fastball, which he honed as a child by rifling oranges at various targets on his parent's grove. While it strengthened his arm, it didn’t do much for his accuracy - his final MLB line showed five walks/nine innings to just four whiffs.

1925 - The Bucs jumped ahead early but managed to blow a five-run lead to the Brooklyn Robins at Ebbets Field by giving up a six-spot in the eighth inning. Back-to-back triples by Clyde Barnhart and Pie Traynor in the top of the ninth regained the momentum and pushed the Pirates to a 7-6 victory, a nailbiter that was finally sealed by a running grab of a shot to deep center by Max Carey with the tying run on base. Lee Meadows went the distance for the win.

1938 - The Pirates were in a feisty mood as they visited Wrigley Field. First, coach Jewel Ens got tossed in the top of the seventh inning, then C Al Todd joined him in the shower during the Chicago half of the frame. Ens was upset over an out call at home on Johnny Rizzo while Todd continued chatting to the man in blue about the same decision when he went behind the dish. Al didn’t go quietly; he had to be separated from the ump, George Barr, and fired some bats from the dugout as he departed. Both Ens and Todd were fined $50 for yapping. But the Bucs battled back in the ninth, scoring three times to rally for their 12th straight win (the streak reached 13 games before it was snapped) by a 5-3 tally over the Cubs, with the big blow being a two-run knock by pitcher Jim Tobin. He got the win in relief of Bill Swift, while Mace Brown earned the save. 

1939 - The Pirates sent SS Arky Vaughan to the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, but the AL took the game, 3-1. To keep things honest, the umpires swapped spots in the middle of the fifth inning – Cal Hubbard of the AL left home, replaced by the NL’s George Magerkurth, and the other two men in blue also traded bases.

Hans and Rip at the 1944 ASG - 7/11/1944 AP/photo<

1944 - The Pirates hosted their first All-Star Game at Forbes Field, the 12th Midsummer Classic, the first night ASG hosted by the NL. The NL won, 7-1, as Phil Cavarretta of the Cubs set an ASG record by reaching base five straight times on a triple, single, and three walks. Rip Sewell worked three innings, giving up a walk and whiffing a pair. 3B Bob Elliott went 0-for-3, while OF Vince DiMaggio played in the field but didn’t bat. SS Frank Zak, an emergency replacement who didn’t get named to the squad in time to make the program, didn’t get into the game at all.

1950 - It was back-and-forth baseball at Chicago’s Comiskey Park during the All-Star Game. The National League tied the match, 3-3, in the ninth dramatically on lone Pirates rep Ralph Kiner’s homer (he also had a double, going 2-for-6) before Red Schoendienst's long ball in the 14th inning won it for the Nationals. As noted by BR Bullpen, it was a game of firsts - the first extra-inning All-Star Game, the first time the NL won at an AL park, and the first All-Star Game ever shown on national television (Jack Brickhouse announced the game on NBC).

1951 - C Ed Ott was born in Muncy, PA, near Williamsport. He caught righty but hit lefty, putting him in a platoon role for Pittsburgh for seven seasons (1974-80), batting .259. He was effective in the 1979 World Series; in three starts, he hit .333 with three RBI in a dozen at-bats. “Otter” managed Pirates farm teams in 1985-86, was a skipper in the indie leagues for three seasons, and then coached for the Houston Astros under former Pirates teammate Art Howe from 1989-93. He later returned to coaching at the indie level, finally retiring in 2014.

1958 - 25-year-old Dick Stuart belted a grand slam in his second MLB game to lead the Bucs to a 7-2 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, giving Ron Kline, who tossed a six-hitter, all the runs he needed. Frank Thomas also went deep for the Bucs. Big Stu had made his MLB bow the day before; he belted a two-run long fly in the ninth inning of his debut in a losing cause.

Bob Friend - Helmar: This Great Game

1960 - One-hit shutout pitching by Bob Friend over three innings led the Nationals to a 5-3 win over the Americans at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium in the first of two All-Star Games. Friend was credited with the victory, making him the winner of two of the NL's last three All-Star contests (he also earned a dub in 1956). This dub was saved by teammate Vern Law, who got the last two outs following a scoreless stint by ElRoy Face. OF Bob Skinner went 1-for-4 with a run scored, RBI and stolen base while 2B Bill Mazeroski went 1-for-2 with an RBI and HBP. OF Roberto Clemente and C Smoky Burgess both were 0-for-1, and SS Dick Groat got in as a defensive sub. For Clemente, it was his AS debut, and his out was a loud one that Jim Lemon ran down at the wall.

1961 - In the All-Star game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, OF Roberto Clemente had a coming out party. The Great One tripled and scored the game's first run, drove in another with a sac fly, chased Mickey Mantle to the centerfield fence to corral his next blast, and capped the day when he delivered a walk-off single off knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm in a 5-4, 10-inning NL win. Danny Murtaugh was the skipper of the Nationals; 1B Dick Stuart belted a pinch-hit double, C Smoky Burgess went 1-for-4 and reliever Roy Face was a spectator who never got the call from the bullpen. The game cemented Candlestick’s rep as a wind tunnel; Stu Miller was blown off the mound and charged with a balk when a sea breeze sent him sailing in mid-delivery.

1963 - In a 3-0 win over the Colt .45s at Forbes Field, Roberto Clemente’s bullet chased Jim Wynn from the infield to a career in the pasture. As the 21-year-old Toy Cannon, who was a rookie playing SS (it was his second MLB game), told Baseball Digest “Clemente hit a screaming line drive, and I got my glove up just as the ball hit the left field wall. After that, I told the coaches and manager to get me out of the infield.” Wynn was eventually granted his wish and played 1,810 games in the OF after 21 appearances auditioning at short during his rookie campaign. Roberto’s wicked double was cashed in by Donn Clendenon in the eighth inning and was the game’s winning run; Don Cardwell went all the way for the win, giving up just two singles to the ‘Stros.

1967 - The National League won another All-Star pitching battle against the Junior Circuit, taking a 2-1 decision at Anaheim Stadium in 15 innings with Tony Perez’s homer the difference. OF Roberto Clemente went 1-for-6, and the starting middle infield of 2B Bill Mazeroski and SS Gene Alley went a combined 0-for-9 at the plate, although Maz did lay down a successful bunt. The rosters were loaded for this match; 22 players and coaches on the Midsummer Classic rosters ended up in the Hall of Fame. The 15 innings was the longest Midsummer Classic match played, later tied by the 2008 contest. 

Willie Stargell - 1973 Topps Pin-Ups

1973 - Willie Stargell cracked the 302nd home run of his career to pass Ralph Kiner as the all-time Pirate HR leader in a 10-2 victory over the Padres at San Diego Stadium. Bob Robertson, Al Oliver and Dal Maxvill each had three hits while Nellie Briles went the distance, tossing a solid seven-hitter with seven punchouts. Willie would pile on to his franchise-leading number of dingers, retiring after the 1982 campaign with 475 bombs to leave Mr. Swat in the rear view mirror.

1977 - LHP Javier Lopez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lopez signed as a free agent with the Pirates in 2010 for $775K after having a horrible year with the Bosox. The 32-year-old LOOGY rebounded nicely with a slash of 2-2/2.79 and was moved at the deadline to the San Francisco Giants for RHP Joe Martinez and OF John Bowker. Javy spent seven seasons with the G-Men, working off the bump during four playoff runs and two World Series, before retiring in 2017.

1978 - The Senior Circuit took a 7-3 win from the AL in the All-Star game held at San Diego Stadium. 1B Willie Stargell was the only Pirate and went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter. Three ex-Bucco hands were on the American’s starting lineup card - 3B Don Money, SS Freddie Patek and OF Richie Zisk, with SS Craig Reynolds on the bench and RHP Goose Gossage in the pen.

7/11 From 1980: Steve-Danny, Super Skenes, 4 For Mo, King Thief, Game Days, Bo Signed, Bond Rumors, PNC '06 & ASGs, '01 Draft, HBD John

1981 - 18-year-old Bobby Bonilla was signed by the Pirates as an undrafted free agent after a Pirate City tryout set up by scouting director and later GM Syd Thrift. He spent five years on the farm before being lost to the Chicago White Sox in the Rule 5 draft after the 1985 season. The Pirates got him back quickly in a July trade for pitcher Jose DeLeon and Bobby Bo remained a Bucco until he joined the NY Mets in 1992 after inking a five year/$29M contract that made him the highest paid player for a bit and dwarfed Pittsburgh’s reported four year/$16.5M offer.

1983 - The Pirates dropped the San Francisco Giants, 3-2, at Candlestick Park. Don Robinson, dodging early bullets, broke out a newly developed slider in the fourth and left with the game tied, 2-2, after seven frames. Dave Parker had three hits while Mike Easler’s ninth-inning homer (he also had three hits, w/two runs scored and two RBI) won it for Manny Sarmiento, with Rod Scurry notching the save. The victory launched the Pirates on an eight-game winning streak and an 18-of-22 run as they moved from fourth place, 4-1/2 games off the pace, to a 1-1/2 games lead. But they faded and went 30-29 during the dog days, losing five of the last seven contests, to finish second, six games behind Philadelphia.

1989 - The Americans rolled on with a 5-3 win in the All-Star game at Anaheim Stadium. OF Bobby Bonilla went 2-for-2 as a late inning DH in the first ASG that allowed a designated hitter. President Ronald Reagan joined Vin Scully for an inning in the broadcast booth. Mike Schmidt of the Phillies, who had retired from baseball on May 29th at age 39, was elected by the fans as the starting 3B for the National League team. Schmidt opted not to play, but he did join in the game's opening ceremony in his Philadelphia uniform as a final fare-thee-well.

1992 - The Pirates traded 3B Steve Buechele, made expendable by Jeff King, to the Chicago Cubs for LHP Danny Jackson as a stretch run acquisition. Jackson went 4-4/3.36 in 15 starts. He lost his only playoff start, and then was lost to the Miami Marlins in the 1992 expansion draft. Buechele played until 1995. King held the hot corner in Pittsburgh for eight years. In a sidebar, the Pirates 1991 Minor League POTY, Kevin Young, was called up briefly. Thought of as the 3B of the future, he was shifted to first to accommodate both him and King.

Danny Jackson - 1993 Select

1992 - RHP John Barbato was born in Miami. The Pirates sent a minor leaguer to the Yankees for Barbato, and as a depth option who started out at Indianapolis, he still made 24 appearances for the Pirates in 2017, with a 1-1/4.05 line. He was waived and claimed by Detroit. He’s since tossed in Japan and after a coaching stint in the indie leagues, he’s attempting a Mexican league comeback.

1992 - Another Bonds rumor: The New York Times reported a failed three-way deal among the Pirates, Mets, and Yankees speculatively involving Howard Johnson, Vince Coleman, Roberto Kelly and featured piece Barry Bonds. As told, it was the Big Apple for Bonds, the Mets got Kelly and the Bucs received HoJo and Coleman. Barry was also eyed in other unconsummated deals with at least the Phils and Braves as he approached free agency, but Jimmy Leyland didn’t want to let him go. BB didn’t re-sign and when he hit the market in December, he turned down the Yankees offer because he wanted a year more than they would give, and he signed with the San Francisco Giants.

1993 - Pittsburgh eked out a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds in front of 22,7222 fans at TRS despite being the Keystone Kops of bunting. In a battle between Steve Cooke and Jose Rijo, it came down to the bullpens in the ninth. Blas Minor put up a zippo for the Bucs while Dave Clark started it up for the hometown with a single to open their half of the frame. Jeff King was given the bunt sign; he couldn’t lay one down but did single after two strikes. Al Martin got the same sign; he tried to move them up three times before K’ing when his sac try rolled foul. Tom Foley was told to hack away, and he ended up bleeding a swinging bunt single. That loaded the bases; Rob Dibble took over to face Don Slaught. He neither bunted nor swatted, but became the hero when he drew a walk for the walk-off win. Despite an inability to perform an old school skill like the bunt, it was a “turn back the clock” game - the teams dressed in 1925 throwback unis, the lineups were announced via a megaphone, the scoreboard was hand operated, the outfield walls were covered with old-timey ads and the vid screen showed silent movie-style clips.

1995 - The NL nosed out the AL All-Stars, 3-2, at the Ballpark in Arlington. Pitcher Denny Neagle repped the Bucs and tossed a scoreless inning, giving up a hit and striking out one. The Americans out-hit the NL 8-to-3, but all three Senior Circuit raps were shots that left the park.

Jeff King - 1996 Collectors Choice

1996 - The Pirates defeated the Reds, 5-3, at TRS, highlighted by a steal of home by an unlikely suspect, Jeff King. Jay Bell was at bat and King said “I was hoping and praying Jay would see me coming. I wondered if I should yell when I get about halfway?” But no worries. Bell told the Post Gazette “You can’t miss those big feet lumbering down the line.” Smiley, who features a slow delivery, tossed the pitch high and a sliding King got under the tag. Al Martin and Orlando Merced had three hits, with Orlando adding a homer. Denny Neagle got the win - he had been traded for Smiley by the Twins in 1992 - and Dan Plesac earned a save.

1999 - Rookie 2B Warren Morris had his first career four-hit game (all singles) while driving in four runs and scoring once in a 10-2 over the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome. Brian Giles and Kevin Young added three hits as the Bucs tallied 17 raps; Giles also homered. Todd Ritchie tossed for seven innings with Jason Christiansen and Brad Clontz mopping up.

2000 - The American League All-Stars defeated the Senior Circuit’s best, 6-3, at Turner Field. Pirates C Jason Kendall and OF Brian Giles both went 0-for-2 during the contest. Florida fans could be excused for turning their nose at the game. It was originally slated for Pro Player Stadium (built in 1987 as Joe Robbie Stadium), but NL President Len Coleman reversed the decision and gave it to Atlanta, citing it as a newer park (Turner Field was converted from an Olympic venue to baseball in 1997). The truth was baseball officials were too uncertain of the future of the Marlin franchise as owner Wayne Huizenga had the team up for sale while with the other hand pushing hard for a new ballyard. 

 

2006 - The Pittsburgh Pirates hosted the 77th All-Star Game at PNC Park. The Midsummer Classic marked the fifth time that Pittsburgh hosted the ASG, becoming the first franchise to put on the game in three different ballyards — Forbes Field (1944 & 1959), Three Rivers Stadium (1974 & 1994), and PNC Park (2006). Chuck Tanner threw out the first pitch, but it didn’t help the home boys: the AL’s 3-2 win kept the junior circuit unbeaten in the contest since 1997. OF Jason Bay went 1-for-3 and 2B Freddy Sanchez went 0-for-2. Vera Clemente was escorted onto the field by Bill Mazeroski to accept the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award on behalf of Roberto between innings while the crowd roared; a video montage of The Great One was shown and AL manager Ozzie Guillen was moved to tears during the ceremony. In another thoughtful gesture, NL manager Phil Garner selected Tanner as an honorary coach for the game.

2015 - It was a game that the Bucs and Cardinals squeezed for every drop of drama at PNC Park in front of 37,318, shown nationally on Fox Sports. The two best teams in baseball by record, Pittsburgh won a 6-5, 14-inning walk-off victory in a contest that lasted into the next day. The Cards’ Mark Reynolds drew first blood when he homered after striking out - he swung at and missed strike three, but plate ump Vic Carapazza miscalled it a foul. Reynolds went “whew” and belted the reprieve pitch into the LF stands. The Redbirds were up 3-0 before AJ Burnett, the Pirate starter, hit his first homer in a decade. The Pirates tied it in the eighth, fell behind in the 10th, tied it in the bottom half on a Jung-Ho Kang triple and Chris Stewart knock, and fell behind again in the 14th only to win it when Neil Walker singled and Andrew McCutchen homered into the batter’s eye, extending his hitting streak to 18 games. Vance Worley got the win (Vanimal was one of 15 pitchers that the two teams sent to the hill), and the overtime victory cut the St. Louis’ lead in the NL Central to 3-1/2 games; it had been a cavernous nine-game gap on June 28th.

2017 - The first ASG at Marlins Park ended up in a pitching battle with the Americans taking its fifth straight win by a 2-1 score. It took 10 innings and was decided on Robinson Cano’s homer off Wade Davis. Josh Harrison, the Pirates only rep, came in as a sub at second base (he played five innings) and fanned twice. Though the Junior Circuit was on a roll, the All-Star series was dead even after 88 outings with a 43-43-2 record and each league scoring 361 runs.

2021 - The Bucs fell behind, 5-0, in the first frame at Citi Field, but Chase De Jong recovered his mojo, some stellar relieving followed and long balls by Rodolfo Castro (he banged a pair) & Michael Perez, cut the lead to a run by the ninth. With Kevin Newman on third, John Nogowski's two-out, first-pitch single tied it up and knocks by Ben Gamel and Wilmer Difo chased Nogo home for the 6-5 win. The game was closed out by Richard Rodriguez, who saved David Bednar’s win. Castro became the first Pirate to swat three homers as his first three MLB hits.

2021 - There was some draft news, too: the Pirates, with the top pick of the 2021 draft, selected Louisville C Henry Davis (signed for $6.5M; slot $8,415,300), considered by many to be the best available college bat of the draft. He was the first catcher selected in the first round by the Bucs since Reese McGuire in 2013. On the following day, they selected North Carolina commit LHP Anthony Solometo of Bishop Eustace Prep (NJ) in the second round (37th pick; signed for $2.8M, $1,999,3000 slot), touted to be the best HS lefty available. CF Lonnie White Jr., (signed for $1.5M, slot $1,050,300), a two-sport star & Penn State commit from Malvern Prep (PA), was selected in the "B" Comp round (64th pick). North Oconee HS, (GA) RHP/SS Bubba Chander went in the third round (72nd pick; signed for $3M, slot $870K). He was a Clemson commit as a QB. The Pirates drafted four of Baseball America's top 32 prospects and got them all signed. They also added OF Braylan Bishop in the 14th round, an Arkansas commit and Top 100 draft prospect (signed for $268,700; slot $125K) and fourth round prep RHP Owen Kellington of Vermont signed with a day to go for $600K (slot value was $571,400). The Pirates inked 19 of their 21 picks and spent their entire draft bonus pool allotment, plus the 5% overage, with $16M invested in the draft.

Henry Davis - 2021 Pirates

2023 - Mitch Keller worked the second inning of the 93rd All-Star game, using just 11 pitches. He gave up a solo shot to Yandy Diaz and fanned Adolis Garcia. The other Bucco rep, David Bodnar (Derek Shelton was a coach), warmed up but wasn't called, though an ex-Buc was the man of the hour and MVP. Rockies C Elias Díaz, a first-time All-Star at age 32, took the O's Félix Bautista deep with a runner aboard in the top of the eighth to put the Senior Circuit in the lead for an eventual 3-2 win at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, the NL’s first Midsummer Classic victory since 2012. As an opening act, Vlad Guerrero Jr. won the Home Run Derby, outslugging Randy Arozarena by a 25-23 tally. He joined his dad, Vlad Sr., as the only father-son duo to take the title.

2024 - Paul Skenes continued to turn heads when he spun seven no-hit innings against Milwaukee, and he needed to be that good (one walk, one bopped batter, 11 fans) to take a 1-0 win at American Family Field. Yasmani Gandal doubled home Jack Suwinski from first in the seventh inning for the game’s only tally. Skenes used just six pitches to get through the seventh, but after 99 tosses, Derek Shelton ended his day. Shelty almost rued that decision, but Colin Holderman struck out William Contreras with the bases loaded to end the eight and Aroldis Chapman worked a calm ninth for the save. For Skenes, it was his second flirtation with a no-no; he went six innings against the Cubs in May before being yanked because of the pitch count.

7/10 Through the 1960s: Grays Raided, Bombers, 15-Hit Shutout, Game Days, ASGs, Roberto - 3 Hits & Friend Win, Division Era, HBD Gene & Link

1865 - IF Bobby “Link” Lowe was born in Pittsburgh and raised in the New Castle area. He played in the show for 18 years with a .273 lifetime BA and was the first to hit four homers in a game, but Link was barely a blip on the home team’s radar - he got into one game as a pinch hitter and K’ed in 1904 before being sold to Detroit. The 38-year-old Link was near the end by that time, and although he played through 1907 with the Tigers, he only managed a .206 average during that span. He retired to coach in the minors and college ranks, later adding scouting to his resume. His nickname was a nod to the Great Emancipator; Lowe was born a few weeks after President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated and was given the middle name Lincoln in Abe’s honor. 

1901 - The Boston Beaneaters collected 15 hits in 12 innings against Pittsburgh but failed to score in a 1-0 loss at Exposition Field, setting a record for most hits with no runs. The Pirates got four hits off Bill Dineen, who lost to Jack Chesbro to cap a four-game sweep of the Bostonians. Pittsburgh won thanks to a couple of Beaneater boo-boos. Honus Wagner reached second on an error, went to third on a bunt single and scored when Dineen’s pickoff flip to first went awry.

1908 - At Exposition Park, the Bucs overcame a 4-0 New York Giants lead to win 7-6 on Tommy Leach’s ninth inning walkoff homer to center. Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke and Chief Wilson had triples for the Pirates while Sam Leever picked up a save of Lefty Leifield’s victory.

1929 - The Pirates mashed the Philadelphia Phillies 15-9 at the Baker Bowl. Pittsburgh hit five homers and the Phils banged four. The teams flexed their muscles with regularity; there were homers hit in eight of the nine innings. George Grantham had a pair of long balls for the Bucs and drove in five runs, with Pie Traynor, Lloyd Waner and pitcher Fred Fussell adding solo shots.

Pie Traynor - 1934 Batter Up

1934 - 3B Pie Traynor, SS Arky Vaughan and RF Paul “Big Poison” Waner represented the Bucs in the second All-Star game held at the Polo Grounds. Traynor went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, an RBI and stolen base (he became the first and only player to swipe home in an ASG on the back end of a double steal with NL teammate Mel Ott), while Waner and Vaughan both went 0-for-2 in the National League’s 9-7 victory. It was the famous Carl Hubbard game - he struck out five future Hall of Famers in a row, fanning Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons & Joe Cronin.

1940 - SS Gene Alley was born in Richmond, Virginia. He played his entire 11-year career (1963–73) with the Pirates. A modest hitter overall - his BA was .254 - he won a pair of Gold Gloves, was twice selected an All-Star, and set the MLB DP record for middle infielders with Bill Mazeroski in 1966 with 161. Shoulder and knee problems slowed and ultimately ended his career.

1943 - Pittsburgh surrendered a franchise record for most runs given up in the modern era when the Brooklyn Dodgers spanked them 23-6 at Forbes Field. As for motivation, the Dodgers only had two players willing to suit up before the game after Leo Durocher suspended pitcher Bobo Newsome. Da Bums, led by ex-Buc Arky Vaughan, were ready to walk out in support of Newsome until Dodger GM Branch Rickey stepped in and calmed the seas, leaving Brooklyn to take out its frustrations on the Buccos. Vaughan despised Leo The Lip so much that he sat out the next three seasons working at his ranch and didn’t return to Brooklyn until after Durocher left (via suspension).

1943 - Homestead Grays co-owner (and numbers king) Rufus "Sonnyman" Jackson was briefly jailed after a confrontation at Forbes Field with a Mexican baseball agent - actually, the Mexican diplomatic consul AJ Guina - trying to raid his roster. As quoted by Mark Ribowsky in A Complete History of the Negro Leagues, Jackson said “I don’t care if they send Pancho Villa, they’re not getting my ballplayers.” Sonnyman eventually fended off the overtures and kept his players. He ran the team himself after team co-owner Cum Posey's death in 1946, winning the last pennant in Negro National League history in 1948.

Hal McRae - 6/22/1988 Post Gazette story/Paul Meyer

1945 - Hal McRae was born in Avon Park, Florida. The All-Star LF/DH never played for the Pirates during his 19-season career that started with the Reds but was most spent in Kansas City, but was a Pittsburgh hitting coach from 1988-89 on his road to a six-year managerial career at KC and Tampa Bay.

1951 - Exploding for a record four homers, the National League trounced the American League 8-3 at the All-Star Game at Detroit’s Briggs Stadium. Pirate OF Ralph Kiner lived up to his “Mr. Swat” image, connecting on a long ball for the third year in a row, a MLB All-Star record.

1956 - RHP Bob Friend and 1B Dale Long were the Pirate All-Stars at Griffith Stadium for the National League’s 7-3 victory. Starter Friend got the win thanks to triple threes - 3 IP, 3 hits, 3 K (Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle and Harry “Suitcase” Simpson) - and without much help from Long, who struck out twice in two at-bats. The first-time All-Star Friend (he ended up in three ASGs) spent the last six innings on the bench as a fanboy, shooting a home movie of the day.

1962 - Led by OF Roberto Clemente’s three hits, the National League beat the American League 3-1 in the first of season’s two All-Star games, this one held at Washington’s DC Stadium. SS Dick Groat went 1-for-3, scored and turned a DP while 2B Bill Mazeroski was 0-for-2.

1968 - The NL announced that it would split into two divisions next season. The Eastern Division would consist of Chicago, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis. It was the beginning of the Divisional Era, where the winners of each division would compete against each other in a League Championship Series to determine the World Series opponents.

7/10 From 1970: Tyler HR, Cutch Fiver, GI Blast, AVS Hot, Willie's 30th, Game Days, Brown Dealt, ASGs, Bednar All-Star, HBD Jalen

1971 -The Pirates bested the Braves 5-4 at Three Rivers Stadium behind Willie Stargell's 30th home run of the season and his 10th off Atlanta pitching; it was a two-run blast in the eighth that turned a deficit into the lead. Pops also doubled and was joined in the two-knock club by Vic Davalillo, who scored twice, and Bob Robertson while Al Oliver drove in a pair of runs. Dave Giusti saved the game with Mudcat Grant getting the win for a contest that Steve Blass started. Captain Willie would go on to have a career year in long flies, knocking 48 balls out of the yard. Another nice career began OTD - it was Rennie Stennett’s debut game for the Pirates; he went 0-for-4.

1984 - The NL was used to the windy confines of Candlestick Park and breezed to 3-1 win over the AL in the All-Star game. The senior circuit got some terrific tossing. Fernando Valenzuela and Dwight Gooden combined to whiff six batters in a row for a new All-Star Game record. Valenzuela K’ed Dave Winfield, Reggie Jackson, and George Brett in the fourth inning. Then Doc, the youngest All-Star ever at age 19, punched out Lance Parrish, Chet Lemon, and Alvin Davis in the fifth. C Tony Pena was Pittsburgh’s only AS selection and caught the ninth inning.

1987 - The Pirates gave away the lead with two outs in the ninth inning but bounced back to claim a 6-5 win over San Diego at TRS in 11 innings. The Bucs rallied to take a 5-4 lead after Bob Kipper had been chased, with Doug Drabek, Doug Jones and John Smiley holding the fort (the starters were available for duty because of the upcoming All-Star break). Jim Leyland yanked Smiley with two outs in the ninth frame and the bases empty for Don Robinson (the skipper didn’t like the looming Smiley/Bruce Bochy matchup in a bit of overthinking), and he gave up a game-tying homer to lefty pinch-hitter John Kruk as the boos rained down from the 13,109 fans. Johnny Ray saved Robby’s bacon when he doubled home Bobby Bonilla with two outs for the walkoff win. Andy Van Slyke had a homer and four RBI while Barry Bonds had four raps to lead the Bucco hit parade. Robby got the win, bouncing back to toss two scoreless frames. There was a surprise winner in the pre-game Pirates home run derby - Robinson, who hit four. He beat Sid  Bream & Barry Bonds, who had three, and Jim Morrison & Mike Diaz, with one each.

1990 - Pitching dominated as the Americans dropped the Nationals 2-0 in the All-Star game at Wrigley Field. Outfielders Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla both went 0-for-1 and LHP Neal Heaton didn’t get in. Bobby Bo was shut out in his appearance in the Home Run Derby.  

Jalen Beeks - 2024 Sportsnet.Pgh

1993 - LHP Jalen Beeks was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Drafted by Boston in 2014, he climbed the hill for the Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, and Colorado Rockies. The Rox sent Beeks to the Pirates at the 2024 deadline for AA-Altoona pitcher Luis Peralta in a lefty-for-lefty deal. The six-year vet had a 6-4/4.74 line, and the Bucs plugged him in to replace the injured Ryan Borucki, who had nerve damage and been out of action since early April, as a mid-inning southpaw. Beeks posted a workmanlike slash (1-0-1/3.92 in 26 outings), and signed with Arizona in ‘25, then rocked the slab for the White Sox in 2026.

2001 - The American League nine took a 4-1 All-Star victory from the Senior Circuit at Safeco Field. OF Brian Giles, the Pirates sole rep, grounded out in his visit to the plate. C JR House played in the Classic’s opening event as a member of the USA nine in the Futures Game.

2001 - The Pirates traded OF Emil Brown to the Padres after DFA’ing him for OF Shawn Garrett and RHP Shawn Camp, both San Diego farm hands. Brown played nearly 200 games as a Bucco from 1997-2001, but despite having the rep as a five-tool guy, hit just .205. After the year, he spent three seasons in the minors before winning a starting gig with KC and Oakland from 2005-2008, with 2009 being his MLB swan song. Camp was a late bloomer, but after being released by Pittsburgh, he eventually made the majors in 2004 as a 28-year-old and carved out an 11-year career in the big leagues, with 541 relief outings and a slash of 29-33-12/4.41. Garrett was a long-time minor leaguer and Latin League player who never got a shot in the show. 

2007 - The American League eked out a 5-4 win over the Nationals in the All-Star game played at AT&T Park. 2B Freddy Sanchez was the only Pirate selected and didn’t get into the game.

2009 - Garrett Jones joined Ryan Howard as the only players to launch blasts that cleared the batter’s eye at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia when he mashed a two-out, first-pitch shot off Joe Blanton in the opening frame. It wasn’t enough, though, as the Pirates fell to the Phillies, 3-2.

GI Jones - 2009 Topps Heritage

2011 - In the Pirates final game before the All-Star break, they defeated the Chicago Cubs, 9-1. Andrew McCutchen drove in five runs, highlighted by a three-run homer, while Neil Walker pounded out three hits, two doubles and a triple. Paul Maholm went 7-2/3 IP, spinning a four-hitter to earn the win with help from Chris Resop and Jose Veras. It was Maholm’s 36th victory at PNC Park, the most of any pitcher. The club’s record was 47-43, but a miserable August-September run kept their 19-year losing streak alive.

2012 - The Senior Circuit blasted its way to an 8-0 win over the American League’s All-Stars at KC’s Kauffman Stadium. OF Andrew McCutchen went 1-for-2 after taking part in the home run derby the night before (he hit four homers and bowed out in the opening round) and RHP Joel Hanrahan faced one batter, Billy Butler, striking him out after first tossing a wild pitch.

2021 - Tyler Anderson entered the Pirates record book during a 6-2 win over the Mets at Citi Field in the opener of a day-night twin bill when he unwittingly became the last Buc pitcher to homer as a lineup player (or perhaps ever) as the universal Designated Hitter rule was adopted the following season. Bryan Reynolds also went deep. Pittsburgh dropped the nitecap, 4-2.

2022 - RHP David Bednar was selected as the Bucs lone rep for the All-Star Game with a slash of 3-2-15/2.25 and 53 K in 40 IP. It was the cherry on top for the Pirates, who had earlier rode four homers by Oneil Cruz, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Michael Chavis and Daniel Vogelbach to victory over Milwaukee at American Family Field by an 8-6 count, with Chris Stratton getting credit for the win. The bad news: CF Bryan Reynolds was bypassed on the AS roster. To add injury to insult, he was pulled from the day’s victory over the Brew Crew with a strained oblique and landed on the 10-day IL. Blasts from the past: A crew of ex-Bucs were chosen for the Midsummer Classic: P’s Gerrit Cole, Joe Musgrove and Clay Holmes, along with OF Starling Marte, made the team.

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.