Pittsburgh Baseball 5/22

 Park on fire, Leach traded, Josh Gibson bomb, Ducky for Pagan, Pops has a day...

• 1900 - Exposition Park was plagued by a series of fires set in the stands. The Pittsburg (sic) Press says that “It is believed the fires were started by persons who formerly held passes but whom the new management refuses to recognize,” referring to stockholders who were cut out of the action (and perks like free tickets) by new owner Barney Dreyfuss. 
• 1912 - The Pirates sent veteran OF Tommy Leach and P Lefty Leifield to Chicago for UT Solly Hofman and P King Cole. Leach, 34, started the next two years for the Cubs and came back to retire as a Pirate in 1918. Lefty pitched five more seasons, going 57-25. Cole lasted one year in Pittsburgh, going 2-2/6.43; Hoffman played two years for the Pirates, getting into 45 games and hitting .246. 
• 1946 - Josh Gibson hit a homer estimated to travel 490’ over the left center wall at Forbes Field to lead the Homestead Grays to victory over the New York Black Yankees. 
• 1965 - The Pirates sent IF Dick Schofield to the Giants for IF Jose Pagan. Pagan spent seven years with Pittsburgh, hitting .263 and driving in the winning run in the seventh game of the 1971 World Series. Ducky played until 1971, but only batted above .221 twice during that span. 
• 1968 - With the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field‚ the Pirates came from four runs down to defeat the Cubs 13-6. Willie Stargell hit three home runs and just missed a fourth, drilling a double that bounced off the left field railing and back onto the playing field. Pops also smacked a single for 15 total bases and seven RBI on the day.