9/14: Burleigh Grimes, Pennant Launch, Big Poison, O'Brien Twins, Slammin', Rally, The Streak Goes On...

Burleigh Grimes, Pennant Launch, Big Poison, O'Brien Twins, Slammin', Rally, The Streak Goes On...

• 1916 - Hall of Famer Burleigh Grimes made his first MLB start for the Pirates, losing a 3-2 decision to the Brooklyn Superbas at Ebbet’s Field. He didn’t have a lot of help; LF Bill Hinchman lost a fly in the sixth and Honus Wagner muffed a DP ball in the same frame as Brooklyn scored twice. The Bucs tied it, but lost in the ninth on a two-out double by the opposing pitcher, Larry Cheney. Grimes finished his rookie campaign 2-3 and won 270 games during his 19 year career. 
• 1925 - The Pirates snapped a streak of losing 7-of-8 games with a 9-4 win over the Brooklyn Robins at Forbes Field. Glenn Wright and George Grantham both went 3-for-4 and combined for a double, triple, three runs and three RBI to back Vic Aldridge’s win. The victory not only ended a losing string, but launched the eventual World Championship club on a nine game winning streak. 
• 1936 - Paul Waner tied Rogers Hornsby's modern NL record by reaching 200 hits for the seventh time as the Bucs swept the Phils 11-4 and 6-5 at the Baker Bowl. Big Poison banged out his 200th knock in the opener and collected five hits during the twinbill. Bill Swift and Red Lucas earned complete game victories for Pittsburgh. 
• 1957 - The Cubs split a doubleheader at Wrigley Field against the bonus baby O'Brien twins. In the opener‚ Eddie twirled a 3-1 complete game win, scattering six hits and fanning eight for his only MLB decision. In the nitecap‚ Johnny pitched one inning in relief and was charged with the loss‚ his last MLB decision (1-3 lifetime). Both played from 1953-58 for the Bucs, but they were infielders first, pitchers as an afterthought.
• 1982 - Richie Hebner and Bill Madlock stroked grand slams to lead the Pirates to a 15-5 win over the Cubs at TRS. Mad Dog finished the day with six runs driven home, while Johnny Ray went 3-for-3 and scored three times with a RBI. The last pair of Bucs to hit grand salamis in the same game were Arky Vaughan and Earl Grace for the 1933 Bucs. 
•  2007 - The Bucs scored three times in the eighth to defeat the Astros 4-3 at Minute Maid Park as Jose Bautista bombed a two run homer and Ronnie Paulino’s two out single brought in Steve Pearce with the eventual game winner. But the play of the game was made by CF Nyjer Morgan, who took a circle route to run down Ty Wiggington’s two out, bases loaded blast in the third, kissing the wall as he made the grab and prevented Houston from running away and hiding. 
• 2011 - With a 3-2 loss to St. Louis, the Pirates extended their record streak of consecutive losing seasons to 19 straight years, the longest in American professional sports history. And this was after leading the NL Central on July 20th!