10/25-26: Vic Aldridge, Branch Rickey, Jim Rooker, Judy Johnson

Vic Aldridge, Branch Rickey, Jim Rooker, Judy Johnson...

• October 25, 1893 - RHP Vic Aldridge was born in Crane, Indiana. He only tossed three seasons for the Bucs (1925-27), but bookended those campaigns with World Series appearances. Vic went 40-30-2/3.99 for the Pirates, starting 86 times, and 2-1 in his four WS starts. 
• October 25, 1955 - Branch Rickey stepped down as the Pirates' general manager, replaced by Joe L. Brown. During the Mahatma's five-year tenure, Pittsburgh’s “Rickey-Dinks” had three 100-loss seasons. Rickey was credited with developing a solid farm system for the Pirates and stayed with the organization as an advisor. 
• October 25, 1972 - The Pirates traded RHP Gene Garber to the Royals for RHP Jim Rooker. Rooker pitched eight seasons for the Pirates, winning 82 games with a 3.29 ERA before becoming a Buc announcer. Garber pitched out of various bullpens until 1988, winning 96 games and saving 218 more. Over his 19 year career, he saved 20+ games five times, with a high of 30 in 1982 for Atlanta. 
• October 26, 1899 - 3B Judy Johnson was born in Snow Hill, Maryland. The Hall-of-Famer played and managed for the Homestead Grays in 1929-30 and played later for the Pittsburgh Crawfords, serving as team captain, from 1932-1936. He retired after 17 seasons with a career .290 BA.