12/29-30: Clyde Barnhardt, Emil Brown, Jack Wilson, Jim Viox & the Babe (Dahlgren, that is)...

Clyde Barnhardt, Emil Brown, Jack Wilson, Jim Viox & the Babe (Dahlgren, that is)...

• December 29, 1895 - OF Clyde Barnhart was born in Buck Valley, PA. He spent his entire career (1920-28) with the Pirates, starting as a third baseman and moving to the outfield. In 814 games, he hit .295, batting over .300 five of his nine campaigns. Barnhart played on two World Series teams and hit .273 with nine RBI in 11 Fall Classic games. Clyde played his college ball at Cumberland Valley State Normal School, now known as Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. 
• December 29, 1974 - OF Emil Brown was born in Chicago. Brown started his career as a Pirate, playing in Pittsburgh from 1997-2001, but could never hit his way into the lineup, with a .205 BA as a Buc. 
• December 29, 1977 - Jack Wilson was born in Westlake Village, California. He played SS for the Bucs from 2001-09, hitting .269. He was named to the All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger in 2004. The slick fielder (he led MLB in PO, assists and DPs 2004-05) collected 201 hits that year, the franchise's first player since Dave Parker (1977) and the first Pirate shortstop since Honus Wagner (1908) to reach the 200-knock mark. 

Jack Wilson from Pirates.com

• December 29, 2013 - The Steelers were eliminated from the post-season on this day. It was the first year since 1991 that the Pirates made the playoffs but the Steelers didn't.
• December 30, 1890 - IF Jim Viox was born in Lockland, Ohio. Viox played from 1912-16, starting at second base from 1913-15. His five year career was spent as a Bucco, and he put up a .272 lifetime BA. In 1913, Viox hit .317, setting a rookie record for batting average by a second basemen that wasn’t equalled until 2007 by Dusty Pedroia. The Buc infielder had a good eye, drawing 100 more walks during his MLB time than strikeouts, and finished with a .361 OBP.
• December 30, 1943 - The Phillies traded 1B Babe Dahlgren to the Pirates for C Babe Phelps and cash. Dahlgren hit .271 with 176 RBI in his two year stay with the Bucs. “Well traveled” described him to a tee as he played for eight teams in his 12 year career. The ex-Yankee was best known as the player who replaced Lou Gehrig in 1939. Phelps never played again after the deal.