5/21: Sure Shot, Mace Brown, Frankie Gustine, Quail & Groat, Travis Snider Slam, More...

Sure Shot, Mace Brown, Frankie Gustine, Quail & Groat, Travis Snider Slam, More...

• 1859 - IF Fred “Sure Shot” Dunlap was born in Philadelphia. The slick fielder played for the Alleghenys from 1888-90, hitting .240. He also managed the club to a 61-71 record as a player manager in 1889. 
• 1907 - In a move applauded over the decades by catchers everywhere, NL president Harry Pulliam dismissed the protest of Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke over NY Giant’s C Roger Bresnahan's donning of shin guards. He was the first, and at the time only, receiver to add them to the tools of ignorance. A safety first guy, Bresnahan also developed a prototype batter’s helmet. 
• 1909 - RHP Mace Brown was born in North English, Iowa. He tossed seven years (1935-41) for the Pirates and in every role, from starter to closer, with a line of 55-45-29/3.67. Brown was an All-Star in 1938, when he led the NL in outings with 51, winning 15 games and saving five more. 

Mace Brown 1940 Play Ball series

• 1913 - The Pirates beat Brooklyn 5-2 at Ebbett’s Field‚ and per Greg Beston of Retrosheet, set a small-ball MLB record with four sac bunts in an inning. Babe Adams got the win. 
• 1924 - C Ed Fitz Gerald was born in Santa Ynez, California. He spent six (1948-53) of his 12 big league years in Pittsburgh, mainly as a reserve, hitting .247. Fitz spent the second half of his career with the Washington Senators. 
• 1948 - Frankie Gustine went 5-for-5 to lead Pittsburgh to an 8-4 win over the Dodgers. He scored four runs and drove in a pair at Ebbets Field. 
• 1962 - The Bucs beat the Cubs 8-4 at Forbes Field behind the top two guys in the order, Bill Virdon and Dick Groat. They went 8-for-9 with a walk, two doubles, scored twice and drove in six runs. Tom Sturdivant earned the win; he tossed 6-⅓ shutout frames in relief of Earl Francis. 
• 2013 - The Cubs scored first and last, but the Bucs scored enough in the middle, keyed by a sixth inning Travis Snider grand slam, to eke out a 5-4 win. Snider’s grannie was his first ever and the first Buc pinch hit slam at PNC Park since 2003, rallying the Pirates from a 3-0 hole to a 5-3 win.