Sure Shot, Bill Wagner, Mad Dog and Mike Williams...
- 1888 - 2B Fred “Sure Shot” Dunlap signed with the Alleghenys following the sale of his contract by the Detroit Wolverines. He agreed to a $5‚000 salary and a $2‚000 bonus‚ making him the highest-paid player of the time. Sure Shot got his nickname because of his strong and accurate arm. The rangy defensive whiz played three years for the team, hitting just .240 (his lifetime BA was .292). Alfred Spink in “The National Game” wrote that Dunlap was ambidextrous and was able to catch and throw a baseball with the same skill and accuracy with either hand. Moreover, Dunlap reportedly never wore a glove.
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| Fred Dunlap - Upper Deck Goodwin Champions reprint series 2014 |
- 1894 - C Bill Wagner was born in Jessup, Iowa. The light hitting reserve (he also played 1B) was a Bucco from 1914-17, putting up a .205 BA in Pittsburgh. He was then sold to the Boston Braves, and 1918 was his last MLB season.
- 1951 - 3B Bill “Mad Dog” Madlock was born in Memphis. The third baseman played seven seasons for the Bucs (1979-85) with a line of .297/.357/.428 while leading the league in hitting in 1981 (.341) and 1983 (.323). He was a key part of the 1979 Championship team, batting .333 in the playoffs and World Series after coming from San Francisco in a June trade for Ed Whitson.
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| Bill Madlock 1984 Donruss Champion series |
- 2002 - The Pirates signed a two-year deal with RHP Mike Williams worth $5.5M. After two years and 74 saves, Williams put up another 25 saves in 2003, but with a 6.27 ERA. He was traded to the Phillies, and 2004 was his last MLB season. His saving grace in Pittsburgh was his swing-and-miss stuff - Williams whiffed 250 batters in 222-⅔ IP as a Buc.
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