6/20: Cum, Varsh & Mack B-Days; Homeward, Honus; Carey Cycle; Always On A Sunday; Extras & Rallies

• 1890 - Cumberland Willis “Cum” Posey was born in Homestead. He was an outfielder, manager and eventual owner of the Negro League powerhouse Homestead Grays from 1911-1946. At one time or another had 11 of the 18 current Negro leagues Hall of Famers playing for him. He also wrote a regular sports column for The Pittsburgh Courier.
• 1901 - In a 7-0 win against the Giants at the Polo Grounds, Honus Wagner became the first player in the 20th century to steal home twice in one game. Jack Chesbro tossed the shutout.
• 1925 - Max Carey became the first switch hitter to hit for the cycle during the Pirates 21-5 victory over the Brooklyn Robins at Forbes Field. Carey went 4-for-6 with four RBI and two runs, and was outshadowed by a couple of his teammates. Glenn Wright was a single shy of the cycle, driving in five runs and scoring three times. Kiki Cuyler carried the biggest stick of the day, hitting two homers, one a grand slam, and a triple with six RBI and five runs scored.

Max Carey image by Dick Perez

• 1948 - Ralph Kiner homered twice in a 7-5 win over the Phillies at Shibe Park. It capped a remarkable streak of Sunday homers; he went eight consecutive Sundays with long balls during May and June, finishing the year with 17 round trippers in 38 Sunday games.
• 1961 - OF Gary Varsho was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He played three years for the Bucs, in 1991-92 and 1994 with a .251 BA as a pinch-hitter and extra outfielder, appearing in the 1991 and the 1992 NLCS. He was the Pirates bench coach during manager John Russell’s regime, serving from late 2007 until August, 2010.
• 1971 - Richie Hebner homered, doubled and had four RBI while Pops Stargell went long in a 7-1 win over Montreal at TRS in the opener of a twin bill. Steve Blass went the distance for the victory. Stargell hit a grand slam and Al Oliver went 4-for-4 to lead the Bucs to a 7-3 sweep over the Expos in the second game. Nellie Briles earned the W.
• 1976 - Rob Mackowiak was born in Oak Lawn, Illinois. A 53rd round draft pick in 1996, he played five years (2001-05) for the Pirates, hitting .259. 2004 was his most memorable season, when he had a career high of 17 home runs and 75 RBI. He had a career day on May 28th during a DH against the Cubs at PNC Park, hitting a walk-off grand slam in the first game and a game-tying 9th inning home run in the second game, on the same day that his son was born.

Mack Attack 2005 Topps series

• 1983 - The Bucs swept the Cubs at TRS, taking a 5-4 ten-inning triumph in the opener and a 6-5 thirteen-inning win in the nightcap. Richie Hebner’s pinch hit homer against Bill Campbell to lead off the 10th gave Kent Tekulve the win in the first game; Jason Thompson also homered. The Cubbies made the second game exciting by scoring twice in the ninth on a two-out single by Ron Cey off Don Robinson. The potential lead run was cut down at the plate when Robby retrieved an errant throw home and got the ball to Steve Nicosia in time to nail Bill Buckner. Robinson later settled in and tossed shutout ball the rest of the way, getting the win when Marvell Wynne singled home Dale Berra to broom Chicago. Berra, Lee Lacy and Jim Morrison went long during the contest, with Berra collecting four hits.
• 1993 - The Pirates scored twice in the ninth to edge the Mets 3-2 at TRS. After an intentional walk to Jeff King loaded the bases, John Franco walked in the tying run, losing Kevin Young on a 3-2 pitch. The next batter, Don Slaught, singled home the winner after Franco fell behind him 2-0. Stan Belinda won in relief of Steve Cooke.

Sluggo 1994 Select series

• 2008 - The Buccos outlasted Toronto 1-0 in 12 innings at PNC Park. Tyler Yates, the last of four Buc pitchers, tossed two innings for the win. Pittsburgh claimed the W when SS John McDonald couldn't come up cleanly with Jason Michaels' weak bases loaded grounder, scoring Doug Mientkiewicz. The two teams combined to strand 21 runners during the game.
• 2010 - The Pirates won their second in a row from the Indians 5-3 at PNC Park when they scored twice in the bottom of the eighth on a Pedro Alvarez sac fly and Bobby Crosby knock. Pittsburgh had lost twelve consecutive games before the modest streak, and began a six game losing streak after the contest.