7/1: Gunner's B-Day; Woodie Faces Minimum; Bucs Open Sportsman & Rally Day...

• 1901 - The Bucs were blanked by the Phillies 1-0 at the Baker Bowl, the only time during the season when Pittsburgh was shut out, a 20th century NL record. Jack Chesbro tossed a four hitter for Pittsburgh, while the Bucs banged nine hits off Red Donahue without denting home.
• 1916 - The Gunner, Bob Prince, was born in Los Angeles. He joined the club, teaming with Rosey Rowswell in 1948, and became the main announcer when Rowswell’s health began to fail. He and partner Nellie King were let go in 1975 after a long running dispute with KDKA management. The colorful and popular Prince returned to the booth in May, 1985, just weeks before he died of cancer.
• 1916 - Behind a Honus Wagner homer and Ray O’Brien’s ninth inning single, Al Mamaux’s four hitter was enough to down the Reds and Elmer Knetzer 2-1 at Redland Field. Mamaux was pretty good with the stick, too, hitting a double and triple while scoring the winning run with two down in the ninth. Hans’ fourth inning homer made him the oldest player, at 42 years and four months, to hit an inside the park four bagger.
• 1920 - The Pirates played the Cardinals in the first game ever held at Sportsmans' Park (also the home of the AL's St. Louis Browns) after the Redbirds flew the outdated Robison Field coop. The Bucs took the debut game 6-2 in 10 innings, with Hal Carlson getting the W and Babe Adams picking up the save.

Babe Adams image via SABR

• 1926 - The Bucs broke an eight game losing streak by spanking the Cards at Forbes Field 7-3  as Kiki Cuyler and Pie Traynor each drove in three. In spite of that losing string, they claimed first place three weeks later, eventually fading to third with an 84-69 slate, five games out.
• 1940 - The Pirates scored once in the ninth to tie the game and added another in the 10th to nose past the Chicago Cubs 4-3 at Wrigley Field. Vince DiMaggio was the hitting star, going 3-for-5 with a homer, double, two RBI and two runs scored. Mace Brown, the third Buc hurler, got the win in relief after pitching scoreless ninth and 10th frames.
• 1960 - The Bucs used their legs to defeat the Dodgers 4-3 in ten innings at Forbes Field. After LA had taken the lead in the top of the 10th on Charlie Neal’s homer, Joe Christopher doubled and scored on Roberto Clemente’s infield hit to the left side. Then The Great One turned on the jets to come home when Dick Stuart’s lazy fly to right dropped. Vern Law worked 9-2/3 innings, but the win went to Fred Green, who got the last out in the tenth.
• 1966 - Rookie Woodie Fryman one hit the Mets at Shea Stadium on the way to a 12-0 win. Fryman faced the minimum 27 batters and came this close to perfection. Ron Hunt, who led off the game with a single, was caught stealing by C Jim Pagliaroni and Fryman mowed down the next 26 NY hitters. Jose Pagan chipped in with three runs scored, four RBI and one of the Pirates’ four homers.

Jim Pagliaroni photo IDL Drug Store promo

• 1972 - Roberto Clemente’s seventh inning homer helped the Bucs rally to take a 2-1 lead over the Cubs at TRS. After the Cubbies answered with a pair of their own to regain their edge 3-2, Clemente homered again in the ninth with Milt May aboard for a walk-off 4-3 win. Both homers were off Fergie Jenkins, who lost to Dave Giusti in relief of Bob Moose.
• 1996 - During a 4-1 win over Chicago at TRS‚ RF Orlando Merced pulled off an unassisted DP‚ catching Mark Grace's liner and then beating Scott Bullett to 1B. He also started another DP, gloving a short pop and catching Doug Glanville off second with his throw to Jay Bell. Merced added a pair of hits, two RBI and a run scored to help Danny Darwin pick up the win.
• 2006 - The Pirates and sponsoring PNC Bank took trinkets to a new level with the “Young Guns - Doumit, Duke and Duffy” (Ryan Doumit, Zach Duke, and Chris Duffy) triple bobblehead giveaway. 37,111 fans flooded PNC Park (playing the Detroit Tigers on a Saturday night may have helped the draw, too) to get theirs as the Bucs won 9-2. None of the “Young Guns” played.
• 2014 - Down 2-0 in the ninth and held to two hits over eight innings by Arizona’s Wade Miley, the Bucs made up for lost time in the ninth at PNC Park. Neil Walker opened with a single to center, then pinch hitter Gregory Polanco dumped a knock to left. With an out, Starling Marte chased a pair of sliders away, then reliever Addison Reed hung one over the plate and Marte bombed it for a two run double off the center field wall. He scooted to third when SS Nick Ahmed's throw to the plate got away. Andrew McCutchen was walked intentionally. Ike Davis hit for Gaby Sanchez and dropped a broken bat jam shot into right to plate Marte as the Bucs rallied to take an improbable 3-2 win. Ernesto Frieri picked up his first win as a Bucco after tossing a scoreless ninth, with his bacon being saved by Josh Harrison, who threw out a runner at home from right field.