B-Days, Happenings & All-Stars 7/8: HBD Josh, Kip, John & Hank, Legal Souvenirs, ASG & More...

• 1859 - Ump Hank O’Day was born in Chicago. He pitched one year for the Alleghenys, in 1885 (5-7/3.67). Later, he became noted as an ump, calling plays for 30 years, most famously the controversial “Merkle Bonehead” decision. He wore the blue for 10 World Series and in 2,710 major league games. O’Day also managed a couple of times, and for his long service to early baseball, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame on December 3, 2012.
• 1921 - A ruling by the City of Pittsburgh allowed fans to keep balls hit into the stands in Forbes Field. Robert Alderdice‚ the Director of Public Safety, made the call following threatened lawsuits against police who had earlier arrested three fans for refusing to return balls to the team.
• 1929 - OF John Powers was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He was a legendary minor league masher with 298 long balls during his farm career, but for Pittsburgh between 1955-58, he hit just .190 with four homers in 160 PA.

John Powers Baseball Boss

• 1935 - SS Arky Vaughan and RF Paul Waner repped the Pirates in the All-Star game at Cleveland Stadium. Vaughan doubled, walked and scored in three at-bats while Waner was 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter in the AL’s 4-1 win.
• 1941 - At Detroit's Briggs Stadium, SS Arky Vaughan became the first player to hit two home runs in an All-Star Game, cracking a pair of two-run homers in the NL's 7-5 loss. Arky went 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBI in his eighth straight (and final) AS appearance. 3B Bob Elliott and C Al Lopez also played, both going 0-for-1.
• 1947 - Pittsburgh’s All-Star at Wrigley Field was 3B Frank Gustine, who went 0-for-2 in a 2-1 loss to the junior circuit.
• 1952 - For the fourth straight year, OF Ralph Kiner was the sole Pirate rep for the All Star Game. The NL won 3-2 in a rain-shortened, five-inning game at Shibe Park. Kiner was scheduled to enter the game in the seventh and didn’t get to play.

Ralph Kiner 1952 Topps

• 1958 - The Pirates sent a full contingent of P Bob Friend, 2B Bill Mazeroski, OF Bob Skinner and 3B Frank Thomas to the All Star Game at Memorial Stadium, a 4-3 AL win. Bob Friend took the loss, giving up two runs in 2-1/3 innings, with the last score unearned thanks to a boot by teammate Thomas. Skinner went 1-for-3 with a RBI, Thomas 1-for-3 and Maz 0-for-4.
• 1964 - P Bob Kipper was born in Aurora, Illinois. The lefty tossed for seven seasons (1985-91) for the Bucs. He spent his first three years as a starter and then was converted to the pen. Kipper went 24-33-11/4.34 with the Pirates, appearing 195 times in his last four seasons and was part of Jim Leyland’s 1991 NLCS club.
• 1967 - Bob Veale was featured as the cover story of The Sporting News in an article titled “Bread and Butter Buccaneer.” He went 16-8/3.64 and worked 203 IP, a down year for him as nagging injuries began to take their toll on the big lefty.
• 1980 - The NL topped the AL 4-2 at Dodger Stadium in the All Star game with Chuck Tanner as manager. 2B Phil Garner went 1-for-2 with a run, walk and stolen base while RF Dave Parker went 0-for-2. P Jim Bibby pitched a clean seventh inning, while Kent Tekulve watched the game from the bullpen.

Chuck Tanner (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

• 1987 - Josh Harrison was born in Cincinnati. The utility guy was up-and-down with the Bucs since 2011 after coming over in the John Grabow/Tom Gorzelanny deal with the Cubs in 2009. But in 2014, playing LF and then later claiming the third base job, he broke out, winning an All-Star berth with a .315 BA, second best in the NL. This season, he inherited the second base spot after Neil walker was traded to the Mets.
• 1994 - The statue of Roberto Clemente, located in front of Roberto Clemente Bridge, designed by sculptor Susan Wagner, was dedicated outside of Gate B at TRS, it’s original site, on this date. When PNC Park opened in 2001, it was reinstalled just beyond center field. A neat factoid: under glass blocks representing first, second, and third base is soil from Puerto Rico, Forbes Field and Three Rivers Stadium.
• 1997 - The junior circuit short circuited the NL by a 3-1 score at the All Star game played at Jacobs Field. 2B Tony Womack was the Bucs’ representative and grounded out in his only at bat.