The Games 7/7: Maz Debut, Pie Cycle, AVS DP, Busy Max & More...

• 1922 - OF Max Carey earned his paycheck in an 18-inning, 9-8 loss to the Giants at Forbes Field. He had six hits, three walks, three stolen bases, including home, scored three times, drove home a pair of runs and caught seven flies. C Johnny Gooch was hot, too, going 6-for-8 with a double. Gooch and Carey both set career-bests with their six hits.
• 1923 - Bucco bats erupted at the Baker Bowl as the Philadelphia Phillies were swamped 18-5. Pie Traynor hit for the cycle, driving in six runs and scoring four times. Reb Russell had four hits, scored five times and drove home four runners while Charlie Grimm doubled and had four RBI. Max Carey and Carson Bigbee scored three times each during the contest as Lee Meadows cruised on the hill to claim the victory.

Reb Russell 1923 (photo Bain News Service/Library of Congress)

• 1956 - Bill Mazeroski made his Pirate debut. He went 1-for-3 and turned a DP (Dick Groat - Maz - Bob Skinner) against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds in a 3-2 Pirate loss. He got his ticket to Pittsburgh to replace Spook Jacobs, who was sent down.
• 1957 - "Robbing a Pirate: Willie Mays of the Giants, with his back to the diamond, takes Dick Rand's long drive on cinder path between bleachers in centerfield" read the caption of a famous picture shot by the NY Times of Mays’ great grab against the Bucco catcher. But the day belonged to Pittsburgh’s Frank Thomas, who hit three home runs as the Pirates took both ends of a twinbill, 10-6 and 8-1, at the Polo Grounds.
• 1970 - Roberto Clemente's blast to the roof of Connie Mack Stadium's double-decker left field seats was his fifth in five days, breaking a tie and leading the Bucs to a 4-2 win over Philadelphia. Bob Veale got the win with help from Dave Giusti.
• 1972 - In the Pirates' 10-2 win over the Braves at Atlanta Stadium, C Milt May went 5 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Gene Alley homered and had four RBI while Al Oliver, Gene Clines and Dave Cash added three knocks each to pace a 20 hit attack. May added two more hits in the nitecap of the twin bill, but the Pirates lost 3-2.

Gene Alley 1972 Topps

• 1992 - Andy Van Slyke became the first outfielder in nearly 18 years to record an unassisted double play in the Pirates' 5-3 win over the Astros at TRS. Van Slyke charged in from center field to catch a shallow fly ball and kept on trucking, doubling up Ken Caminiti. AVS also had two hits, an RBI and run scored, but the hitting hero was Steve Buechele, who went 3-for-4 with three runs driven home. Bob Walk got the win in relief of Jeff Robinson.
• 1993 - Starter Tim Wakefield didn’t factor in the decision, but he connected off Houston’s Mark Portugal at The Astrodome for a 420’ home run in the 5-2 Bucco win. The blast was his only career homer during 19 years in the show. Paul Wagner was credited with the victory, Jeff King had four hits and Orlando Merced drove in three runs to lead the club.
• 1994 - C Don Slaught went 5-for-5 with two runs and a pair of doubles, but the Bucs lost to the Reds at Riverfront Stadium 8-7. Jay Bell added three hits, three RBI and a pair of runs scored. The Bucs scored twice in the top of the tenth, but Blas Minor gave them back thanks to a Hal Morris homer, and he couldn’t retire anyone in the 11th to absorb the loss.