8/10: HBD Elmer & John, Cutch Happens, Twin Bills, X-Tra Innings, Maz Way & More...

• 1892 - RHP Elmer Jacobs was born in Salem, Missouri. He pitched well for the Bucs from 1916-18 with a 3.03 ERA, but went just 12-30 before he was traded after one start in 1918 to the Phils for Erskine Mayer. Jacobs worked six more seasons in MLB, with minor league stops, and ended up with 50 lifetime wins.
• 1897 - Pirate owner John Galbreath was born in Derby, Ohio. A building contractor with an interest in horse racing (he also owner the Darby Dan Farm in Ohio), he was the Bucco owner for 40 years. In 1946, Galbreath, along with Bing Crosby, Tom Johnson, and Frank McKinney, bought the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team won three World Series during his ownership: 1960, 1971, and 1979. He passed the presidency on to his son, Dan Galbreath, in 1970. It was said that Galbreath hung on as owner (1946-85) until new one who would keep the franchise in Pittsburgh could be found.

John Galbreath 1967 (photo Columbus Business Times)

• 1922 - Pittsburgh bombed the Phils 12-4, ripping 16 hits at Shibe Park. It was the fifth game in a row in which every Pirate position player in the lineup collected a hit. Carson Bigbee led the hit parade, going 5-for-6 and scoring three times with an RBI.
• 1952 - In a doubleheader at Forbes Field that was swept by the Cubs, Chicago manager Phil Cavarretta made a couple of friends in Pittsburgh. Les Biederman of The Pittsburgh Press noted “Cavarretta, who was tossed out of the first game, authored the most magnificent gesture of the season. Catchers Ed Fitz Gerald and Joe Garagiola had already pinch hit when (catcher) Clyde McCullough broke the nail on his middle finger. McCollough had the finger hastily taped and was ready to return when Cavarretta told the Pirates to let Fitz Gerald catch.”
• 1958 - The Pirates squeaked out a pair of wins, 3-2 and 4-3, in a twin bill against the Reds to sweep the four-game series at Forbes Field. The Bucs tallied twice in the seventh on Bill Mazeroski’s homer to tie the opener and then won it in the tenth when Dick Stuart’s sac fly plated Roman Mejias. Don Gross, the fifth Pirate pitcher, got the W. In the second game, Vern Law couldn’t hang on to a 3-1 lead in the eighth, leaving with a no-decision as Roy Face finished for the win. Frank Thomas’ force out in the eighth brought home Ducky Schofield with the deciding run.

Don Gross 1959 Topps

• 1977 - The Pirates edged the Cubs‚ 2-1‚ in 18 innings at TRS. Ed Ott drove in Phil Garner with the winning run on a sac fly; the other Buc run was scored by Dave Parker following a Bill Robinson knock. Larry Demery picked up the win. The two bullpens were brilliant, going 21-2/3 innings, giving up one run on seven hits. For Pittsburgh, Grant Jackson tossed five innings of scoreless relief and Goose Gossage put up four zeroes.
• 1992 - The Bucs took their 11th game in a row with a 4-2, 16 inning win over the NY Mets at Shea Stadium. Pittsburgh scored three times in the final frame on four singles and a walk; the other Bucco run came on an Andy Van Slyke homer. Steve Cooke got the win.
• 2001 - The Avenue of the Pirates was renamed Mazeroski Way. The cul-de-sac runs from General Robinson to the RF gate and was dedicated by Mayor Tom Murphy and owner Kevin McClatchy. Apparently, the ceremony didn’t inspire the Pirates very much as the club dropped a 3-2 decision to the San Diego Padres in front of 36,588 fans.

Mazeroski Way (photo WallyG/Flickr)

• 2004 - The Bucs defeated the Giants‚ 8-7 at PNC Park, scoring three times in the eighth and then walking off with the win in the ninth. The Bucs tied it in the eighth when Tike Redman doubled home a pair and took the lead when Humberto Cota brought him home. San Francisco tied it in the ninth when Michael Tucker cracked a two-out long ball off Jose Mesa. With two down and the bases empty, Jack Wilson singled and came around on Rob Mackowiak’s game winning drive to right. The Giants’ Barry Bonds set an MLB record when he reached 30 HRs for the 13th straight season, connecting off John Grabow in the sixth.
• 2007 - The Pirates erased a 6-2 deficit with a six-run eighth inning to defeat the Giants 8-7 at AT&T Park. The first four Bucs singled in the eighth, and they banged six hits total that frame, with Freddy Sanchez’s two-out, two run single being the difference. Matt Morris made the start against the team he was traded from 10 days prior. The Giants used eight pitchers in the game, including five in the eighth inning. John Grabow got the win and Matt Capps pitched the final frame to record his 10th save while Ryan Doumit fell a homer shy of the cycle.
• 2011 - Andrew McCutchen put on a show against the Giants with just one hit, as the Bucs won 9-2 at AT&T Park. Cutch homered, walked three times, was HBP, scored four runs, drove in two and stole a pair of bases. Jeff Karstens went six innings for the win, striking out nine.