8/11 Happenings: HBD Dinty, Woody, Dorn & Al; Kris Signed; ASG & Cover Boy Willie

• 1891 - IF Walter “Dinty” Barbare was born in Greenville, SC. He started 120 games for the Pirates from 1919-20 (he missed part of 1920 with a broken jaw), hitting .273. He was part of the package sent to Boston in the 1921 Rabbit Maranville deal. After his playing days, Barbare served as a manager and umpire in the minor leagues.
• 1907 - LF Forrest “Woody” Jensen was born in Bremerton, Washington. He spent his whole MLB career in Pittsburgh, playing from 1931-39. He hit .285 and started from 1935-37. His major league record of 696 at bats in 1936 stood until Matty Alou broke it in 1969 with 698 AB.

Woody Jensen 1936 Finepen National Chicle

• 1935 - The East-West Negro League All-Star game drew 25,000 to Comiskey Park. The fans got to watch an 11 inning thriller, with the West winning 11-8. C Josh Gibson of the Pittsburgh Crawfords led the West attack with four hits. Pittsburgh was well represented. Besides Josh, Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston and Jimmy Crutchfield were West starters with Chester Williams and P Leroy Matlock as reserves. Charleston not only played but was the manager.
• 1958 - RHP Dorn Taylor was born in Abington, PA. He had a couple of tastes with the Pirates in 1987 and 1989, going 3-4, 5.63 as a starter later converted to the pen. From 1988-90 he was an excellent starter at AAA Buffalo, posting sub-3 ERAs and showed well in spring camp, but never got an extended opportunity in the show.
• 1960 - IF Al Pedrique was born in Valencia, Venezuela. He was a utilityman for the Pirates from 1987-88 while batting .259. Al’s managed in the minors since his retirement, and he had short stints as Arizona’s third base coach and interim skipper.

Al Pedrique 1989 Topps Tiffany

• 1979 - Willie Stargell was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Sonic Boomer.” He was a boomer in the ‘79 season, going long 32 times for his highest HR production since 1973 and adding five more homers (and two MVP’s) during the NLCS and World Series.
• 1996 - Clemson’s Kris Benson, the first overall selection in the 1996 draft, became the highest paid draftee to date when he signed with Pittsburgh for $2M. He looked worth the money after starting his career with strong 1999-2000 campaigns, but had TJ surgery after the 2000 season and never regained his edge. Kris finished his nine-year MLB tenure with a 70-75 slate (43-49 w/the Pirates).