8/14: Bucs Pull Away In '60, Kiner & Leach 2HR Days, Squeakers, HBD Alex & More...

• 1856 - 1B Alex McKinnon was born in Boston. He played briefly for the Alleghenys, who acquired him in an off season deal from Salem. Pittsburgh looked like it had a steal when he hit .340 in 48 games, but at age 30 he contracted typhoid fever and passed away three weeks after being diagnosed with the disease. Pittsburgh wore black crepe on their uniforms for the rest of the season in his honor.
• 1902 - The Pirates beat Boston 6-1 at the South End Grounds as both Tommy Leach and Claude Ritchey went 4-for-5 to back Jesse Tannehill. Leach had a monster day with two homers and a double, three runs and three RBI. Wee Tommy led the NL with homers that season with six.

Tommy Leach 1903 (photo Carl Horner)

• 1912 - The Pirates scored an unearned run in the 10th to beat Grover Cleveland Alexander and the Phils‚ 2-1. It was Pete's first loss to Pittsburgh. The Pirates took the opener of the doubleheader at Forbes Field by a 3-2 score.
• 1913 - Honus Wagner homered, tripled, and had another home run bid taken away thanks to a great catch by Casey Stengel as the Bucs romped 13-8 over the Brooklyn Superbas at Ebbet’s Field. The Pirates banged out 19 hits, led by Max Carey with four knocks and Dots Miller & Mike Mitchell with three each.
• 1925 - Stuffy McGinnis, Clyde Barnhart, and Pie Traynor combined to drive in 10 runs in the Bucs 14-6 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Forbes Field. McGinnis and Max Carey scored seven times from the top of the order, as Stuffy went 3-for-4 with a triple, four RBI and three runs to help Lee Meadows cruise to victory.
• 1929 - The Bucs Jesse Petty outgunned Boston’s Percy Jones to take a 1-0 victory at Braves’ Field. The Pirate run came in the fourth, when a pair of walks, followed by a bunt and an intentional walk set up Sparky Adams, whose sac fly would plate the only score of the day. Both pitchers went the distance, with Petty giving up five singles and Jones just three.

Jesse Petty 1929 (photo from The Sporting News Collection)

• 1937 - The Pirates scored five times in the ninth inning to take a 6-5 victory from the St. Louis Cardinals at Sportsman’s Park. The Bucs used five singles and two walks to generate their rally after being held to two hits by Ray Harrell over the first eight frames. Player-manager Pie Traynor played his final game as a Pirate, coming in as a pinch-runner in the ninth and scoring the winning run on a Paul Waner knock. Jim Weaver got the win and Jim Tobin the save as Pittsburgh snapped a six-game Redbird winning string.
• 1952 - Ralph Kiner homered twice, the second being the game winner, and drove in four runs as the Bucs beat the St. Louis Cards 5-3 in 11 innings at Sportsman Park. Tony Bartirome collected three hits, Dick Groat scored twice and Murry Dickson went the distance for the win.
• 1960 - The second-place Cards entered the day four games behind the Bucs; they went to bed six back as the Pirates swept a twin bill 9-4 and 3-2 at Forbes Field. Pittsburgh banged out six doubles in the opener and Rocky Nelson’s three RBI backed Vern Law’s complete game victory. The nitecap went 11 frames; Don Hoak’s single off Lindy McDaniel brought in Bob Skinner with the game winner. Dick Stuart and Dick Groat drove in the other runs as the Buc bullpen pitched five scoreless frames, with Fred Green getting the win.

Rocky Nelson 1960 Topps

• 1971 - The Card's Hall of Famer Bob Gibson no-hit the Pirates, 11-0, at TRS. Gibson walked three, struck out 10, and added three RBI. It was the last no hit game thrown against the Bucs until Homer Bailey no-no’ed them in 2012; they've been held hitless eight times.
• 2005 - Dave Williams threw 118 pitches on the way to his first career complete game and shutout as the Pirates beat the Astros 8-0 at Minute Maid Park. Jose Castillo, Jason Bay and Ryan Doumit each homered while Jack Wilson added a grand slam with two outs in the 8th inning, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
• 2006 - The Bucs finished a modest four-game winning streak with a 4-2 win over the Brewers at PNC Park. Jeremy Burnitz & Jose Castillo hit solo homers while Chris Duffy scored twice to help Victor Santos earn the W.
• 2014 - RHP John Axford was claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Indians. The reliever was the only MLB addition made to the team by the August 31st trade deadline for the 2014 stretch run from outside the organization.