8/6 Happenings: Roberto Inducted, PNC Named, HBD Steve & Stan; Woodie on TSN, Walkout...

• 1955 - C Steve Nicosia was born in Paterson, NJ. A platoon and reserve catcher, he was with Pittsburgh for six years (1978-83). He wasn’t much of a stick, hitting .248 as a Buc and getting just one knock in the 1979 World Series, but he did catch the seventh game victory.

Steve Nicosia 1982 Topps

• 1966 - RHP Stan Belinda was born in Huntingdon, PA. The sidewinder started his career as a Buc (1989-93) after being a 10th round draft pick in 1986. His line was 19-15-61/3.52 in Pittsburgh. Stan went on to have a 12 year MLB stay, mainly pitching in a set-up role. He’ll be remembered locally as the guy who gave up Francisco Cabrera’s single to score Sid Bream with the winning run in the 1992 NLCS. He was traded at the 2003 deadline to KC.
• 1966 - Woodie Fryman was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Pride of the Pirates.” It was Fryman’s rookie campaign, and he put up a 12-9/3.83 slash during a year the Bucs won 92 games, finishing third behind the Dodgers by three games.
• 1977 - Roberto Clemente was inducted into the Hall of Fame after the mandatory five-year waiting period was waived, with the ceremony shown live on Pittsburgh TV. The Great One finished his career with 3,000 hits, a career average of .317 and won the NL batting title four times. He was presented with the Gold Glove Award 12 times and made the All-Star team 15 times. Arriba played in 14 World Series games and had at least one hit in each of those games.

Roberto Clemente (image by Dick Perez)

• 1985 - The players staged a two-day work stoppage over a couple of gnawing financial issues. The MLB quickly agreed to increase its pension contribution and the league’s minimum wage, making the players happy, and the games were made up later in the season.
• 1998 - The Pirates and PNC Bank announced a 20-year marketing deal under which the new home of the Pirates would be named PNC Park when it opened in 2001. Per the agreement, PNC would pay approximately $1.5M a year through the 2020 season. As a side deal, the Sixth Street Bridge would be renamed the Clemente Bridge as a sop to the many who believed the ballyard itself should have commemorated The Great One.