9/17 Expo Park-Forbes Field Era: HBD Whitey & Bob, Specs Debut, 11 In-A-Row, Pops on SI, Boot Hill

• 1893 - RHP Charles “Whitey” Glazner was born in Sycamore, Alabama. He pitched from 1920-23 for the Bucs, with a line of 27-18/3.48, with an exceptional 1921 campaign when Whitey went 14-5-1 with a 2.77 ERA. He was the first Pirates starter to open his career with five straight wins (he relieved twice in 1920), a record that held up until Zach Duke matched it in 2005. But he couldn’t repeat, and was traded to the Phils in 1923.

Whitey Glazner 1922 American Caramels

• 1915 - Rookie Carmen “Specs” Hill won his first start, 5-0, over the NY Giants in the second game of a twin bill at Forbes Field. Hill pitched eight years for the Pirates, winning 22 games in 1927 for the NL pennant winners. He also became the second MLB pitcher to wear glasses; Lee Meadows, who became a Bucco teammate of Hill in the twenties, was the first big leaguer to sport peepers earlier in the season. The Bucs won the opener 9-6 behind Wilbur Cooper.
• 1918 - 3B Bob Dillinger was born in Glendale, California. Dillinger was a speedy contact hitter who lead the league in stolen bases from 1947-49. The Bucs had him for the last half of 1950 and first half of 1951. The 31 year old hit a respectable .279 in 70 games as a platoon player, but his wheels weren’t what they use to be and he stole just six bases in that span.
• 1927 - The Pirates won their tenth and eleventh games in a row, sweeping the Brooklyn Robins 2-1 and 6-0. Vic Aldridge won the opener and drove in a run to help himself. Ray Kremer tossed his third shutout in four outings while Lloyd Waner banged out his 200th hit of the season, becoming the first MLB rookie to reach that mark in the 20th century.

Lloyd Waner 1928 (photo via Horsehide Trivia)

• 1939 - In a 7-3 loss to Philly, the Bucs set a club record with eight errors - 3B Frankie Gustine alone had three misplays - and every Philadelphia run was unearned. The game was the opener of a doubleheader at Forbes Field. The Pirates played flawlessly in the field during the nitecap to earn a split with a 10-1 victory. Bob Klinger not only tossed a four hitter, but went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored twice. Paul Waner and Arky Vaughan homered.
• 1966 - Willie Stargell was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Plundering Pirate.” Pops had a banner year, hitting .315 with 33 HR and 102 RBI while earning his third straight All-Star nod.