The Green Weenie: 4/17 From the 50s Forward: Roberto (& Joe's) Debut, Movie Stars, Cover Boy, Shea Opener, Back-to-Back

Monday, April 17, 2017

1951 - 25,894 hardy souls braved the snow to watch the Bucs win their home opener 5-4 over the Cards at Forbes Field. Murry Dickson pitched six innings and homered in the win. Wally Westlake also went long while Bill Wuerle tossed three shutout innings for the save. It also marked the first shooting of live footage for the movie tentatively titled “Angels And The Pirates” (released as “Angels In the Outfield”), starring Paul Douglas and Janet Leigh.

Roberto's 1955 Topps rookie card

1955 - Roberto Clemente, a 20-year-old rookie from Carolina, Puerto Rico, made his MLB debut in right field at Forbes Field during a double header. In his first at bat, Clemente singled off the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Johnny Podres, the first step on his journey to 3000 career hits. Roberto collected two more hits in the nightcap, but the Bucs lost both ends of the twinbill, 10-3 and 3-2. Brighter days were just on the horizon, though.
1960 - LHP Joe Gibbon made his MLB debut in the second game of a twinbill against the Reds at Forbes Field, coming in to mop up with the Pirates down 5-0 in the eighth. He tossed a pair of scoreless innings and the Bucs scored six times in the ninth to give him the win. Hal Smith banged a three run pinch hit homer and Bob Skinner walked off after his game winning two run, two out blast off Ted Wieand. The Bucs won the opener 5-0 behind Bob Friend's four hitter.
1964 - Before 48‚736 fans, the Pirates defeated the Mets 4-3 in the first game played at Shea Stadium. Bob Friend was the winner over Cuban righty Ed Bauta. Willie Stargell hit the first home run ever at Shea Stadium off Jack Fisher.

1967 - Maury Wills was the cover boy for Sports Illustrated’s "Baseball 1967" issue. In his first year as a Buc, he hit .302 with 92 runs and 29 swiped sacks.
2011 - Andrew McCutchen and Jose Tabata led off the game with back-to-back home runs off Edinson Volquez, the third time that had been done in club history. The Pirates scored four times in the opening inning and held off the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 at Great American Ball Park.
2013 - AJ Burnett had a no-hitter going against the Cards at PNC Park, carrying the no-no into the seventh before Carlos Beltran banged a double. It was a big day for AJ; he also went over the 2,000 mark in career strikeouts. The Bucs won 5-0.