9/21 Games: Kiki Streak, Baker Takes the Reins, '72 Clincher, Bonds 30/50, Wild Cardin'...

• 1925 - In a 9-7 win over the Phillies at Forbes Field, Kiki Cuyler singled off Roy Crumpler in the second inning to run his consecutive hit streak to 10, a team record that still stands today. Cuyler began his streak against Boston’s Skinny Graham, and the hits fell in conjunction with a nine-ame winning string for Pittsburgh, which won 95 games, the NL pennant and the 1925 World Series against the Washington Senators. Kiki went 4-for-4 the next game, making him 14-of-16 during his streak.

Kiki Cuyler (image The Sporting News)

• 1963 - In the top of the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium, the Bucs left the bases loaded after losing a bang-bang play at first that was close enough to get manager Danny Murtaugh and coach Frank Oceak ejected after heatedly questioning ump Doug Harvey’s eyesight. That set the stage for coach Gene Baker to take the reins for the rest of the game, becoming MLB’s first black manager. It wasn’t an auspicious start, as Baker entrusted Tommy Sisk with a 3-2 ninth inning lead that evaporated four batters later after Willie Davis belted a three-run, walkoff homer. Still, it was just another day at the ranch for Gene. He was the first rostered black player for the Cubs in 1953, and in 1961 became the first black manager in organized baseball when the Pirates named him skipper of their Batavia farm club. Baker had four campaigns with the Bucs and was part of the 1960 squad. After coaching/managing in the organization, he became a long time Pirate scout. (s/o to Liz Bloom of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
• 1972 - Fueled by a five-run third inning, Pittsburgh clinched the East Division crown with a 6-2 win over the Mets at Shea Stadium; the club won the pennant by 11 games. The Pirates had seven straight batters reach in the third, and the big frame provided plenty of cushion for Steve Blass, who tossed a seven-hit, seven K complete game victory.

Matt Alexander 1981 Topps

• 1978 - The Bucs nipped the Cubs 3-2 in 14 frames at Wrigley Field. Rennie Stennett walked to lead off the 14th and pinch runner Matt Alexander made it happen. As he stole second, C Doug Radar's throw went into center. Alexander bolted for third and was hit in the back by CF Bobby Murcer’s peg‚ which ricocheted away and allowed Matt “The Scat” to score. Ed Whitson got the win and Jim Bibby the save. Cub manager Herman Franks pulled out all the stops to no avail as Chicago tied an NL record by using 27 players (20 position, seven pitching) in the loss.
• 1987 - The Pirates defeated the Montreal Expos at Olympic Stadium by a 5-2 count behind the strong pitching of Doug Drabek and Jeff Robinson. Felix Fermin had three hits while Barry Bonds, Chico Lind, Andy Van Slyke and Sid Bream added a pair. It capped a late push toward respectability for the Bucs. The victory capped a stretch of winning 20-of-26 games and after a short bump would close the year by winning 6-of-8. The run at the end didn’t put them in race, but the went from 18 games under .500 on August 23rd (53-71) to a season-ending 80-82 mark. It was an early coming out party for the core (Bonds, Van Slyke, Bobby Bonilla, Drabek) of Jim Leyland’s 1990-92 pennant-winning clubs.
• 1990 - Barry Bonds became the first Pirate player (and just the second major leaguer, along with the Reds Eric Davis) in history to hit 30+ homers and steal 50 + bases in the same season when he swiped second against the Cards at TRS in a 1-0 Bucco victory. Zane Smith tossed a five hitter for the win, and Bonds scored the game’s only run in the seventh when he led off with a single and come around on Sid Bream’s double.

Sluggo Slaught 1992 Fleer

• 1992 - Bob Walk and Steve Cooke (who went seven innings for the win) combined for a four-hit, 3-0 blanking of the St. Louis Cardinals at TRS. Don Slaught had three hits including a homer as Pittsburgh won for the seventh time in eight games to stretch their lead over the Montreal Expos to seven games. 
• 2013 - AJ Burnett struck out a dozen Cincinnati Reds in seven innings, becoming the first Pirate RHP to whiff over 200 batters in a season with 203 K, as the Bucs took a 4-2 decision at PNC Park. The big blow was a two-run homer by Russ Martin, and the tying and go-ahead runs were set up by Marlon Byrd, who hit a sac fly to drive in Andrew McCutchen and move Justin Morneau to second, where he scored on a two-out knock by Pedro Alvarez. Jason Grilli nailed down the save as the Bucs moved ahead of the Redlegs by a game for the home wild card. 
• 2014 - The Pirates shut out the Brewers, 1-0, behind the pitching of Vance Worley and an RBI single by Russell Martin in the seventh that chased home Andrew McCutchen. Vanimal went eight innings of four-hit ball for the win; Tony Watson tossed the ninth for the save while Wily Peralta took the tough-luck loss. The Bucs jumped 4-1/2 games ahead of Milwaukee in the NL wild card race with the win and moved into a tie for home field with the SF Giants.