9/26 Expo Park-Forbes Field Era: HBD Bob, Joe, Bobby, Steve & Brian; Larry Let Go; Lefty's No-No; Game Stories

• 1890 - C Bob Coleman was born in Huntingburg, Indiana. The back-up catcher played for Pittsburgh from 1913-14, hitting .245 in 200 ABs. He got one more taste of the majors in 1916 with the Indians but would spend most of his innings on various farm clubs. He played until 1927 when he retired after the season at the age of 36. Bob became a minor-league lifer. He skippered for 35 seasons (20 at Evansville), and Coleman's teams won 2,496 games. Bob also coached for the Tigers and managed the Boston Braves, both for brief periods. 

Jack Chesbro 2014 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions

• 1901 - The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Brooklyn Dodgers 4-3 at Exposition Park, guaranteeing at least tie for the 1901 NL pennant with Philadelphia. Jack Chesbro got the win and added an RBI. The other scores were driven in by Honus Wagner, Kitty Bransfield and Lefty Davis as the Pirates put together a four-run sixth inning for the win. They would clinch the next day to take their first ever NL flag.  
• 1906 - Lefty Leifield hurled a six-inning no-hitter against Philadelphia, winning, 8-0 in a game called because of darkness. Pittsburgh won the opener by a shutout, too, taking a 5-0 win at the Baker Bowl behind Vic Willis. 
• 1910 - LHP Joe Sullivan was born in Mason City, Illinois. Joe closed out his five-year major league career with Pittsburgh in 1941, going 4-1-1, 2.97 in 16 games (four starts). Though manager Frankie Frisch was said to like him as a guy he could use in any situation, Joe had control problems and in camp the following spring, he came down with a severe case of tonsilitis. He was sent to the farm and never made it back to the majors. Joe retired to the Pacific Northwest (he spent several years in the PCL after his MLB career) and worked in the Naval Shipyard. 

Bobby Shantz 1962 Topps

• 1925 - LHP Bobby Shantz was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Bobby worked 16 years in the show for seven clubs, stopping in Pittsburgh for the 1961 season. He went 6-3-2, 3.32, making 43 appearances (six starts). The little lefty was a three-time All-Star and won eight Gold Gloves before he retired to run a restaurant and bowling alley back home. 
• 1937 - The Bucs rallied to take the first game against Cincinnati 5-4, then scored twice in the first frame of the nitecap to claim a 2-1 sweep at Crosley Field. The Reds led the opener 4-0 in the eighth, but the Pirates scored three times that frame and twice more in the ninth for the victory. Jim Tobin not only went the distance, but had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run. Gus Suhr doubled home Woody Jensen and Lloyd Waner to provide Bill Swift, who tossed a complete game eight hitter, all the support he needed in the closer. 
• 1948 - The Homestead Grays won the opening game of the Negro World Series 3-2 over the Birmingham Black Barons at Blues Stadium in Kansas City. The Grays did all the scoring in the second inning, with Willie Pope banging a two-run triple and coming in on Luis Marquez’s two out single. Ted Alexander scattered eight hits for the victory. 
• 1961 - IF Steve Buechele was born in Lancaster, California. He spent parts of 1991-92 with the Bucs, coming as part of one deadline deal and leaving as part of another, playing 3B and hitting .248. The 11-year MLB vet is now a coach with the Texas Rangers.

Earl Francis 1963 Topps

• 1962 - Earl Francis surrendered two hits in ten frames to beat the Reds and Jim Maloney 1-0. Bob Friend pitched the eleventh to earn his only save of the year (he came in from the pen just three times during the year), holding the fort after Bill Mazeroski and Willie Stargell doubles produced the game’s only run. 
• 1968 - LHP Brian Shouse was born in Effingham, Illinois. A 13th round 1990 draft pick of the Pirates from Bradley, he got the call in 1993 for six games and four innings. He was resilient, popping up again in 1998 with Boston before another stint in the minors that lasted until 2002 when KC gave him the ball. But he finally made it after that; he became full-time in Texas in 2003 at the age of 34 and worked through 2009. For the past couple of seasons, he’s been a pitching coach for the Rangers system. 
• 1969 - Larry Shepard was fired as manager though Pittsburgh had an 84-73 record. Coach Alex Grammas took over the club for the remaining week of the season before the Bucs returned to old faithful, Danny Murtaugh, for his third go-around as Pirates field boss.