9/7 Expo Park-Forbes Field Era: HBD Charlie, John & Fred; Big Innings; Lefty's Debut; Game Stories

• 1879 - RHP Charlie Case was born in Smiths Landing, Ohio. Charlie had a four-year MLB career with the final three seasons (1904-06) spent in Pittsburgh, posting a line of 22-17-1, 2.81 compiled mostly as a starter. Charlie worked in the minors afterward through the 1914 season and tossed a no-hitter in 1909 for the Nashville Volunteers of the Southern Association. 

Charlie Case 1905 (photo Chicago Daily News/Chicago History Museum)

• 1883 - 1B John Flynn was born in Providence, Rhode Island. Flynn had a three-year MLB run, with 1910-11 spent with the Pirates. He hit .263 in that span as a bench player. John toiled in the minors during the next 15 years as a player and manager. 
• 1891 - C Fred Blackwell was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Fred got into 35 games from 1917-19, all with the Pirates, and hit .205. His career was interrupted as he was in the service in 1918-19; 1921 was his last year of organized ball in Kansas City of the American Association. 
• 1905 - In his home debut, rookie Lefty Leifield gave up three runs in the first, then settled into a groove until tiring and surrendering three more runs in the ninth frame as the Bucs rolled to an 11-7 win over the Reds at Exposition Park. Fred Clarke banged out four hits while Honus Wagner and Heinie Peitz added three apiece, with Hans swatting a double and triple. 
• 1908 - Led by Honus Wagner’s 6-for-7 day at the plate, including five straight hits with a double, triple and sacrifice, the Pirates swept St. Louis 9-7 and 7-1 on Labor Day at Exposition Park to move within percentage points of the league leading NY Giants. Sam Leever won the opener while Vic Willis scattered eight singles to take the second match.

Red Oldham 1905 (photo Pittsburg Press/UPI)

• 1925 - Pittsburgh won for the 17th time in 20 games when they defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-5 at Forbes Field in the opener of a twin bill. Kiki Cuyler went 4-for-5 with a double and triple while every Pirate in the lineup had a hit. Red Oldham gave up 15 hits, but went the distance for the win. The Cubs banged out 16 more hits in the second game to gain a 9-8 split. 
• 1931 - The Pirates swept a Labor Day twinbill at Forbes Field from the Reds, 6-1 and 4-3. Woody Jensen homered and was one of five Corsairs with two hits to back Larry French’s mound work in the lidlifter. The news wasn’t all good, though, as the Bucs lost SS Tommy Thevenow, who fractured his ankle in two places sliding in the sixth frame to end his season. Pittsburgh scored three times in the eighth inning of the nightcap to sew up the double dipper when George Grantham & Tony Piet singled around Pie Traynor & Paul Waner doubles to bring Erv Brame home a winner. 
• 1940 - The Bucs scored eight runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to rally past the Cardinals 14-9. Arky Vaughan‚ Terry Moore‚ and Vince DiMaggio all homered as Vaughan and DiMaggio combined for seven RBI at Sportsman’s Park. 
• 1942 - In the opener of a twinbill at Forbes Field, the Pirates scored 11 runs in the sixth inning to overcome a 5-0 deficit against the Cards and rally for an 11-6 win. The inning set the franchise mark for most runs in a frame, and Pittsburgh didn't have an inning that big again until 1992. Bud Stewart led the attack with two hits, three RBI and a pair of runs. Murry Dickson faced two batters and didn’t get an out, but was credited with the win; the guy that relieved him, Howie Pollet, gave up four runs in ⅓ of an inning so Dickson was deemed more effective. The Bucs dropped the nitecap 6-4. 

Fritz Ostermueller 1948 Leaf

• 1948 - The Pirates chased Jim Hearn after two innings on the way to a 6-2 win at Forbes Field. Stan Rojek had twos across the board - two hits, two doubles, two runs, two RBI - to support Fritz Ostermueller. The game was noteworthy as it took Pittsburgh six more years and a dozen losses before they claimed another win against the St. Louis righty. 
• 1953 - The Pirates swept a twinbill for the first time that year‚ beating the NY Giants 9-7 and 5-3 at the Polo Grounds. Eddie Pellagrini had four hits‚ including a HR‚ to back Bob Friend in the opener. Lefty LaPalme was the winner in the nitecap as the Bucs beat Jim Hearn after 12 straight defeats at his hands. His last loss to the Bucs was exactly six years ago to the day. 
• 1962 - Bill Mazeroski hit a grand slam and drove home six runs to prime a 10-1 Bucco win against LA’s Stan Williams at Dodger Stadium. Earl Francis tossed a four-hit, complete game victory against the league-leading Dodgers.