4/11: Doc on Call; Pirates Script; TRS Sellout; Game Stories; HBD Turner, Hank, Red & Pop

• 1858 - OF John “Pop” Corkhill was born in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania in Chester County. Pop played outfield for the last two seasons of his 10-year MLB career for the Bucs in 1891-92, hitting .200, with his ball playing days effectively ended after an 1891 beaning. He tried to come back but the Bucs released him in July of 1892; he retired and became a businessman. Pop, a converted infielder, was a golden glove guy before it was a thing, winning five fielding titles for outfielders in his decade of ball. He was also a handyman, returning to the infield when needed and pitching several times during his career. Corkhill went bald as a young man, leading to his nickname. 
• 1892 - C Williard “Red” Smith was born in Logansport, Indiana. Red’s MLB career consisted of two seasons (1917-18) with the Pirates as a reserve catcher; his .156 BA may help explain his brief stay. Red did have a 10-year MiLB career, hanging up the spikes at age 36 after catching 36 games for Class B Quincy of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. 

Chief Wilson models the new 1912 jersey (photo Mears Collection/The Sporting News)

• 1912 - Pittsburgh finally gave in to the inevitable and used “Pirates” on their uniforms, displayed in capital letters down the jersey’s button lapel. It replaced the old PBC (Pittsburgh Baseball Club) logo. It didn’t appreciably improve the club as they were drubbed 7-0 on opening day by St. Louis at Robison Field. They finished the year strong, though, ending up with a 93-58 record and a second place finish. 
• 1919 - IF Hank Schenz was born in New Richmond, Ohio. He was with the Bucs in 1950 & ‘51 after four years with the Cubs. He hit .222 before being sold to the Giants during the 1951 campaign, and according to Dave Finoli’s Pirates By the Numbers, became the guy that stole and relayed opposing catcher’s signs from behind the Polo Grounds scoreboard by using a telescope. 
• 1961 - Bill Virdon smacked a two-out, three-run HR to right off reliever Mike McCormick to give the Pirates and Clem Labine a ninth inning, 8-7 win over the Giants in SF’s home opener. Dick Groat and Roberto Clemente each added four hits and scored four runs in the victory. 

Turner Ward adds a new gate to the RF wall in 1998 (photo via MLB.com)

• 1965 - OF Turner Ward was born in Orlando, Florida. The journeyman played in Pittsburgh from 1997-99, hitting .281 in a fourth outfielder role and becoming an early meme when he crashed through the TRS outfield fence in 1998. After his career, he returned to the Bucco system for a year, managing Low-A State College in 2007. Turner moved on to the D-Backs organization, eventually becoming their hitting coach, the position he now holds with the Dodgers.
• 1975 - The Bucs scored four times in the ninth to overtake Jerry Koosman and the Mets 4-3 on a chilly Opening Day match played in front of 43,880 at TRS. Richie Zisk (who had three hits) and Manny Sanguillen knocks tied the game; Richie Hebner’s one-out bloop into no man’s land in left center was the walk-off hit. Larry Demery won the game in relief of Jerry Reuss.
• 1976 - At Philadelphia‚ Doc Medich, walking in from the bullpen, spotted a man having a heart attack in the stands. He jumped over the railing and applied CPR to revive him. Sadly‚ the fan later passed away in the hospital. Doc didn’t get into the game, an 8-3 win for the Pirates at Veteran’s Stadium. 

Doctor in the House 1976 Topps Traded

• 1980 - The Bucs defeated the Cards at Busch Stadium 4-3 as Pittsburgh scored twice in the ninth. Ed Ott singled home the tying run with two down and the winner scored on the same play when SS Gary Templeton mishandled the relay, allowing the Bucs to overcome a sixth-inning 3-0 deficit. Grant Jackson got the win, although he was almost in his birthday suit by the final frame. He worked the eighth and thought his night was done. He was in the locker room and headed for the hot water when Chuck Tanner decided to have him bat after Ott’s big hit as the Cards had two switch-hitters and a lefty due up. Grant slipped back into his uni, took his swings and then put them away in order.
• 1988 - A record crowd of 54,089, the first baseball sellout in TRS history, watched the Bucs handle the Phils 5-1 thanks to an eighth inning, bases-loaded (and clearing) double by Spanky LaValliere. It was the Bucs home opener, and Mr. Rogers tossed out the first ball. Doug Drabek gave up nine hits in his five innings of work, but only one run crossed and he got the win. Vicente Palacios and Jeff Robinson took care of business after him. Barry Bonds had two hits, including a homer, to pace the attack.
• 1989 - In the home opener at TRS, the Bucs rallied twice from the brink of defeat to take a 4-3 win over the Mets. With Jose Lind on first with one gone in the ninth Bobby Bonilla singled to center off Mets reliever Randy Myers. Lind moved to third and scored on Glenn Wilson's sac fly. Lind singled to right field against Myers in the 11th with one away and stole second base. An out later, Bonilla came through again, singling Chico home for the win, credited to Jeff Robinson.

Big Bo 1989 Fleer All Stars

• 2010 - The Diamondbacks scored a team-record 13 runs in the fourth inning of a 15-6 victory over Pittsburgh at Chase Field. Daniel McCutchen started and gave up three homers in the fourth; he left after tossing 3-1/3 innings. McCutchen was charged with nine of the runs that inning; Hayden Penn allowed the other four tallies.