6/8 Drafts & Birthdays: Draft: Bob Moose, Cricket, Gene Garber, Craig Reynolds; HBD Caveman, George, Scott & Silent Roy

• 1911 - RHP “Silent Roy” Partlow was born in Washington, Georgia. He tossed for the Homestead Grays from 1938-44 and again in 1949. Like many Negro League players, Roy pitched everywhere - he was in the minor leagues with the Dodgers as one of the early black pioneers, worked in Mexico, Puerto Rico, & Cuba and for three other Negro league clubs during his career. He got his nickname because of his “reticent manner.” 

George Brunet 1971 Topps

• 1935 - LHP George Brunet was born in Houghton, Michigan. Lefty spent chunks of 15 seasons in the show, with his best years as an Angel, and made a stop in Pittsburgh in 1970, near the end of his road. He got into a dozen games, one as a starter, and posted a 1-1/2.70 line as a 35-year-old. The Pirates had traded with the Senators on August 31st, so despite good work he was ineligible for the postseason. During the winter, the club shipped him to the Cards, along with Matty Alou, for Nelson Briles and Vic Davalillo. 1971 was his last MLB gig as he was released by the Redbirds in May, but he found a second home in Mexico, pitching there until he was 54 and serving as a baseball instructor and ambassador after retiring. 
• 1957 - RHP Don “The Caveman” Robinson was born in Ashland, Kentucky. He spent 10 of his 15 years in the show with Pittsburgh, first as a reliever and then as a starter, going 65-69-43 with a 3.85 ERA. A three-time Silver Slugger awardee, his batting line was .265/6/45 as a Buc. As for the Caveman moniker, no one is really sure; he wasn't particularly hirsute for the era. He already had it as a 21 year old rookie; we’re guessing his 6’4”, 230 pound build had something to do with it. 
• 1963 - LHP Scott Ruskin was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Ruskin was a third round pick in the 1986 draft by the Bucs out of Florida and made it to the show in 1990 after the Bucs converted him from a 1B/OF to a pitcher in 1989. He went 2-2-2/3.02 for the Bucs, who sent him to the Expos as part of the package to get Zane Smith. He finished the season strong, and then his effectiveness went downhill. His last season was 1993, when the Reds cut him loose after just four outings. 

Gene Garber 1983 Topps

• 1965 - In the first college/high school draft ever held, the Pirates picked prep OF’er Wayne Dickerson first (#10) in the draft; he was out of baseball by 1970. Their first 17 selections never made the show, but they had some luck in the later rounds. RHP Bob Moose (18th round) from Export in Westmoreland County, RHP Gene Garber (20th round) and SS Freddie “The Cricket” Patek (22nd round) all carved out solid careers. They also signed undrafted Don Money, an infielder who played 16 seasons for the Phils and Brewers, hitting .261 lifetime and making four All-Star teams. For the curious, the Oakland A’s selected Arizona State OF’er Rick Monday, making him MLB’s first amateur draft pick. 
• 1971 - The Pirates picked prep SS Craig Reynolds 22nd overall. He played 15 years of big league ball, mainly with the Houston Astros, and was a two-time All-Star. Second rounder Doug Bair spent 15 years tossing in the show for seven different teams. None of the other 29 guys selected made it to the majors. 
• 1976 - Prep RHP Jim Parke was the Pirates first round (#21) pick; he never got further than A ball in his career. OF Doe Boyland & LHP Mike Madden were the next two picks; they got into 92 big leagues games combined. The only notable selection was 17th round pick LHP Rick Honeycutt, who tossed for 21 big league seasons and made a couple of All-Star teams. 

Jim Winn 1986 Fleer

• 1981 - The Pirates made Jim Winn, a RHP from Arkansas’ John Brown U, their #1 pick (#14 overall). He pitched from 1983-86 for Pittsburgh, mainly from the pen, with a 7-11-4, 4.47 line. RHP Lee Tunnell was the second pick (#40 overall) and worked for the Bucs from 1982-85, going 17-24-1, 4.06 primarily as a starter. Bip Roberts was drafted fifth; he didn’t sign and the Pirates redrafted him the following year. He was lost in the Rule 5 draft and went on to play 12 big league seasons, best known as a Padre. Three guys they drafted but couldn’t sign went on to productive MLB careers - OF Lance Johnson and RHPs Chris Boscio & Lance Bankhead.