8/20 Through the 30’s: Cozy Deal; Streak Snapper; Game Stories; HBD Al, Bull & Judge

• 1869 - RHP Robert Gibson was born in Duncansville, Pennsylvania, near Altoona. He tossed in the show in 1890, working a game for the Chicago Colts (a shutout) and then finishing up with three more starts with the Alleghenys, doing not so well with an 0-3/17.25 line, also playing a little outfield. He did better after he hung up the spikes, though - the Washington & Jefferson grad worked for Allegheny County and US Magistrate as an attorney, then was appointed as a Federal judge for the Western District in 1922, becoming the chief judge before he retired. He’s buried in Homewood Cemetery. 
• 1880 - OF Lewis “Bull” Smith was born in Plum, West Virginia. He was raised in an orphanage but overcame that humble beginning to become a West Liberty and later WVU multi-sports star and grad (he won a law degree). Bull played sparingly in the MLB, with his 13-game 1904 season with the Pirates his longest stay, hitting .143 (he got one-game cups of coffee with the Cubs in ‘06 and the Senators in ‘11). Baseball wasn’t his only strong suit, though - he was also a halfback for the Canton Bulldogs in 1905-06, playing in the NFL’s forerunner, the Ohio League. He managed and played locally at Clarksville and Charleston after his big league days and later became a lumberman and school teacher. 

George Creamer (image via Dead Ball Era)

• 1883 - According to Charlton’s Baseball Chronology, after the Eclipse-Pittsburgh game at Exposition Park (won by Louisville 8-2), Allegheny OFs Billy Taylor and Mike Mansell‚ along with 2B George Creamer, were each fined $100 and suspended indefinitely for drunkenness. 
• 1903 - The Pirates set a record for futility in the first inning of a twin bill at the Polo Grounds, committing six errors (they would boot eight balls during the game) and allowing seven runs to the NY Giants in a 13-7 loss. But they came back in the nitecap behind Deacon Phillippe, who tossed a five hit, 4-1 winner against NY, backed by Fred Clarke’s home run. The split kept the Pirates five games ahead of the G-Men in the NL pennant race. 
• 1908 - Hall of Fame catcher Al Lopez was born in Tampa. He caught seven years (1940-46) for the Pirates, hitting .254 with a rep as one of finest defensive catchers in baseball, earning a 1941 All-Star berth. After his playing days, Lopez found more success as a manager of the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. 
• 1913 - The Pirates traded P Howie Camnitz and 3B Bobby Byrne to the Philadelphia Phillies for third baseman Albert “Cozy” Dolan and cash. Camnitz and Byrne were at the end of their effective careers (Bryne had a strong 1914 before fading), and Dolan was traded at the end of the year, so though a couple of big names were involved, it ended up a minor deal. Cozy was banned from baseball in 1924 as a coach after being involved with a bribe offer during a heated pennant race. He didn’t get his nickname by being cozy with the bookies, though, but rather from a namesake baseball predecessor, Patrick “Cozy” Dolan. Fortunately for scorekeepers, there was a five-year break between Patrick’s last game and Albert’s MLB debut. 

Max Butcher, stopper 1940 Play Ball

• 1939 - Pittsburgh dropped its 12th straight game to the Cubs by a 9-5 score in the first game of a twin bill at Forbes Field. Bob Klinger took the loss. The streak was the longest in Bucco history (although the Alleghenys lost 23 in a row in 1890) and the longest in the majors for the year. But they finally got back on the right side of the ledger by taking the second game 5-0, which perhaps fortunately for the Buccos was called after six innings following a 40-minute rain delay. Max Butcher went the distance for the win, backed by Elbie Fletcher’s two-run homer and two-hit afternoons by Johnny Rizzo & Fern Bell.