9/14 From the 1940’s Through the 1970’s: Mud Cat, Salkeld Deals; Hamey Named GM; TSN Zisk; Roberto Rocks; Twin Bill - Literally; HBD Jerry

• 1944 - The Pirates purchased catcher Bill Salkeld from San Diego of the Pacific Coast league. He was brought aboard to replace Al Lopez, but couldn’t win the spot even though he hit .293 in his three (1945-47) Bucco campaigns. As a rookie in ‘45, Salkeld batted .311 with 15 home runs in only 317 PA, but was mainly a platoon guy with a .213 lifetime BA against lefties. 

Roy Hamey (photo Getty Images)

• 1946 - Roy Hamey, president of the minor league American Association, was named GM of the Pirates. He ran the ship until 1950 and was the first true general manager of the team, as the duties of the position had previously been handled by the team president. Roy picked up some veteran pieces for the squad but never put together a farm system to provide home-grown talent and was replaced by Branch Rickey, who did the opposite by tearing the MLB team apart but building a strong minor league pipeline. It took their successor, Joe Brown, to successfully fuse the two approaches. 
• 1957 - The Cubs split a doubleheader at Wrigley Field against the bonus baby O'Brien twins. In the opener‚ Eddie twirled a 3-1 complete game win, scattering six hits and fanning eight for his only MLB decision. In the nitecap‚ Johnny pitched one inning in relief and was charged with the loss‚ his last MLB decision (1-3 lifetime). Both played from 1953-58 for the Bucs, but they were infielders first, pitchers as an afterthought. 
• 1957 - LHP Jerry Don Gleaton was born in Brownwood, Texas. An All-American at the U of Texas, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round (18th pick overall) of the 1979 draft. The hard-tossing reliever spent the final year of his 12-season career as a Pirate with a 1-0/4.26 line. The first-rounder won just 15 games in those dozen years, bouncing around among six teams. He’s now active in the Pro Athletes Outreach ministry and keeps his hand in the game by coaching. 
• 1968 - Roberto Clemente drilled a pair of homers off Tom Seaver (his only two career bombs off Tom Terrific) while driving in three runs and Bob Veale spun a six-hitter with 10 punch outs as the Bucs dropped the Mets, 6-0, at Shea Stadium. It started a 9-of-11 run for the Pirates as they fought to finish above .500, but they stumbled at the tape and ended 80-82.

Mudcat 1971 Pirates Photo Pack

• 1970 - The Pirates traded with Oakland for Jim "Mudcat" Grant, sending them a PTBNL (Angel Mangual). Mudcat made 50 appearances for Pittsburgh with a 7-4-7, 3.41 line. He worked as a broadcaster and executive for the Indians and as a broadcaster for the Athletics after he retired. Grant also became a black baseball historian and wrote the 2006 book “The Black Aces.” Angel played six seasons for the A’s as a reserve outfielder. 
• 1974 - Richie Zisk was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Menacing Bat.” It certainly was; Zisk hit .313 with 17 HR and 100 RBI in his first full-time season.