9/18 From the 1930’s Through 1960’s: 20 for Ray & Vern; Waner's 200; Pie-High; HBD Ken & Roger; Game Stories

• 1930 - Ray Kremer picked up his 20th win of the year when he slipped by the Phils 6-5 at the Baker Bowl. He went the distance, surviving a pair of Chuck Klein homers behind a balanced Bucco attack that saw every Pirates position player reach base. It was Kremer’s second 20-win campaign; he won 20 in 1926, too. 

Ray Kremer Pittsburgh Heroes deck

• 1931 - The Bucs split a twinbill with Boston at Forbes Field, losing the opener 6-1 and taking the nitecap 4-1. It was a memorable day for Pie Traynor. He doubled and drove in a run in the first game, then went 4-for-4 in the closer with a HR & 2B, scoring twice and bringing home a pair. His three RBI for the day were #99, 100, & 101, giving him his fifth straight 100 RBI season, which set the franchise record. He finished the year with 103 runners chased home. In his career, Pie had seven 100+ RBI campaigns and drove in 1,273 runs, the fourth highest total in franchise history, behind only Willie Stargell, Honus Wagner and Roberto Clemente. 
• 1937 - Paul Waner established a 20th century NL record with his eighth year of 200+ hits (he finished the year with 219 raps; it was the eighth time in 11 seasons he had 200+ hits) when he collected three knocks against the Brooklyn Robins in a 3-2 win at Forbes Field. Pittsburgh’s Cy Blanton outlasted Freddie Fitzsimmons for the victory behind Gus Suhr’s pair of RBI. Big Poison had a string of 14 consecutive campaigns with 150+ hits that finally ended in 1940 when he was 37 years old. 
• 1938 - Pitching on one day’s rest (he worked 6-⅓ innings against the Braves on 9/16), Russ Bauers threw a complete game four-hitter at the Phillies and took a 1-0 victory as Paul Waner drove in pinch runner Johnny Dickshot in the ninth at Shibe Park. The second game was also a pitching duel between the Bucs’ Ed Brandt and Syl Johnson, but was called after five innings because of darkness with the score 1-1. 

Ken Brett 1974 Topps

• 1948 - LHP Ken Brett was born in Brooklyn. The 14-year vet spent 1974-75 in Pittsburgh, winning an All-Star berth in ‘74 as the Pirates sole rep and winning the game. He went 22-14, 3.32 for the Bucs and hit .281 with three homers before being sent to the Yankees as part of a package for Doc Medich. After his career, Ken was an announcer, college coach and minor-league team owner. Sadly, after a six-year battle with brain cancer, he died in 2003 at age 55. 
• 1957 - RHP Roger Mason was born in Bellaire, Ohio. The nine-year vet rejuvenated his career in Pittsburgh from 1991-92, slashing 8-9-11/3.82. He worked for two World Series clubs and seven teams in his career while setting the dubious record of having the first three batters he faced in a game homer off him (They were San Diego Padres Marvell Wynn, Tony Gwynn and John Kruk. But that was just a bump in the road; Mason’s Giants won the game.) He retired to his hometown after the 1994 season. 
• 1960 - Vern Law picked up his 20th win with a complete game, 5-3 victory in the lidlifter of a Sunday doubleheader at Cincinnati's Crosley Field. The Deacon won the 1960 Cy Young award with a 20-9 record and 3.08 ERA; the Bucs didn’t have another 20 game winner until John Candelaria went 20-5 in 1977. His support came from Dick Stuart and Don Hoak, both of whom homered, doubled and drove in two runs. The Pirates took the nitecap 1-0 as Vinegar Bend Mizell tossed a three-hitter against the Reds and Bob Purkey. Ducky Schofield drove in the game’s only run.