9/25 From the 1950’s Forward: Bucs Clinch in '60; Neal Hired; Williams Saves 46; Wilson On Fire; HBD Tony, Vance & Dick

• 1953 - OF Dick Davis was born in Long Beach, California. He closed out his six-year career in 1982 with Pittsburgh (the third team he played for that season) hitting .182 in 39 games. C Wayne Nordhagen ended up the main man in the 1982 Davis dealings; he was sent by Toronto to Philly on June 15th for Davis, then moved to Pittsburgh on the same day for Bill Robinson. 10 days later, the Pirates shipped him back to Toronto as the PTBNL for Davis. 

• 1960 - Although the Pirates lost 4-2 to the Braves, a St. Louis defeat clinched the pennant for Pittsburgh (The NY Yankees clinched their title on the same day). The City celebrated by holding a giant midnight torchlight parade in the Golden Triangle. It was the first time since 1927 that the Pirates were headed for the World Series, and it was front page news in the City, with the Fall Classic and its seventh game still celebrated to this day in Pittsburgh. 
• 1969 - Tony Womack was born in Danville, Virginia. Womack was drafted by the Pirates in 1991 (seventh round) and became their everyday second baseman in 1997. Tony led the NL in stolen bases that year with 60 and did it again in 1998 with 58 swipes. The speedster played his first five seasons (1993-94; 1996-98) with the Bucs, hitting .278 and earning an All-Star berth. After the 1998 campaign, he was traded to the Diamondbacks for Jason Boyd and Paul Reichard (it was a salary dump - there was no heir apparent; Warren Morris took over the spot.) and he played a key role in Arizona’s 2001 World Series title. He lasted 13 seasons in the show, finishing with a .272 BA and 363 stolen bases. 
• 1974 - Trying to sweep the Cards and hang on to their slim ½ game lead, the Bucs instead squandered a wild one at Busch Stadium by a 13-12 count. The Pirates scored five times in the first, keyed by a three-run shot by Manny Sanguillen. The Cards came back with a six run third; starter Ken Brett yelled at manager Danny Murtaugh when he was yanked during the frame, and again after the game. The game settled down, and went into the 11th inning tied at 10. The Pirates scored twice; the Cards rallied for three runs to take the game, scoring off September call-ups Juan Jimenez and Jim Minshall. The fielders didn’t help much; Rennie Stennett’s error allowed the tying run to score, and the infield played Bake McBride’s bunt into a hit. The loss stung, but Pittsburgh would eventually take the pennant, although losing the NLCS to the LA Dodgers. 

Vance Worley 2015 Topps Heritage

• 1987 - RHP Vance Worley was born in Sacramento. Vanimal hit the show running in 2011, as he was elected to Baseball America’s All-Rookie Team and finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, behind winner Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman. Alas, bone chips derailed his 2012 campaign, and he was moved to Minnesota, where mechanical problems caused by the injury led to some very forgettable outings. The Bucs bought him in the 2013 off season, called him up in June of 2014, and he went 8-4/2.25. He started 2015 in the pen, claimed a spot in the rotation when Charlie Morton was hurt, and went back to relief upon Morton’s return, finishing with a 4-6/4.02 slash. He was released after the 2015 season & claimed by the Orioles. Vance is now a free agent after being released by the Mets in mid-2018. 
• 2001 - Craig Wilson collected hits in each of the final three innings of Pittsburgh's last game and got hits in each of the first three frames against Chicago‚ giving him knocks in six consecutive innings against six different pitchers‚ a MLB mark. The Bucs won 13-1, but the Cubbie pitchers got a little glory, too. They fanned 10 Pirates, giving them 1,250 Ks for the year for a new MLB mark. 
• 2002 - Mike Williams set the Bucco single season save record when he earned his 46th against the Mets at PNC Park with a 1-2-3 ninth, closing out a 4-3 win for Ron Villone. The mark would last until 2015, when it was eclipsed by Mark Melancon with 51. 

Mike Williams 2002 Fleer Tradition

•  2007 - 37-year-old Neal Huntington was officially named as the Pirates new GM, replacing Dave Littlefield although the news had been leaked earlier in the week. He spent six years with the Expos and a decade with the Indians in various executive positions prior to coming to Pittsburgh, primarily in the player development area. Huntington, per the Associated Press’ Alan Robinson, was among the newer breed of executives who rely heavily on statistics and number-crunching before making decisions and was expected to provide some data-driven direction to the club.