9/8 From 1910 Through the 1950’s: Clarke Goes; Grace Streak; Triple Arriba; Sweeps; HBD Frank, Junior & Jim

• 1912 - Long-time Pirate coach and minor league manager Frank Oceak was born in Pocahontas, Virginia. He was with the organization from 1942-1972 for all but one season, managing in the minors everywhere from Class D Oil City to AAA Columbus. Oceak also served for 10 seasons as Danny Murtaugh’s coach and finished his career on Bill Virdon’s staff, with the 1960 (he’s the coach wearing #44 who’s running down the third base line with Maz) and 1971 World Series teams parts of his resume. 

Frank Oceak greets Maz (photo Associated Press)

• 1915 - Fred Clarke resigned as manager after leading the club to four pennants in 19 years, citing a desire for more family time (and probably nudged along by back-to-back losing seasons). He wanted to step down earlier, after the 1909 World Series campaign, but was talked out of it by owner Barney Dreyfuss. Jimmy Callahan replaced him in 1916. 
• 1916 - RHP Jim Bagby Jr. was born in Cleveland. Jim closed out his 10-year MLB run with Pittsburgh in 1947, going 5-4/4.67. Jim, a two-time All-Star earlier in his career, joined his dad to became the first father and son combo to pitch in the World Series when Jim Jr. appeared for the 1946 Red Sox; Jim Sr. had appeared in the Fall Classic with the 1920 Indians. In another feather in his cap moment, Jr. and Al Smith were the Cleveland pitchers who ended Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. Following his baseball career, Bagby became a professional golf player and in 1992 was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Final Bagby Trivia item via Wikipedia: he maintained a lifelong dislike of sports writers because he was born with a cleft palate and was often made fun of by them for his appearance. 
• 1932 - C Earl Grace had his errorless streak end at 110 games. The errant throw was his only miscue of the season (out of 413 chances), a NL record. He did his penance by smacking a homer but it wouldn’t be nearly enough as the Brooklyn Dodgers embarrassed the Pirates 12-2 at Ebbets Field. But Earl needn’t have felt badly; the game itself was a slop-fest that featured seven boots between the two clubs. 
• 1937 - The Pirates swept Cincinnati at Forbes Field. Pittsburgh had to score three times in the 10th inning to pull out a 7-6 win in the opener on a Tommy Padden walk-off single. The rap was an act of atonement for Padden; he threw away a bunt in the top half to allow the Reds two runs. Woody Jensen had four hits to lead Pittsburgh. The Bucs took the nightcap easily by an 8-2 count. Jensen had two more knocks to support Jack Tobin’s four-hitter. 

Debs Garms 1940 (photo Conlon Collection)

• 1940 - The Pirates brought their sticks to Sportsman’s Park, taking a doubleheader from the Cardinals by 16-14 and 5-4 tallies. Pittsburgh banged two homers (Maurice Van Robays & Debs Garms), and triple and seven doubles (two by Frankie Gustine) to overcome Johnny Mize’s three homers to take the opener. The Pirates scored five in the shortened five inning nitecap, tallying three times in the last frame for the win. Bob Elliott and Arky Vaughan went 4-for-6 in tandem, with a double, two triples and all five RBI, driving in Garms, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three times before darkness ended the game. 
• 1954 - SS Jimmy Smith was born in Santa Monica, California. After six years in the minors with Baltimore and the Mets, he was purchased by the Bucs in 1981. After a year at Portland, the 28-year-old spent the 1982 campaign as the Pirates back-up shortstop to Dale Berra and pinch-runner, batting .238. He played with the White Sox at AAA Denver the following year before hangin’ up the spikes. 
• 1958 - Roberto Clemente tied a modern day record held by many with three triples against Cincinnati at Forbes Field, leading the Pirates to a 4-1 win. He was stranded after the first three-bagger, thrown out at home trying for an inside-the-park HR after the second, and finally scored after the third when Dick Stuart singled him home. Curt Raydon got the win, his last in MLB, and banged out his only major league hit in 49 plate appearances. Arm troubles kept him out of the majors after a solid 8-4/3.62 debut, and after treading water in the minors for three seasons, he hung ‘em up after the 1961 campaign.: