5/10 From 1970: Teke Cover; Oberkfell-for-Samuels; Game Stories; HBD Tony

• 1978 - Bert Blyleven had his hook working at Candlestick Park, tossing a complete game six-hitter (all singles) and fanning a dozen Giants on the way to a 5-1 victory. It was also a big day for 37-year-old Willie Stargell, who chased home a pair of runs with a double to tie Roberto Clemente for second in Pirate career RBIs with 1,305. Hans Wagner (1,475) was the only Bucco ahead of the pair, and Willie would pass him before he last racked his bat. 

Tony Alvarez 2002 Bowman

• 1979 - OF Tony Alvarez was born in Caracas, Venezuela. A Top Ten prospect in the Bucco system, Alvarez played in both the World Baseball Classic and the Futures Game. But his five-tool resume didn’t carry over in the show. He made two brief appearances in Pittsburgh in 2002 and again in 2004, hitting .250 in 38 games, and that was the sum of his big league career. Tony may have just had too many irons in the fire, marrying three Miss Venezuela’s of various years in succession, and in 2009 he became noted as a reggae artist under the stage name of El Potro Alvarez. In 2014, he was named Venezuela’s Minister of Youth and Sports. Alvarez may not have hit it big in baseball, but he sure has enjoyed a grand post-career. 
• 1980 - Kent Tekulve was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Buc Stopper.” The article didn’t portend a great year by Teke standards. Although he was named to his only All-Star game, he slashed just 8-12-21/3.39 in 78 outings. 
• 1984 - Pittsburgh defeated the Giants 4-2 at TRS behind some clutch bullpen work. Don Robinson inherited a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the eighth from Cecilio Guante and got a pop up and DP. In the ninth, Robinson left the sacks juiced with two out for Teke, who retired Joel Youngblood on a fly to ice the win. Dale Berra homered and drove in three runs to spark the offense. 
• 1989 - In a minor deal, the Pirates sent struggling infielder Ken Oberkfell to the San Francisco Giants for Roger Samuels. Oberkfell was rejuvenated, hitting .319 for the G-Men before finishing his career in 1992 after stops at Houston and California. Samuels worked 3-⅔ IP for the Pirates and was shellacked, never appearing in the show again. 

Wil Cordero 2000 Upper Deck MVP

• 2000 - Wil Cordero, Kevin Young and Pat Meares teamed up to lead the Bucs to a 13-9 victory over the Mets at TRS. Cordero went 5-for-5 with four RBI and three runs; Young went 4-for-5 with two runs driven in and four runs scored and Meares went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and runs. Cordero had a HR and double, Young a long ball and Meares banged a three-bagger.