- 1877 - RHP Gus Thompson was born in Humboldt, Iowa. The Pirates picked up the 26-year-old’s contract in August from Helena of the Pacific National League, and he went 2-2/3.56 in five 1903 outings (four starts) in his rookie campaign. He made the World Series roster and got into a game against Boston, giving up a run in three innings. But he only got one more shot at the show in 1906 with the Cards and his pro career ended following the 1910 season when he tossed for the Seattle Giants of the Northwestern League.
- 1882 - The Reds beat the Bucs at Exposition Park‚ 5-2 in 14 innings, ending the game with a triple play. With runners on first and second‚ Cincinnati SS Chick Fulmer let a pop fly drop, then with the runners in limbo, went around the horn to close out the game. The infield fly rule was put into effect in 1885 by the NL, and was crafted into its current form in 1901.
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| Hans 1908 - Real Photo Postcard |
- 1908 - Honus Wagner smacked his 2,000th hit against Jake Weimer of the Reds during a 4-0 loss at Exposition Park. Back in the day, there wasn’t much ado about career milestones (nor were hits and such even accurately counted, so thus date may be taken with a healthy dash of salt) and the Pittsburgh media made nary a mention of the feat.
- 1917 - The Pirates held a Honus Wagner Day at Forbes Field to honor the Bucco great, who announced (again) that this would be his last season, although this time the 43-year-old kept his word and hung ‘em up after the season. Before the game, he rode in the lead car of what was claimed to be a 500-vehicle parade from town to the Oakland ballyard along with Mayor Joe Armstrong. The fans were all given ribboned pins with the Flying Dutchman’s picture (there were no bobbleheads back in the day) and Wagner received an engraved ("Presented to John P. Wagner By His Admirers Friday June 22, 1917 Wagner Day.") silver loving cup along with a lifetime membership to his favorite club, the Carnegie Elks. Honus went 1-for-4 with a walk and steal as the Bucs eked out a 4-3 win over the Cubs in 10 innings, making Wilbur Cooper a winner.
- 1925 - Max Carey got two hits in each the first and eighth innings as the Pirates beat the Cards at Sportsman's Park, 24-6. The two-hits-in-two-innings feat wasn’t repeated again until Rennie Stennett did it against the Cubs in 1975. The Pirates smacked six homers that game, with two from George Grantham, grand slams by Kiki Cuyler and Pie Traynor and more long balls from Clyde Barnhart and Earl Smith, helped along by seven Cardinal errors along the way. Every Pirate starter, including the pitcher and winner Ray Kremer, had at least a hit and either scored a run, drove in a run, or both. It was the Pirates biggest run outburst of the 20th century. The Bucs were really rolling; the game before they tattooed the Brooklyn Robins 21-5, banging out four dingers, three triples and three two-baggers. Kiki Cuyler went 4-for-5 with two homers, a triple, six RBI and five runs in that one. The Bucs bopped that year; they scored 912 runs on the way to a 93-60 record, the NL title and a World Series crown.
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| Max Carey 1925 - photo via Detroit Public Library |
- 1927 - LF Clyde Barnhart ran his hit streak to 23 games with a single in an 11-9 win over the Reds at Forbes Field. It would end the following game against the Cubs’ Charlie Root. The heroes of the day for the Bucs were Kiki Cuyler and Glenn Wight with three knocks and two RBI each, along with pitcher Carmen Hill. “Specs” spun 6-⅔ IP of relief for the win and went 2-for-3 at the dish.
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