7/11 From 1960 Through the 1980’s: Pops #1; Bobby Bo Signed; Friend-ly ASG; Bucco AS's; HBD Javier

• 1960 - One-hit shutout pitching by Bob Friend over three innings led the NL to a 5-3 win over the AL at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium in the first of two All-Star Games. Friend was credited with two of the NL's last three All-Star wins, with this one saved by teammate Vern Law, who got the last two outs. OF Bob Skinner went 1-for-4 with a run, RBI and stolen base while 2B Bill Mazeroski went 1-for-2 with an RBI and HBP. OF Roberto Clemente and C Smoky Burgess both were 0-for-1, and SS Dick Groat got in as a defensive sub. For Clemente, it was his AS debut and his out was a loud one that Jim Lemon ran down his drive at the wall. 

Nice NL outfield in '61 - photo Bettmann Collection/Getty

• 1961 - In the All-Star game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, OF Roberto Clemente had a coming out party. The Great One tripled and scored the game's first run, drove in another with a sac fly, chased Mickey Mantle to the centerfield fence to corral his next blast, and capped the day when he delivered a walk-off single off knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm in a 5-4, 10-inning NL win. Danny Murtaugh was the skipper of the NL; 1B Dick Stuart belted a pinch-hit double, C Smoky Burgess went 1-for-4 and reliever Roy Face never got the call from the bullpen. The game cemented Candlestick’s rep as a wind tunnel; Stu Miller was blown off the mound and charged with a balk when a sea breeze buffeted him in mid-delivery. 
• 1963 - In a 3-0 win over the Colt .45s at Forbes Field, Roberto Clemente’s bullet chased Jim Wynn from the infield to a career in the pasture. As the Toy Cannon, who was a rookie playing SS (it was his second MLB game), told Baseball Digest “Clemente hit a screaming line drive, and I got my glove up just as the ball hit the left field wall. After that, I told the coaches and manager to get me out of the infield.” Wynn was granted his wish, and played 1,810 games in the OF after 21 appearances at short during his rookie campaign. As for the Bucs, Roberto’s scary double was cashed in by Donn Clendenon in the eighth and was the winning run; Don Cardwell went all the way for the win, giving up just two singles. 
• 1967 - The NL won another All Star pitching battle against the AL, taking a 2-1 decision at Anaheim Stadium in fifteen innings with Tony Perez’s homer the difference. OF Roberto Clemente went 1-for-6, and the starting middle infield of 2B Bill Mazeroski and SS Gene Alley went a combined 0-for-9 at the plate, although Maz did lay down a successful bunt. The rosters were loaded for this match; 22 players and coaches ended up in the Hall of Fame. The 15 innings was the longest ASG played, later tied by the 2008 contest. 
• 1973 - Willie Stargell cracked the 302nd home run of his career to pass Ralph Kiner as the all-time Pirate HR leader in a 10-2 victory over the Padres at San Diego Stadium. Bob Robertson, Al Oliver and Dal Maxvill each had three hits while Nellie Briles went the distance, tossing a seven-hitter with seven punchouts. Willie would pile on to his franchise-leading number of dingers, retiring with 475. 

And still the champ... - 1973 Topps Pin-Up

• 1977 - LHP Javier Lopez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Lopez signed as a FA with the Pirates in 2010 for $775K after having a horrible year in Boston. The 32-year-old LOOGY rebounded with a slash of 2-2/2.79 and was moved at the deadline to the San Francisco Giants for RHP Joe Martinez and OF John Bowker. He spent seven seasons with the G-Men, working in four playoff runs and two World Series before retiring in 2017. 
• 1978 - The NL took a 7-3 win from the AL in the All Star game held at San Diego Stadium. 1B Willie Stargell was the only Pirate on the team and went 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter. Three ex-Bucco hands were on the AL’s starting lineup card - 3B Don Money, SS Freddie Patek and OF Richie Zisk, with SS Craig Reynolds on the bench and RHP Goose Gossage in the pen. 
• 1981 - 18-year-old Bobby Bonilla was signed by the Pirates as an undrafted free agent after a Pirate City tryout set up by scouting director and later GM Syd Thrift. He spent five years in their farm system before being lost to the Chicago White Sox in the Rule 5 draft after the 1985 season. The Pirates got him back quickly in a July trade for pitcher Jose DeLeon and he remained a Bucco until he joined the Mets in 1992 after inking a five year/$29M contract, making him the highest paid player for a bit and dwarfing Pittsburgh’s reported four year/$16.5M offer. 
• 1983 - The Pirates dropped the Giants 3-2 at Candlestick Park. Don Robinson, hit hard early but dodging most of the early bullets, broke out a newly-developed slider in the fourth and left with the game tied 2-2 after seven. Dave Parker had three hits while Mike Easler’s ninth-inning homer (he also had three hits, w/two runs scored and two RBI) won it for Manny Sarmiento, with Rod Scurry notching the save. The victory launched the Pirates on an eight-game winning streak and an 18-of-22 run as they moved from fourth place, 4-1/2 games off the pace, to a 1-1/2 games lead. But they couldn’t keep the pace up; they went 30-29 during the dog days, losing five of the last seven contests, to finish second, six games behind the Phils. 

Johnny Ray to save the day - 1987 Topps Sticker

• 1987 - The Pirates gave away the lead with two outs in the ninth but came back to claim a 6-5 win over San Diego at TRS in 11 innings. The Bucs rallied to take a 5-4 lead after Bob Kipper had been chased, with Doug Drabek, Doug Jones and John Smiley holding the fort (the starters were available because of the upcoming All-Star break). Jim Leyland yanked Smiley with two outs in the ninth and the bases empty for Don Robinson (the skipper didn’t like the looming Smiley/Bruce Bochy matchup), who gave up a game-tying homer to pinch-hitter John Kruk, bringing down the boos from the 13,109 on hand. Johnny Ray saved his bacon when he doubled home Bobby Bonilla, going the opposite way with two outs, for the win. Andy Van Slyke had a homer and four RBI and Barry Bonds had four raps to lead the Bucco hit parade. 
• 1989 - The AL rolled on with a 5-3 win in the All Star game at Anaheim Stadium. OF Bobby Bonilla went 2-for-2 as a late inning DH in the first ASG that a DH was allowed. President Ronald Reagan joined Vin Scully for an inning in the broadcast booth. In a fitting farewell, Mike Schmidt of the Phillies, who had retired on May 29th, was elected by the fans as the starting 3B for the NL team. Schmidt opted not to play, but he did join in the game's opening ceremony in his Philadelphia uniform.