7/2 From 1960: First Fireworks Nite; Pinch Hit Paradise; Bay, Sluggo Run Wild; Game Stories; HBD Mayor & Tony Plush

• 1961 - In the eighth inning, pinch hitters Johnny Logan, Rocky Nelson and Smoky Burgess banged out consecutive hits, a Pirate record, to prime a four-run rally that led to a 7-6 win over the Giants at Forbes Field in the opener of a twin bill. Hal Smith added three RBI. The Bucs swept easily, rolling 9-0 in the nitecap behind Bobby Shantz’s five-hitter and three RBI each from Roberto Clemente with a bases-clearing triple and Don Hoak. The Pirates overcame a pair of pretty fair pitchers - Mike McCormack was the starter for the lidlifter and Juan Marichal in the closing match. 

Bobby Shantz - 1961 Topps

• 1968 - The Mets scored a first-inning run off Al McBean, and that would be it as the Bucs eked out a 2-1 decision at Shea Stadium. Pittsburgh knotted the score in the sixth when Willie Stargell opened with a double off Dick Selma and plated on a Billy Maz knock, then got the game-winner thanks to a ninth-inning Met miscue. With two outs and Donn Clendenon on second, Manny Mota rolled one to short; Bud Harrelson booted the ball and Clendenon came home. ElRoy Face came in to work a 1-2-3 ninth to save the Pirates’ win, the Bucs fifth straight. McBean got the victory, tossing five-hit ball with seven strikeouts. 
• 1974 - 1B Sean Casey was born in Willingboro Township, New Jersey and raised in Upper St. Clair. Casey played 12 years in the show and made a stop in Pittsburgh in 2006, batting .296 and lasting until the deadline when the Pirate wheelers-and-dealers moved him Detroit. Sean is known as “The Mayor” because of his affability - no runner at first or fan he’s run across has ever been given the silent treatment by Casey - and the time he’s dedicated to community causes. He now is with the MLB Network and is busy on the speaker’s circuit. 
• 1976 - Bill Robinson’s pinch-hit homer game in the 10th inning gave the Pirates a 10-9 win over Philadelphia, copacetically on the first ever Fireworks Night at TRS. The Zambelli’s didn’t provide the only boomers. Robinson’s blast was one of three home runs for the Bucs as Willie Stargell connected for a homer in the first inning and Richie Hebner went deep in the eighth. The Bucs almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, blowing an early 6-0 lead before long-balling their way to the win. 
• 1980 - OF Nyjer Morgan was born in San Francisco. He hit .286 from 2007-09 for the Bucs and then became part of the Joel Hanrahan deal with Washington. “Tony Plush” (his alter ego’s self-given “gentleman’s name”) made the transition from junior hockey to the MLB. At last check, he was playing in Mexico after spending a season in Japan. 

Tony Plush - 2008 Topps Allen & Ginter

• 1990 - The San Diego Padres took a 3-0 lead in the first inning but never scored again as the Pirates came back for a 4-3, 14-inning win at Jack Murphy Stadium. Jay Bell broke a 3-3 tie when he chased home Jose Lind with the winning run, his second RBI of the contest. Andy Van Slyke’s two-run homer in the sixth was the Buccos big blow. Bob Patterson earned the win in relief after tossing three scoreless frames. 
• 1993 - Don Slaught had himself a day with two homers and seven RBI as he led the Pirates to a 10-9 win in the lidlifter of a twinbill with Cincinnati at Riverfront Stadium. Orlando Merced banged out four hits, scoring three times and plating a pair. Dave Otto got the win after relieving Zane Smith; Blas Minor earned a hold and Stan Belinda got the save. It was the first doubleheader for the Bucs since September of 1991; 1992 was the first season in the 20th century that the Buccaneers didn’t play two. The second game saw the Red bats continue to smoke in a 9-1 decision over the Pirates. 
• 2002 - The Pirates were run over by the Brewers at PNC Park by a 12-6 count, but did their share to help break the MLB record for homers hit in a day when 53 batters blasted 62 long balls. The Bucs hit four - Kevin Young, Jack Wilson, Abraham Nunez and Adam Hyzdu all went long in the loss. For Wilson, Nunez and Hyzdu, it was their first home run of the season. 
• 2004 - Jason Bay drove in eight runs with a homer and three doubles as the Bucs mashed the Brewers 13-2 in the nitecap of a DH sweep at PNC Park. Pittsburgh won the opener 8-1 behind Ollie Perez, who punched out 11, and four RBI from CF Tony Alvarez, who homered and doubled. 

Jason Bay - 2004 Topps RoY

• 2012 - The middle of the Pirate order was on fire against the Astros at PNC Park, leading the way to an 11-2 win. Andrew McCutchen, Garrett Jones, Neil Walker and Casey McGehee went 12-for-20 with five doubles, two homers, nine runs scored and 10 RBI. James McDonald got the win with help from Jared Hughes.