8/21 From 1980: Joey Bats, Big Daddy Dealt; Lips Extended; Slugfest; HBD Jesse & Jeff

• 1983 - RHP Jesse Chavez was born in San Gabriel, California. He started out with the Pirates in 2008-09, going 1-5, 4.48 from the bullpen after arriving as the return from Texas for Kip wells. The Bucs sent him to Tampa Bay in 2009 for 2B Akinori Iwamura. Jesse is still pitching, now with the Cubs; Oakland had converted him to the rotation, though most clubs (he’s been on nine teams) preferred him out of the pen. 

Jesse Chavez - 2009 Topps

• 1983 - 1B Jeff Clement was born in Marshalltown, Iowa. He was a highly touted power hitter from Southern Cal and was taken third overall in the 2005 draft by Seattle. The Pirates got him from the Mariners in 2009 as part of the return for Ian Snell and Jack Wilson. Jeff got a look-see in 2010 and again in 2012, putting up a .193 BA, and retired from baseball in 2014. 
• 1984 - Marvell Wynne led the attack with three hits, including a walkoff single with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, to give the Pirates a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves at TRS. Johnny Ray hit a two-run dinger and Pittsburgh was up 3-0 early; the Bravos took the lead two innings later, primed by Dale Murphy’s three-run blast off John Tudor. Relievers Lee Tunnell and Don Robinson, who earned the win, shut it down after that. Lee Lacy’s two-out RBI knock tied it in the seventh to set the stage for Wynne. 
• 1987 - Vet Rick Reuschel was sent to the Giants for two pitchers, Jeff Robinson and Scott Medvin. Reuschel had two strong years on the Bay, winning 36 games and earning an All-Star berth. Robinson lasted three years in Pittsburgh as a fairly solid reliever/spot starter (20-19-17, 3.98) while Medvin (3-1, 5.03) was traded to Seattle in May, 1990 after spending most of his Pirates time in the minors. 
• 1998 - All nine Pirates starters had hits, eight had RBI and seven scored in a 14-2 romp over the Reds at TRS. Kevin Young banged out three knocks and five other Bucco had a pair of raps as the Bucs collected 17 hits and six walks. Al Martin and Jason Kendall homered; Pittsburgh added five doubles and a triple. Chris Peters went seven innings for the decision. It was part of a 15-game streak where the Pirates scored four or runs. 

Joey Bats - 2008 Topps Heritage

• 2008 - Jose Bautista was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for a PTBNL, who ended up being C Robinzon Diaz. Bautista bloomed as a slugger in Toronto and while no one saw it coming at the time, it ended up among the worst deals in Bucco history. A side note: the Pirates were trying to pry C Brian Jeroloman loose for Jose, not Diaz. Jeroloman, a prospect that never reached MLB, did eventually end up a Bucco when he was sold to the club in 2013 just before the season started. He was traded away in May to the Nationals. The FO had its eye on Jeroloman for awhile before that - they claimed him off waivers in 2011, but DFA’ed him three days later. 
• 2011 - The Pirates announced a six year extension of Jose Tabata’s contract. It guaranteed him $15M and included three club option years. JT’s advisers quit, believing the terms were too team friendly; they were wrong. JT logged lots of minor league innings from 2012-15 before being traded to the LA Dodgers at the 2015 deadline; they released him in 2016 and at last look, he was playing indie league ball.