9/7 Through the 1930’s: Hot Hans, Game Stories; HBD John, Fred, Ed & Charlie

• 1874 - RHP Ed Poole was born in Canton, Ohio. Ed was with the Bucs off-and-on from 1900-02, going 6-4/3.22 on the hill and batting .221 with a couple of homers (he saw a little action at 2B, 3B and the OF). He was sold to the Reds and lasted two more years with Cincy and Brooklyn. He became somewhat famous as the defendant in the The People of New York v. Poole when he was arrested for pitching for Brooklyn on a Sunday, in violation of the state’s Blue Laws. 

Charlie Case 1905 - photo Chicago Daily News/Chicago History Museum

• 1879 - RHP Charlie Case was born in Smiths Landing, Ohio. Charlie had a four-year MLB career with the final three seasons (1904-06) spent in Pittsburgh, posting a line of 22-17-1/2.81, compiled mostly as a starter. Charlie worked in the minors afterward through the 1914 season and tossed a no-hitter in 1909 for the Nashville Volunteers of the Southern Association. 
• 1883 - 1B John Flynn was born in Providence, Rhode Island. Flynn had a three-year MLB run, with 1910-11 spent with the Pirates. He hit .263 in that span as a bench player. John toiled in the minors during the next 15 years as a player and manager. 
• 1891 - C Fred Blackwell was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Fred got into 35 games from 1917-19, all with the Pirates, and hit .205. His career was interrupted as he was in the service in 1918-19; 1921 was his last year of organized ball with Kansas City of the American Association. 
• 1905 - In his home debut, rookie Lefty Leifield gave up three runs in the first, then settled into a groove until tiring and surrendering three more runs in the ninth frame as the Bucs rolled to an 11-7 win over the Reds at Exposition Park. Fred Clarke banged out four hits while Honus Wagner and Heinie Peitz added three apiece, with Hans swatting a double and triple. 
• 1908 - Led by Honus Wagner’s 6-for-7 day at the plate, including five straight hits with a double, triple and sacrifice, the Pirates swept St. Louis 9-7 and 7-1 on Labor Day at Exposition Park to move to 1/2 game behind the league leading NY Giants. Sam Leever won the opener while Vic Willis scattered eight singles to take the second match. 

Honus 1908 - Real Photo Postcard

• 1925 - Pittsburgh won for the 17th time in 20 games when they defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-5 at Forbes Field in the opener of a twin bill. Kiki Cuyler went 4-for-5 with a double and triple while every Pirate in the lineup had a hit. Red Oldham gave up 15 hits, but went the distance for the win. The Cubs banged out 16 more hits in the second game to gain a 9-8 split. 
• 1931 - The Pirates swept a Labor Day twinbill at Forbes Field from the Reds, 6-1 and 4-3. Woody Jensen homered and was one of five Corsairs with two hits to back Larry French’s mound work in the lidlifter. The news wasn’t all good, though, as the Bucs lost SS Tommy Thevenow, who fractured his ankle in two places sliding in the sixth frame, to end his season. Pittsburgh scored three times in the eighth inning of the nightcap to sew up the double dipper when George Grantham & Tony Piet singled around Pie Traynor & Paul Waner doubles to make Erv Brame a winner.