9/9 Through the 1890’s: HBD Frankie, Dots, Schoolboy, Dashing Dan, Abner & Doc

• 1857 - LF Abner Dalrymple was born in Gratiot, Wisconsin. He had a long and illustrious career in early baseball - he was the first hitter to be issued an intentional walk with the bases loaded - but spent just two seasons (1887-88) at the backend of his 12-year career with the Alleghenys. Abner his just .215 with Pittsburgh, but got the team’s first NL at-bat against the White Sox on April 30, 1887, a 6-2 win at Recreation Park that is considered by the Pirates to be the beginning of the franchise. 

Dots Miller - 1910 American Caramel

• 1886 - IF Jack “Dots” Miller was born in Kearny, New Jersey. He played with Pittsburgh for five seasons, from 1909-13. He drove in 87 runs for the 1909 Series champs and had a .263 career average with the Pirates. According to Bucco lore (and the SABR Biography Project), he got the nickname "Dots" after a reporter asked Honus Wagner the whereabouts of the new kid. Wagner pointed to him in a corner and replied in his German accent, "Dots (That's) Miller." Another version has Miller himself pronouncing “dot” for “that” as a youth, and it stuck. 
• 1897 - 1B Wheeler “Doc” Johnston (sometimes referred to as Johnson) was born in Cleveland, Tennessee. Doc was bought for $7,500 from Cleveland in early 1915 to cover first base after starter Ed Konetchy jumped leagues, joining the Pittsburgh Burghers of the Federal League. Doc had a decent opening campaign, batting .265, but slumped the following year and was dealt after the 1916 season to Birmingham of the Southern Association as part of the Burleigh Grime package. Johnston played 11 years in the show, finishing his career with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1922. 
• 1891 - OF “Dashing Dan” Costello was born in Jessup, PA, in Lackawanna county. The LH hitter played three years (1914-16) for the Bucs as a reserve outfielder and utility man. He hit .241 as a Pirate. Pittsburgh released him in August of 1916, “...as he had been mixed up in several near fights because of his remarks to opposing players.” He also had authority issues, as the Pittsburgh Press added “...his attitude (bad) toward club officials and policy was well known,” probably not a wise tack for a .240 hitter of any era. As far as his nickname, we have not a clue - he was speedy and/or perhaps charming, or it may be a sort of perverse recognition of the bench jockeying he was was noted for around the league. 

Dashing Dan - 1916 M101

• 1898 - Bucco skipper Frankie Frisch was born in the Bronx. He spent his Hall of Fame playing days with the NY Giants and St. Louis’ Gas House Gang. The Fordham Flash managed the Pirates from 1940-46, leading the club to five winning seasons and a second place finish in 1944, ending up with a 539-528 slate in Pittsburgh. He was a track star in college at Fordham, which earned him the nickname "Fordham Flash.” 
• 1899 - RHP and Hall of Famer Waite “Schoolboy” Hoyt was born in Brooklyn. Best known for his NY Yankee years, he tossed for the Bucs from 1933-37 as a multi-role arm, compiling a record of 35-31-18/3.08 as a Pirate, winning 15 games in 1934. He got his nickname when John McGraw signed him to his original contract when Hoyt was a teenager and he became known as "The Schoolboy Wonder.”