11/2 From 1960: AVS PoY, Leyland MoY; Pops Comeback Player; Player Shuffles; Alley Retires; Redman Comes & Goes; HBD Orlando

• 1966 - OF/1B Orlando Merced was born in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Merced played from 1990-96 for the Bucs with a .283 BA, coming in second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 1991. After a solid 13-year MLB career (seven teams w/.278 lifetime BA), he now he operates the Orlando Merced Baseball Training Center in Kissimmee, FL. 
• 1973 - Two-time All-Star Gene Alley, 32, announced his retirement. In 1966-67, he was at the top of his game both with the glove (he and Maz set the DP record in ‘66 w/215 twin killings) and with the bat (.293 BA during those two years), but an arm injury suffered in ‘68 followed by a bum knee brought him back to earth. He never hit above .250 afterward and was a bench player in his final year. His Bucco career spanned 1963-73 and he hit .254 over that time.

Pops - 1978 Hostess

• 1978 - Willie Stargell was named the United Press’ “Comeback Player of the Year” after hitting .295/28 HR/97 RBI. He was coming off a 1977 campaign in which he only got into 63 games, going on the DL twice with a bum elbow, and ending his streak of 15 straight seasons with 20> homers. He ran away in the vote from pitchers Vida Blue (SF), Gaylord Perry (SD) and Jim Bouton (ATL). 
• 1979 - In the MLB Free Agent Re-Entry Draft, the Bucs’ Bruce Kison was claimed by the Indians and Rennie Stennett by the Mets after the Pirates signed Grant Jackson to a new contract the day before to keep him out of the process. The Bucs claimed bidding rights on Dave Goltz of the Twins, John Curtis of San Francisco, Nolan Ryan of California, Milt May of the White Sox, Al Hrabosky of KC, Don Stanhouse of Baltimore and Rick Wise of Cleveland. The purpose of the draft was to lessen the financial impact of free agency for the bidders; FA’s could only sign with a team that selected them. The clubs could only select a limited number of players, and there was also a limit to the number of teams that could select a single player. But there was a loophole for the lesser-sought players and the champagne guys: unless selected by three or more teams, they were available to all. The draft lasted from 1976-80 when a new agreement that eliminated the re-entry procedure went into effect after the ‘81 strike. As for the draft results, Kison signed with the Angels and Stennett with the Giants as neither was drafted by three teams. The Bucs inked none of their selections, although they did eventually land ex-Pirate May once again in a 1983 trade. Since they couldn’t sign any of the big name arms, they instead inked Andy Hassler to a six-year, $750 K contract. He lasted until June, when he was sold to California. 
• 1988 - Andy Van Slyke joined Ralph Kiner (1950), Dick Groat (1960), Roberto Clemente (1966) and Dave Parker (1978) as Bucs who won The Sporting News Player of the Year Award. The 28-year-old hit .288 w/25 homers, 101 runs, 100 RBI, and 30 stolen bases. Teammates Bobby Bonilla and Mike LaValliere.along with AVS, were named to the TSN All-Star team. And in a very good day for Bucco awardees, Jim Leyland and Dodger skipper Tommy LaSorda tied for Manager of the Year (the first time TSN had a tie for that honor) in a race that was decided by a gnat’s eyelash. Leyland and LaSorda earned four votes each while the Mets Davey Johnson came in with three. Leyland was the third Pirates field general to win the award, along with Danny Murtaugh (1960, 1970) and Billy Meyer (1948). 
• 2005 - LHP Mark Redman exercised his $4.95M player option for the 2006 season. Acquired as part of the Jason Kendall deal, he went 5-15/4.90 in 2005 for the Bucs. He didn’t make it to camp, though, as the Bucs swapped him to KC for RHP Jonah Bayliss a month later. 

Mark Redman - 2005 Topps Heritage

• 2015 - The Pirates had eight free agents after the season: P Antonio Bastardo, P Joe Blanton, P AJ Burnett, P JA Happ, 1B Corey Hart, UT Sean Rodriguez, 3B Aramis Ramirez and P Joakim Soria. S-Rod was the only one the team re-signed as AJ and A-Rod retired while the others found new homes during the winter. Bastardo had a homecoming when the Pirates traded to get him back at the 2016 deadline. S-Rod left the flock after 2016, but not for long; the Pirates got him back later in the next campaign. Several other bubble guys were released soon afterward: RHP Radhames Liz, LHP Jeremy Bleich, OF John Bowker, C Wilkin Castillo, RHP Brad Lincoln, RHP Blake Wood and 1B/OF Andrew Lambo.