2/13 From 1970: Neagle, Inge & Giusti Sign; Robby Says No; Cool Papa HoF; RIP Nellie; HBD Curtis

• 1974 - RHP Dave Giusti signed a one-year deal worth $100K after coming off an All-Star, 9-2-20/2.37, campaign. The 34-year-old closer inked his deal the same day that his eventual heir, Kent Tekulve, signed on the dotted line for what would be his first MLB campaign. 

Dave Giusti badge 1974

• 1974 - OF James "Cool Papa" Bell was named to the Hall of Fame by the Special Committee on the Negro Leagues. He played for both the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords and was inducted on August 12th. Cool Papa joined the Homestead Grays in 1943, and they won league championships in Bell's first two seasons. They were foiled going for the trifecta, losing in the 1945 World Series to the Cleveland Buckeyes. Per Biography.com, he got his moniker when he began as a pitcher for the St. Louis Stars in the Negro National League. He was dubbed “Cool” by his teammates after he struck out the legendary Oscar Charleston; Bell's manager added the “Papa.” 
• 1980 - As a five-and-ten veteran, OF’er Bill Robinson vetoed his proposed trade to the Houston Astros for pitcher Joaquin Andujar when Houston wouldn’t offer him a new contract as part of the deal. It’s hard to project how the swap would have worked out. Robinson had a strong 1980 campaign and then faded while Andujar wouldn’t hit his prime until 1982, winning 61 games and two All-Star berths between then and 1985 as a St. Louis Cardinal, who got him early in 1981 for Tony Scott. 
• 1987 - RHP Curtis Partch was born in Merced, California. Curtis tossed for the Reds for parts of two campaigns and the Pirates signed him to a minor league, bullpen depth deal in 2016. He was a strikeout-per-inning guy at Indianapolis, but when called up in June, he gave up three runs in ⅔ IP and was released. He played indie league ball in 2017 and is currently a free agent. 
• 1996 - LHP Denny Neagle signed a two-year contract extension after coming off an All-Star season in 1995 (13-8/3.43, 205 IP). He gave up his first free agency season in ‘97 for the security of $5.9M over the next two campaigns. The cash-strapped Pirates then traded him to Atlanta in August, where he worked in three postseasons and earned another All-Star berth. 

Nellie Briles snip - Post Gazette 12/14/2005

• 2005 - Former Buc hurler and Pirate alumni leader Nellie Briles died from a heart attack while golfing in Orlando, Florida, at an Alumni Association outing at age 61. He tossed from 1971-73 for the Bucs, winning game five of the ‘71 series by twirling a two-hit shutout, and in that brief time laid down roots in Pittsburgh, living his post-career days in Greensburg. The Bucs hired him as part of their corporate staff in 1986 after he put in a broadcasting stint, mainly involved in alumni affairs. “He wasn’t a homegrown Pirate but became part of the Pirate fabric,” said teammate Steve Blass, “...and he was tireless whenever he represented the Pittsburgh Pirates.” He was buried at St. Clair Cemetery in Westmoreland County. 
• 2013 - The Bucs signed 36-year-old IF Brandon Inge to a one-year/$1.25M free agent contract. 50 games and a .181 BA later, he was released on August 1st, ending his 13-year MLB career. He now lives on a 400-acre farm in his hometown of Lynchburg with his family.