6/11 From 1940 Through the 1970's: Big Stu, Frank Thomas Have Days; Galbreath for Commish System; Cobra Cover; Rally Time; HBD Dave

• 1948 - Dave Cash was born in Utica, New York. Drafted in 1966, he played his first five seasons in Pittsburgh (1969-73) and replaced Bill Mazeroski at second base in 1970; he in turn was bumped off the position by Rennie Stennett. Cash hit .285 as a Bucco and was in the league for a dozen campaigns, having three All-Star seasons with Philadelphia. Dave coached/managed for a while with the Oriole organization and is now retired and living in Tampa. Dave Parker said that Cash had a locker room nickname, explaining that “...he was so cool, we nicknamed him ‘A.C.’”

 

Dave Cash - 1970 Topps Rookie Star

• 1958 - Birthday boy Frank Thomas hit two homers, one a grand slam‚ and drove in seven runs as the Pirates pounded the Giants 14-6 at Seals Stadium. Bill Mazeroski also went long and had three hits with three runs chased home; Roberto Clemente and Bill Virdon added three raps as the Pirates rolled up 18 hits. Vern Law got the win with ElRoy Face finishing up. 
• 1962 - Dick Stuart hit two homers with five RBI (he actually drove in all six runs; one scored on a DP ball) to lead the Bucs to a 6-1 victory at Wrigley Field against the Cubs and Don Cardwell. Big Stu knew it was his day from the start - his first homer was a 250’ flare that hopped into the Cubs bullpen (then on the field in foul territory) and lodged under a bench; Billy Williams couldn’t find it until Stuart, with Bill Virdon ahead of him, plated. Cardwell said afterwards that he was hoping one of the boys in the pen would have casually dropped a warm up ball for Williams to play, but alas, no Chi-town improvisers shared that thought. It was Stuart’s first inside-the-parker; he would hit one more in his career. Stu’s second dinger was a legit three-run bomb to left in the sixth. Joe Gibbon went seven frames for the win. 
• 1964 - Pirates owner John Galbreath came out in support of unifying the leagues under one roof and run by the MLB commissioner while eliminating separate league control of umpire crews, PR, legal, and other administrative functions. It took awhile, but in 2000, the National League and American League merged into a single entity known as Major League Baseball. The most obvious result to the fans was the umpiring consolidation, but as we’ve seen over the intervening years, the clout of a single entity has proved to be potent. 
• 1969 - The ‘Stros were cruising with a 6-3 lead going into the sixth at the Astrodome when the Bucs woke up. They loaded the bases and cut the lead to a run via some small ball with an infield single and walk. Then came the blast; Roberto Clemente cranked out a grand slam. It was his only hit, but he scored three times with an intentional walk, HBP and stolen base, adding an outfield assist to his basket. The Bucs banged out 15 hits, with Freddie Patek and Matty Alou chipping in three each. Houston helped - they committed four errors, leading to three unearned runs. Steve Blass got the win with Bruce DalCanton and Chuck Hartenstein mopping up the final four frames. 

• 1977 - Dave Parker was featured as the cover story of The Sporting News in an article titled “Wham.” He was a whammer-jammer that campaign, leading the league with a .338 BA, 215 hits and 44 doubles to go with 21 HR, 88 RBI and 107 runs scored to earn his first All-Star berth with six more to follow (three with Pittsburgh).