6/19 From 1975: '60 Reunion; Pierogi Boiled; Game Stories; Ted Retires; HBD Willis

• 1975 - RHP Willis Roberts was born in San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. The reliever put in five MLB seasons, mainly as an Oriole, and his last year of 2004 was spent as a Pirate. In nine games, he put up a 5.25 ERA after signing on as a free agent; he mostly worked out of AAA Nashville. Willis retired in August and spent three more years tossing in Mexico, Venezuela and Italy before heading into the sunset after the 2007 campaign. 

Jerry Reuss - 1975 SSPC

• 1975 - Jerry Reuss gave himself a birthday gift by shutting out the Cards 5-0 at TRS, tossing a complete game six-hitter with seven K. Homers by Willie Stargell, Dave Parker and Bill Robinson gave the southpaw all the run support he needed. 
• 1993 - GM Ted Simmons resigned after suffering a heart attack on June 8th. He was succeeded by Cam Bonifay. Ted got back in the saddle after recovering and has worked in a variety of positions for several clubs since, mainly in scouting, and was voted into the Hall of Fame for his career as a player. 
• 2010 - 38,008 fans showed up at PNC Park to take part in the 1960 World Series team reunion. The old champs provided some inspiration for the new crew, who broke a 12-game losing streak by beating the Cleveland Indians 6-4. Lastings Milledge was a homer short of the cycle and had four RBI while Andrew McCutchen had a pair of hits, drew three walks and scored four runs. Jeff Karstens got the win and Octavio Dotel the save with four other twirlers between them. 
• 2010 - The Pirates fired racing pierogi Andrew Kurtz after he criticized John Russell and Neal Huntington’s secret contract extensions on his Facebook page. The 24-year-old, who was reinstated by Pittsburgh after much media ado, was offered a position by the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League to become one of its racing hot dogs; like lefty relievers, speedy snacks have a long shelf life.
• 2014 - The Bucs scored three times in the fifth on a balk and two-out singles by Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen, but it took them 12 innings to subdue the Reds 4-3 at PNC Park. A single, balk, intentional walk and hit batter loaded the bases for Russ Martin with two outs, and he drew a walk-off walk for the win. Justin Wilson, the sixth Pirate pitcher of the day, got the win. 

Russ with a true walk-off winner - 2014 Topps Heritage

• 2019 - The Pirates fell behind the Detroit Tigers by a 7-1 count in the top of the third, but they kept on playing at PNC Park. Trevor Williams tightened up to work five frames before Richard Rodriguez, the eventual winner, Frankie Liriano and Felipe Vazquez with the save followed with zeros, allowing the Buc bats space to battle back. Corey Dickerson hit a two-out, two-run double to ignite the comeback, Starling Marte banged a two-run homer to make it close and Bryan Reynolds, who had three hits, three RBI’s and three runs scored, launched a three-run bomb in the sixth that proved the game-winner in an 8-7 Pirates victory. It was the first time since 2008 against the Cards that Pittsburgh had overcome a six-run deficit.