6/9 From 1950 Through the 1970’s: Zisk Cycle; RFK Game; Boise Boy Deac; Kiner's Korner Stays; Game Stories; HBD Cobra

• 1951 - Dave Parker was born in Calhoun City, Mississippi. The Cobra manned right field for 11 years (1973-83) for the Bucs with a line of .305/166/758, earning four All-Star appearances and three Golden Glove awards. He was the 1978 National League MVP and the first professional athlete to earn one million dollars per year after signing a five-year, $5 million contract in January 1979. Fun fact: Parker wore a gold necklace with a Star of David pendant although he wasn’t Jewish. When asked why, he explained "My name is David, and I'm a star." 

Cobra & his jewelry - photo via Pinterest

• 1953 - The refusal of the NL owners to allow the Pirates to take down Forbes Field’s Kiner Korner after the trade of Ralph Kiner played into the Pirates’ hands in their 7-4 win over the Cards. Eddie Pellagrini belted a three-run pinch HR over the short porch in the eighth‚ after Dick Hall had earlier lofted a solo shot in the fourth into the same spot. 
• 1958 - The Pirates stopped in Boise, Idaho while on a west coast trip and became the first MLB club to play a game in the state. The Bucs paid the visit as a nod to Vern Law, who was born in Meridian and honored during “Vern Law Day.” The Pirates were greeted by a crowd at the airport and driven to their hotel in a motorcade. The Boise Braves were a Class C club out of the Pioneer League and played to that level, losing 17-6 to the big boys. 
• 1966 - For the second time in a week, Roberto Clemente homered over the center field wall at Forbes Field, becoming the first right handed batter to pull off that feat more than once. The blast came during a 4-2 loss to the Cards; the first was launched as part of a 9-5 win over Houston. 
• 1968 - In a game that neither the Pirates nor Astros players wanted to play after Robert F Kennedy’s assassination, the league muscled up - “They told us we have a contract and we must live up to it...” per Houston player rep Dave Giusti - and the Bucs defeated Houston 3-1 at the Astrodome. Bob Moose spun an eight-inning four-hitter, closed out by Ronnie Kline. The Pirates scored twice in the first off Mike Cuellar, with runs sent home by Donn Clendenon and Matty Alou, and added an insurance marker in the eighth when Jose Pagan’s sac fly scored Alou. Maury Wills of the Bucs, along with Rusty Staub & Bob Aspromonte of the Astros, refused to play. Wills was handed an undisclosed punishment by the team while both Astros players forfeited a day's pay – about $300 for Staub and $200 from Aspromonte – and were traded after the season. The MLB concession to RFK’s funeral was that none of the games could start until after his services concluded. 
• 1972 - Through his first 10 starts of the season, LA’s Don Sutton had slashed 8-0/1.14, but met his match with the Pirates. He suffered his first loss of the season when he gave up 10 hits and five runs (two earned) in seven innings to the Bucs at Dodger Stadium. Pittsburgh put up their five-spot in the opening frame. They didn’t exactly pound him; the runs scored on just three singles augmented by a trio of Dodger misplays. Still, the Pirates held their own with Roberto Clemente collecting three hits while Vic Davalillo and Al Oliver added a pair each. It was only a temporary burp for Sutton - even though he lost the next three games, he was an All-Star with 19 wins and a 2.08 ERA at year’s end. 

Richie Zisk - 1974 Topps

• 1974 - Richie Zisk hit for the cycle against the San Francisco Giants during a 14-1 romp at Candlestick Park, with five RBI and four runs scored. Willie Stargell outdid him with two homers (one a grand slam), a double and six runs driven home. Bob Robertson also went long as Jerry Reuss cruised to victory. 
• 1978 - Down 8-1 after five innings, the Bucs came to life and ran down the Cincinnati Reds by an 11-9 count at TRS. They were led by Willie Stargell, who had pumped up his teammates with a short mid-game speech, and Bill Robinson. The pair combined for seven hits, including four doubles, six RBI and five runs scored. Chuck Tanner made the unorthodox move of bringing in starter John Candelaria from the pen (he hadn’t pitched in relief since 1976) and he recorded four straight outs to save Grant Jackson’s victory.