7/7 From 1930 Through the 1960’s: Maz Debut; Thomas, Groat Muscle Up; All Star Stuff; HBD Chuck & Dybber

• 1936 - The Pirates sent 1B Gus Suhr and SS Arky Vaughan to the All-Star Game at Boston Braves Stadium. Neither got in as the NL squeaked out a 4-3 win. July 7, 1937 - P Cy Blanton, SS Arky Vaughan and RF Paul Waner were selected as Pittsburgh All-Stars for the game at Griffith Stadium. Vaughan went 2-for-5, Waner 0-for-5 with an RBI, and Blanton faced one batter, Joe DiMaggio, whom he whiffed during the AL’s 8-3 romp. 

Roberto's 3,000 & Chuck's 1st - photo 9/30/72 via ESPN

• 1945 - IF Chuck Goggin was born in Pompano Beach, Florida. Chuck began his brief career (he played for four campaigns) in Pittsburgh in 1972-73, going 3-for-9. Goggin was a good hitter, but his major league journey was filled with injury-related hurdles: he had knee surgery, badly broke his ankle, and later ruptured a disc. He also suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs and back in 1966 when a mine blew up under him in Vietnam. The Marine was one of only two MLB players to earn a Purple Heart in ‘Nam. He also had one great Bucco moment - he collected his first major league hit in his first major league start on the same day that teammate Roberto Clemente collected his 3,000th hit, on September 30th, 1972. After his back problem, Chuck played in the minors and Latino leagues for a while, coached and then took a job as a US Marshall. 
• 1955 - Jerry “Dybber”/”Eyechart” Dybzinski was born in Cleveland. He closed out his six-year career in Pittsburgh, getting into five games and going 0-for-4 as a 30-year-old in 1985. The Bucs had signed him during the off season as a depth guy, and he spent most of his days at AAA Hawaii. Dybzinski was released after the season, failed to catch on elsewhere, and went to Chicago to become a financial/business analyst. 
• 1956 - Bill Mazeroski made his Pirate debut. He went 1-for-3 and turned a DP (Dick Groat - Maz - Bob Skinner) against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds in a 3-2 Pirate loss. He got his ticket to Pittsburgh to replace Spook Jacobs, who was sent to Hollywood and replaced by Maz as part of a seven-man roster reshuffling. 
• 1957 - The Pirates swept the Giants at the Polo Grounds by 10-6 and 8-1 scores. Frank Thomas and Dick Groat became the first pair of teammates to hit home runs back-to-back in both games of a doubleheader. In the opener, Thomas had two long flies and four RBI; Dick Rand also went deep as Red Swanson got the win and Nellie King picked up a save. In the nightcap, Groat was the man - he was a double short of the cycle and chased home five runs; Hank Foiles also homered. Bob Friend went the distance, tossing a four-hitter. 
• 1959 - The All-Star Game became a double feature when a new, two-game format was adopted. The first game was played at Forbes Field. The NL won 5-4 after the first pitch was tossed by VP Richard Nixon. C Smoky Burgess, P Elroy Face, SS Dick Groat and 2B Billy Mazeroski repped the Buccos. Maz went 1-for-1 with a single, Groat batted once and sacrificed, and Smoky didn’t make an appearance. The Baron of the Bullpen did, and probably wishes he hadn’t. He gave up three runs in 1-⅔ IP with three hits, two walks, and two K.

• 1964 - The NL defeated the AL at Shea Stadium in the All Star game by a 7-4 score, best remembered because of Johnny Callison’s three-run ninth inning homer. Roberto Clemente went 1-for-3 with a run, Willie Stargell 0-for-1, and Bill Mazeroski and Smoky Burgess were bench players.