7/7 From 1970: Clemente, Milt, Sluggo w/Five Spots; AVS DP; Forbes Field Marker; All-Stars; Game Stories

• 1970 - Roberto Clemente's blast to the roof of Connie Mack Stadium's double-decker left field seats was his fifth in five days, breaking a tie and leading the Bucs to a 4-2 win over Philadelphia. Bob Veale got the win with help from Dave Giusti. 
• 1972 - In the Pirates' 10-2 win over the Braves at Atlanta Stadium, C Milt May went 5-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Gene Alley homered and had four RBI while Al Oliver, Gene Clines and Dave Cash added three knocks each to pace a 20-hit attack. May added two more hits in the nitecap of the twin bill, but the Pirates lost 3-2. Luke Walker won the opener while Bruce Kison took the nightcap loss. 

Milt May - photo 1984 team promo

• 1980 - The Pirates went an astounding 45 consecutive batters without a hit against the Chicago Cubs at TRS, yet five hours and 31 minutes later, they had taken a 5-4 win in 20 innings. Between John Milner’s two-out single in the sixth inning and Lee Lacy’s one-out rap in the 19th frame, eight Pirates walked (two were later caught stealing) and another reached on catcher's interference; they threatened once with runners on second and third with two outs in the 11th. The Cubs also threatened a couple of times after tying the game on a two-out, ninth-inning homer by Cliff Johnson, but ran up 11 consecutive zeros after that blast, unable to dent Kent Tekulve, Rick Rhoden, Grant Jackson and Jim Bibby in overtime after Bert Blyleven had worked the opening 10 frames. Pittsburgh finally cashed in when Ed Ott (who caught all 20 innings) drew a walk from Dennis Lamp, was bunted up and scored on Omar Moreno’s slap to left. The Cubs used 23 players (eight pitchers) and the Pirates 20 in the marathon on the day before All-Star break; Bibby got the win, but his three innings took him out the running to start in the Midsummer Classic. As for the Cubs, not only did they lose, but their AS weekend got off to a late start after their charter had to sit on the tarmac for an extra three hours waiting on them. 
• 1988 - John Smiley struck out nine in 6-1/3 innings, then Jeff Robinson and Jim Gott took it the rest of the way as the Bucs defeated San Diego 2-0 at Jack Murphy Stadium. Andy Van Slyke singled home the only run the Bucs would need; the insurance marker came on a bases-loaded walk to Spanky LaValliere. AVS had a big day, as he was named to the All-Star game, joining starter Bobby Bonilla, while hopefuls John Smiley, Bob Walk and Barry Bonds were left in the cold. Walkie did get in later as a replacement player for the injured Giant Robby Thompson. 
• 1992 - Andy Van Slyke became the first outfielder in nearly 18 years to record an unassisted double play in the Pirates' 5-3 win over the Astros at TRS. Van Slyke charged in from center field to catch a shallow fly ball in right center and kept on trucking, doubling up Ken Caminiti off first. AVS also had two hits, an RBI and a run scored, but the hitting hero was Steve Buechele, who went 3-for-4 with three runs driven home. Bob Walk got the win in relief of Jeff Robinson. 
• 1993 - Starter Tim Wakefield didn’t factor in the decision, but he connected off Houston’s Mark Portugal at The Astrodome for a 420’ home run in the 5-2 Bucco win. The blast was his only career homer during 19 years in the show; of course 17 of those seasons were with Boston, and he got just 40 ABs/50 PAs with them. Paul Wagner was credited with the victory, Jeff King had four hits and Orlando Merced drove in three runs to lead the club. 
• 1994 - C Don Slaught went 5-for-5 with two runs and a pair of doubles, but the Bucs lost to the Reds at Riverfront Stadium 8-7. Jay Bell added three hits, three RBI and a pair of runs scored. The Bucs scored twice in the top of the 10th, but Blas Minor couldn’t hold the lead, giving up a two-run Hal Morris homer. Then in the 11th, he walked two and gave up a single to absorb the loss. 

Jason Kendall, lone All Star - 1998 Studio

• 1998 - Coors Field lived up to its hitter-friendly rep as the AL outslugged the NL 13-8 in the All Star game. C Jason Kendall was the sole Pirates AS and singled in his only at bat. 
• 2006 - A state historic marker was dedicated during All-Star week at the remaining bit of wall from Forbes Field. It was the result of a decades-old mud match that the City, Pitt and the Oakland community had fought since 1972 over that corner of land, with the outcome being that the left center field wall, flagpole and home plate (sited in nearby Posvar Hall) would be saved. Now it’s best known as the annual gathering place for the Bill Mazeroski 1960 home run celebration held every October 13th.