7/9 Through the 1950’s: Rip's Eephus; Exhibitions; All Star & Game Stories; HBD Coot

• 1912 - In a duel of young guns, the Pirates Marty O’Toole bested the Phils Eppa Rixey 2-0 at Forbes Field. Max Carey provided the big blow, a sixth inning triple that was sandwiched around a pair of singles for all the offense. 23-year-old O’Toole was in the midst of his best season, winning 15 games with a 2.71 ERA and a league-leading six shutouts.

Marty O'Toole - July 1911 Pittsburgh Press image

• 1932 - IF Orville “Coot” Veal was born in Sandersville, Georgia. He spent six seasons playing MLB, with his shortest stay in Pittsburgh in 1962, when he struck out in his only Bucco at bat as a pinch hitter. The Pirates bought the sweet-fielding Veal’s contract from the Senators during the off season, but he spent most of the spring at AAA Columbus before being traded to the Tigers for a minor leaguer. His last big league year was 1963, and he retired to Macon to become an industrial salesman. Veal’s high school coach gave him the “Coot” tag, telling Veal that he reminded him of a player with that moniker on a barnstorming team and thought it fit.

• 1937 - The Waner brothers combined for seven hits as the Bucs rolled over the Cubs 13-1 at Forbes Field. They had lots of help in a true team effort; everyone in the lineup had at least one hit and four of them had a pair of knocks. Of the 10 Pirates that played, seven scored and knocked in a teammate or two while the other three either touched home or chased in a tally. Joe Bowman tossed a seven-hitter to coast to a complete game win. 

• 1940 - Pittsburgh was represented by SS Arky Vaughan in the All-Star Game at St. Louis’ Sportsman’s Park. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run in a 4-0 NL victory.

• 1942 - The Bucs drew 29,488 fans to Forbes Field on Army-Navy Relief Fund Night, raising over $36,000 in donations with an extra $10,000+ from the gate, and rewarded the patriotic crowd with a 9-0 win over the Phils. It was 1-0 after seven innings, but Philadelphia starter Frank Melton was lifted for a pinch hitter and Pittsburgh then rattled the Philly pen for eight runs. Rip Sewell tossed a five-hitter for the win.

• 1946 - Bucco Rip Sewell's most famous blooper pitch came in the All Star game against Ted Williams at Fenway Park. Sewell warned Williams before the game he was going to throw him the blooper (eephus). With the AL ahead 8–0, Williams came to bat, and Sewell nodded to let him know the blooper was coming. Williams fouled it off. Sewell nodded again, and threw another blooper and then another. With the count 1–2, Williams smacked the next one for a home run, the only homer ever hit off Sewell's trick pitch. As The Kid rounded the bases, Sewell followed him, saying, "the only reason you hit it was because I told you it was coming." Williams laughed back, the fans loved it, and Sewell received a standing ovation when he walked off the mound. (from Donald Honig’s 1975 book "Baseball When the Grass Was Real") The kicker was that The Splendid Splinter took a running start toward the pitch before he blasted it, and was out of the batter’s box when he made contact. 3B Frank Gustine was the other Pirate All-Star; he went 0-for-1 with a walk and no comedy routine.

Rip's Eephus to Ted - 1946 photo via MLB.com

• 1951 - The Pirates played an exhibition against their alumni as a fundraiser for Hazelwood native Moose Solters, who played in the AL for nine seasons before being blinded when he was hit with a ball during warmups. Organized by Lee Handley & Frankie Gustine, the game featured players like Bullet Bob Feller, Wally Westlake, Stan Rojek, Cliff Chambers, Dixie Howell, Preacher Roe, Billy Cox, Red Ruffing, Johnny Hopp, Bob Elliott, Gene Woodling and others. The Bucs beat the alumni 1-0 in front of 9,553 at Forbes Field and raised around $17,500 for Moose, who left baseball before there was a pension and ran a bar to make ends meet. The prelim was a three inning match between the Greenfield Cubs and Highland Little Leaguers.

• 1957 - C Hank Foiles was the Pirate’s rep at the All Star Game at Busch Stadium, a 6-5 win for the junior circuit. Hank batted once, singled and scored.

• 1959 - Starting his first game since injuring his shoulder on May 19th, Roberto Clemente's 10th-inning leadoff single helped Elroy Face to his 18th consecutive win after he blew a save chance with two outs in the ninth. A bunt by Roman Mejias moved Clemente to second and a single up the middle by pinch-hitter Harry Bright completed the Bucs 4-3 win over the Cubs at Forbes Field.