8/10 Through the 1950’s: Swingin' the Sticks; Sweep; Nice Guy Phil; HBD John, Bob, Willie, Elmer & Truck

• 1877 - IF Truck Eagan was born in San Francisco. He had a nine game MLB career, taking the field during his last four as a Bucco in 1901, going 1-for-12. Truck did have a long shelf life, tho, playing minor league ball from 1898-1911, mostly in the PCL and California League. He was named to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame. A
• 1892 - RHP Elmer Jacobs was born in Salem, Missouri. He pitched well for the Bucs from 1916-18 with a 3.03 ERA, but went just 12-30 before he was traded after one start in 1918 to the Phils for Erskine Mayer. Jacobs with his signature curveball worked six more seasons in MLB, with scattered minor league stops, and he ended up with 50 lifetime wins. He spent much of his minor league time in the Pacific Coast League, playing for four teams over nine seasons and was selected into the PCL Hall of Fame in 2005. 

Frank McKinney, Bing Crosby & John Galbreath - 1947 AP Photo

• 1897 - Pirate owner John Galbreath was born in Derby, Ohio. A building contractor with an interest in horse racing who ran the Darby Dan Farm in Ohio, he was the Bucco owner for 40 years. In 1946, Galbreath, along with Bing Crosby, Tom Johnson, and Frank McKinney, bought the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team won three World Series during his ownership: 1960, 1971, and 1979. He passed the presidency on to his son, Dan Galbreath, in 1970. It was said that Galbreath hung on as owner (1946-85) until a new one who would keep the franchise in Pittsburgh could be found. 
• 1906 - SS Willie Wells was born in Austin, Texas. Willie spent a long career in black/Latin baseball playing from 1924-53 and is, along with Pop Lloyd, considered the top shortstop produced by the Negro Leagues. Per Seamheads, he made two brief stops in Homestead with the Grays in 1932 and 1937, getting into 14 games in what were split seasons for him, playing for three clubs in ‘32 and two in ’37. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997.
• 1922 - Pittsburgh bombed the Phils 14-4, ripping 16 hits at Shibe Park. It was the fifth game in a row in which every Pirate position player in the lineup collected a hit. Carson Bigbee led the hit parade, going 5-for-6 and scoring three times with an RBI. Hal Carlson got the win. 
• 1923 - RHP Bob Porterfield was born in Newport, Virginia. He finished his 12-year career in Pittsburgh, tossing from 1958-59 and going 5-8-6/3.63. He was a starter-turned-reliever for the Bucs, making 73 appearances with all but six coming from the bullpen. In his pre-Pirates days (he spent 12 years in the show), he was The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year (1953) and an All-Star (1954) with the Washington Senators. When Bob retired, he became a welder and he was later chosen to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. 
• 1952 - In a doubleheader at Forbes Field that was swept by the Cubs, Chicago manager Phil Cavarretta made a couple of friends in Pittsburgh with a sportsmanlike move. Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press noted “Cavarretta, who was tossed out of the first game, authored the most magnificent gesture of the season. Catchers Ed Fitz Gerald and Joe Garagiola had already pinch hit when (catcher) Clyde McCullough broke the nail on his middle finger. McCollough had the finger hastily taped and was ready to return when Cavarretta told the Pirates to let Fitz Gerald catch.” 

Ed pulled double duty - 1952 Bowman

• 1958 - The Pirates squeaked out a pair of wins, 3-2 and 4-3, in a twinbill against the Reds to sweep the four-game series at Forbes Field. The Bucs tallied twice in the seventh on Bill Mazeroski’s homer to tie and then won the lid lifter in the 10th when Dick Stuart’s sac fly plated Roman Mejias. Don Gross, the fifth Pirate pitcher, got the W. In the second game, Vern Law couldn’t hang on to a 3-1 lead in the eighth, leaving with a no decision as Roy Face finished for the win. Frank Thomas’ force out in the eighth brought home Ducky Schofield with the deciding run. Bucco outfielders saved the day in the nightcap, throwing out four runners. Bill Virdon tossed out a pair of runners trying for third in the seventh; Bob Skinner and Roman Mejias also had gun-outs.