- 1992 - Knight-Ridder News reported that the Pirates were considered the frontrunners in landing Texas Ranger rental OF Ruben Sierra, an All-Star hitting .278 w/14 HR. He was in the walk year of his contract and would be owed $1.25M for the rest of the year. Ruben was a right fielder, a spot the Pirates were filling by committee, and even wore #21 in honor of his countryman, Roberto Clemente, but ultimately went to Oakland as part of a big trade package for Jose Canseco.
- 1997 - The “Freak Show” Pirates were on a roll after sweeping the SF Giants at TRS, having won 9-of-12 games to claw their way to within three games of first. The Post Gazette had them featured above the fold on the front page and wrote “And what is this strange ailment suddenly gripping Western Pennsylvania...Pennant fever?” Alas, though it was a precursor of Buctober a couple of decades later, the Bucs hit their high point on September 2nd when they got within a 1-1/2 games of first place, only to fade and finish in second, five games off the pace.
- 2002 - The Milwaukee Brewers pounded out 20 hits against the Buccos at PNC Park but it was for naught as the Pirates out-slugged the Brew Crew 17-10. Pittsburgh coasted with a 16-hit attack of their own and were up 7-2 after three frames and 14-3 after seven innings. The Pirates had seven multi-hit performance, led by Brian Giles with three knocks, and banged out nine two-baggers and a pair of homers (Craig Wilson, Armando Rios) as every Pittsburgh starter scored (Pokey Reese & Rob Mackowiak touched home three times) and all but one chased home runs (Craig Wilson four RBI, Giles and Jason Kendall three). Kip Wells got the win, although he needed help from three relievers to nail down the victory.
- 2005 - The Pirates were clobbered by the Cards at PNC Park, 8-3, but staged a much better show before the gates opened. As the two teams were changing over during batting practice 2-1/2 hours before the game, Redbird coach Dave Duncan chirped at Pirates reliever Rick White, who had buzzed Hector Luna earlier in the set after Luna had gone hard into Jose Castillo and tore up his knee. Lloyd McClendon took exception at the barking, the pair became animated during their discussion, and Bucco coach Gerald Perry stepped between the duo, eventually popping Duncan in the jaw. Dunc and St. Louis reliever Ray King were both dragged away from the escalating brouhaha, and peace was restored under the watchful eye of four bemused city cops (there was no ump intervention; the shoving match was over before they arrived in the yard).
- 2007 - The Pirates’ Xavier Nady hit a two-out homer to tie the game in the ninth off Brad Lidge and then the Bucs erupted in the 15th-inning to take an 8-3 victory from the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Adam LaRoche’s three-run shot in the 15th off Travis Driskill was the big blow. Shane Youman picked up the win after two innings of scoreless relief with four K against Houston. Six Pirates relievers tossed eight shutout frames, giving up just six hits and striking out eight. The Nady-Lidge result was deja vu all over again from Opening Day in Houston, when the X-Man pounded a two-out, ninth-inning bomb to knot the score in a game the Pirates won in the 10th frame.
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| Xavier Nady - 2007 Upper Deck Ultimate |
- 2019 - After going 8-30 after the All-Star break and falling deep into the cellar, the Pirates showed signs of stirring against the Cincinnati Reds. After scoring twice in the ninth to walk off Cincy 3-2 the night before, the Bucs unloaded the lumber in a 14-0 romp at PNC Park. Colin Moran smacked a pinch-hit grand slam, Josh Bell swatted a three-run four-bagger and Kevin Newman reached base five times with three raps and a pair of free passes to lead the attack. Trevor Williams scattered three hits over six innings with three guys behind him spinning shutout ball. The Corsairs followed up by jumping to an early lead in the third game of the series the next afternoon to broom the Redlegs, 9-8, their first sweep since downing San Diego in June.
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