8/31 Through 1960: Baron's Last Outing; 18 Straight; HBD Ramon, Morris, Ray, Wally, Red, Syd, Monte & Duke

• 1866 - C Charley “Duke”/“Duke of Marlborough” Farrell was born in Oakdale, Massachusetts. Farrell was a big (6’-1”, 208 lbs.), switch-hitting catcher who could fill in at other spots and batted .275 in 18 big league seasons. He stopped at Pittsburgh in 1890, playing three spots (C, 1B, OF) and batting .290. He went to Boston, then returned in 1892 but had a fairly miserable time, batting just .215 and never feeling quite at home in the clubhouse or city; he was traded in the offseason for Lefty Killen. He earned the nickname Duke of Marlborough early in his career; he was raised in Marlborough as a youth. 
• 1868 - RHP Phillip “Red” Ehret was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He played for Pittsburgh from 1892-94 and put up a 53-59/3.79 line in 109 starts and 15 relief appearances. Red also played some outfield and got 438 PA in that span (mostly as a pitcher), batting .201 (hey, at least he was on the right side of the Mario Mendoza line, right?) And yes, he was a redhead. 
• 1869 - SS Monte Cross was born in Philadelphia. Monte spent 15 years in the show and was known as a good glove man. Monte launched his career in Pittsburgh in 1894-95, batting .273 and becoming a starter for the first time in ‘95. He spent his last 10 seasons at home with the Phillies and the Athletics. When his MLB career ended in 1907, Monte hung on for awhile, playing minor league/semi-pro, umpiring and managing, notably for several seasons at Maine, before joining the real world as a salesman. 

Monte Cross - photo undated by Edward Dana

• 1883 - C Syd Smith was born in Smithfield, South Carolina. He spent parts of five seasons in the show, with the last two in Pittsburgh from 1914-15, getting into six games and going 3-for-12. He then managed the Pirates’ Caddo Lake Gassers, a Texas League team in a gas/oil boomtown. Before baseball, he also was the head coach at the Citadel in 1905 - for the football team. 
• 1888 - OF Wally Rehg was born in Summerfield, Illinois. He began his seven-year MLB career with the Pirates in 1912, going 0-for-9 in eight games. He did better with the Red Sox and later with the Braves as a bench outfielder. Known for his brash mouth, he greeted Hans Wagner in Pittsburgh by calling him “Grandpa.” He played in the minors until 1930, got a couple of movie cameos, and made cinema his second career, albeit as an Paramount Studio electrician. 
• 1907 - C Ray Berres was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was a Bucco back-up from 1937-40, a good glove guy that hit .225. After his playing days, he was the pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox from 1949-66, then again from mid-season of 1968 through 1969, primarily under manager Al Lopez. He and Lopez had an interesting history together. Berres served as Lopez’s back-up early in his career and then was later traded to the Pirates straight-up for him. 
• 1909 - The Pirates extended their winning streak over the Boston Doves to 18 straight games with a 7-2 victory at South End Grounds. Honus Wagner led the way with a pair of doubles, a single, stolen base, a run scored and three Buccos driven home. Vic Willis went the distance for his 19th victory. The streak ended the next day in Boston when Cliff Curtis fired a five-hit shutout to edge Babe Adams, 1-0. Pittsburgh went 20-1 against Boston that year. 

Ramon Hernandez - 1975 Topps

• 1940 - LHP Ramon Hernandez was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The reliever tossed six years (1971-76) in Pittsburgh, going 23-12-39/2.51 after being signed by Howie Haak, and was a bullpen member of the Bucco division champs of 1972, 1974 and 1975 (he was a September call-up for the 1971 team). In a nine-season career, Hernandez’s line was 23–15-46/3.03. 
• 1960 - LHP Morris Madden was born in Lauren, South Carolina. He tossed 14 of his 16 big league outings (three starts) for the Pirates in 1988-89 with a 2-2/5.03 line and was released after the ‘89 campaign. He had a long minor league career, spanning 1979-90 and collected 1,100 strikeouts over that stretch. Morris now coaches the Carolina Metros, an umbrella organization for youth traveling teams with a strong mentoring component. 
• 1968 - Steve Blass got the first out against the Atlanta Braves‚ and then moved to LF. ElRoy Face, 40, was in the process of being sold to the Tigers for an estimated $100K (actually, it was a done deal, but Detroit wouldn’t have an open roster spot until September 1), and the club sent him in for one last appearance (legend has it he was asked whether he wanted to start or relieve, and opted to make his last outing from the pen). He retired Felix Millan on one pitch to tie Walter Johnson's MLB record of 802 pitching appearances with one club. Then manager Larry Shepherd came out for him, Blass returned to pitch and the Pirates won 8-0 at Forbes Field.

8/31 From 1980: A-Ram Signed; Lucky 7; Unlucky 10 For Bucs & CC; Gems & Game Tales; HBD Dillon, Erik & Juan

• 1986 - RHP Juan Nicasio was born in San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic. The Pirates signed the five-year vet (LA, Colorado) in 2016 to a $3M deal and inked him again in 2017 for $3.65 M. After trying him out as a starter, the Pirates put him back in a bullpen role where he became an effective eighth-inning bridge. The Pirates let him go on waivers as an apparent salary dump and lost him to the Phils with no return. He last played for Texas in 2020. 
• 1987 - The Pirates won their seventh straight game, defeating the Atlanta Braves 7-3 at TRS. Andy Van Slyke went 3-for-3 with a homer and a walk, scored three times and drove home a pair while Al Pedrique chipped in two raps. Mike Dunne went the distance, tossing a six-hitter and earning his sixth win in the last seven decisions. As the cherry on top, earlier in the day Doug Drabek had been named the NL Player of the Week for going 2-0, giving up two runs in 16 innings the week before. 
• 1991 - Utilityman Erik Gonzalez was born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Traded to the Bucs in the 2018 off season, he played 3B-SS-2B for Cleveland over parts of three seasons with a rep as a good glove man and mediocre bat (.262 BA/79 OPS+). With Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison’s departure after the 2018 campaign, Pittsburgh was looking for an IF’er, and Gonzalez was out of options and blocked with the Indians, making for a fit. He was hurt for much of two campaigns, and after hitting .236 BA over his three years, he was DFA’ed and assigned to Indy in August of ‘21. 

E-Gon image - 2021 AT&T SportsNet

• 1991 - The Pirates rode six innings of perfect relief by Roger Mason, Bill Landrum and game winner Bob Kipper to a 3-2, 12-inning victory over San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium. The Buc tallies came in the second on Barry Bonds’ two-run shot and a leadoff homer to left by Don Slaught off Jose Melendez in the 12th. 
• 1992 - LHP Dillon Peters was born in Indianapolis. Drafted by Miami in 2014 despite college TJ surgery, he was traded to the Angels in 2018 and slashed 7-8/5.83 in 31 MLB outings (24 starts) between them. The Halos DFA’ed him in the summer of 2021 and the Pirates bought his rights. After three weeks or so at Indy, he was called up to join the big club’s rotation in August. 
• 1994 - In one of their better international deals, the Pirates signed 16-year-old Aramis Ramirez as an amateur free agent. A-Ram was the Pirates' last significant signing from the Dominican until the Rene Gayo era began a decade later. Ramirez had a pair of stints with the Bucs to open and close his career. 
• 1999 - The Bucs provided lots of late-inning drama while topping the Rox at Coors Field in 10 innings by a 9-8 score. Kevin Young gave the Bucs an 8-4 lead with a two-out, first-pitch grand slam down the LF line in the ninth. In the bottom half, six straight runners reached off Mike Williams to make the score 8-8, but Angel Echevarria was thrown out at home by Brian Giles to keep the game knotted. The Bucs came up with four hits and a walk in the 10th, but could only tally a run to take a shaky lead. With two away for Colorado, Dante Bichette singled off Jose Silva and was waved around on Vin Castilla’s double to left center, but was cut down by Al Martin to Mike Benjamin to Keith Osik (7-6-2) to preserve the win. 

Kevin Young - 1999 Pacific Crown

• 2008 - Milwaukee thumped the Bucs, 7-0, for Pittsburgh's 10th loss in a row. Ricky Weeks led off with a homer at PNC Park and it went downhill from there. The big story was CC Sabathia’s one-hitter; the lone rap was a weakly-hit fifth-inning grounder by Andy LaRoche that Sabathia dropped; the scorer, much to the chagrin of manager Ned Yost, ruled it a hit (and not unreasonably). Yost felt that CC had fired a no-hitter and even filed an unsuccessful appeal over the ruling. CC blamed himself for the controversy, telling ESPN "The ball was still rolling and I probably should have picked it up with my glove...I think if I pick it up with my glove, I get him." 
• 2010 - Pittsburgh won by the football score of 14-7 against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The top four batters of the order (Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata, Neil Walker, Garrett Jones) went 13-for-19 with two homers, two doubles, a triple, three walks, nine runs scored and 11 RBI. It was a rare bright spot during a dismal stretch. Before the romp, the Pirates had gone 9-22, scoring three runs or fewer 23 times during that spell, and rung up a 14-game road losing streak as John Russell’s final Bucco squad would finish up the year at 57-105. 
• 2013 - The Pirates whipped the Cardinals, 7-1, at PNC Park to retake the NL Central lead behind AJ Burnett. Russ Martin had the big bop, a three-run homer, while Neil Walker added three knocks. The newly-acquired Justin Morneau showed he was eager to go; although not needed for this battle, he arrived in mid-game after flying in from Texas.

8/31 Deals: Ray, Reynolds, Dunston, Morneau Picked Up; Mad Dog, Diaz, Presley, Nicasio, Freese Lost

• 1953 - The Pirates sold RHP Johnny Lindell to the Phillies. His knuckler fluttered wildly that year, leading the league in walks and wild pitches. He was listed as a pitcher with the Pirates, but was often used as a pinch-hitter and hit .286, once tying a game with a three-run ninth-inning homer. The Phillies released him in May 1954 after his hybrid pitcher-outfielder role proved to be a not very strong pairing. Lindell was an odd story. He entered the league in 1941 as a pitcher, then was converted to the outfield, where he played from 1943-50, earning an All-Star berth once with the Yankees. He came back again as a knuckleball pitcher after a couple of years in the minors, but only lasted until May of 1954. 
• 1970 - Pittsburgh picked up veteran LHP George Brunet from the Washington Senators for minor league LHP Denny Riddleberger and cash. Brunet, 35, made a dozen appearances for the Bucs with a line of 1-1/2.50, played briefly for another year for the Cards and then went on to a long career in Mexico, where “El Viejo” (the Old Man) pitched until 1989, when he was 54. Riddleberger spent parts of the next three seasons in the big leagues with a slash of 4-4/2.70. 
• 1981 - The Pirates acquired 2B Johnny Ray and two PTBNL’s (pitchers Randy Niemann and Kevin Houston) from the Houston Astros in exchange for IF Phil Garner. Ray spent seven years in Pittsburgh, hitting .286, and was Rookie of the Year runner-up in 1982 to Steve Sax. Scrap Iron played through 1988 and hit .260 for the Astros, where he also had a seven-year run. Nieman pitched for parts of a couple of seasons for the Pirates and worked the show until 1987, having a pretty good year for the Mets in 1986. Houston never made it out of the minors.

Johnny Ray - 1982 Donruss

• 1985 - The Pirates traded former batting champion Bill Madlock to the Dodgers for prospects RJ Reynolds and PTBNL Cecil Espy and Sid Bream in a pretty solid deal for the Buccos. Madlock would last two more years in the show, retiring after the 1987 campaign at age 36. 1B Bream spent six years in Pittsburgh, four as a starter, and hit .269 in that span. Reynolds, a platoon OF, spent six seasons with Pittsburgh and also hit .269. OF Espy was sent to AAA, claimed by Texas in the Rule 5 draft, and returned as a FA to spend a couple of campaigns in town in 1991-92, batting .254. 
• 1997 - The Bucs became buyers instead of sellers when they obtained SS Shawon Dunston from the Cubs for future considerations to bolster the chances of the “Freak Show” team sneaking into the playoffs after Kevin Polcovich injured his ankle. Dunston hit .394 with five homers, but after an 18-game Bucco career was lost to Cleveland in free agency after the season. He was a pretty good Plan B; the Pirates had first cast their eyes toward former Pittsburgh SS Jay Bell, but the Royals wanted more in return than the FO was willing to give. 
• 2011 - Pittsburgh shipped OF Matt Diaz to the Braves for a PTBNL, P Eliecer Cardenas, who was quickly released. Diaz hit .259 in his brief spell as a Buc and spent two more bench years in the league before hanging up his spikes after the 2013 season. 
• 2013 - The Pirates pulled off their second trade of the week, picking up 1B Justin Morneau from Minnesota for OF Alex Presley and a PTBNL (RHP Duke Welker). Justin hit .260 w/.370 OBP during the month, but his lack of power (0 HR, 4 2B, 92 PA) led the Bucs to let him walk the following year. He still had some gas in the tank, hitting .316 w/20 HR in 182 games for the Rox over the next two campaigns before retiring after the 2016 season. Presley was a depth OF’er for the next five years while Welker was reacquired by the Bucs and got into two games in 2013. 

Justin Morneau - 2013 photo Justin Aller/Getty

• 2017 - In an unusual move, RHP Juan Nicasio was placed on irrevocable waivers and claimed by the Phillies on his birthday. It was odd because Nicasio was a solid eighth-inning set-up guy (2-5-2, 22 holds, 2.86 ERA in 65 games w/60 K in 60 IP) who the Pirates let go for nothing. Nicasio was a FA after the season and unlikely to have been retained, but the Bucs, who were still hanging around in July when they could have traded him with no strings attached, kept Nicasio and then tried to slip him through trade waivers when the team faded. In some one-upmanship, Juan was claimed by the Chicago Cubs to block him from going to another contender. So the FO pulled him back and later put him on the waiver wire, saving some cash ($600K owed for September), opening up his spot to audition for 2018, and finally to reward Juan with a “better situation” (ie, joining a playoff contender) that was foiled when Philadelphia, the NL’s worst team, claimed him but was rectified when they dealt him to St. Louis. 
• 2018 - The Pirates committed themselves to a full-scale infield youth movement (and saved a few dollars in the process) by trading vets David Freese and Adeiny Hechavarria at the playoff deadline. Freese went to the Dodgers for DSL player IF Jesus Manuel Valdez and Hechy went to the Yankees along with some cash for a PTBNL or cash considerations. Freese left a hole as a utility man with a good bat (.270, 32 HR in three years), versatile glove (1B-2B-3B) and locker room leader while Hechy was a late pickup who only got into 15 games, hitting .233. Sean Rodriguez had been DFA’ed days earlier, cleansing the roster of most of its older infielders save SS Jordy Mercer and 2B Josh Harrison, who would depart in the offseason as FA’s.

This Week's Notes: Moves, Injuries, News

September in sight...

Notes:

• Batting coach Rick Eckstein was relived of his duties; he had succeeded Jeff Branson after the 2018 campaign. The Pirates hitters will be coached by committee until Shelty selects a replacement. The skipper suggested they were looking for a more top-to-bottom, organizational approach for their instruction.
• LHP Dillon Peters went on the 10-day IL with a back strain and LH reliever Sam Howard was activated to take his roster spot.

Bryse Wilson - photo MLB.com/Pirates

• RHP Bryse Wilson (arm fatigue) was recalled from the 10-day IL on Wednesday (he started) and RHP JT Brubaker was put on the IL with a right thumb contusion; he jammed it the night before while batting.
• UT Michael Chavis and OF Anthony Alford were added to the active roster. Chavis started and played second (he's actually spent most of his MLB time at 1B/2B, with just a dozen games in LF). He hit his first homer as a Pirate on Tuesday in his second Bucco start. The corresponding moves were UT Hoy Park, who was optioned to Indy, and 2B Rodolfo Castro, who was optioned to Altoona. Rudy in particular showed some flashes with the big team, but also exhibited a lot of detail work that needed some attention. As for Hoy, Kevin Newman's resurgence, Yoshi Tsutsugo's acquisition and an ill-timed slump ended his dance. However, fate is fickle: the Pirates placed Chavis on the 10-day IL with a right elbow strain and recalled Park from Indy a week later.
• OF Gregory Polanco was waived but never removed from the active roster, as permitted by his outright waiver status. He cleared the 48-hour waiver period early last week without any bites, so the Pirates released him a few days later, ending the tenure of the last Bucco player on the roster from the playoff days. IF/OF Cole Tucker was called up from Indy to take his spot.
• The Pirates had lost 10 straight games to the Diamondbacks at PNC Park until last week's 6-5 victory. They took the second contest, too, but alas, Pittsburgh's 11th try for a sweep this season once again fizzled.
• C Henry Davis, off to a sizzling minor league start after being selected first in the draft, has been placed on the seven-day IL by Hi-A Greensboro with a right oblique strain. The team is still awaiting an MRI, but the oblique could be a season-ending injury.

Henry Davis - photo Tom DiPlace/Baseball America

• RHP Quinn Priester of Hi-A Greensboro was named to the MLB Pipeline Prospect of the Week team. A 2019 first-rounder, Priester struck out 13 while tossing six scoreless innings in last week's start. His record is 6-3 with 87 strikeouts in 85 innings, and he leads the High-A East in ERA (2.86), WHIP (1.15) and oppo average (.216).
• RHP Po-Yu Chen, 19, the Bucs top 2019-20 international signing ($1.25M bonus), was promoted from the Florida Coast Rookie League, which he was dominating (2-0/0.69 in six starts w/28K in 26 IP), to Lo-A Bradenton. Chen was considered among the Top 25 international prospects when he was signed.
• The Reds DFA'ed RHP Michael Feliz, who the Pirates released in May. Feliz had just finished rehab; he had been on the IL since June.
• Josh Bonifay, Cam's son and seven-year member of the Pittsburgh organization as a minor league  player (he topped out at Altoona), was canned as the Phils farm director, a position he's held since 2018.
• The Braves and Yankees met on Monday; both were on nine-game winning streaks, the first time two MLB teams that hot have gone head-to-head since 1901. The Bronx Bombers swept the two game set. The old-timey battle was between the Pirates (10 game streak) and Philly (nine games); the Phils won 4-1, then the Bucs took the next pair. 

8/26 Through the 1950s: Mollwitz Deal; Pie Ala Mode; Wally & Waner World; Lazy Day; Trip Trips; Gems & Game Tales; HBD Sparky & Frank

• 1888 - LHP Frank Allen was born in Newbern, Alabama. Allen spent six years twirling big league ball; the Federal League Pittsburgh Rebels picked him up at the end of the 1914 campaign from the Brooklyn Robins, then rode him the following year when he slashed 23-13/2.51 after 37 starts and 283-1/3 IP. Allen authored the FL’s first no-hitter as a Reb against the St. Louis Terriers, winning 2-0 at Handlan Park in the Gateway City in 1915. He tossed for two more MLB seasons afterward with the NL Boston Braves. Allen’s minor league history is hit-and-miss as far as documentation, but he started out in 1909 for Mobile of the Southern Association as a 20-year old and hung ‘em up after tossing for Gadsen of the Georgia-Alabama League in 1928 as a 39-year old (and going 12-6/2.46). 
• 1892 - The Bucs mauled the Philadelphia Phils 11-3 at Exposition Park. Elmer “Mike” Smith, Doggie Miller and Jake Beckley led the way with a pair of hits each. Smith, usually an OF’er, was the pitcher (he appeared in 17 games, starting 13), and per the Pittsburgh Press, the “(Phils Ed) Delahanty found a package of lard in centerfield and the Phillies tried to work up a story that the ball had been greased...” The Pirates pleaded innocent, and the game stood. 
• 1894 - 2B Earl “Sparky” Adams was born in Zerbe, Pennsylvania. He played in Pittsburgh in 1928-29, filling in around the infield as needed and even taking some outfield innings while hitting .272 in 209 games. He was well thought of; he came from the Cubs in a trade for Kiki Cuyler. His Pirates time was in the middle of his 13-year career; he went on to have several good campaigns with the Gashouse Gang in St. Louis until a bad knee finally forced his retirement after the 1934 season. He got his nickname because he was a little bundle (5’4-1/2”) of energy on the field. 

Sparky Adams - 1928 photo Conlon Collection/Getty

• 1910 - It was a great day for outfielders to work on their tans at Forbes Field. Babe Adams, who took the hill in spite of a stomach bug, tossed a six-hitter to top Carrick native Elmer Knetzer (who came home in 1914-15 to pitch for the Pittsburgh Rebels) and Brooklyn 4-2. The Dodger and Pirate outfielders combined for one putout and one assist all afternoon (Pittsburgh’s Chief Wilson gloved a fly to right and the Dodgers’ LF Zack Wheat threw out Bobby Byrnes trying to stretch a double into a triple) to set the MLB record for the least pasture action for two teams in a game. 
• 1912 - In a doubleheader split against Boston at Forbes Field, Chief Wilson collected three triples during the two contests, and would bang another three-bagger the next day. Chief had a three-game triple streak earlier in the year, with a five-game string put together in mid-June. He finished the year with 36 triples, which is still the league standard. Chief caught lightning in a jar, as he never hit more than 14 three-baggers in any other season. Pittsburgh won the opener, 5-4, and dropped the evening game, 8-4. 
• 1917 - Kansas City of the American Association sent Fritz Mollwitz to the Bucs in a deal that would stretch into the next year. In February, Pittsburgh received RHP Roy Sanders as a PTBNL and sent the Blues infielders Alex McCarthy & Ike McAuley, along with 1B Ray Miller. Fritz gave the Bucs two decent years, batting .266, then faded in 1919 and was sent to St. Louis to complete his final MLB campaign. Sanders also gave Pittsburgh a solid year, going 7-9/2.60 in his final big league season. McCarthy and Miller never played in the show again, while McAuley got a final hurrah in 1925 with the Cubs. 
• 1926 - Paul Waner went 6-for-6 with two doubles and a triple as the Pirates beat the New York Giants, 15-7, at Forbes Field. Pie Traynor and George Grantham each had three hits; Traynor and Johnny Rawlings added three RBI apiece. Big Poison used six different bats to collect his hits. Per Dom Forker’s “Baseball Brain Teasers,” that was because Waner had been moved up to the second spot in the lineup rather than his customary three-hole slot. Apparently he didn’t check the scorecard and was caught by surprise when he was called to the plate, so he grabbed the first stick he could reach from the bat rack. He banged out a hit, so he went with random bats the rest of the game, each producing a knock. He tried it again in the following contest, went 1-for-3, and returned to his regular twig. 

Big Poison - 1927 Spaulding Die Cut

• 1927 - Boston defeated the Pirates, 6-4, at Braves Field. Paul Waner, who went 4-for-4 the day before, started his day off with three more consecutive raps off two Brave pitchers before ending his hitting streak at seven. 
• 1934 - Chester Williams of the Pittsburgh Crawfords led the East with three hits in the East-West Negro League All-Star game at Comiskey Park. The East won 1-0 in front of 30,000 fans when Jud Wilson drove in Cool Papa Bell in the eighth inning, giving Satchel Paige the win. 
• 1935 - Player-manager Pie Traynor blasted a grand slam and ended the day with five hits and six RBI as the Bucs battered the NY Giants, 10-2, at the Polo Grounds. Woody Jensen and Tom Padden also homered to plow the road for Ralph Birkofer’s win. 
• 1947 - The Pirates scored four times each in the first and second innings and added seven more in the fifth (as Les Biederman of the Pittsburgh Press noted “The Bucs simply had their hitting clothes on...”) as they rolled over the Brooklyn Dodgers 16-3 at Ebbets Field. Wally Westlake homered, doubled, and drove home five runs as Billy Cox and Cutley Rikard added long balls. Ralph Kiner went 5-for-5 with a walk and Frank Gustine added four hits to help Fritz Ostermueller cruise to victory. Brooklyn’s Dan Bankhead, via the Negro League Memphis Red Sox, became the first black pitcher to work an MLB game when he came on in relief of Hal Gregg. The Bucs beat him up on the hill, scoring eight runs in his 3-1/3 frames, though he did swat a two-run homer in his first big league at-bat to help even out his rough debut. 

Wally Westlake - 1947 Exhibits

• 1951 - It was a down-to-the-wire twin bill: The Pirates scored eight runs in the seventh frame to overcome a 9-2 fifth inning deficit and rally past the Dodgers, 12-11, at Ebbets Field in the opener of a twin set. Brooklyn loaded the bases with an out in the ninth, but Murry Dickson weathered the storm to save the win for Vernon Law. Pete Castiglione and Bill Howerton had three RBI each to lead the comeback; Pete homered twice and Bill once. The club dropped the nitecap 4-3 in 10 innings with Preacher Roe topping Ted Wilks, pitching in relief of Bob Friend. 
• 1956 - Bob Friend was dealing today; he tossed a four-hit shutout to top the Cubs 2-0 in the first game of a twin bill at Wrigley, sparked by Roberto Clemente, who chased home the first run with a two-out double and then scored the second in the eighth inning. Fresh off the complete game victory, he came on to toss 1-1/3 clean innings to save Ronnie Kline’s victory in the nightcap, a 2-1 win, to finish the sweep.

8/26 From 1960: Bay/Perez, Davis Deals; Jordy Jolt; Flutter-Fest; 8 In A Row; Gems & Game Tales; HBD Eric & Jeff

• 1965 - IF Jeff Richardson was born in Grand Island, Nebraska. Richardson spent parts of three seasons (74 games total) in the show, with six games coming in 1991 for the Bucs; he went 1-for-4 during that time with three K. He spent a decade in the minors, closing out his career in 1995 with the Pirates AAA Calgary club. Richardson managed in the Pirates farm system from 1996-1998, then took over as head coach at Louisiana Tech University in 1999. He resigned following the 2002 season to devote more time to his family and bar business in his hometown of Grand Island. 

Steve Blass - 1968 Topps

• 1968 - The Bucs beat the Atlanta Braves for the seventh straight time as Steve Blass dodged several bullets to toss a complete game shutout, 4-0. He had only one clean inning, giving up nine hits and a pair of walks but kept the scoreboard blank. Manager Larry Shephard said of his young hurler “He went from my fifth starter (at the beginning of the year) to the top spot” after the win. The Pirates had a small-ball attack: they scored on two sac flies, an error and an infield single. Freddie Patek, Maury Wills and Gene Alley each had two raps. 
• 1975 - The first eight Pirates hit safely against the Braves’ Jamie Easterly and Ray Sadecki - Frank Taveras (triple), Rennie Stennett (single), Al Oliver (single), Willie Stargell (single), Richie Zisk (single), Dave Parker (single), Richie Hebner (single) and Duffy Dyer (single) - before P Larry Demery flew out‚ tying the MLB record. The Bucs scored six runs in the frame on their way to an 8-2 victory at TRS. 
• 1977 - The Bucs rode Bruce Kison’s arm and bat to a 3-1 win over the Padres at San Diego Stadium. Buster gave up a run over seven innings, had three hits, a run scored, the game-winning RBI and a stolen base before Goose Gossage came up to earn a two-inning save. It was Kison’s first win in eight weeks and 11 starts. Frank Taveras chipped in with four hits and the insurance was provided by Dave Parker’s sixth-inning homer. Both guys had base-running blunders to atone for; Frank was thrown out trying to stretch a double and The Cobra was picked off first twice. Pittsburgh cut Philly’s NL lead to 5-½ games, but that’s about how it finished as Philadelphia won 101 games, finishing the year five games better than the Bucs. 
• 1979 - Bruce Kison tossed seven strong innings and smacked a grand slam off Bob Shirley, the first Bucco hurler since Al McBean in 1968 to launch a grannie, to lead the Bucs to a 9-2 win over San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium. He’s one of six Pirates twirlers to hit a grand salami, joining McBean, Deacon Phillippe (1910), Enrique Romo (1980), Don Robinson (1985) and Denny Neagle (1995). Bill “Mad Dog” Madlock had a big day at the dish with four knocks, a pair of RBI, and two runs scored. 

Buster had a couple of good outings OTD - Topps 1978

• 1983 - Larry McWilliams tossed a complete game five-hitter against his old teammates, the Atlanta Braves, as the Pirates romped 9-1 at TRS. The Bucs had 10 hits and were helped by a big three-run blast by Tony Pena and a couple of Bravo boots that led to three unearned scores. Pena, Jason Thompson and Johnny Ray each collected a pair of knocks to back McWilliams. 
• 1985 - C Eric Fryer was born in Columbus. He came to Pittsburgh as part of the Eric Hinske deal in 2009 and got a couple of cups of coffee with the Bucs in 2010-11, getting into 16 games as a C, PH, & OF. He returned in 2016 when injuries cut down the Pirates catching depth, went to the Cards in the following season and retired in 2018. 
• 1987 - The Bucs put up a three-spot against the Reds in the third inning built around John Cangelosi’s triple, but found themselves behind 5-3 going into the eighth at TRS. Andy Van Slyke tied it with two away when he singled home Bobby Bonilla and Barry Bonds off John Franco; they had just moved up a station thanks to a passed ball. The Pirates used the same two-out formula in the ninth when Al Pedrique’s blooper plated Johnny Ray, who had led off the frame with a double. The win went to Jeff Robinson, who came in for Brian Fisher. 
• 1992 - Pirate rookie Tim Wakefield defeated Tom Candiotti of the Dodgers, 2-0, in the first matchup of knuckleballers in the NL since 1982 when Phil Niekro and Joe Niekro faced off in a Braves-Astros game. Wakefield scattered six hits for the victory. Jose Lind provided the offensive spark with a pair of hits, an RBI and a run scored. 

Tim Wakefield - 1992 Score

• 2003 - The Pirates shipped Brian Giles to San Diego for Jason Bay, Ollie Perez, and Corey Stewart. Pittsburgh had wanted Xavier Nady in the deal, but SD refused and threw in Bay instead. He worked out pretty well, as Bay ended up the NL Rookie of the Year in 2004 and the Bucs reeled in the X-Man in 2006 from the Mets. 
• 2014 - Gerrit Cole pitched six no-hit innings at PNC Park, but a seventh inning St. Louis rally tied the score at 2-2. Things looked bleak when both Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez left the game with injuries soon after, but Ike Davis brightened up the room in the eighth. With Gaby Sanchez and Starling Marte aboard, he crushed a two-out, two-strike change up from Seth Maness off the back fence in right center 442’ away to lead the Pirates to a 5-2 win. Tony Watson got the victory and Mark Melancon earned a save. 
• 2016 - Jordy Mercer capped off a five-run sixth inning with his first career grand slam off Milwaukee’s Matt Garza to give the Pirates a 5-3 win at Miller Park. The Brew Crew answered Jordy’s blast with a three-spot of their own in the bottom of the frame, but the bullpens shut the door the rest of the way. Mercer’s slam, which came the day before his 30th birthday, was the fourth of the season for the Pirates and made a winner of starter Ryan Vogelsong, who allowed two runs over 5-1/3 innings with Tony Watson notching the save. 
• 2017 - Gerrit Cole had no success whatsoever against the Reds in his career (he was 0-6 against them in nine outings) until he took matters into his own hands at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park. Not only did he throw seven shutout innings, but he homered to do it all in a 1-0 Bucco win. Cole Train's long ball was the third of his career and the first of the year. Per Elias Sports: Cole became the only Pirates pitcher ever to homer in a 1-0 win and the first in MLB since the Rays’ Nate Karns v the Phillies (July, 2015). Cole also went 8-0 in his last nine road starts; the last Pirates pitcher to win eight straight road decisions was Don Robinson in 1982. Redlegs rookie Luis Castillo was his equal but for that one pitch, tossing a three-hitter with nine K in seven strong frames to take a tough loss. 

Cole Train had a couple of good outings, too - 2016 Donruss

• 2020 - The Pirates made a waiver deal with the Phils for LHP Austin Davis, sending Philadelphia a PTBNL (24-year-old Class A RHP Joel Cesar) and cash. Davis had parts of five seasons in the show, with a 1-2/5.64 line. He averaged nearly 10 K per nine innings with a problem with long balls (11 in 58 career IP), but fit the Pirates need for pen depth and a lefty. He got into 15 games for the Bucs, slashing 0-1/4.73, and was traded at the 2021 deadline to Boston for IF Michael Chavis.

8/25 Through the 1970s: Suitcase, Coop Deals; Blue Flu; Byrnes Burns; Doubled Doubles; Wired Ump; Ding Dong; Gems & Game Tales; HBD Euclides, Junior, Sam, Jim & Tony

• 1892 - 3B Norman “Tony” Boeckel was born in Los Angeles. He spent the first two years (1917, 1919) of his career as a Pirate, batting .259 in 109 games. He was hurt early in his first campaign, and got in just 65 games after returning from the Navy during the second stint as he lost the job to his 1918 replacement, Walter Barbare, and was waived to Boston. He prospered there from 1920-23, where he was the starter. But he was struck down in early 1924, dying in a car accident at age 31 in San Diego. The Yankees Bob Meusel was riding with him, but was uninjured; Boeckel became the first active MLB player to die in a car wreck. 
• 1910 - In the 12th inning at Washington Park, Bobby Byrne legged out a hustle double, stole third, then swiped home to beat the Brooklyn Superbas, 4-3. It was the NL's first 20th century extra-inning steal of home. The Superba’s skipper, Bill Dahlen, decided to intentionally walk the bases loaded after the steal of third (a decision that did not sit well with his pitcher, George Bell) to set up the force rather than face Fred Clarke and Hans Wagner. Bell got two strikes on John Flynn, then Byrnes took matters in his own hands and bolted home; the 0-2 pitch was wide and eluded the catcher, so Byrne’s timing was right. As for the Superba strategy, Ralph Davis of the Pittsburgh Press wrote “...fans were calling Dahlen a dub, whereas if his plans had worked out right, they would be hailing him as a real genius and wonderful thinker.” It's pretty much the same way fans think today. 

Bobby Byrne - 1910 American Caramel

• 1912 - The Pirates traded for 20-year-old LHP Arley Wilbur Cooper from Columbus of the American Association for a pair of PTBNL. He was arguably Pittsburgh’s best franchise pitcher, retiring following the 1926 campaign after spending his first 13 seasons (1912-24) as a Bucco. Coop is the franchise’s all-time leader in wins with 202 while posting a 2.74 ERA, starting 369 games and appearing in 469 outings. He began his professional career in 1911 with minor league Marion, a club that was owned by newspaper publisher and future US President Warren Harding. Legend has it that Harding was the person who recommended Wilbur to the Pirates. Oddly, he never made the Hall of Fame. 
• 1913 - Coach Sam Narron was born in Middlesex, North Carolina. Narron spent most of his playing career in the minors as a converted OF’er turned catcher, though he appeared in parts of three seasons (1935, 1942 and 1943) with the St. Louis Cardinals, playing in 24 games and getting just 28 at bats. After his playing career ended in 1948, he became the bullpen catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers for two years, then followed GM Branch Rickey to the Pirates (and outlasted him by quite a bit) as the Buccos bullpen coach from 1951 through 1964 for managers Bill Meyer, Fred Haney, Bobby Bragan, and Danny Murtaugh. He lasted until Harry Walker became skipper and axed all of Murtaugh’s coaching staff, and Sam retired to the farm. 
• 1926 - RHP Jim Suchecki was born in Chicago. He made MLB stops for three teams,the last being the 1952 Pirates, working 10 innings and giving up six runs on 14 hits with six K. The Pirates had purchased him from St. Louis on a “make good” basis, and after a month they returned him to the Browns after he apparently failed to make good, and it was his last MLB stint. He pitched in the pro ranks from 1943-54, with time off to serve in the Navy. He retired and worked for a refinery, later operating an employment agency. 
• 1929 - Per The Sporting News, the fans were able to hear the calls of home plate umpire Cy Rigler, who was wired for sound, a first in major league history. Wearing a mike and metal-plated shoes, standing on a flat metal sheet, Rigler's calls were broadcast over the Polo Ground speakers as he somehow avoided electrocution. The Giants topped the Pirates, 10-5, as the Bucs committed three errors and allowed six early unearned runs as the clang of their mitts resounded unaided throughout the Polo Grounds. 

Bill Bell - 1955 via Diamonds In the Dusk

• 1952 - 18 year old RHP Bill “Ding Dong” Bell tossed his third no-hitter as a member of the Pirates Class D Appalachian League affiliate Bristol, winning 4-0 in a seven inning game against Bluefield. Bell is one of two professional pitchers to toss three no-hitters in the same season. He was called up in September by the Bucs after posting an 11-3/2.09 slash, though he did have one big red flag - in 112 IP, he had 194 whiffs, but also 113 walks. Ding Dong made it back to Pittsburgh for a short while in 1955, but his wildness continued - Bell was 0-1/4.32 in his MLB career with 14 walks in 16-⅔ IP. 
• 1959 - The White Sox sent 3B Bob Sagers and OF/1B Harry "Suitcase" Simpson packing to Pittsburgh in exchange for vet 1B Ted Kluszewski, looking to improve their bench. Klu hit .297 during the rest of the season and .391 with three homers in the World Series for the Sox. Simpson retired after the season and Sagers was a career minor leaguer. Per SABR, Harry wore a size 13 shoe, and a sportswriter dubbed him “Suitcase” Simpson based on a character by that name from the comic strip “Toonerville Folks” with feet as large as suitcases. 
• 1962 - The Pirate players called off a threatened walkout in objection to a rained out game that was rescheduled as part of a Saturday doubleheader with another doubleheader already scheduled on Sunday. Bob Friend, team rep, was irked that the players weren’t consulted in the decision to reschedule the game. Friend lost the opener 3-2 to St. Louis at Busch Stadium, giving up a run with two down in the ninth. The Bucs took the second game 4-0 behind Earl Francis, who tossed a three-hitter and was backed by homers off the bats of Dick Groat and Dick Stuart. They also split the next day’s twin bill. 
• 1967 - Euclides Rojas was born in Havana. He was the Cuban National Team's all-time leader in saves before he left his homeland by raft in 1994, was rescued by the US Coast Guard, and emigrated to America. He’s been the Buccos bullpen coach since 2010, having served in the same position for the Red Sox and briefly, the Marlins. Rojas spent six years (2005-2010) as the Pirates Latin American Field Coordinator and also worked for Pittsburgh as a roving minor league instructor in 2002 with an emphasis on the club's Latin American program. Prior to that job, Rojas spent five seasons as a coach in the Florida Marlins organization. Now he's a player development official for MLB. 

Euclides Rojas - Positively Pittsburgh

• 1972 - Steve Blass pitched a career-high 11 innings but ended up with a no-decision in a 3-2, 12-inning walk off win in the first game of a doubleheader against the Dodgers at TRS. Steverino had a rare bout of wildness (that would come next year), walking nine and bopping one, but had some glovely fielding behind him to keep the damage minimal. Richie Hebner sent the game into overtime with a homer in the ninth, then Manny Sanguillen delivered the game-winning rap with a two-out single in the 12th off reliever Pete Richert. Dave Cash had reached second on a throwing error and scored the winning run. The Dodgers were held to three hits in the second game by Bruce Kison, but split on the day by taking a 4-3 win. A walk came around, another run scored on a balk and Bill Buckner homered after an error. 
• 1974 - OF Gary “Junior” (he’s Gary Matthews’ son) Matthews Jr. was born in San Francisco. He put in 12 big-league years with nine stops, spending 46 games in Pittsburgh in 2001 when he was taken off waivers from the Cubs. He hit .245 and was sold to the Mets in the off season. Known for defensive flair, he also made the All-Star team in 2006, joining his dad as the 14th father-son combo to appear in the Midsummer Classic. 
• 1974 - The Pirates swept a twin bill at San Diego Stadium, dropping the Padres by 4-1 & 10-2 scores, to vault into first place, 1/2-game ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. Pittsburgh was on a 29-11 roll, having caught fire after a basebrawl with the Reds that seemed to bond them. The Pirates won the lidlifter in 12 innings, with Jim Rooker getting the win by tossing six-hit ball over 11 frames. The Bucs won softly - their runs in the 12th came on a sac fly and a pair of bases-loaded walks. Larry Demery won the nightcap with help from Ramon Hernandez in a game that was a cliffhanger until late, when the Buccos scored nine runs in the seventh and ninth frames. The Pirates won the NL East, but were left in the dust by the LA Dodgers in the NLCS, losing 3-of-4 games. 
• 1978 - Major League umpires staged a one-day strike, their first walk-out, to air a laundry list of grievances they had with MLB; semi-pro and amateur arbitrators were used as replacements. The umpires walked out again at the beginning of the 1979 season. The Major League Umpires Association authorized several disruptive events on behalf of the boys in blue, including the ill-fated mass resignation of 1999, leading the umps to decertify the MLUA and start a new unit called the World Umpires Association, recognized in 2000 and still the umps’ bargaining unit. 

Dave Roberts - 1980 Topps

• 1979 - The Bucs scored twice in the ninth after two were out and no one aboard to send the game into extra innings, eventually winning 4-3 in 19 frames over the Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium. Dave Roberts pitched out of a pair of bases loaded jams to earn the win. He wriggled off the hook with the sacks juiced and no one away in the 17th inning after escaping in the 16th, when the bases were packed with two outs and he went 3-0 to opposing pitcher John D'Acquisto. The Friars stranded 26 runners in the match, one short of the MLB record. The contest lasted six hours and twelve minutes, the longest Pirate contest until the Jerry Meals 19-inning game at Atlanta in 2011.

8/25 From 1980: Candy Signs; Redus Cycle; Clutch Cutch; Jose Hot; TRS Fireworks; Punks Pulled; Gems & Game Tales

• 1981 - The Pirates dropped a wild 9-7 game to the LA Dodgers at TRS. The Bucs rallied from 6-1 and 7-3 deficits (driven by a couple of key errors and a blown call at first), the latter lead erased on a three-run Dave Parker homer in the ninth. Sadly, Kent Tekulve was tapped for a pair in the 10th and the Pirates were out of comebacks. But the real excitement happened out of sight, in the runway between the dugouts when both teams milled about in a mid-game shoving/verbal get together. Pittsburgh’s Paschal Perez had bopped a couple of Trolley Dodgers and LA’s Reggie Smith called him out; Perez suggested they meet to discuss it, so both teams crammed into the runway in the sixth inning. Although the 145-pound Perez carried a bat to the rendezvous, no blows were exchanged as Bill Robinson had him in tow. Willie Stargell explained to Russ Franke of the Pittsburgh Press “There wasn’t any fight. We just went in there to hold the daily lottery drawing.” In better news, the Pirates signed impending FA John Candelaria to a one-year contract for 1982; he was out for the current season with nerve damage to his arm. 
• 1982 - The Pirates gave up a 4-1 lead at TRS, allowing San Diego to edge ahead in the eighth. But they tied the game in their half when Tony Pena’s grounder scored Lee Lacy and walked it off with a ninth-inning victory over the Padres when Jim Morrison singled in Enrique Romo, running for Willie Stargell, with the game winner. Kent Tekulve claimed the W. It was a doubly dark day for the Padres; they not only lost the game but also Tony Gwynn, who broke his wrist diving for a fly ball. 

Jose DeLeon - 1984 Fleer

• 1983 - Behind the 11-strikeout performance of 22-year-old rookie Jose DeLeon and clutch hits by Jim Morrison and Tony Pena, the Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak to claw back into a virtual first-place tie with Philadelphia with a 5-3 win over the Astros at TRS. Morrison came off the bench to collect two hits & two RBI, Pena also had a pair of raps, including a solo home run, & chased home two more runs while Lee Lacy was a burr under Houston’s saddle with a hit, two walks, a stolen base and a run scored. Rod Scurry came on to get the last out. 
• 1984 - Lee Lacy had three hits and chased home three runs to help John Candelaria to his 11th win, 5-3, over the Reds at TRS. But the big news was after the game - a postgame pyrotechnics show went haywire when a box of fireworks exploded behind the home plate stands, injuring 18 and sending 11 of the group to the hospital. 
• 1987 - Mike Dunne fired a two-hitter as the Bucs defeated the Cincinnati Reds, 1-0, at TRS. Johnny Ray’s first-inning RBI single that scored Andy Van Slyke, who had also singled and stole second ahead of Ray, was the game-winner. He struck out seven, allowed just one runner to reach second, and retired the last 10 batters. Ted Power was Cincy’s hard-luck loser; he only gave up four hits, two of them to the first three batters he faced. 
• 1989 - OF Gary Redus hit for the cycle in a 12-3 win over the Reds at Riverfront Stadium, scoring three times and driving in four runs as the Pirates won their fifth game in a row. Barry Bonds homered and Andy Van Slyke banged a pair of doubles to pave the road for Jeff Robinson and Mike Smith. 
• 1991 - Pittsburgh banged out four homers from Cecil Espy, Jay Bell, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla to whip the SF Giants 8-3 at TRS. Bell scored three times with a pair of RBI while Espy added three RBI and a run to back John Smiley’s win. 

Cecil Espy - 1992 Fleer Ultra

• 1992 - Andy Van Slyke had three hits, including a homer & double, drove home four runs and scored twice as the Bucs beat LA 10-3 at Dodger Stadium. Leadoff hitter Alex Cole had three hits and scored three times as Danny Cox got the win in relief of Danny Jackson. 
• 1996 - Jeff King swatted five hits, including a homer and double, but it was in vain as the Bucs lost a 13-9 decision to Colorado at Coors Field. Jay Bell and Nelson Liriano also went deep, but four Bucco pitchers couldn’t hold off the Rockies with Marc Wilkins taking the loss. 
• 1997 - Joe Randa and Mark Smith homered in the ninth inning on back-to-back pitches for a 4-3 walk-off win over the Dodgers at TRS, giving the Bucs a DH split. Both blows came off Todd Worrell, who got the call when Eddie Williams walked the first hitter. Marc Wilkins, who worked the last two frames, claimed the win. Pittsburgh was clobbered 8-2 in the opener. 
• 2006 - In a Skyblast concert the Buc PR department would rather forget, San Francisco punk cover band Me First & the Gimme Gimmes were booed out of PNC Park and their three-day booking canceled. And they were lucky; the 32,000 fans were in a good mood after a 5-3 Bucco win over the Astros. East End native and band singer Spike Slawson said “It was an obscene amount of money for the work we did, so I can’t complain. We’re a punk band. Getting booed by a sports crowd makes us viable.” 
• 2009 - Andrew McCutchen hit his first walk off homer in the ninth to beat Philadelphia and Brad Lidge 6-4 at PNC Park. Brandon Moss had tied the game moments earlier with a single and trotted home with the winning run ahead of Cutch. Matt Capps gave up a pair in the ninth for the rare daily double of a blown save and win. 

Cutch - 2009 Topps Rookie Update

• 2020 - Coming into Chicago with a head of steam after sweeping the Brewers, the Pirates had the wind taken out of their sails when they were no-hit by Lucas Giolito at Guaranteed Rate Park. The White Sox’ Giolito walked one (in the fourth inning) and struck out 13 in the 4-0 win and survived a two-out, two-strike bullet (102.6 EV) by Josh Bell to right that Adam Engel gloved. It was the first no-hitter of the 2020 campaign and the 13th time the Buccos franchise was no-no’ed, with the last being in 2015 at the hands of the Nat’s Max Scherzer.

8/24 Through the 1970s: 10 Straight; Middle Muscle; All Downhill; Gems & Game Tales; HBD Jewel, Al, Matty & Billy

• 1881 - C George “Billy” (it was his middle name) Kelsey was born in Covington, Ohio. His MLB credentials consist of two games played for the Pirates in 1907 as a 25-year-old, going 2-for-5. He later managed in the Texas League (player/manager for Oklahoma City) and the Western Association (Tulsa). 
• 1889 - IF Jewel Ens was born in St. Louis. He was with the Pirates from 1922-25, hitting .290 as a seldom used bench player/coach. Jewel then coached the Bucs from 1926-29 and 1935-39, managing the club in between from 1929-31, putting up an overall 176-167 slate while finishing second once. He also coached for the Detroit Tigers (1932), Cincinnati Reds (1933; 1941) & Boston Braves (1934), then spent eight seasons (1942–49) as manager of the Syracuse Chiefs, then the Reds' top farm club. He was elected to the International League Hall of Fame in 1950, the year of his death. Jewel, btw, isn't a moniker - it was his given first name. 

Jewel Ens - 1930's photo TSN/Mears Collection

• 1890 - OF Ralph “Matty” Mattis was born in Roxborough, Pennsylvania. Matty spent seven years in the minors as a pretty good batter with a lifetime .303 BA, but his only major league shot was in 1914 with the Federal League Pittsburgh Rebels where he hit .247 in 36 games. The pasture was a crowded place to elbow into that season; the Rebels carried, at one time or another, eight OF’ers including player/manager Rebel Oakes. 
• 1897 - C Al Bool was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. He played three years of big league ball, with his busiest year being in 1930 with the Pirates. He got into 78 games and hit .259, then moved to Boston in the off-season. He played one more season and retired to become a Nebraska farmer. 
• 1921 - The Pirates, in front by 7-1/2 games with 35 to go, dropped a double dipper to the Giants at the Polo Grounds before 35,000. Art Nehf won the lid lifter, 10-2, to hand Babe Adams his first loss in 10 games while Phil Douglas took the nightcap, 7-0. Manager George Gibson called a team meeting after the losses, per the Pittsburgh Press, and “...club matters were discussed, but they were discussed in a way that hurt. Errors of omission and commission were probed down to the raw flesh…” It didn’t rally the boys; they would end up blowing the title to the Giants by four games, going 14-21 over their final 35 contests. 
• 1928 - The Pirates romped over the NY Giants, 16-5, at Forbes Field. The middle of the Pittsburgh order - Paul Waner, George Grantham and Pie Traynor - pounded out seven hits, including a homer and three triples, drove in 11 runs and scored six more. Every Pirates position player had at least two hits as the Bucs banged out 19 knocks. 
• 1956 - The Cards defeated the Pirates, 6-2, at Busch Stadium in a game notable for its batting order. Manager Bobby Bragan batted the pitcher seventh, Maz eighth and Hank Foiles ninth. Mazeroski went 1-for-3 while Foiles homered. The pitcher, Fred Waters, went 0-for-3. Bragan used the ploy next season, too, and then it wouldn’t be repeated in Pittsburgh again until 2008 when John Russell penciled in Paul Maholm to bat eighth, ahead of Jack Wilson. 

Bob Friend dodged the raindrops - 1959 Topps

• 1959 - Bob Friend gave up 12 hits, but went the distance to shut out SF‚ 6-0. He struck out eight and stranded a dozen G-Men at Forbes Field, backed by a pair of Rocky Nelson homers. Nelson had three hits, three RBI and three runs scored; Dick Groat also chipped in with a three-pack of raps. 
• 1978 - The Pirates won their 10th game in a row by dropping the Braves, 5-1, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in a matchup of future Hall-of-Famers Bert Blyleven and Phil Niekro. Bert not only pitched his way to victory, but his two-out, bases-loaded double in the seventh cleared the sacks to break a 0-0 tie. Pittsburgh dropped the next two games, then started a fresh 11-game winning streak. But in the end, the Pirates couldn’t catch up to the Phils, who won the division by 1-1/2 games over the 88-73 Buccos. The race went to the wire, with Philly clinching the crown with a 10-8 win over Pittsburgh in the campaign’s next-to-last game.

8/24 From 1980: Red Roundup; Pre-Game Party; Fishin' For Sierra; Gott Goals; Gems & Game Tales; HBD Kevin

• 1980 - RHP Kevin Correia was born in San Diego. He signed as a FA with the Pirates and slashed 11-7/4.01 before the 2011 break and was named to the All-Star team for the first (and only) time of his career, but faded during the stretch. Correia became a long man/sixth starter in 2012 after Wandy Rodriguez was picked up at the deadline, although KC was on a five-game winning streak. He was the first Pirates' pitcher since Pascual Perez in 1981 to start a game one day after appearing in relief when he volunteered to take the hill rather than have the Pirates call up a minor-league starter in 2012, losing the start 3-1. KC signed a two-year deal with the Minnesota Twins following that season after going 24-22/4.49 in his two Pirates campaigns, and tossed his last game in 2015 for the Phillies. 

Kevin Correia - 2011 photo Paul Bereswill/AP

• 1982 - The Bucs looked out of it, down to San Diego by a 5-1 count after six at TRS, but they kept chipping away. They got a pair back in the seventh when a Padre error opened the gate, cut the lead to one in the eighth on Tony Pena & Johnny Ray doubles, and then tied it in the ninth with some drama when Bill Madlock stroked a two-out homer off Gary Lucas. The Friars stranded a pair in both the 10th and 11th frames, with SS Dale Berra making a play in the hole to save a run. The Pirates walked it off in the 11th after Lee Lacy singled, stole second, tagged to third and came in with two outs on Pena’s bouncer up the middle. Lee and Tony led the hit parade with three raps each while Kent Tekulve faced one batter in the final frame for the win. 
• 1984 - Jose DeLeon went into the seventh inning against the Reds pitching a no-hitter, but lost it and the game when ex-Buc Dave Parker singled in a run to give Cincy the lead and eventual 2-0 win at TRS behind a three-hitter by Jeff Russell. Parker had the only Red hit; Cincy scored thanks to a walk and two errors. 
• 1987 - Peter Gammon wrote in Sports Illustrated that GM Syd Thrift called a team meeting for his young and underachieving Pirate club (53-71) and asked the team to set goals. Reliever Jim Gott suggested aiming for 25 wins in the final 38 games. “Be realistic,” Thrift replied. It ended up that Gott was indeed a bit unrealistic - the team won 27 down the stretch, starting a seven-game winning streak that night with a 5-4 win over the Reds. Gott earned the save. The Pirates hot streak allowed them to finish at a competitive 80-82, though they were still a couple of seasons away from contention. 
• 1989 - The Pirates dropped the Houston Astros, 3-2, in 14 frames at TRS. Doug Drabek tossed a nine-inning two-hitter that was tainted by two unearned runs due to three Bucco errors. Doug Bair got the win after Jose Lind’s bonus time sac fly brought home Gary Redus. 

The Bucs wouldn't part with Carlos - 1991 Topps Debut

• 1992 - Knight-Ridder News reported that the Pirates were considered the frontrunners to land 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 $1.35M 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. The major hitch was that Texas wanted SS Carlos Garcia, and the Pirates were reluctant to deal a top prospect for a one-and-done player. 
• 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 Corsairs 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 put the contest to bed. 
• 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). 

Xavier Nady - 2007 Upper Deck Ultimate

• 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. 
• 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.

8/23: Roberto 10-Spot; Super Scoops; Richie Raps; Middle Muscle; 6-Pack Start; Mini No-No; Clarke Cannon; Gems & Game Tales; HBD Tyler, Denny & Guy

• 1901 - RHP Guy “Mississippi Mudcat” Bush was born in Aberdeen, Mississippi. Guy worked in 1935-36 for Pittsburgh toward the end of his 17-year career, posting a line of 12-14-4/4.46 in 57 outings. He started in his first season and was converted to the pen in his second; that didn’t go so well and he was released in July. He did make the record books with the Bucs, though - he served up Babe Ruth’s final two home runs at Forbes Field in 1935 with the Bambino’s last dinger being the first ever to clear the right-field roof. He got his nickname from Chicago sportswriters who liked to describe him in their stories as a homespun backwoods boy. 
• 1907 - Howie Camnitz threw a five-inning, complete game no-hitter (although not even earning an asterisk as it didn’t go the required nine innings) with four walks against the New York Giants Mike Lynch, who only surrendered two singles, at the Polo Grounds. The game was the nitecap of a doubleheader. After the first match went extra innings (the Pirates won 4-2 in 10 frames behind Sam Leever and Honus Wagner’s three hits), the teams agreed to a shortened second game. Pittsburgh won 1-0. 
• 1910 - Despite manager and LF’er Fred Clarke’s four assists from the outfield, the Bucs fell 6-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies at Forbes Field. Clarke’s four toss-outs - one at home, another at third, and two more at second - set an individual NL record. He also made a neat running catch in the eighth inning to take away extra bases from John Titus. Chief Wilson added another assist from RF, and the team's total of five for a game tied a NL mark. 

Fred Clarke - 1910 photo/Paul Thompson

• 1959 - The Pirates swept a doubleheader from the Dodgers, beating Don Drysdale in both games. As a starter, Drysdale lost the opener 9-2, lasting 2-2/3 frames, then relieved in the nitecap, taking a 4-3 loss in the 10th inning. ElRoy Face won his 16th of the year without a loss in the second game, equaling Cal Hubbell's (1936) and Ewell Blackwell's (1947) record streaks. 
• 1970 - Roberto Clemente had his second straight five-hit game against Los Angeles, the first 20th century major leaguer to collect 10 hits in consecutive games (per Bill Christine of the Press, skipper Danny Murtaugh said: “Ten hits in two games! When I was playing, it would take me three or four weeks to get that many.”) Clemente banged a homer, double, three RBI and scored four runs in the 11-0 win at Dodger Stadium. Bill Mazeroski added four raps while Freddy Patek, Matty Alou and Manny Sanguillen each had three knocks as the Buccos collected 23 hits. Steve Blass cruised to the victory, tossing a complete game four-hitter with eight whiffs. 
• 1971 - Al Oliver had himself a day, going 5-for-6 against the Braves with two homers, four runs scored and five RBI in a 15-4 romp over the Braves at Atlanta Stadium, falling a double shy of the cycle. Roberto Clemente added three hits, including a long ball, while four more Bucs had two raps each. Bob Moose got the win even though Nellie Briles had to pick up the final four frames. The Bravos returned the favor the next day, whupping the Pirates 15-5. 
• 1975 - Richie Zisk went 4-for-4 with a homer, a double and a sac fly to drive home six runs, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Pirates allowed the Giants seven unearned runs in the fifth inning to take home a gift-wrapped victory, 12-7, at TRS. With two outs and two on, Joe Morgan’s grounder ticked off Rennie Stennett’s mitt and the floodgates opened - three pitchers, three walks, two hits and a wild pitch later, the G-Men had rung up an eight spot to hang a loss on Bruce Kison. 

Willie - 1977 Hostess

• 1977 - It was a back-and-forth game to the end: up by a run with Goose Gossage on the bump in the ninth, Padre Gene Tenace launched a two-out solo homer to tie the game after the Pirates had rallied for the lead in the eighth. But Al Oliver had an answer when he led off the Bucco half with a blast off Rollie Fingers to give the Pirates a 7-6 win over San Diego at TRS. Scoops and Dave Parker had a pair of hits each and Bill Robinson added a two-run long ball to give the Goose a blown save/victory. It was also announced that Willie Stargell would have surgery on his elbow and he’d be lost for the rest of the season after having already spent six weeks on the DL. He bounced back after the procedure, landing an All-Star berth in ‘78. 
• 1980 - RHP Denny Bautista was born in Sanchez, Dominican Republic. He was the epitome of a journeyman, tossing for six teams in seven MLB years while slashing 11-15/5.88. The Pirates traded for him in 2008 for a minor leaguer, and from 2008-09, his Pittsburgh line was 5-4/5.89 in 49 outings. The 6’5” reliever moved on to the Giants in 2010 for his last big league campaign, and closed out his pro years in Korea and Mexico. 
• 1988 - Dave LaPoint tossed a five-hitter and Andy Van Slyke drilled a two-run homer in the seventh to carry the Bucs to a 2-0 win over Cincinnati at TRS. LaPoint and Norm Charlton traded zeroes until the seventh. After the Bucs scored, the Red staged a two-out rally in the eighth to chase LaPoint, but Jim Gott came on to save the day. LaPoint ended up a rental who went 4-2/2.77 for the Bucs in the stretch, with this his sole shutout start. 
• 1993 - RHP Tyler Glasnow was born in Newhall, California. Glasnow was the Pirates 5th round pick in the 2011 draft and the prep star gave up a ride to the University of Portland by signing for a $600 K. Tyler dominated in the minors and was a consensus Top 25 Prospect, getting his first call to the show in 2016. He broke camp with the club the following year but was sent back to Indy in June after being batted around in the rotation and got 13 starts with the big club in 2017. He was sent to Tampa Bay in 2018 as part of the Chris Archer deal after working out of the Bucco bullpen and became a poster boy for change-of-scenery swaps. 

Tyler Glasnow - 2016 Donruss Chrome Turn Two

• 2001 - The Pirates defeated the Diamondbacks, 5-1, in front of 30,784 at PNC Park, despite a 16-strikeout performance by Randy Johnson, who became the first pitcher in history to fan 300 batters in four straight seasons. Johnson only gave up six hits, but he walked nine batters in the loss to Tony McKnight and the bullpen. The big blows off the Big Unit were a two-run homer by Kevin Young and two-run pinch-hit double by Keith Osik, both in the seventh. 
• 2002 - The Pirates were down 3-2 in the seventh against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park, and it had been a frustrating day - they had left the bases loaded with two gone in the first and with nobody out in the sixth. They looked destined to fall into the same trap once again when Pittsburgh juiced the bases with no outs, then Craig Wilson and Kevin Young fanned. Adam Hyzdu came to the rescue; he popped an 0-1 pitch into the stands for his third long ball in four games (Adam’s granny broke a string of 11 straight solo bombs by the Pirates) to give the Bucs a lead they wouldn’t lose. The bullpen was nearly flawless; Mike Lincoln got the win, Brian Boehringer the hold and Mike Williams notched his 36th save as they tossed four scoreless frames, giving up just two hits. 
• 2014 - The Pirates 4-5-6 hitters (Neil Walker, Russ Martin & Pedro Alvarez) went 7-for-11 with three walks, two doubles, three homers, six runs scored and 10 RBI to help rough up the Milwaukee Brewers 10-2 at Miller Park. Alvarez hit a pair of opposite field homers after a six week long ball drought, one of them coming back-to-back following Martin’s blast into the bullpen. Edinson Volquez got the win with clutch pitching - he gave up 11 hits in 5-⅔ IP, but stranded runners at second and third with no outs once and later in the game worked out of a bases loaded jam with one out against Ryan Braun & Aramis Ramirez, getting an infield pop and swinging K. 
• 2016 - The first six Pirates to bat hit safely against Houston’s Joe Musgrove - Adam Frazier (single), Matt Joyce (double), Andrew McCutchen (double), Gregory Polanco (single), David Freese (single) & Josh Bell (single) - before Bell was thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double and the Bucs scored four times on the way to a 7-1 victory at PNC Park. Ivan Nova tossed a complete game six-hitter on 98 pitches, losing a shutout in the ninth inning, while Polanco launched a pair of home runs. It was the first time since 1975 that the Pirates strung together that many knocks to open a game when the first eight Buccos banged out hits. Despite that soft rookie outing, Musgrove joined the Pirates as a major piece of the 2018 Gerrit Cole trade with the ‘Stros, then becoming the centerpiece of a 2021 trade to San Diego. 

J-Hay - 2017 Topps Now

• 2017 - The Dodgers Rich Hill took a perfect game into the ninth inning at PNC Park and a no-hitter into the 10th; both went by the wayside as the Pirates prevailed in an unlikely 1-0 victory. The perfecto was lost on Logan Forsythe’s error while the no-no, shutout, and game were deep sixed by Josh Harrison’s leadoff, walk-off homer in overtime. Trevor Williams matched zeroes with him through eight innings without the style points - he gave up seven hits, four walks and bopped a batter, but stranded nine runners thanks to a pair of DPs and a throw-out on the bases. Felipe Rivero and Juan Nicasio kept the Trolley Dodgers at bay for the win. Game factoids: J-Hay is the first and so far only player to end a no-hit bid with a walk off HR. On the bump, Hill became just the second pitcher to lose a no-hitter via a walk off hit (raise your hand if you know the first), with the original Heartbreak Kid being the Pirates’ Harvey Haddix, who lost his perfect game in 1959 in the 13th inning. One final tidbit: Going into the game, the Pirates had scored five or more runs in seven straight games for the first time since 1996, so Hill was working his magic against a team that was on an offensive roll. 
• 2019 - A couple of “up” outings by a pair of Pirates pitchers who had decidedly up-and-down seasons and a ninth-inning uprising carried the Bucs to a 3-2 win over the Reds at PNC Park. Mitch Keller struck out nine in six innings, but left runners on first and third with no outs during a 1-1 game for Michael Feliz in the seventh. It took Feliz 12 pitches to retire the next three Redlegs swinging. Cincy edged ahead in the eighth off Keona Kela, but the Pirates lit it up in the ninth. Four of the five batters hit safely - the only out was a sac bunt - with Adam Frazier’s rap tying the game and Pablo Reyes walking it off with a single to give Felipe Vazquez the victory.