8/2 Through the 1960s: Roman's Streak; Smokey v Chet; Matty Cover; Gems & Game Tales; RIP Harry; HBD Tim, Bucky & Wilmer

• 1881 - RHP Frederick W. “Bucky” Veil (he went to Bucknell) was born in Tyrone. He only pitched two MLB seasons (1903-04), both for the Bucs, as his career was cut short by malaria bouts. He did have a good arm; Honus Wagner predicted "...A brilliant future for the promising star..." in the Pittsburgh Press, although his health held him to just five career victories. He does hold the distinction of being the first relief pitcher in a World Series, when he tossed seven innings against Boston in 1903 after replacing an injured Sam Leever in game two, giving up just one run. 
• 1894 - The Pirates set a club record by scoring in 14 straight innings during a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Browns when they plated a run in the first. They started the streak on July 31st, beating Cincinnati 11-10 while scoring in the last five frames, and then tallied in all eight frames on August 1st against the Reds, winning by a 15-5 count. The games were played at Expo Park. One additional footnote to the game: the infield fly rule was new, and what the Pittsburgh Press called “a puzzling play” occurred when pitcher Red Ehret missed an infield pop (not intentionally) that had been called an infield fly by the ump. The runner on first took off (the original rule stated he had to remain on first), the pitcher threw the ball into center field and all sorts of hilarity broke out until the Pirates had, per the Press, “a sudden awakening” and tagged first for the forceout. 
• 1905 - Temper, temper, Hans: In the course of a 3-1 loss to the New York Giants, Honus Wagner was called out on a bang-bang play at first. Hot at the decision, he fired a baseball past umpire George Bausewine’s noggin during warmups the next inning. The Flying Dutchman was ejected, then later suspended for three games and fined $40 by the league. 

Hans got a little frisky...2020 Topps Archive

• 1907 - The Big Train, Walter Johnson, lost his debut 3-2 to Ty Cobb’s Tigers. But he was this close to being a Bucco instead of a Senator: according to biography.yourdictionary.com, the Pittsburgh Pirates had wanted to sign him, but refused to guarantee his $9 train fare back home if he didn't make the team. Instead, Johnson signed for $350 a month, a $100 bonus and a train ticket with Washington. The Big Train went on to win 417 games in 21 seasons for Washington. 
• 1909 - NL President Harry Pulliam was buried in Louisville. In his honor (and for the first time in baseball history) both National and American League games were postponed and the teams wore black armbands for the remainder of the season. Harry had been the Pirates team president prior to that, and is widely credited with convincing Honus Wagner to leave Louisville and join him in Pittsburgh. 
• 1922 - RHP Wilmer Fields was born in Manassas, Virginia. Fields was a 6’3”, 220 lb. quarterback at Virginia State when the Homestead Grays discovered him and his fastball. Wilmer spent from 1940-48 with the team as a two-way player: not only did he win 102 games from the hill, but he was used as a utility/spot starter off the bench, playing 2B, 3B, SS, catcher and the OF. After the Grays folded he went on to win an amazing seven MVP awards in four different Latin and indie leagues. Though in the right era, he never played MLB ball, turning down several offers because the pay was too low ($4,500 was the going rate for rookies in those days) and also because as an indie player his wife could attend all his games, an impossibility for a major-league spouse. A Wilmer factoid: He was variously known as Bill, Red and Chinky. They were in reference to his light skin color, which led him to become known jokingly among his teammates as “the man who integrated the Homestead Grays.” He also continued his college education during the off-season, and after his playing days became an alcohol abuse counselor, wrote his autobiography & helped found and served as the first president of the Negro League Baseball Players Association. 
• 1928 - The Pirates scored 12 runs in the first three innings and ran away with an 18-4 laugher over the Phillies at the Baker Bowl. Glenn Wright (five RBI) and George Grantham (who scored four times) cranked out early three-run homers to pace the attack. Three more runs were driven in by both Pie Traynor and Fred Bickell. Burleigh Grimes coasted to the win. 

Smokey Joe Williams - 1999 Baseball Immortals

• 1930 - Playing at night under Kansas City's portable light system, the Homestead Grays' 44-year-old hurler, Smokey Joe Williams (27 strikeouts), spun a one-hitter (an eighth-inning bloop into right) to defeat the Monarchs' Chet Brewer (he gave up four hits & fanned 19, including 10 in a row starting in the 7th), 1-0, in a fiercely contested 12-inning matchup. Oscar Charleston scored the game’s only run when he walked - the first free pass of the game - and later scored on Chaney White’s single. Not only were the pitchers top notch, but both were adept at doctoring the ball, an especially effective ploy at night. Per the Pittsburgh Courier “The opposing pitchers were cheating without the question of a doubt. An emery ball in daylight is very deceptive but at night it is about as easy to see as an insect in the sky.” Still, Grays’ owner Cum Posey later called it “the greatest pitching battle of the Grays’ history...” 
• 1931 - The Pirates stopped the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 at Forbes Field behind Erv Brame for the series sweep and the team's third straight shutout over the Redlegs. Paul Waner had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run while Tommy Thevenow also kicked in three knocks and a pair of RBI. 
• 1954 - Roman Mejias, a 23-year-old second-year Cuban outfielder in the Pirates system (Class B Waco), had his 55-game hitting streak snapped. Mejias’ streak was the third-longest in minor league ball; the record is held by Joe Wilhoit, who collected a hit in 69 straight games with Wichita of the Western Association 1919. During the streak, Mejias batted .419 with 19 doubles, five triples and seven home runs while driving home 67 runs and plating 56 times. He hit .358 on the year and was called up the following season, spending six campaigns with the Buccos as a back-up outfielder. His MLB stick never matched his minor league performance; he hit .245 as a Bucco and .254 over his nine-year career. 
• 1960 - The Pirates defeated the Dodgers 3-0 at Forbes Field behind Vern Law’s five-hitter. Roberto Clemente’s arm was a game breaker. He threw behind Norm Larker at first to catch him rounding the base too aggressively after a single, and then played Johnny Roseboro’s ball into the RF corner perfectly, holding the Dodgers to a single that was followed by a DP. The Bucco glovework was contagious; earlier in the game, Frank Howard was nailed going to third on a Bill Virdon, Dick Groat, Don Hoak trifecta with the Tiger climbing the ladder on a high relay and coming down with the tag. A close game was broken up in the seventh when Bill Mazeroski rolled a single up the middle to score Joe Christopher. But the gamebreaker came when Dodger hurler Stan Williams mishandled a bunt, leading eventually to a two-out, two-run double by Dick Groat. 

The Deacon had lots of help - 1960 graphic Walker/Post Gazette

• 1966 - Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield was born in Melbourne, Florida. The RH spent his first two seasons (1992-93) as a Buc and went 14-12 with a 4.17 ERA. After a fairly terrible year in AAA Buffalo in 1994, he was released and then spent the next 17 years in Boston, winning 187 games and making an All-Star appearance before hangin’ ‘em up after the 2011 season at the age of 44. Tim is now the NESN studio analyst for the Boston Red Sox. 
• 1968 - Al McBean tossed a six-hitter at Candlestick Park as the Pirates topped the Giants 3-1. The two Willies, Stargell & Mays, exchanged solo homers as San Francisco charity was the difference. Maury Wills scored the first run on a walk, passed ball and two-out error; the second tally came when Milt May’s bloop was misplayed into a triple and a wild pitch sent him home. 
• 1969 - Matty Alou was featured on the cover of The Sporting News for the story “Pirate Treasure.” He was a treasure in his second All-Star season, leading the league in hits (231), appearances (746) and at-bats (698).