- 1899 - 3B Jimmy Williams extended his hitting streak to 26 games in an 11-5 loss to Baltimore. It would end the following contest against Louisville’s Deacon Phillippe, who would join Pittsburgh the next season. Williams went on to hit .354 that campaign and put together a team-record 27-game streak in August/September.
- 1903 - Sam Leever shut down the Phillies, 2-0, at Exposition Park to bring the Pirates shutout streak to six games. The Phils lost the battle the next day, too, 7-3, but snapped the scoreless string when they plated in the fourth off rookie Kaiser Wilhelm, who still earned a complete game victory.
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| Roy Partlow - undated photo by Teenie Harris/CMOA |
- 1911 - RHP “Silent Roy” Partlow was born in Washington, Georgia. He tossed for the Homestead Grays from 1938-39/1941-44/1949 (he missed 1940 when he jumped to Veracruz in the Mexican League and then left to serve in WW2 after the ‘44 season). Roy twirled a no-hitter in 1942 and was no slouch with the stick, batting .266 as a Gray. Like many Negro League players, Roy pitched everywhere - he was in the minor leagues with the Dodgers as one of the early black pioneers (he was the third black player signed by Branch Rickey), worked in Mexico, Puerto Rico, & Cuba and for three other Negro league clubs during his career. He got his nickname because of his “reticent manner.”
- 1928 - The Pirates traded C Johnny Gooch and 1B Joe Harris to the Brooklyn Robins for C Charlie Hargreaves. The deal turned into an end-of-the-road swap: it was the 37-year-old Harris’ last campaign and Gooch had just two more MLB seasons left in him. Hargreave caught through 1929 and after a short stay in 1930 finished his pro career in the minors.
- 1929 - Burleigh Grimes won his 10th straight decision by a 9-2 count against Brooklyn at Forbes Field. In between, he also picked up a couple of saves during the streak, which began with his first start of the year on April 16th. Grimes scattered nine hits and even had a pair of RBI. George Grantham led the way with a homer and three runs pushed home.
- 1935 - LHP George Brunet was born in Houghton, Michigan. Lefty spent 15 seasons in the show, with his best years as an Angel, and made a Pittsburgh stop in 1970, near the end of his road. He got into a dozen games, one as a starter, and posted a 1-1/2.70 line as a 35-year-old. The Pirates had traded with the Senators for him on August 31st, so he was ineligible for the postseason. During the winter, the club shipped him to the Cards, along with Matty Alou, for Nelson Briles and Vic Davalillo. 1971 was his last MLB gig as he was released by the Redbirds in May, but he found a second home in Mexico, pitching there until he was 54 and serving as a baseball instructor and ambassador after retiring.
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| George Brunet - 1971 Topps |
- 1944 - At Forbes Field, the Cubs plated three runs on a very wild pitch by Art "Cookie" Cuccurullo (there was 75’ between the plate and the railing) to prime an eight-run second inning and eventual 10-6 Chicago win.
- 1956 - It took 11 innings, but the Bucs dropped the Cards, 2-0, behind Bob Friend’s six-hitter. He went the distance to win his league-high 10th game, fanning nine and walking four. He outlasted old Bucco Murry Dickson at Busch Stadium, getting the runs on singles by the Pirates two big guns, Dale Long and Frank Thomas. With the win, the Pirates moved into second place, ahead of St. Louis.
- 1957 - RHP Don “The Caveman” Robinson was born in Ashland, Kentucky. He spent 10 of his 15 years in the show with Pittsburgh, first as a reliever and then as a starter, going 65-69-43 with a 3.85 ERA. A three-time Silver Slugger awardee, his batting line was .265/6/45 as a Buc. As for the Caveman moniker, no one is really sure; he wasn't particularly hirsute for the era. He already had it as a 21-year-old rookie; we’re guessing his 6’4”, 230 pound build had something to do with it.
- 1963 - LHP Scott Ruskin was born in Jacksonville, Florida. Ruskin was a third round pick in the 1986 draft by the Bucs out of Florida and made it to the show in 1990 after the Bucs converted him from a 1B/OF to a pitcher in 1989. He went 2-2-2/3.02 for the Bucs, then was sent to the Expos as part of the package to get Zane Smith. He finished the season strong, and then his effectiveness went downhill. His last season was 1993, when the Reds cut him loose after just four outings.
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| Scott Ruskin - 1990 Donruss Rookies |
- 1965 - In the first college/high school draft ever held, the Pirates picked OF’er Doug Dickerson of Alabama’s Ensley HS first (#10) in the draft; he was out of baseball by 1970. Their first 17 selections never made the show, but they had some luck in the later rounds. RHP Bob Moose (18th round) from Export in Westmoreland County, RHP Gene Garber (20th round) and SS Freddie “The Cricket" Patek (22nd round) all carved out solid careers. They also signed undrafted Don Money, an infielder who played 16 seasons for the Phils and Brewers, hitting .261 lifetime and making four All-Star teams. On the second day, they picked Heisman Trophy winner Mike Garrett of Southern Cal; he didn’t sign, opting wisely to stick to football. He did join the Pirates very briefly in 1970, though - the Bucs almost immediately traded him to San Diego, prompting him to return to the gridiron. Locally, Pitt QB Fred Mazurek was drafted by the Twins, but the Panther CF’er signed with the Washington Redskins of the NFL instead. For the record, the Oakland A’s selected Arizona State OF’er Rick Monday, making him MLB’s first amateur draft pick.
- 1965 - The Pirates won in one of the most “what are the odds” ways possible, a walk-off balk, at Forbes Field. Down by a run in the bottom of the ninth, Roberto Clemente tied the game with a two-out single after the Astros had gained the lead with a four-run top half. In the bottom of the 11th, Bill Virdon singled, eventually moved to third and scored the winner on Hal Woodeshick’s two-out balk for a 7-6 victory. Willie Stargell went 3-for-4 with a homer.
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