7/18 From 1960: Ground Chuck Sharp; King Granny; Leyland Loses It; Big Daddy #400; 11 Straight; The Hat Axed; Game Tales

• 1964 - The Milwaukee Braves got blown out at County Stadium, losing 8-2 to the Pirates, paced by Bob Bailey and Roberto Clemente’s three hits to back Bob Veale’s seven-hitter. The Bucs also helped Brave legend Warren Spahn reach a milestone. Seven of Pittsburgh's 15 hits came against the southpaw, who lasted just 3-2/3 frames, but he managed to complete his 5,000th MLB inning, putting him in an elite group; he still ranks eighth all-time in IP (sixth since post-1900) and joined a club with just a dozen other 5K workhorse members. The Hall-of-Famer usually fared better against the Buccos; he beat them 49 times over his two-decade career. 

Bob Bailey -1964 Topps Giant

• 1967 - Harry “The Hat” Walker was fired as manager when the Bucs started out 42-42, despite winning 182 games and finishing third in back-to-back seasons. Old standby Danny Murtaugh returned to the bench in his stead. 
• 1969 - Roberto Clemente ruined Bob Gibson’s day as the Bucs defeated the Cards at Forbes Field, when Arriba’s two-run homer and productive bouncer plated three of the Pirates' runs in a 4-1 victory. He remained a burr in Gibby’s side; his three-run homer at St. Louis did Gibson in, 3-0, the week before, the first two long flies he had ever hit off the ace. Dock Ellis was the recipient as the Docktor scattered seven hits in a complete game victory. 
• 1971 - The Bucs won their 11th straight game when they swept a DH from the Dodgers, 3-2 and 7-1, at TRS. The Pirates took the opener when Gene Alley opened the ninth with a triple and plated on Gene Clines' tapper. Dave Giusti got the blown save/win in relief of Bruce Kison. Luke Walker had a no-hitter going into the ninth during the second game, losing the no-no on a homer to Joe Ferguson. Richie Hebner and Milt May went long for the Buccos. 
• 1973 - Willie Stargell went 4-for-4 with a double and a homer, Rennie Stennett went deep and Bob Robertson doubled in a run as the Pirates defeated the LA Dodgers, 3-2, at TRS. Dock Ellis won the battle against Tommy John, with Dave Giusti coming on for the save. The two men of the hour, Willie and Giusti, got their league letters notifying them that they had made the All-Star team. The Bucs pranked Giusti; he had been bypassed for AS honors the past couple of seasons despite strong credentials, and his teammates hid his notification and then razzed him about missing the boat again until they finally came clean. 

Big Daddy - 1986 Fleers Best

• 1986 - Rick Reuschel made the 400th start of his big league career a winner, allowing three runs in seven innings to earn a 12-7 decision over the San Diego Padres at TRS. UL Washington led the way for the Pirates, going 3-for-4 with four RBI, Jim Morrison collected three hits with three RBI and Sid Bream had three knocks and scored twice. The game was a laugher at 10-0 in the fifth; the Friars scored four times in the ninth off Barry Jones to save some face. Big Daddy would finish his 19-year career with 529 starts and 214 victories. 
• 1989 - After a 17-4 loss to the San Diego Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium, Jim Leyland held a closed door team meeting and per the Pittsburgh Press’ Bob Hertzel, “...informed his team that it was, in no particular order, selfish, dumb, unprepared, a disgrace and probably unkind to animals.” Despite this being a team family trip, he also called for an afternoon practice before the next game, spoiling any last minute fam outings. The Pirates didn’t seem to take much umbrage at the wake up call, nor did it seem to have much effect - they were 13 games under .500 before the chat, then finished the year that same 13 games under, and lost the next night, 9-1. But Leyland was playing the long game, and was doing the groundwork as the Pirates went on to win the next three division titles, claiming at least 95 victories per season, between 1990-92. 
• 1990 - Jeff King hit his first career grand slam and added five RBI to lead the Pirates to an 11-2 win over San Francisco at Three Rivers Stadium. Sid Bream and Chico Lind also chipped in with long balls. Doug Drabek allowed two runs in eight innings to the Giants while improving to 11-4 on the season. 
• 2000 - The Bucs snapped a six-game losing streak with an 8-6 win over LA at Dodger Stadium. The Pirates scored five times in the first two innings, but the Dodgers came back with a six-spot in the third. The Bucs prevailed thanks to three RBIs each from Jason Kendall and Wil Cordero, both of whom also homered. Five Pirate relievers combined to toss seven innings of scoreless three-hit ball to cement the win, which went to Jose Manzanillo. 

Charlie Morton - 2010 Upper Deck

• 2009 - Charlie Morton went seven innings of three-hit ball to stop the Giants, 2-0, at PNC Park. Matt Capps made it exciting, putting runners on second and third with an out in the ninth, but came back to get a whiff and grounder to preserve the win. Ryan Doumit scored and had an RBI to provide a spark to the otherwise listless attack. 
• 2011 - The Pirates took a 2-0 decision at PNC Park against Cincinnati as Charlie Morton tossed a three-hitter against the Reds. The Bucs played small ball in the fourth for the win. Chase d’Arnaud and Neil Walker led off with singles, with The Kid taking second behind the play when the throw targeted d’Arnaud going to third. Andrew McCutchen’s tapper drove in one run, Matt Diaz’s sac fly scored the other, and that was it for the day’s lumber. 
• 2012 - The Pirates spent their final day tied for the top of the NL Central after taking a 9-6 decision from Colorado at Coors Field. Garrett Jones, Pedro Alvarez, Casey McGehee and Rod Barajas homered for the Bucs. Pittsburgh collapsed like a house of cards after that, going 28-43 the rest of the way to finish with 79 wins and their 20th straight losing campaign.