10/8 From 1940: '60 Series Loss; '74 Playoff Win; '90, '72 Playoff Losses; Danny MOTY; HBD Colin, Robbie & Spanky

• 1944 - Utilityman Ed “Spanky” Kirkpatrick was born in Spokane, Washington. He played 16 years in the majors (he suited up for just three teams - the LA/California Angels, Kansas City Royals and Pirates - during his first 15 years but played for another three clubs - Pittsburgh, Texas and Milwaukee - in his last campaign) and was a Bucco from 1974-77, batting .236 while playing the infield corners, all three outfield spots and pinch-hitting. He got his nickname while with the California Angels because he looked like Spanky of the “Little Rascals” TV show. 
• 1946 - The Jackie Robinson All-Stars beat the Major League All-Stars (a sort of pick-up club with Pirates Frankie Gustine, Lee Handley and Al Gionfriddo part of the lineup), 6-4, at Forbes Field. Jackie led both teams in hits, collecting three, and won the respect of a local old-timer who was at the game, Honus Wagner. Robinson would become MLB’s first black player the next year, and Post Gazette writer Al Abrams asked him if he caught much grief from the fans while a minor-leaguer or touring. Jackie replied, “No more than when I played college ball...I didn’t let it bother me. I just went about my business and made the fans like me whenever I could. The players were grand.” 
• 1960 - The New York nine returned home in style, ripping off six first-inning runs and burying the Bucs, 10-0, at Yankee Stadium to take a two games to one lead in the World Series. Whitey Ford tossed a four-hitter and only allowed two Pirates to reach second base; no Bucco touched third. Bobby Richardson belted a grand slam (he had one regular season homer) and had six RBI. It took three Pirates pitchers (Vinegar Bend Mizell, Clem Labine and Fred Green) just to get out of the opening frame, and that told the tale of the game. 

Danny Murtaugh - 1970 Topps

• 1970 - It was announced that birthday boy Danny Murtaugh was selected as Manager of the Year in a poll of the current managers. He won eight votes to top the Yankees’ Ralph Houk, who had five, and the Reds Sparky Anderson, who was named on four ballots. It was an unofficial honor, but still considered prestigious because of the selection committee of peers. 
• 1972 - The Reds scored four times in the first inning off Bob Moose (he didn’t retire a batter, giving up five straight hits) and then hung on to take a 5-3 win at TRS and knot the NLCS at a game each. Roberto Clemente, Milt May and Dave Cash each drove in runs to make it 4-3 after six innings, but Joe Morgan’s eighth inning homer took the wind out of the Pirate sails while Tom Hall retired six of the last seven batters to ice the Cincinnati win. 
• 1974 - The Pirates scored five times in the first inning and never looked back as they defeated Los Angeles, 7-0, at Dodger Stadium. Bruce Kison and Ramon Hernandez combined on a four-hitter to cut the Pittsburgh deficit in the NLCS to two games to one and stave off elimination (for a night). Willie Stargell swatted a three-run homer and Richie Hebner added a two-run shot off Doug Rau in the opening frame to get the Bucs off and running. 
• 1990 - LHP Robbie Erlin was born in Oakland, California. Erlin had five years with San Diego as a starter and long man before the Pirates signed the 29-year-old to a $1.5M contract as a free agent in 2020. He made the 40-man roster as a reliever and was called up in late July by the Bucs, but was waived in early August after just two outings. Robbie was claimed by the Braves, who used him as a starter without a lot of luck; they waived him in September and now he’s in the Dodger system after spending the 2021 campaign in Japan with the Nippon Ham Fighters. 

Robbie Erlin - 2020 photo Brian Bianco/Getty

• 1990 - Cincinnati took a two-games-to-one lead in the NLCS by whipping the Bucs, 6-3, at TRS. Zane Smith surrendered a three-run homer to Mariano Duncan and a two-run shot to Billy Hatcher to give the Reds’ Danny Jackson and the “Nasty Boys” in the bullpen working room. Bobby Bonilla, Carmelo Martinez and Jose Lind had the Buccos' RBIs. 
• 1995 - RHP Colin Holderman was born in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The Pirates traded for the rookie reliever by shipping DH Daniel Vogelbach to the Mets in July, 2022. Holderman slashed 4-0/2.04 in 15 outings for NY and was a strikeout per inning guy, although a bit on the wild side, averaging four walks per nine. He got into nine Bucco games (1-0/6.75, seven walks, four HBP and six K in 10-2/3 IP) before hitting the IL with a shoulder impingement, ending his 2022 campaign.