4/7 Through 1974: Purkey, Arky Deals; Dale Protests; Maz Back; Richie #3; AA Allies; Openers; HBD Bobby, Jack, Buck & John

• 1874 - OF John Ganzel was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He began his seven-year MLB career in Pittsburgh in 1898, getting into 15 games and batting .133 after being purchased from Grand Rapids of the Western League. John was sold to the Detroit Tigers in May, spent some time seasoning on the farm, and then played for the Chicago Cubs, New York Giants, New York Highlanders, and the Cincinnati Reds. After his 19-year pro career ended, he managed twice in the majors (Cincinnati Reds & Brooklyn Tip-Tops) and skippered for 16 seasons in the minors. The six-footer went by the moniker “Long John.” Baseball was in his blood; John also had four brothers who played pro ball. 
• 1879 - C Art “Buck” Weaver was born in Wichita, Kansas. In his second MLB campaign as a 24-year old, he was released by St. Louis in early June and the Pirates claimed him as depth behind Ed Phelps and backup Harry Smith. As the third wheel, he got into 16 games and hit .229. Weaver got in two more MLB seasons and soldiered on in the minors until 1914, signing with high-altitude clubs like Denver and Salt Lake to help him combat his lifelong battle with asthma. Beside being one of several Buck Weavers, the scrawny catcher was dubbed by the baseball press as Scissors, Stilt, the Human Hatpin, and Six O’Clock Weaver, because when he stood, he resembled clock hands pointing at six per SABR’s Bill Lamb. After surviving his asthma and a plant explosion during his post-baseball days, Buck died at age 37 from peritonitis following appendicitis surgery. 
• 1882 - The Alleghenys played their first game as a major league club (albeit the American Association), a free exhibition match at Exposition Park against a collection of amateur baseball and cricket players, with the Allies romping to a 32-4, eight-inning win in front of 3,000 mostly curious fans. OF Ed Swartwood was the first big-league Allegheny batter in history; he was also the Allies' leadoff guy on May 2nd for the first official MLB game against the Cincinnati Red Stockings at the Bank Street Grounds. The two sides staged a rematch the next day and the Alleghenys again ran away with a 20-1 win over their pick-up foes. 

Jack Ferry - 1912 T207

• 1887 - RHP Jack Ferry was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He worked sparingly for Pittsburgh from 1910-13, posting a 10-6 record with a 3.02 ERA in 160-2/3 IP and then closing out his career on the farm in 1916. Ferry’s claim to fame: he was the first Seton Hall grad to play MLB. 
• 1932 - The Pirates obtained the rights to SS Arky Vaughan from Tulsa of the Western League through a working agreement between the clubs. The Hall of Famer spent the next 10 years in Pittsburgh, winning All-Star honors for eight consecutive years while piling up a .324 BA. He and Honus Wagner may be the best 1-2 punch at short for one franchise in the sport’s history. 
• 1933 - OF Bobby DelGreco was born in the Hill District. He spent two years with the Pirates in 1952 and 1956, hitting .219. His big league career spanned nine seasons with six teams, and he played regularly with Philadelphia and Kansas City. Delgreco was one of the game's top glovemen in center field, but his .229 lifetime BA kept him from everyday work during his MLB travels. After finishing his playing career, his new day job was as a delivery driver for the Pittsburgh Press and he moonlighted by tossing batting practice for the Bucs into the nineties. 
• 1954 - 1B Dale Long announced that he wouldn’t take his demotion to the Hollywood Stars sitting down. He filed a protest with Commissioner Ford Frick, as the 28-year-old reigning PCL MVP said he had been claimed on waivers by the Kansas City Athletics and should be in their big league camp instead of the minors. The appeal didn’t pan out for him, but he was back with the Bucs in 1955 after hitting 27 bombs for the Stars to begin a nine-year MLB run, including a record-setting eight-game home run streak in 1956 which has been equaled (Don Mattingly, Ken Griffey Jr.) but never topped. 

Dale Long - 1955 Topps Doubleheader

• 1958 - Bill Mazeroski reported to camp after six months in the military, 10 pounds lighter and apparently Army Strong. The 21-year-old second-year starter played in 152 games, hit .275 and made his first All-Star appearance while also earning his first Golden Glove during his breakout camapign. 
• 1964 - Shea Stadium in New York opened for its first regular season game, with the Mets facing the Bucs. Pittsburgh spoiled the Home Opener for the New Yorkers in front of over 50,000 fans by a 4-3 tally. Willie Stargell’s homer, double and two RBI gave Bob Friend, who went the distance, just enough support for the victory as the Pirates had 16 hits, but stranded 13 to keep it close. Pops had four hits while Donn Clendennon and Roberto Clemente added three each. 
• 1966 - Bob Purkey, who began his career with the Pirates before being dealt to Cincy, where he bloomed, came back home. The 36-year-old Mt. Washington knuckleballer's contract was bought from the Cards, where he was the odd man out in a youth movement. He slashed 0-1-1/1.37 in his final MLB season. Purkey then worked briefly as a sportscaster for KDKA before opening an insurance brokerage. He died at age 78 following a battle with Alzheimer's disease. 
• 1970 - After eight consecutive Opening Day defeats, the Mets finally won a lidlifter by beating the Pirates, 5-3, at Forbes Field. It took 11 innings, but Ron Taylor, with a Tug McGraw save, whipped Chuck Hartenstein after ex-Bucco Donn Clendenon singled home a pair of runs off Joe Gibbon. Joe had relieved Hartenstein to face a pinch-hitting lefty who NY skipper Gil Hodges then yanked for Clendenon. The starters,Tom Seaver (eight IP) and Steve Blass, who went 10 frames, left the game to the bullpens. New York became the first team to have won a World Series (1969) before winning a season opener. The Pirates fans were also faring poorly, throwing odds and ends on the field before some kids took a sprint across the diamond to cap a bad day at the office. 

Richie Hebner - 1971 Pirates Picture Pack

• 1972 - Richie Hebner wore #3 for the first time (it was during a workout during the 1972 player’s strike) instead of his usual #20 out of deference to 3B Pie Traynor, who had passed away three weeks earlier. Although Traynor had told Hebner that he wanted him to keep his old number throughout his career, Richie said that “I just couldn’t do that after Mr. Traynor died.” He was the last to wear it as the number was retired on April 18th. Hebner wore #3 through 1976 before leaving for Philly, and was issued #10 when he returned to the Buccos in 1982.