2/29: Quiet Leap Day - Teke Signs, AJ Bunt Blooper; Maz Still On The Outside; Grapefruit Glasnost; HBD Bligh

• 1980 - Kent Tekulve was unsigned and didn’t report to camp when it opened on the 27th after going 10-3-31/2.75 in ‘79 and saving three World Series matches. But after a short holdout, he agreed to a three-year/$1.5M contract on this date. He made his first (and only) All-Star appearance during the season, but also had issues with nerve damage that limited his workload and threw off his delivery in ‘80-81. Even with that hurdle, Teke soldiered on solidly - during the deal’s span, he appeared in 208 games with a slash of 25-25-44/2.95. 

Teke - 2003 Topps Tribute

• 1988 - The Pirates practiced a little hardball glasnost by hosting the Soviet Union national baseball coaches, who were touring a handful of MLB spring training sites, at Pirate City. The Buc brass, led by Syd Thrift, shared some drills with the Russian coaches, showed them the difference between a two-and-four seamer and even taught them some plyometrics before gifting them with ball caps and baseballs, which were a rare (and much valued) commodity in the USSR. 
• 1996 - OF Bligh Madris was born in Las Vegas. The Bucs drafted him in the ninth round of the 1997 draft out of Colorado Mesa University. He began to get notice in 2021 in the upper levels and was red hot at Indy in ‘22, getting the call to Pittsburgh in mid-June. In his first game, he went 3-for-4 (the first Pirate to have three hits in his debut since Jason Kendall in 1996) with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. But Madris' bat went quiet and he was DFA’ed in September, with Tampa Bay claiming him. He later was sold to the Astros and is now part of the Detroit Tigers organization. Bligh trivia: he’s the first Palauan MLB player. 
• 2000 - Bill Mazeroski was passed over by the Veterans Committee for selection into the Hall of Fame by one vote. Maz told the Pittsburgh Press that “I don’t think about it. I haven’t worried about it for 64 years.” Billy didn’t have to bite his lip to hide his disappointment for too much longer - he was finally elected into the Hall a year later, proving there is room for a glove in Cooperstown. 
• 2012 - Newly signed AJ Burnett fractured his orbital eye socket after fouling a ball into his puss during a spring bunting drill. He required surgery and was out of action until April 21st. Fortunately, AJ recovered without a hitch, tossing a seven-inning, three-hit shutout against the Cards for a 2-0 win upon his return. Not only did he go on to win 16 games for the Bucs, but the practice for laying one down paid off - he dropped five successful bunts during the campaign, although the fans covered their eyes in trepidation every time Batman squared up.