3/31: Vince-Lefty; Bielecki Deal; Torres, KY Sign; Gene, Rob Released; Opening Days; PNC Exhibited; 1st Mexican Visit; New CBA Rules; RIP Billy; HBD Ryan, Frank, Skeeter, Tom, Chick & Fred

• 1886 - OF Fred Kommers was born in Chicago. He debuted with the Bucs in 1913, hitting .233 in 40 games. He jumped to the Federal League the following season, and though he hit better as a Fed than he did in the NL, it didn’t do much to advance his baseball career - it would be his last major league campaign. 
• 1887 - RHP Chester “Chick” Brandom was born in Coldwater, Kansas. Chick tossed from 1908-09 for the Bucs, getting into 16 games and going 2-0-3 with a 0.94 ERA. The Bucs were loaded back then, and he was sent back to the minors despite that shiny albeit small performance sample. But he may have a greater claim than his Bucco stint. A 1908 picture of Chick shows him delivering a knuckleball and if the date is right, that would make him the first known practitioner of that pitch, predating guys like Eddie Cicotte (caveat emptor; the original knuckleballer is still being debated). 
• 1894 - RHP Tom Sheehan was born in Grand Ridge, Illinois. Tom pitched the final two years of a MLB career that began in 1915 with the Pirates between 1925-26, posting a slash of 1-3-2/4.08. He embarked on a long march as a baseball lifer after his playing days. Sheehan coached for the Reds and Braves, then spent many years as a minor league manager/scout in the Giants system. In 1960, at age 66, he succeeded the fired Bill Rigney as the Giants skipper, becoming the oldest person to make his debut as a big-league manager. That gig didn’t work out, and after the campaign he was once again assigned to scouting. 
• 1895 - OF Carson “Skeeter” Bigbee was born in Lebanon, Oregon. He played 11 years for Pittsburgh, his only MLB club, from 1916-26, and hit .287 lifetime. His best seasons were 1921-22, when he batted .323 and .350. He banged out 419 hits over that span, scored 213 runs and led the NL in singles both years. Bigbee stole 182 bases in his career, which earned him his “Skeeter” nickname. Bigbee was part of the 1926 “ABC Affair” when he, Babe Adams and Max Carey beefed about team suit Fred Clarke being in the dugout during games and overruling manager Bill McKechnie. All three players were on the downside of their careers and got their walking papers as a result. 

Sheeter Bigbee - Helmar Oasis

• 1940 - The Pirates and Philadelphia Athletics played the first MLB exhibition game south of the border when they met in Hermosilla, Mexico at Casa del Pueblo Stadium. The A’s won by an 8-7 count at a match that featured soldiers stationed at the gates & on the rooftops, bands playing throughout the game, and fans on the field. After a little post-game shopping, the two teams hopped a train and rode the rails to their next match in Phoenix. 
• 1945 - The Pirates traded OF Vince DiMaggio, a two-time All-Star, to the Philadelphia Phillies for pitcher Al “Lefty” Gerheauser. Both players were nearing the end of their big league days; DiMaggio hung up the spikes after the ‘46 season and Gerheauser won just seven more games in three years as the Pirates converted him from a starter to the pen. 
• 1957 - Ex-manager Billy Meyer died at age 64 of kidney and heart problems in Knoxville, having never fully recovered from a stroke suffered two years earlier. He had a long minor league playing career with a brief taste of the bigs and was a long time farm skipper before he got the call to manage the Bucs in 1948. He piloted the team to fourth place finish that season (Meyer won The Sporting News Manager of the Year award for that 83-win feat), but was stuck with a roster of Ralph Kiner and the Rickey-Dinks, compiling a 317-452 record over five years. He resigned as field general after the 112-loss 1952 campaign and spent the next three campaigns as a minor league rover/scout for Pittsburgh before his stroke. His #1 was retired by the Pirates in 1954, more as a matter of respect and affection for Billy than for his actual accomplishments. 
• 1960 - Former Pirates President Frank Coonelly was born in Philadelphia. The Penn State grad was hired in 2007 as CEO to replace Kevin McClatchy and helped engineer the Bucs into respectability with three straight playoff appearances. But he couldn’t keep the train rollin’ and was let go at the end of the 2019 season, replaced by Travis Williams. Coonelly previously had served as senior VP in the commissioner’s office, where he was in charge of arbitration hearings and draft bonuses, among other items. He was a lawyer in private practice before that, and is now on several boards and the speakers circuit. 

Big Red - 1976 Topps

• 1977 - After nine years as a Bucco, the Pirates released 1B Bob Robertson, who had been reduced to part-time status following 1974 knee surgery and then hurt his back in camp. He filed a grievance with the MLBPA to get his full year’s salary because he was let go while injured; it was settled when the Bucs paid him the entire $50K due for 1977. In 1971, the Mount Savage Strongboy became the first player to hit TRS’s upper deck in left center, then enjoyed a monster postseason, but he slumped badly after that campaign before his knees gave out. He retired after being released by Toronto in June of 1979. 
• 1984 - C Gene Tenace ended his 15-year career when he was released by the Pirates in spring training after batting .177 for the Bucs in 1983 as a 36-year old. Tenace featured a great eye at the dish - his career BA was just .241, but he had a .388 OBP and drew nearly 1,000 walks. Even in his last season with Pittsburgh, the patient batsman drew more walks than hits. 
• 1988 - The Chicago Cubs traded minor league LHP Mike Curtis to the Pirates for RHP Mike Bielecki. Bielecki turned into a workmanlike journeyman pitcher, working 14 years in MLB (he had one big season for the Cubs, going 18-7/3.14 in 1989) while Curtis never got out of AAA, ending his career in the indie leagues. 
• 1994 - LHP Ryan Borucki was born in Highland Park, Illinois. Ryan was a 15th round pick in the 2012 draft from Mundelein HS by the Blue Jays. He made his debut with Toronto in 2018, was released after the ‘21 campaign and was picked up by Seattle. After a year with them (MLB line: 10-9/4.45 in 96 outings), Borucki was let go again, claimed by the Cubs, and released by them in May 2023 after a rough AA stint, with the Pirates taking him. He pitched scoreless ball at Indy, albeit in 8-1/3 IP, and was called up to the show in June after an avalanche of bullpen injuries. Bo slashed 4-2-1/4.04 and broke camp with the team in 2024.

Ryan Borucki - 2024 photo/Pirates 

• 1997 - The Pirates lured FA 1B Kevin Young back to Pittsburgh from KC with a $400K contract. He would sign two more deals with the Bucs worth $28M covering the following six seasons before retiring after the 2003 campaign. The 1B hit .259 over 11 years with the Pirates and is back with the club as a special instructor. The team also signed undrafted Puerto Rican middle infielder Luis Figeroa, who got a cup of coffee with the Bucs in 2001, Toronto in 2006 and San Francisco in 2007. He played in 18 MLB games overall, batting .125. 
• 2001 - PNC Park hosted its first MLB game when the Pirates and Mets opened it up with an exhibition match. The game was a sellout that NY won, 4-3. The Mets won the next day’s spring game too, 3-2, notable mainly because Aramis Ramirez hit the first home run in the park’s history. 
• 2003 - Pittsburgh helped the Reds christen Great American Ballpark. President George Bush tossed out the first ball in front of 42,000+ fans, but Cincy played second banana during the yard’s opening act. The Bucs spoiled the inauguration, winning 10-1 behind homers from Reggie Sanders, Kenny Lofton and Jason Kendall, all launched during a six-run second inning. Kris Benson got the win. 
• 2006 - RHP Salomon Torres agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $6.5M pending a physical, extending his current deal through 2008. He worked in 94 games in 2006 (3-6-12/3.28), but after a subpar 2007 campaign, he was shipped to Milwaukee for Marino Salas and minor leaguer Kevin Roberts. Torres considered retirement over relocation, but decided to join the Brewers for the season before hanging up his mitt after posting a final 7-5-28/3.49 slash. Salas’ only MLB work came in 2008 for the Bucs (13 games, 1-0/8.47) while Roberts never climbed past Class AA Altoona. 

Xavier Nady - 2008 Upper Deck Documentary

• 2008 - In an Opening Day shootout at Turner Field, the Bucs beat the Braves, 12-11, in 12 innings before 45,269 tomahawk choppers. Damaso Marte and Matt Capps blew a 9-4 ninth inning lead, capped by a fly ball dropping between LF Jason Bay and CF Nate McLouth with two outs that tied the score. Pittsburgh reclaimed the lead in the top of the 12th on a Xavier Nady three-run bomb, but Atlanta almost tied it again with two runs in their half before Franquelis Osario nailed down the win, his first MLB victory. The X-Man had four hits while McLouth, Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Doumit had three to prime a 17-hit attack. 
• 2014 - Neil Walker blasted a 10th-inning, 3-2 changeup from Carlos Villanueva deep over the Clemente Wall to give the Bucs and Bryan Morris a 1-0 Opening Day win over the Cubs at PNC Park. The Kid’s longball was only the fourth 1-0 walk off homer in Bucco history: Bob Bailey (1965) Bill Virdon (1958), and 1958 Ted Kluszweski (1958) had the others. Francisco Liriano and Jeff Samardzija started the game, leaving it for the bullpens to decide. It also marked the first use of expanded replay, which had been rolled out in the Arizona Fall League, when Cubs manager Rick Renteria challenged a double play in the top of the fifth inning. It was to no avail as the original call on the field of out at first was confirmed. 
• 2022 - MLB and the MLBPA formally announced the rule changes they had agreed upon in principle a week earlier as adjuncts to the new CBA. A current pace-of-play rule, the ghost runner on second base in extra innings, was retained. Unpopular as a concept, the auto runner did shorten games and preserve pitchers to serve its purpose. Changes included the “Shohei Ohtani” rule, allowing a P/DH to remain in the lineup as the designated hitter even if removed as a hurler, a return to nine-inning doubleheader games, and an active roster expansion to 28 players through May 1st to make up for short spring training camps.

3/30: Openers; Ross, Ricardo Join; Brian, Omar Sign; Operation Shutdown Ends; '21 Club Picked; RIP Deacon; HBD Jake; Dan, Mike, Ripper, Happy, Hal, Ed, Dutch, GVH & Tom

• 1857 - IF/manager Tom Burns was born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. After spending the first 12 years of his career playing for Chicago clubs, he spent his final campaign as a player/manager of the Pirates in 1892. Though the team was considered a contender with two future Hall of Famers on the roster in Joe Kelley and Jake Beckley, it started slowly and after putting up a 25–30 record, Burns was axed in favor of Al Buckenberger, who led them to a 53-41 slate. Tom then moved on to manage in the minors, spent a couple of seasons as the skipper of the Chicago Orphans and finished his baseball career in 1901 as a farm club boss. 
• 1866 - OF George Van Haltren was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He played for the Pirates in 1892-93, hitting .325, but was deemed expendable because of a deep Pittsburgh outfield. A borderline HoF player, Van Haltren was sold to the New York Giants, where he spent the next decade posting a .321 BA. He began his career as a pitcher, and in 1888 tossed a rain-shortened no-hitter against the Allies. 
• 1879 - Utilityman Arthur “Dutch” Meiers was born in St. Louis. A two-sport star at Princeton, Dutch spent just one year in the show, playing behind Honus Wagner and Fred Clarke in 1906. He hit a respectable .256 and got into 82 games. He earned his spot during the previous off-season when Meier showed his stuff by joining the team for exhibition and barnstorming games. After his Pittsburgh stint, he played for a variety of semi-pro clubs and served as baseball coach for his alma mater. And maybe even for his old team - it's speculated that Meier may have played a few more times with the Pirates on an as-needed basis since he appears in team pictures as late as the 1912 season. 
• 1897 - IF Ed Sicking was born in St. Bernard, Ohio. Ed spent four years in the show as a backup infielder for four different clubs, then spent six years with Indianapolis of the American Association. He opened the 1927 campaign with the Bucs, got into six games, went one-for-seven, and was sent back to Indy in early May. Though he didn’t leave much of a mark in MLB, Sicking was a pro ball lifer, spending 17 years fielding hot shots (12 seasons in the AA) before retiring in 1933 at age 36 from Class B Keokuk. 

Hal Rhyne - 1926 photo World Wide Sports/Conlon Collection/TSN/Getty

• 1899 - IF Hal Rhyne was born in Paso Robles, California. He began his career in Pittsburgh (1926-27), coming over with Paul Waner from the San Francisco Seals, and hit .258. He was a .250 batter in his seven MLB years and a minor league mainstay, spending 20 years on various farm clubs. Rhyne came to the majors with a reputation as a hitter. The back of a 1926 photo carries a caption that claimed his “magnetic eyes” made a ball look twice as large as normal. He might have been better off with a magnetic bat instead, although he did finish with a .291 career BA on the farm, playing until he was 41. 
• 1899 - IF Bill “Happy/Gray Ghost” Evans was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He played semi-pro and indie league black ball from 1924 until the late 30s, with his longest stop being with the Homestead Grays from 1930-33. Happy played everywhere, mainly at short, second and the outfield, and was a solid stick guy with one of the strongest arms in baseball. He spent his last pro campaign in 1937 with Homestead’s crosstown rivals, the Pittsburgh Crawfords. He was called the Gray Ghost because of his speed & defense and Happy due to his disposition. Evans is still in the news today, or at least his bloodline is - he’s the great-great uncle of Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s better half. 
• 1904 - 1B Jim “Ripper” Collins was born in Altoona. He made his name as a hard-hitting prankster of the Gas House Gang and spent his last MLB campaign as a Pirate in 1941 after taking a two-year hiatus in the PCL at Los Angeles. The Bucs brought him in to share some of Elbie Fletcher’s workload at first, but at age 37 Collins’ best days were behind him and he batted just .211 in 49 games, mostly pinch-hitting. He stayed with the organization as a player/manager at Class A Albany. Cort Vitty of SABR, citing The Sporting News, wrote “The nickname Ripper developed during an on-field incident that occurred when Jimmy was a young player. A ball rocketed off his bat and struck a nail protruding from the outfield fence; it caused the cover to partially tear. When asked who hit the ball, the retrieving outfielder saw the ball hanging and said, ‘It was the ripper.’” 
• 1952 - Deacon Phillippe, 79, passed away peacefully in his Avalon home, watching TV. The righty tossed 12 seasons (1900-11) for the Bucs with a 168-92-11/2.50 line, winning 20 games six times and never suffering through a losing season. He won three World Series games against Boston in 1903, beating Cy Young in the opener and tossing five complete games. Toward the end of his career, he worked six shutout innings in the 1909 Series against Detroit. In 1969, Pirates fans voted him as Pittsburgh's top all-time right-handed pitcher. After he retired, he became a Allegheny County Courts bailiff after several other jobs. The Rural Springs native was posthumously selected as a member of the Virginia Hall of Fame in 1982. 

Omar Moreno - 1982 Fleer

• 1969 - Panamanian OF Omar Moreno was signed by scout Howie Haak as a 16-year-old amateur free agent to launch a 12-year MLB career. Moreno, who was with the Pirates from 1975-82, posting a .255 BA, led the 1979 World Series club in runs and hits. The speedster, aptly nicknamed The Antelope, set the single-season Pirates record for stolen bases with 96 in 1980, and his 412 steals with the team ranks third overall behind Max Carey and Honus Wagner. Omar still works in a Florida academy and as a special assignment coach/spring tutor for the Bucs. 
• 1979 - LHP Mike Johnston was born in Philadelphia. A 20th round pick in the 1998 draft, he made his big league debut on April 7th, 2004, along with fellow farmhand Jose Castillo, against the Phils; Mike got his first whiff and Jose his first hit. Johnston made it until June with the big club, being sent down after going 0-3/4.37. He made one more appearance in 2005 and that was his last MLB outing. He tore his labrum in 2006 at Indianapolis, missed 2007-08 and was released by the White Sox in 2009. Mike gave indie ball a final shot at age 33 in 2012 to close his career. 
• 1985 - LHP Dan Runzler was born in Santa Monica, California. He signed with the Bucs for the 2017 season and was a September call up, getting in eight games with no decisions and a 4.50 ERA after spending the summer at Indy. That was his last MLB duty. After tossing in minor/indie league ball for a couple of years, he’s now a minor league pitching coach in the San Francisco system. 
• 1991 - OF Jake Marisnick was born in Riverside, California. The nine-year vet had played for five teams and the Pirates became his sixth when they signed him after he was released late in 2022 camp by the Rangers. Marisnick’s rep was as a good glove, weak bat (.228 lifetime BA) guy who could play all three pasture positions and slotted as the Bucs fourth outfielder after injuries to Anthony Alford and Greg Allen. But he was hurt here, played in 31 games and was waived in early August. He’s now in the Los Angeles Angels system. 

Ricardo Rincon - 1998 Pacific

• 1997 - The Pirates officially purchased LHP Ricardo Rincon from the Mexico City Reds, completing the deal after he made the team in camp. In 1997-98, he went 4-10-18/3.17 for the Bucs and was then traded to Cleveland for Brian Giles in one of Pittsburgh’s better baseball deals. He’ll be remembered here for combining with Francisco Cordoba on a 10-inning 1997 no-hitter. Ricardo played on the Mexican WBC teams in 2006 and 2009, last pitching major league ball in 2008, then retiring from the Mexican League in 2012.
• 2002 - “Operation Shutdown” OF Derek Bell, who had already packed his bags and left camp, was officially released after clearing waivers. The Pirates ate $4.5M in guaranteed money, after Bell told the media that he would sail into the sunset on his yacht rather than be forced to compete for a starting spot. In the first year of his deal, he was nagged by injuries and hit .173 in 46 games, which to many seemed a good enough reason to open the competition. His voyage as a ballplayer was scuttled after he hoisted his anchor: he never appeared in another MLB game. As Mark Madden of the Post Gazette wrote “Derek Bell becomes the ultimate Pirate: Lives on a boat and steals money.” 
• 2002 - RHP Brian Meadows signed as a minor league free agent with the Pirates. He was called up mid-season and lasted four years with the club, converting from a starter to a reliever who made 133 appearances in his last two seasons with Pittsburgh. Meadows went 8-12-2 with a 4.20 ERA from 2002-05. He lasted one more year with Tampa Bay before retiring. 
• 2005 - The Bucs bought C David Ross from the Dodgers. Ross got into 40 games (35 behind the dish) and hit .222. It was fairly early in his 15-year career and he was just 28, but that still made him the graybeard of the backstop brigade, behind 26-year-old Humberto Cota & a pair of 24-year-old up-and-comers, Ryan Doumit and Ronny Paulino. Ross was sent to San Diego at the deadline for SS JJ Furmaniak to help break the logjam. He played through 2016 and then joined the Cubs as a special assistant. He was the Chi-town manager through 2023, in between skippers Joe Maddon and Craig Counsell. 

Gregory Polanco - Topps Now 3/30/2018

• 2018 - In their earliest-ever season opener (it was eclipsed the following campaign), the Pirates see-sawed to a 13-10 win over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Ivan Nova twice worked out of bases-loaded, no-out jams, but relievers Michael Feliz and Felipe Rivero were bashed for four runs each, Feliz in 2/3-IP and Rivero failing to get an out in the ninth, blowing a 10-6 lead and sending the game into extra innings. Josh Smoker and game-winner Steven Brault held off Motown until Gregory Polanco mashed a three-run homer in the 13th, set up by two-out singles by Adam Frazier and Josh Harrison. Frazier, Polanco and Josh Bell each had three hits; Harrison, Starling Marte and Fran Cervelli collected a pair of raps. El Coffee had four RBI while Bell and Cervy each knocked home three while Harrison and Polanco scored three times apiece. It was, unsurprisingly, the longest Opener in Bucco history, lasting five hours and 27 minutes. 
• 2021 - Derek Shelton picked his first full-season roster. The only real surprise was camp standout Dave Bednar, a righty reliever who came to Pittsburgh as part of the Joe Musgrove trade package. He joined a boatload of new faces - P Tyler Anderson, P Trevor Cahill, P Wil Crowe, OF Dustin Fowler, P Luis Oviedo, C Michael Perez & P Duane Underwood Jr. Among those who didn’t make the cut were a mix of FA vets and prospects: IF Wilmer Difo, 3B Todd Frazier, P Carson Fulmer, OF Brian Goodwin, P Geoff Hartlieb, P Clay Holmes, P Chasen Shreve, SS Cole Tucker, P Steven Wright & C Tony Wolters. 
• 2023 - The Bucs opened the season at GABP in Cincinnati in front of a record regular season crowd of 44,063 and came away 5-4 victors. Pittsburgh jumped out to a 4-1 lead, but by the fifth the contest was tied and starter Mitch Keller yanked. The Pirates attack was led by two middle-of-the-infield youngsters - SS Oneil Cruz, with a pair of RBI and runs, homered and his sac fly in the eighth plated 2B Ji-Hwan Bae, who had two hits, two runs, a run driven in, two stolen bases and a walk, with the game winner. The Buc bullpen, a spring question mark, spun 4-1/3 scoreless frames, surrendering two hits and two walks while collecting seven whiffs. Rob Zastryzyn won his first big league game since 2018, Colin Holderman earned a hold and David Bednar put it to bed. Also shining was returning hometime hero Andrew McCutchen, who reached base four times. The Pirates won with only six hits; Cincy pitchers helped the cause by adding nine walks.

3/29: Encarcion-Smith; Carter-Varsho; DJ, Gary Sign; Hughes Released; Pitchers Drop Like Flies; Jimmy #5; KBL OKs Deal; HBD Danny, Sean, Boss Bob, Mike, Bob, Sir Richard & Hank

• 1865 - RHP Hank Gastright was born in Covington, Kentucky. He had been a workhorse for the Columbus Colts for the first three years of his career, had a rough campaign with Washington and then in 1893 had a bounceback year of sorts, starting out with Pittsburgh. The Pirates didn’t use him much as he went 3-1/6.25 in nine games into July, when he was released and claimed by Boston, where he pitched a little better but with lots more luck, going 12-4/5.13; his combined 15-5 record was the best winning percentage in the National League that year. He had one more campaign left in him and tossed a farewell game in 1896 for his hometown Cincinnati Reds. Trivia: Gastright threw a no-hitter in 1890 for Columbus but it’s not considered an official no-no. It missed the books because the game was called after eight innings due to darkness. 
• 1873 - OF/1B Duff “Sir Richard” Cooley was born in Leavenworth, Kansas. He played 13 MLB seasons, spending 1900 with the Pirates after being purchased from Philadelphia. Although a .294 career hitter, he had his worst year at the dish as a Buc and batted .201, leading to his August release. He found work until 1905, when a broken leg ended his big league stay. He was with Detroit at the time, and was replaced in center by a young guy named Ty Cobb. As for his nickname, it was said he had a haughty manner and so was dubbed as part of the gentry. 
• 1894 - LHP Bob Steele was born in Cassburn, Ontario. Steele hurled for the Bucs from 1917-18, when they had some fairly poor clubs. Steele suited up for Pittsburgh in the second half of 1917 after a deal with the Cards for 3B Doug Baird, continuing through the first half of 1918. He did fairly well without flashy results, going 7-14-2/2.87 as a starter who occasionally worked from the pen. Bob was sold to the Giants later in the 1918 campaign and tossed his last MLB season for them in 1919, retiring after finishing out the year with Indianapolis of the American Association. He did make the record books (albeit Canadien) when he tossed a no-hitter for the Moose Jaw Robin Hoods against the Calgary Bronchos (sic) in the Class D Western Canadian League in 1913. 
• 1961 - OF Mike Kingery was born in St. James, Minnesota. Mike closed out his 10-year, six team MLB career with the Bucs in 1996, signing on as a $750K free agent at the age of 35. He became their part-time center fielder, hitting .246 before retiring to Minnesota to raise his family, gig with the Kingery Family Singers and begin the Solid Foundation Baseball School. 

Mike Kingery - 1996 Fleer Ultra (reverse)

• 1962 - Pirates owner Bob Nutting was born in Wheeling, West Virginia. He’s CEO of Ogden Newspapers Inc. and former mountain resort owner along with being the Chairman of the Board and principal owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had been repping the Nutting interests in the Bucs since 2002, when his dad Ogden was a shareholder of the Kevin McClatchy team. Educated at Williams College, he’s married with three kids and often the target of frustrated Pirates fans who believe he should loosen the purse strings or find someone who will. But Bob appears here to stay; he’s turned down at least three local bids to sell the club. 
• 1971 - RHP Sean Lowe was born in Dallas, Texas. Lowe had been a White Sox long man/spot starter for three seasons when he arrived in Pittsburgh in 2002 with Kip Wells and Josh Fogg as part of the Todd Ritchie deal. After going 4-2/5.35, he was released in September. He finished the campaign with Colorado, tossed for KC in 2003 and that gig ended his seven-year stint in MLB. 
• 1975 - RHP Danny Kolb was born in Sterling, Illinois. The Pirates signed the eight-year vet to a minor league deal in 2007; the 32-year-old didn’t break camp with the club, but was called up in June, got into three games, gave up three runs on six hits in three innings and was DFA’ed back to the minors. He refused to report, became a FA, and left for Boston. The Red Sox released him early in 2008, making Pittsburgh his last MLB stop. His cousin Gary Kolb played for the 1968-69 Pirates. 
• 1991 - In a depth swap, the Pirates traded outfielders, sending Steve Carter to the Chicago Cubs for Gary Varsho. Carter, who had a couple of short Pittsburgh stays, never appeared in MLB again. Varsho hit .249 in two years as a bench bat for the Bucs, was waived, claimed by the Cincinnati Reds for the ‘93 season, and then returned to the Pittsburgh coop in 1994. 

Gary Varsho - 1992 Studio

• 1994 - After being released the day before, Gary Varsho signed a $243,750 contract for a second go-around with the club, which he had played for in 1991-92 before joining the Reds. In his three years with the club, Gary batted .251 as a pinch hitter and extra outfielder. He returned one more time to serve as John Russell’s bench coach in 2008 before being let go in 2010, shortly before JR was shown the door. He came back to the fold in 2016 as a Bucco scout. 
• 1994 - The Pirates and KBL settled a beef that had led to the Buccos suing for breach of contract, risking the possibility of no TV coverage for the season. Before the hearing was to start, Judge Michael Musmanno told the lawyers to make another effort to hammer out an agreement, and five hours later, they shook hands on a deal. KBL was given production & advertising rights while the Pirates TV footprint shrank with 25 fewer games broadcast than the season before. 
• 1997 - The Pirates traded OF Trey Beamon and C Angelo Encarnacion to the San Diego Padres for 1B/OF Mark Smith and minor-league RHP Hal Garrett. It was a wash; Beaman had a couple of decent seasons from the pine while Smith hit .285 with nine homers off the bench for the Bucs in 1997 but faded in 1998. Smith’s highlight came in 1997 when he drilled a homer in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Pirates a 3-0 win over the Houston Astros at TRS, ending the first extra-inning, combined no-hitter (Francisco Cordoba, Ricardo Rincon) in MLB history. 
• 1999 - RHP DJ Carrasco, 33, signed a one-year/$950K free agent deal with the Pirates, where he was workmanlike, posting a 2-2/3.88 slash. That performance earned him a deadline ticket to Arizona with OF Ryan Church and IF Bobby Crosby for SS Pedro Ciriaco, C Chris Snyder and cash. 

DJ Carrasco - 2010 photo George Gojkovich/Getty

• 2000 - The Pirates picked lefty Jimmy Anderson to break camp as their fifth starter and cut veteran LHP Pete Schourek, eating the final $2M of his contract. Schourek wasn’t taken by surprise; he was coming off a poor, injury-ridden 1999 and had been on the trade market for a couple of weeks. The Pirates suits thought Anderson had more upside, but a couple of the team leaders weren’t sold. Kevin Young said “A lot of the veteran players are disturbed...We don’t want people rewarded for mediocrity.” Brian Giles added that “He (Schourek) busts his butt. With Jimmy, you don’t know that...Jimmy needs to learn how to work and make himself better. From what we’ve seen, we haven’t seen him make that commitment.” As it ended up, Anderson’s career lasted through 2004 though he never posted an ERA south of 5.10 after his ‘99 rookie campaign while Schourek tossed through 2001 for Boston, winning four games while pitching to an ERA of 4.97. The Pirates searched fruitlessly for a fifth starter who would finish the season with an ERA under five until 2011, when Kevin Correia put up a 4.72 mark. 
• 2006 - It was a busy day at Jim Tracy’s first camp. First, the rumor mill was leaking out a potential UT Craig Wilson-for-RHP Joel Pineiro swap with Seattle, which eventually fell through (Piniero made twice the money that Wilson did, and went on to post an 8-13/6.36 with the Mariners during the season, so the Bucs dodged that double barrel). The need for a starting pitcher was highlighted when Kip Wells, John Van Benshoten and Bryan Bullington all went on the DL this day. Additionally, a handful of non-pitching guys were sent to the minors, including Jose Bautista, Ronny Paulino and Mike Edwards. 
• 2017 - In a surprise move, the Pirates released RHP Jared Hughes, whom they had tendered months earlier and signed to a $2.175M contract. Hughes had been with the MLB club since 2011 and was a member of the organization since 2006 when he was a fourth round draft pick. The release date had to do with a combination of declining performance and dollars; by letting him go before the season started, the Pirates were on the hook for just $695K. Hughes later signed as an FA with the Milwaukee Brewers for $950K. He followed that campaign by signing for two-years w/an option with the Reds, then closed out his career with two seasons spent with Philadelphia and the New York Mets before retiring in early 2021 with 10 MLB years under his belt.

3/28: Heaton-Gideon, McEnaney-Jones; Buddy, Sisk, Cannizaro Dealt; Olivares Picked Up; Spring No-No; Bucs-Yanks Rematch; East-West Classic; RIP Cum; HBD Bryan, Shark, Steve, Bill & Chief

• 1898 - RHP Moses “Chief” Yellow Horse, a full-blooded Pawnee, was born in (where else?) Pawnee, Oklahoma (caveat emptor: some sources cite 1/28 as his BD; we’re sticking with the SABR date). His MLB years were 1921-22 and spent in Pittsburgh, where he went 8-4 with a 3.93 ERA, but suffered three different arm injuries that ended his career. He was one of the first, if not the pioneer, Native American to play MLB ball. He could do little wrong in the Steel City and was a fan favorite during his stay here. But Yellow Horse was all business once he stepped on the bump for the Pirates; he once drilled Ty Cobb between the eyes in an exhibition game for being too yappy at the dish. 
• 1929 - RHP Bill MacDonald was born in Alameda, California. Bill tossed for the Bucs in 1950 and again briefly in 1953, compiling an 8-11-1/4.66 mark. He had a promising debut campaign for Pittsburgh, but after missing 1951-52 while in the service, Mac never regained his form. He tossed for two more seasons in the Pacific Coast League and then retired from baseball. 
• 1946 - Cumberland “Cum” Posey, who owned the Homestead Grays from 1911-46, died in Mercy Hospital from cancer. He was a part-time player until 1929, and managed until 1937. Posey was a big-time owner, and his teams played regularly in Forbes Field and Washington DC’s Griffith Stadium. The Grays won eight Negro League pennants and three World Series titles under his reign. 
• 1961 - In a repeat performance, the Pirates bounced the Yankees in their first meeting since the World Series by a 9-2 score at Fort Myers’ Terry Park during a spring game played in front of an overflow crowd of 5,351 fans. Bob Friend tuned up by going the distance, scattering eight hits and fanning seven. Dick Stuart and Roberto Clemente homered while Maz led the nine-hit attack with a pair of knocks. But the Bronx Bombers proved better suited for the long run - they won the AL and then beat Fred Hutchinson's Reds in the ‘61 Fall Classic in five games while the Bucs stumbled to a 75-win, sixth-place campaign. 

Pgh Press - Les Biederman, 3/29/1966

• 1966 - It was only a spring game, but Bob Veale and Luke Walker spun a no-hitter against the LA Dodgers at Fort Myers’ Terry Park, the Bucco spring home, winning 5-0. The big lefty did most of the heavy lifting, going seven innings with seven whiffs, giving up a walk and Bob Bailey error while Walker added two clean frames to seal the deal as the southpaws dazzled the 1,950 Florida fans. Gene Alley’s four knocks and Roberto Clemente’s three raps led the attack. 
• 1969 - The Pirates traded RHP Tommie Sisk and C Chris Cannizzaro to the San Diego Padres in exchange for OF Ron Davis and IF Bobby Klaus. Sisk was on the backside of his career while Davis and Klaus never became big-time performers, but Cannizzaro became an All-Star in 1969 for the expansion Padres (albeit with a .220 BA) and had a 12-year career that lasted through the 1974 season. 
• 1970 - The one-time East-West Major League Baseball Classic was held at Dodger Stadium to commemorate Dr. Martin L King. Played before 31,694 fans, the Pirates were represented by Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente; other players with Pittsburgh links were Grant Jackson, Maury Wills and Jim Fregosi (the teams were integrated, per MLK’s philosophy) while Mudcat Grant played and sang the National Anthem. The East won, 5-1, (Roberto doubled, scored and chased home a run) while the game raised $30,000 for the Southern Christian Leadership Council. A small army of current Hall of Famers coached while 15 future members of the Hall played. 
• 1975 - RHP Steve Sparks was born in Mobile, Alabama. Sparks was drafted by the Bucs in the 28th round of the 1998 draft from the U of South Alabama and tossed three times for the Pirates in 2000 during a brief mid-summer visit. He had no decisions and a 6.75 ERA in his only MLB season. Steve played two seasons after that in the upper minors, hanging ‘em up in 2002 at the age of 27. 

Steve Sparks - 2000 Fleer Tradition Rookies

• 1978 - The Bucs, who had been on the lookout for some lefty bullpen help, picked up Will McEnaney from the Expos in exchange for RHP Tim Jones. They should have kept on looking as the deal was a wash - Jones bombed in AAA and retired, while McEnaney was shelled in Pittsburgh (10.38 ERA) and sent to AAA Columbus, where he was released at the end of the season after posting a 6.24 ERA. He was fighting drug & drinking demons in 1977-78, triggered by a divorce and the death of his mom, but after a car wreck and under the wing of his second wife, Cindy, he's been flying straight ever since those dark days.
• 1980 - RHP Eddie “Buddy” Solomon Jr. was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Pirates for a PTBNL, minor league RHP Greg Field. Solomon worked 1980-82 for Pittsburgh, going 17-15-1/3.58 before being traded at the deadline to Chicago for 3B Jim Morrison. Field never advanced past AAA ball while Buddy died young in a car accident in Macon in 1986 at age 34. 
• 1985 - RHP Mark Melancon was born in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Melancon came to Pittsburgh in 2013 from the Red Sox as a versatile backender, working both as set-up man and closer, and earned a spot on the ‘13 All-Star team. Mark the Shark took the closer’s job full time in early 2014, saving 33 games in 37 chances. In nearly four Pirates seasons, he picked up 10 wins, 130 saves and 41 holds while posting a 1.80 ERA (2.27 FIP) in 267 appearances. He won The Sporting News & Trevor Hoffman NL reliever of the year awards in 2015. The Shark was traded to Washington at the 2016 deadline and since played with the Giants, Braves, Padres and D-Backs; he’s now an FA. He earned his nickname in New Zealand; he swam amidst some sharks, and one of his buds named a shark Melancon in his honor, eventually leading to the Bucs’ Shark Tank bullpen. 

Bryan Morris - 2013 Panini Prizm

• 1987 - RHP Bryan Morris was born in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Acquired in the Jason Bay trade, he was part of the Bucco bullpen from 2012-14, going 13-8/2.61 before being dealt to Miami. Morris was otherworldly in his first season, posting an 0.66 ERA (although his 3.03 FIP was more down to earth) and finished his Fish tenure with a 2.30 ERA. He moved to San Francisco in 2017 and retired in June. 
• 1989 - LHP Neal Heaton was traded by the Montreal Expos to the Pirates for RHP Brett Gideon. Heaton worked four years for the Jimmy Leyland playoff teams of the early nineties and made the All-Star team in 1990. He was out of the MLB after the 1993 season and is a pitching instructor for the private All Pro Sports Academy in Bellport, NY. Gideon got into five games for the Expos in 1989-90 to end his MLB days and officially retired after the 1992 campaign. 
• 2001 - The Pirates staff was beset by injuries, and the Bucco FO made a conditional deal with the Oakland A's for RHP Omar Olivares, who had just been beaten out as the Green & Gold's fifth man. The 33-year-old Olivares joined his eighth team and got a dozen starts for the Pirates, going 2-7/7.12, before being stashed in the bullpen where he posted an improved but still meh 4-2-1/5.63 line in his last MLB campaign, finishing up with a final slash of 6-9-1/5.71.

3/27: Marte-Guerrier, Cangy-Winn; Blass, Demery Released; '01 Pitching Woes; '68 Cutdown; HBD Eric, Clay, Montana, Dave, Gary & Bill

• 1895 - RHP Bill Burwell was born in Jarbalo, Kansas. Burwell pitched just one year for the Pirates, going 1-0/5.23 in 1928, but later served as a Pirate coach and scout (1947–1948; 1958–1962). Burwell was the acting manager of the Pirates for the final game of the 1947 season after player-manager Billy Herman resigned and he beat the Cincinnati Reds, 7-0. He was the pitching coach for the 1960 WS champs, and before that was a minor league assistant who helped develop Vern Law by teaching The Deacon how to change speeds and throw a changeup. 
• 1953 - C Gary Alexander was born in Los Angeles. He had back-to-back strong seasons in 1977-78 while playing for three teams but a low BA and high K rate marked him as bench material by the time he arrived in Pittsburgh in 1981. He hit .213 as an OF/1B/PH for the Bucs in his last MLB season. Alexander was released by the Pirates in 1982 and finished out his pro career in Mexico. 
• 1956 - 1B Dave Hostetler was born in Pasadena, California. He closed out his five-year MLB run with six games played for the Pirates in 1988 after reviving his career with a two-year tour of duty in Japan. Hostetler went two-for-eight, and in May was sent to AAA Buffalo, ending his time in the show. After retirement, he stayed in sports as a regional manager for Riddell. 
• 1968 - A couple of young Bucs and a vet were sent packing from the Pirates’ Fort Myers camp. C Manny Sanguillen, 24, and RHP Dock Ellis, 23, were sent to AAA Columbus while 33-year-old IF Andre Rodgers’ release was the end of his 11-year MLB career. The writing was on the wall for Andre when he injured his ankle and missed the last week of camp. Sangy was a surprise cut; he had spent 30 games with the big club in ‘67, batting .271, and was projected to be Jerry May’s backup (a disgruntled Jim Pagliaroni lost the job to May in ‘67 and was sold to Oakland during the off season). Instead, he spent a year in the minors and became the starter in 1969. Dock waited until June for his MLB debut. The Docktor had himself to blame as he had held out for two weeks after camp opened, almost guaranteeing that he would start the year on the farm. 

Steverino profile - 3/1/1975 Post-Gazette

• 1975 - The Pirates officially released RHP Steve Blass, who went from Game Seven World Series winner to a pitcher who had no idea where the ball was going once it left his hand, a condition that to this day is known as “Steve Blass disease.” Blass is now a Pirate ambassador and former long-time member of the broadcast team for Root Sports. In other camp news, a position shuffle saw Willie Stargell moved from LF to 1B, Richie Zisk crossed the pasture into Pops’ old spot and Dave Parker was slotted into right. Bob Robertson ended up with the short stick; Willie’s claim on first base (and Robby’s aching knees) reduced Big Red to just 152 PAs during the regular season. 
• 1978 - RHP Larry Demery’s efforts to get a fresh start outside of Pittsburgh bore fruit when the Toronto Blue Jays claimed him off waivers for $20K. In four years with the Pirates, he slashed 29-23-7/3.72 but was coming off a poor ‘77 campaign (6-5-1/5.08) and felt that being swingman instead of a starter (139 appearances w/46 starts) affected his mound performance. The Pirates were trying to pass him through waivers so they could send him to Columbus to work out a sore shoulder. The Bucs had the right game plan; the Jays returned him four days later after his physical because of that shoulder. Larry spent three more years in the minors and was out of pro ball after the 1980 season. 
• 1987 - OF John Cangelosi was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Pirates for RHP Jim Winn, a first round pick (14th overall) of the Bucs in 1981. Cangelosi became a useful bench piece for the Bucs, playing four Bucco seasons and posting a .243 BA, while Winn worked two more MLB years. Cangy retired in 1999 and now operates a sports training facility in Illinois. 
• 1992 - RHP Montana DuRapau was born in Deltona, Florida. He was a 32nd round draft pick in 2014, from Bethune-Cookman College. He had a nice career in the minors, but proved his own worst enemy by getting banged twice for drug abuse, the last in 2018. He cleaned up his act, had a lights-out start at Indy, and when the Pirates went through a rash of injuries/poor performances from their bullpen, was called up in May, 2019, as a 27-year-old rookie. He got his name in the franchise highlights as the starting pitcher in the Pirates first-ever “opener” game on May 18th, a 7-2 Bucco win against San Diego. It was a rude initiation overall, though - Montana went 0-1/9.35 in 14 outings. He joined the Oakland organization in 2021 as a AAA pitcher and retired after the year. 

Montana DuRapau - 2020 Topps Update

• 1993 - RHP Clay Holmes was born in Dothan, Alabama. A ninth round pick of the Bucs out of high school in 2011, his career was delayed by 2014 TJ surgery. Clay finally got the call, albeit for a cup of coffee, in April of 2018, getting into one game as a mop-up man, giving up a run in two innings on two hits & two walks with a whiff before being sent back down. He continued to yo-yo between Indy and Pittsburgh until 2021, when he was sent to the Yankees for Diego Castillo and Hoy Park. He pitched lights out in the Big Apple (5-2/1.61, 11 K per nine IP in 25 outings) and is still with the Bronx Bombers as a back-end reliever, although his recurrent control issues still pop up. 
• 1993 - LHP Eric Stout was born in Glen Allyn, Illinois. He was drafted by the KC Royals in 2014 out of Butler U, and had a cup of coffee with them in 2018. He then bounced around five different organizations (he made two more MLB appearances with the Cubs) with a couple of Indie league stints before joining the Pirates, who bought him from the Cubbies. Stout went to Indy and was called up in July, returned, and called back again in September. He got a save in 18 outings, but pitched to a 5.79 ERA with a K-per-inning but also seven walks per game. Eric started '23 in the Seattle system and is tossing in China now. 
• 2001 - The papers speculated that the Pirates, whose FO was given the green light to increase the payroll after injuries to Kris Benson, Francisco Cordova and Jason Schmidt created the need for another pitcher, were after Brett Tomko of Seattle. But nothing ever became of the attempt to bolster the staff except dealing for Omar Olivares (6-9-1/6.55), who started 12 games before he was sent to the pen, and the free agent signing of Ramon Martinez, who got four starts while posting an 0-2/8.62 line to end his MLB career. Todd Ritchie and Jimmy Anderson carried the load, with 10 other pitchers joining the rotation. Ritchie, with 11 victories, was the Bucs only double-digit game winner; the club only won 62 matches that season. 
• 2002 - The Pirates sent out-of-options LHP Damaso Marte and minor league IF Edwin “Ruddy” Yan to the White Sox for RHP Matt Guerrier. The Bucs would get Marte back a few years later (he spent four campaigns as a Bucco) while Guerrier never tossed for the Pirates, spending two seasons at AAA Nashville before embarking on an 11-year, 555-outing MLB career. Yan spent the last eight years of his career (2008-15) working in the Dominican/US indie leagues after spending his first eight pro seasons in the minors.

3/26: Mackey-Moose, Todd-Tyler; Kuwata Retires; Two-Fer; Rumor Mill; Sandy Who?; HBD Rob, Michael, Eric, Josh, Jack & Morrie

• 1850 - P Morrie Critchley was born in New London, Connecticut. He honed his art as a semi-pro player before tossing as a 32-year-old rookie for the Alleghenys in 1882. Morrie did pretty well, spinning a seven-hit whitewash as he tamed Cincinnati 2-0 at the Bank Street Grounds to become the MLB’s first 30-year-old or over hurler to pitch a shutout in his first game. Despite that victory, he was released 10 days later; it seems the Allegheny directors had “strong reason to believe he was throwing games” per Major League Player Profiles, with their shackles raised after an exhibition contest where he was shellacked. Even with that stain, he was taken by the St Louis Brown Stockings six weeks later. He threw four complete games for them, but the results weren’t as shiny as he went 0-4/4.24, and that stint ended his big league career. Morrie remained in Pittsburgh, umpired briefly and then ran a local bar/hotel until he died at the age of 59. 
• 1869 - LF Jack McCarthy was born in Hardwick, Massachusetts. McCarthy started for the Pirates in 1898-99 and hit a robust .298. But the Pirates landed Fred Clarke, also a LF, when they absorbed the old Louisville team and sold McCarthy to the Chicago Orphans. He played until 1907 and had a lifetime .287 BA. He managed in the minors for a while after retiring, then finished his days as a Chicago courthouse employee. Fun fact: On April 26th, 1905, as a Cub playing against his old Bucco mates, McCarthy became the first MLB outfielder to throw out three runners at home in a single game. 
• 1963 - The LA Dodgers' Sandy Koufax surrendered two homers and was touched for six runs while whiffing nine Buccos in seven innings during a spring tune-up. It was not an omen - in 40 starts that season, Koufax gave up six runs in an outing once, slashing 25-5/1.88, won the Cy Young Award and earned a World Series ring. The Bucs did get to the Hall-of-Fame lefty better than most squads during that campaign, going 1-1/3.18 against him in three starts. 

Josh Wilson (Indy) - 2008 Choice

• 1981 - IF Josh Wilson was born in Pittsburgh and played prep ball at Mt. Lebanon High along with Don Kelly. As a Blue Devil, he won the 1998 PIAA Championship and was the PA Player of the Year. He was only with the hometown organization briefly at Indy in 2008 but played in eight big-league campaigns for nine teams (with three stops at Arizona). Wilson earned the nickname “Paperboy” not so much because he delivered (his lifetime BA was just .229) but as a nod to his youthful appearance. Josh was the son of one of the area’s top baseball icons - his dad, Mike, was a long-time coach with stops at Mt Lebanon HS, Pitt & Duquesne, and also was a player, coach, & manager in the semi-pro Greater Pittsburgh Federation Baseball League for more than 20 years. 2017 was Josh’s last hurrah as a player and he’s a scout for the Detroit Tigers now. 
• 1983 - RHP Eric Hacker was born in Duncanville, Texas. The Pirates got the reliever from the New York Yankees for Romulo Sanchez in 2009. He spent most of his time at AAA Indianapolis, getting a September call up and making his MLB debut on September 22nd. He toed the slab for three Bucco outings, giving up two runs on four hits in three frames. Eric got a couple more cups of coffee in the show and then headed across the pond, pitching in Korea from 2013-18. 
• 1988 - C Mackey Sasser and RHP Tim Drummond were traded to the NY Mets for minor leaguer Scott Henion and 1B Randy “Moose” Milligan, a 26-year-old selected as The Sporting News’ 1987 Minor League Player of the Year. Milligan hit .220 for the Bucs before having some solid seasons at Baltimore while Sasser caught the next six seasons for the Mets, batting .286 for NY over that span. Drummond worked 43 more games in the bigs, with a 3-5-2/4.35 line. 

Randy "Moose" Milligan - 1988 Fleer

• 1991 - CF Michael A Taylor was born in Fort Lauderdale. The Pirates agreed to a one-year/$4M contract with the former Nats draft pick and AL Gold Glove winner (2021), pending his physical. Taylor was a 10-year vet who played with Washington for seven years, then for Kansas City in 2021-22 and spent last season with Minnesota. Taylor had a career-high 21 home runs last season with the Twins, but with a BA of .220 and a 33.5% strikeout rate. However, Taylor can still glove it in center, and that was a hole the Bucs wanted to cover entering the ‘24 campaign. 
• 1992 - LHP Rob Zastryzny was born in Edmonton, Canada. A second round draft pick in 2012 of the Cubs, the six-year vet signed as a free agent NRI with the Bucs in 2023 as the club tried to gather some lefties for the bullpen. He came north with the team although his flow was disrupted in mid-April when he missed a month with a pitching arm nerve injury. In 21 games, Z slashed 1-0/4.79 with seven whiffs/six walks per game. Rob’s now in the Brewers system. 
• 2003 - The Pirates released RHP Matt Herges, for whom they had traded RHP Chris Young to the Expos in December. San Diego claimed Herges, as Pittsburgh’s GM Dave Littlefield gifted the league with two MLB arms for nada. Herges appeared in 567 games and pitched until 2009 while Young, despite a boatload of injuries, started 221 career games and tossed into 2017. The Princeton-educated Young then became an administrator for MLB and in 2020 was hired as the Texas Rangers GM, taking them to the promised land last year. 
• 2006 - The day’s hot topic was a deal brewing between Atlanta and Pittsburgh featuring a straight 1B/OF Craig Wilson-for-RHP John Thompson exchange, with the Bravos also showing an interest in expanding the talks to include Salomon Torres. It eventually led nowhere, which was an overall win for Pittsburgh. The Pirates starters were terrible in 2006, but Thompson’s 2-7/4.82 campaign for the Braves wouldn’t have helped to right that ship. Wilson hit .267 with 13 dingers off the bench and was sent to the New York Yankees for Shawn Chacon at the deadline while Torres was a bullpen ironman, getting the ball 94 times to tie the Buc record and going 3-6-12/3.28 over the year. 

Todd Redmond - 2007 Bowman Heritage

• 2008 - The Pirates traded minor league RHP Todd Redmond to the Atlanta Braves for reliever Tyler Yates. Fastballer Yates went 6-5 in two seasons with Pirates, pitching to a 5.08 ERA before arm surgery derailed his career. Redmond finally got a shot at Toronto in 2013 and was effective in 2014 after being converted to the pen. He got beat up in 2015 at Toronto and spent most of the year in AAA. 2016 was his last pro season when he was released by Baltimore in April. 
• 2008 - RHP Masumi Kuwata, the first Japanese player ever signed by the Pirates and a legend in his homeland, retired. Kuwata, who was a week shy of 40-years-old, had a 1.80 ERA in five innings in the spring but hadn’t pitched since March 18th and chose to retire when it became clear that he wouldn’t make the Pirates' opening-day roster. Following Japanese tradition, Kuwata walked to the McKechnie Field mound about an hour after the Tigers-Pirates exhibition game ended and without stepping on the pitching rubber, placed a ball on it. He made his Bucco/major league bow at Yankee Stadium on June 10th, 2007 and was 0-1/9.43 in 19 games before his final MLB appearance on August 13th. Kuwata was the oldest player to make his first major league appearance since 41-year-old Diomedes Olivo debuted, also for the Pirates, in 1960.

3/25: Felix-For-Jay; Vanimal Joins; El Coffee, Gene, Pete Sign; Jumpin' Jack Starts; Maz Breaks Foot; LaRussa Deal; HBD Lee & Jimmy

• 1882 - RF Jimmy Sebring was born in Liberty, PA, near Williamsport. He played for Pittsburgh from 1902-04, hitting .261, and in 1903 became the first MLB player to homer in a World Series game when he legged out an inside-the-park four-bagger against Cy Young while hitting .333 against Boston in that first WS. The talented OF’er (he was an early “can’t miss” prospect) had a rift with the team over a couple of different incidents and was traded. He then played with a series of outlaw teams, sidetracking his promising career. Sebring was on the comeback trail when he passed away from kidney disease in 1910 at the age of 27. 
• 1891 - OF Pete Browning signed with Pittsburgh for $3,500-to-$4,000. One of the great batsmen of the era, he joined after leaving his longtime team, the Louisville Colonels, in 1890 and jumping to Cleveland of the Players League. His signing was one of several, starting with Lou Bierbauer, that helped the Pittsburgh nickname of “Pirates” become a thing. Although he batted .291 for Pittsburgh, at midseason he ended up with Cincinnati. Browning played for four different clubs from 1892-94 to close out his MLB career, posting a lifetime .341 BA over 13 campaigns. Pete was known as the Louisville Slugger - he was from Louisville - and baseball lore credits him as the namesake of the famous Hillerich & Bradsby bat model, which he used during his career. 
• 1953 - The Pirates signed IF Gene Freese to a minor league contract. The 19-year-old from Wheeling made it the hard way; he was one of 21 to survive a local try-out at Forbes Field, then was culled from a pack of about 70 players who were auditioned at minor league camp. He was assigned to Class D Brunswick and jumped quickly to Class B Burlington, then in ‘54 started out at AA New Orleans. From there, he went to Hollywood of the Pacific Coast League and debuted with Pittsburgh later in 1955 as a 21-year-old. Gene used that as a launching pad to an 11-year MLB career, spending six of those seasons with the Bucs, including a year (‘55) playing with big bro George. 

Gene Freese - 1956 Topps

• 1955 - OF Lee Mazzilli was born in New York City. Mazzilli spent four of his 14 seasons as a Pirate, playing fairly regularly for his first two years (1983-’86) while hitting .244 overall. In 1986, the Mets were rumored to have offered Ray Knight (who was nearing the end of his career) for Mazzilli, but the Pirates turned them down. The Bucs released Lee in July when he was hitting .226 and he joined New York for free while Knight batted .298 with one more solid season yet in the tank. 
• 1965 - Camp isn’t all fun and games. Bill Mazeroski broke a bone in his right foot on this day and was out of the Bucco lineup until mid-May. He came back to hit .271 and earn another Golden Glove for his trophy case. It was the only time between 1964-67 that he didn’t appear in every game, and Maz still played in 130 contests after his foot healed while helping to turn 113 DPs. 
• 1974 - The Press carried a small clip announcing that the Bucs sent Charleston prospects OF Dave Arrington and IF Alferdo Zavala to the Cubs Wichita farm club for 29-year-old middle infielder Tony LaRussa in a AAA deal. LaRussa was approaching his time to change career lanes, playing farm ball through 1977, taking the skipper’s job at Knoxville the next year and then beginning a 35-year MLB managing career in 1979 at Chicago after starting the season at Iowa. 
• 1989 - The Pirates sent SS Felix Fermin and UT Denny Gonzalez to Cleveland for SS Jay Bell to complete a PTBNL deal from November 28th, 1988. Bell manned shortstop for eight years, helped capture three NL East titles and earned an All-Star berth in 1993 for the Bucs. He returned in 2013 as their batting coach before moving on to a minor league managing career. Fermin played eight more years in the AL, starting several years for the Indians. Gonzalez got into eight more MLB games after the deal and closed out his career with stints in Japan and Mexico. 

Jack Wilson - 2001 Fleer Legacy

• 2001 - Manager Lloyd McClendon officially announced that 23-year-old Jack Wilson was going to start the season at shortstop, bumping veteran Pat Meares to second base. Solid choice; Wilson became a fan favorite and held the job until he was traded in 2009, hitting .269 while winning an All-Star berth in 2004. Jumping Jack Flash was sent to Pittsburgh in 2000 by the Cards for LHP Jason Christiansen. For Meares, it was the end of the big league road - a nagging hand injury led to a battle royale with the club over treatment, and he got into just 86 games during the campaign, his last as a MLB’er, as he played out his $15M contract rostered on the DL through 2003. 
• 2009 - Pirates Latin American scouts Rene Gayo and Rene Ellis signed a skinny 17-year-old kid who they envisioned as making the jump from pitcher to outfielder for $175,000. The vision became reality - the beanpole was Gregory Polanco and he went on patrol in Pittsburgh’s pasture in 2014. His promise never caught up with his performance, but he did a little better at the negotiating table in 2017, signing a five-year/$35M contract with two team option years worth $26M. He was injured during an awkward late season slide late in 2018 and returned before he was 100% in 2019, playing in only 42 games. 2020 was a lost year performance-wise (.153 BA) and El Coffee was released the following year; now he’s playing in Japan. They also signed RHP Joely Rodriguez. He never tossed for the Pirates but was traded as a prospect for Antonio Bastardo in 2014. Joely has pitched six MLB seasons (he’s now a FA) while Bastardo was suspended for PED usage in 2018, with Pittsburgh becoming his last MLB posting. 
• 2014 - RHP Vance Worley was purchased from the Minnesota Twins. After going 1-5/7.21 ERA in 2013, Vanimal started out at Indy, and following some tinkering with his arm angle, he was called up to start on June 15th to replace injured Francisco Liriano. He finished the campaign with an 8-4 record and 2.85 ERA. After a 4-6/4.02 line in 2015, he was released and went to Baltimore and then Miami. He’s since played in the Mets minors, indie ball, and made his last appearance in the 2023 WBC, pitching for Great Britain. He’s an FA this season.

Almost Show Time: Games, Injuries, Cuts, News, Notes

Almost time for the games to count...

Weekday Games: Pittsburgh pounded Philly on Monday, 11-2. Oneil Cruz had three hits, two homers and six RBI; Rowdy Tellez also went long while KeBryan Hayes & Jared Triolo had three hits. The pitchers gave up nine knocks and five walks, but fanned 16 batters and stranded 13 runners. The Bucs were off on Tuesday. Apparently they took Wednesday off, too, losing 12-0 to the Yankees. Marco Gonzales had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Pittsburgh dropped Thursday's game to the Blue Jays, 3-2. Solo shots by Bryan Reynolds and Jared Triolo couldn't overcome the three-run opening frame surrendered by Bailey Falter.

Martin Perez - camp photo Pirates/MLB.com

Weekend Games: Friday's game against the O's was rained out. On Saturday, Jared Jones went five solid innings v the BoSox as he continued to make a strong case for a rotation spot. The pitching (Josh Fleming, Roansy Contreras) posted zippos behind him, allowing Edward Olivares eighth-inning, three-run bomb to carry the Bucs to a 4-1 decision. Martin Perez kept his impressive spring work intact on Sunday in a 1-0 loss to the Yankees; the Bucs posted just five hits v the Bronx Bombers. Pittsburgh is 12-16 in Grapefruit action with the final spring game this afternoon.

Season Opener: RHP Mitch Keller (13-9/4.21 in '23) meets Miami Marlins lefty Jesús Luzardo (10-10/3.50 in '23) on March 28th's Opening Day. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 at loanDepot Park. The Bucs play four games there, then go to DC for their Home Opener, and after a three-game set there finally make it to the 'Burgh on April 5th to kick it off at PNC Park against the Orioles.

Moves, Injuries Thru Sunday (MLB Roster Announced Today):

• The countdown continues: C Carter Bins, IF Sergio Alcantara, and OFs Matt Gorski & Joe Perez were reassigned to minor league camp. Righty reliever Kyle Nicolas was optioned to Indy. Later in the week, 2B Nick Gonzales, OF Josh Palacios, who missed a lot of time battling a leg injury, IF Liover Peguero (he's been benched by the bug for several days) and LHP Jose Hernandez were shipped to Indy. With Gonzales/Peguero sent down and Ji Hwan Bae nursing an injury, the 2B battle looks like it was won by Jared Triolo, with Alika Williams the reserve infielder.
• RHP Chase Anderson was the first vet to qualify for a post-arb minor league contract opt-out, and he left camp on Friday, quickly signing with Boston. Pitchers Brent Honeywell Jr and Wily Peralta both have contractual opt-outs per Bucs On Deck they can exercise next week. Those three, plus three more NRI players (P Eric Lauer, UT Jake Lamb, OF Gilberto Celestino) have opt-outs available later, during the season.

Dauri Moreta is gone for the year - 2023 photo/Pirates

• RHP Dauri Moreta, as anticipated, had major elbow damage and underwent TJ surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament. He's expected to be out of action for the next 14-16 months. C Yasmani Grandal, suffering from plantar fasciitis, still isn't running, and that'll make the catching roster an interesting call. Bae has been doing "baseball activities" while recovering from a hip flexor, so we'll see what this coming week holds. P's Colin Holderman (virus) and Carmen Mlodzinski (forearm tightness) are throwing on flat ground and are expected to start the year on the 15-day IL. In better news, RHP David Bednar is back in action after rehabbing from lat tightness.
• C Endy Rodriguez, who was lost after UCL surgery in December, plans on staying with the team for the opening few weeks of the season; he'll go to Florida once his throwing rehab program begins, and that date is still TBD. 

Notes:

• RHP Roansy Contreras, who worked an encouraging frame on Thursday, was sent to the bullpen. Injuries have thinned the pen and Roansy is out of options, so the move may buy a little more time for the Bucs to get Contreras back to 2022 form.
• Pirates righties Paul Skenes (first team) and Patrick Reilly (second team) were named to the Spring Breakout All-Star team by MLB Pipeline; together, they tossed two innings and whiffed five.

Paul Skenes - 2023 Bowmans Best

• RHP Tyler Beede, who was 2-5/5.23 in '22 for the Bucs in his first full season back from TJ surgery, spent '23 tossing in Japan and it paid off - he was told that he had won a spot on the Cleveland Guardians roster. Also earning a roster spot was Daniel Vogelbach with Toronto; DH Vogey appears to be keeping a seat warm until Joey Votto gets back to speed. OF Miguel Andujar, who was looking good in Oakland's camp and seemed a shoo-in to go north, had knee surgery and will miss at least 4-6 weeks of the season.
• IF Cole Tucker, 27, who's been written up in the celebrity section more than sports pages lately, was given his release by the Mariners. IF Josh Harrison, 36, opted out of his deal with the Reds when told he wasn't going to make the MLB roster out of camp. Ditto for vet RHP Jesse Chavez, who was released by the White Sox. He started his 16-year MLB career with the Bucs in 2008-09. LHP Chasen Shreve, who was a Bucco in 2021 (3-3/3.21) was let go by the Rangers.

3/24: Jeter Joins; Bo Goes; Roberto Flexes; Mr. Swat's #4; Slugger Hank; RIP Mace; HBD Chris, Corey, Gus, Pat, Gentleman George, Mike, Roy & Al

• 1869 - RHP Al Lawson was born in London, England. His MLB career consisted of three 1890 starts, two with the Alleghenys. He wasn’t exactly a poster boy for Brit baseball; he went 0-2, giving up 20 runs (10 earned) in 10 IP on 15 hits and 10 walks. Al played pro ball from 1888-95 and then managed in the minors from 1905 to 1907. In 1908 he started a new baseball league known as the Union Professional League, which quickly floundered (His brother George founded the United States League in 1910, which also died a rapid death). But he had a second career as an aviation advocate, publishing air industry magazines, founding Lawson Aircraft, and credited by some as the guy who came up with the idea of commercial airliners. Moving on, he later wrote books and developed an out-there science known as “Lawsonomy” that evolved into a religion, all of which were fairly popular for a spell (he even founded a college) in the Upper Midwest. 
• 1874 - OF Roy Thomas was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania. A speedster who played mainly for Philadelphia, the Pirates brought him aboard in June, 1908. The top of the order guy had a .348 OBP and scored 52 runs in 102 games starting in center, then went on to Boston the following year after missing the start of the season because of a college coaching commitment at Penn, his alma mater. He retired as a Phillie in 1911. He had a 13-year career and was adept at spoiling pitches; he led the league in walks seven times with a .416 lifetime OBP. 
• 1884 - 3B Harry “Mike” Mowrey was born in Brown's Mill, Pennsylvania. Mike had a 13 year MLB career, spending a pair of seasons in Pittsburgh. He hit .254 as a Pirate in 1914 and .280 for the Federation League’s Pittsburgh Rebels the following year. Mowrey’s forte was as a defender; he was considered the most accomplished hot corner fielder in baseball and especially sharp against the bunt, a major offensive tool during the dead ball era. Harry became Mike thanks to his brother. Mowrey’s dad was sheriff and ran the jail; vagrants were often housed in the cells overnight. Young Harry was friendly with one of his dad’s more frequent guests named Mike and so his brother called Harry “Mike the Hobo” after his incarcerated bud from that time forward. 

George Sisler & Pie Traynor - 1961 Fleer Checklist

• 1893 - “Gentleman George” Sisler was born in Manchester, Ohio. After a Hall-of-Fame career at 1B mainly w/the St. Louis Browns, he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1942 as a coach and evaluator. When Branch Rickey made the jump to the Pirates in 1951, Sisler tagged along. He helped coach several hitters, notably Roberto Clemente, whom he counseled to keep his head quiet and to use a heavier bat; it seems to have been good advice. Sisler stayed on with the Pirates after Rickey left as a roving hitting instructor. His sons, Dick & Dave Sisler, were MLB’ers. Dick spent eight years in the show and later managed the Cincinnati Reds while Dave had a seven-year career as a pitcher. George got his nicknames of “Gentleman” and “Gorgeous” because of his demeanor and looks; he was also known to a lesser degree as “Sizzler” and “The Picture Player.” 
• 1906 - C Art “Pat” (Patrick was his middle name) Veltman was born in Mobile, Alabama. Veltman had a six-year MLB career that consisted of coffee klatches; he played just 23 games over that span, his final dozen as a Pirate in 1934, going 3-for-28 (.107). He was released in midseason to allow for his return to the Pacific Coast League Oakland Oaks (the team the Pirates drafted him from after the 1933 campaign), where he finished out the season as manager. He played three more years in the minors and then retired from baseball. 
• 1907 - 1B/OF Augustine “Gus” Dugas was born in St. Jean de Matha, Quebec. The reserve hit .250 in 1930 and 1932 (he broke his jaw in 1931) as a Bucco before he was sent to the Phillies as part of the Freddie Lindstrom trade. “Lefty” (he was a southpaw), along with fellow Quebec-born major leaguers Tim Harkness, Raymond Daviault, Georges Maranda, Ron Piché, Claude Raymond, and Jean-Pierre Roy, threw the ceremonial first pitch before the inaugural Montreal Expos game at Olympic Stadium (aka Stade Olympique) on April 15th, 1977. 
• 1965 - OF Johnny Jeter was selected off waivers from the Baltimore O’s; he had originally been signed by the Pirates in 1964 out of Grambling and then lost to the Birds in November. Johnny was unfortunately a guy who went downhill at the plate the more he batted. He played two years for the Bucs and six overall in the show: during the three seasons that he batted fewer than 100 times, he hit over .300, but in the three campaigns with 100+ at bats, he never hit higher than .240. 

Johnny Jeter - 1970 Topps

• 1966 - Roberto Clemente told people he wasn’t a big home run hitter only because he thought it helped the team to hit for average, but always maintained that he had the chops to be a muscle guy. He proved it on this date when he became just the third man to homer over Terry Park’s 30’ wall in Fort Myers. The blast, estimated to be 500’ by the Post-Gazette’s Al Abrams, proved the game-winning tally in the Pirates 7-5 victory over the Mets in Grapefruit League action. Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski also homered on a day when the Florida breeze was blowing out. 
• 1982 - 1B/OF Corey Hart was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Pirates signed Hart to a one-year/$2.5M contract for the 2015 campaign, taking a risk that he would recover from microsurgery on his knee and fill a hole at first base. The club rolled snake eyes; Corey got into just 35 games while battling shoulder & knee injuries, batted .222, and retired prior to the 2016 season. The two-time All-Star then spent time as a minor league hitting coach for Toronto. 
• 1991 - The Pirates president, Carl Barger, GM Larry Doughty and skipper Jim Leyland held a three-hour, closed door meeting discussing the Bucs “State of the Union” per the report of Bob Hertzel of the Pittsburgh Press. A major topic was the future of Bobby Bonilla, who was in his walk year and could be signed, traded, or lost to free agency. Hertzel said the rumor mill was buzzing, with the Yankees’ 1B Kevin Maas & OF Roberto Kelly, the Mariners’ 1B Tino Martinez & old Bucco property OF Jay Buhner, the Braves’ P John Smoltz & OF Dave Justice and, a couple of days later, the Cubs’ Mark Grace & Jerome Walton, all guys that the Pirates’ were targeting to bundle into a Bo package. But the FOs high hopes overshot the market and Bobby Bo left the Bucs empty-handed after putting up an All Star line of .302/18/100 in ‘91 to sign with the Mets. 
• 1993 - Utilityman Chris Bostick was born in Rochester, New York. A well-traveled minor league depth guy, Pittsburgh became his fourth organization in 2017 and after some good stick work at Indy, he got his first call to the show for a May cup of coffee, then a longer September look, batting .296 overall in 20 games for the Pirates. He got a couple of more tastes in ‘18 before going to Miami and then to the Orioles; 2019 was his last pro season with the O’s AAA Norfolk club. 

Mace Brown - 1936 National Chicle Pastel

• 2002 - RHP Mace Brown passed away in North Carolina at the age of 92. Brown was one of the earliest dedicated relievers for the Pirates, appearing 207 times from the bullpen from 1935-41. He also started 55 games over that span and ended up credited retroactively with 29 saves as a Pirate (a closer wouldn’t be an everyday thing for several more decades; a save wasn’t even kept as a stat until 1969) to go with 55 wins, 18 complete games and two shutouts. 
• 2006 - At Mickey Mantle's Restaurant & Sports Bar in New York City, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled the "Baseball Sluggers" postage stamps which were issued on July 15th at Yankee Stadium prior to the game against the White Sox. The four Hall of Famers featured in the set had roots in New York with Mickey Mantle (Yankees), Mel Ott (Giants) and Roy Campanella (Dodgers) playing their entire careers in the Big Apple, while the fourth philatelic honoree, Hank Greenberg, had set schoolboy records at James Monroe High School in the Bronx. Greenberg spent his final season (1947) in Pittsburgh where he passed the big bopper torch to 24-year-old Ralph Kiner. 
• 2014 - The Pirates announced that the team would wear #4 patches all season to commemorate Ralph Kiner, who died on February 6th. Kiner led the NL in home runs for seven straight years (1946-52) and MLB for six consecutive seasons (1947-52), both records. He was selected for the All-Star Game in six straight seasons, from 1948-53, and entered the Hall of Fame in 1975.