9/9 Through the 1970s: Arriba & Matty, Duels, Comin' Back, Game Days, Buc All-Stars, HBD Dan, Tom, Pete, Hugh, Frankie, Schoolboy, Dashing Dan, Dots & Elmer

1857 - LF Abner Dalrymple was born in Gratiot, Wisconsin. He had a long and illustrious career in early baseball - he was the first hitter to be issued an intentional walk with the bases loaded - and spent two seasons (1887-88) at the backend of his 12-year career with the Alleghenys. Abner hit just .215 with Pittsburgh, but got the team’s first National League at-bat against the White Sox on April 30, 1887, a 6-2 win at Recreation Park that is considered by the Pirates to officially mark the beginning of the franchise.  

1863 - The Alleghenies and the Keystones, after a two-year wartime hiatus, met on the West Common in Allegheny City in a match won by the Alleghenies. It helped to establish that the roots of local baseball dated back to at least the Civil War era. The Pittsburgh Daily Commercial wrote “...we hope that they and other clubs will keep it rolling and give us many more matches of the noble game.” 

1886 - IF Jack “Dots” Miller was born in Kearny, New Jersey. He played with Pittsburgh for five seasons, from 1909-13. He drove in 87 runs for the 1909 Series champs and had a .263 career average with the Pirates. According to Bucco lore (and the SABR Biography Project), he got the nickname "Dots" after a reporter asked Honus Wagner the whereabouts of the new kid. Wagner pointed to him in a corner and replied in his German accent, "Dots (That's) Miller." A good tale, but according to his family, Miller had a thick accent and also pronounced “dots” for “that’s” as a youth, and so Dots became his term of endearment. 

1891 - OF “Dashing Dan” Costello was born in Jessup, PA, in Lackawanna county. The LH hitter played three years (1914-16) for the Bucs as a reserve outfielder and utility man. He hit .241 as a Pirate. Pittsburgh released him in August of 1916, “...as he had been mixed up in several near fights because of his remarks to opposing players.” He also had authority issues, as the Pittsburgh Press added “...his attitude (bad) toward club officials and policy was well known,” probably not a wise tack for a .240 hitter of any era. As far as his nickname, we have not a clue - he was speedy (Dan stole 110 bases in six minor league seasons), or it may be in recognition of his reputed love of the nightlife.

Dashing Dan - 1916 Sporting News

1897 - 1B Wheeler “Doc” Johnston (sometimes referred to as Johnson) was born in Cleveland, Tennessee. Doc was bought for $7,500 from Cleveland in early 1915 to cover first base after starter Ed Konetchy jumped leagues by joining the Pittsburgh Burghers of the Federal League. Doc had a decent opening campaign, batting .265, but slumped the following year and was dealt after the 1916 season to Birmingham of the Southern Association as part of the Burleigh Grime package. Johnston played 11 years in the show, finishing his career with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1922. His nickname came about because he was a sickly youth and had broken a bone or two in an accident (he had a lifelong gimpy leg because of that), so he was an expert regarding various aches and pains.

1898 - Bucco skipper Frankie Frisch was born in the Bronx. He spent his Hall of Fame playing days with the NY Giants and St. Louis’ Gas House Gang. The Fordham Flash managed the Pirates from 1940-46, leading the club to five winning seasons and a second place finish in 1944, ending up with a 539-528 slate in Pittsburgh. Frankie also managed and coached with the Cards, Cubs and Giants, and later was a broadcaster. Frisch died in 1973 after a car crash. He was a track star in college at Fordham, hence the nickname "Fordham Flash.”

1899 - RHP and Hall of Famer Waite “Schoolboy” Hoyt was born in Brooklyn. Best known for his NY Yankee years, he tossed for the Bucs from 1933-37 as a multi-role arm, compiling a record of 35-31-18/3.08, winning 15 games in 1934. He got his nickname when John McGraw signed him when Hoyt was a teenager and he became known as "The Schoolboy Wonder.”

1913 - RHP Hugh Mulcahy was born in Brighton, Massachusetts. Hugh pitched for Philadelphia for eight years and lost almost five full seasons to WW2; he only got into two games as a Pirate in 1947, his final campaign. But Hugh did leave with one of the more memorable nicknames in baseball history - he was known as “LP” from his time with the Phillies. The moniker was taken from the box scores of his games, which 89 times read “LP, Mulcahy” as in losing pitcher. In justice, he could have just as easily been dubbed “Hard Luck” Mulcahy as some of the Philly teams he played for were terrible. He was a workhorse for those clubs and despite the setbacks even made the All-Star team once.

Paul Waner - 2021 custom card Roselle Avenue

1928 - The Pirates rallied with five runs in the eighth to overcome a 7-3 Cardinal lead and take an 8-7 victory home from Sportsman’s Park. Paul Waner went 4-for-5 with two RBI, including the game-winner, and a run while brother Lloyd chipped in with three knocks, including a double, triple, RBI and two runs scored. Joe Dawson worked two perfect innings for the win.

1931 - C Pete Naton was born in Flushing, New York. Pete was part of Holy Cross’ 1952 College Championship club and the Bucs signed him the following year. He got a couple of calls to the show during the 1953 campaign, getting in six games and going 2-for-12 with a pair of walks. That would be it for Pete, who spent six years in the minors before retiring. He was a successful businessman after he left the game, an avid amateur golfer (his memorial service was held at his golf club) and a member of Holy Cross’ Athletic Hall of Fame.

1934 - Gus Suhr led off with a homer in the ninth to give Larry French and the Pirates their sixth straight win over the first-place New York Giants and Fred Fitzsimmons 1-0 at the Polo Grounds. The drive carried into the second level of the right field stands and a fitting reward for French’s five-hit, complete-game  effort. The fielding for both clubs was top rate; Arky Vaughan made an over-the-shoulder grab in the ninth to keep French out of trouble and the Post-Gazette’s Ed Balinger wrote “Both sides performed frequent spectacular stunts afield...” 

1934 - The Pittsburgh Crawfords' Satchel Paige and the Philadelphia Stars' All Star, lefty Slim Jones, traded fastballs through nine innings at Yankee Stadium in a 1-1 draw, called after regulation due to darkness (they were the second game of a doubleheader, with the Chicago American Giants topping the New York Black Yankees 4-3 in the opener). Paige struck out 12 (he fanned the final two Stars hitters with the bases loaded in the ninth), giving up six hits, and Jones fanned nine while allowing just three knocks, pitching perfect ball over the first six frames and carrying a shutout until the eighth before 30,000+ fans. The pair faced one another a month later, and before that game, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson presented them with travel bags (a fitting gift for the well-traveled Satchel) in honor of the "greatest game ever played." Paige bested Jones 3-1 in the rematch.

Ed Brandt - 1937/38 Harwell Collection/Detroit Public Library

1937 - Ed Brandt outdueled the Reds Gene Schott 1-0 at Forbes Field, handing the Reds their 30th one-run loss of the year. Arky Vaughan's triple and Bill Brubaker’s single to lead off the ninth walked off Brandt’s four-hitter.

1958 - RHP Bob Friend, 2B Bill Mazeroski and 3B Frank Thomas were named to an NL All-Star Team that squared off against a squad of AL All-Stars at Yankee Stadium in October. The National League won the friendly exhibition 6-2. Willie Mays, returning to Gotham for the first time since the Giants moved, banged out four hits and starter Friend was credited with the victory.

1959 - SS Tom Foley was born in Fort Benning, Georgia. He played for 13 years, spending 1993-94 with the Pirates, getting into 145 games and hitting .246. Foley hung ‘em the next year and became the Rays minor league coordinator in 1996. In 2001, he joined Tampa Bay’s big league staff, retiring in 2019.

1966 - Roberto Clemente reached base five times (four hits, walk) and Matty Alou four times (three hits, walk), and the pair scored all three runs as the Bucs walked off the Cards 3-2 in 12 innings at Forbes Field. Willie Stargell plated each guy once, but the clincher was delivered by Bill Mazeroski, whose sac fly sent home Mateo, who had opened the extra frame with a single. The Pirates had plenty of chances to put the game away, stranding 12 runners, and both sides had a runner thrown out at home. Pittsburgh had enough in the tank to post a victory for ElRoy Face, who worked three scoreless frames behind Woodie Fryman and Pete Mikkelson.  The win kept the Buccaneers 1-1/2 games ahead of the Giants and Dodgers, but a September swoon (they lost 11 of their last 20 games) would land them in third place, three games off LA’s pace.  

1970 - RHP Dan Miceli was born in Newark. The reliever spent the first four years (1993-96) of his 14-season career in Pittsburgh, going 8-15-24/5.41 during that span. He was known for a power arm and shaky control throughout his MLB journey.  In 2003, he gained entry into a club with just a handful of members, that of players who appeared for four different teams during the same season.

9/9 From 1980: All #21, A Winner!, 14 For Ollie, Jeff Jolt, Game Days, Freddy Goes, Vogey Out, SI Cutch, Greg & David Winners, Ouch, HBD Wil

1987 - The Bucs nipped the Cubs 4-3 when an unlikely suspect, reliever Jeff Robinson, went yard on ace Chicago closer Lee Smith with two out in the ninth at Wrigley Field, smashing the first pitch into the bleachers. Coach Rick Donnelly told Paul Meyer of the Post Gazette that “Jeff Robinson and Lee Smith could stand out there the rest of their lives and not have that happen again.” Robinson agreed - “It was pretty much of a fluke,” he admitted. Still, a great series for Jeff; not only did he go deep for his first Pirates win, but two days prior, he tossed an immaculate inning against Chicago to post his first Bucco save. Jim Leyland told the media that he let Robinson bat because he thought he had the best shot at retiring the Cubs in the ninth and getting the game to Jim Gott. Robby did get the closer Gott on the mound an inning sooner than expected, and he struck out two for the save. RJ Reynolds led the attack with two hits and two RBI.

1991 - Jay Bell went 4-for-4 with a homer in Pittsburgh’s 12-10 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Pirates trailed 10-8 in the ninth inning after blowing an early 6-0 lead before rookie Orlando Merced connected for a three-run, pinch-hit homer to trigger Pittsburgh’s game-winning four-run frame. As the score indicated, the wind was blowing out - each team homered three times, doubled three times and together banged out 29 hits while burning through 12 pitchers. Stan Belinda claimed the win while Rosario Rodriguez nailed the save.

1992 - With the score tied in the bottom of the sixth with two on, one out and first base open, the Cubs intentionally walked Barry Bonds. It was his 28th IBB of the year, breaking the Bucs' single season record that was set in 1968 by Roberto Clemente (Bonds finished up with 32 by year’s end). The seemingly sound stratagem backfired, though, when Jeff King hit the first pitch he saw from Ken Patterson over the left field wall for his second career grand slam, a response to Ryne Sandburg’s granny in the top half of the frame that had briefly put the Cubbies ahead. Gary Varsho and Jay Bell also went long (Varsho’s was the first Pirates pinch-hit homer of the year) as Pittsburgh prevailed 13-8 at TRS, with Danny Cox getting the blown save/win combo.

1994 - RHP Wil Crowe was born in Kingston, Tennessee. He fought back from TJ surgery in college to become a second-round pick of the Nationals in 2017. Crowe debuted in 2020 and was traded in the off season to the Pirates as part of the Josh Bell deal. Despite a shaky start with Washington, he pitched solidly in the spring and went north with the big team and joined the rotation in late April. He was converted to the pen in 2022 and found a home there, slashing 6-10-4/4.38 while making a team-leading 60 outings and tossing a bullpen-leading 76 innings. He was injured late in the year and he started 2023 slowly. Crowe was put on the IL in April with a bum shoulder and DFA’ed in July. He went unclaimed and was outrighted to Indy. He started 2024 in Korea, where he pitched solidly (5-1/3.57) but underwent elbow surgery and was released. Crowe spent 2025 in the Philly system, but after 13 outings was released in late August and retired.

Wil Crowe - 2021 Panini Diamond Kings

1999 - The Pirates gave up on 3B Freddy Garcia, trading the 27-year-old Rule 5 pick (1995) to the Atlanta Braves for RHP Greg Dukeman. Garcia, who had hit .221 in his four-year Bucco career, got three at bats with the Bravos to end his MLB career. Dukeman worked in the minors before hangin’ ‘em up after the 2003 campaign, never advancing past High Class A.

2001 - Ryan Vogelsong had to leave the game with a sore elbow in a 5-3 loss to the Reds at PNC Park. The rookie righty, who had just been dealt for on July 30th, needed TJ surgery and was lost for the entire 2002 campaign. He joined Jason Schmidt (11 months missed), Kris Benson (missed all of 2001) and Francisco Cordova (never returned after 2000) as Bucco hurlers who had reconstructive surgery in the past 14 months. The other piece of trade that brought Vogey to Pittsburgh, Armando Rios, tore his ACL after playing just two games for the Bucs. Though not injury related, other than shooting oneself in the foot, the Pirates stranded 15 runners in the loss. The only bright spot was Humberto Cota, who spanked a pinch hit single for his first MLB hit and RBI.

2004 - It was a good day for Ollie Perez, who ended the Astro’s 12-game winning streak with a career-high 14 strikeouts at PNC Park in a 3-1 victory. He gave up three hits and an unearned run in eight frames to become the second Pirates pitcher - Bob Veale was the other - in history to crack the 200-K mark (Ed “Cannonball” Morris fanned 326 in 1886 after whiffing 298 in ‘85, but the team doesn’t recognize those as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys were in the American Association then). Perez ended the year with 239 whiffs; the Pirates modern single-season record belongs to Veale, who fanned 276 batters in 1965. Ollie needed his A game for his 10th win as the Bucs only had six hits themselves (Jose Castillo had three), but RBIs by Jason Kendall, Tony Alvarez and Ty Wigginton carried the day, with Jose Mesa nailing the save in the ninth. It was the opener of a twilight twin bill; Houston avenged the defeat by romping 9-2 in the nightcap. 

2007 - Sparked by a dazzling catch by Nyjer Morgan and an almost inside-the-park granny by Freddy Sanchez, the Bucs beat the Cubs 10-5 at PNC Park. The Bucs had an early 6-2 lead thanks to Steady Freddy’s bases-juiced triple (he was thrown out at home on a bang-bang call). The following inning, Aramis Ramirez spanked a ball the opposite way and Nyjer, who had played him to pull, made a diving catch at the corner of the Clemente Wall in right center to rob A-Ram, while barely avoiding right fielder Steve Pearce, who had to hurdle Morgan. Matt Morris went six innings for the win, followed by three relievers who held down the fort.

Gerrit Cole - 2013 Topps

2013 - The Pirates clinched their first winning season since 1992 with a 1-0 win over Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington. Rookie Gerrit Cole went seven innings of three-hit ball, walking a pair and striking out nine, with Tony Watson and Mark Melancon pitching two innings of one-hit ball to seal the deal. The game was scoreless until two outs in the seventh when Marlon Byrd and Pedro Alvarez hit back-to-back doubles to produce the game’s only run. The win broke a four-game losing streak and moved the Pirates within a game of first place St. Louis, though the Cards held on to win the Central by three games. 

2013 - Andrew McCutchen was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as part of Lee Jenkins story “The Bucs Start Here.” Cutch won the National League MVP that year with a .317/.404/.508 slash. 

2015 - Jung Ho Kang smacked a grand slam to break a 1-1 tie in the top of the sixth inning at Cincinnati, and the Bucs needed every one of those runs as they ran out the clock to take a 5-4 win from the Reds.

2016 - The Pirates were in a bad way, having lost four in a row and 12 of 14, and it looked like more of the same at Citizens Park against the Phils. Despite 11 K and stellar pitching by Ivan Nova, some sloppy fielding and an eighth inning wild spree by reliever Felipe Rivero had them in a 3-2 hole going into the ninth. Fran Cervelli led off with a walk against former Pirate Jeanmar Gomez, and Jordy Mercer, after fouling off a bunt, doubled him to third. Sean Rodriguez came off the bench, got a 2-2 fastball and lined it over the RF wall to lead Pittsburgh to a 5-3 win. It was the first time in 140 games that the Bucs had rallied from a ninth inning deficit. It was also the first ninth-inning-or-later pinch hit dinger to give the Bucs a come-from-behind lead since Rob Mackowiak’s blast in 2003. 

2016 - It was a busy day for Bucco trainers. Gerrit Cole was shut down with elbow inflammation, Josh Harrison’s year was done after a groin injury, catcher Chris Stewart took a trip to see Dr. Andrews with a knee injury that would require off-season surgery and minor league C Elias Diaz, a 2017 roster candidate, was out with cellulitis. In addition, relievers Neftali Feliz (arm) and AJ Schugel were also hors d’ combat and inactive, requiring the Bucs to call up minor league C Jacob Stallings and hurler Zach Phillips, then deal for pitcher Wade LeBlanc to fill the roster, even with the original wave of September call-ups on hand.

Roberto Clemente - 2020 Topps Allen & Ginter

2020 - On MLB’s Roberto Clemente Day, for the first time all the Pittsburgh Pirates and every MLB Puerto Rican ballplayer wore #21 during their game. Joey Cora became the first Bucco Puerto Rican to wear the retired 21 since Clemente, while before the game, Josh Bell was recognized as Pittsburgh’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award. None of it helped on the field, though, as the Bucs were trounced, 8-1, by the Chicago White Sox at PNC Park.

2022 - The MLB Joint Competition Committee, in a split decision, voted to restrict defensive shifts, use a pitch clock, limit pickoffs/step-offs, and increase the size of the bases (from 15-to-18”) to address pace of play and player safety issues. The changes were first unveiled and tested in minor league play and took effect in 2023. Robo umps didn’t make the cut in this round.

2023 - The Pirates topped the Atlanta Braves 8-4 at Truist Park behind two homers (Bryan Reynolds and Liover Peguero) and 5-1/3 innings of one-run relief work by five relievers (Ryan Borucki got the victory) following a short starting outing by Johan Oviedo. B-Rey had three hits with two RBI and two runs, and his long ball moved him into a tie with Bobby Bonilla for most consecutive 20-homer seasons by a Pirates switch-hitter with three, with Bo’s trio coming during 1988-90. (Reynolds posted his fourth straight 20+ HR campaign in 2024 to hold the record alone) Michael Andujar also added three knocks. The game opened with a little cha-cha as Ronald Acuna and Oviedo faced off with jaws flapping after a tight pitch, emptying the benches. But the ump kept the disputing pair apart while the teams exchanged their howdy-dos, and the dance ended quickly.

2024 - For the third straight year, reliever David Bednar was named as the Pirates Roberto Clemente Award nominee. The Renegade, born in Mt. Lebanon and raised in Mars, has been a ready and steady fixture in the community during his Bucco career, but lost out to a pair of pretty popular guys, Justin Turner and Aaron Judge, in those past seasons. Two Pirates have won the award (it dates back to 1973) - Willie Stargell in 1974 and Andrew McCutchen in 2015.

2025 - Pirates announcer Greg Brown was the Bob Prince Award winner as this year’s Outstanding Sports Personality at the annual Catholic Youth Association/Art Rooney dinner at Acrisure Stadium. Andrew McCutchen was the last Pirate to be honored in 2016, with Neil Walker, Billy Maz and Lanny Frattare past awardees.

9/8 Through the 1960s: 3XRoberto, Sweeps, Garms Flex, Earl & Jimmy's Streaks, 2-for-1, Game Days, Fred Retires, HBD Jimmy, Jim, Frank, Foy, Buck, Val, Rosie & Russ

1852 - OF Russ McKelvy was born in Swissvale. The local lad was on the Alleghenys first roster in 1877 when they were a member of the minor league International Association (the Alleghenys carried just 12 players and all of them made it to the majors) before moving on to the Indianapolis Blues. That move made McKelvy the first ballplayer from Allegheny College to make it to the show (Glenn Beckert of the Cubs/Padres and Josh Sharpless of the Pirates later joined him). He then spent a year with the short-lived NL Indianapolis Blues, and then Josh’s minor league record goes MIA (it seems he played in the local leagues, possibly as a semi-pro player), but he did get one more shot in the majors. His old club, the Alleghenys, now a big-league team in the American Association, played him on August 24th, 1882. Russ started in right field and went 0-for-4, taking his final bow in the show. He shuffled off to Omaha after that where he became a successful businessman and civic mover.

1875 - LHP Eli “Rosie” Rosebraugh was born in Charleston, Illinois. Out of Oberlin College, he tossed briefly for Pittsburgh in 1898-99, working six games (four starts) with an 0-3/4.55 line. Eli, also known as Zeke (his middle name was Ezekiel although he later used Ethelbert) or Rosie, then spent the following campaign in Ohio, tossing for Dayton, Mansfield and Youngstown in the Interstate League. His trail grew cold after that until he shot himself at the age of 54.

1886 - Alleghenys’ manager Horace Phillips decided to go against tradition and schedule a doubleheader at Recreation Park with one admission price; before this date, twin bills had been separate day-night games with stand-alone tickets. It wasn’t an artistic success, with the Alleghenys of the American Association getting whipped by 8-4 and 6-2 scores by the St. Louis Browns. But the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette noted that “...every chimney top, roof, telegraph pole and fence within seeing distance of the diamond seemed to be covered with human beings” as the single ducat (and maybe the lure of the Great Western Band performing before and between the games) drew a then-record Pittsburgh crowd of 11,000 fans to the park and helped usher in an era of regularly scheduled doubleheaders that lasted for decades. The gathering was so large that the paper tipped its cap to the Allegheny skipper, adding “...it certainly proved to be one of the best experiments Manager Phillips has tried, from a financial point of view.” 

1896 - C Val Picinich was born in New York City. Picinich caught for 18 seasons, never cracking the 100-game mark in any one of them. Though he was mostly a caddy, during his five-year stint with the Senators he was Walter Johnson’s personal battery mate, catching all but two of his starts. Val finished his career with Pirates in 1933 at the age of 37 when the Bucs were looking for some relief for regular catcher Earl Grace, who was battling nagging injuries. He hit .250 in 16 games to end his career. Picinich retired to become a chicken farmer after a couple of shots at managing in the minors, then worked in a shipyard.

Jimmy Williams - 1900 team photo clip

1899 - Pittsburgh's 3B Jimmy Williams, who had just set a MLB rookie record by hitting in 26 consecutive games, ran his franchise-record string to 27 games before he was stopped by Deacon Phillippe of Louisville, who also ended Williams’ May/June 26-game run, as Louisville won 5-3. Deacon joined the Pirates a year later, much to William’s relief. Kenny Lofton (2003) and Danny O'Connell (1953) also strung together 26 game streaks to hold down the second spot with Jimmy. (The longest Corsair streak was 30 games by Charlie Grimm, but it was over two seasons, 1921-22). His big league rookie mark lasted until 1987, when it was bested by Benito Santiago. Williams also set the Bucco high water mark for RBIs by a rookie with 116, later matched by Maurice Van Robays in 1940. He also banged out 27 triples, still an MLB rookie record.

1905 - As written by the Pittsburgh Press “(Cincinnati pitcher) Charlie Chech was touched up for fifteen safeties, including six two-baggers, and allowed eight bases on balls, but still the Pirates could get but three little runs out of all that swatfest” as Pittsburgh lost 8-3 to the Reds at Exposition Park. The Bucs stranded a National League record 18 men in the loss.

1907 - 1B Walter “Buck” Leonard was born in Rocky Mount, NC. He played 15 years for the Homestead Grays (1934-48), batting ahead of Josh Gibson, and the pair were often likened to Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. The Grays won nine consecutive Negro National League pennants (1937-1945) with the Thunder Twins in the middle of the order. Leonard finished his Grays’ career with a .320 BA and was selected to the HoF. In 1994, when the All-Star Game was held in Pittsburgh, the then 88-year-old Leonard was named an Honorary Captain.

1908 - Howie Camnitz tossed a five-hitter with seven whiffs and made two first-inning runs chased home by Honus Wagner stand up as the Bucs swept a four-game set from St. Louis at Exposition Park, 2-0. The Pirates set a MLB record v the Cards by posting only two assists in the field, both by 2B Charlie Starr. 

1908 - OF Foy Frazier was born in Fresno, California, and his tale was uncovered by John Drecker of Pittsburgh Baseball History. Foy’s only big league time was with the Bucs in 1930, and it was hardly any time at all - he broke camp with the team, was sent down in early May and recalled in late July. He finished the campaign with Pittsburgh, but never saw one minute on the field (The Buccos rostered nine outfielders that year, not counting Frazier). He spent seven years playing on the farm, mostly in the Pacific Coast League, retiring after the 1932 campaign to become a Fresno cop.

Frank Oceak - 1960 Top's Diner

1912 - Long-time Pirate coach and minor league manager Frank Oceak was born in Pocahontas, Virginia. He was with the organization from 1942-1972 for all but one season, managing everywhere in the minors from the Class D Oil City Oilers to the AAA Columbus Clippers. Oceak also served for 10 seasons as one of Danny Murtaugh’s coaches and finished his career on Bill Virdon’s staff, with the 1960 (he’s the coach wearing #44 who’s running down the third base line with Maz) and 1971 World Series teams part of his resume.

1915 - Fred Clarke resigned as manager after leading the club to four pennants in 19 years, citing a desire for more family time (and probably nudged along by back-to-back losing seasons). He wanted to step down earlier, after the 1909 World Series campaign, but was talked out of it by owner Barney Dreyfuss. Jimmy Callahan replaced him at the helm in 1916.

1916 - RHP Jim Bagby Jr. was born in Cleveland. Jim closed out his 10-year MLB run with Pittsburgh in 1947, going 5-4/4.67. Jim, a two-time All-Star earlier in his career, joined his dad to become the first father and son combo to pitch in the World Series when Jim Jr. appeared for the 1946 Red Sox; Jim Sr. had appeared in the Fall Classic with the 1920 Indians. In another feather in his cap moment, Junior and Al Smith were the Cleveland pitchers who ended Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak. Following his baseball days, Bagby became a pro golfer and in 1992 was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. 

1932 - C Earl Grace had his errorless streak end at 110 games. The errant throw was his only miscue of the season out of 413 chances, a NL record. He did his penance by smacking a homer but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Brooklyn Dodgers embarrassed the Pirates 12-2 at Ebbets Field. 

Earl Grace - 1933 press photo

1937 - The Bucs swept Cincinnati at Forbes Field. Pittsburgh had to score three times in the 10th inning to pull out a 7-6 win in the opener on a Tommy Padden walk-off single. The rap was an act of atonement for Padden; he threw away a bunt in the top half to allow the Reds two runs. Woody Jensen had four hits to lead Pittsburgh. The Pirates took the nightcap easily by an 8-2 count. Jensen had two more knocks to support Jack Tobin’s four-hitter.

1940 - The Pirates brought their sticks to Sportsman’s Park, taking a doubleheader from the Cardinals by 16-14 and 5-4 tallies. Pittsburgh banged two homers (Maurice Van Robays & Debs Garms), and triple and seven doubles (two by Frankie Gustine) to overcome Johnny Mize’s three homers to take the opener. The Pirates scored five in the shortened five inning nitecap, tallying three times in the last frame for the win. Bob Elliott and Arky Vaughan went 4-for-6 in tandem, with a double, two triples and all five RBI, driving in Garms, who went 3-for-3 with two doubles, three times before darkness ended the second game.

1954 - SS Jimmy Smith (not to be confused with Greenfield Jimmy Smith) was born in Santa Monica, California. After six years in the minors with Baltimore and the Mets, he was purchased by the Bucs in 1981. After a year at Portland, the 28-year-old spent the 1982 campaign as the Pirates back-up shortstop to Dale Berra and pinch-runner, batting .238. He played in the White Sox org at AAA Denver the following year before hangin’ up the spikes. 

1958 - Roberto Clemente tied a modern day record (post 1920) held by many with three triples against Cincinnati at Forbes Field, leading the Pirates to a 4-1 win. He was stranded after the first three-bagger, thrown out at home trying for an inside-the-park HR after the second, and finally scored after the third when Dick Stuart singled him home. Curt Raydon got the win, his last in MLB, and banged out his only major league hit in 49 plate appearances. Arm troubles kept him out of the majors following a solid 8-4/3.62 debut, and he called it quits following the 1961 campaign after treading water in the minors for three seasons. Roberto and Raydon snapped a five-game winning streak of the Reds and with the victory, Pittsburgh finished 12-10 v Cincy, their first winning record against the Reds since 1949.

9/8 From 1960: Cobra & Jose Slams, Scoop Swats, Game Days, Lonnie & Ramon Go, Bonds POTW, SI Cutch, HBD Gerrit & Mike

1960 - A special meeting of the County Commissioners set the estimated date for a new North Side stadium for 1964 after talks with the railroad to relocate its yards, with an estimated price tag of $18M. That was just a little off; it took until 1970 for TRS to open, and the bill was $55M.

1966 - RHP Mike Dyer was born in Upland, California. He spent the middle of his four-year MLB tenure with the Pirates in 1994-95, getting a lot of work in the second campaign (55 appearances, 74+ IP) but put up a disappointing line of 5-6-4/4.60 as too few K’s and too many BBs took their toll. Mike got one more chance with Montreal in 1996, put up another so-so slash and that ended his big league run, with his last year (2000) spent in the indie leagues.

1967 - The Pirates and Cardinals were in frustration mode, combining for 23 hits and 13 walks while stranding 25 runners and going 2-for-24 with RISP. But they put together a pretty interesting ballgame at Forbes Field, with the Bucs taking a 10-inning 4-3 decision from the Redbirds. Trailing 3-1 going into the seventh, Manny Jimenez doubled Billy Maz home to cut the lead to one and then Gene Alley tied it in the eighth, doubling home Roberto Clemente. Pittsburgh left the bases loaded in the ninth and the Cards stranded a pair in the 10th. Alley was the hero again in the Pittsburgh half. He led off with a triple and two intentional walks loaded the bases before Maury Wills singled to give Bruce Dal Canton the win.

1968 - Bob Veale outdueled the Mets Tom Terrific at Forbes Field, scattering six hits in a 3-0 Bucco victory. His main support came from an unlikely source - 33-year-old Jose Pagan, batting just .212, banged a solo homer and singled home Donn Clendenon, whose triple had plated Willie Stargell, to push the attack.

Jose Martinez - 1970 Topps

1969 - The Bucs fell behind 2-0 in the first against Montreal at Jarry Park and it stayed that way for most of the chilly night. The Pirates warmed up just in time, plating an unearned run in the eighth and scoring five times in the ninth to rally past the Expos, 6-4. A single, intentional walk and two errors tied the game for Pittsburgh and loaded the bases for rookie utilityman Jose Martinez, who entered the game as a pinch runner and stayed to play short. He banged his first (and only) big league homer into the left field seats to give Chuck Hartenstein the win, with Bruce Dal Canton picking up the save. Gene Alley stretched his hitting streak to 21 games; it reached 22 before the Cards ended his run.

1971 - Steve Blass provided the arm and Al Oliver the muscle as the Bucs rolled over the Cub 10-1 at TRS for their ninth win in 10 games. Blass tossed a complete game six-hitter while Scoops drove in the first four runs - he had five RBI on the night with three hits, including a homer and double - as the Pirates whittled their magic number against the Cards down to 13.

1974 - Dave Parker broke up a tight game with an eighth-inning grand slam off Tom Walker (yep, Neil’s dad; he pitched in six MLB campaigns for five different teams, although never for the Pirates) as the Bucs beat the Montreal Expos 8-2 at TRS. It was the Cobra’s only at-bat; he came in as a pinch hitter for Frank Taveras. Jim Rooker tossed a six-hitter for the win. It marked the Pirates sixth straight victory and 25th win in the past 31 games.

1976 - 35-year-old LHP Ramon Hernandez, who was dangled on waivers after being a Bucco backend bullpen mainstay since 1971, had his contract sold to the Chicago Cubs. He was on his way out the MLB door; the Cubs traded him to the Red Sox and he was released in 1977.

Ramon Hernandez - 1976 Topps

1988 - The Pirates fell into a September swoon that continued at TRS with a 5-4 loss to Montreal despite Barry Bonds homering on the first pitch as the Bucs leadoff guy. But the fans never gave up on their 85-win (NL East runnerup to the Mets) Buccos, breaking the 1960 attendance record when 1,707,481 rooters spun the turnstiles (1,866,713 was the season-ending total). The record was short lived; the 1990 playoff team became the first Pirates club to draw over 2M fans. 

1990 - RHP Gerrit Cole was born in Newport Beach, California. The UCLA grad was selected by the Pirates with the first overall selection in the 2011 MLB Draft and signed to an $8M bonus minutes before the deadline. He made his debut in the show on June 11th, 2013, going 6-1/3 IP to beat the Giants, 8-2, and found a home in 2020 tossing for the Yankees after being traded to Houston in early 2018 for RHP Joe Musgrove, 3B Colin Moran, RHP Michael Feliz and OF Jason Martin. In five years, he posted a Pirates slash of 57-42/3.50.

1992 - OF Barry Bonds was named the NL Player of the Week. He went 7-for-14 with four homers and 13! walks, scoring 10 runs and chasing home seven Buccos while swiping two sacks. BB had an OBP of .741, reaching base 20 times in 27 appearances. He continued to be hot by collecting three hits, including a homer, on the same day his award was announced to lead the Pirates to a 5-3 win over Chicago and a streak of six wins in seven games.

1993 - OF Lonnie Smith (.286, six HR) was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for PTBNL: OF/1B Stanton Cameron and LHP Terry Farrar. Smith, who the Bucs had signed in January for $1M, did next to nothing for the O’s and was out of baseball after the 1994 season while the Bird’s duo were both playing indie ball by 1996.

Lonnie Smith - 1993 Upper Deck

1998 - Things looked bad for the Buccos; after four innings at TRS, it was already 7-0 in favor of Milwaukee. But the Pirates pen was stellar, spinning five innings of two-hit, seven-K work in relief of Francisco Cordova and allowed the bats time to warm up. Pittsburgh tallied a pair in the fifth and then got serious in the seventh, scoring four times (Emil Brown’s two-out, bases-loaded double was the big blow) to make it a 7-6 contest. In the eighth, a double steal put Pirates at second and third with two gone, and Jose Guillen’s first-pitch knock sent them both home. Rick Loisell tossed a scoreless ninth to save the 8-7 win for Mike Williams.

2000 - Pittsburgh swept the Reds 7-3 and 3-1 to run their season-best winning streak to eight games at Three Rivers Stadium (it ended the next day, beginning a nine-game losing streak). Todd Ritchie won the opener and Marc Wilkins, one of seven Pirate pitchers, took the nitecap victory. Alex Hernandez had three hits on the day, including a homer and triple. Adam Hyzdu made his MLB debut in the second game, going 1-for-3 and banging out his first MLB hit, a third-inning single off Ron Villone in his first at bat.

2005 - Jason Bay hit a two-run homer with one away in the ninth frame to knot the count after Arizona scored three times in their half to take a 7-5 lead. The Bucs took advantage when Humberto Cota delivered a walk-off single in the 12th inning to score Rob Mackowiak as the Pirates defeated the Diamondbacks, 8-7, at PNC Park. Nat McLouth added three hits and Rick White, Pittsburgh’s seventh pitcher, stranded a runner at third to claim the victory.

2014 - Andrew McCutchen was the cover boy on Sports Illustrated for the second time in his career. He was featured in Albert Chen’s article “Andrew McCutchen Goes Deep.” It was almost a year to the day after his first SI cover shot on September 9th, 2013. And he did go deep 25 times in ‘14.

2015 - In the first game of a doubleheader against the Reds, Aramis Ramirez made his first career start at first base. Before that, A-Ram had played 18 seasons and 2,096 games at third base and nowhere else other than DH or pinch hitter. He lasted six innings, going 3-for-3 in the field and later appeared at first base four more times during the campaign.

Weekly Report: Winning Series Streak, Konnor Back, Calls Up & Down & All Around, Jared & Paul Win, Pirates HoF, Khristian's 1st Win

September already...?

Pirates Stuff:

• To open Tuesday's homestand, the Pirates called up LHP Brian Eisert from Indy and added C Christian Bethancourt from the taxi squad as the roster additions for September. The club moved Endy Rodriguez from the 10-day IL to the 60-day list so that Bethancourt had a 40-man roster spot. The moves lasted until Friday when Bethancourt was DFA'ed so SS Konnor Griffin could return to action and Eisert was returned to Indy with RHP Isaac Mattson getting the call up.

Konnor - 9/4/2026 photo Pirates

• On Sunday, the Bucs recalled OF Ronny Simon, who has been on fire since returning to Indy, and optioned UT Nick Yorke back.
• For a team hyped to be deep in catching, the Bucs are casting their net far and wide for backstops. They just signed 29-year-old Jose Herrera, who in 187 games for Arizona from 2022-25 had hit .200.
• No, it never ends: The Bucs recalled RHP Khristian Curtis when RHP Kirby Yates was placed on the 15-day IL (right shoulder impingement), retroactive to Monday (8/31). The club also brought up RHP Wilber Dotel and optioned LHP Evan Sisk to Indy.
• SS Konnor Griffin got in a rehab game for Altoona, then reported to Pittsburgh on Monday and was off to join Indy at Toledo on Tuesday. On Friday, he was placed back on the active roster after having been out since July 5 with a finger injury.
• After being waived by the Twins, the Pirates signed 26-year-old Kyler Fedko to a minor-league deal. Fedko, 26, is a Vincentian Academy grad whose dad is John Fedko of "Fedko Zone" fame; Kyler chose Pittsburgh because it was a chance to come home. He debuted for Minny this year after hitting .272/25 HR for AAA St. Paul in '25-'26 but had pretty serious ligament damage in August, and after surgery will spend most of 2027 on the IL.

Jared Jones back in Victory Lane - image Sportsnet.Pgh

• Overdue weekend: Jared Jones hadn't started a game that ended up in a Pirates win since July 18, a stretch of seven starts. Paul Skenes joined him, winning for the first time since July 19, also over seven starts.
• John Candelaria, Wilbur Cooper and Jack Wilson were inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame on Thursday evening with jackets, speechifying and a free meal, then honored pre-game the next night. 
• The 2027 Spring schedule was released - it gives the opponent and home/away status, but the times are still TBD.

Game Stuff:

• Paul Skenes couldn't make it through the fifth and the Pirates blew five & six run leads, but a nine-run third inning and 19 hits were enough to pull out a 13-12 win over the Giants at PNC on Tuesday night. Oneil Cruz had four hits/RBIs and Brandom Lowe homered among his four raps & scored three times. The seventh Buc pitcher, Mason Montgomery, got the dub; he's been Superman since July.

Oneil stirrin' it up - 8/30/2026 photo Pirates

• The Bucs went into overime again, but with reverse results, dropping a 5-4 contest. Bubba Chandler pitched well but a lost no-man's land bloop (twilight sky) ultimately led to a couple of runs. Carmen Mlod kept them alive with three zeroes/30 pitches, but the G-Men scored twice off Camilo Doval in the 10th; the Bucs could only push one more run home, going through a 2-for-13 w/RISP outing. 
• The Buc bullpen pitchers have become the team's ace. The six of them gave up two runs on two hits (five walks by two guys) and nine K's as Pittsburgh took another series with a 5-2 dub (Khristian Curtis' first MLB win) to close out the Bay set. Pgh only had five hits (they waited out seven walks themselves), but enough for Jared Triolo to drive in a couple and Jake Mangum to score twice (1-for-1, walk, RBI).
• Jared Jones went six three-hit, nine-K, no run innings - and left with just a 1-0 lead. But no prob; Wilber Dotel and Mason Montgomery held it with three frames of one-hit ball. Jake Mangum doubled home Konnor Griffin in the second for the only tally; KG flew around the bases and scored on a Superman dive. All in all, a pretty neat way to celebrate the Pirates Hall of Fame night.

Mason Montgomery has been aflame - August photo Sportsnet.Pgh

• Not great outings by Braxton Ashcraft - innings may be catching up to him - and Isaac Mattson as the Bucs were bonked 6-1 by the Halos. Bryan Reynolds solo homer was the Pirates attack; another lefty shut them down - they're 11-26 v LH starters.
• Paul Skenes got into the sixth, the pen was money, Henry Davis hit a solo shot, Oneil Cruz-to-Brandon Lowe-to-Davis relay gunned out a guy at home and Cruz made a nifty diving grab. The end result was the Bucs took their fourth straight series, beating LAA 1-0 again in a set that they scored a total of three runs.
• The Bucs had a holiday on Monday and then six days of labor in the Windy City, with three-gamers v the White Sox & the Cubbies.

MLB Stuff: 

• TSN is halfway through their "Greatest Players" teams with the release of The Showmen." No Buc made the squad but Cool Papa Bell, who spent five years with the Crawfords and five more with the Grays, did.

Cool Papa made the TSN roster...

• The DC Nats DFA'ed RHP Trevor Williams last week, and he got through waivers unclaimed. They released him this week, making him a free agent, and he signed with the Texas Rangers.
• The Chicago White Sox picked up OF Tommy Pham from the Phils, who had him stashed in the minors.
• RHP Tanner Rainey, who was with the Bucs for a bit last year, was DFA'ed by the Detroit Tigers.
• 29-year-old OF Dominic Fletcher, who spent most of the summer with Indy,  signed a minor league deal with the Reds. He became a free agent in mid-August after triggering a release clause with the Pirates.
• C Shawn Ross made his debut in Pittsburgh in July, was waived when the regular backstops returned and was claimed by the Mets. They just let him go, and his journey continues as Toronto claimed him.

9/7 Through the 1960s: Maz Muscles Up, Friend 1-Hitter, Sweeps, 17-of-20, Hans Six, Game Days, HBD Fred, John, Charlie & Ed

1874 - RHP Ed Poole was born in Canton, Ohio. Ed was with the Bucs off-and-on from 1900-02, going 6-4/3.22 on the hill and batting .221 with a couple of homers (he saw a little action at 2B, 3B and the OF). He was sold to the Reds and lasted two more years with Cincy and Brooklyn. He became somewhat famous as the defendant in The People of New York v. Poole when he was arrested for pitching for Brooklyn on a Sunday, in violation of the state’s Blue Laws.

1879 - RHP Charlie Case was born in Smiths Landing, Ohio. Charlie had a four-year MLB career with the final three seasons (1904-06) spent in Pittsburgh, posting a line of 22-17-1/2.81, compiled mostly as a starter. Charlie worked in the minors afterward through the 1914 season and tossed a no-hitter in 1909 for the Nashville Volunteers of the Southern Association.

1883 - 1B John Flynn was born in Providence, Rhode Island. Flynn had a three-year MLB run with 1910-11 spent with the Pirates. He was solid in '10, batting .274 with 52 RBI, but faded the following campaign. John toiled in the minors during the next 15 years as a player and manager.

1891 - C Fred Blackwell was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Fred got into 35 games from 1917-19, all with the Pirates, and hit .205. His career was interrupted as he was in the service in 1918-19; 1921 was his last year of organized ball with Kansas City of the American Association.

1901 - The Pirates had their 10-game winning streak ended by Philadelphia, who was equally hot and on a nine-game undefeated string of their own, by a 5-1 count at the Baker Bowl. 20-game winner Al Orth shut down Pittsburgh on four hits in his battle against Deacon Phillippe. But the Bucs bounced back to take the next pair of games from the Phils behind Jesse Tannehill (with a Jack Chesbro save) and Sam Leever on their way to a 90-49 record and NL title. Two teams with nine-or-more game winning streaks wouldn’t clash head-on again until 2021, when the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees met.

Lefty Leifield - Harwell Collection/Detroit Public Library

1905 - In his home debut, rookie Lefty Leifield gave up three runs in the first, then settled into a groove until tiring and surrendering three more runs in the ninth frame as the Bucs rolled to an 11-7 win over the Reds at Exposition Park. Fred Clarke banged out four hits while Honus Wagner and Heinie Peitz added three apiece, with Hans swatting a double and triple.

1908 - Led by Honus Wagner’s 6-for-7 day at the plate, including five straight hits with a double, triple and sacrifice, the Pirates swept St. Louis 9-7 and 7-1 on Labor Day at Exposition Park to move to 1/2 game behind the league leading NY Giants. Sam Leever won the opener while Vic Willis scattered eight singles to claim the dub for the second match.

1925 - Pittsburgh won for the 17th time in 20 games when they defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-5 at Forbes Field in the opener of a twin bill. Kiki Cuyler went 4-for-5 with a double and triple while every Pirate in the lineup had a hit. Red Oldham gave up 15 hits, but went the distance for the win. The Cubs banged out 16 more hits in the second game to gain a 9-8 split.

1930 - For the sixth time during the season, the Pirates overcame a three-run deficit to rally past the Cubs 9-7 at Wrigley Field. It looked like the Bucs were going to do the romping, jumping out to a 3-0 lead before Chicago even got to bat, but by the fifth frame, Glenn Spencer had surrendered the lead and fallen behind, 6-3. Pittsburgh started to chip away in the seventh; they scored six times in the final three innings to outlast the Windy City club by a 9-7 finale. Paul Waner had three hits, including two triples, and drove in four runs to lead the comeback. Erv Brame, the Buccos last twirler, stranded three Cubbies over the last two innings to earn the win. The Pirates joined seven other modern era clubs that overcame a three-run hole against a single opponent in a season.  

Tommy Thevenow - 1931 Exhibits

1931 - The Pirates swept a Labor Day twinbill at Forbes Field from the Reds 6-1 and 4-3. Woody Jensen homered and was one of five Corsairs with two hits to back Larry French’s mound work in the lidlifter. The news wasn’t all good, though, as the Bucs lost SS Tommy Thevenow, who fractured his ankle in two places sliding in the sixth frame, to end his season. Pittsburgh scored three times in the eighth inning of the nightcap to sew up the double dipper when George Grantham & Tony Piet singled around Pie Traynor & Paul Waner doubles to make Erv Brame a complete-game winner. Brame had two hits and a run scored to help himself.

1940 - The Bucs scored eight runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to rally past the Cardinals, 14-9. Arky Vaughan, Terry Moore, and Vince DiMaggio all homered as Vaughan and DiMaggio combined for seven RBI at Sportsman’s Park.

1942 - The Pirates scored 11 runs in the sixth inning, reaching safely 10 straight times with two outs to top the Cards 11-6 in the first game of a Forbes Field twin bill. The Bucs had a runner on third when the seven-hit, three-walk outburst erupted, setting the franchise mark for most runs in a frame, and Pittsburgh didn't have an inning that big again until 1992. Bud Stewart led the attack with two hits in the frame, three RBI and a pair of runs. Rip Sewell was the fortunate recipient of the big frame, leaving the game on the wrong end of a 5-0 count for a pinch hitter. Apparently the barrage wore them out - they only had three hits during the rest of the game, and then dropped the nightcap 6-4 for a Labor Day split. 

1948 - The Bucs chased Jim Hearn after two innings on the way to a 6-2 win at Forbes Field. Stan Rojek had twos across the board - two hits, two doubles, two runs, two RBI - to support Fritz Ostermueller. The game was noteworthy as it took Pittsburgh six more years on the nose and a dozen losses before they could defeat the St. Louis righty again.

Eddie Pellagrini - photo via Baseball Birthdays

1953 - The Pirates swept a twinbill for the first time during the year, beating the NY Giants 9-7 and 5-3 at the Polo Grounds. Eddie Pellagrini had four hits including a HR to back Bob Friend in the opener. Lefty LaPalme was the winner in the nitecap as the Bucs beat Jim Hearn after 12 straight defeats at his hands. His last loss to the Bucs was exactly six years ago to the day.

1955 - Bob Friend allowed only one baserunner via a fourth-inning infield single by Frank Baumholtz in a 2-0 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, striking out eight and facing just 28 batters. The righty was a one-man show; he also broke up a scoreless tie with a two-out single in the seventh, with Johnny O’Brien’s ninth-inning double adding an insurance run. For Friend, it was the highlight of his first double-digit win season with the Pirates as he finished the year 14-9/2.83 for a Pirates team that went 60-94 and finished in last place.

1962 - Bill Mazeroski hit a grand slam and drove home six runs to prime a 10-1 Bucco win against LA’s Stan Williams at Dodger Stadium. Earl Francis tossed a four-hit, complete game victory against the league-leading Dodgers. LA wasn’t totally left in the dust - with four steals, Maury Wills broke the modern NL record for stolen bases in a season with his 82nd swipe.

1969 - The Cubs were an out away from dropping the Pirates at Wrigley Field before Willie Stargell broke their hearts. With two outs and two strikes, Pops banged a homer off Phil Regan to knot the score and two innings later claimed a 7-5 victory when a two-out Cubbie boot led to a pair of Bucco runs. It was a close, back-and-forth game until the eighth when Jim Hickman put Chicago up with a two-run homer served up by Chuck Hartenstein. In bonus time, an error allowed a Buc run to plate and Richie Hebner’s knock added an insurance run. Manny Sanguillen chipped in a two-run dinger while Bruce Dal Canton earned the win with 1-1/3 shaky but scoreless innings, stranding three Cubs.