2/2: NL Forms; Talkin' Turkey; Burleigh, Schoolboy, Heinie & Freddie Get HoF Call

• 1876 - The National League was formed in New York City, replacing the old National Association. The Pirates were not among the original group and the franchise didn’t join the NL until 1886 when the Alleghenys bolted from the American Association.
• 1951 - Eight Pirates rejected contracts offered by Bucco GM Branch Rickey - pitchers Cliff Chambers, Murry Dickson and Vic Lombardi; catchers Clyde McCullough and Ed FitzGerald, 1B Jack Phillips, IF Pete Castiglione and OF Wally Westbook. They all settled before the season except for Lombardi, who had his salary offer cut by the 25% maximum allowed by the league, and instead signed with Hollywood of Pacific Coast League. He never earned another MLB job.

Vic rolled the dice and crapped out (1951 Bowman)

• 1964 - P Burleigh Grimes was selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee and was inducted on July 27th. The 270 game winner began, ended, and played some during the middle of his career with the Pirates. Also chosen was OF Heinie Manush, who spent his last two seasons (1938-39) in Pittsburgh, getting 25 at-bats.
• 1969 - RHP Waite "Schoolboy" Hoyt was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Special Veteran's Committee. He spent 4-1/2 of his pro seasons in Pittsburgh between 1933-37, going 35-31, topped by a 15-5 record in 1934. He was inducted on July 28th.
• 1976 - The Special Veterans Committee selected OF Freddie Lindstrom to the Hall of Fame. He played two of his 13 big league campaigns for Pittsburgh, hitting .302 and driving in 147 runs. He was inducted on August 9th.

Freddie Lindstrom 1933 DeLong

2/2: Hall Calls For Burleigh, Schoolboy, Freddie; HBD Manny, Ronny, Travis; Contract Clashes

• 1951 - Eight Pirates rejected contracts offered by Bucco GM Branch Rickey - pitchers Cliff Chambers, Murry Dickson and Vic Lombardi; catchers Clyde McCullough and Ed FitzGerald, 1B Jack Phillips, IF Pete Castiglione and OF Wally Westbook. They all settled before the season except for Lombardi, who had his salary offer cut by the 25% maximum allowed by the league, and instead signed with Hollywood of Pacific Coast League, never earning another MLB job.
• 1956 - RHP Manny Sarmiento was born in Cagua, Venezuela. The Bucs purchased him from the Red Sox. He tossed a pair of strong campaigns in 1982-83, going 12-9-5 with a 3.25 ERA as a starter and reliever, but blew out his elbow during camp in 1984 and never pitched in the majors again.

Manny Sarmiento 1984 Donruss

• 1964 - P Burleigh Grimes was selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee and was inducted on July 27th. The 270 game winner began, ended, and played some during the middle of his career with the Pirates. Also chosen was OF Heinie Manush, who spent his last two seasons (1938-39) in Pittsburgh, getting 25 at-bats.
• 1969 - RHP Waite "Schoolboy" Hoyt was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Special Veteran's Committee. He spent 4-1/2 of his 21 pro seasons in Pittsburgh between 1933-37, going 35-31, topped by a 15-5 record in 1934. He was inducted on July 28th.
• 1976 - The Special Veterans Committee selected OF Freddie Lindstrom to the Hall of Fame. He played two of his 13 big league campaigns for Pittsburgh, hitting .302 and driving in 147 runs. He was inducted on August 9th.

Freddie Lindstrom 1933 DeLong

• 1983 - SS Ronny Cedeno was born in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. He manned the spot for Pittsburgh from 2009-11, hitting a streaky .254 but never showing any consistency in the field, flashing the good, the bad and the ugly with his leather. He last played for the Phils in 2013 and is now playing in the Mexican League.
• 1988 - OF Travis Snider was born in Kirkland, Washington. He came to the Bucs from Toronto in the 2012 Brad Lincoln deal. After sputtering for a couple of years, he had a solid 2014 season with 13 HR and a .264 BA, which earned him a ticket to the Boston Red Sox for a pair of minor league prospects. Snider returned to the Bucs in August, 2015, before being released during the off season and signing with KC.

2/2: Four Bucs Go To the Hall, Lunchbox Hero, Eight Pirates Say Nay to Branch, Manny & Ronny...

Four Bucs Go To the Hall, Lunchbox Hero, Eight Pirates Say Nay to Branch, Manny & Ronny...

• 1951 - Eight Pirates rejected contracts offered by Bucco GM Branch Rickey - pitchers Cliff Chambers, Murry Dickson and Vic Lombardi; catchers Clyde McCullough and Ed FitzGerald, 1B Jack Phillips, IF Pete Castiglione and OF Wally Westbook. They all settled before the season started except for Lombardo, who had his salary cut by the 25% maximum allowed by the league, and signed with Hollywood of Pacific Coast League, never earning another MLB job. 
• 1956 - RHP Manny Sarmiento was born in Cagua, Venezuela. The Bucs purchased him from the Red Sox and he tossed a pair of strong campaigns in 1982-83, going 12-9-5 with a 3.25 ERA as a starter and reliever, but he blew out his elbow during spring training in 1984 and never pitched in the majors again.

Manny Sarmeinto 1984 Donruss series

• 1964 - P Burleigh Grimes was selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee and was inducted on July 27th. The 270 game winner began, ended, and played some during the middle of his career with the Pirates. Also chosen was OF Heinie Manush, who spent his last two seasons (1938-39) in Pittsburgh, getting 25 at-bats. 
• 1969 - RHP Waite "Schoolboy" Hoyt was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Special Veteran's Committee. He spent 4-1/2 of his 21 pro seasons in Pittsburgh between 1933-37, going 35-31, topped by a 15-5 record in 1934. He was inducted on July 28th.

Schoolboy Hoyt 1933 Goudey series

• 1976 - The Special Veterans Committee selected OF Freddie Lindstrom to the Hall of Fame. He played two of his 13 big league campaigns for Pittsburgh, hitting .302 and driving in 147 runs. He was inducted on August 9th. 
• 1983 - SS Ronny Cedeno was born in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. He manned the spot for Pittsburgh from 2009-11, hitting a streaky .254 but never showing any consistency in the field, flashing the good, the bad and the ugly with his leather. He spent most of last season in the minors and is a free agent.

Ronny Cedeno 2009 Associated Press photo

• 1988 - OF Travis Snider was born in Kirkland, Washington. He came to the Bucs from Toronto in the 2012 Brad Lincoln deal. After sputtering for a couple of years, he had a solid 2014 season with 13 HR and a .264 BA, which earned him a ticket to the Baltimore O's for a pair of minor league prospects.

2/2: Honus, Burleigh, Schoolboy, Freddie Lindstrom, Ronny and Travis...

Honus, Burleigh, Schoolboy, Freddie Lindstrom, Ronny and Travis...

• 1936 - Honus Wagner joined Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson in becoming the first players to enter the new Baseball Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony took place on June 12th, 1939 when the Hall officially opened. 
• 1964 - P Burleigh Grimes was selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee and was inducted on July 27th. The 270 game winner began, ended, and played some during the middle of his career with the Pirates. Also chosen was OF Heinie Manush, who spent his last two seasons (1938-39) in Pittsburgh, getting 25 at-bats. 

The magazine cover says it all..."Burleigh Grimes, the Spitball King."

• 1969 - RHP Waite "Schoolboy" Hoyt was voted into the Hall of Fame by the Special Veteran's Committee. He spent 4-1/2 of his 21 pro seasons in Pittsburgh between 1933-37, going 35-31, topped by a 15-5 record in 1934. He was inducted on July 28th. 
• 1976 - The Special Veterans Committee selected OF Freddie Lindstrom to the Hall of Fame. He played two years for Pittsburgh, hitting .302 and driving in 147 runs. He was inducted on August 9th. 
• 1983 - SS Ronny Cedeno was born in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. He manned the spot for Pittsburgh from 2009-11, hitting a streaky .254 but never showing any consistency in the field, flashing the good, the bad and the ugly with his leather. 
• 1988 - Buc OF Travis Snider was born in Kirkland, Washington. Happy 26th B-Day!