4/15 From the 50s Forward: Red Letter Wins, Frankie Gem, Longest Day, DP City, Hard Hats, Delwyn, HBD Jeromy & Rambo

• 1952 - Pittsburgh became the first team required to wear helmets both at bat and in the field. Branch Rickey mandated their use, and though his intentions were no doubt noble, he did happen to have an ownership interest in the company that made the hats. Though first used in 1907, they didn’t begin to appear regularly until the forties and weren't required to be worn by baseball until 1971.

Ron Blackburn 1958 Topps

• 1958 - The Pirates beat the Braves 4-3 in 14 inning contest, tying the longest opening day game ever played in the NL, a record they would tie again in 1969. Bill Virdon chased home Hank Foiles with the game winner at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. Ron Blackburn got the win and Curt Raydon picked up the save.
• 1960 - OF/1B Mike Diaz was born in San Francisco. He played in Pittsburgh from 1986-88, hitting .250 with 28 HR in 524 AB. Diaz earned the nickname “Rambo” while with the Bucs because of his resemblance to Sly Stallone, and the club even promoted a fairly famous poster of him under that nom de guerre. He went to Japan for four seasons beginning in 1989.
• 1961 - The Dodgers and Pirates tied a MLB record by turning nine DPs (Los Angeles 5‚ Pittsburgh 4) in a 4-1 Buc win at Memorial Coliseum. It was only the second time (July 3rd‚ 1929, Cubs-Reds) that nine DPs have been turned in a nine-inning NL game. Eight were grounded into while one was a line drive DP. Dick Groat started three of the four Buc twin killings.

Jeromy Burnitz 2006 Topps Allen & Ginters

• 1969 - RF Jeromy Burnitz was born in Westminster Hills, California. After back-to-back solid seasons, the Pirates signed the 37-year-old, 13-year veteran to a $6M FA deal for 2006. He hit .230 with 16 HR and Pittsburgh bought out the second, team option year of his deal for $700K. Jeromy retired before the 2007 season opened, unable to catch on with anyone else.
• 1993 - Dennis Moeller won his first MLB game and manager Jim Leyland won his 600th game as the Bucs swept the Padres 5-4 in 13 frames at Jack Murphy Stadium. The unlikely hero was Tom Prince; the catcher was scheduled to be pinch hit for in the ninth, but trotted back from the bullpen when the two Bucs ahead of him reached and he received a reprieve to bunt. He did successfully, setting up the tying run, and then later doubled home Carlos Garcia with the game winner.
• 2009 - The Pirates acquired IF/OF Delwyn Young from the Dodgers for RHPs Eric Krebs and Harvey Garcia. Young played 234 games for the Pirates during the 2009-10 seasons, hitting .255 with 14 HR and 71 RBI, while neither Krebs nor Garcia made it, although Garcia had a cup of coffee with Florida in 2007, appearing in eight games.

Frankie 2015 Topps Museum Collection

• 2015 - Francisco Liriano returned from paternity leave and tossed a gem, but the Bucs lost a 1-0 decision to the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park. Frankie struck out seven and gave up four hits in six frames, but one of the knocks was a solo homer by former Bucco Rajai Davis that proved the game winner. Alfredo Simon and Joakim Soria only managed three K between them, but surrendered just two hits without a walk to stifle the Pirates.

4/15 Through the 40s: Greenberg & Chief Yellow Horse Debuts; Alleghenys Open; Opener Win; HBD Bill, Batty, Chaney & Wild Bill

• 1871 - 3B Bill Grey (also spelled Gray) was born in Philadelphia. A utility player who yo-yoed between the majors and minors, he was picked up by the Pirates for the 1898 season as part of the Pink Hawley deal after hitting .357 for the Western League Indianapolis Hoosiers. He played one season in Pittsburgh as the full-time third baseman (the only time he played one position for an entire year in the majors), getting 528 ABs but hitting just .229 and was dealt again, this time bringing Ginger Beaumont to the North Shore. The Pirates were his last MLB stop; after two more minor-league campaigns, he retired.
• 1876 - The Pittsburgh Alleghenys played what’s thought to be the city's first professional baseball game against the local Xanthas at North Side’s Union Park, winning 7-3. (The Alleghenys had paid players but were an independent club). The following year, the franchise was accepted into the minor league International Association, but the team and league disbanded after the season.

Batty 1909-11 E254 Colgan Stars of the Diamond pin

• 1877 - Ed Abbaticchio, thought by many to be the first Italian American to play MLB, was born in Latrobe. “Batty” was also one of the first to play both pro baseball and football, starring on the gridiron for Latrobe, arguably the first pro football team in America. The middle infielder played 3-1/2 of his nine big league seasons (1907-10) for Pittsburgh, hitting .253, and was a reserve for the 1909 World Series champs.
• 1894 - OF Chaney White was born in Longview, Texas. Chaney played for 18 seasons in the Negro Leagues with a local stop, hitting .312 for the 1930 Homestead Grays. Chaney broke up Chet Brewer and Smokey Joe Williams’ legendary pitching duel when he doubled off the third base sack to plate Oscar Charleston with the game’s only run to defeat Brewer in the 12th frame.
• 1921 - Pirate pitcher Moses “Chief” Yellow Horse made his major league debut against the Reds. Yellow Horse, a Pawnee, was believed by many baseball historians to be the first full-blooded American Indian to play in the big leagues. He worked the last two innings to save a win for Earl Hamilton as the Bucs beat the Reds 3-1 at Crosley Field.

Wild Bill 1950-51 (photo via SABR)

• 1926 - RHP William “Wild Bill” Pierro was born in Brooklyn (the date is debatable; Bill was deserted as an infant and raised by foster parents, the Pierros). A lanky kid, Pierro was a hot shot Bucco prospect and made it to the show in July of 1950. He featured a blazing fastball with a sidearm curve and fanned 275 batters in Class B Waco in 1949 after punching out 300 hitters in Bartlesville the previous season while compiling a 51-31/2.60 line in four minor-league seasons. He got into 12 games and made three starts for the Pirates, slashing 0-2/10.55. He lived up to his nickname, walking 28 batters in 29 IP, including six in one memorable frame. He butted heads with Branch Rickey over a variety of issues, not exactly helping his own cause, and was slated to work at the minor league complex on his control after 1951 camp broke. He was still with the big team on his 25th birthday when he was rushed to Pittsburgh’s Presbyterian Hospital with encephalitis and was in a coma for several weeks. Bill eventually recovered, but his days as an athlete were finished. He went back home to Brooklyn where he became a taxi driver and Public Works employee.
• 1930 - The Bucs took the season opener from Cincinnati 7-6 at Redland Field in front of 30,112 fans. North Side’s Steve Swetonic tossed 5-1/3 innings of one-run ball in relief of Ray Kremer for the win. Paul Waner went 4-for-4 while Dick Bartell and Rollie Hemsley homered.

Hank Greenberg 1947 Playboy (the car, not the magazine) promo

• 1947 - In his Pirate debut, Hank Greenberg doubled home the winner in the Pirates' 1-0 victory over the Cubs and Hank Borowy. Rip Sewell got the win by scattering five hits at Wrigley Field. The slugger was brought in from the Tigers after a contract impasse and Greenberg wasted no time in cashing in.

4/15: HBD Batty & Rambo, Moses Debuts, Alleghenys Open, Hard Hats, DPs & More

• 1876 - The Pittsburgh Alleghenys played what’s thought to be the city's first professional baseball game against the local Xanthas at Union Park, winning 7-3. (The Alleghenys had paid players, but were an independent club). The following year, the franchise was accepted into the minor league International Association, but the team and league disbanded after the season.
• 1877 - Ed Abbaticchio, thought by many to be the first Italian American to play MLB, was born in Latrobe. “Batty” was also one of the first to play both pro baseball and football, starring on the gridiron for Latrobe, arguably the first pro football team in America. The middle infielder played 3-1/2 of his nine big league seasons (1907-10) for Pittsburgh, hitting .253, and was a reserve for the 1909 World Series champs.
• 1921 - Pirate pitcher Moses “Chief” Yellow Horse made his major league debut against the Reds. Yellow Horse, a Pawnee, was believed by many baseball historians to be the first full-blooded American Indian to play in the big leagues. He worked the last two innings to save a win for Earl Hamilton as the Bucs beat the Reds 3-1 at Crosley Field. 

Moses "Chief" Yellowhorse 1922 (uncredited photo via My Auctions)

• 1930 - The Bucs took the season opener from Cincinnati 7-6 at Redland Field in front of 30,112 fans. North Side’s Steve Swetonic went 5-1/3 innings of one run ball in relief of Ray Kremer for the win. Paul Waner went 4-for-4 while Dick Bartell and Rollie Hemsley homered.
• 1947 - In his Pirate debut, Hank Greenberg doubled home the winner in the Pirates' 1-0 victory over the Cubs and Hank Borowy. Rip Sewell got the win by scattering five hits at Wrigley Field. The slugger was brought in from the Tigers after a contract impasse, and Greenberg wasted no time in cashing in.
• 1952 - Pittsburgh became the first team required to wear helmets, both at bat and in the field. Branch Rickey mandated their use, and though his intentions were no doubt noble, he did happen to have an ownership interest in the company that made the hats. Though first used in 1907, they didn’t begin to appear regularly until the forties and weren't required to be worn by baseball until 1971.
• 1958 - The Pirates beat the Braves 4-3 in 14 inning contest, tying the longest opening day game ever played in the NL, a record they would tie again in 1969. Bill Virdon chased home Hank Foiles with the game winner at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. Ron Blackburn got the win and Curt Raydon picked up the save.

Curt Raydon 1960 Topps

• 1960 - OF/1B Mike Diaz was born in San Francisco. He played in Pittsburgh from 1986-88, hitting .250 with 28 HR in 524 AB. Diaz earned the nickname “Rambo” while with the Bucs because of his resemblance to Sly Stallone, and the club even promoted a fairly famous poster of him under that nom de guerre. He went to Japan for four seasons beginning in 1989.
• 1961 - The Dodgers and Pirates tied a MLB record by turning nine DPs (Los Angeles 5‚ Pittsburgh 4) in a 4-1 Buc win at Memorial Coliseum. It was only the second time (July 3rd‚ 1929, Cubs-Reds) that 9 DPs have been turned in a nine inning NL game. Eight were grounded into, one was a line drive DP. Dick Groat started three of the four Buc twin killings.
• 1993 - Dennis Moeller won his first MLB game and manager Jim Leyland won his 600th game as the Bucs swept the Padres 5-4 in 13 frames at Jack Murphy Stadium. The unlikely hero was Tom Prince; the catcher was supposed to be pinch hit for in the ninth, but trotted back from the bullpen when the two Bucs ahead of him reached and he received a reprieve to bunt. He did successfully, setting up the tying run, and then later doubled home Carlos Garcia with the game winner.

Dennis Moeller 1993 O-Pee-Chee

• 2009 - The Pirates acquired IF/OF Delwyn Young from the Dodgers for RHPs Eric Krebs and Harvey Garcia. Young played 234 games for the Pirates during the 2009-10 seasons, hitting .255 with 14 HR and 71 RBI, while neither Krebs nor Garcia made it, although Garcia had a cup of coffee with Florida in 2007, appearing in eight games.
• 2015 - Francisco Liriano and the Bucs lost a 1-0 decision to the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park. Frankie struck out seven and gave up four hits in six frames, but one of the knocks was a solo homer by former Bucco Rajai Davis, and it proved the game winner. Alfredo Simon and Joakim Soria only managed three K between them, but surrendered just two hits without a walk to stifle the Bucs.

4/15: Batty, Chief Yellowhorse, Rambo, Hard Hats, DPs & More...

• 1876 - The Pittsburgh Alleghenys played what may be the city's first professional baseball game against the local Xanthas at Union Park, winning 7-3. (The Alleghenys had paid players, but were an independent club). The next year, the franchise was accepted into the minor league International Association, but the team and league disbanded after the season.
• 1877 - Ed Abbaticchio, the first known Italian American to play MLB, was born in Latrobe. “Batty” was also one of the first to play both pro baseball and football, starring on the gridiron for Latrobe, arguably the first pro football team in America. The middle infielder played 3-1/2 of his nine big league seasons (1907-10) for Pittsburgh, hitting .253, and was a reserve for the 1909 World Series champs.
• 1921 - Pirate pitcher Moses “Chief” Yellow Horse made his major league debut against the Reds. Yellow Horse, a Pawnee, was believed by many baseball historians to be the first full-blooded American Indian to play in the big leagues. He worked the last two innings to save a win for Earl Hamilton as the Bucs beat the Reds 3-1 at Crosley Field.

Chief Yellowhorse

• 1930 - The Bucs took the season opener from Cincinnati 7-6 at Redland Field in front of 30,112 fans. North Side’s Steve Swetonic went 5-1/3 innings of one run ball in relief of Ray Kremer for the win. Paul Waner went 4-for-4 while Dick Bartell and Rollie Hemsley homered. 
• 1947 - In his Pirate debut, Hank Greenberg doubled home the only run in the Pirates' 1-0 win over the Cubs and Hank Borowy. Rip Sewell got the win by scattering five hits at Wrigley Field. Pittsburgh bought the slugger from the Tigers after a contract impasse, and Greenberg wasted no time in cashing in.
• 1952 - Pittsburgh became the first team required to wear helmets, both at bat and in the field. Branch Rickey mandated their use, and though his intentions were no doubt noble, he did happen to own the company that made the hats. Though first used in 1907, they weren't required to be worn by baseball until 1971.
• 1958 - The Pirates beat the Braves 4-3 in 14 inning contest, tying the longest opening day game ever played in the NL, a record they would tie again in 1969. Bill Virdon chased home Hank Foiles with the game winner at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. Ron Blackburn got the win and Curt Raydon picked up the save.
• 1960 - OF/1B Mike Diaz was born in San Francisco. He played in Pittsburgh from 1986-88, hitting .250 with 28 HR in 524 AB. Diaz earned the nickname “Rambo” while with the Bucs because of his resemblance to Sly Stallone, and the club even promoted a fairly famous poster of him under that nom de guerre. He went to Japan for four seasons beginning in 1989.

Mike Diaz as Rambo

• 1961 - The Dodgers and Pirates tied a MLB record by turning nine DPs (Los Angeles 5‚ Pittsburgh 4) in a 4-1 Buc win at Memorial Coliseum. It was only the second time (July 3rd‚ 1929, Cubs-Reds) that 9 DPs have been turned in a nine inning NL game. Eight were grounded into, one was a line drive DP. Dick Groat started three of the four Buc twin killings.
• 2009 - The Pirates acquired IF/OF Delwyn Young from the Dodgers for RHPs Eric Krebs and Harvey Garcia. Young played 234 games for the Pirates during the 2009-10 seasons, hitting .255 with 14 HR and 71 RBI, while neither Krebs nor Garcia made it, although Garcia had a cup of coffee with Florida in 2007, appearing in eight games.

4/15: Alleghenys Play Ball, Batty, Chief Yellow Horse, Hammerin' Hank Greenburg, Twin Killings and More...

Alleghenys Play Ball, Batty, Chief Yellow Horse, Hammerin' Hank Greenburg, Twin Killings and More...

• 1876 - The Pittsburgh Alleghenys played what’s thought to be the city's first professional baseball game against the local Xanthas at Union Park, winning 7-3. (The Alleghenys had paid players, but weren’t members of a league). The following year, the franchise was accepted into the minor league International Association, but the team and league disbanded after the season. 
• 1877 - Ed Abbaticchio, the first known Italian American to play MLB, was born in Latrobe. “Batty” was also one of the first person to play both pro baseball and football, starring on the gridiron for Latrobe, perhaps the first pro football team in America. The middle infielder played 3-1/2 of his nine big league seasons (1907-10) for Pittsburgh, hitting .253, and was a reserve for the 1909 World Series champs. 
• 1921 - Pirate pitcher Moses “Chief” Yellow Horse made his major league debut against the Reds. Yellow Horse, a Pawnee, was believed by many baseball historians to be the first full-blooded American Indian to play in the big leagues. He worked the last two innings to save a win for Earl Hamilton as the Bucs beat the Reds 3-1 at Crosley Field. 

 Image from Vintage Card

• 1930 - The Bucs took the season opener from Cincinnati 7-6 at Redland Field. North Side’s Steve Swetonic went 5-1/3 innings of one run ball in relief for the win. Paul Waner batted 4-for-4 while Dick Bartell and Rollie Hemsley homered. 
• 1947 - In his Pirate debut, Hank Greenberg doubled home the only run in the Pirates' 1-0 win over the Cubs and Hank Borowy. Rip Sewell got the win by scattering five hits at Wrigley Field. Pittsburgh bought the slugger from the Tigers after a contract impasse. 
• 1952 - Pittsburgh became the first team required to wear helmets, both at bat and in the field. Branch Rickey mandated their use, and though his intentions were no doubt noble, he did happen to own the company that made the hats. Though first used in 1907, they weren't required to be worn by baseball until 1971. 
• 1958 - The Pirates beat the Braves 4-3 in 14 inning contest, tying the longest opening day game ever played in the NL, a record they would tie again in 1969. Bill Virdon chased home Hank Foiles with the game winner at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. Ron Blackburn got the win and Curt Raydon picked up the save. 
• 1960 - OF/1B Mike Diaz was born in San Francisco. He played in Pittsburgh from 1986-88, hitting .250 with 28 HR in 524 AB. 
• 1961 - The Dodgers and Pirates tied a MLB record by turning 9 DPs (Los Angeles 5‚ Pittsburgh 4) in a 4-1 Buc win at Memorial Coliseum. It was only the second time (July 3rd‚ 1929, Cubs-Reds) that 9 DPs have been turned in a nine inning NL game. Eight were grounded into, one was a line drive DP. Dick Groat started three of the four Buc twin killings. 
•  2009 - The Pirates acquired IF/OF Delwyn Young from the Dodgers for RHPs Eric Krebs and Harvey Garcia. Young played 234 games for the Pirates during the 2009-10 seasons, hitting .255 with 14 HR and 71 RBI, while neither Krebs nor Garcia made it, although Garcia had a cup of coffee with Florida in 2007, appearing in eight games.

Buc History 4/15

A lot of firsts today:

• 1876 - The Pittsburgh Alleghenys played the city's first professional baseball game against the Xanthas at Union Park, winning 7-3. The following year, the franchise was accepted into the minor league International Association, but the team and league disbanded after the season.
• 1877 - Ed Abbaticchio, the first known Italian American to play MLB, was born in Latrobe. “Batty” was also the first person to play both pro baseball and football, starring on the gridiron for Latrobe, thought to be the first pro football team in America. The middle infielder played 3-1/2 of his nine big league seasons for Pittsburgh, hitting .253.
• 1921 - Pirate pitcher Moses “Chief” Yellow Horse made his major league debut against the Reds. Yellow Horse, a Pawnee, was believed by many baseball historians to be the first full-blooded American Indian to play in the big leagues. He worked the last two innings to save a win for Earl Hamilton as the Bucs beat the Reds 3-1 at Crosley Field.
• 1947 - In his Pirate debut, Hank Greenberg doubled home the only run in the Pirates' 1-0 win over the Cubs and Hank Borowy. Rip Sewell got the win by scattering five hits at Wrigley Field. Pittsburgh bought the slugger from the Tigers after a contract impasse.
• 1952 - Pittsburgh became the first team that had to wear helmets, both at bat and in the field. Branch Rickey mandated their use, and though his intentions were no doubt noble, he did happen to own the company that made the hats. Though first used in 1907, they weren't required to be worn by baseball until 1971.
• 1961 - The Dodgers and Pirates tied a MLB record by turning 9 DPs (Los Angeles 5‚ Pittsburgh 4) in a 4-1 Buc win at Memorial Coliseum. It was only the second time (July 3rd‚ 1929, Cubs-Reds) that 9 DPs have been turned in a nine inning NL game. Eight were grounded into, one was a line drive DP.