7/8 Birthdays: J-Hay, Bob, Hank, Johnnie, Jay, Bill, Rosario & John

• 1859 - Ump and P Hank O’Day was born in Chicago. He tossed one year for the Alleghenys, in 1885 (5-7/3.67). Later, he became noted as an ump, calling plays for 30 years, most famously the controversial “Merkle Bonehead” decision. He wore the blue for 10 World Series and in 2,710 major league games. O’Day also managed a couple of times, and for his long service to early baseball, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012. 

Hank O'Day 1905 (photo Chicago Daily News)

• 1874 - RHP Jay Parker was born in Theresa, New York. The unfortunate Jay had one MLB outing as an 1899 Bucco in late September against the Chicago Orphans; he walked two batters and plunked another before he was pulled. Two of them eventually scored and so he has a lifetime ERA of infinity. In justice, it should be noted that he was a 1B/C by trade and that was the first time as a pro that he had ever stepped on the mound; it was the second game of a twinbill and ended up a 7-7 draw. He did have a long career in organized ball, starting in 1895 and keeping on through the 1914 campaign, and did pitch again, briefly, going 1-1 for Evansville in 1905. 
• 1894 - C Bill Haeffner was born in Philadelphia. He played for the A’s in 1918, the Giants in 1928 and got his best look in Pittsburgh in 1920 when he got into 54 games and hit .194. After his playing days, he managed the LaSalle University nine from 1947-52. 
• 1929 - OF Johnny Powers was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Johnny was a legendary minor league masher with 298 long balls during his farm career, but with Pittsburgh between 1955-58, he hit just .190 with four homers in 160 PA. He played two more seasons for four teams, hit two more long balls and that was his career. 

Bob Kipper 1988 Topps

• 1964 - LHP Bob Kipper was born in Aurora, Illinois. The lefty tossed for seven seasons (1985-91) for the Bucs. He spent his first three years as a starter and then was converted to the pen. Kipper went 24-33-11/4.34 with the Pirates, appearing 195 times in his last four seasons and was part of Jim Leyland’s 1991 NLCS club. After retirement, he began coaching for indie teams and in 1999 joined the Red Sox organization, working his way from minor league pitching coach to Boston’s bench. 
• 1969 - LHP Rosario Rodriguez was born in Los Mochis, Mexico. He spent parts of three seasons in the majors, the first two with the Reds, and of his 34 appearances, 15 were with the Pirates in 1991 with a line of 1-1-6, 4.11. He had an outing during the 1991 NLCS against the Braves, allowing three runs in one inning, and that was his last MLB call. He opened for AAA Buffalo in 1992 but made just four appearances as he spent three stints on the DL with shoulder issues. His year was shut down in June, and the bum wing ended his career at age 23. 
• 1983 - OF/1B John Bowker was born in Sacramento. A third-round pick of the Giants, he played for the Bay Bombers from 2008-10 and then was traded to the Pirates at the deadline, along with Joe Martinez, in return for Javier Lopez. He hit .233 as a Bucco and was flipped in late 2011 to the Phillies. John spent 2012-14 in Japan, with a stint in the Mexican League, too. The Bucs brought him back in 2015, but he never got past AAA Indy and retired after the campaign. 

John Bowker 2010 Topps Update

• 1987 - Jack-of-all-trades Josh Harrison was born in Cincinnati. The utility guy was up-and-down with the Bucs since 2011 after coming over in the John Grabow/Tom Gorzelanny deal with the Cubs in 2009. But in 2014, playing LF and then later claiming the third base job, he broke out, winning an All-Star berth with a .315 BA, second best in the NL (he won a second nod in 2017). He inherited the second base spot after Neil Walker was traded to the Mets, but still revisits his old hot corner and outfield spots when needed.

Lose By A Little, Lose By A Lot, It's Still Another Loss As Bucs Drop 3-2 Decision to Phils

It was 1-2-3 for Jameson Taillon  to open; Jake Arrieta's start wasn't quite as strong. Starling singled off a glove, went to second on a wild pitch and scored the game's first run on Red Beard's two-out rap up the middle. It was a quiet second for Philly. Jordy walked and Jamo singled with two gone, but J-Bell whiffed to strand them. In the third, Gregory dropped a liner that he didn't have to move for, but Clint's challenge saved his bacon; apparently he had it long enough to be ruled possession. Starling's having a day; Jake hung a curve and boom, instant Martay Partay in the LF bleachers, to make it 2-0. The Phils broke JT's streak at 11-in-a-row in the fourth with Odubel Herrera's two-out rap but no damage caused. The Pirates raised not a peep. Jamo cruised through the fifth. Starling kept sizzling with a two-out knock; Gregory couldn't keep it going.

Not much help for Jamo (photo Joe Robbins/Getty)

Philly led off the sixth with a single, but a botched bunt (a dropped pop up that was pretty much a comedy skit on both sides, but ending up in a force at second) and 4-6-3 DP cleaned that up. Jake spun a 12-pitch zip-a-dee-doo-doh frame. Herrera legged out an infield single with one gone in the seventh. An out later, Nick Williams turned on a belt-high 0-2 heater and tripled to right on a ball Gregory couldn't pick up in the corner to light the scoreboard. Scott Kingery slapped a slider into center and suddenly it was a tie game, with Edgar Santana taking over the spinning. He gave up a double; Jorge Alfaro was out at third trying to stretch it, but the Bucs are now in a 3-2 hole. Pinch hitter Austin Meadows dropped a two-out single into right; J-Bell popped out foul.

Starling had a good day (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Kyle Crick got the ball in the eighth; he was nicked for a couple of hits but no runs. Seranthony Dominguez took over for Jake. He gave up a single with a couple of whiffs to offset. Felipe Vazquez worked the ninth, and a walk and double put him in immediate hot water. A two-out semi-intentional walk packed the sacks and a whiff left them that way. Victor Arano gave up a lead-off two-bagger to Corey D, a dink to left that landed on the line to become a hustle double. J-Hay struck out for the third time. Jordy fanned too. Freeser at least put the ball in play, lining out to center to put the game to bed.

An infield single and an 0-2 mistake pitch were Jamo's only mistakes; the team didn't back him in the field nor at the dish as they continue to circle the drain. That's five straight losses and 31 in their last 45 games. Time to break' em up?

Notes:

• Starling had three hits; no other Pirate reached safely more than once.
• The Pirates have struck out 24 times in the two games v Philadelphia.
• There were 28,150 in the yard today. Still a big Philly presence; opposing chants of "Here We Go Steelers" and "E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!" echoed through the park.. 
• Indy RHP Tyler Eppler (9-3, 3.06) was added to the International League's 2018 All-Star Team.

Pirates & Phils, Jamo v Jake, Notes - Dovy, Smoker Out, McRae In, Feliz Back

Today: The game's first pitch is at 4:05 and be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. There will be a Doo Wop block party before the game with a live band and the first 20,000 fans get a Buc fedora.

Pitchers: RHP Jameson Taillon (5-6, 4.05) takes on Pittsburgh favorite RHP Jake Arrieta (5-6, 3.54). Since the end of April Jamo has been better but still pretty vanilla, with a 3-4/3.72 slash. Jake was on fire in May but showing his age since with a 6.16 ERA in six starts, although his support has been less than stellar - the Phillies' defense has led to nine unearned runs and extended innings in those half dozen games. The two are staging a rematch that was all Arietta in April, as Jake set down the Bucs on one hit/10 K through seven innings while Philly chased JT in the second frame during a 7-0 Phils romp. He has a career line of 11-6/3.01 ERA against the Pirates.

Jamo v Jake (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates)

Lineup: J-Bell 1B, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Colin Moran 3B, Elias Diaz C, Corey Dickerson LF, J-Hay 2B, Jordy SS & Jamo P. Meadows gets a seat again today.

Notes:

• Pittsburgh activated RHRP Michael Feliz from the DL, called RHP Alex McRae (3-7/4.61) from Indy and optioned LHP Josh Smoker & RHP Dovy Neverauskas back to Indy.
• The Pirates have lost four in a row and been outscored 48-13 over that span.
• Fran Cervelli could return to the roster as early as tomorrow.
• Chad Kuhl is going to get another opinion outside of the organization on his arm injury. He hasn't thrown at all since June 26th.
• Altoona LHP Taylor Hearns was named to MLB Pipeline's All-Prospect Team of the Week. Since mid-May, he's been just 2-2 but with a 2.30 ERA & 62 K in 54-2/3 IP.
• The Giants must really scour the Pirates system; they just brought up Chase d'Arnaud, another old Bucco.

7/7 Games: Pie Cycle; Carey, Gooch 6 Hits; May, Sluggo 5 Hits; Roberto's 5 Homers, Thomas Bombs 3 & Game Stories

• 1922 - OF Max Carey earned his paycheck in an 18-inning, 9-8 loss to the Giants at Forbes Field. He had six hits, three walks, three stolen bases (including home), scored three times, drove home a pair of runs and caught seven flies. C Johnny Gooch was hot, too, going 6-for-8 with a double. Gooch and Carey both set career-bests with their six hits. 
• 1923 - Bucco bats erupted at the Baker Bowl as the Philadelphia Phillies were swamped 18-5. Pie Traynor hit for the cycle, driving in six runs and scoring four times. Reb Russell had four hits, scored five times and drove home four runners while Charlie Grimm doubled and had four RBI. Max Carey and Carson Bigbee scored three times each during the contest as Lee Meadows cruised on the hill to claim the victory.

Pie 1983 TCMA All Time Pirates

• 1957 - "Robbing a Pirate: Willie Mays of the Giants, with his back to the diamond, takes Dick Rand's long drive on cinder path between bleachers in centerfield" read the caption of a famous picture shot by the NY Times John Orris of Mays’ great grab against the Bucco catcher. But the day belonged to Pittsburgh’s Frank Thomas, who hit three home runs as the Pirates took both ends of a twinbill, 10-6 and 8-1, at the Polo Grounds. Red Swanson and Bob Friend got the wins. 
• 1970 - Roberto Clemente's blast to the roof of Connie Mack Stadium's double-decker left field seats was his fifth in five days, breaking a tie and leading the Bucs to a 4-2 win over Philadelphia. Bob Veale got the win with help from Dave Giusti.
• 1972 - In the Pirates' 10-2 win over the Braves at Atlanta Stadium, C Milt May went 5-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Gene Alley homered and had four RBI while Al Oliver, Gene Clines and Dave Cash added three knocks each to pace a 20-hit attack. May added two more hits in the nitecap of the twin bill, but the Pirates lost 3-2. Luke Walker won the opener while Bruce Kison took the nightcap loss. 
• 1992 - Andy Van Slyke became the first outfielder in nearly 18 years to record an unassisted double play in the Pirates' 5-3 win over the Astros at TRS. Van Slyke charged in from center field to catch a shallow fly ball and kept on trucking, doubling up Ken Caminiti off first. AVS also had two hits, an RBI and run scored, but the hitting hero was Steve Buechele, who went 3-for-4 with three runs driven home. Bob Walk got the win in relief of Jeff Robinson. 

AVS 1992 Score/Proctor Gamble All-Star

• 1993 - Starter Tim Wakefield didn’t factor in the decision, but he connected off Houston’s Mark Portugal at The Astrodome for a 420’ home run in the 5-2 Bucco win. The blast was his only career homer during 19 years in the show; of course 17 of those seasons were with Boston, and he got just 40 ABs with them. Paul Wagner was credited with the victory, Jeff King had four hits and Orlando Merced drove in three runs to lead the club. 
• 1994 - C Don Slaught went 5-for-5 with two runs and a pair of doubles, but the Bucs lost to the Reds at Riverfront Stadium 8-7. Jay Bell added three hits, three RBI and a pair of runs scored. The Bucs scored twice in the top of the 10th, but Blas Minor couldn’t hold the lead, giving up a two-run Hal Morris homer. Then in the 11th, he walked two and gave up a single to absorb the loss.

7/7 Happenings: Maz Debut; Babe's Visit; Forbes Field Host All-Stars; ASGs

• 1921 - The Bronx Bombers visited Forbes Field for an exhibition tilt. The Pittsburgh Press wrote “Thousands of fans who attended the exhibition match between the New York Yankees and the Pirates were disappointed when Babe Ruth failed to deliver a circuit clout.” The Bambino, who had 31 homers on his way to swatting 59 on the year, flew out twice and fanned two times in the Bucs 5-2 win as Pirates RF Dave Robertson was the only player to go long. 
• 1936 - The Pirates sent 1B Gus Suhr and SS Arky Vaughan to the All-Star Game at Boston Braves Stadium. Neither got in as the NL squeaked out a 4-3 win. 

Arky Vaughan 1936 Goudey Wide Pen

• 1937 - P Cy Blanton, SS Arky Vaughan and RF Paul Waner were selected as Pittsburgh All-Stars for the game at Griffith Stadium. Vaughan went 2-for-5, Waner 0-for-5 with an RBI, and Blanton faced one batter, Joe DiMaggio, whom he whiffed during the AL’s 8-3 romp. 
• 1956 - Bill Mazeroski made his Pirate debut. He went 1-for-3 and turned a DP (Dick Groat - Maz - Bob Skinner) against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds in a 3-2 Pirate loss. He got his ticket to Pittsburgh to replace Spook Jacobs, who was sent down. 
• 1959 - The All-Star Game became a double feature when a new, two-game format was adopted. The first game was played at Forbes Field. The NL won 5-4 after the first pitch was tossed by VP Richard Nixon. C Smoky Burgess, P Elroy Face, SS Dick Groat and 2B Billy Mazeroski repped the Buccos. Maz went 1-for-1 with a single, Groat batted once and sacrificed, and Smoky didn’t make an appearance. The Baron of the Bullpen did, and probably wishes he hadn’t. He gave up three runs in 1-⅔ IP with three hits, two walks, and two K. 

Maz 1959 Topps/TSN All-Star

• 1964 - The NL defeated the AL at Shea Stadium in the All Star game by a 7-4 score, best remembered because of Johnny Callison’s three-run ninth inning homer. Roberto Clemente went 1-for-3 with a run, Willie Stargell 0-for-1, and Bill Mazeroski and Smoky Burgess were bench players. 
• 1998 - Coors Field lived up to its hitter-friendly rep as the AL outslugged the NL 13-8 in the All Star game. C Jason Kendall was the Pirate AS and singled in his only at bat.

7/7 Birthdays: HBD Satchel, Double Duty, Billy, Chuck, Dybber, Nonny, Merry & Harry

• 1868 - 2B Harry Gilbert was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. A semi-pro infielder, he played in two games for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys on June 23rd, 1890, starting both ends of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies and going 2-for-8. His brother John was also picked up for the game and went 0-for-8 while playing SS; they both fielded cleanly during the day. They became the first brother act in Pittsburgh franchise history, and neither ever played pro ball again. 

Double Duty Radcliffe (card via Negro League Museum)

• 1902 - P/C Theodore Roosevelt “Double Duty” Radcliffe was born in Mobile, Alabama. He stopped briefly in Pittsburgh, playing for the 1931 Homestead Grays and the 1932 Pittsburgh Crawfords. Writer Damon Runyon gave him the nickname "Double Duty" because Radcliffe performed as a catcher one game and as a pitcher the next during a 1932 Negro League World Series doubleheader between the Crawfords and the Monroe Monarchs at Yankee Stadium. Radcliffe caught a Satchel Paige shutout in the first game then pitched a shutout in the second game. 
• 1902 - Art “Merry” Merewether was born in East Providence, Rhode Island. The Brown grad got into one big league game in 1922 as a 20-year-old Pirate, unsuccessfully pinch-hitting. But baseball wasn’t his bag. He left the Buccos to attend MIT (the only MLB player to get a sheepskin from that school), serving as captain of the college's baseball team, played minor league ball in 1926 and then went on to his true calling, meteorology. Merry became the chief meteorologist for United Airlines, was president of the American Meteorological Society and discovered a Canadian lake which was named after him, per BR Bullpen. 
• 1906 - Leroy “Satchel” Paige was born in Mobile, Alabama. He pitched through the thirties for the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords. At 42, Paige became the oldest rookie in major league history when he joined the Cleveland Indians in 1948, and in 1971 became the first Negro League star inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Paige is on the short list of great black pitchers, and what really cut him from the herd was his showmanship. One of his favorite acts was to have his fielders sit down at their positions while he’d strike out the side. According to Paige, his nickname originated from a childhood carrying bags at the train station, although his long-time friends suggested it was because he’d swipe the satchels. Either way… 

Billy Herman (photo via Sportsworld)

• 1909 - IF/MGR Billy Herman was born in New Albany, Indiana. The Hall-of-Famer came to Pittsburgh in 1947 as a player/manager. Billy played a little, hitting .213, and after compiling a 61-92 record, he resigned as the manager on the last day of the season. That was also his last season as a player; he went on to coach, manage, and work in player development for decades after his retirement. 
• 1910 - OF Leo “Red”/”Nonny” Nonnenkamp was born in St. Louis. Nonny started his four-year MLB career with one at bat for the Bucs in 1933 (he struck out as a pinch hitter); he’d return to the show for Boston in 1938-40. He played pro ball from 1930-46, with three years off for military duty in the Navy. He retired to Arkansas, became a mailman, and was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. 
• 1945 - IF Chuck Goggin was born in Pompano Beach, Florida. Chuck began his brief career (he played for four campaigns) in Pittsburgh in 1972-73, going 3-for-9. Goggin was a good hitter, but his major league journey was filled with injury-related hurdles: he had knee surgery, badly broke his ankle, and later ruptured a disc. He also suffered shrapnel wounds to his legs and back in 1966 when a mine blew up under him in Vietnam. The Marine was one of only two MLB players to earn a Purple Heart in ‘Nam. He also had one great Bucco moment - he collected his first major league hit in his first major league start on the same day that teammate Roberto Clemente collected his 3,000th hit, on September 30th, 1972. After his back problem, Chuck played in the minors and Latino leagues for a while, coached and then took a job as a US Marshall. 

Chuck's first hit, Roberto's 3,000th (photo via ESPN)

• 1955 - Jerry “Dybber”/”Eyechart” Dybzinski was born in Cleveland. He closed out his six-year career in Pittsburgh, getting into five games and going 0-for-4 as a 30-year-old in 1985. The Bucs had signed him during the off season as a depth guy, and he spent most of his days at AAA Hawaii. Dybzinski was released after the season, failed to catch on elsewhere, and went to Chicago to become a financial/business analyst.

Welcome Home: Buccos Blasted 17-5

The Bucs started with a J-Hay boot, but an out later Trevor Williams got a 3-6-1 DP ball in the rare (for Pittsburgh) twin killing begun by a first baseman. After two soft outs against Nick Pivetta, Gregory dropped a two-bagger into center and Red Beard bounced one up the middle to plate him. Eli walked behind him. Corey D added another knock, but Moran was cut down at home; Joey Cora was very aggressive and Colin was very slow. The Phils got a leadoff walk in the second with a single added an out later. With two gone, Maikel Franco doubled both runners home. J-Hay got bopped to open the Bucco half and Willy walked an out later; J-Bell bounced into a DP. The Phils started the third with a plunk, no doubt payback, followed by a walk and a first-pitch homer by Odubel Herrera. A liner was snagged, followed by two more raps and in came Steven Brault. He walked a guy and tossed a wild pitch but escaped the bases-loaded pickel.

Willy was chased early; his ERA is now 4.60
(photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Bucs had an ugly but effective reply. Gregory K'ed on a wild pitch and made it to first. Red Beard bounced to short; the throw to second was bad and Pirates ended up on second and third. A grounder and a Corey D knock, after a dozen-pitch duel, brought them both home. J-Hay singled with two gone, and the Phils called on Austin Davis, who got Jordy on a pop. A single opened the Phils fourth, but Steven speared a screamer in self defense and got a couple of flies to TCB. J-Bell doubled with an out and Starling singled him home, then swiped second. The Bucs couldn't cash him in, but it is 5-4 now. Philly picked up another HBP in the fifth but no runs. Corey went the opposite way with a two-strike slider and tripled, bringing on Edubray Ramos. And then, TOOTBLAN, he broke home on J-Hays weak grounder to third and was gunned down by a mile, maybe on a contact play but prob on his own. Joey Cora has had a tough streak at third both today and lately. Josh stole second but Jordy's fly left him there.

Corey D had three hits, along with J-Hay (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Ric Rod got the ball in the sixth and gave a bunt single with one away, then a four-pitch walk and yet another free pass after being up 1-2. A first pitch sac fly brought home an insurance run; a wild pitch moved the other two runners. Another walk loaded 'em up again; a tapper to the hill looked like it ended it, but the Phils challenged the out call and won. It wasn't a great throw by Rodriguez nor very good footwork by Bell and it cost. Dovy Neverauskas was waved on - Ric Rod used up 28 pitches - and got a whiff. Tommy Hunter took the ball. Starling singled and stole third after a Gregory walk, but no cash in. The first Phil walked in the seventh, followed by a two knocks and a run. Josh Smoker got a turn and gave up a two-run double on his first pitch. An out later, Andrew Knapp homered on a 3-2 fastball. It's 14-4 now if you're a mercy rule fan. No damage in the eighth either way; the Phil's tacked on three more off Tyler Glasnow in the ninth on a single and three doubles. J-Hay doubled in a last Buc tally before the lights went off.

This team is playing John Russell bad right now.

Notes:

• Corey D and J-Hay had three hits; Starling added a pair. The Pirates scored five times and still stranded 13 runners.
• 2-1/3 IP was the shortest start of Willy's career and the Pirates' second straight game that a starter couldn't get through the third inning, yay for the off day. Brault and Pivetta combined for a total of five innings, giving up eight runs on ten hits with four walks, two bopped batters, a wild pitch and two charged errors behind them. 
• Starling stole his 201th base, putting him in ninth place on the all-time Pittsburgh list, one ahead of Ginger Beaumont and five behind Frank Taveras, who holds down the eight spot.
• There were 24,846 at tonight's game, with a goodly number being happy Philly fans.
• Tonight's game lasted exactly 4-1/2 hours and was the longest nine inning game in both Pirates and Phillies history. It tied the NL mark.

Phils Open at PNC, Willy v Pivetta, Notes - Luplow Up, Holmes Down; Hoglund Picks Ole Miss

Today: The game starts at 7:05 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. The weather should be about perfect. The first 20,000 fans will get a Jamo figurine, even though he doesn't start til tomorrow. Go figure.

Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (6-6, 4.22) gets it going against RHP Nick Pivetta (5-7, 4.66). Willy followed a gem with a clinker; the Pirates need him to find his 2017 consistency instead running of hot-and-cold. He was solid if wild in his April outing against the Phils, allowing two runs on one hit with five walks while striking out seven over six innings in a match against the Philadelphia righty. Pivetta has the same issue; he's given up two or fewer runs in 10 outings but four or more in five, so it's tough to tell if Jekyll or Hyde is showing up between these two. He started against Willy in April and the Phils won 3-2 in a game decided by the bullpens. Nick went 6-1/3 IP, giving up two runs on five hits with two walks and seven whiffs.

Willy on the mound tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Josh Bell 1B, Starling Marte CF, Gregory Polanco RF, Colin Moran 3B, Elias Diaz C, Corey Dickerson LF, Josh Harrison 2B, Jordy SS & Williams P. AM gets to ride the pine tonight while Clint continues to juggle the lineup with noted burner J-Bell leading off for the second time of his MLB career. He led the order once in 2016, although his OBP is better than J-Hay, AM or Starling's.

Notes:

• Let's hope for some home cookin' - The Phillies swept a four-game series against the Bucs at Citizens Bank Park in late April.
• OF Jordan Luplow (.297/.382/.487 w/eight HRs) has been recalled from Indy and RHP Clay Holmes has been optioned to High-A Bradenton after his dismal Fourth of July outing (although almost surely to keep him on schedule with the AAA All-Star break due). Luplow adds a RH bat to the outfield mix.
• Joe Musgrove is coming along in his recovery from a finger infection and is nearly ready to toss a bullpen session.
• Fran Cervelli went 0-for-3 with two whiffs and two walks in his first rehab game with Altoona. He'll DH again tonight.
• RHP Mitch Keller (9-3/3.71) and 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes (.290) have been named to the US Team for the Futures game. WV Power pitching coach Joel Hanrahan has been selected as the US team's bullpen coach. There are no Bucco reps on the World Team.

Mitch Keller makes the Futures Game team (photo MLB Pipeline)

• Gunnar Hoglund, the 36th overall competitive pick, didn't sign with Pittsburgh per national reports. Hoglund's pool signing bonus was $1,967,900 and it's estimated that the team could have gone up to $2.4 M without losing a 2019 pick. Lotta loot for a high school kid to leave on the table as he heads off to Ole Miss. The Pirates will get the #37 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft as compensation.
• IF Dilson Herrera is back in the show. After recovering from 2017 shoulder surgery, he hit .297 in AAA and earned a call up from the Reds. Herrera was a hot Bucco prospect sent to the Mets in 2013 as part of the Marlon Byrd rental.

7/6 Games: Lots of Back-To-Back; Bullpen Battle; Freak Show Sweep; Game Stories

• 1896 - The Pittsburgh Press described the game, played in the rain at Washington, as “...a farce. But it was not without excitement, however, for Umpire Tim Hurst threatened to whip half a dozen players.” Hurst reportedly socked Pirates Jake Stenzel and Emerson "Pink" Hawley in the jaw for the guff they had given him during the game. They accepted their fate like men according to the New York Clipper as "neither player resented the attack." The Pirates defeated the Senators 6-2 at Boundary Park. Hawley got the win; Stenzel had three hits while Joe Sugden and Mike Smith added a pair. 

Pink Hawley Ars Longa Art Card

• 1901 - NY manager George Davis said he would pull his team off the Polo Grounds rather than allow ump Harry Colgan to call the game, and he got his wish. Colgan avoided the drama by not showing up, and under the threat of a forfeit and fine by the league if the blustering Giants didn’t play the match, the two teams each selected a player - Giants infielder Charlie Buelow and Pirates catcher Jack O'Connor - to ump. Davis might have been better off with Colgan as his club lost 6-2, but at least there weren’t any rhubarbs. There were only two bang-bang plays, and sportsman O’Connor called them both in favor of the Giants. The Pittsburgh Press gloated that “The delusion of manager Davis that the umpires were the cause of the New York’s club failure to take first place away from Pittsburg was dispelled…” Jack Chesbro got the win over Dummy Taylor, who was torched for four first-inning runs. Ginger Beaumont led the attack with two hits, including a homer. 
• 1940 - Arky Vaughan, Elbie Fletcher and Maurice Van Robays each homered and combined for 10 RBI and six runs as the Bucs romped over the Cards 15-8 in the lidlifter of a Sportsman’s Park doubleheader. Bob Klinger got the win with Johnny Lanning finishing up. Pittsburgh took the second match from St. Louis by a 4-3 count, pushing across a 10th inning run for the win. Van Robays had a two-run homer and Mace Brown, who pitched five innings of one hit, shutout relief, earned the victory. 
• 1945 - A doubleheader couldn’t begin any better; Pete Coscarart and Jim Russell started it off with a bang, smoking back-to-back leadoff homers for the first time in franchise history. But Boston regained its composure pretty quickly and swept the Buccos 13-5 and 14-8 at Braves Field. 

Jerry Lynch 1955 Topps

• 1955 - Jerry Lynch, Frank Thomas and Dale Long hit back-to-back-to-back homers in the sixth inning against the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Carl Erskine during a 10-5 loss of a doubleheader lidlifter at Forbes Field. The Bucs didn’t homer in the nitecap, but won 4-1 behind Vern Law. The game was knotted in the eighth when the Pirates scored three times, keyed by Gene Freese’s triple and Law’s two-out double. 
• 1980 - Eight Cub pitchers held the Pirates scoreless for 14-1/3 innings (and had a 12-⅔ IP string of hitless frames!) at TRS but Pittsburgh took home a 5-4, 20-inning victory. Cliff Johnson's two-out homer in the ninth off Bert Blyleven tied it for Chicago‚ but Omar Moreno's single hours later (it was a 5-1/2 hour affair, the longest contest in TRS history) was the game winner. Jim Bibby (11-1) earned the win with three scoreless innings‚ but lost a probable start in the All Star game because of his unexpected relief outing. The Chicago pen was brilliant, but the Pirates guys were stout, too - four Bucco hurlers (Kent Tekulve, Rick Rhoden, Grant Jackson & Bibby) tossed 10 scoreless frames even though they danced through some raindrops. 
• 1985 - The Pirates blew a three run lead at TRS, allowing the Padres to tie the game in the ninth inning, but came back in their half to take an 8-7 decision. Steve Kemp homered (he lost another hit when Tony Gwynn threw him out from right for the always embarrassing 9-3 putout) and the Bucs added a triple and five doubles during the contest, but Pittsburgh needed three consecutive two-out singles against Craig Lefferts, the last by Marvell Wynne, to walk off the victory. 

Steve Kemp 1985 Topps Traded

• 1992 - If you like pitching, this was your kind of game. Zane Smith and Houston’s Jimmy Jones started in a game that ended up 1-0, with Orlando Merced’s sixth inning homer the only run scored in front of the 15,385 fans at TRS. Smith worked 8-⅓ innings of five hit ball with Stan Belinda coming on to record the final two outs. Belinda inherited Jeff Bagwell at second and walked the first hitter he faced, but got a pair of pops to ice the game. 
• 1997 - The Pirate “Freak Show” completed a four game sweep of St. Louis, 6-3, at Busch Stadium to go into the All-Star break with a one-game lead in the NL Central standings after winning seven straight. Steve Cooke won the game backed by Jose Guillen’s first big league homer and four RBI, the first multi-RBI game of his career. 
• 2001 - Pittsburgh put up a five spot in the eighth inning to rally past the White Sox 10-6 at Comiskey Park. Jack Wilson had three hits and John Vander Wal added a homer with two stolen bases to pace the attack. Josias Manzanillo benefitted from the offensive outburst; he was charged with a blown save and then credited with the win.  

AJ Burnett 2015 Topps All Star Update

• 2015 - AJ Burnett, who was named to the All-Star team a half hour before game time for the first time in his 17th & final season, and James Shields hooked up in an epic pitching duel at PNC Park that was eventually decided by the bullpens. Both starters went into the eighth inning, leaving a 1-1 match for the relievers to decide. Jared Hughes tossed the final 1-⅓ frames for the win after Brandon Mauer gave up a two-out, 3-2 pinch single to Pedro Alvarez that scored Andrew McCutchen, who had walked and moved up on Jung-Ho Kang’s single. It was El Toro’s second career walk off hit; the first was back in 2010.

7/6 Happenings: Ward Dunk; Fetters-for-Sanchez; McClatchy Bows Out; ASG Performances; HBD Mike, Willie, Omar, Cy, Ed

• 1879 - SS Ed Holly was born in Chicago. Ed had a yo-yo career - he spent eight years in the minors, then two seasons with the NL Cardinals. After that taste, he built up a rep on the farm as a defensive whiz over the next half dozen years and in 1914, at age 34, joined the Pittsburgh Rebels, hitting .246 in 100 games and then batting .262 in a bench role behind Marty Berghammer of the Reds who had jumped leagues the following campaign. After that, he did some minor league managing and was a long-time scout. As a nod to his days in the bushes, Ed was selected as a member of the International League Hall of Fame in 1949. 

Cy Blanton 1934-36 Diamond All Stars

• 1908 - RHP Darrell Elijah “Cy” Blanton was born in Waurika, Oklahoma. He twirled for Pittsburgh from 1934-39, going 58-51-4/3.28 and earning an All Star spot in 1937 with a dazzling array of breaking pitches. In 1935, his 2.58 ERA was the lowest in MLB, besting Lefty Grove. But his promising career was shortened by a stream of elbow injuries and physical woes, aggravated by an alcoholism, and he died at the age of 37. Throwing the curve and screwball was the likely cause of his arm issues (some believe his chronically aching arm may have driven him to the bottle), and as SABR’s Gregory Wolf posted, the pitch-until-you-drop ethos of the era didn’t help. “Ranking among the most dubious decisions in big-league history, (Pirates manager Pie) Traynor permitted Blanton, coming off an injury-riddled season, to pitch a nine-inning no-hitter in a pointless exhibition game against the Cleveland Indians in New Orleans on Easter Sunday 1939, just days before the regular season. Blanton subsequently tore ligaments in his elbow in his third start of the season, effectively ruining his career.” 
• 1933 - CF Paul Waner and 3B Pie Traynor represented the Bucs in the first-ever All-Star Game held at Chicago’s Comiskey Park, won by the AL, 4-2. Pie delivered a pinch-hit double in the seventh inning off Lefty Grove while Waner played the final frame of the game in right field. 
• 1938 - The Bucs sent P Mace Brown, SS Arky Vaughan and CF Lloyd Waner to the All-Star Game at Crosley Field. Brown was the only guy to play; he went three innings, giving up a run on five hits with two strikeouts, and earned a save for starter Johnny Vander Meer in a 4-1 NL win. 
• 1942 - 3B Bob Elliott was the sole Bucco invited to the All-Star Game at the Polo Grounds. He singled in his only at-bat during a 3-1 loss to the AL. 

Bob Elliott (photo source: Out of the Park Developments)

• 1954 - 1B Jason Thompson was born in Hollywood. He played for the Pirates for five years (1981-85) and hit .253 with 93 HR, with a particularly sharp eye that led to a .376 OBP. Thompson was an All-Star in 1982, batting .284/31/101, and spent 11 years in MLB before knee injuries took their final toll. In his early career while with the Tigers, Thompson earned the nickname "Roof Top" due to his knack of hitting balls to the top of Tiger Stadium’s right field roof. JT now operates the Jason Thompson Baseball Academy in Auburn Hills, Michigan. 
• 1954 - Willie Randolph was born in Holly Hill, South Carolina. The Pirates selected him in the seventh round of the 1972 draft straight out of high school. He made his major league debut in 1975 at age 21, getting in 30 games and batting .164. He was traded in that off-season w/Ken Brett and Dock Ellis to the Yankees for Doc Medich, not because of his rookie showing but because the Pirates had a 24-year-old 2B ahead of him in Rennie Stennett. All Willie did after that deal was play 17 more years, win two World Series rings with the Yankees, appear in six All-Star games, bang out 2,210 hits (.276 lifetime BA, .373 OBP) and gain a rep as a solid glove and great pivot man. After he hung up the spikes, he managed and coached, then gigged as an ESPN talking head. 
• 1967 - RHP Omar Olivares was born in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Omar closed out his eight-team, 12-year big league career as a Pirate in 2001 with a 6-9, 6.55 line. The 33-year-old had a good run at the beginning of his career and in the late nineties, but he finished his career with back-to-back 6+ ERA campaigns. 

Omar Olivares 2002 Topps Series 2

• 1977 - OF and coach Mike Ryan was born in Indiana, PA. Ryan played parts of five MLB seasons and he made a stop at AAA Indianapolis in 2007. In 2013, Ryan was named the manager of the West Virginia Power in the Sally League and after a couple of seasons there, he was chosen as skipper for the Pirates' High-A club, the Bradenton Marauders. Two seasons later in 2016, Mike was named as the boss man for the AA Altoona Curve, replacing Joey Cora who joined the big team’s coaching staff.  
• 1983 - The AL broke out of a two-decade long slumber and pummeled the NL 13-3 at Comiskey Park in the All Star game. 3B Bill Madlock, the only Bucco AS, went 0-for-1. 
• 2002 - Houston's Daryle Ward became the first player to put a baseball in the Allegheny on the fly when he homered off Kip Wells during a 10-2 Astro win. The ball traveled an estimated 465-480'. Ward would join the Pirates a little later, playing for Pittsburgh from 2004-05. 
• 2002 - The Pirates traded RHP Mike Fetters to the Arizona Diamondbacks for RHP Duaner Sanchez in a swap of relievers. Sanchez pitched poorly for the Bucs and was released after the 2003 season, but found success with the Dodgers and Mets until a mid-season car accident in 2006 caused career-wrecking shoulder damage. Fetters was at the end of his road; he pitched one more season and then retired at age 39. 

Mike Fetters 2002 Upper Deck 40 Man

• 2007 - Kevin McClatchy announced that he would step down as CEO after the 2007 MLB season, resulting in the September hiring of Frank Coonelly, He told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Dejan Kovacevic that “You start to get burned out a little bit...in all honesty, it’s a natural time for a change. It’s the right thing to do for the team and for me.”