Sunday, December 28, 2014

This Week in Pittsburgh Pirates History - December 28-January 3

This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -

December 28
1958 Topps

1957      In a trade of first basemen, the Reds swap Ted Kluszewski to the Pirates for Dee Fondy.


December 30

1943      In a trade of the Babes in Pennsylvania, the Phillies send first baseman Babe Dahlgren to the Pirates for catcher Babe Phelps and cash. Dahlgren will be best remembered for being the player who replaced Lou Gehrig after the 'Iron Horse' had played in major-league record 2,130 consecutive games.


1973 Topps Robert Clemente - last card
December 31


1972      Pirate outfielder Roberto Clemente is tragically killed when a cargo plane crashes during a relief effort to bring much needed supplies to the victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake.  He was 38 years old.


January 1

1911      Hall of Fame first baseman Hank Greenberg, who played for the Pirates in 1947, was born. 


January 2

1918      In a deal which includes two future Hall of Famers, the Dodgers trade outfielder Casey Stengel and infielder George Cutshaw to the Pirates for pitchers Burleigh Grimes, Al Mamaux and infielder Chuck Ward. Grimes, known as Ol' Stubblebeard, and Stengel, dubbed The Old Perfessor, will both be enshrined in Cooperstown.          

1951      All-star third baseman Bill Madlock was born. 


1933 Goudey Gus Suhr
January 3

1974      The Yankees sign Bill Virdon as the team's manager. Although the former Pirate skipper will manage for two years in New York, he will never win a game at Yankee Stadium because the Bronx Bombers will play their home games at Shea due to renovations at the stadium.

1906      Gus Suhr, considered by some as the best first baseman in team history, was born.














Saturday, December 27, 2014

1909 E92 Dockman and Sons Gum

1909 E92 Dockman and Sons Gum Pittsburgh Pirates

Once cataloged as a part of the E92 compendium, the John Dockman and Sons Gum card issue differs from the Croft's Candy/Cocoa sets in that it has 10 fewer cards. Otherwise the format (1-1/2" x 2-3/4") and color litho player pictures are identical. Beneath the player picture on the front is his last name, position and team. Backs, which describe the set is having 50 cards, are an ad for the gum company.

See the 1909 E92 Dockman and Sons Gum Pittsburgh Pirates

Baseball Reference

Baseball Almanac


Card Values
















Team Set Checklist

1909 Dockman & Sons E92 - Pirates 
Dots Miller Batting 
George Gibson 
Honus Wagner Batting
Honus Wagner Throwing 





Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Steelers Earn Playoff Berth

By Matt Hall, Student Reporter

Here is the breakdown of the Steelers game on Sunday vs. the Chiefs.

In the first quarter with13:24 left Ben Roethlisberger threw a 40 yard pass to Martavis Bryant.  It was an awesome play!  A little later Shaun Suisham kicked a field goal for Pittsburgh.  With 2:06 left Cairo Santos kicked a field goal for KC.  That drive was 7:09 for KC.  At the end of the first the score was tied 3-3.

In the 2nd quarter with 14:54 left there was offsetting penalties.  KC was called for roughing on the play and Pittsburgh was called for a late hit.  Later KC faked a field goal and instead got a 1st down.  Santos then kicked another field goal.  Ben passed to Le'Veon Bell and the Steelers scored a touchdown with 4:18 left in the 2nd quarter.  At the half the score was 10 (Pittsburgh) to 6 (KC). 

In the 3rd quarter with 6:26 left KC fumbled the ball and the Steelers scored a touchdown.  Ben threw the ball to Antonio Brown.  Ben’s knee got clipped, but he was OK.  At the end of the 3rd it was 17-6 Pittsburgh. 

In the 4th quarter with 10:19 left Santos got another field goal and again with 1:37 left.  The Steelers won 20-12 though.

The Steelers have guaranteed their spot in the post season.  The last time they made the playoffs was in 2011.  The Steelers will play the final game of the season Sunday against the Bengals.  See you there!

Sunday, December 21, 2014

This Week in Pittsburgh Pirates History - December 21-27

This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -

December 21

1959 Topps Dick Groat
1959      After Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh rejects the A's offer to deal Roger Maris for shortstop Dick Groat, Pittsburgh obtains Gino Cimoli along with Tom Cheney from the Cardinals for right-hander Ron Kline. Maris, who is dealt to the Yankees, will enjoy the first of his two consecutive MVP years in New York, but Groat will play a key role for the World Champion Bucs next season, and he also will be named the most valuable player of his league.


December 22

1982      Lee Mazzilli is traded for the third time this season. The Yankees, who obtained the Brooklyn native from the Rangers in August for Bucky Dent, deal the first baseman/outfielder to the Pirates for Tim Burke and three minor leaguers.


December 26

1964      Jeff King, an infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates was born.




Tuesday, December 16, 2014

This Week in Pittsburgh Pirates History - December 14-20

This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -

December 16

1938      The Braves trade catcher Ray Mueller to the Pirates for Al Todd, who will be dealt to Brooklyn in March, and Johnny Dickshot, who will be shipped to the Giants in April. Mueller will play in only 90 games over two seasons for Pittsburgh.

1978 Topps Chuck Tanner

December 18

1975      Chuck Tanner signs a three-year deal to manage the A's. After compiling an 87-74 (.540) record to finish in second place, Oakland will release the New Castle, PA native from his contract allowing him to manage the Pirates in exchange for catcher Manny Sanguillen and $100,000 from Pittsburgh.



Saturday, December 13, 2014

Navy Outlasts Army, 17-10

Army jumped out to an early 7-0 lead over Navy in the 115th edition of the Army-Navy game.  The Black Knights forced Navy to punt on its first drive and Josh Jenkins blocked Pablo Beltran's first kick of the day. Xavier Moss picked up the loose ball and returned it seven yards for the Army touchdown.  Unfortunately, Army wouldn't score again until just 1:51 remained in the game.

Navy was unable to move the ball for most of the first half as they fought to cut into the Army lead. Navy's rushing offense that leads the nation (357.8 yards/game) was held to just 12 yards in the first quarter.

The Mids were unable to sustain many drives in the first half until quarterback Keenan Reynolds found an open Jamir Tillman for 39 yards on Navy's last drive of the half.  Five plays later Reynolds hit Tillman in the end zone and Navy shifted the momentum in their favor.

Navy took the lead on their opening drive of the second half.  After a 41 yard kickoff return from Ryan Williams-Jenkins the Midshipmen were able to move into field goal range.  Austin Grebe hit a 45-yarder, the longest of his career, to give Navy the 10-7 lead.

The Midshipmen extended that lead to 17-7 when Keenan Reynolds found the end zone on a 1-yard scamper.  The touchdown was Reynolds' 62nd rushing touchdown run of his career moving him to within one touchdown of tying Ron Dayne from Wisconsin at number six all-time.

Army made the game exciting when Daniel Grochowski booted a 52-yard field goal to cut Navy's lead to seven with less than two minutes left in the contest.

Thomas Wilson recovered Army's attempted onside kick and the Mids were able to run out the clock giving Navy their 13th consecutive win over Army dating back to 2002.

With the win, Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo became Navy's all-time winningest coach with a 56-35 record passing George Welsh.

Niumatalolo was humble when discussing the record. "I'm blessed; I coach great kids...coach with great coaches."

Navy faces San Diego State on December 23 in the Poinsettia Bowl.


Sunday, December 07, 2014

This Week in Pittsburgh Pirates History - December 7-13

This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -

December 7

2011      In separate deals with free-agents, the Pirates sign left-handed starter Erik Bedard and outfielder Nate McLouth, who played with the franchise from 2005 to 2009. The Bucs' new southpaw compiled a 5-9 record last season with Seattle and Boston, and the 30-year old Gold Glove flycatcher returns to the Steel City three years after being traded to Atlanta where he hit .229 in 250 games.


December 8

1947      Brooklyn acquires infielder Billy Cox and southpaw Preacher Roe from the Pirates, both will play vital roles in the success of the Dodgers during the next decade. The trade, which also includes utility player Gene Mauch, sends hurlers Vic Lombardi and Al Gregg as well as Dixie Walker, a former batting champ who asked to be traded in the spring because he didn't want to play with Jackie Robinson, to Pittsburgh.

1991 Topps Barry Bonds
1992      Former Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds signs the richest contract in major league history when he agrees to a $43-million, six year deal to play for the Giants. The free agent will not disappoint in San Francisco winning the National League Most Valuable Player award, his third in four years, hitting a career-high .336 batting average to go along with 46 homers and 123 RBIs.

2005      The Pirates send southpaw Dave Williams (10-11, 4.41) to the Reds for Pittsburgh area native Sean Casey. The popular first baseman, who is dubbed ‘The Mayor’ because of his outgoing personality, becomes expendable as Cincinnati seeks pitching to complement its heavy-hitting lineup.


December 9

1965      Eleven days shy of his 84th birthday, former Cardinals, Dodgers, and Pirates executive Wesley Branch Rickey, named by ESPN in 1999 as the most influential sports figure of the twentieth century, suffers a heart attack, falling over the podium while beginning his remarks to an audience during his induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Rickey, who is responsible for breaking the color barrier in 1947 with the signing of Jackie Robinson and implementing the concept of farm systems for the major leagues, will die three weeks later while in intensive care at Boone County Memorial Hospital.

1992      Carl Barger, former baseball president of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Florida Marlins, dies at age 62.


December 10

1919      The National League, spearheaded by the leadership of Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss, approves the banning of the spitball, allowing just the current spitballers presently throwing the pitch to use it under a "grandfather" clause. A year later the American League will adopt the same rule.

2009      The Pirates sign Bobby Crosby (.231, 22, 64), the 2004 American League Rookie of the Year, to a $1 million, one-year contract. Last season, the 29-year-old versatile infielder played multiple games for the A's at all four infield positions.


1992 Topps Jay Bell
December 11

1952      Fred Haney is named as the Pirates manager replacing Billy Meyer. The Bucs will finish in last place each season, compiling a dismal 163-299 (.353) record during the new skipper's three-year tenure in Pittsburgh.

1965      Jay Bell, infielder for the Pirates, is born.

1975      In a busy day of trading, the Yankees acquire pitchers Dock Ellis and Ken Brett, and second baseman Willie Randolph from the Pirates for hurler Doc Medich. In a separate deal with the Angels, the club trades Bobby Bonds for outfielder Mickey Rivers and pitcher Ed Figueroa.


December 12

1941      The Dodgers obtain Arky Vaughn from the Pirates for right-hander Luke Hamlin, 1B/OF Jimmy Wasdell and catcher Babe Phelps. The future Hall of Fame infielder, who will have his stint in Brooklyn interrupted by WWII, plays four seasons for the club compiling a .291 batting average.

2008      The Pirates sign Ramon Vazquez, the only player with major league experience added to the
1985 Topps Dale Berra
club during the winter meetings, to a two-year deal worth $4 million. The versatile infielder played all four infield positions last season while compiling a career-high .290 batting average with the Rangers.


December 13


1956      Dale Berra, son of Yogi Berra and an infielder for the Pirates and Yankees, is born.