April 20
1973 Four months after his death, Roberto
Clemente, in a special election, is inducted into the Hall of Fame. On New
Year's Eve, the Pirates outfielder was tragically killed when a cargo plane
crashes during a relief effort to bring supplies to victims of the Nicaraguan
earthquake.
April 22
1891 Exposition
Park, which opened last year as the home of the Pittsburgh Burghers of the
short-lived Players' League, hosts its first Pirates game, a National League
contest that the Bucs lose to Chicago, 7-6. The ballpark located on north side
of the Allegheny River, across from downtown Pittsburgh, not far from the
current site of PNC Park, will be the team's home until they move to Forbes
Field in 1909.
2010 With a 20-0
rout of Pittsburgh at PNC Park, the Brewers hand the Pirates their
most-lopsided loss in the 124-year history of the franchise. The victory
completes a three-game sweep of the Bucs in which the Brew Crew outscored their
opponents, 36-1.
April 23
1962 In the team's
tenth attempt, the Mets win their first game in franchise history defeating the
Pirates at Forbes Field, 9-1. Jay Hook's five-hit complete game snaps
Pittsburgh's record-tying winning streak of 10 games from the start of the
season without a loss.
April 24
2010 Pirates
starter Chris Jakubauskas, after just a dozen pitches into his first appearance
of the year, is struck in the head by a vicious line drive off the bat of
Houston's Lance Berkman. The 31-year old right-hander, who leaves the field on
a stretcher in obvious distress, will be placed on the 15-day disabled list
with a concussion and head contusion after being hospitalized overnight.
April 25
1968 Groundbreaking
ceremonies are held for Three Rivers Stadium, the new home of the Pirates (and
Steelers) to be constructed on Pittsburgh's North Side. Among the featured
speakers is former track star and Olympic Champion Jesse Owens.
April 26
1905 Jack McCarthy becomes the first
and only major league outfielder to throw out three runners trying to score in
one game. All of the 36-year old flychaser's assists result in a double play
and help the Cubs to beat Pittsburgh at Exposition Park, 2-1.
1948 Legendary
announcer Bob Prince broadcasts his first Pirates game, joining another Pittsburgh
favorite, Rosey Rowswell on the air. "The Gunner", as Prince was
known, goes on to describe Pirates action for 28 years.
2008 On Ralph
Kiner Day, Alhambra dedicates a bronze statue in honor of its native son for
his "accomplishments and contributions to the game of professional
baseball and sports broadcasting". The former Pirates slugger, a member of
the Hall of Fame, spent his youth in the California city and graduated from its
local high school in 1940.
