Sunday, August 17, 2014

This Week in Pittsburgh Pirates History - August 17-23

This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -

August 17

1984      A stamp featuring Roberto Clemente, the fourth in a series honoring American sports heroes, is unveiled in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the late Pirates outfielder's home. The twenty cent six-color commemorative, designed by Juan Lopez-Bonilla, shows the pensive Hall of Famer wearing his Pittsburgh cap with the Puerto Rican flag in the background.

2003      Good grief, Peanuts character Charlie Brown joins late broadcaster Bob Prince, Negro League star Josh Gibson, former catcher Manny Sanguillen, and current shortstop Jack Wilson to be honored by the Pirates with a bobblehead doll give-away day. Almost ten percent of the nearly 18,000 Peanuts strips created by Charles Schulz focused on baseball.


August 18

1930      Carl Barger, baseball president of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1987 to the beginning of 1991, was born.

1934      Roberto Clemente was born on this day in 1934.

1959      Long time baseball executive Branch Rickey is named president of the newly formed Continental League. The 77-year old former Dodger general manager is currently serving as an advisor with the Pittsburgh Pirates.


August 20

1939      After dropping the opener to Chicago, 9-5, the Pirates snap a twelve game losing streak with a 5-0 victory in the nightcap. Max Butcher goes the distance in the shortened six-inning game, limiting the visitors to just two hits in the Forbes Field contest.

1945      Dodger shortstop Tommy Brown becomes the youngest player (17 years, 8 months and 14 days) in major league history to hit a home run. The round-tripper by 'Buckshot', who started his career as a 16 year-old high school student, will be the only run Brooklyn scores off 30-year old Pirates' southpaw Preacher Roe, who goes the distance in the 11-1 rout of the home team at Ebbets Field.

2012      The official first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for the Major League Baseball All-Stars Forever stamps take place at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY. The very popular philatelic series based on historic photographs honors Yankee Joe DiMaggio; Larry Doby of the Indians; Pirate Willie Stargell of the Pirates and Red Sox legend Ted Williams.



1922 Carson Bigbee

August 22

1917      In a 22-inning contest against the Dodgers, Pirates' outfielder Carson Bigbee sets a major-league record with 11 at-bats. The game was also the fourth straight extra-inning game played by Pittsburgh (total of 59 innings) which sets a National League record.



T206 Howie Camnitz
August 23

1907      In the nightcap of a twin bill at the Polo Grounds, Pirates right-hander Howie Camnitz tosses a no-hitter. Pittsburgh beats the Giants in a shortened five-innning game, 1-0.

1998      With his 50th and 51st dingers, Cubs' slugger Sammy Sosa joins Mark McGwire (53) of the Cardinals in hitting 50 home runs making it only the second time two National League hitters have reach the plateau in the same season. Pirates outfielder Ralph Kiner and Giants first baseman Johnny Mize each hit a league-leading 51 round trippers in 1947.

2001      Arizona left-hander Randy Johnson becomes the first pitcher to strike out 300 batters in four consecutive seasons, The 'Big Unit's' 16-strikeout performance isn't enough as the Pirates beat the Diamondbacks, 5-1, ending the southpaw's eight-game winning streak.





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