Sunday, September 28, 2014

2014 Navy Football




2014 Navy Football







08/30/14     vs. Ohio State                           Baltimore, MD (M&T Bank Stadium)  L, 34-17


09/06/14     at Temple                                  Philadelphia, PA              W, 31-24


09/13/14     at Texas State                           San Marcos, TX                W, 35-21


09/20/14     vs. Rutgers                                 Annapolis, MD                 L, 31-24


09/27/14     vs. Western Kentucky            Annapolis, MD                 L, 36-27


10/04/14     at Air Force                                Colorado Springs, CO     L, 30-21


10/11/14     vs. VMI                                       Annapolis, MD                 W, 51-14

10/25/14     vs. San Jose State                    Annapolis, MD                 W, 41-31

11/01/14     vs. Notre Dame                        Landover, MD (FedExField)  L, 49-39

11/15/14     vs. Georgia Southern              Annapolis, MD                 W, 52-19


11/28/14     at South Alabama                   Mobile, AL                         W, 42-40

12/13/14     vs. Army                                 Baltimore, MD (M&T Bank Stadium)  W, 17-10
Army Media Guide
Showtime Piece on Army Football


12/23/14     vs. San Diego State - Poinsettia Bowl     San Diego, CA        9:30 PM    
The Brotherhood Video Series






Navy Loses Second Straight at Home

Navy came into this afternoon's game against Western Kentucky looking to avenge last season's 19-7 loss in Bowling Green.  They also wanted to start a new home winning streak that was snapped last week against Rutgers.

To do that, the Mids knew they would have to slow down the Hilltoppers' potent offense. Western Kentucky came into the game averaging 486.3 passing yards per game - good for second in the nation. They were also third in the country in total offense averaging 608.7 yards per game.

To some degree the Mids were able to contain the nation's second best passing offense, holding quarterback Brandon Doughty to 387 yards passing, nearly 100 yards below his season average, and one touchdown.

Navy countered the WKU offense with their daunting running game and racked up 412 yards on the ground, the second time this season the Mids topped 400 yards on the ground. 

The game was a back-and-forth battle for all of three quarters when the Hilltoppers took over. 

On their first drive of the fourth quarter, the Hilltoppers scrapped their way into the end zone with a 1-yard quarterback keep by Brandon Doughty. The drive covered 91-yards on 15 plays and took 6:11 off the game clock. The score gave WKU a 29-21 lead. 

Navy's resolve shone brightly on their next drive when the Mids drove 79 yards on just six plays to find pay dirt. Keenan Reynolds was the workhorse on the drive calling his own number four times and picking up 70 yards on the ground. 

The two-point conversion attempt failed and Navy trailed by two with just 4:31 remaining in the game. 

Navy's defense stood tall and forced Western Kentucky to punt on their next drive. Navy's offense was unable to move the ball and the drive failed when Reynolds was picked off by Wonderful Terry who returned the INT 43 yards for a Hilltopper TD. The pick six set the final score in favor of WKU, 36-27.




Game notes - 

Ryan Williams-Jenkins suffered an apparent neck injury on a kickoff return when he took a brutal hit. It was confirmed later that he suffered a broken cheek bone and not a neck injury.

33,537 were in attendance for this afternoon's game.

Nick Sloan missed a 28-yard field goal with 6:23 in 3rd quarter off left upright. The miss makes the fourth game this season that Sloan has missed a field goal.

Noah Copeland (5-104) and Keenan Reynolds (24-121) finished the game with 100-plus yards each marking the first time since last year’s Indiana game that Navy has had two players rush for 100 yards.

With its fumble at 9:58 in the second quarter, Navy has now lost six fumbles this season which equals last year’s total.  

With a pair of turnovers today (fumble, interception), the Mids have eight total turnovers this season resulting in 34 points scored by the opposition.

Brendon Clements finished the game with a career-high 12 tackles, including 11 solo stops. He also broke up a would-be touchdown pass in the end zone in the fourth quarter.

The Mids have been outscored in the fourth quarter, 49-23 this season.

Keenan Reynolds fourth quarter interception that was returned for a TD was the first interception returned for a touchdown by a Navy opponent since October 3, 2009.

Western Kentucky finished the game with 551 yards total offense, the most by a Navy opponent since San Jose State turned in 600 yards against the Mids last November in a triple overtime win by Navy.

Western Kentucky QB Brandon Doughty completed 38 of his 54 passes for 387 yards ... it’s the most pass attempts and completions by a Navy opponent since San Jose State’s David Fales completed 42 of his 56 attempts a year ago. The 387 yards passing by the Hilltoppers are the most since San Jose State threw for 440 a year ago.






This Week in Pittsburgh Pirates History - September 28-October 4

This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -


September 29

1908     At Exposition Park, Pittsburgh blanks the Cardinals, 7-0. The last-place Redbirds are shut out for a record 33rd time, averaging more than one whitewash every five games.

1935      On the last day of the season, Pirates catcher Aubrey Epps goes 3-for-4, including a triple and three RBI’s, in his major league debut at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field. It will be the only game ‘Yo Yo’ will ever play in the big leauges.


September 30

1956     Don Newcombe, a three-time twenty-game winner, goes the distance to earn his major-league leading 27th victory when the Dodgers beat Pittsburgh at Forbes Field, 8-6, on the last day of the campaign. Newk’s win is the most ever in a season by an African-American pitcher

1972      At Three Rivers Stadium, Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente doubles off Met Jon Matlack to become the 11th major leaguer to collect 3000 hits. The two-bagger, sadly, will be his last hit as he will die in a plane crash on New Year's Eve. 


1978      At Three Rivers Stadium, the Phillies clinch their third consecutive NL East title defeating the Pirates, 10-8. The victory, which features winning pitcher Randy Lerch hitting two home runs, snaps Pittsburgh’s 24-game home winning streak.

1980      In front of only 1,754 patrons, Mets southpaw Pete Falcone beats the Pirates in the season's last game at Shea Stadium, 3-1. It is the smallest crowd ever to attend a game at the Flushing ballpark, 33 less fans than yesterday.

1988      At Wrigley Field, President Ronald Reagan throws out two first ceremonial first pitches prior to the Cubs' 10-9 loss to the Pirates. 'Dutch', a former play-by-play announcer, then participates in the broadcast with Harry Caray spending the first inning and a half in the WGN booth.

1990      The Pittsburgh Pirates clinch the National League East title.


1911 T205 Deacon Phillippe
October 1

1903      In the first World Series game ever played, Pirates' hurler Deacon Phillippe beats Cy Young and the Boston Pilgrims (Red Sox), 7-3 at the Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston. Jimmy Sebring hit the first Fall Classic home run.

2000      A crowd of 55,351, the largest ever to see a regular season baseball game in Pittsburgh, watches the Pirates fall to the Chicago Cubs, 10-9, in the final game at Three Rivers Stadium.

2006      Joe Mauer becomes the first American League catcher to win a batting title and to lead the majors in hitting. The Twins backstop's .347 batting average outpaces Freddie Sanchez (.344) of the Pirates.


October 2

1920      In the only tripleheader ever played in the 20th century, the Reds win the first two games, 13-4 and 7-3, with the Pirates avoiding the sweep in the finale, 6-0. Peter Harrison is the home plate umpire for all three games.

1969      In the eighth inning of the Reds' 8-3 win at Atlanta Stadium, Pete Rose beats out a bunt to third base for a hit in his last at-bat of the season to clinch the National League batting title. At the start of day, the Cincinnati right fielder is tied with Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente, who goes 3-for-4 against Montreal but finishes .005 of a point behind (.3447 to 3452) the eventual all-time hits leader.

1985      The Galbreath family and Warner Communications sell the Pirates to the Pittsburgh Associates which is a group of private investors committed to keeping the team in Pittsburgh.
1972 Kellogg's Roberto Clemente


October 3

1972      Surpassing Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente appears in his 2,433rd game for the most ever played by a Pirate. Sadly, it will be the last regular season game the Pittsburgh outfielder will ever play as he will be killed in a plane crash during the off-season.

2010      With their 5-2 loss in Miami, the Pirates finish the season with a 17-64 record on the road. The Bucs' dismal away-from-home performance equals the 1963 Mets infamous mark for a 162-game season.


October 4

1925      For the first time in the 50-year history of the franchise, the Cubs end the season in last place. The team, managed by Bill Killefer (33-42), Rabbit Maranville (23-30), and George Gibson (12-14), compiles a 68-86 record and finishes 27.5 games behind the first-place Pirates.  Both Maranville and Gibson formerly played for the Pirates.
1990 Topps Jim Leyland

2005      Two-time National League Manager of the Year (1990 and 1992 Pirates) Jim Leyland is named to replace Alan Trammell, who was fired as the Tigers’ manager yesterday. The sixty-year old, who guided the Marlins to a World Championship in 1997, has not managed since resigning as the Rockies skipper in 1999.

2010      A day after the season ends, the last place Pirates fire John Russell, who equaled a franchise record for most losses by a manager in three seasons compiling an 186-299 record. The other Buc skipper with as many defeats in the same time frame was Fred Haney, posting a 163-299 record from 1953-55.




Saturday, September 27, 2014

Previewing the Navy, Western Kentucky Matchup

Navy and Western Kentucky meet for the fourth time and the second time in as many seasons on Saturday.  Navy enters the contest with a 2-2 record while the Hilltoppers enter the game 1-2.  Last year the Mids lost on the road, 19-7.

WKU is ranked second in the country in passing offense (486.3), third in total offense (608.7), and ninth in scoring offense (46.7).  The Hilltoppers are led by QB Brandon Doughty who has passed for 1,459 yards and 12 TDs with a completion percentage of .688, in just three games.  Leon Allen leads the WKU rushing attack with 345 yards (115 yards per game) and three TDs. The Western Kentucky defense is led by LB Nick Holt, the son of the Hilltoppers' defensive coordinator. Holt is averaging 11 tackles per game, good for 15th in the country.

Navy has turned the ball over six times this season after having just 10 turnovers in 13 games last season.

Navy has six players on its roster from Kentucky.

The Midshipmen are second in the nation in rushing this fall, averaging 345 yards per game. Navy's school record is 348.8 yards per game. Ryan Williams-Jenkins, fifth on the team in rushing this year, is averaging 10.2 yards per carry.

The Navy defense has allowed just three touchdowns in the first quarter the past 17 games.

Senior punter Pablo Beltran is averaging 44.7 yards per punt this season with a long of 62 yards.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

This Week in Pittsburgh Pirates History - September 21-27

This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -

September 21

1892      At Cleveland's League Park, John Clarkson of the Spiders beats the Pirates 3-2 to become the fifth pitcher in major league history to record his 300th victory. The 31-year old right-hander will compile a 328-178 record during his 12 year Hall of Fame career in the big leagues.

1896      Connie Mack announces he will leave the Pirates to manage the minor-league Milwaukee Brewers of the Western League. The light-hitting catcher retires as a full time player to accept the deal which includes twenty-five precent of the club, a precursor to his 54-year reign as the owner of the American League A's.

1947      The first Reds game is broadcast on television by W8XCT, the station which will become known WLWT. An estimated home audience of 10,000 viewers watches their hometown heroes lose to the Pirates in the Sunday afternoon contest at Crosley Field, 11-7.

1959     With an eight-inning 12-hit effort in the Braves' 8-6 victory over Pittsburgh at Forbes Field, lefty Warren Spahn earns his 20th victory for the fourth consecutive season and for the tenth time in his career. The southpaw will compile 13 seasons with twenty or more wins during his 21-year Hall of Fame tenure in the major leagues.
1964 Jerry Lynch

1963      At Wrigley Field, Jerry Lynch leads off the top of the ninth with pinch-hit home run which proves to be the difference in the Pirates' 7-6 victory over Chicago. The historic homer is the southpaw slugger's 15th career homer coming off the bench, establishing a new major league record that was previously shared with former Cincinnati teammate, George Crowe.

1969      Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher, Jason Christiansen is born in Omaha, Nebraska.

1990      Barry Bonds becomes the first Pirates' player (and just the second major leaguer – Eric Davis was the first in 1987) in history to hit 30 or more homers and steal 50 or more bases in the same season.

1998      Jason Kendall sets a new National League record for catchers swiping his 26th base in an 8-1 loss to the Giants at Candlestick Park. The Pirates backstop surpasses the previous mark set by John Stearns playing for the Mets in 1978.


September 22

1911      At the age of 44, Cy Young gains his 511th and final career win defeating the Pirates, 1-0.


September 23

1956      With the Dodgers leading the Pirates 8-3, the largest crowd in Forbes Field's history watches the game be postponed with two outs in the ninth inning as the Sunday curfew is enforced.


1977 Omar Moreno
September 24

1957      Grounding out, Pirates left-handed first baseman Dee Fondy becomes last player ever to bat in Ebbets Field when the Dodgers blank the Bucs, 2-0 in the final major league game ever played in Brooklyn.

1977      Gene Richards of the Padres and Pirates outfielder Omar Moreno both swipe their 50th base of the season to surpass Sonny Jackson's rookie record set with the Astros 1966. The Friars' first baseman will establish a new freshman mark ending the campaign with 56 thefts, three more than the Bucs' flychaser.


September 25

1907      In a game against the Giants, Pirates' third baseman Honus Wagner swipes four bases, including second, third, and home in the second inning. Outfielder Fred Clarke also has four stolen bases for Pittsburgh.


1969 Larry Shepard
September 26

1969      Pirates skipper Larry Shepard is fired with five games to play and is replaced on an interim basis by Alex Grammas. Danny Murtaugh, the team's pilot next season, will win the National League Manager of the Year Award after his team finishes with 88 victories, just one more win than this year's squad.

1987      Padres' catcher Benito Santiago sets a major league record for rookies by hitting safely in his 28th consecutive contest, a streak the 21-year old backstop will extend to 34 games. Pirates third baseman Jimmy Williams had set the previous mark of 27 in 1899 with the Pirates.

1992      For the first time in the 30-year history of the franchise, the Mets use a position player as a pitcher. Eighth inning pinch-hitter Bill Pecota takes the mound in the bottom of the inning, and the infielder gives up only a home run to Andy Van Slyke as the Pirates pummel New York, 19-2.


September 27
1952 Bowman Ralph Kiner

1935      In his only major league game, Pirates rookie Aubrey Epps goes 3-for-4 in the Bucs' 9-6 loss at Cincinnati. The 23-year old catcher will finish his one-game major league career with the same batting average (.750) and fielding percentage when he commits two errors in eight chances.

1952      Ralph Kiner finishes the season with a league-leading 37 homers to clinch his seventh consecutive N.L. home run crown.

1992      The Pittsburgh Pirates win their 3rd straight NL East title.


2007      In addition to pitching 6.1 innings of scoreless ball, Micah Owings goes 4-for-4 with three doubles and three RBIs in the Diamondbacks' 8-0 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park. The 24-year old right-hander, who will collect the Silver Slugger award for his offensive prowess, is the first pitcher since Whitey Ford (Yankees - 1963) to have two four-hit games in one season.




Saturday, September 20, 2014

Navy Suffers a Home Loss to Rutgers

The Navy defense struggled to contain the Rutgers running game all afternoon, making just one unassisted tackle by the defensive line in the first half. The Scarlet Knights outgained the Mids on the ground 284 yards to 171 yards, yet Navy still had a chance to win the game late in fourth quarter against their Big Ten opponent.

Navy trailed the Knights 31-17 going into the fourth quarter, but the never-say-die Midshipmen left it all on the field during the final 15 minutes and nearly came away with the big win at home on a warm, sunny afternoon.

After dodging a Rutgers bullet when the Knights missed a 42-yard field goal on a drive that took over seven minuets off the clock, the Mids were poised for a comeback in front of a rowdy crowd of 33,655.

Navy's normally dominant rushing offense gave way to the arm of junior quarterback, Keenan Reynolds.  Reynolds completed four passes on six attempts, including a 14-yard TD completion to Brendan Dudek.  Nick Sloan's PAT cut the Rutgers lead to seven, 31-24,

Navy's defense came up big on the ensuing drive forcing Rutgers to punt after three running plays couldn't pick up a first down.

The Scarlet Knights' punt traveled 40 yards and went out of bounds at the Navy 26 yard line with 3:12 remaining in the game.

Keenan Reynolds
Noah Copeland started the drive with a carry of five yards followed by a Geoffrey Whiteside 11-yard carry.  Reynolds then called his own number on the next two plays gaining 11 and seven yards and moving the Navy offense to the Rutgers 47. On the next play Reynolds was sacked, but the Scarlet Knights were called for a personal foul and the ball was placed on the Rutgers 25 yard line.

The Rutgers defense again got to Reynolds and forced a second and long.  Reynolds stood tall and completed a 17-yard pass to Calvin Cass, Jr. and then picked up 10 yards on the ground giving Navy a first-and-goal on the Rutgers six yard line.

The Rutgers defensive pressure got to Reynolds on two consecutive pass plays forcing Navy into a fourth and goal from the Rutgers 19.  On their fourth down play, Navy found Jamir Tillman in the back corner of the end zone, but Tillman could not get a foot in bounds before being forced out of bounds by the Rutgers defensive secondary.
Ken Niumatalolo

Navy Head Coach, Ken Niumatalolo although disappointed, was proud of his team's effort, "I am proud of our guys for the way they fought back at the end. We had a legitimate chance to win. I'm proud of the way we battled. We have to bounce back."

The loss snaps an eight-game winning streak by the Mids at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. In the game the Mids finished with more yards passing than rushing for the first time since September 9, 2012, which was also the last time Navy lost at home.

Navy will play host to Western Kentucky next Saturday in Annapolis and Rutgers will host Tulane.

Navy and Rutgers Square Off in Annapolis

Navy and Rutgers meet for the 25th time this afternoon at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium with both teams sporting a 2-1 record. Rutgers leads the all-time series 12-11-1.

The teams first met in 1891 and the two schools have met nine times since 2000 with the Knights winning seven of those contests. Navy last won in 2008, 23-21 in Annapolis.

Navy's triple option offense is led by junior quarterback Keenan Reynolds.  Reynolds scored 31 rushing TDs in 2013, which are the most by a quarterback in NCAA history and the most by a Navy player at any position all-time.

Rutgers' offense is led by RB Paul James who has rushed for 267 yards and has scored 6 TDs this season.

Rutgers is playing their first season in the Big Ten while the Midshipmen will be participating in the American Conference beginning in 2015.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

1936 R313 National Chicle Fine Pen Premiums

1936 R313 National Chicle Fine Pen Premiums Pittsburgh Pirates

Issued in 1936 by the National Chicle Co., this set consists of 120 cards, measuring 3-1/4" x 5-3/8". The black-and-white cards are blank-backed and unnumbered. Although issued by National Chicle, the name of the company does not appear on the cards.  The set includes individual player portraits with facsimile autographs, multi-player cards, and action photos. The cards, known in the hobby as "Fine Pen" because of the thin style of writing used for the facsimile autographs, were originally available as an in-store premium.

See the 1936 R313 National Chicle Fine Pen Premiums Pittsburgh Pirates

Baseball Reference

Baseball Almanac
















Team Set Checklist

1936 R313 National Chicle Fine Pen Premiums - Pirates
Ralph Birkhofer
Cy Blanton
Waite Hoyt
Woody Jensen 
Cookie Lavagetto
Red Lucas
Tommie Padden
Bill Swift
Pie Traynor
Honus Wagner
Pep Young
Paul Waner, Lloyd Waner, and Big Jim Weaver




1936 R314 Goudey Wide Pen Premium

1936 R314 Goudey Wide Pen Premium Pittsburgh Pirates

The premium cards originally listed in the American Card Catalog as R314 are known to generations of collectors as "Wide Pens" because of the distinctive, thick style of cursive printing used for the facsimile autographs.  Current thinking is that the issue is actually comprised of several distinct types issued over the course of at least two years and sharing a basic 3-1/4" x 5-1/2" black-and-white unnumbered format. Type 1 cards have bordered photos with "LITHO IN U.S.A." in the bottom border. Type 2 cards have borders, but no "LITHO IN U.S.A." line. Some Type 2 photos also share their photos with Type 1, but have a different projection (size). Type 3 cards are borderless and some also share their photos with Type 1, but have a different projection (size).

See the 1936 R314 Goudey Wide Pen Premium Pittsburgh Pirates

Baseball Reference

Baseball Almanac
















Team Set Checklist

1936 R314 Goudey Wide Pen Premiums - PIRATES
Cy Blanton - Portrait
Bill Brubaker - Portrait
Waite Hoyt - Pitching
Woody Jensen - Batting
Harry Lavagetto - Portrait
Tommy Padden - Portrait
Gus Suhr - Fielding
Bill Swift - Portrait
Arky Vaughn - Portrait
Lloyd Waner - Portrait

Paul Waner - Portrait

This Week in Pittsburgh Pirates History - September 14-20

This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -

September 14

2011      With their 3-2 loss to St. Louis, the Pirates extend their record streak of consecutive losing seasons to 19 straight years, the longest in American professional sports history. The Bucs, who led the NL Central by a half-game on July 20, have lost 38 of 54 contests since then, leaving the team with a 67-82 won-loss record.

36 Goudey Paul Waner
36 Goudey Lloyd Waner

September 15

1938      For the fifth time in a major league game, brothers homer in the same contest when Pirates teammates Lloyd and Paul Waner both go deep in the fifth inning of the Bucs' 7-2 victory over New York at the Polo Grounds. Although 'Big and Little Poison' have completed the deed twice before, they are the first siblings in history to hit the home runs in consecutive at-bats, a feat which will not be duplicated again until the Upton Brothers go back-to-back for the Braves in 2013.

1952      The Pirates become the first team to wear helmets in which the temples are protected. The headgear is worn both at the plate and in the field.

1978 Phil Garner
1978      Phil Garner’s first-inning grand slam - his second slam in as many games - led the Pirates to their seventeenth consecutive home victory, a 6-1 win over the Expos.

1998      Ending a six-game drought without a homer, Mark McGwire, pinch-hitting in the ninth inning, hits his 63rd homer. The solo shot off Jason Christiansen in the Cardinals' 8-6 loss to the Pirates allows 'Big Mac' to regain the home-run lead over Sammy Sosa.


September 16

1938      Johnny Rizzo becomes the first Pirates player in franchise history to hit 20 home runs in a season. The 25-year old rookie outfielder from Texas, who becomes hurt next season never playing regularly for the Bucs again, finishes the campaign batting .301 with 23 round-trippers and 111 RBIs.
1976 Rennie Stennett

1975      Rennie Stennett ties a major league mark established in 1892 with his 7-for-7 performance in a nine-inning game. The Pirates' second baseman gets two hits in one inning twice, the first and fifth frames, in the Bucs' 22-0 rout of the Cubs at Wrigley Field, the most one-sided shutout since 1900.


September 17

1912      Casey Stengel of the Dodgers makes an impressive major league debut against the Pirates. The likable Brooklyn outfielder from Kansas City collects four hits, drives in two runs and swipes a pair of stolen bases.


September 18

1987     In a slugfest which the Mets will lose 10-9 to Pittsburgh, Darryl Strawberry gets the team off to a good start when he slams a three-run home run off Brian Fischer in the top of the first inning at Three Rivers Stadium. The New York right fielder's round-tripper, his 37th of the season, establishes a new franchise record for homers previously set by Dave Kingman in 1975.

1992      Barry Bonds connects his 30th home run of the season off Terry Mulholland. The home run gives the Pirates outfielder his second 30/30 season, a feat only equaled by Bobby Bonds (his father), Willie Mays (his godfather), Howard Johnson, and Ron Gant.

1949 Bowman Ralph Kiner

September 19

1949      In a 6-4 loss to the Giants at Forbes Field‚ Pirates slugger Ralph Kiner hits his 50th home run off Kirby Higbe. Having hit 54 homers in his sophomore season of 1947, the 26-year old all-star outfielder becomes the first National League player to accomplish the feat in two different seasons. Higbe started the season with the Pirates, but was traded to the Giants on June 6.

1987      Ralph Kiner’s uniform jersey #4 is officially retired by the Pirates.


September 20

1907      At Exposition Park in Pittsburgh, Nick Maddox no-hits the Dodgers, 2-1. At the age of 20
1911 T205 Nick Maddox
years and ten months, the Pirates hurler becomes the youngest pitcher and the second rookie to throw a no-hitter.  Maddox also becomes the first Pirates pitcher to throw a no-hitter.

1955     Willie Mays becomes the seventh player to hit fifty home runs in a season when he connects off Pittsburgh's Vern Law for the second time in the Giants' 14-8 victory at the Polo Grounds. The round-tripper is the 24-year old center fielder's seventh in six consecutive games.
                    
1969      Giving the Pirates their third win in two days against the eventual world champs, Bob Moose no-hits the first-place Mets at Shea Stadium, 4-0. The 21-year old Pirates right-hander will compile a 14-3 record with a 2.91 ERA for the third-place Bucs this season.

1973      At Shea Stadium, Dave Augustine of the Pirates appears to hit a potential game-ending home run in the 13th inning but the ball hits the top of the fence and Met outfielder Cleon Jones catches it and throws out Richie Zisk at home plate. The Mets will go on to win the game, and the minor league veteran outfielder will never homer in the majors.

1973     Prior to the 4-3 Mets victory over Pittsburgh, Willie Mays announces his retirement at a press conference held at the ballpark's Diamond Club. Five days later, the club will honor the aging superstar with a night at Shea Stadium.

1992      Phillies' second baseman Mickey Morandini catches Jeff King's line drive, steps on second doubling up Andy Van Slyke and tags Barry Bonds to complete an unassisted triple play in a 3-2 loss to the Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium.




Sunday, September 07, 2014

This Week in Pittsburgh Pirates History - September 7-13

This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -

September 7

1962      With four steals in a 10-1 loss to the Pirates, Dodger Maury Wills breaks the modern National League record for stolen bases in a season with his 82nd swipe. Cincinnati's Bob Bescher established the mark in 1911 playing left field with Cincinnati.

2008      The Pirates lose their 82nd game, an 11-6 defeat to the Giants at AT&T Park, ensuring the club will endure their 16th consecutive losing season. The streak equals the mark established by the 1933-1948 Philadelphia Phillies for the longest skid in the history of professional sports.


2009      Thanks to their loss to Chicago, the Pirates become the first franchise in baseball history to post a losing record for 17 consecutive seasons. The dubious streak, which dates back to 1993, surpasses the skid the Phillies endured from 1933 to 1948.

September 8

1905      Pittsburgh Pirates strand a NL record 18 men on base and lose to Reds, 8-3

1940      Johnny Mize hits homers #'s 38, 39 and 40 in the first game of a doubleheader becoming the first player to hit three homers in one game four times in his career. Despite the 'Big Cat's' heroics, the Cardinals drop a pair to the Pirates, 16-14 and 9-4.

1972      Pirates manager Bill Virdon posts his 100th different line-up in the 131st game of the season. The starting nine for the eventual NL Eastern Division winners beats the Expos in the second game of a doubleheader at Jarry Park in 12 inninngs, to complete the sweep of the twin bill, 4-2.

2008      On the first pitch he sees as a major leaguer, Mark Saccomanno hits a home run that contributes to the Astos’ 3-2 victory over the Pirates at Minute Maid Park. The Houston pinch-hitter becomes the fourth player in franchise history to homer in his initial big league at-bat.

September 9

1899     Waite Hoyt, Hall of Fame pitcher for the Pirates from 1933 until 1937, was born. 

September 10

1959 Dick Stuart Rookie Card
1958      Rookie Dick Stuart’s two-run, tenth-inning, walkoff home run gave the Pirates a milestone-laden 6-4 victory over the Giants at Forbes Field. Stuart’s blast allowed the Bucs to reach two noteworthy milestones. In raising their record to 78-64, the Pirates clinched their first winning season since 1948. The win also gave Bob Friend his twentieth victory of the season. Friend’s 20-13 mark made him the first Bucco pitcher to win twenty games in a season since Murry Dickson went 20-16 in 1951.

September 11

1959      The Dodgers end Elroy Face's consecutive win streak at 22 with a 5-4 victory over the Pirates. The reliever, who will end the season with an 18-1 record, is beaten by Chuck Churn, the winner of only three major league career victories.

September 12

1947      Pirates' outfielder Ralph Kiner hits a record eight home runs in four games. Tony Lazzeri
1948 Bowman Ralph Kiner
had hit seven round-trippers in four games in 1936.

1969      The Mets sweep the Pirates in a twin bill when Jerry Koosman and Don Cardwell both go the distance in 1-0 victories. Both starters drive in the only run scored in each game.

1974      Mike Schmidt hits an eighth inning three-run bomb, his 36th home run and final one this season, off Jerry Reuss in Philadelpia's 6-4 comeback victory over the Pirates at Veterans Stadium. The 24-year old third baseman becomes the first Phillies player to lead the league in home runs since Chuck Klein hit 28 round-tripper in 1933.

1984      Striking out Marvell Wynne in the sixth inning, Dwight Gooden breaks the season strikeout record for a rookie. By whiffing 16 Pirates, Doc's total of 251 is six more than Herb Score's 1955 mark.

September 13

1950      Giants' pitcher Sal Maglie's consecutive scoreless inning streak ends at 45 when Pirates' outfielder Gus Bell hits a 257-foot pop fly which just clears the wall at the Polo Grounds.

1968      Denny Neagle, pitcher for the Pirates from 1992-96. was born.

2013      The Pirates hit back-to-back-to-back home runs to erase a 3-0 deficit against Cubs starter Jake Arrieta.  After Andrew McCutchen and Justin Morneau made two quick outs to start off the bottom of the fourth, Pedro Alvarez hit an inside-the-park home run to right-center.  Russell Martin then hit a solo shot out to left, and Garrett Jones followed with a homer to center, tying the game at 3-3.



Monday, September 01, 2014

1927 W560

1927 W560 Pittsburgh Pirates

Unlike many of its contemporaries, the 1927 W560 Baseball set, as designated by the American Card Catalog, is not a strip card set, though many exist on uncut sheets of 16 cards each. The set consists of 64 cards measuring 1-3/4” by 2-3/4” and appear in the form of a deck of cards presenting 49 baseball players images amidst a centered suit like hearts, clubs, diamonds or spades. Each card displays the face value, i.e. Ace, King, Queen, Ten, etc., and are printed in the color of the specific suit, black or red. The 64-card blank-backed set is unnumbered, other than the playing card numbers, and includes aviators and other athletes, but focuses specifically on baseball. 

See the 1927 W560 Pittsburgh Pirates

Baseball Reference

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Team Set Checklist

1927 W560 - PIRATES
Club-9 Remy Kremer  
Diamond-3 Paul Waner  
Diamond-Queen Lloyd Waner  
Spade-Ace Glen Wright