This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -
 |
| 1968 Roy Face |
August 31
1968 Elroy Face
ties Senators' legend Walter Johnson's major league mark for appearances with
one team when he enters a game for the 802nd time for the Pirates, replacing
Steve Blass, who remains in the contest in left field. After the reliever
retires one batter to equal the record, Blass returns to the mound, and an
announcement will be made before the final out is recorded in Pittsburgh's 8-0
victory over Atlanta that the Bucs' right-handed veteran has been sold to the
Tigers.
2008 In his his complete game effort against the Pirates, C.C. Sabathia gives up only a questionable infield hit to Andy LaRoche in the fifth inning of the Brewers' 7-0 victory at PNC Park. The club plans to forward a DVD of the play to Major League Baseball hoping somehow official scorer Bob Webb, the only person allowed to reverse his own call according to the rule book, can be convinced to change the scoring of the grounder to the mound to an error. The call was not overturned.
2011 In a
stretch-run trade with Pittsburgh, the Braves acquired Matt Diaz for a player
to be named and cash considerations. The 33-year old outfielder, who played
with Atlanta for five years, left the organization after the 2010 season when
he inked a two-year, $4.25 million free-agent deal with the Pirates.
September 1
1890 On Labor Day
at Brooklyn's Washington Park, the Bridegrooms, later to be known as the
Dodgers, win all three games against Pittsburgh in the first tripleheader ever
played. The home team sweeps the visiting Alleghenys, who will be renamed the
Pirates next season, 10-9, 3-2, and 8-4.
1971 The Pirates
field what is believed to be baseball's first all-minority lineup in a 10-7 win
over
 |
| 1971 Doc Ellis |
the Phillies at Three Rivers. The
lineup includes infielders Al Oliver (1b), Rennie Stennett (2b), Jackie
Hernandez (ss) Dave Cash (3b) and outfielders Willie Stargell (lf), Gene Clines
(cf), Roberto Clemente (rf) with Dock Ellis (p) and Manny Sanguillen (c) making
up the battery.
1975 When he
whiffs Pirate Manny Sanguillen in the seventh inning of the Mets' 3-0 victory,
Tom Seaver becomes the first pitcher to strike out at least 200 batters in
eight consecutive seasons. The victory is also 'Tom Terrific's' 20th of the
season making it the fourth time in his career he has reached that plateau.
September 2
1972 With his
2,971st hit in a Pirates uniform, Roberto Clemente breaks Honus Wagner's record
for the most hits in the history of the franchise. The historic blow is a
three-run homer off Giant hurler Sam McDowell in the bottom of the fourth
inning in an eventual 6-3 victory for the Bucs at Three Rivers Stadium.
2006 The Pirates
extend their franchise record consecutive losing season streak to 14 as the
club drops their 82nd game of the season to Chris Carpenter and the Cardinals,
3-1. The 1933-1948 Phillies own the big league record finishing with a losing
record for 16 straight seasons. The losing streak would continue till 2013 when the Bucs finished 94-68.
September 3
1894 Taking over
for the fired manager Ned Hanlon, Connie Mack leads the Pirates to a 22-1 rout
of his former team, the Washington Senators.
 |
| 1931 Paul Waner |
2006 In the opener
of a doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia's Ryan Howard belts three
home runs bringing the first baseman's total to 52. The sophomore slugger, the
24th major leaguer to reach the milestone, becomes the first Phillies player to
hit 50 home runs and passes Ralph Kiner, who hit 51 for the Pirates in 1947,
for the most homers hit by a second-year player in big league history.
September 4
1927 Pirate
teammates Lloyd and Paul Waner become the first pair of brothers to both homer
in the same game when they go deep in the team's 8-4 victory over Cincinnati at
Redland Field. The siblings, who will also accomplish the feat in 1929 and
1938, each hit a bounce round-tripper.
1978 In his first
major league at-bat, Dorian Boyland strikes out sitting on the bench. The
Pirate rookie is removed with a 1-2 count when the Mets make a pitching change
and pinch hitter Rennie Stennett takes the third strike.
 |
| Bill Mazeroski |
September 5
1960 At the age of
41, Diomedes Olivo makes his major league debut, pitching in relief for the
Pirates. The oldest rookie in National League history hurls two scoreless
innings against Milwaukee at Forbes Field.
2009 In the
seventh inning of the Pirates' 2-1 loss to St. Louis at PNC Park, Ross
Ohlendorf strikes out the side on nine pitches becoming only the 41st pitcher
in major league history to accomplish the feat. The 27-year old right-hander's
victims during his immaculate inning include Redbirds Kevin Greene, Julio Logo,
and Jason LaRue, all who are retired at first base after swinging at pitches in
the dirt.
2010 Bill
Mazeroski looks on as four of his Pirates teammates unveil a 14-foot,
2,000-pound statue commemorating his walk-off home run in Game 7 of the 1960
World Series. The work includes an actual section of the left-center field wall
which the second baseman homered over at the 406 mark off Yankee hurler Ralph
Terry in the Pirates’ 10-9 victory.
September 6
 |
| 1982 Willie Stargell |
1968 Jerry Koosman sets a new
franchise mark for victories getting his 17th win of the season when the Mets
beat Pittsburgh, 4-1. The rookie southpaw breaks the team record established
last year by Tom Seaver.
1982 Willie
Stargell’s uniform jersey #8 is officially retired by the Pirates.
2005 At an
afternoon press conference at PNC Park, Pirates General Manager Dave
Littlefield announces manager Lloyd McClendon has been dismissed. The former
skipper, who compiled a 336-446 record during his 3+ year tenure in the Bucs
dugout, will be replaced by bench coach Pete Mackanin on an interim basis for
the remainder of the season.
