| This Day in Pirate History - 2/5 |
By 81omar_moreno
On this date in Pirates History in 1992, the Bucs named Ted Simmons as their new GM replacing Larry Doughty. During his playing days he was a great hitting catcher, recording 2472 hits in 2456 games, with 1389 RBI's and a .285 average. One of his biggest deals while the Bucs GM was the trade of John Smiley to the Twins for Denny Neagle and Midre Cummings. He also traded for Kirk Gibson, Alex Cole, Steve Buechele, but the Pirates also lost Barry Bonds, Jose Lind and Doug Drabek while he was in charge. Jason Kendall was also drafted while Simmons was GM. The Pirates would win their 3rd straight pennant while under Simmons in 1992. He would resign on June 19, 1993 just days after suffering a heart attack and be replaced by the ever popular Cam Bonifay.
Former Bucs players born on this date include Don Hoak, who played for the Pirates from 1959-1962. Born in 1928, he joined the Bucs from the Reds on January 20, 1959 along with Smoky Burgess and Harvey Haddix in exchange for Frank Thomas, Jim Pendelton, Whammy Douglass and John Powers. Hoak became the everyday third baseman for the Bucs in 1959, and played all, but a few innings there on the season. He batted .294 with 65 RBI's and 60 runs scored.
During the 1960 season Hoak again played every game and he had his best season finishing 2nd in the NL in MVP voting to Dick Groat. He hit .282, scored 97 runs while driving in 79 and helped the Pirates to their 3rd World Series title. During the 7 game series he hit just .217, but scored 3 runs and drove in 3 others. In 1961 Hoak hit a career high .298 and along with 73 walks (5th most in the NL) Hoak finished 7th in the NL in on base % with a career high .388
The next season Don's numbers would slip and it would be his last season with the Bucs. He would be replaced by 19 year old Bob Bailey, who would be the regular 3B thru the 1966 season. Hoak finished his 11 year career in 1964 with a .265 average in 1263 games. He coached for the Pirates after his playing days, but tragically died a few years later in 1969 of a heart attack while chasing a car stolen from one of his relatives.
Javier Martinez born in 1977 played one full season for the Bucs in 1998, also his only season in the majors. In 37 relief appearances the righty had an 0-1 4.83 recordin 40+ innings pitched. He was a rule 5 draft pick from the Cubs that year, but he was originally taken by the A's who in turn sold him to the Bucs. Javier wore #36 while with the Pirates.
Finally, Jack Maguire, born in 1925, played briefly for the Pirates in 1951 in between stops with the Giants and Browns that year. He was a outfielder / pinch hitter his first season, but played sparingly with the Giants, getting into just 29 games with 40 at-bats. The next year he got into 16 games with New York and hit .400 before coming over to the Bucs. He lasted just 8 games, and batted just 5 times with no hits and a walk. He finished the season and his career with the Browns playing 41 games and hitting .244. He wore #12 while with the Pirates, but as a member of the Giants he was the last person not named Willie Mays to wear #24 as Mays took the number after Maguire was traded.
On this date in Pirates History in 1992, the Bucs named Ted Simmons as their new GM replacing Larry Doughty. During his playing days he was a great hitting catcher, recording 2472 hits in 2456 games, with 1389 RBI's and a .285 average. One of his biggest deals while the Bucs GM was the trade of John Smiley to the Twins for Denny Neagle and Midre Cummings. He also traded for Kirk Gibson, Alex Cole, Steve Buechele, but the Pirates also lost Barry Bonds, Jose Lind and Doug Drabek while he was in charge. Jason Kendall was also drafted while Simmons was GM. The Pirates would win their 3rd straight pennant while under Simmons in 1992. He would resign on June 19, 1993 just days after suffering a heart attack and be replaced by the ever popular Cam Bonifay.
Former Bucs players born on this date include Don Hoak, who played for the Pirates from 1959-1962. Born in 1928, he joined the Bucs from the Reds on January 20, 1959 along with Smoky Burgess and Harvey Haddix in exchange for Frank Thomas, Jim Pendelton, Whammy Douglass and John Powers. Hoak became the everyday third baseman for the Bucs in 1959, and played all, but a few innings there on the season. He batted .294 with 65 RBI's and 60 runs scored.
During the 1960 season Hoak again played every game and he had his best season finishing 2nd in the NL in MVP voting to Dick Groat. He hit .282, scored 97 runs while driving in 79 and helped the Pirates to their 3rd World Series title. During the 7 game series he hit just .217, but scored 3 runs and drove in 3 others. In 1961 Hoak hit a career high .298 and along with 73 walks (5th most in the NL) Hoak finished 7th in the NL in on base % with a career high .388
The next season Don's numbers would slip and it would be his last season with the Bucs. He would be replaced by 19 year old Bob Bailey, who would be the regular 3B thru the 1966 season. Hoak finished his 11 year career in 1964 with a .265 average in 1263 games. He coached for the Pirates after his playing days, but tragically died a few years later in 1969 of a heart attack while chasing a car stolen from one of his relatives.
Javier Martinez born in 1977 played one full season for the Bucs in 1998, also his only season in the majors. In 37 relief appearances the righty had an 0-1 4.83 recordin 40+ innings pitched. He was a rule 5 draft pick from the Cubs that year, but he was originally taken by the A's who in turn sold him to the Bucs. Javier wore #36 while with the Pirates.
Finally, Jack Maguire, born in 1925, played briefly for the Pirates in 1951 in between stops with the Giants and Browns that year. He was a outfielder / pinch hitter his first season, but played sparingly with the Giants, getting into just 29 games with 40 at-bats. The next year he got into 16 games with New York and hit .400 before coming over to the Bucs. He lasted just 8 games, and batted just 5 times with no hits and a walk. He finished the season and his career with the Browns playing 41 games and hitting .244. He wore #12 while with the Pirates, but as a member of the Giants he was the last person not named Willie Mays to wear #24 as Mays took the number after Maguire was traded.