Today's birthdays

[ArnoldRothstein]

Dan Runzler (1985): threw four innings for the 2017 team; I have no memory of him;

Mike Johnston (1979): 0-3, 5.70 in 23 innings in 2004-05;

Ripper Collins (1904): Altoona native, good NL first baseman in the 1930s; joined Pittsburgh briefly in 1941 and batted .210; was player-manager for the Pirates' Albany farm club during the war years;

Hal Rhyne (1899): batted .258 as a utility infielder for the good 1926-27 teams;

Ed Sicking (1897): another infielder, went 1 for 7 for the 1927 team and was released in May;

Dutch Meier (1879): played for Princeton; backup outfielder hit .256 for the good 1906 team, his only major league season; seems to have been banished from Organized Baseball for playing with "Outlaw" teams around Chicago; coached at Princeton 1908-10.

George van Haltren (1866): outfielder, one of the best 19th century players; acquired by trade from Baltimore for 20-year old Joe Kelley, who went on to the Hall of Fame; batted .325 for the 1892-93 teams, and was sold to the Giants, with whom he played ten years;

Tom Burns (1857): good infielder with the Cubs 1880-91; joined the Pirates in 1892 and batted .205 in 12 games.



Best player born on March 30: George van Haltren

[Surgnbuck]

Love this thread, thanks for the research!

[ArnoldRothstein]

60534F4E4D45734E5549525544484F210 wrote: Critchley is second on the Pirates' all-time list for most innings pitched without allowing a run.


He was also second on the all time major league list. Tim Jones came to the majors with the Pirates in 1977, pitched ten innings in September/October without yielding a run, and never pitched in the majors again.

[2drfischer@gmail.c]

I thought I knew Pirates history but this thread is proving I don't know anything, or at least don't remember so many of the players mentioned.  It's especially embarrassing not recalling guys who've played during my lifetime, particularly during my adult years.

[ArnoldRothstein]

March 31:



Carson Bigbee (1895): outfielder 1916-26, backup for the 1925 World Champions; batted .287 lifetime;

Tom Sheehan (1894): reliever for the 1925-26 teams, going 1-3, 4.08;

Chick Brandom (1887): threw 57 innings as a reliever for the 1908-09 teams, going 2-0, 0.94; didn't pitch in the majors again, aside from a stint in the Federal League in 1915.

Fred Kommers (1886): backup outfielder for the 1913 team, batting .232.



Best player born on March 31: Jack Stivetts

[ArnoldRothstein]

John Axford (1983): claimed off waivers from Cleveland in 2014; 0-1, 4.09 in 11 innings;

Masumi Kuwata (1968): former pitcher of the year in Japan who signed to play for the Pirates in 2007; he was almost 40, and had nothing left, 0-1, 9.43;

Willie Montanez (1948): 14-year major league career; pinch hitter for the Pirates in 1981-82, batting .271 in 70 at-bats;

Jake Theis (1926): 3-10, 3.90 for the 1954-55:teams;

Fred Mann (1858): outfielder batted .252 for the 1885-86 American Association teams.



Matt Herges (1970): never played for the Pirates; was acquired in December, 2002 for Chris Young and a second prospect, but Herges was released at the end of spring training. Young went 79-67 in a 13 year career.



Best player born on April 1: Phil Niekro



I was going to do an April Fool's Day prank, but the Herges deal is cruel enough on it's own.

[2drfischer@gmail.c]

794A5657545C6A574C504B4C5D5156380 wrote: John Axford (1983): claimed off waivers from Cleveland in 2014; 0-1, 4.09 in 11 innings;

Masumi Kuwata (1968): former pitcher of the year in Japan who signed to play for the Pirates in 2007; he was almost 40, and had nothing left, 0-1, 9.43;

Willie Montanez (1948): 14-year major league career; pinch hitter for the Pirates in 1981-82, batting .271 in 70 at-bats;

Jake Theis (1926): 3-10, 3.90 for the 1954-55:teams;

Fred Mann (1858): outfielder batted .252 for the 1885-86 American Association teams.



Matt Herges (1970): never played for the Pirates; was acquired in December, 2002 for Chris Young and a second prospect, but Herges was released at the end of spring training. Young went 79-67 in a 13 year career.



Best player born on April 1: Phil Niekro



I was going to do an April Fool's Day prank, but the Herges deal is cruel enough on it's own.


I'd forgotten about Kuwata. That was a bit of a leap. And how we all hated Montanez when he played for the Phillies.

[ArnoldRothstein]

I've always remembered Ramon Hernandez throwing Montanez huge, slow curves that the catcher often had to short hop in opposite batter's box. Montanez batted .050 against him, with eight strikeouts in 20 at-bats.

[ArnoldRothstein]

April 2:



Hisanori Takahashi (1975): 2012, LHP, 8.1 IP, 0-0, 8.64



https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... hi01.shtml



Jon Lieber (1970): 1994-98, RHP, 682.2 IP, 38-47, 4.36



https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... jo01.shtml



Best player born on April 2: Luke Appling

[2drfischer@gmail.c]

04372B2A2921172A312D3631202C2B450 wrote: April 2:



Hisanori Takahashi (1975): 2012, LHP, 8.1 IP, 0-0, 8.64



https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... hi01.shtml



Jon Lieber (1970): 1994-98, RHP,  682.2 IP,  38-47, 4.36



https://www.baseball-reference.com/play ... jo01.shtml



Best player born on April 2: Luke Appling


I read a funny story about Luke Appling. There were two older ladies who were great fans of his and, one day before a game, they asked him for two autographed baseballs. I guess back then, players had to get permission for such a request. So Appling asked the WhiteSox club Secretary for the balls. The guy refused, saying that, at $2.75, baseball's were too expensive to just hand out to fans. So during Appling's first at bat that afternoon, he intentionally fouled off 10 pitches into the stands. He then walked back to the Secretary and said something like, "That's $27. Shall I keep going or can I have those two baseballs now?" The guy swallowed hard and promised to give him the balls.