OnlyBucs

I've got a bunch of them, too.



Tuesday, June 23, 1970. The Bucs last week at Forbes Field.



Pirates 7 Cardinals 2



Dad took me to the game. We sat in the field boxes on the 1st base side. Dad knew Bob Robertson and went down to the railing during pregame. He told Dad to meet him after the game, which we did, at a special exit.



To beat the crowd, Robertson, along with Clemente and Stargell, came out of a laundry entrance on the 3rd base side. Bobby had a good night. Two doubles and a triple.



I was 11. That was a great way to say goodbye to Forbes.



Another memory from that night: During infield, a guy near our box was ribbing Julian Javier, the Cardinals 2B. "Hey, Julian Javier! If you have a son, are you gonna call him Hoo-lian, Hav-ier, Hoon-ior!" Javier broke up. Players on both teams were laughing. Back then, it was a play on words. Today, the guy probably would be tossed for yelling some sort of slur.

Quite a few of mine are road games. Tw game sweep in Minnesota in 2015. Kang homered in both games.



A game in Colorado with a McCutchen leadoff homer...I actually threw out the first pitch of the game.



Another game in Colorado where Cutch hit three dingers.



2013 I went to the five game series against St. Louis. Bucs took the first four games, including a DH sweep. They were leading the division after that.



My most memorable game was in 2006 against the Astros. Game went 18 innings, Bucs walked off on a Jason Bay sac fly, scoring Jose Bautista, who had advanced to third on a WP on an intentional walk. Jose Castillo got a homer in the bottom of the 17th to tie and push it to the 18th.



Nothing will beat being in PNC for a playoff game though. Hopefully someday...

I have went to so many good games throughout the years if I had to pick a few here are some that come to mind. 



The game in September in 2014 where Russel Martin hit a homerun against the Brewers in the bottom of the 8th that gave the Bucs a 3-2 lead and all but sealed a playoff berth for them with that win.



Another game was game 4 of the NLDS where Wacha nearly no hit the Pirates and Pedro broke it up in the 8th with a homer and of course the Pirates lost the game and went on to lose the series but the energy in the stadium that day was just electric especially when Cutch came to the plate in the 9th with 2 men on and popped out and just missed a pitch from Rosenthal.



Two more games that come to mind that are just random games in a game in 2002 in July where Adam Hyzdu hit 3 homeruns I believe against the Cards and the Pirates won something like 17-5 if anyone remembers that, and another one is a game in 2001 in May where the Pirates fell behind 7-0 to the Brewers on a Sunday afternoon and came back and won 8-7. I could probably name a ton more but those ones stick out the most now for some reason.

183538292E3F28686B5A0 wrote: My most memorable is my first. June 17, 1962 at Forbes Field, the Pirates beat the Braves 7-3. Bob Skinner had 4 hits, Clemente had 2 hits. Reserve catcher Cal Neeman had the only Pirate HR. Harvey Haddix pitched a CG. Warren Spahn took the loss. There were 3 triples in the game: Skinner, Hank Aaron and the Braves' Frank Bolling. Bob Uecker PH for Spahn and struck out. 



Another memorable game was at PNC 8/23/01 vs AZ. Randy Johnson was dominating thru 6 innings with 13 Ks. But Tony McKnight threw 7 scoreless innings and Kevin Young broke a 0-0 tie in the 7th with a 2-run HR after Johnson had opened the 7th with 2 more Ks (#14 & 15) and walked Kendall. The inning continued with singles by Craig Wilson and Mendy Lopez and a 2-run 2B by Keith Osik before Johnson got his 16th K. Giles homered in the 8th and the Bucs won 5-1.  Johnson entered the game at 17-5 but picked up his 6th loss. It would be his last loss of the season as he wound up 21-6 and won the Cy Young. I remember this game quite well Bobster and specifically remember Tony McKnight because he pretty much vanished after the 2001 season after being traded over from the Astros. I remember he pitched against the Pirates in that 2nd game of the doubleheader where Giles hit the granny off Wagner and then was traded here shortly after that. Does anybody know what happened to McKnight because like I said he seemed to just vanish and was never heard from or talked about at all.

77504145405D62564140405D240 wrote: My most memorable is my first. June 17, 1962 at Forbes Field, the Pirates beat the Braves 7-3. Bob Skinner had 4 hits, Clemente had 2 hits. Reserve catcher Cal Neeman had the only Pirate HR. Harvey Haddix pitched a CG. Warren Spahn took the loss. There were 3 triples in the game: Skinner, Hank Aaron and the Braves' Frank Bolling. Bob Uecker PH for Spahn and struck out. 



Another memorable game was at PNC 8/23/01 vs AZ. Randy Johnson was dominating thru 6 innings with 13 Ks. But Tony McKnight threw 7 scoreless innings and Kevin Young broke a 0-0 tie in the 7th with a 2-run HR after Johnson had opened the 7th with 2 more Ks (#14 & 15) and walked Kendall. The inning continued with singles by Craig Wilson and Mendy Lopez and a 2-run 2B by Keith Osik before Johnson got his 16th K. Giles homered in the 8th and the Bucs won 5-1.  Johnson entered the game at 17-5 but picked up his 6th loss. It would be his last loss of the season as he wound up 21-6 and won the Cy Young. I remember this game quite well Bobster and specifically remember Tony McKnight because he pretty much vanished after the 2001 season after being traded over from the Astros. I remember he pitched against the Pirates in that 2nd game of the doubleheader where Giles hit the granny off Wagner and then was traded here shortly after that. Does anybody know what happened to McKnight because like I said he seemed to just vanish and was never heard from or talked about at all.


McKnight was a Littlefield acquisition. He had been a serviceable pitcher for the Astros in 2000 and his best game was a CG 10-1 win over the Pirates in Sept that year. That must have impressed DL enough to acquire him on 7/31/01 after he had spent most of the season with the Astros' AAA team with an unimpressive 4.76 ERA. He immediately went into the Pirates rotation and had a couple good games followed by a couple bad games and then the game I referenced, which was his best as a Pirate. He made 7 more starts after that game but only 1 of them did not resemble throwing BP. Ended the season with a 5.19 ERA and 88 hits in 69 innings as a Pirate. He was back in AAA the following year with a 5.24 ERA and was released after the 2002 season. Dodgers took a flyer on him and he pitched briefly for their AAA team in 2003 but never saw MLB again. Don't know if he got hurt or just washed out from being ineffective.

133E33222534236360510 wrote: My most memorable is my first. June 17, 1962 at Forbes Field, the Pirates beat the Braves 7-3. Bob Skinner had 4 hits, Clemente had 2 hits. Reserve catcher Cal Neeman had the only Pirate HR. Harvey Haddix pitched a CG. Warren Spahn took the loss. There were 3 triples in the game: Skinner, Hank Aaron and the Braves' Frank Bolling. Bob Uecker PH for Spahn and struck out. 



Another memorable game was at PNC 8/23/01 vs AZ. Randy Johnson was dominating thru 6 innings with 13 Ks. But Tony McKnight threw 7 scoreless innings and Kevin Young broke a 0-0 tie in the 7th with a 2-run HR after Johnson had opened the 7th with 2 more Ks (#14 & 15) and walked Kendall. The inning continued with singles by Craig Wilson and Mendy Lopez and a 2-run 2B by Keith Osik before Johnson got his 16th K. Giles homered in the 8th and the Bucs won 5-1.  Johnson entered the game at 17-5 but picked up his 6th loss. It would be his last loss of the season as he wound up 21-6 and won the Cy Young. I remember this game quite well Bobster and specifically remember Tony McKnight because he pretty much vanished after the 2001 season after being traded over from the Astros. I remember he pitched against the Pirates in that 2nd game of the doubleheader where Giles hit the granny off Wagner and then was traded here shortly after that. Does anybody know what happened to McKnight because like I said he seemed to just vanish and was never heard from or talked about at all.


McKnight was a Littlefield acquisition. He had been a serviceable pitcher for the Astros in 2000 and his best game was a CG 10-1 win over the Pirates in Sept that year. That must have impressed DL enough to acquire him on 7/31/01 after he had spent most of the season with the Astros' AAA team with an unimpressive 4.76 ERA. He immediately went into the Pirates rotation and had a couple good games followed by a couple bad games and then the game I referenced, which was his best as a Pirate. He made 7 more starts after that game but only 1 of them did not resemble throwing BP.  Ended the season with a 5.19 ERA and 88 hits in 69 innings as a Pirate. He was back in AAA the following year with a 5.24 ERA and was released after the 2002 season. Dodgers took a flyer on him and he pitched briefly for their AAA team in 2003 but never saw MLB again. Don't know if he got hurt or just washed out from being ineffective.   



Okay thanks for clearing that up I always wondered what happened to him. Speaking of that 2001 team with Lloyd McClendon and Bonifay getting fired in mid June what a miserable season that was the first year at PNC Park. Nothing like remembering guys like Pat Meares and Enrique Wilson to bring back great memories. Almost as bad as the 2004 season I believe it was where McClendon said he did over 1,000 simulations that determined that Tike Redman was the best player suitable in the Pirates lineup to hit 3rd in the order.

54736266637E41756263637E070 wrote: My most memorable is my first. June 17, 1962 at Forbes Field, the Pirates beat the Braves 7-3. Bob Skinner had 4 hits, Clemente had 2 hits. Reserve catcher Cal Neeman had the only Pirate HR. Harvey Haddix pitched a CG. Warren Spahn took the loss. There were 3 triples in the game: Skinner, Hank Aaron and the Braves' Frank Bolling. Bob Uecker PH for Spahn and struck out. 



Another memorable game was at PNC 8/23/01 vs AZ. Randy Johnson was dominating thru 6 innings with 13 Ks. But Tony McKnight threw 7 scoreless innings and Kevin Young broke a 0-0 tie in the 7th with a 2-run HR after Johnson had opened the 7th with 2 more Ks (#14 & 15) and walked Kendall. The inning continued with singles by Craig Wilson and Mendy Lopez and a 2-run 2B by Keith Osik before Johnson got his 16th K. Giles homered in the 8th and the Bucs won 5-1.  Johnson entered the game at 17-5 but picked up his 6th loss. It would be his last loss of the season as he wound up 21-6 and won the Cy Young. I remember this game quite well Bobster and specifically remember Tony McKnight because he pretty much vanished after the 2001 season after being traded over from the Astros. I remember he pitched against the Pirates in that 2nd game of the doubleheader where Giles hit the granny off Wagner and then was traded here shortly after that. Does anybody know what happened to McKnight because like I said he seemed to just vanish and was never heard from or talked about at all.


McKnight was a Littlefield acquisition. He had been a serviceable pitcher for the Astros in 2000 and his best game was a CG 10-1 win over the Pirates in Sept that year. That must have impressed DL enough to acquire him on 7/31/01 after he had spent most of the season with the Astros' AAA team with an unimpressive 4.76 ERA. He immediately went into the Pirates rotation and had a couple good games followed by a couple bad games and then the game I referenced, which was his best as a Pirate. He made 7 more starts after that game but only 1 of them did not resemble throwing BP.  Ended the season with a 5.19 ERA and 88 hits in 69 innings as a Pirate. He was back in AAA the following year with a 5.24 ERA and was released after the 2002 season. Dodgers took a flyer on him and he pitched briefly for their AAA team in 2003 but never saw MLB again. Don't know if he got hurt or just washed out from being ineffective.   



Okay thanks for clearing that up I always wondered what happened to him. Speaking of that 2001 team with Lloyd McClendon and Bonifay getting fired in mid June what a miserable season that was the first year at PNC Park. Nothing like remembering guys like Pat Meares and Enrique Wilson to bring back great memories. Almost as bad as the 2004 season I believe it was where McClendon said he did over 1,000 simulations that determined that Tike Redman was the best player suitable in the Pirates lineup to hit 3rd in the order.


Remember McClendon having a champagne party in the clubhouse in Sept 2002 to celebrate not losing 90 games?

173A37262130276764550 wrote: My most memorable is my first. June 17, 1962 at Forbes Field, the Pirates beat the Braves 7-3. Bob Skinner had 4 hits, Clemente had 2 hits. Reserve catcher Cal Neeman had the only Pirate HR. Harvey Haddix pitched a CG. Warren Spahn took the loss. There were 3 triples in the game: Skinner, Hank Aaron and the Braves' Frank Bolling. Bob Uecker PH for Spahn and struck out. 



Another memorable game was at PNC 8/23/01 vs AZ. Randy Johnson was dominating thru 6 innings with 13 Ks. But Tony McKnight threw 7 scoreless innings and Kevin Young broke a 0-0 tie in the 7th with a 2-run HR after Johnson had opened the 7th with 2 more Ks (#14 & 15) and walked Kendall. The inning continued with singles by Craig Wilson and Mendy Lopez and a 2-run 2B by Keith Osik before Johnson got his 16th K. Giles homered in the 8th and the Bucs won 5-1.  Johnson entered the game at 17-5 but picked up his 6th loss. It would be his last loss of the season as he wound up 21-6 and won the Cy Young. I remember this game quite well Bobster and specifically remember Tony McKnight because he pretty much vanished after the 2001 season after being traded over from the Astros. I remember he pitched against the Pirates in that 2nd game of the doubleheader where Giles hit the granny off Wagner and then was traded here shortly after that. Does anybody know what happened to McKnight because like I said he seemed to just vanish and was never heard from or talked about at all.


McKnight was a Littlefield acquisition. He had been a serviceable pitcher for the Astros in 2000 and his best game was a CG 10-1 win over the Pirates in Sept that year. That must have impressed DL enough to acquire him on 7/31/01 after he had spent most of the season with the Astros' AAA team with an unimpressive 4.76 ERA. He immediately went into the Pirates rotation and had a couple good games followed by a couple bad games and then the game I referenced, which was his best as a Pirate. He made 7 more starts after that game but only 1 of them did not resemble throwing BP.  Ended the season with a 5.19 ERA and 88 hits in 69 innings as a Pirate. He was back in AAA the following year with a 5.24 ERA and was released after the 2002 season. Dodgers took a flyer on him and he pitched briefly for their AAA team in 2003 but never saw MLB again. Don't know if he got hurt or just washed out from being ineffective.   



Okay thanks for clearing that up I always wondered what happened to him. Speaking of that 2001 team with Lloyd McClendon and Bonifay getting fired in mid June what a miserable season that was the first year at PNC Park. Nothing like remembering guys like Pat Meares and Enrique Wilson to bring back great memories. Almost as bad as the 2004 season I believe it was where McClendon said he did over 1,000 simulations that determined that Tike Redman was the best player suitable in the Pirates lineup to hit 3rd in the order.


Remember McClendon having a champagne party in the clubhouse in Sept 2002 to celebrate not losing 90 games?

Ya it was at Wrigley Field I remember the crew that had to set it up thinking the Pirates were insane when they told them that they were actually serious about doing so. McClendon was such an embarrassment pretty much his entire tenure here as manager from 01-05. Jim Tracy in 06-07 wasn’t much better as he was a complete and total disaster.

I saw the Friday must win double header the Pirates played against the Phillies in 1978. Four games left in the season and the Bucs needed to win all of them to force a tie for the division.



In game one, Ed Ott hits a Little League home run for a walk off winner.



In game two, the Phillies reliever balks with Dave Parker on third base for another walk off win. It was strange because no one (we were in the upper deck) was sure what happened at first. We just saw Parker trotting home.



The crowd went crazy. One thing I'll always remember is how excited everyone was as we walked out of the stadium.



Unfortunately, they lost on Saturday and their playoff chances ended. But that double header was the best sporting event I have ever attended.