OnlyBucs

Another tough number to choose "best". I went with Don Hoak, though he only had 4 seasons with the Bucs, as he was a big piece in the Pirates becoming contenders, and then winning the 1960 World Series. Freddy Sanchez was certainly a worthy choice too, but I'm not doing ties

5C7A7D68616D7A6C640F0 wrote: Another tough number to choose "best". I went with Don Hoak, though he only had 4 seasons with the Bucs, as he was a big piece in the Pirates becoming contenders, and then winning the 1960 World Series. Freddy Sanchez was certainly a worthy choice too, but I'm not doing ties
Hoak's a solid choice as he was integral to 60 champs. I like Spanky for HM as he was also part of a contending club.

The "Tiger" is it!!!!

6C4A4D58515D4A5C543F0 wrote: Another tough number to choose "best". I went with Don Hoak, though he only had 4 seasons with the Bucs, as he was a big piece in the Pirates becoming contenders, and then winning the 1960 World Series. Freddy Sanchez was certainly a worthy choice too, but I'm not doing ties
Hoak is a very interesting player. In 1959 the Pirates became his 4th team in 6 years. He was known as a good glove but struggled with the bat his first 3 seasons. But with the Reds inn 1957 he had an outstanding year batting .293 with 19 HRs and 89 RBIs. But injuries limited him the following year and he hit just .261 with 6 HRs.



Frank Thomas was the Pirates' best hitter but a liability defensively at 3B. Haddix, Burgess and Hoak were all veterans in their 30s. Haddix was an established pitcher and Burgess had a great track record as a hitter. Hoak was something of a wild card since he had enjoyed only 1 good offensive season. He would be a big upgrade defensively at 3B over Thomas but his offense remained a question. But he became one of the Pirates' top hitters in 1959, 1960 and 1961 to go along with solid defense and a great clubhouse presence. He was a leader on and off the field. He wasn't one of the World Series hitting heroes, but he made several outstanding plays at 3B that were instrumental in winning.

0D202D3C3B2A3D7D7E4F0 wrote: Another tough number to choose "best". I went with Don Hoak, though he only had 4 seasons with the Bucs, as he was a big piece in the Pirates becoming contenders, and then winning the 1960 World Series. Freddy Sanchez was certainly a worthy choice too, but I'm not doing ties
Hoak is a very interesting player. In 1959 the Pirates became his 4th team in 6 years. He was known as a good glove but struggled with the bat his first 3 seasons. But with the Reds inn 1957 he had an outstanding year batting .293 with 19 HRs and 89 RBIs. But injuries limited him the following year and he hit just .261 with 6 HRs.



Frank Thomas was the Pirates' best hitter but a liability defensively at 3B. Haddix, Burgess and Hoak were all veterans in their 30s. Haddix was an established pitcher and Burgess had a great track record as a hitter. Hoak was something of a wild card since he had enjoyed only 1 good offensive season. He would be a big upgrade defensively at 3B over Thomas but his offense remained a question. But he became one of the Pirates' top hitters in 1959, 1960 and 1961 to go along with solid defense and a great clubhouse presence. He was a leader on and off the field. He wasn't one of the World Series hitting heroes, but he made several outstanding plays at 3B that were instrumental in winning.   


I remember him dying while chasing someone who had stolen a car. Pretty shocking, I didn't know until I read about it today that it was the day it was announced Murtaugh was coming back to manage and it was job Houk had wanted. I know my Dad really liked him as a player.

11 days until the first Spring Training game. Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 11:



Paul Waner, Spud Davis, Jimmy Wasdell, Tommy O'Brien, Lee Howard, Al Tate, Billy Herman, Dixie Walker, Nanny Fernandez, Danny O'Connell, Catfish Metkovich, Howie Pollet, Toby Atwell, Paul Smith, Bill Hall, Dick Schofield, Jose Pagan, Jerry McNertney, Dal Maxvill, Mario Mendoza, Kurt Bevacqua, Jim Smith, Lee Mazzilli, Joe Orsulak, Glenn Wilson, Don Slaught, Mike Kingery, Jose Guillen, Dale Sveum, Humberto Cota.



Best player to wear number 11: Paul Waner. Honorable mention: Dick Schofield, Jose Pagan, Don Slaught.



Number 11 was retired in 2007 to honor Waner, who died in 1965. It took the family to petition Kevin McClatchey to honor him this way. IDK if it's the Pirates in general, but Waner not having his number retired long before that is a mystery. It took 7 years for him to make the HOF, another mystery. He was even quoted as having just about given up the thought of being elected. His baseball resume is spectacular, as I know every Pirates fan is aware, but go and read his achievements for the time. I can see why he was at one time listed as one of the 100 greatest baseball players of all time.

705651444D41564048230 wrote: 11 days until the first Spring Training game. Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 11:



Paul Waner, Spud Davis, Jimmy Wasdell, Tommy O'Brien, Lee Howard, Al Tate, Billy Herman, Dixie Walker, Nanny Fernandez, Danny O'Connell, Catfish Metkovich, Howie Pollet, Toby Atwell, Paul Smith, Bill Hall, Dick Schofield, Jose Pagan, Jerry McNertney, Dal Maxvill, Mario Mendoza, Kurt Bevacqua, Jim Smith, Lee Mazzilli, Joe Orsulak, Glenn Wilson, Don Slaught, Mike Kingery, Jose Guillen, Dale Sveum, Humberto Cota.



Best player to wear number 11:  Paul Waner. Honorable mention: Dick Schofield, Jose Pagan, Don Slaught.



Number 11 was retired in 2007 to honor Waner, who died in 1965. It took the family to petition Kevin McClatchey to honor him this way. IDK if it's the Pirates in general, but Waner not having his number retired long before that is a mystery. It took 7 years for him to make the HOF, another mystery. He was even quoted as having just about given up the thought of being elected. His baseball resume is spectacular, as I know every Pirates fan is aware, but go and read his achievements for the time. I can see why he was at one time listed as one of the 100 greatest baseball players of all time.


Waner for sure. Schofield will forever be remembered for his work in Groat’s place in September of 1960. Pagan and Slaught were outstanding platoon players.

10 days until the first Spring Training game. Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 10:



Lloyd Waner, Ed Leip, Babe Phelps, Hank Camelli, Clyde Kluttz, Monty Basgall, Tiny Bonham, Johnny Berardino, Earl Turner, Jack Merson, Hank Schenz, Danny O'Connell, Jack Shepard, Dick Rand, Danny Kravitz, Jim Pagliaroni, Gary Kolb, Dave Cash, George Kopacz, Richie Zisk, Frank Taveras, Tim Foli, Richie Hebner, Ken Reitz, Benny Distefano, Johnnie LeMaster, Mike Diaz, Kevin Elster, Abraham Nunez, Rajai Davis, Brian Bixler, Josh Rodriguez, Eric Fryer, Jordy Mercer, Bryan Reynolds.



Best player to wear number 10: Lloyd Waner. Honorable mention: Jordy Mercer, Bryan Reynolds.

Number 10 is interesting to have not been retired, simply because Paul Waner's number finally was retired. Lloyd Waner was voted into the HOF by the Veterans Committee in 1967, his highest vote total was only 23.4% during the balloting phase.



Number 10 certainly had a bevy of shortstops who had nice careers with the Pirates, but Mercer was the only one I felt deserved HM. Taveras led the league in stolen bases one year. Foli had his finest season of his career in 1979, and the Pirates benefited from his in season acquisition, replacing Taveras.



Abraham Nunez epitomized the type of player the Pirates seemingly employed all over the field after the 1992 team became dismantled the following season, sending the Pirates into the long spiral of losing seasons. He did have a nice career as a Buc as far as longevity goes, and I'm certain he has some fans.



Mercer was never spectacular, but he was a solid player who quietly put up some numbers that the Pirates hadn't seen from the shortstop once he took over full time in 2014. His defensive ratings were stellar for a number of seasons, yet never was a Gold Glove finalist.



Bryan Reynolds certainly can become the king of the 10's, but that's all based on an extension that would have to pretty much keep him a Pirate the rest of his career, and to also be exceptionally productive in those seasons. Waner is 1817 hits as a Pirate ahead of Reynolds right now, but Reynolds is a much more solid power bat, and will surpass Waner's RBI total in probably another 3-4 seasons, and has surpassed Waner's HR total already.

Abe Nunez is listed first as a pinch hitter on Baseball-Reference. It has to be one of the stranger bits of information on the site, but Nunez pinch hit 301 times in his career, which was more times than he appeared at any one defensive position. Lloyd pushed him out there 185 times in four years. I remember wondering why they didn't just send up yesterday's starting pitcher, tell him to close his eyes and swing hard.