OnlyBucs

To make it interesting, I've decided to go back to #52, and put who I feel was the best player to wear each number, and maybe an honorable mention or two or three if deserved.



Only rules are the player had to wear the number for 4 years. Why? Because. I'm not looking up stats, just going by memory, so pre-1967ish players only get a nod from me if they played well enough to be talked about for decades after.

476166737A7661777F140 wrote: Why choose 52? Why not? I'm bored, MLB news in general, and Pirates news in particular, has slowed to barely a drip.



So that's why, it just happened to be the day I was most bored. So, doing that countdown kind of thing, I'll put players names who have worn that number for the Pirates.



52-Wayne Osborne, Tommy Thevenow, George Witt, Dorn Taylor, Moises Alou, John Wehner, Brad Clontz, Alex Hernandez, Victor Santos, Franquelis Osoria, Chris Bootcheck, Joel Hanrahan, Rob Scahill, Phil Coke, Curtis Patch, Jack Leathersich, Jhan Marinez, Tanner Anderson, Clay Holmes, Anthony Banda, Eric Stout
Best player to wear the number 52: Joel Hanrahan. He's the only one that qualifies by my rules.

0F292E3B323E293F375C0 wrote: 51 days until the first Spring Training game.  Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 51:



Johnny Welch, Russ Bauers, Odell Jones, Terry Forster, Jesse Jefferson, Doug Frobel, Bob Kipper, Dave Rucker, Ray Quinones, Carlos Garcia, Tony Womack, Rich Loiselle, Michael Gonzalez, Carlos Maldonado, Steve Pearce, Wandy Rodriguez, Matt Hague, Pedro Florimon, Gorkys Hernandez, Tyler Glasnow, Johnny Barbato, Alex McRae, Jason Martin, David Bednar
Best player to wear the number 51: With only 3 dubious qualifiers, I go with Rich Loiselle.

5A7C7B6E676B7C6A62090 wrote: 50 days till the first Spring Training game. Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 50:



Clise Dudley, Lloyd Johnson, Mace Brown, Jim Tobin, Kent Tekulve, John Candelaria, Eddie Vargas, Barry Jones, Dave LaPoint, Stan Belinda, Mark Dewey, Dennis Konuszewski, Andy Barkett, Marc Wilkins, Julian Tavarez, Jose Bautista, Matt Lawton, Tom Gorzelanny, Dave Davidson, Virgil Vazquez, Brian Bass, Charlie Morton, Jameson Taillon, Shelby Miller, Travis Swaggerty.



Interesting that for three succeeding players, their first and last names started with the same letter. I wonder if this was some sort of inside joke for a bit with the Pirates.
Best player to wear number 50: With only three qualifiers, I go with Charlie Morton. Honorable mention to both Jameson Taillon and Stan Belinda.

54727560696572646C070 wrote: 49 days till the first Spring Training game. Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 49:



Ralph Birkofer, Ed Brandt, Ben Guintini, Chris Zachary, Juan Pizarro, John Candelaria, Dave May, Dave Roberts, Vance Law, Victor Cruz, Larry McWilliams, Hipolito Pena, Jeff Robinson, Mark Ross, Jerry Reuss, Jerry Don Gleaton, Tim Wakefield, Ross Powell, Matt Ruebel, Jeff Tabaka, Josias Manzanillo, Jeff Reboulet, Jose Mesa, Nate McLouth, Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Locke, Nick Kingham, Parker Markel, Michael Feliz, Dustin Fowler.
Best player to wear number 49: Ralph Birkofer. Honorable mention to Larry McWilliams and Jeff Locke.

684E495C55594E58503B0 wrote: 48 days till the first Spring Training game. Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 48:



Erv Brame, Waite Hoyt, Ray Berres, Joe Bowman, Ron Blackburn, Ken Hamlin, Tom Cheney, Rimp Lanier, Sam McDowell, Jim Minshall, Tim Jones, Clay Carroll, Rick Reuschel, Ted Power, Roger Mason, Rich Aude, Dave Otto, Abraham Nunez, Sean Lawrence, Todd Ritchie, Sean Lowe, Jim Mann, Oliver Perez, T.J. Beam, Delwyn Young, Javier Lopez, Joe Martinez, Matt Pagnozzi, Jose Veras, Tim Wood, Jared Hughes, Dan Runzler, Richard Rodriguez, Bryse Wilson, Tyler Beede
Best player to wear number 48: Jared Hughes. Honorable mention to Waite Hoyt.

587E796C65697E68600B0 wrote: 47 days till the first Spring Training game. Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 47:





Glenn Spencer, Hal Smith, Bud Hafey, Mace Brown, Bill Clemesen, Al Tate, George Perez, Earl Francis, Mudcat Grant, Ernie Camacho, Cecilio Guante, Tommy Gregg, Randy Milligan, Jerry Reuss, Scott Bullett, Jeff Schulz, Jon Lieber, Scott Sauerbeck, John Van Benschoten, Evan Meek, Francisco Liriano, Josh Lindblom, Jordan Luplow,
Best player to wear number 47: Francisco Liriano. Honorable mention to Mace Brown.

0A2C2B3E373B2C3A32590 wrote: 46 days till the first Spring Training game. Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 46:



Leon Chagnon, Cy Blanton, Ed Bahr, Bill Hall, Ed Acosta, Orlando Pena, Jim Minshall, Tony Armas,  Ed Whitson, Steve Brye, Mark Lee, Reggie Walton, Miguel Dilone, Randy Nieman, Ray Crawczyk, Tom Prince, Doug Bair, Hector Fajardo, Junior Noboa, Gary Wilson, Jermaine Allensworth, Pete Schourek, Damaso Marte, Brian Meadows, Tony Armas Jr., Jimmy Barthmaier, Garrett Jones, Vance Worley, Ivan Nova, Curtis Partch, Chris Stratton, Yohan Ramirez.
Best player to wear number 46: Cy Blanton. Honorable mention to Garrett Jones.

54727560696572646C070 wrote: 45 days till the first Spring Training game. Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 45:



Bill Swift, Ken Gables, Lino Donoso, Gene Michael, Dave Roberts, Frank Brosseau, Dave Augustine, Chuck Brinkman, John Candelaria, Dan Serafini, Tony McKnight, Terry Mulholland, Duaner Sanchez, Ian Snell, Jose Ascanio, Erik Bedard, Gerrit Cole, Michael Feliz, Derek Holland, Max Kranick, Ildemaro Vargas.
Best player to wear number 45: John Candelaria. Honorable mention to Gerrit Cole and Bill Swift.

5F797E6B626E796F670C0 wrote: 44 days till the first Spring Training game. Here are the illustrious Pirates who have worn number 44:



Bill Harris, Jack Salveson, Jack Tising, Ken Heintzelman, Rip Sewell, Bill Baker, Catfish Metkovich, Hal Rice, Luis Marquez, Carl Taylor, John Lamb, Larry Demery, Cito Gaston, Doe Boyland, Rick Rhoden, Eddie Solomon, Jim Winn, Jeff Zaske, John Cangelosi, Cecil Espy, Ben Shelton, Rick White, Joe Boever, Danny Darwin, Mark Corey, Dennys Reyes, Josh Sharpless, Evan Meek, Brandon Moss, Alex Presley, Tony Watson, Chris Bostick, Kevin Kramer, Cody Ponce, Hoy Park
Best player to wear number 44: Tony Watson.