OnlyBucs

416C61707766713132030 wrote: May 16. I think it's unusual that the guy I don't remember at all is the guy who played last year:



Williams Jerez (1992): 2019

Mitch Webster (1959): 1991; OF; 97 AB; 1-9-.175

Bob Patterson (1959): 1986-1992; LHP; 331 IP; 25-21, 3.97

Rick Rhoden (1953): 1979-86; RHP; 1448 IP; 79-73, 3.51

Rick Reuschel (1949): 1985-87; RHP; 586.2 IP; 31-30, 3.04



Mitch Webster was part of a seemingly endless churn of players brought in to plug a 3B/RF hole around 1990, including Darnell Coles, Glenn Wilson, Billy Hatcher, Wally Backman, Jose Gonzalez, Steve Buechele, and Kirk Gibson. Probably the best solution came in 1990, when Backman and Jeff King split third and the team got 99 runs and 85 RBIs from the position.  They finally got a pretty good season from King alone in 1993, but the good team was breaking up by then.



Best player born on May 16: Rick Reuschel (1949) or Jack Morris (1955)


When Reuschel pitched for the Cubs, I couldn't stand him.  But when he came to Pittsburgh, we all got to see what a great competitor he was, and he quickly became one of my favorites.  I loved watching him pitch.
Reuschel won a GG as a Pirate in 1985 and another in 1987 when he spent most of the year with them. Bucs traded him in August 1987 at age 38 and he was 3rd in Cy Young voting that year in a very close race between he, Bedrosian and Sutcliffe. He even hit 2 HRs for the Bucs.




One thing I remember is him having the perfect temperament for a pitcher.  As I recall, one night he gave up a HR.  I don't think he ever watched the flight of the ball.  He simply looked at the home plate umpire, his expression looking as if the batter had merely hit a foul ball, and held up his glove to the umpire as a signal that he was ready for a new ball.  He knew he couldn't get that pitch back and he had already moved on to the next hitter.

386E786C637969626F784A6D676B636624690A0 wrote: May 16. I think it's unusual that the guy I don't remember at all is the guy who played last year:



Williams Jerez (1992): 2019

Mitch Webster (1959): 1991; OF; 97 AB; 1-9-.175

Bob Patterson (1959): 1986-1992; LHP; 331 IP; 25-21, 3.97

Rick Rhoden (1953): 1979-86; RHP; 1448 IP; 79-73, 3.51

Rick Reuschel (1949): 1985-87; RHP; 586.2 IP; 31-30, 3.04



Mitch Webster was part of a seemingly endless churn of players brought in to plug a 3B/RF hole around 1990, including Darnell Coles, Glenn Wilson, Billy Hatcher, Wally Backman, Jose Gonzalez, Steve Buechele, and Kirk Gibson. Probably the best solution came in 1990, when Backman and Jeff King split third and the team got 99 runs and 85 RBIs from the position.  They finally got a pretty good season from King alone in 1993, but the good team was breaking up by then.



Best player born on May 16: Rick Reuschel (1949) or Jack Morris (1955)


When Reuschel pitched for the Cubs, I couldn't stand him.  But when he came to Pittsburgh, we all got to see what a great competitor he was, and he quickly became one of my favorites.  I loved watching him pitch.
Reuschel won a GG as a Pirate in 1985 and another in 1987 when he spent most of the year with them. Bucs traded him in August 1987 at age 38 and he was 3rd in Cy Young voting that year in a very close race between he, Bedrosian and Sutcliffe. He even hit 2 HRs for the Bucs.




One thing I remember is him having the perfect temperament for a pitcher.  As I recall, one night he gave up a HR.  I don't think he ever watched the flight of the ball.  He simply looked at the home plate umpire, his expression looking as if the batter had merely hit a foul ball, and held up his glove to the umpire as a signal that he was ready for a new ball.  He knew he couldn't get that pitch back and he had already moved on to the next hitter.
I remember the first time I saw him pitch I said to myself. This guys is a fat slob. Well, that fat slob turned out to be a darn good pitcher

704E4B435048484363465142270 wrote: May 16. I think it's unusual that the guy I don't remember at all is the guy who played last year:



Williams Jerez (1992): 2019

Mitch Webster (1959): 1991; OF; 97 AB; 1-9-.175

Bob Patterson (1959): 1986-1992; LHP; 331 IP; 25-21, 3.97

Rick Rhoden (1953): 1979-86; RHP; 1448 IP; 79-73, 3.51

Rick Reuschel (1949): 1985-87; RHP; 586.2 IP; 31-30, 3.04



Mitch Webster was part of a seemingly endless churn of players brought in to plug a 3B/RF hole around 1990, including Darnell Coles, Glenn Wilson, Billy Hatcher, Wally Backman, Jose Gonzalez, Steve Buechele, and Kirk Gibson. Probably the best solution came in 1990, when Backman and Jeff King split third and the team got 99 runs and 85 RBIs from the position.  They finally got a pretty good season from King alone in 1993, but the good team was breaking up by then.



Best player born on May 16: Rick Reuschel (1949) or Jack Morris (1955)


When Reuschel pitched for the Cubs, I couldn't stand him.  But when he came to Pittsburgh, we all got to see what a great competitor he was, and he quickly became one of my favorites.  I loved watching him pitch.
Reuschel won a GG as a Pirate in 1985 and another in 1987 when he spent most of the year with them. Bucs traded him in August 1987 at age 38 and he was 3rd in Cy Young voting that year in a very close race between he, Bedrosian and Sutcliffe. He even hit 2 HRs for the Bucs.




One thing I remember is him having the perfect temperament for a pitcher.  As I recall, one night he gave up a HR.  I don't think he ever watched the flight of the ball.  He simply looked at the home plate umpire, his expression looking as if the batter had merely hit a foul ball, and held up his glove to the umpire as a signal that he was ready for a new ball.  He knew he couldn't get that pitch back and he had already moved on to the next hitter.
I remember the first time I saw him pitch I said to myself. This guys is a fat slob. Well, that fat slob turned out to be a darn good pitcher


He certainly didn't have the typical athlete's body, but he sure knew what he was doing.

May 17:



Jose Guillen (1976): 1997-99; RF; 1191 AB; 29-172-.267

Pascual Perez (1957): 1980-81; RHP; 98.1 IP; 2-8, 3.94

Ozzie Virgil (1932): 1965; C/IF; 49 AB; 1-5-.264

Harry Riconda (1897): 1929; SS; 15 AB; 0-2-.467

Hal Carlson (1892): 1917-23; RHP; 829.1 IP; 42-55, 3.64

Elmer Steele (1884): 1910-11; RHP; 190 IP; 9-12, 2.56

Fred Woodcock (1867): 1892; LHP; 33 IP; 1-2, 3.55

Frank Mountain (1860): 1885-86; P/1B; 62 IP, 1-6, 5.23; 75 AB, 0-3-.133

Henry Oberbeck (1855): 1883; 1B; 9 AB; 0-1 R-.222

Billy Reid (1857): 1884; OF; 70 AB; 0-11 R-.243



Ozzie Virgil's at the Fringe of my memory, and I thought that he played a couple of years for the Pirates instead of just a few games.  Chris Cannizzaro is another one like that. "Frank Mountain" is a great name for a ballplayer.



Best player born on May 17:  Cool Papa Bell (1903)

05362A2B2820162B302C3730212D2A440 wrote: May 17:



Jose Guillen (1976): 1997-99; RF; 1191 AB; 29-172-.267

Pascual Perez (1957): 1980-81; RHP; 98.1 IP; 2-8, 3.94

Ozzie Virgil (1932): 1965; C/IF; 49 AB; 1-5-.264

Harry Riconda (1897): 1929; SS; 15 AB; 0-2-.467

Hal Carlson (1892): 1917-23; RHP; 829.1 IP; 42-55, 3.64

Elmer Steele (1884): 1910-11; RHP; 190 IP; 9-12, 2.56

Fred Woodcock (1867): 1892; LHP; 33 IP; 1-2, 3.55

Frank Mountain (1860): 1885-86; P/1B; 62 IP, 1-6, 5.23; 75 AB, 0-3-.133

Henry Oberbeck (1855): 1883; 1B; 9 AB; 0-1 R-.222

Billy Reid (1857): 1884; OF; 70 AB; 0-11 R-.243



Ozzie Virgil's at the Fringe of my memory, and I thought that he played a couple of years for the Pirates instead of just a few games.  Chris Cannizzaro is another one like that. "Frank Mountain" is a great name for a ballplayer.



Best player born on May 17:  Cool Papa Bell (1903)
Virgil was with the Bucs the entire 1965 season as a 3rd string catcher behind Pagliaroni and Del Crandall. He only started 3 games catching and 2 each at 2B and 3B. But between starting, defensive replacement and PHing he appeared in 39 games.

60534F4E4D45734E5549525544484F210 wrote: May 17:



Jose Guillen (1976): 1997-99; RF; 1191 AB; 29-172-.267

Pascual Perez (1957): 1980-81; RHP; 98.1 IP; 2-8, 3.94

Ozzie Virgil (1932): 1965; C/IF; 49 AB; 1-5-.264

Harry Riconda (1897): 1929; SS; 15 AB; 0-2-.467

Hal Carlson (1892): 1917-23; RHP; 829.1 IP; 42-55, 3.64

Elmer Steele (1884): 1910-11; RHP; 190 IP; 9-12, 2.56

Fred Woodcock (1867): 1892; LHP; 33 IP; 1-2, 3.55

Frank Mountain (1860): 1885-86; P/1B; 62 IP, 1-6, 5.23; 75 AB, 0-3-.133

Henry Oberbeck (1855): 1883; 1B; 9 AB; 0-1 R-.222

Billy Reid (1857): 1884; OF; 70 AB; 0-11 R-.243



Ozzie Virgil's at the Fringe of my memory, and I thought that he played a couple of years for the Pirates instead of just a few games.  Chris Cannizzaro is another one like that. "Frank Mountain" is a great name for a ballplayer.



Best player born on May 17:  Cool Papa Bell (1903)


I don't remember Cannizzaro as a Pirate at all. I figured the Padres picked him in the expansion draft from somebody and I thought Tommy Sisk was lost in the draft. Lo and behold baseball reference comes through again.



Cannizzaro and Tommy Sisk were dealt to the Padres on March 28, 1969 (so late in spring training) for Bobby Klaus and Ron Davis. Klaus never played in majors for Bucs and Davis was back up outfielder. I don't remember him at all.

694F4E594F5F2C0 wrote: May 17:



Jose Guillen (1976): 1997-99; RF; 1191 AB; 29-172-.267

Pascual Perez (1957): 1980-81; RHP; 98.1 IP; 2-8, 3.94

Ozzie Virgil (1932): 1965; C/IF; 49 AB; 1-5-.264

Harry Riconda (1897): 1929; SS; 15 AB; 0-2-.467

Hal Carlson (1892): 1917-23; RHP; 829.1 IP; 42-55, 3.64

Elmer Steele (1884): 1910-11; RHP; 190 IP; 9-12, 2.56

Fred Woodcock (1867): 1892; LHP; 33 IP; 1-2, 3.55

Frank Mountain (1860): 1885-86; P/1B; 62 IP, 1-6, 5.23; 75 AB, 0-3-.133

Henry Oberbeck (1855): 1883; 1B; 9 AB; 0-1 R-.222

Billy Reid (1857): 1884; OF; 70 AB; 0-11 R-.243



Ozzie Virgil's at the Fringe of my memory, and I thought that he played a couple of years for the Pirates instead of just a few games.  Chris Cannizzaro is another one like that. "Frank Mountain" is a great name for a ballplayer.



Best player born on May 17:  Cool Papa Bell (1903)


I don't remember Cannizzaro as a Pirate at all.  I figured the Padres picked him in the expansion draft from somebody and I thought Tommy Sisk was lost in the draft.  Lo and behold baseball reference comes through again.



Cannizzaro and Tommy Sisk were dealt to the Padres on March 28, 1969 (so late in spring training) for Bobby Klaus and Ron Davis.  Klaus never played in majors for Bucs and Davis was back up outfielder.  I don't remember him at all.


I remember those guys. I knew Davis had been a 4th OFer for Houston and I thought maybe he would blossom for the Pirates. But he just didn't hit. He went back to AAA for the next 2 years and then out of baseball. And I knew Cannizzaro was a journeyman type. He spent most of 1968 in Columbus and was recalled in August to back up Jerry May.

May 18:



Joakim Soria (1984): 2015; RHP; 26.2 IP; 0-0, 2.03

Nelson Figueroa (1974): 2003-04; RHP; 63.2 IP; 2-4, 4.38

Ken Hamlin (1935): 1957, 1959; SS; 9 AB; 0-0-.111

Bill Batsch (1892): 1916; PH; 1PA; 1 BB

Babe Adams (1882): 1907-26; RHP; 2991.1 IP; 194-139, 2.74



Also, Cy Barger (1885): RHP for the Federal League Rebels, 1914-15; 381.1 IP, 19-24, 3.52



And, Roy Smith (1961): Assistant General Manager, 1999-2004; Special Assistant to the General Manager, 2006-09; interim GM, 2001



Bill Batsch played for Bethany College in West Virginia before his Pirate "career." He served in WWI after he had his chance with the Pirates, and eventually became a car salesman in Canton.



Best player born on May 18: Brooks Robinson (1937) or Reggie Jackson (1946)

May 19:



Brandon Inge (1977): 2013; UTIL; 105 AB; 1-7-.181

Ed Whitson (1955): 1977-79; RHP; 147.1 IP; 8-9, 3.73

Bud Culloton (1896): 1925-26; RHP; 24.2 IP; 0-1, 3.28



The 1924 Pirates played an exhibition against the Kingston, NY club. The Kingston pitcher Culloton held the Pirates scoreless through nine, and lost on an error in the tenth. The Pirates signed Culloton, and he stayed with the team until mid-1926, seldom getting into a league game but pitching exhibitions and batting practice. He returned to Kingston and often pitched in exhibitions, including a win against the 1927 Pirates. He ended up a lawyer.



Best player born on May 19: Curt Simmons (1929), Gil McDougald (1928), or Newt Allen (1901)

May 20:



Tony Sanchez (1988): 2013-15; C; 143 AB; 4-18-.259

George Grantham (1900): 1925-31; 1B/2B; 3145 AB; 74-508-.315

Joe Harris (1891): 1927-28; 1B; 434 AB; 5-75-.329



Grantham had a .410 OBP with Pittsburgh. Harris and Grantham manned first for the 1927 Pirates, with an assist from Paul Waner. The position produced .330/.398/.465.



Also, Horace Phillips (1856): manager of the Alleghenys 1884-89; 294-316-.482



Best player born on May 20: Ken Boyer (1931), Hal Newhouser (1921), or Sadaharu Oh (1940)