April 21:
Brent Morel (1987): 2014-15; 3B; 46 AB; 0-5-.196
Ronny Paulino (1981): 2005-08; C; 1021 AB; 19-128-.278
Jack Taschner (1978): 2010; LHP; 19.1 IP; 1-0, 6.05
Kip Wells (1977): 2002-05; RHP; 752.1 IP; 36-53, 4.20
Stan Rojek (1919): 1948-51; SS; 1444 AB; 4-99-.266
Fred Hartman (1865): 1894; 3B; 182 AB; 2-20-.319
Rojek finished 10th in the NL MVP voting in 1948.
Hartman was from Pittsburgh. Just in Pennsylvania, he played minor league ball for McKeesport, Erie, Wilkes-Barre, Johnstown, Altoona, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Braddock.
Also, Jeff Keppinger (1980): 4th round pick in 2001; another guy who it seems like he must have played for the Pirates, but he was sent to the Mets out of Double A as part of the Kris Benson trade.
Best player born on April 21: Hardy Richardson
On April 21, 1991, the Pirates trailed the Cubs 7-2 going to the bottom of the eighth. They scored four in the eighth and one in the ninth to tie. The Cubs scored five in the top of the 11th, but the Pirates came back with six to win. Jim Leyland broke down and cried during the post game interview.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxe ... 4210.shtml
Today's birthdays
Moderators: SammyKhalifa, Doc, Bobster
-
2drfischer@gmail.c
Today's birthdays
162539383B330538233F2423323E39570 wrote: April 21:
Brent Morel (1987): 2014-15; 3B; 46 AB; 0-5-.196
Ronny Paulino (1981): 2005-08; C; 1021 AB; 19-128-.278
Jack Taschner (1978): 2010; LHP; 19.1 IP; 1-0, 6.05
Kip Wells (1977): 2002-05; RHP; 752.1 IP; 36-53, 4.20
Stan Rojek (1919): 1948-51; SS; 1444 AB; 4-99-.266
Fred Hartman (1865): 1894; 3B; 182 AB; 2-20-.319
Rojek finished 10th in the NL MVP voting in 1948.
Hartman was from Pittsburgh. Just in Pennsylvania, he played minor league ball for McKeesport, Erie, Wilkes-Barre, Johnstown, Altoona, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Braddock.
Also, Jeff Keppinger (1980): 4th round pick in 2001; another guy who it seems like he must have played for the Pirates, but he was sent to the Mets out of Double A as part of the Kris Benson trade.
Best player born on April 21: Hardy Richardson
On April 21, 1991, the Pirates trailed the Cubs 7-2 going to the bottom of the eighth. They scored four in the eighth and one in the ninth to tie. The Cubs scored five in the top of the 11th, but the Pirates came back with six to win. Jim Leyland broke down and cried during the post game interview.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxe ... 4210.shtml
Do I remember correctly that when Ronnie Paulino first got playing time, he looked like he was going to be a very impactful player. Then, when he became the starter, he completely went south. I recall him walking to and from his position at the beginning and end of each inning as if he couldn't care less. Big disappointment.
And was there a more exasperating pitcher, among many, than Kip Wells? What talent he had! But he either couldn't or wouldn't throw a strike. I remember reading that they implored him to just throw his fast ball down the middle because it had such great natural movement. He either refused or didn't buy in.
Brent Morel (1987): 2014-15; 3B; 46 AB; 0-5-.196
Ronny Paulino (1981): 2005-08; C; 1021 AB; 19-128-.278
Jack Taschner (1978): 2010; LHP; 19.1 IP; 1-0, 6.05
Kip Wells (1977): 2002-05; RHP; 752.1 IP; 36-53, 4.20
Stan Rojek (1919): 1948-51; SS; 1444 AB; 4-99-.266
Fred Hartman (1865): 1894; 3B; 182 AB; 2-20-.319
Rojek finished 10th in the NL MVP voting in 1948.
Hartman was from Pittsburgh. Just in Pennsylvania, he played minor league ball for McKeesport, Erie, Wilkes-Barre, Johnstown, Altoona, Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Braddock.
Also, Jeff Keppinger (1980): 4th round pick in 2001; another guy who it seems like he must have played for the Pirates, but he was sent to the Mets out of Double A as part of the Kris Benson trade.
Best player born on April 21: Hardy Richardson
On April 21, 1991, the Pirates trailed the Cubs 7-2 going to the bottom of the eighth. They scored four in the eighth and one in the ninth to tie. The Cubs scored five in the top of the 11th, but the Pirates came back with six to win. Jim Leyland broke down and cried during the post game interview.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxe ... 4210.shtml
Do I remember correctly that when Ronnie Paulino first got playing time, he looked like he was going to be a very impactful player. Then, when he became the starter, he completely went south. I recall him walking to and from his position at the beginning and end of each inning as if he couldn't care less. Big disappointment.
And was there a more exasperating pitcher, among many, than Kip Wells? What talent he had! But he either couldn't or wouldn't throw a strike. I remember reading that they implored him to just throw his fast ball down the middle because it had such great natural movement. He either refused or didn't buy in.
-
ArnoldRothstein
Today's birthdays
Paulino just seemed not to be very agile. He probably would have played first, but it seemed about 50/50 if he would catch a ball cleanly on a throw from a fielder. It looks like he's stayed active in the Dominican winter league.
-
ArnoldRothstein
Today's birthdays
April 22:
Mickey Vernon (1918): 1960; PH; 8 AB; 0-1-.125
Jake Pitler (1894): 1917-18; 2B; 383 AB; 0-23-.232
I was surprised that Vernon finished his career with Pirates, and that he was a coach in 1960 - the first man to shake Maz's hand. All of his at-bats came in September. I'm wondering if they didn't give him the at-bats so that he'd be a four-decade player.
Also, Ted Page (1903): OF; Grays, 1931, 191 AB, 0-17-.288; Crawfords, 1932-34, 495 AB, 4-63-.301
And, Sandy Burke (1887): RHP; Rebels, 1915, 18 IP, 2-0, 1.00
Best player born on April 22: Mickey Vernon or Jimmy Key
Mickey Vernon (1918): 1960; PH; 8 AB; 0-1-.125
Jake Pitler (1894): 1917-18; 2B; 383 AB; 0-23-.232
I was surprised that Vernon finished his career with Pirates, and that he was a coach in 1960 - the first man to shake Maz's hand. All of his at-bats came in September. I'm wondering if they didn't give him the at-bats so that he'd be a four-decade player.
Also, Ted Page (1903): OF; Grays, 1931, 191 AB, 0-17-.288; Crawfords, 1932-34, 495 AB, 4-63-.301
And, Sandy Burke (1887): RHP; Rebels, 1915, 18 IP, 2-0, 1.00
Best player born on April 22: Mickey Vernon or Jimmy Key
Today's birthdays
75465A5B5850665B405C4740515D5A340 wrote: April 22:
Mickey Vernon (1918): 1960; PH; 8 AB; 0-1-.125
Jake Pitler (1894): 1917-18; 2B; 383 AB; 0-23-.232
I was surprised that Vernon finished his career with Pirates, and that he was a coach in 1960 - the first man to shake Maz's hand. All of his at-bats came in September. I'm wondering if they didn't give him the at-bats so that he'd be a four-decade player.
Also, Ted Page (1903): OF; Grays, 1931, 191 AB, 0-17-.288; Crawfords, 1932-34, 495 AB, 4-63-.301
And, Sandy Burke (1887): RHP; Rebels, 1915, 18 IP, 2-0, 1.00
Best player born on April 22: Mickey Vernon or Jimmy Key
Possum probably can tell us the Vernon story. The 4 decades sounds reasonable to me and he only played when roster was expanded.
Mickey Vernon (1918): 1960; PH; 8 AB; 0-1-.125
Jake Pitler (1894): 1917-18; 2B; 383 AB; 0-23-.232
I was surprised that Vernon finished his career with Pirates, and that he was a coach in 1960 - the first man to shake Maz's hand. All of his at-bats came in September. I'm wondering if they didn't give him the at-bats so that he'd be a four-decade player.
Also, Ted Page (1903): OF; Grays, 1931, 191 AB, 0-17-.288; Crawfords, 1932-34, 495 AB, 4-63-.301
And, Sandy Burke (1887): RHP; Rebels, 1915, 18 IP, 2-0, 1.00
Best player born on April 22: Mickey Vernon or Jimmy Key
Possum probably can tell us the Vernon story. The 4 decades sounds reasonable to me and he only played when roster was expanded.
-
Bobster21
Today's birthdays
082E2F382E3E4D0 wrote: April 22:
Mickey Vernon (1918): 1960; PH; 8 AB; 0-1-.125
Jake Pitler (1894): 1917-18; 2B; 383 AB; 0-23-.232
I was surprised that Vernon finished his career with Pirates, and that he was a coach in 1960 - the first man to shake Maz's hand. All of his at-bats came in September. I'm wondering if they didn't give him the at-bats so that he'd be a four-decade player.
Also, Ted Page (1903): OF; Grays, 1931, 191 AB, 0-17-.288; Crawfords, 1932-34, 495 AB, 4-63-.301
And, Sandy Burke (1887): RHP; Rebels, 1915, 18 IP, 2-0, 1.00
Best player born on April 22: Mickey Vernon or Jimmy Key
Possum probably can tell us the Vernon story. The 4 decades sounds reasonable to me and he only played when roster was expanded.
Vernon and Murtaugh were lifelong friends. Vernon retired after the 1959 season. He had played 19 years and was a 2 time batting champ. So Danny offered his friend a coaching job in 1960. Just a season earlier, Vernon had been an active player. And 2 seasons earlier he had batted .293 at age 40. So it was reasonable to consider that he may have some value as a player beyond his coaching. He received BP during spring training to try to stay sharp. Murtaugh used his bench very sparingly in 1960 other than his platoons. Baker, Christopher, Schofield and Oldis rarely played. So there was no need to activate Vernon. But as soon as the roster expanded in September, the Pirates took advantage of having Vernon around and activated him for the stretch run. He had 9 plate appearances going 1 for 8 with a walk. His hit came in his 3rd game, Sept 6 vs the 2nd place Braves when he drove in an insurance run in the 8th for a 5-3 lead. Ironically, that was the game Dick Groat was HBP and fractured his left arm, which finally gave Dick Schofield some PT (during which he excelled). They weren't trying to do him a favor by playing 4 decades. It just made sense that a hitter of his pedigree who had been active only a season ago might be of use.
Mickey Vernon (1918): 1960; PH; 8 AB; 0-1-.125
Jake Pitler (1894): 1917-18; 2B; 383 AB; 0-23-.232
I was surprised that Vernon finished his career with Pirates, and that he was a coach in 1960 - the first man to shake Maz's hand. All of his at-bats came in September. I'm wondering if they didn't give him the at-bats so that he'd be a four-decade player.
Also, Ted Page (1903): OF; Grays, 1931, 191 AB, 0-17-.288; Crawfords, 1932-34, 495 AB, 4-63-.301
And, Sandy Burke (1887): RHP; Rebels, 1915, 18 IP, 2-0, 1.00
Best player born on April 22: Mickey Vernon or Jimmy Key
Possum probably can tell us the Vernon story. The 4 decades sounds reasonable to me and he only played when roster was expanded.
Vernon and Murtaugh were lifelong friends. Vernon retired after the 1959 season. He had played 19 years and was a 2 time batting champ. So Danny offered his friend a coaching job in 1960. Just a season earlier, Vernon had been an active player. And 2 seasons earlier he had batted .293 at age 40. So it was reasonable to consider that he may have some value as a player beyond his coaching. He received BP during spring training to try to stay sharp. Murtaugh used his bench very sparingly in 1960 other than his platoons. Baker, Christopher, Schofield and Oldis rarely played. So there was no need to activate Vernon. But as soon as the roster expanded in September, the Pirates took advantage of having Vernon around and activated him for the stretch run. He had 9 plate appearances going 1 for 8 with a walk. His hit came in his 3rd game, Sept 6 vs the 2nd place Braves when he drove in an insurance run in the 8th for a 5-3 lead. Ironically, that was the game Dick Groat was HBP and fractured his left arm, which finally gave Dick Schofield some PT (during which he excelled). They weren't trying to do him a favor by playing 4 decades. It just made sense that a hitter of his pedigree who had been active only a season ago might be of use.
-
Bobster21
Today's birthdays
To activate Vernon from the coaching staff the Pirates had to sign him as a free agent on Sept 1. Since he wasn't going to be on the WS roster, they had to waive him on Sept 30 to reinstate him as a coach.
-
ArnoldRothstein
Today's birthdays
April 23:
Dave Davidson (1984): 2007; LHP; 2 IP; 0-0, 22.50
Ron Blackburn (1935): 1958-59; RHP; 108 IP; 3-2, 3.50
Ray Starr (1906): 1944-45; RHP; 96.1 IP; 6-7, 5.33
Connie Walsh (1882): 1907; RHP; 1 IP; 0-0, 9.00
Bob Ganley (1875): 1905-06; RF; 638 AB; 0-38-.270
Also, Rich Thompson (1979): one of the players lost in the 2003 Rule 5 Draft. Drafted by San Diego, traded to Kansas City, returned to Pittsburgh in April.
Highest slugging average, career, with more than 60 games played and more than 10 at-bats:
1. Ruth .690
2. RON BLACKBURN .667
3. Yordan Alvarez .655
4. Williams .634
5. Gehrig .632
6. Foxx .609
7. Bonds .607
8. Greenberg .605
Best player born on April 23: Warren Spahn
Dave Davidson (1984): 2007; LHP; 2 IP; 0-0, 22.50
Ron Blackburn (1935): 1958-59; RHP; 108 IP; 3-2, 3.50
Ray Starr (1906): 1944-45; RHP; 96.1 IP; 6-7, 5.33
Connie Walsh (1882): 1907; RHP; 1 IP; 0-0, 9.00
Bob Ganley (1875): 1905-06; RF; 638 AB; 0-38-.270
Also, Rich Thompson (1979): one of the players lost in the 2003 Rule 5 Draft. Drafted by San Diego, traded to Kansas City, returned to Pittsburgh in April.
Highest slugging average, career, with more than 60 games played and more than 10 at-bats:
1. Ruth .690
2. RON BLACKBURN .667
3. Yordan Alvarez .655
4. Williams .634
5. Gehrig .632
6. Foxx .609
7. Bonds .607
8. Greenberg .605
Best player born on April 23: Warren Spahn
-
Bobster21
Today's birthdays
A little more on how Vernon was used in September 1960. He was activated on Sept 1 and immediately became Murtaugh's favorite pinch hitter. Vernon had 9 PH appearances. No one else had more than 4 including the players who were normally on the bench and available for PH duty. Murtaugh used a PHer 37 times in September after Vernon was activated with Vernon handling 9 (about 25%) of those and the other 28 times were split between 17 other players. So this was definitely more than doing a favor for Vernon. It seemed like Murtaugh saw his old friend as a legit weapon off the bench.