OnlyBucs

I remember on his talk show that night, Myron Cope said Brett "could be elected Mayor of Pittsburgh."

May 28:



Alex Hernandez (1977): 2000-01; 1B/OF; 71 AB; 1-5-.183

Kirk Gibson (1957): 1992; RF; 56 AB; 2-5-.196

Bob Kuzava (1923): 1957; LHP; 2 IP; 0-0, 9.00

Steve Nagy (1919): 1947; LHP; 14 IP; 1-3, 5.79

King Brady (1881): 1906-07; RHP; 25 IP; 1-1, 2.16



Best player born on May 28: Kirk Gibson (1957)



5/28/1956: Dale Long homered in his 8th consecutive game, off Carl Erskine as the Pirates beat the Dodgers 3-2.

74475B5A5951675A415D4641505C5B350 wrote: May 28:



Alex Hernandez (1977): 2000-01; 1B/OF; 71 AB; 1-5-.183

Kirk Gibson (1957): 1992; RF; 56 AB; 2-5-.196

Bob Kuzava (1923): 1957; LHP; 2 IP; 0-0, 9.00

Steve Nagy (1919): 1947; LHP; 14 IP; 1-3, 5.79

King Brady (1881): 1906-07; RHP; 25 IP; 1-1, 2.16



Best player born on May 28: Kirk Gibson (1957)



5/28/1956: Dale Long homered in his 8th consecutive game, off Carl Erskine as the Pirates beat the Dodgers 3-2.






I saw Gibby play many times in the minors but was never sure he would succeed in the majors. I saw him play football several times in the Big Ten and thought he would be great in the NFL.

The Pirates tried to fill the hole left by Bonilla's free agency by trading for Gibson, who cratered. I think he really had trouble with his knees on artificial turf? Whatever, Baseball-Reference lists Alex Cole as the right field starter. He started 45 games there, as did Lloyd McClendon. Gary Varsho, Cecil Espy, Dave Clark, Orlando Merced, Gary Redus, and Jeff King also started out there. And the team won 96 games.

Biff Pocoroba (never played for the Pirates), just died. We recently had birthdays for Chris Cannizzaro and Dann Bilardello. It seems like catchers have some mellifluous names: Paul Casanova, John Boccabella.

May 29:



Charlie Hayes (1965): 1996; 3B; 459 AB; 10-62-.248

Jim Stroner (1901): 1929; 3B; 8 AB; 0-0-.375



Stroner got a chance to play in the majors at age 28, wasn't kept even though he outhit the incumbent at his position, .375 to .356. He played third base in the high minors till he was 37.



Ke'Bryan Hayes got up to 10 homers in 2019, and I sometimes wonder if he'll develop home run power. In fourteen years in the majors, his dad's home run totals were 0, 8, 10, 12, 18, 25, 10, 11, 12, 11, 12, 6, 9, and 0. The 25 was with the Rockies.



Best player born on May 29: Eric Davis

55667A7B7870467B607C6760717D7A140 wrote: May 29:



Charlie Hayes (1965): 1996; 3B; 459 AB; 10-62-.248

Jim Stroner (1901): 1929; 3B; 8 AB; 0-0-.375



Stroner got a chance to play in the majors at age 28, wasn't kept even though he outhit the incumbent at his position, .375 to .356. He played third base in the high minors till he was 37.



Ke'Bryan Hayes got up to 10 homers in 2019, and I sometimes wonder if he'll develop home run power.  In fourteen years in the majors, his dad's home run totals were 0, 8, 10, 12, 18, 25, 10, 11, 12, 11, 12, 6, 9, and 0. The 25 was with the Rockies.



Best player born on May 29: Eric Davis
I know this is a birthday thread but MLB listed the top RHP in the history of each team- THE WINNER IS Babe Adams !!

I know this is a birthday thread but MLB listed the top RHP in the history of each team- THE WINNER IS Babe Adams !!


You could make an argument for several guys, but I guess his Series performance put him over the top.

May 30:



Luis Escobar (1996): 2019

Tony Watson (1985): 2011-17; LHP; 433 IP; 31-16, 2.68

Al Mamaux (1894): 1913-17; RHP; 713.1 IP; 49-36, 2.61

Mike Donlin (1878): 1912; OF; 244 AB; 2-35-.316



Mamaux was the scion of a wealthy Pittsburgh family. He got a tryout, was signed and sent to the minors, but at 19 was with the big team for good. By his age 22 season, he had two twenty-win seasons and more wins (47) than any other Pirate pitcher by that age. He fell to 2-11, 5.25 the next season, and was traded. He surfaced a decade later as the ace and then manager of the Newark Bears of the International League.



Best player born on May 30: Manny Ramirez

May 31:



Kenny Lofton (1967): 2003; CF; 339 AB; 9-26-.277

Joe Orsulak (1962): 1983-86; OF; 876 AB; 2-44-.272



I liked Orsulak when he was with the Pirates, but really became a fan of his in the 90s. He came up as a speed guy, but had some leg injuries that took away that part of his game. He spent 1987 in the minors or injured, then was traded to the Orioles and latched on to most of the right field job on the 1988 team that began the season with 21 straight losses. He didn't have the power you want for a corner outfielder, so an off year at the point would be a big threat to his career.



Joe responded to that challenge by not having an off year for eight straight years. A career .273 hitter, he batted .260 to .289 every year for eight years. He earned a little more playing time, then the Orioles got good and replaced him and he went to the awful Mets. They eventually cleaned house, and he moved on to the Marlins, where he finally cratered to .221. By then, though, he had enough credibility in the game that he wrangled One Last Season out of the Expos, and hit .227 to prove that he was done. From the time he came back with the Orioles he went to the plate 3,756 times in majors, and drew his last paycheck at 35.



Best player born on May 31: Kenny Lofton (1967)