This day in baseball: Pittsburgh’s NL debut
Posted: April 30, 2019 Filed under: 19th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: American Association, Baseball, Chicago White Stockings, history, National League, Pittsburgh Alleghenys, Pittsburgh Pirates, sports Leave a commentThe Pittsburgh Alleghenys, now known as the Pirates, played their first game in the National League on April 30, 1887, defeating the defending league-champion Chicago White Stockings, 6-2, at Pittsburgh’s Recreation Park. Formerly an American Association team the Alleghenys posted a 55-69 record in their first season, finishing in 6th place in the eight-team circuit.
1888 Alleghenys
This day in baseball: World Series rookie dominance
Posted: October 16, 2018 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Babe Adams, Baseball, Detroit Tigers, Major League Baseball, MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates, sports, World Series 2 CommentsOn October 16, 1909, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Tigers, 8-0, to win the World Series, four games to three. Rookie pitcher Babe Adams hurled a complete-game shutout in Game Seven, having also won Games One and Five.
This day in baseball: Sole victory
Posted: September 28, 2018 Filed under: 19th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Chicago Colts, Chicago Cubs, Dave Wright, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates, sports Leave a commentChicago Colts (Cubs) pitcher Dave Wright won the only game of his major league career on September 28, 1897 (out of two total pitching appearances). The twenty-one-year-old gave up 14 runs on 17 hits, yet he still managed to eek out a 15-14 victory over the Pirates.
Dave Wright (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: Triple king
Posted: August 26, 2018 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Boston Braves, Chief Wilson, Dave Orr, Forbes Field, Heinie Reitz, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates, sports 2 CommentsAt Forbes Field on August 26, 1912, Owen “Chief” Wilson hit three triples in a doubleheader against the Braves. The Pirates outfielder’s third triple of the twin bill established a new major league record for triples in a season with 32, breaking the mark he shared with Dave Orr (1886 Metropolitans/AA) and Heinie Reitz (1894 Orioles/NL). Wilson finished the season with 36 three-baggers, a record that stands to this day.
Wikipedia
This day in baseball
Posted: May 7, 2018 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Chicago Cubs, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Pittsburgh Pirates, sports, Walter Mueller 2 CommentsOn May 7, 1922, Walter Mueller became the first player to record five RBIs in his major league debut. Mueller’s offensive statistics included a double and a home run, leading the Pirates to an 11-5 victory over the Cubs in Chicago.
Mueller (Wikipedia)
This day in baseball: Bucs debut at Exposition Park
Posted: April 22, 2018 Filed under: 19th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Chicago Cubs, Exposition Park, Forbes Field, history, Pittsburgh Burghers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Players' League, sports Leave a commentThe Pittsburgh Pirates made their debut at Exposition Park in Pittsburg on April 22, 1891, losing to the Cubs, 7-6. Exposition Park had opened the previous year as the home of the Pittsburgh Burghers of the short-lived Players’ League. The Bucs would call Exposition Park home until 1909, when they moved to Forbes Field.
Exposition Park, 1905 (Wikimedia Commons)
“The Spirit of Opening Day,” by Greg Shea
Posted: March 31, 2018 Filed under: 21st Century, Pop culture | Tags: Baseball, business, Chicago Cubs, Clint Hurdle, Greg Shea, Major League Baseball, MLB, Opening Day, Pittsburgh Pirates, poetry, sports 2 CommentsTechnically a couple days late, but I would argue it’s still early enough for this to count. I stumbled across this piece last night. It’s full of baseball metaphors being applied to business. Apparently in 2014, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle shared this poem with Pirates staff on Opening Day that year. That day, the Pirates won 1-0 in ten innings over the Cubs.
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Today you’ll dig in the closet for your glove and snap a ball into it while sipping your morning coffee.
Today you’ll drive to work and admonish yourself to “keep your head down” and your eye on the road.
Today your team will be in first and planning to stay there. Today you’ll wonder about developing and selling tobacco-flavored toothpaste, as you spit into the sink.
Today you’ll still be able to turn the double play.
Today you’ll end your contract holdout.
Today you won’t lose a business deal in the sun. Today you’ll find yourself rotating your arm around your head to stretch the shoulder and keep it loose.
Today sunflower seeds strangely find their way into your back pocket.
Today you’ll think of wearing a black suit to match the eye black.
Today you’ll have the steal sign.
Today you slip up in a meeting and mention “our sales team vs. lefties.”
Today as the toast comes out of the toaster, you’ll still remember how to execute a perfect “pop-up” slide.
Today a hot dog and peanuts for lunch will sound about right.
Today you tell a co-worker to “get loose.”
Today the only strike you’ll know about is above the knees and below the armpits.
Today you’ll wear your jacket only on your pitching arm.
Today you’ll buy two packs of gum and stuff them in the side of your mouth to look like a player.
Today, during lunch, you’ll wonder why Coke doesn’t come in a wood can.
Today you’ll scratch yourself and spit for no apparent reason.
Today you’ll wonder why stirrup socks never caught on as a fashion rage.
Today you’ll be the rookie looking to make it big.
Today you’ll be the wily vet with just a little something left.
Today you’ll look for the AM dial on your radio.
Today mom’s watching.
Today dad’s in the backyard with his glove.
Today will be hopeful.
Today it’ll still be a kids’ game.
Today you’ll be a kid.
Today is Opening Day!
