Pittsburgh Pirates OTD

OTD 5/19/2015 #Pittsburgh’s Pedro Alvarez became the 3rd hitter to reach the Allegheny River on the fly, joining Houston's Daryle Ward (2002) & #Pirates Garrett Jones (2013). The HR flew an estimated 461 feet and landed inside a boat docked along the edge of river. #LetsGoBucs

OTD 5/18/87: NBC Today Show came to #Pittsburgh to showcase “America’s Most Livable City!” Bryant Gumbel sat down w/Willie Stargell ⭐️ , #Pirates prez Malcolm Prine, & Sid Bream to discuss the state of the troubled #Pittsburgh baseball club. #LetsGoBucs

MLB ⚾️ statistics as printed OTD in the 5/18/97 Pittsburgh PG. Pirates record was 21-20 heading into play on that day. #LetsGoBucs

HBD 🎂 5/16/1959 to former #Pittsburgh #Pirates LHP Bob Patterson! Bob was a starter, and later a key part of the #Buccos bullpen, 1986-1992. “The Glove Doctor” became the go-to guy in the clubhouse for repairs and breaking in new mitts: #LetsGoBucs

HBD 🎂 5/16/1949 “Big Daddy” Rick Reuschel! From 1985-87 w/the #Pittsburgh #Pirates, Rick was 31-30 3.04 in 91g 85 starts w/22CG 6 SHO 343k in 586.2ip. Here’s Rick at the 1987 #MLB All-Star Game vs Harold Reynolds, Puckett, & McGwire! #LetsGoBucs

HBD 5/16/1953🎂 Rick Rhoden, #Pittsburgh #Pirates pitcher from 1979-1986! Total w/PIT: 79-73 3.51 215g 213gs as a pitcher. .251/.267/.340 5hr 48rbi as a hitter! Great golfer 🏌️ too. Vin Scully calls Rick’s at-bat on 6/1/86 vs #Dodgers : #LetsGoBucs

OTD 5/16/97: Jim Leyland returns to Three Rivers Stadium wearing teal as his #Florida #Marlins beat the #Pittsburgh #Pirates 3-1. #Buccos SS Kevin Elster’s wrist was broken in a collision at first base, ending his season. 😭 #LetsGoBucs

#Pirates statistics through 5/15/92:

OTD 5/15/2001: Bobby Bonilla, in his last MLB season playing for the #StLouis #Cardinals, faces #Pirates at PNC Park for the 1st time. He launches a 3-run shot for his last HR on Pittsburgh soil while #LetsGoPens  score a big playoff goal. #LetsGoBucs

HBD 🎂 Pirates legend Justin Morneau #LetsGoBucs

OTD 4 YEARS AGO (5/15/2022): The #Cincinnati #Reds combine for a no-hitter but the #Pittsburgh #Pirates win the game 1-0! 😂 Here’s the only run scored, on a bases loaded force-out in the 8th inning: #LetsGoBucs

OTD 5/14/97 #Rockies   led 6-3, 7-5, & finally 9-6 heading into bottom of the 8th. But #Buccos batted around in the inning & put up a 9-spot, including an Al Martin grand slam! #Pittsburgh #Pirates 15, Colorado 10. #LetsGoBucs

OTD 5/14/89: For the 1st time since 1980, a left-handed catcher 🤯 appeared in MLB: #Pittsburgh #Pirates Benny Distefano caught the 9th vs ATL. There has not been a left-handed catcher in MLB since Distefano in the 1989 season. #LetsGoBucs

HBD 🎂 Felipe Alou! Pirates Manager Jim Leyland on Felipe in September of 1992 after Alou had been hired mid-season as Expos manager: “I hope Felipe gets an (expletive deleted) lifetime contract to be honest. But it's none of my business, and I want you to make sure you quote me as saying that. "I'll tell you this about Felipe, though: he was sure as hell capable of managing in the major leagues long before 1992. Felipe's earned whatever he can get, not only through what he's done this year but in the dues he paid, too. "He's a solid citizen who has represented the organization well since he's been there and he has as good a reputation as anybody in the game."

Remembering baseball ⚾️ great Yogi Berra, born OTD 5/12/1925… and thinking about this Mike LaValliere quote from 1988 when the #Pittsburgh #Pirates were battling the #NewYork #Mets for the pennant: Must be a “catcher” thing. 😂 #Yogiisms #LetsGoBucs

From OTD(5/12/92) Atlanta Constitution, on the value of managers: "The way his [Jim Leyland’s] team came out of the gate this year is more an indication of Leyland's value than when he had all those players before," says [#Cubs  GM Larry] Himes. #LetsGoBucs

OTD 35 YEARS AGO 5/12/91: My favorite highlight from this game… If you don’t want to watch former #Pittsburgh #Pirates slugger Bobby Bonilla laying down the perfect bunt for a base hit, I don’t even know you anymore. 👀 #LetsGoBucs

The Public: Barry Bonds is a jerk. Counterpoint: OTD 5/12/1992 article in the Raleigh, NC News and Observer. #LetsGoBucs

HBD 🎂 5/11/1958 - former #Pittsburgh #Pirates RHP Walt Terrell! A free agent signing, he made 16 starts (2-7 5.88ERA) for the ‘90 #Buccos before being released in July. Here Walt faces #NewYork #Mets leadoff hitter Daryl Boston on 6/10/90: #LetsGoBucs

HBD 🎂 5/11/1958 former #Pittsburgh #Pirates RHP Mark Huismann! The journeyman made 7 relief appearances (1-0 7.88) for the 1990-91 #Buccos. Mark appeared in the 4/21/91 comeback game (1ip 2h 3r 1er) & K’d the last 2 #Cubs  in the 8th. #LetsGoBucs