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Gastonia Pirates
The Gastonia Pirates were a minor league baseball team, based in Gastonia, North Carolina, between 1959 and 1972. The club was a Class-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and played primarily in the Western Carolinas League. The club was originally named the Columbus Pirates prior to 1959 and were based in Columbus, Georgia, as a member of the South Atlantic League. On July 6, 1959 the Pirates moved to Gastonia and became the Gastonia Pirates. In 1960 the Pirates were not an affiliate of the Gastonia team and the void was filled by the Gastonia Rippers in the Western Carolinas League. After the Pirates folded after the 1972 season, the Gastonia Rangers, an affiliate of the Texas Rangers became the city's representative in the Western Carolinas League. Season-by-season * Columbus Pirates moved to Gastonia on July 6, 1959 Notable alumni *Tony Armas (1972) 2 x MLB All-Star * Dave Cash (1967) 3 x MLB All-Star * Bob Moose (1966) * Omar Moreno (1972) 2 x NL Stolen Base Lea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Western Carolinas League
file:John Henry Moss.png, Portion of plaque displaying likeness of John Henry Moss at Municipal Stadium, Hagerstown, Maryland The Western Carolinas League was a Class D (1948–52; 1960–62) and a low Class A (1963–79) full-season league in American minor league baseball. The WCL changed its name prior to the 1980 season and has been known since as the South Atlantic League, a highly successful Class A circuit with teams up the Eastern Seaboard from Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to New Jersey. Originally called the "Western ''Carolina'' League", the 1948–52 WCL was composed exclusively of teams located in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge sections of western North Carolina. It merged with the North Carolina State League to form the short-lived Class D Tar Heel League, which lasted only 1½ seasons (1953–54) before folding. In 1960, the WCL was revived as a Class D circuit intended to house farm system, farm teams of the member clubs of a planned third major league, the Continent ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Frank Oceak
Frank John Oceak (September 8, 1912 – March 19, 1983) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He was an infielder and manager in minor league baseball and served as a coach in Major League Baseball for 11 seasons between and . A trusted confidant of four-time Pittsburgh Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh, Oceak was coaching at third base on October 13, 1960, during Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, when Pirate second baseman Bill Mazeroski hit his dramatic walk-off home run to clinch the Series against the New York Yankees. Oceak, wearing uniform #44, can be seen in many of the films and still photos of the historic event, celebrating with Mazeroski as he rounds third base and following him to home plate. Frank Oceak was born in Pocahontas, Virginia. He batted and threw right-handed, and stood tall and weighed . Primarily a second baseman and shortstop, Oceak spent his entire playing career (1932–40; 1942–43; 1946–47) in the lower minor leagues, briefly as a m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Milt May
Milton Scott May (born August 1, 1950) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and San Francisco Giants."Meet the Rays." Mark Topkin. ''St. Petersburg Times'' (Florida). Mach 31, 2002, pg. 6X. Major league career Milt May was selected as an infielder in the 11th round (237th overall) of the 1968 Major League Baseball draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates out of St. Petersburg High School, Florida who then converted him into a catcher.Milt May Trades and Transactions at Baseball Almanac He was a good handler of pitchers and a left-handed |
Frank Taveras
Franklin Crisostomo Taveras Fabian (born December 24, 1949), is a former Major League shortstop from to for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets and Montreal Expos. Career Pittsburgh Pirates Taveras signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent January 8, , and made his major league debut on September 25, as a pinch runner for Willie Stargell in the fifteenth inning of an extra inning marathon with the New York Mets (won 2-1 by the Mets in the bottom of the 15th). After only four appearances, mostly as a late inning defensive replacement in , and spending the entire season in the minors, Taveras made the Pirates for good in . On August 5, , he hit an inside-the-park grand slam in the second inning of the second game of a doubleheader at Cincinnati. Taveras led the National League in stolen bases in 1977 with 70, and followed that up with leading the NL in times caught stealing with 25 in 1978. In an unfortunate set of circumstances, he was not given a World ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rennie Stennett
Reinaldo Antonio Stennett Porte (April 5, 1949 – May 18, 2021) was a Panamanian professional baseball second baseman, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1971–79) and San Francisco Giants (1980–81). He batted and threw right-handed. A World Series champion with the Pirates in 1979, Stennett is one of two players to collect seven hits in a nine-inning game, which he did in a 22–0 victory over the Chicago Cubs, in 1975. Stennett was also a member of the first all-Black and Latino starting lineup in big league history. Early life Stennett was born in Colón, Panama, on April 5, 1949. He was raised in the Panama Canal Zone and attended Paraiso High School, the same as Rod Carew. Stennett piqued the interest of the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and Houston Astros, who wanted him to continue his schooling in the United States and develop him into a pitcher. However, he rejected their overtures on the recommendation of his father. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bob Robertson
Robert Eugene Robertson (born October 2, 1946) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman between and , most notably as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams that won five National League Eastern Division titles in six years between and and, won the World Series in . He also played for the Seattle Mariners (1978) and the Toronto Blue Jays (1979). He missed the entire 1968 season due to a kidney obstruction. Career Robertson was touted as "another Ralph Kiner" after leading the minor leagues in home runs three times. He had brief trials with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1967 and 1969, having missed all of the 1968 season due to a kidney obstruction. Robertson broke into the Pirates' regular lineup in , playing alongside future Hall-of-Famers Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski and Willie Stargell. On August 1 of that year, at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Robertson and Stargell each collected five hits in a 20- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Craig Reynolds (baseball)
Gordon Craig Reynolds (born December 27, 1952) is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop who was an inaugural member of the Seattle Mariners. He batted left-handed and threw right. Early life As a senior at Reagan High School in , Reynolds was named the Greater Houston High School Athlete of the Year. He was drafted out of high school by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft. MLB career Pittsburgh Pirates Reynolds batted a solid .318 in his first professional season with the Gulf Coast League Pirates, but with no power, and he committed 25 errors on the field. His game improved substantially in all areas by , when he batted .299 with six home runs and logged a .957 fielding percentage while splitting the season at Double-A & Triple-A. He emerged as one of the Pirates' top minor league prospects, batting .294 over five minor league seasons when he made his major league debut in . He spent the season in Triple-A with the Charl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Freddie Patek
Freddie Joseph Patek (; born October 9, 1944), nicknamed The Flea or The Cricket, is an American former professional baseball shortstop who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals and California Angels. At tall, he was the shortest MLB player of his time. Career Pittsburgh Pirates Patek was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 22nd round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft out of Seguin High School in Seguin, Texas. He made his major league debut on June 3, 1968 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at shortstop, and played all but six of his 292 games with the Pirates at shortstop. However, with All-Star Gene Alley firmly entrenched at shortstop there was a desire on the part of management to convert him into a utility player. Kansas City Royals Patek was traded along with Bruce Dal Canton and Jerry May from the Pirates to the Royals for Jackie Hernández, Bob Johnson and Jim Campanis at the Winter Meetings on December 2, 1970. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Al Oliver
Albert Oliver Jr. (born October 14, 1946) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder and first baseman from through , most notably as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams that won five National League Eastern Division titles in six years between and and, won the World Series in . A seven-time All-Star, Oliver was the National League batting champion and RBI champion as a member of the Montreal Expos. He was also a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner. After playing for the Pirates, he played for the Texas Rangers (–), Montreal Expos (–), San Francisco Giants (), Philadelphia Phillies (), Los Angeles Dodgers (), and Toronto Blue Jays (), over the course of his 18-year MLB career. Nicknamed "Scoop", Oliver batted and threw left-handed. Pittsburgh Pirates Oliver was signed by the Pirates as an amateur free agent in . He was promoted to the Major Leagues on September 14, 1968, which was the day his father ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Omar Moreno
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ( ar, عمر بن الخطاب, also spelled Omar, ) was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () as the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate on 23 August 634. Umar was a senior companion and father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He was also an expert Muslim jurist known for his pious and just nature, which earned him the epithet ''al-Fārūq'' ("the one who distinguishes (between right and wrong)"). Umar initially opposed Muhammad, his distant Qurayshite kinsman and later son-in-law. Following his conversion to Islam in 616, he became the first Muslim to openly pray at the Kaaba. Umar participated in almost all battles and expeditions under Muhammad, who bestowed the title ''al-Fārūq'' ('the Distinguisher') upon Umar, for his judgements. After Muhammad's death in June 632, Umar pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr () as the first caliph and served as the closest adviser t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bob Moose
Robert Ralph Moose Jr. (October 9, 1947 – October 9, 1976) was an American professional baseball player. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from through . Moose was a member of Pirates teams that won five National League Eastern Division titles in six years between and and, won the World Series in . His best season came in 1969 when he posted a 14–3 won-loss record and a 2.91 Earned Run Average working equally as a starter and reliever. On September 20 of that year, he no-hit the eventual World Series champion New York Mets. He is also known for his wild pitch in the bottom half of the ninth inning which allowed George Foster to score the winning run in the fifth and deciding game of the 1972 NLCS, sending the Cincinnati Reds to the World Series after Pittsburgh had a one-run lead entering the bottom of the ninth. During the 1974 season, Moose suffered a blood clot under the shoulder of his pitching ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dave Cash (baseball)
David Cash Jr. (born June 11, 1948), is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a second baseman from 1969 to 1980, most prominently as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates where, he was a member of the 1971 World Series winning team and, with the Philadelphia Phillies where he became a three-time All-Star player. He also played for the Montreal Expos and the San Diego Padres. After his playing career, Cash spent several years as a minor league hitting coach and manager for several major league organizations. Career Cash was born in Utica, New York and attended Thomas R. Proctor High School. His MLB career started modestly, as he played in only 82 games over his first two seasons, though he still hit a very respectable .306 in 271 at-bats. Cash established himself as a solid singles hitter and a good defensive second baseman in his time in Pittsburgh. He was the Pirates' primary second baseman from 1971 to 1973, but his play ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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