A look back at events that you’ve either forgotten about or never heard of in the first place.
July 5, 1886
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher and old-timey hits-machine Fred Carroll set the Major League record for the most hits in one day when he had nine hits in a doubleheader against Baltimore. No one has ever beaten that mark, although eight players have subsequently hit nine. The most recent was in 1961.
July 6, 1933
The first-ever All-Star Game is played with Pirates players Paul Waner and Pie Traynor taking the field for the National League.
July 6, 1980
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs play the longest game ever in Three Rivers Stadium. During the 20-inning game, eight Cubs pitchers didn’t allow a hit for the first 12-and-a-third innings. The Buccos would go on to win 5-4.
July 6, 2002
It would take 15 months to occur, but a home-run ball at PNC Park finally flies into the Allegheny River. Houston’s Daryle Ward sends the ball 463 feet.
July 7, 1959
Then-Vice President Richard Nixon throws out the first pitch at the MLB All-Star Game at Forbes Field.
July 7, 1992
Pirates outfielder Andy Van Slyke executes an unassisted double play — the first big-league outfielder to do so.
July 8, 1933
Art Rooney founds the Pittsburgh Steelers, becoming the NFL’s tenth team.
July 9, 2003
The biggest scandal to ever rock the Pittsburgh Pirates occurs in Milwaukee. During the Brewers’ “Sausage Race” — similar to our Pierogie race — Bucco first baseman Randall Simon lightly hits the costume of one of the sausages with his bat, forcing the racer off-balance and tumbling to the ground. Simon is arrested and fined $575.
July 10, 1934
Pirate Pie Traynor becomes the first person to steal home during the All-Star Game.
July 11, 1985
Legendary Steelers linebacker Jack Lambert retires from professional football after 10 seasons with the team.
July 11, 2001
The Pittsburgh Penguins trade long-time star Jaromir Jagr to the Washington Capitals for Kris Beech. It was not a fair trade.
July 12, 1897
Beaver native and Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Tom McCreery becomes the first and only major leaguer to hit three inside-the-park home runs.