2/3 From 1980: Tim M, Mike, Rennie, Tim C & Tony Sign, Arriba In Latino HoF, Pops Dapper, No Angel, Plan B; RIP Bob, HBD Austin
- 1980 – Willie Stargell was given the Dapper Dan Sportsman of the Year honor for 1979. Cap’n Willie was the NLCS MVP, World Series MVP and NL’s co-MVP (with the Cards’ Keith Hernandez) in ‘79 after banging 28 bombs during regulation, then slashing .415/5/13 in 10 postseason contests. It was his second DD award – he shared the 1971 honor with Danny Murtaugh and Roberto Clemente.
- 1982 – Minor league C Angel Rodriguez‚ 20, who played for the Pirates’ Alexandria club (Carolina League), was suspended for one year for telling opposing Latino batters what pitches were coming, tipping them off in Spanish. Rodriguez had been suspended by the Pirates during an August 19th game against Lynchburg, and baseball added its punishment after investigators had obtained incriminating eyewitness accounts/written statements from eight umpires and several managers. He returned in 1984, but never made it past the AAA level.
- 1984 – C Tony Pena agreed to a four-year pact with the Pirates worth $4.15M, avoiding a scheduled arb hearing (he had asked for $780,000; the Bucs offered $625,000; the new contract earned him a midpoint $700,000 for year one). It was a good deal for the Pirates; Tony was an All-Star for the next three years and two-time Gold Glove winner, then was flipped to the St. Louis Cardinals for Andy Van Slyke, Spanky LaValliere and Mike Dunne in 1987.
 |
| Tony Pena – 1983 Topps |
- 1989 – The Pirates tried to splash Rennie Stennett, 38, and Gateway HS lefty Tim Conroy, 28, who started his MLB career at age 18, with some of Ponce deLeon’s Fountain of Youth elixir by signing the pair to minor league deals. Alas, Rennie, who had sat out the past eight years, and Tim, whose last big league outing was in 1987, had short-lived comebacks: Stennett went 2-for-3 as a spring pinch hitter but had lost his range and was cut at the end of camp, and Conroy got a couple of outings in AAA Buffalo before he hung ‘em up for good.
- 1993 – LHP Austin Davis was born in Scottsdale, Arizona. Drafted by the Phils in 2014, the reliever made his debut in 2018 and did OK (1-2/4.15 in 32 appearances), had a shaky 2019, then was hit hard in a couple of outings in 2020 and DFA’ed; the Pirates swung a PTBNL (RHP Joel Cesar) deal to land him. The Bucs called Joel up on September 11th off the taxi squad as a mid-inning arm and he appeared briefly with the big club again the following year. He was traded in the 2021 off season to the Boston Red Sox for multi-purpose player Michael Chavis. Davis was picked up by the San Diego Padres organization and released at year’s end; he’s currently a free agent.
- 1999 – “Plan B” passed the Pennsylvania legislature, assuring state money to complete new stadiums in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, a process that began for Steel City leaders back in 1991. It locked in some team payback (one state aide said the deal was neither a grant nor a loan, but a “groan”) after suffering setbacks in both Harrisburg back rooms and Pittsburgh voting booths. As a result, the cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all Three Rivers Stadium was finally replaced by PNC Park and Heinz Field, both of which opened in 2001.
- 2001 – RHP Mike Lincoln joined the Pirates from the Twins after being released in the off season. The Bucs converted the starter to a bullpen role, and in three years with Pittsburgh (2001-03), he went 7-9-5 with a 3.50 ERA, closing briefly in 2003. He had a bruised shoulder in his last season, working just 36-1/3 IP, and was non-tendered after the campaign. Lincoln went to the Cards, but had TJ surgery during the 2004 season. It took four years for him to bounce back, but he did rally for a final three-year tour (2008-10) with the Reds before retiring.
 |
| Mike Lincoln – 2002 Upper Deck 40-Man |
- 2015 – The Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame inducted six new members, including Roberto Clemente. He joined former Buccos Manny Mota, Tony Armas Sr., George Brunet, Juan Pizarro, Vicente Romo, and Luis Arroyo as members. The following year, ex-Bucco catcher Tony Pena was also inducted into the Hall. Later, a pair of short-term Bucs, Luis Sojo and Armando Rios, were also inducted.
- 2019 – RHP Bob Friend passed away at the age of 88 from cardiac arrest. Friend toed the slab for the Pirates for 15 years (1951-65), winning 191 games and was an ironman, never appearing in fewer than 32 outings in a year while posting an 11-year streak of 200+ IP. He holds the franchise mark for innings pitched (3,480-1/3), games started (477) and strikeouts (1,682). Bob spent his last season with the Yankees and Mets and returned to Pittsburgh, working an insurance business and becoming a two-time Allegheny County Controller. He also was one of the founders of the Pirates Alumni Association.
- 2025 – The Pirates officially signed lefty reliever Tim Mayza to a one-year/$1.15M contract that was agreed to a week earlier. The 33-year-old has a 20-9-4/3.88 career line, mainly as a Toronto Blue Jay (2017-24). Mayza made a combined 50 appearances in ‘24 between the Blue Jays and Yankees, going 0-2/6.33. He was injured most of his Bucco stay, pitching well but only getting into seven outings before being waived at the end of August; he was claimed by Philly. To clear a 40-man roster spot, IF Alika Williams was DFA’ed. He went unclaimed and was assigned back to Indy, only to be released in the off season. Alika’s still looking for a new organization.
Source: https://oldbucs.blogspot.com/2026/02/23-from-1980-tim-m-mike-rennie-tim-c.html
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Visits: | 1,774,093,969 |
| Stories: | 8,578,240 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
