With the 6-2 beginning to the 2018 campaign, the Pittsburgh Pirates and their fans saw some historic moments on the diamond to open the season.
We begin on Opening Day with Gregory Polanco‘s impressive home run in the 13th inning against the Tigers in Detroit. The last time a member of the Jolly Roger crew hit a homer in the 13th or later on Opening Day was Hall of Famer Willie Stargell in 1966.
Next was Colin Moran’s first-inning grand slam home run Monday which was the first of his Major League career. It was the third time a Bucco blasted one in the team’s Home Opener.
A pair of Pirates Hall of Famers achieved their moment in the box score. Ralph Kiner secured his spot in the third inning off of Cincinnati’s Howie Fox on Friday, April 22, 1949, while Roberto Clemente claimed his on Tuesday, April 10, 1962, against Philadelphia’s Jim Owens.
I thought we would review some of the records in the Pirates history books that I believe stand the challenge of time over the course of a season or a career. Here are six achievements fans of the Pittsburgh Boys of Summer can appreciate.
Saves: Right-hander Elroy Face is Pittsburgh’s leading fireman out of the bullpen with 188 career saves. At the age of 90, the 5-foot-8, 155-pound reliever from Stephentown, New York threw out the first pitch of the Pirates 2018 home opener against the Minnesota Twins.
Hits: Roberto Clemente is the all-time hits leader for the Bucs with 3,000 in 2,433 contests and 9,454 at-bats. The legendary right-fielder from Carolina, Puerto Rico is tied with the Giants’ Willie Mays for the most Gold Glove Awards in a career with 12 apiece.
Doubles: Paul “Big Poison” Waner put up 62 doubles in 1932, the maximum by a Pirate in a single season. The 5-foot-9, 153-pound Hall of Fame right-fielder from Harrah, Oklahoma is also the all-time career leader in doubles for Pittsburgh with 558.
Triples: John Owen “Chief” Wilson, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound outfielder from Austin, Texas hit an MLB-record 36 triples in 1912 with the Pirates. He achieved this mark at the age of 28 in 152 games and 583 at-bats. The Bucs finished in second place in the National League that season with a record of 93-58.
Home Runs: Ralph Kiner slugged the most home runs in one season as a member of the Jolly Roger crew with 54 in 1949. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound left fielder walked into the Hall of Fame in 1975. The Santa Rita, New Mexico native is second all-time in homers behind Willie Stargell with 301.
Stargell is the Pirates all-time leader in home runs with 475. The left fielder and first baseman assembled his number of homers over 2,360 games and 7,927 at-bats. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound native of Earlsboro, Oklahoma entered Cooperstown in 1988.
Stolen Bases: Omar Moreno set the mark for the most stolen bases in a season with 96 in 1980. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound center fielder from Puerto Armuelles, Panama is third on the all-time stolen base list of the Pirates with 412, behind Honus Wagner with 639 and Max Carey with 688.
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