Nine former Pittsburgh Pirates players born on this date, starting with the most recent one first.
James Marvel, pitcher for the 2019 Pirates. He was originally selected by the Minnesota Twins out of high school in the 37th round of the 2012 draft. He decided to attend Duke, where he went in the 36th round to the Pirates during the 2015 draft. He was recovering from Tommy John surgery at the time, so he didn’t debut in pro ball until 2016. That first year in the system saw Marvel play for Morgantown of the short-season New York-Penn League, where he put up a 5-6, 4.43 record in 65 innings over 13 starts. He finished with a 1.18 WHIP and 41 strikeouts. He split the 2017 season between West Virginia of the Low-A South Atlantic League and Bradenton of the High-A Florida State League. He went 6-8, 3.99 in 20 starts with West Virginia, picking up 75 strikeouts in 94.2 innings. He had a 1.50 ERA in 24 innings over four starts with Bradenton. He combined for a 7-8, 3.49 record in 118.2 innings, with 91 strikeouts and a 1.22 WHIP. Marvel spent most of 2018 in Bradenton, where he went 9-6, 3.68 in 134.1 innings, with 100 strikeouts and a 1.21 WHIP. He finished the season with Altoona of the Double-A Eastern League, posting a 3.00 ERA, 22 strikeouts and a 1.15 WHIP in 33 innings over five starts. He had a breakout season in 2019, as his velocity increased and his curveball was better. Marvel went 9-5, 3.10 in 101.2 innings with Altoona, then moved up to Indianapolis of the Triple-A International League. He was strong there too, going 7-0, 2.67 in 11 starts, with 53 strikeouts over 60.2 innings. He posted a 1.09 WHIP and 136 strikeouts over 162.1 innings between both stops. That led to him making four starts with the Pirates to finish the 2019 season. He did poorly in two games, and had decent results in the other two contests. He finished his brief big league time with an 0-3, 8.31 record, nine strikeouts and a 1.79 WHIP in 17.1 innings.
Marvel was assigned to the Alternate Training Camp in Altoona during the shortened 2020 season, but a right forearm strain ended his season early. He never appeared in any games that year, doing rehab work instead. He spent the entire 2021 season back in Indianapolis, where he made 22 starts and three relief appearances. He went 7-7, 5.26 in 131.2 innings, with 98 strikeouts and a 1.51 WHIP. He became a free agent after the 2021 season, then signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. He spent the entire 2022 season at Lehigh Valley of the International League, where he has made nine starts and 26 relief appearances. Marvel had a 6-7, 6.05 record in 93.2 innings, with 62 strikeouts and a 1.55 WHIP. He signed with the Texas Rangers in May of 2023, where he spent five weeks with Round Rock of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He went 1-3, 7.88 in 24 innings over six starts. He also made one five-inning start for High Point of the independent Atlantic League in 2023, then signed to play in Japan in mid-June. Through mid-September of 2023, he is 2-3, 3.00 in 33 innings for the Nippon Ham Fighters, with 18 strikeouts and a 1.33 WHIP.
Sean Burnett, pitcher for the 2004 and 2008-09 Pirates. He was a first round pick out of high school, selected by the Pirates 19th overall in the 2000 draft. He debuted in the rookie level Gulf Coast League at 17 years old during the 2000 season, when he had a 4.06 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and 24 strikeouts over 31 innings. He moved up to Hickory of the Low-A South Atlantic League during the 2001 season, where he went 11-8, 2.62 in 161.1 innings over 26 starts, with 134 strikeouts and a 1.22 WHIP. Burnett spent the 2002 season with Lynchburg of the High-A Carolina League, where he posted a 13-4, 1.80 record and an 0.97 WHIP in 155.1 innings over 26 starts. Despite the success, he had just 96 strikeouts that year, showing a sharp decline in his strikeout rate that stayed with him in the minors. He moved up to Altoona of the Double-A Eastern League for the 2003 season, when he had a 14-6, 3.21 record in 159.2 innings over 27 starts, with 86 strikeouts and a 1.17 WHIP. That inability to miss bats caught up with him at Triple-A, though it didn’t stop his progress to the majors at 21 years old. Burnett went 1-5, 5.36 in 47 innings over ten starts for Nashville of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League to start the 2004 season. He debuted in the majors in May of 2004, then started 13 games for the Pirates before getting injured. He had to have Tommy John surgery, which cost him the entire 2005 season. Burnett went 5-5, 5.02 in 71.2 innings during his first stint in the majors, finishing with 30 strikeouts and a 1.59 WHIP. He threw a complete game shutout on July 9th, which ended up being his only career complete game. His next start saw him give up one run over seven innings to lower him to a 2.18 ERA. However, he posted a 9.91 ERA during his last six starts. Burnett didn’t return to the majors until 2008, and by that time he was a reliever.
Burnett spent the 2006 season as a starter for Indianapolis of the Triple-A International League, where he went 8-11, 5.16 in 120.1 innings, with a 1.51 WHIP and just 46 strikeouts. He repeated the level in 2007, though he wasn’t healthy for the entire season, which led to him making up innings in winter ball in Venezuela. He had a 4-5, 4.48 record, a 1.73 WHIP and 31 strikeouts in 70.1 innings over 15 starts at Indianapolis during the 2007 season. That was followed by a 2.45 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP over 25.2 innings in Venezuela during the 2007-08 off-season. Burnett switched to relief in 2008, then had immediate success with Indianapolis. He posted a 1.04 ERA, 15 strikeouts and an 0.98 WHIP in 17.1 innings over 12 appearances. He pitched 58 games for the Pirates that season, putting up a 4.76 ERA in 56.2 innings, with 42 strikeouts and a 1.61 WHIP. He improved to a 3.06 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP over 32.1 innings for the 2009 Pirates. He remained with the Pirates until June of 2009, when he was sent to the Washington Nationals as part of the Joel Hanrahan/Lastings Milledge trade. Burnett had a 7-8, 4.54 record in 160.2 innings over 109 outings (23 starts) during his time with the Pirates. He had a 3.20 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 25.1 innings with Washington to finish out the 2009 season. He went 1-7, 2.14 in 63 innings over 73 outings during the 2010 season. He had three saves, a 1.14 WHIP and he set a career high with 62 strikeouts. He went 5-5, 3.81 in 69 appearances during the 2011 season, with four saves, a 1.32 WHIP and 33 strikeouts over 56.2 innings. Burnett also threw 56.2 innings during the 2012 season, finishing the year with a 2.38 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in 70 outings. He struck out 57 batters that season, barely creeping above a strikeout per inning average for the season.
Burnett signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Angels for 2013, but multiple elbow injuries and a second Tommy John surgery derailed his career from that point on. He pitched just 10.1 innings over 16 appearances for the 2013-14 Angels. He did well in his 2013 time, allowing one run in 13 appearances. His 2014 time was limited to facing a total of three batters in three appearances in late May. He also pitched a total of 6.1 rehab innings in the minors over those two seasons. He didn’t pitch at all in 2015, then finished his big league career with 5.2 innings over ten appearances with the 2016 Nationals. That season saw him throw Triple-A innings with the Los Angeles Dodgers (Oklahoma City of the Pacific Coast League), Atlanta Braves (Gwinnett of the International League), Minnesota Twins (Rochester of the International League) and the Nationals (Syracuse of the International League). Burnett had a 2.28 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and 32 strikeouts over 47.1 innings during his 2016 minor league time. He signed minor league deals with three different National League East teams during the 2017-19 off-seasons (Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and Miami Marlins), but he only pitched a total of 27 innings in the minors during that time. He had a 5.23 ERA and a 1.74 WHIP over 20.2 innings for the Marlins in 2018, seeing a majority of that time with New Orleans of the Pacific Coast League. He gave up 11 runs over 6.1 innings for Syracuse (then a Mets affiliate) during the 2019 season. Burnett had a career 15-23, 3.52 record in 380 games, with 378.1 innings pitched over his nine seasons in the majors. He had 277 strikeouts and a 1.34 WHIP. All 367 appearances he made after his 2004 rookie season came as a reliever.
Jim Umbricht, pitcher for the 1960 World Series champs. Umbricht attended the University of Georgia before going to a minor league tryout, where he earned a job in 1953 with Waycross of the Class-D Florida-Georgia League. He went 4-3, 2.87 in 69 innings that season, with 60 strikeouts, a 1.54 WHIP and three shutouts. Umbricht spent the 1954-55 seasons serving in the Army, which delayed his climb to the majors. He played for Baton Rouge of the Class-C Evangeline League during the 1956 season, where he had a 15-15, 3.35 record, a 1.36 WHIP and 144 strikeouts in 235 innings. He completed 27 of his 29 starts that season, while throwing two shutouts. He was then sold to the Milwaukee Braves, who sent him to Topeka of the Class-A Western League in 1957. Umbricht went 13-8, 3.24 in 178 innings that season, with 82 walks, 94 strikeouts and a 1.45 WHIP. He played winter ball in Puerto Rico during the 1957-58 and 1958-59 off-seasons, finishing that first season with a 6-2 record and 45 strikeouts over 79 innings. He moved up to Atlanta of the Double-A Southern Association in 1958, when he had a 6-10, 4.06 record, a 1.31 WHIP and 116 strikeouts over 173 innings. His winter league time during the 1958-59 off-season saw him put up a 5-7 record and 35 strikeouts in 93 innings. The Pirates acquired him in a minor league trade for outfielder Emil Panko during the 1958-59 off-season. Umbricht was assigned to Salt Lake City of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in 1959, where he went 14-8, 2.78 over five starts and 42 relief appearances, with 119 strikeouts and a 1.16 WHIP in 136 innings. He got the start in his big league debut on September 26, 1959, when he got a no decision after allowing five runs over seven innings. That would end up being his only big league game that season.
Umbricht wound up playing parts of three seasons in Pittsburgh, though two of those years saw him play just one game each season. The majority of his big league time with the Pirates came in 1960 for the World Series champs, when he made three starts and 14 relief appearances. He put up a 5.09 ERA in 40.2 innings, with 26 strikeouts and a 1.65 WHIP. He was with the team for the first two full months of the season, then posted a 2.50 ERA, 97 strikeouts and a 1.16 WHIP in 126 innings with Columbus of the Triple-A International League, before returning to Pittsburgh in September. He did not participate in the postseason. Umbricht’s one game in 1961 came on May 5th, when he allowed one earned run over 3.1 innings of relief work in a lopsided 10-0 loss. The rest of the year was spent with Columbus, where he went 9-6, 2.35 in 142 innings over 21 starts and one relief outing. He had three shutouts, a 1.27 WHIP and 105 strikeouts.
The Houston Colt .45’s (Astros) took Umbricht in the expansion draft after the 1961 season. He pitched well there for the first two years of the franchise. He spent part of 1962 in Oklahoma City of the Triple-A American Association, where he went 3-4, 3.39 over 61 innings, with 58 strikeouts and a 1.21 WHIP. His big league performance was strong that season, finishing with a 4-0, 2.01 record, a 1.01 WHIP, two saves and 55 strikeouts in 67 innings over 34 games. Sadly, he developed cancer prior to the 1963 season. It was thought that treatment went successful, but sadly that ended up not being the case. He was able to go 4-3, 2.61 in 76 innings over 35 appearances during the 1963 season, finishing that year with an 0.96 WHIP and 48 strikeouts The cancer returned a short time later, and he passed away at 33 years old just before Opening Day in 1964. Umbricht’s five-year big league career shows a 9-5, 3.06 record in 194 innings over 88 appearances (seven starts), with a 1.16 WHIP and 133 strikeouts. His jersey number (#32) is retired by the Astros.
Bob Dillinger, third baseman for the 1950-51 Pirates. He played six years in the majors total, yet he led the league in stolen bases three times and hits once. He debuted at 27 years old in 1946 with the St Louis Browns, but his career in the majors could have started sooner if not for the war. Dillinger debuted in pro ball in 1939 with Lincoln of the Class-D Western League, where he put up a .314 average in 117 games, with 32 doubles, 21 triples and five homers. He moved up to Youngstown of the Class-C Middle Atlantic League in 1940, where he posted a .312 average and 37 extra-base hits in 124 games. The next year was spent mostly at San Antonio of the Class-A Texas League, where he batted .291 over 94 games, with 14 doubles and five triples. Dillinger moved up to Toledo of the Double-A American Association (highest level of the minors at the time) for part of 1941 and all of 1942. He hit .174 over seven games for Toledo in 1941, with three runs, a triple and three RBIs. He then hit .305 over 132 games in 1942, with 81 runs scored, 32 extra-base hits, 45 RBIs, 23 steals and a .739 OPS. He was just one step from the majors at that point, but the next three years were spent serving in the military during WWII.
Dillinger went right to the majors when he returned to baseball. He batted .280 for the 1946 St Louis Browns, finishing with 33 runs, nine extra-base hits, 11 RBIs and a .675 OPS in 83 games. He hit .294 during the 1947 season, with 70 runs, 23 doubles, six triples, 37 RBIs, 56 walks, a league leading 34 stolen bases, and a .733 OPS in 137 games. He received some mild MVP support for his effort, finishing 17th in the voting. The 1948 season was his big year on offense. He finished with a .321 average, 110 runs scored, 207 hits, 34 doubles, ten triples, 44 RBIs, 65 walks, 28 steals and a .799 OPS. He finished 19th in the MVP voting that year, while leading the league in both hits and steals. He hit .324 during the 1949 season, with 68 runs, 36 extra-base hits, 51 RBIs, a career high .802 OPS and a league leading 20 steals in 137 games. He made his only All-Star appearance that year.
When Dillinger joined the Pirates during the 1950 season, he was just a year removed from being an All-Star. The Philadelphia A’s acquired him in December of 1949 as the smaller part of a two-for-four player/cash deal. He hit .309 for the 1950 A’s before joining the Pirates, with 55 runs, 33 extra-base hits, 41 RBIs and an .810 OPS in 84 games. Dillinger was acquired by the Pirates via purchase from the A’s in July of 1950. He was sold by Pittsburgh to the Chicago White Sox ten months later. He did a solid job for the 1950 Pirates, hitting .288 over 58 games, with 23 runs, 11 extra-base hits, nine RBIs and a .684 OPS. He was batting just .233/.250/.302 through 12 games in 1951, when Pittsburgh sold him to Chicago in mid-May. Dillinger hit well for Chicago after leaving Pittsburgh, putting up a .301 average, 39 runs, ten extra-base hits, 20 RBIs and a .684 OPS in 89 games. After his final big league game in 1951, he spent another four seasons playing minor league ball for Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League. That league was classified as an Open level during that time, but it was basically Triple-A. He hit .287 over 153 games in 1952, with 67 runs, 29 doubles, eight triples, 51 RBIs and a .690 OPS. He then hit .366 over 171 games in 1953, with 104 runs, 236 hits, 34 doubles, seven triples, 51 RBIs and an .849 OPS. That was his peak season, then his OPS dropped over 150 points the next season, despite putting up a .301 average in 155 games. He had 76 runs, 24 extra-base hits, 38 RBIs and a .691 OPS for Sacramento in 1954. Dillinger batted .281 over 34 games during his final season in pro ball in 1955. He didn’t hit a single homer during that four-year stretch with Sacramento. He batted .306 in his six-year big league career, with 401 runs, 123 doubles, 47 triples, ten homers, 213 RBIs and 106 steals over 753 games.
Sheriff Blake, pitcher for the 1920 Pirates. Prior to joining the Pirates, Blake pitched at West Virginia Wesleyan College. It was announced in February of 1920 that he would pitch for the Cincinnati Reds that season. While his records show no prior pro experience before joining the Pirates, it was noted in the article announcing his signing with the Reds that he pitched for Charleston of the Class-C South Atlantic League at the end of the 1919 season. By the time 1920 Spring Training rolled around just weeks after his supposed signing with the Reds, Blake was already with the Pirates, where he missed time early due to a sprained ankle. He was in action by March 22nd, doing just enough to make the Opening Day roster. He had 8.10 ERA in six relief appearances for 1920 Pirates as a 20-year-old rookie. He debuted on June 29th, then played his final game on August 15th. He allowed 21 hits and six walks over 13.1 innings, while striking out seven batters. After his brief trial in Pittsburgh, he didn’t pitch in the majors until 1924. He was sent by the Pirates to Rochester of the Double-A International League (highest level of the minors at the time) on an optional agreement on February 19, 1921. Blake went 21-13, 3.33 in 300 innings during the 1921 season, finishing with 143 walks and a 1.50 WHIP. He remained in Rochester for the 1922 season, when he went 17-9, 2.76 over 241 innings, with 104 walks and a 1.48 WHIP. He actually went to Spring Training with the Pirates during that 1922 season. He was expected to stick with the team that year, which sort of happened. He made the Opening Day roster, but he didn’t appear in any games over the first 11 days of the 1922 season, before being optioned back to Rochester. He was still property of the Pirates until being dealt to Seattle of the Double-A Pacific Coast League in December of 1922. He got roughed up a bit in 1923, but that season still ended with a trip back to the majors. He had a 13-20, 4.71 record and a 1.64 WHIP in 256 innings for Seattle.
Blake was acquired by the Chicago Cubs in December of 1923. He put together an 81-92, 3.95 record in eight seasons for the Cubs. He made 11 starts and 18 relief appearances in 1924, going 6-6, 4.57 in 106.1 innings, with 42 strikeouts and a 1.57 WHIP. He saw even more work in 1925, though it came with poor overall results. He finished with a 10-18, 4.86 record in 231.1 innings, with 93 strikeouts and a 1.62 WHIP. He completed 14 of 31 starts that season, while also pitching five times in relief. Blake went 11-12, 3.60 in 27 starts and 12 relief outings during the 1926 season. He had 95 strikeouts and a 1.50 WHIP over 197.2 innings, though he led the National League with 92 walks. He also had 11 complete games that season, including four shutouts. He had a 13-14, 3.29 record over 224.1 innings during the 1927 season, with a 1.43 WHIP and more walks (82) than strikeouts (64). He had 27 starts, 13 complete games, two shutouts and five relief appearances. He had what was easily his best career year in 1928, when he posted a 17-11, 2.47 record in 240.2 innings, while leading the league with four shutouts. He had a 1.29 WHIP and set a career high with 16 complete games. Despite the success, he finished with a rough 101:78 BB/SO ratio. Things went downhill quickly from there, though the 1929-30 seasons were huge years for offense in baseball, so his stats weren’t as bad as they appear.
Blake had a 14-13, 4.29 record over 218.1 innings in 1929, while making 29 starts and six relief appearances. Once again he had more walks (103) than strikeouts (70), leading to a 1.59 WHIP. That was followed by a 10-14, 4.82 record, 80 strikeouts and a 1.67 WHIP over 186.2 innings in 1930. He completed seven of his 24 starts that season, while pitching ten times in relief. Offense calmed down a bit in 1931, but Blake wasn’t part of that trend. He went 4-9, 5.43 in 121 innings that season, which was split between the Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. He had 60 strikeouts, a 1.78 WHIP, 16 relief appearances, 14 starts and just one complete game. The next five years were spent in the minors, including a season back in Rochester. Blake pitched for Columbus of the Double-A American Association in 1932, where he had a 9-7 record and a 1.71 WHIP in 161 innings. His ERA isn’t available for that year, but it’s known that he allowed 6.71 runs per nine innings. The 1933 season was split between Rochester and Columbus. He had a 12-9, 4.45 record and a 1.54 WHIP in 168 innings, with more work and better results for Rochester. He played for Toronto of the International League in 1934, going 13-11, 4.52 in 229 innings, while posting a 1.43 WHIP. The 1935-36 seasons were spent with Baltimore of the International League. Blake went 12-12, 4.57 over 207 innings in 1935, when he had a 1.54 WHIP. He then had a 14-16, 4.91 record, 117 strikeouts and a 1.60 WHIP over 255 innings in 1936.
Blake came back to the majors for a time in 1937, seeing action that year with both the St Louis Cardinals and St Louis Browns. He went 2-5, 5.49 in 80.1 innings that year, with much better results for the Cardinals, despite an 0-3 record with them. He had a 1.72 WHIP and a 38:32 BB/SO ratio for the season. He then finished his career out with three seasons in the minors, spending the 1938-39 seasons with Birmingham of the Class-A Southern Association, followed by splitting the 1940 season between Oklahoma City and Dallas of the Texas League. Blake had a losing record all three seasons (30-40 total), while averaging 177 innings per season. He went 8-11, 3.70 over 163 innings in 1938, with 68 strikeouts and a 1.36 WHIP. He had a 12-17, 4.32 record in 1939, with 64 strikeouts (his online stats appear to be wrong for his WHIP/hits/runs allowed). He finished up with a 10-12 record in 1940, while throwing 192 innings between both stops. Blake won 228 games as a pro, while playing a total of 22 seasons, including his brief time with Charleston in 1919 (no stats available). His real first name was John, but he was known by his middle name while in Pittsburgh, referred to as Fred Blake during that time. The “Sheriff” nickname was reportedly received in Rochester, and had nothing to do with anything other than just being a random nickname given to him by his manager according to sources from the day.
Whitey Glazner, pitcher for the 1920-23 Pirates. He debuted in pro ball at 19 years old in 1913, playing his first three seasons for Anniston of the Class-D Georgia-Alabama League. Stats are limited for his first three seasons, but it’s known that he went 6-4 in 78 innings over ten games during the 1913 season. He pitched 22 games in 1914, which is the only available pitching stat (he also hit .161 over 62 at-bats). He played part of the 1915 season for Winston-Salem of the Class-D North Carolina State League. He had an 8-9 record in 19 games for Anniston that season, while posting a 4-3 record and a 1.19 WHIP in 67 innings over nine games with Winston-Salem. He made his mark with Winston-Salem during the 1916 season, when he had a 21-7, 2.20 record and a 1.31 WHIP in 258 innings. Glazner was out of pro ball in 1917 due to a having a good job, but he remained active in semi-pro ball during that time. He returned to the minors in 1918 for his first of three seasons with Birmingham of the Class-A Southern Association. That first season didn’t last long, as he got called into service during WWI, which limited him to 17 games total during the 1918-19 seasons. He went 3-4 in 66 innings over eight games in 1918. He had 39 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP that year. He then had a 4-5, 2.93 record and a 1.34 WHIP over 80 innings in 1919. Glazner was back for a full season in 1920, when he put together a 24-10 record and a 1.10 WHIP over 326 innings. His ERA isn’t available, but it’s known that he allowed 2.62 runs per nine innings.
The Pirates purchased Glazner and teammate Johnny Morrison on August 16, 1920 from Birmingham. Glazner was having the better season, but Morrison was considered to be the bigger prize. Their careers played out that way as well. Both pitchers were allowed to finish their season in Birmingham, staying until September 20th, before joining the Pirates. Glazner debuted in the majors on September 26, 1920, nine days after his 27th birthday. He made two relief appearances for the Pirates that year, allowing three runs in 8.2 innings. That was just a small sample before putting together his big 1921 campaign. He went 14-5, 2.77 over 234 innings in 1921, which was easily his best season in the majors. He led the National League with a .737 winning percentage that year. He completed 15 of 25 starts, pitched 11 times in relief, and he set a career high with 88 strikeouts. He also set a personal best with his 1.16 WHIP. Glazner saw his numbers slide in 1922, going 11-12, 4.38 in 193 innings, with a 1.50 WHIP and 77 strikeouts. He made 26 starts and eight relief appearances, finishing up with ten complete games, including his first career shutout. He was part of a four-player/cash trade between the Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies just 30 games into the 1923 season. That deal also included Cotton Tierney, Johnny Rawlings and Lee Meadows, with the latter joining the Pirates. Glazner had a 3.30 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP in 30 innings prior to the deal. He went 7-14, 4.69 in 161.1 innings for the 1923 Phillies, with 51 strikeouts and a 1.60 WHIP. He completed 13 of 27 starts that season, while throwing three shutouts.
Glazner had a 7-16, 5.92 record, 41 strikeouts and a 1.74 WHIP in 156.2 innings over 24 starts and 11 relief appearances during the 1924 season. That ended up being his last big league season, though he did spend another seven seasons in the minors, winning a total of 95 games during that time. He played for Los Angeles of the Double-A Pacific Coast League in 1925-26, going 14-18, 4.31 in 259 innings during the first season, while posting a 1.46 WHIP. That was followed by an 11-15, 3.88 record and a 1.34 WHIP over 209 innings in 1926. He joined Mobile of the Class-A Southern Association for the 1927 season, when he put up a 12-16, 3.40 record and a 1.30 WHIP in 241 innings. He added a third 20+ win season to his minor league resume in 1928, while pitching his second season for Mobile. He had a 22-10, 3.39 record and an 0.93 WHIP over 279 innings that year. Glazner pitched for Dallas of the Class-A Texas League in 1929, when he had a 15-9, 3.73 record and a 1.30 WHIP over 234 innings. He then went 19-8, 3.34 for New Orleans of the Southern Association in 1930, finishing with a 1.25 WHIP over 267 innings. Despite that success, he had just two more wins left in the tank before retiring. That last season saw him post a 2-6, 6.25 record and a 1.57 WHIP in 72 innings for New Orleans. He took up golf full-time as soon as he was released and played competitively in his hometown of Birmingham. He had at least 206 wins during his pro career, while pitching over 3,200 innings. Glazner’s time with the Pirates saw him go 27-18, 3.48 in 465.2 innings. In his five-year big league career, he finished 41-48, 4.21 in 783.2 innings over 102 starts and 40 relief appearances, with 266 strikeouts and a 1.46 WHIP. He had 46 complete games and six shutouts. His actual first name was Charles.
Frank “Wildfire” Schulte, outfielder for the 1916-17 Pirates. He was the first player to accomplish an extremely rare feat that has only been done four times in Major League history. Schulte began his pro career in 1902 at 19 years old, playing for the Syracuse Stars of the Class-B New York State League. He spent all of his time in the minors with Syracuse prior to his big league debut. He batted .280 during the 1902 season, with 30 extra-base hits (23 doubles) in 112 games. He batted .294 over 130 games in 1903, while collecting 17 extra-base hits (16 doubles). He earned his call to the majors in 1904 by batting .307 over 135 games, with 18 doubles, 11 triples and two homers. Schulte played 20 games for the 1904 Cubs, hitting .286/.310/.476 over 87 plate appearances, with 16 runs, four doubles, three triples, two homers and 13 RBIs. He was the starting left fielder for the 1905 Cubs, before moving over to right field in 1906. He hit .274 during his first full season in the majors, with 67 runs, 30 extra-base hits (14 triples), 47 RBIs, 16 steals and a .693 OPS in 123 games. The 1906 Cubs are one of the greatest teams of all-time, finishing with a 116-36 record. Schulte hit .281 that year, with 77 runs, 38 extra-base hits, 60 RBIs, 25 steals and a .720 OPS in 146 games. He led the league with 13 triples. He batted .269 in the World Series, with one run, three doubles and three RBIs. The Cubs returned to the postseason in 1907 and 1908, winning both years, after dropping the 1906 series to the Chicago White Sox.
Schulte hit .287 during the 1907 season, with 44 runs, 23 extra-base hits, 32 RBIs and a .725 OPS in 97 games. He then batted .250/.286/.250 during the World Series, with three runs and two RBIs. A leg injury in mid-May cost him six weeks of the season. He posted a .236 average over 102 games in 1908, with 42 runs, 20 doubles, 43 RBIs, 15 steals and a .600 OPS. He missed six weeks in the middle of that season due to illness. He had a strong postseason, batting .389/.450/.500 in five games, with four runs and two RBIs. Schulte hit .264 in 1909, with 57 runs scored, 31 extra-base hits, 60 RBIs, 23 steals and a .655 OPS over 140 games. He broke out a little in 1910, then a lot in 1911. He hit .301 during that 1910 season, with 93 runs scored and 54 extra-base hits, including a league leading ten homers. He also had 68 RBIs, 22 steals and an .809 OPS that ranked him seventh in the National League. He became the first player to reach the 20-20-20-20 club during the 1911 season, collecting 30 doubles, 21 triples, 21 homers and 23 stolen bases. That feat wasn’t matched again until 1957 by Willie Mays. It’s only been done four times total in baseball history, with Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins both reaching the group in 2007. Schulte was voted National League MVP that season. He led the league in homers and RBIs (107), while putting up a career best .918 OPS, which ranked as the third best in the league. He finished the year with a .300 average over 154 games, with career highs of 105 runs and 76 walks.
Schulte never came close to replicating that historic season. He was still a solid player during the rest of his time in Chicago, which was right in the middle of the deadball era. He hit .264 in 1912, with 90 runs, 27 doubles, 11 triples, 12 homers, 65 RBIs and a .754 OPS over 139 games. He put up a .278 average during the 1913 season, with 85 runs, 43 extra-base hits, 68 RBIs and a .749 OPS in 132 games. He stole 21 bases that year, but he was also caught stealing 19 times. Schulte moved back to left field full-time in 1914, when he hit .241 over 137 games, with 54 runs, 34 extra-base hits, 61 RBIs and a .657 OPS. He batted .249 during his last full season in Chicago (1915), with 66 runs, 38 extra-base hits, 62 RBIs and a .686 OPS. He was acquired by the Pirates in July of 1916, as part of a three-player deal with the Chicago Cubs. Schulte was hitting .296 at the time of the deal, with 31 runs, 11 doubles, five homers, 27 RBIs and a .769 OPS in 72 games. He batted .254 for the 1916 Pirates, with 12 runs, eight extra-base hits, 14 RBIs and a .639 OPS in 55 games, while splitting his time between left field and right field. He hit .214/.283/.282 over 30 games for the 1917 Pirates, before being lost on waivers to the Philadelphia Phillies in June. He batted .215/.299/.302 in 64 games for the 1917 Phillies. He combined to hit .214 over 94 games that year, with 32 runs, 17 extra-base hits (15 doubles), 22 RBIs and a .587 OPS. He then finished his big league career with the 1918 Washington Senators, hitting .288 over 93 games, with 35 runs, 17 extra-base hits, 44 RBIs and a .770 OPS. He was a career .270 hitter in 1,806 games, with 906 runs, 288 doubles, 124 triples, 92 homers, 793 RBIs and 233 stolen bases. He finished top ten in the National League in slugging percentage four times.
Schulte played another four seasons of minor league ball after his big league career wrapped up. He spent two of those years back in Syracuse, though the team was in the Double-A International League when he returned. That was the highest level of the minors at the time, as well as a much higher level of play than his first three seasons of pro ball in Syracuse. He split the 1919 season between Binghamton and Toronto of the International League, combining for a .248 average and 32 extra-base hits in 132 games. His 1920 stats are limited, as he played just 39 games for Syracuse, while also seeing brief time with Buffalo of the International League (no stats available for that team). He had a .245 average for Syracuse, with 18 runs, eight doubles, four homers and five steals. Schulte spent the entire 1921 season in Syracuse, hitting .309 in 159 games, with 35 doubles, 12 triples and 16 homers. He finished up his career during the 1922 season in the Double-A Pacific Coast League, where he had a .229 average and 23 extra-base hits in 111 games, which were split between Seattle and Oakland.
Otto Krueger, utility fielder for the 1903-04 Pirates. He debuted in pro ball at 21 years old during the 1898 season. He was playing in the lower levels of the minors with Topeka of the Kansas State League (no stats available) and San Antonio of the Class-C Texas League. He hit .345 in 27 games for San Antonio, with 30 runs, 13 extra-base hits and two steals. He was in the majors by the end of the 1899 season, though the level of play was only slightly better. Krueger started the 1899 season with Grand Rapids of the Class-B Interstate League (no stats available), though he also signed with Kansas City of the Class-A Western League, which wasn’t an unusual occurrence in the day. His first big league stint came in September of 1899, when he debuted with the worst team in baseball history, the 20-134 Cleveland Spiders. He played 13 games for the Spiders, hitting .227/.359/.250 in 53 plate appearances, with four runs, a double and two RBIs. The owner of the St Louis Cardinals (called the Perfectos in 1899) also owned Cleveland, which folded after their awful season. Krueger was transferred to the Cardinals in 1900, where he batted .400/.544/.686 in 12 late-season games. Most of the year was spent in the minors for Fort Wayne of the Interstate League, where he had a .317 average, 131 runs scored and 34 steals in 137 games. Krueger was the starting third baseman for the Cardinals in 1901, when he led the league with 142 games played. He batted .275 that year, with 77 runs, 30 extra-base hits, 79 RBIs, 19 steals, 50 walks and a .717 OPS that season. He played 128 games in 1902, seeing most of his time at shortstop. He finished the year with a .266 average, 55 runs, 15 extra-base hits, 46 RBIs and a .627 OPS.
Krueger was acquired by the Pirates in a March 1903 trade with the Cardinals for infielder Jimmy Burke. The deal almost didn’t happen because Burke objected to playing shortstop, which is where the Cardinals wanted him to play. The deal was finally completed in mid-March. Krueger hit .219 in 166 games during his two seasons with the Pirates, seeing time at five different positions. He played 80 games for the 1903 National League champs, seeing most of his time at shortstop and third base. He hit .246 that season, with 42 runs, 15 extra-base hits, 28 RBIs and a .667 OPS. He did not play during the World Series due to a beaning on September 19th, which kept him out of action for the rest of the season. He battled typhoid fever during the 1903-04 off-season. The hitting slipped for Krueger in 1904, as he moved around more in the field, getting 10+ starts at four different positions (RF/LF/SS/3B). The defensive versatility helped his case, but his .194 average and .525 OPS in 84 games did not do him any favors. He finished the year with 34 runs, nine extra-base hits, 26 RBIs and eight steals. He was part of a five-player trade with the Philadelphia Phillies after the 1904 season..
Krueger hit .184/.273/.211 over 46 games during his only season in Philadelphia, which also ended up being his final big league season. He had ten runs, two extra-base hits and 12 RBIs. He was a career .251 hitter in 507 games over seven big league seasons, with 230 runs, 40 doubles, 33 triples, five homers, 196 RBIs and 48 steals. All five of his homers were inside-the-park home runs. He was in the minors until 1912, playing his final three seasons in Class-B ball. He did some player/managing during the 1911-12 season. Krueger did well for Toledo of the Class-A American Association in 1906, which was the highest level of the minors until 1912. He batted .256 in 153 games, with 40 extra-base hits, including 36 doubles. He hit .248 over 156 games in 1907 for Kansas City of the American Association, finishing that year with 82 runs, 24 extra-base hits and 26 steals. The 1908 season was split between 48 games for Kansas City, and 32 games for Denver of the Western League. He combined to hit .215 over 80 games, with 34 runs, nine extra-base hits and nine steals. He played in the independent California League for San Jose and Fresno during the 1909 season, where he put up a .223 average in 74 games, with 26 runs, ten extra-base hits and seven steals.
Krueger played for Lawrence of the Class-B New England League during the 1910 season, where he had a .244 average and 17 extra-base hits in 99 games. He was a player/manager for Galveston of the Texas League in 1911, when he hit .238 over 125 games, with 24 extra-base hits. His final season was still Class-B, though it was a drop in competition due to Double-A being added as a level for the 1912 season. Krueger hit .212 over 16 games that year for Scranton of the New York State League. He also spent part of that 1912 season managing for Winnipeg of the Class-C Central International League. His unusual nickname “Oom Paul” comes from the nickname of the President of South Africa, who was Paul Kruger. He was in the news a lot at the same time Otto played. They had the same sounding last name, so the nickname just got transferred to Otto Krueger, whose first name was actually Arthur.
Dick Padden, second baseman for 1896-98 Pirates. He debuted in pro ball at 24 years old in 1895 for Roanoke of the Class-B Virginia State League. He batted .316 that year in 122 games, with 104 runs, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 11 homers and 33 steals. Despite the seemingly late start, he was already quite well known for his baseball prowess in the semi-pro circuits. The Pirates signed him to a deal in November 1895, though they loaned him to a minor league team managed by their former manager (Al Buckenberger) just two months later. He began the 1896 season with Toronto of the Class-A Eastern League (highest level of the minors at the time), but he was in the majors with the Pirates by mid-season. A story that ran in the Wheeling, WV papers in early April of 1896 noted that the Pirates would get a chance to see Padden in an exhibition game. They also said that wouldn’t be surprised if he impressed them so much that he’s with the team before the end of the season. That was quite a prediction because it ended up being true. No stats are available for his time in Toronto. He joined the Pirates in mid-July, then hit .242/.294/.361 over 61 games as their starting second baseman, with 33 runs, 14 extra-base hits, 24 RBIs and a .654 OPS. He played 134 games during the 1897 season, finishing the year with a .282 average, 84 runs scored, 16 doubles, ten triples, 58 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and a .714 OPS. Padden saw a decline in his offensive stats in 1898. He finished that year with a .257 average, 61 runs, 15 extra-base hits, 43 RBIs and a .646 OPS over 128 games. He hit .265/.334/.343 over 323 games with Pittsburgh, before he was dealt to Washington Senators in a three-for-one trade for star second baseman Heinie Reitz on December 14, 1898.
Padden hit .277 over 134 games during his only season with Washington, finishing the year with 66 runs scored, 29 extra-base hits, 61 RBIs, 27 steals and a .703 OPS. He was in the American League for the 1900 season, though it was considered a Class-A level minor league at the time. He batted .284 in 130 games for the 1900 Chicago White Stockings, with 84 runs, 30 extra-base hits and 36 steals. Padden joined the St Louis Cardinals in December of 1900, after being the first player signed away from the American League by National League president Harry Pulliam. Padden hit .256 for the 1901 Cardinals, with 71 runs, 26 extra-base hits, 62 RBIs, 26 steals and a .646 OPS in 123 games. He had jumped back to the American League by December of 1901, staying in St Louis to play for the Browns. He was considered to be below average defensively while with the Pirates, but he was one of the best defenders in the American League by the 1902 season. Padden hit .264 over 117 games that year, with 54 runs scored, a career high 26 doubles, 40 RBIs and a .676 OPS. Thumb surgery limited him to 29 games in 1903. He didn’t do well that year when he was able to play, hitting .202/.306/.234 over 109 plate appearances, with seven runs, three doubles, six RBIs and five steals. He was healthy again in 1904, when he hit .238 over 132 games, with 42 runs, 23 extra-base hits, 36 RBIs, 23 steals and a .623 OPS. He batted .172/.213/.224 in 16 games during his final big league season in 1905 before he was released. He played a total of nine seasons in the majors, hitting .258 in 874 games, with 423 runs, 113 doubles, 46 runs, 11 homers, 334 RBIs and 132 steals. After his final big league game, he spent the 1906-07 season with St Paul of the Class-A American Association. He had a .288 average and 33 extra-base hits over 140 games in 1906 as a player/manager. He then dropped down to .224 average, 24 runs, six extra-base hits and ten steals over 52 games in 1907. That was his last season in pro ball.
