I was working on an article with some thoughts about the catching situation, combined with an off-the-wall idea I had about the future of that position.
The article was getting really long, so I pushed it back to this afternoon to run as a separate article.
I don’t have anything for the top part of First Pitch today except for a brief site update. We’ve got a new help address for those of you who are having issues with your account.
If you’re having any issues, email help@pittsburghbaseball.com with your account email address, user name, and a description of the problem.
Check back later for my massive breakdown of the catching position. We also might have some additional Pittsburgh Baseball Network related updates later this week. We’re also planning a live Q&A about the Pirates top 50 prospects for those of you who purchased the 2020 Prospect Guide.
SONG OF THE DAY
DAILY QUIZ
THIS DATE IN PIRATES HISTORY
By John Dreker
Five former Pittsburgh Pirates born on this date, including a member of the 1971 World Series champs.
Marvell Wynne, outfielder for the 1983-1985 Pirates. He signed with the Kansas City Royals as an amateur free agent in 1978, then moved to the New York Mets in a 1981 trade. He was acquired by the Pirates from the Mets in a four-player deal on June 14,1983 with Junior Ortiz going to New York in the deal. Wynne made his Major League debut the day after the trade, playing center field for the first of 101 times that season. He batted .243 with 66 runs scored and 12 steals in his rookie season. He was the everyday center fielder for the Pirates in 1984, playing 154 games and getting 702 plate appearances. He hit .266 with 11 triples, 77 runs scored and 24 steals. In 1985 the Pirates won a major league low 57 games and Wynne struggled, hitting .205 with a .505 OPS in 103 games. He would be traded to the Padres for lefty reliever Bob Patterson prior to Opening Day in 1986. He played eight seasons in the majors, scoring 300 runs with 80 steals and a .247 average in 940 games.
Steve Parris, pitcher for the 1995-96 Pirates. He was a fifth round draft pick of the Phillies in 1989, and played for three organizations before joining the Pirates in June of 1994. He started the 1995 season in the minors and went 9-1, 2.51 in 14 starts at AA before the Pirates called him up for his big league debut in late June. He went 6-6, 5.38 in 15 starts. On August 15 he threw a 6-0 shutout over the Padres. In 1996, Parris missed a portion of the season due to a shoulder injury. He pitched just six minor league games and eight games for the Pirates, posting a 7.18 ERA. He was released prior to the 1997 season. He went 11-4 for the 1999 Reds, then followed it up with a 12-17 season in 2000.
Charlie Sands, catcher for the 1971-72 Pirates. The Pirates acquired him following the 1970 season in a six-player deal with the New York Yankees. Sands was the only player with major league experience involved in the trade and he was the only one that played in the majors following the trade. He was with the Pirates most of the 1971 season but started just two games, both of them being the second game of a doubleheader. He made 25 appearances as a pinch-hitter, going 5-for-18 with six walks. Sands received one at-bat during the World Series. He spent nearly the entire 1972 season in the minors, except for one pinch-hitting appearance for the Pirates in mid-September. Just prior to the start of the 1973 season the Pirates traded Sands to the Detroit Tigers for veteran pitcher Chris Zachary.
Jim Mattox, catcher for the 1922-23 Pirates. He played his first season of pro ball in 1921 as a 24-year-old and hit .344 for Rochester of the International League. He joined the Pirates at the beginning of the 1922 season and as the third-string catcher he hit .294 in 29 games. He started just nine games, playing another 12 at the position off the bench. In 1923 he received even less playing time in the same role, starting three games and getting into another 19 off the bench. He hit .188 in 32 at-bats in what would be his last season in pro ball. His brother Cloy Mattox played four season in the minors and got into three major league games with the 1929 Philadelphia Athletics.
Cy Falkenberg, pitcher for the 1903 Pirates. He played college ball until 1902, then signed a minor league contract, going 18-11 for Worcester of the Eastern League. The Pirates signed him for the 1903 season, but he was seldom used He started just six games, two very early in the season then another four in August. He went 1-5, 3.86 in 56 innings before returning to the minors to finish the season, and wasn’t around during the World Series. Falkenberg would eventually become a star pitcher, but not until the 1913-14 seasons when he won a combined 48 games. He won 130 big league games in his career and 131 minor league games.
