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ifspuds · 03-05-2006, 10:45 PM

A Pirates Primer

For those of you unfamiliar with the team or its fictional history, I present the following primer to get you up to speed. The men listed below are important names and personalities associated with the team in some capacity, past or present, that might come up in stories from here on out.

The Personalities

"Ray of Light" Brown: Perhaps the greatest player in Pirates history, Brown was a rookie in 1908, the year the Pirates won their very first pennant, and won a pair of Batter of the Year awards (1911, 1917). Considered to be the greatest fielding center fielder of all time, Brown won 10 Gold Gloves in center field and added one in left field toward the end of his illustrious career. Elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1950 and passed away in spring of 1965 at the age of 77. After his retirement to Florida, Brown often acted as a coach during spring training for the Pirates and was the first player to have his number retired by the team, along with Jonathan Stobart (see below).

Jonathan Stobart: The Pirates have never had a pitcher elected to the Hall of Fame, but Jonathan Stobart remains, ten years after his sudden tragic passing, one of the favorites of long-time Pirates fans. Known as much for his work as the pitching coach for the 1950s Pirates that came within mere games of the pennant three times as for his own terrific work on the mound as a player (183-130, 3.11 ERA in 13 seasons). Stobart was a character, known for his honesty and colorful language, and had his uniform number retired by the team just after his passing in 1957. To this date, Brown and Stobart are the only Pirates awarded this honor.

Bud Breckenridge: Another in a long line of outstanding Pirates outfielders, Breckenridge was one of the most exciting players through the middle of Pirates history from his debut in 1929 to his retirement in 1948. Elected to the Hall of Fame by the writers in 1958, Breckenridge was an icon in Pittsburgh for his exciting play, his winning smile and his love for the game. After his retirement, Breckenridge remained with the Pirates organization as a coach and in 1955 was named the manager, later winning two Manager of the Year awards. Breckenridge passed away in November of 1965 after a valiant fight with cancer, just months before "Ray of Light" Brown died, marking a dark period in Pirates history.

Jack McKinley: Long-time Pirates beat reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, McKinley grew up in Pittsburgh and began covering the team in September of 1927. Well-loved in the Steel City, McKinley has just retired at the age of 67 after the Pirates won the 1966 World Series. One of the old-time scribes of baseball, McKinley rarely wrote a bad word about anyone, and was nearly as much a member of the organization as many of the players and employees. McKinley was one of those instrumental in convincing the league to start the Bud Breckenridge Award to honor players who had struggled under long odds and shown outstanding character and dedication to the game of baseball.

Lang Thomason: Thomason joined Jack McKinley as a regular Pirates columnist in 1955, where he quickly differentiated himself from McKinley's more folksy style by immediately going after general manager Charles Bradley (see below) for perceived inaction on the trade front. Part of a newer generation of journalists, Thomason took on the role of being the cynical, demanding voice of the Post-Gazette, the one willing to slaughter sacred cows, until he went one step too far in 1964 in accusing Bud Breckenridge of being an alcoholic who didn't care about the team he was managing. This was before Breckenridge's cancer became public knowledged, and Thomason quickly apologized upon learning the truth. He's kept a lower profile since then, but now that his mentor McKinley has retired, Thomason will become the primary reporter (and the primary "writer" in this thread).

Charles Bradley: Former general manager of the club through the resurgent but ultimately disappointing 1950s. Bradley was initially signed as a teenager to be a player, but was permanently injured fighting in World War I and joined the team as a scout and later the general manager. Retired after the 1957 season.

03-05-2006, 10:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,092	A Pirates Primer For those of you unfamiliar with the team or its fictional history, I present the following primer to get you up to speed. The men listed below are important names and personalities associated with the team in some capacity, past or present, that might come up in stories from here on out. The Personalities "Ray of Light" Brown: Perhaps the greatest player in Pirates history, Brown was a rookie in 1908, the year the Pirates won their very first pennant, and won a pair of Batter of the Year awards (1911, 1917). Considered to be the greatest fielding center fielder of all time, Brown won 10 Gold Gloves in center field and added one in left field toward the end of his illustrious career. Elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1950 and passed away in spring of 1965 at the age of 77. After his retirement to Florida, Brown often acted as a coach during spring training for the Pirates and was the first player to have his number retired by the team, along with Jonathan Stobart (see below). Jonathan Stobart: The Pirates have never had a pitcher elected to the Hall of Fame, but Jonathan Stobart remains, ten years after his sudden tragic passing, one of the favorites of long-time Pirates fans. Known as much for his work as the pitching coach for the 1950s Pirates that came within mere games of the pennant three times as for his own terrific work on the mound as a player (183-130, 3.11 ERA in 13 seasons). Stobart was a character, known for his honesty and colorful language, and had his uniform number retired by the team just after his passing in 1957. To this date, Brown and Stobart are the only Pirates awarded this honor. Bud Breckenridge: Another in a long line of outstanding Pirates outfielders, Breckenridge was one of the most exciting players through the middle of Pirates history from his debut in 1929 to his retirement in 1948. Elected to the Hall of Fame by the writers in 1958, Breckenridge was an icon in Pittsburgh for his exciting play, his winning smile and his love for the game. After his retirement, Breckenridge remained with the Pirates organization as a coach and in 1955 was named the manager, later winning two Manager of the Year awards. Breckenridge passed away in November of 1965 after a valiant fight with cancer, just months before "Ray of Light" Brown died, marking a dark period in Pirates history. Jack McKinley: Long-time Pirates beat reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, McKinley grew up in Pittsburgh and began covering the team in September of 1927. Well-loved in the Steel City, McKinley has just retired at the age of 67 after the Pirates won the 1966 World Series. One of the old-time scribes of baseball, McKinley rarely wrote a bad word about anyone, and was nearly as much a member of the organization as many of the players and employees. McKinley was one of those instrumental in convincing the league to start the Bud Breckenridge Award to honor players who had struggled under long odds and shown outstanding character and dedication to the game of baseball. Lang Thomason: Thomason joined Jack McKinley as a regular Pirates columnist in 1955, where he quickly differentiated himself from McKinley's more folksy style by immediately going after general manager Charles Bradley (see below) for perceived inaction on the trade front. Part of a newer generation of journalists, Thomason took on the role of being the cynical, demanding voice of the Post-Gazette, the one willing to slaughter sacred cows, until he went one step too far in 1964 in accusing Bud Breckenridge of being an alcoholic who didn't care about the team he was managing. This was before Breckenridge's cancer became public knowledged, and Thomason quickly apologized upon learning the truth. He's kept a lower profile since then, but now that his mentor McKinley has retired, Thomason will become the primary reporter (and the primary "writer" in this thread). Charles Bradley: Former general manager of the club through the resurgent but ultimately disappointing 1950s. Bradley was initially signed as a teenager to be a player, but was permanently injured fighting in World War I and joined the team as a scout and later the general manager. Retired after the 1957 season. __________________ Jeff Watson TWB (co-commissioner): Pittsburgh Pirates GM (team dynasty here, #5 Dynasty of 2005!) (TWB Champs 1966, 1967, 1973, NL Champs 1968, NL East Champs 1969, NL Champs 1970, 1971 NPBL: Illinois Jethawks GM Outpost League: A Fictional World Dynasty (#9 (tie) Dynasty of 2005!)