Bucco Blast From The Past: Jeff King

by Zane Heiple

Photo by sikids.com

With the Pittsburgh Pirates selecting Garrit Cole as the overall number one pick in the 2011 draft, it marked the fourth time in the 125 year history of the club that they selected the first pick.  On this week’s edition of Bucco Blast From The Past, we look at the first number one overall pick that the team made, Jeff King.

King was picked out of the University of Arkansas in June of 1986 and would spend the 1987-88 seasons playing for the Harrisburg Senators, before making his Major League debut on June 2, 1989.  While he didn’t have the Hall of Fame career you would hope for with a number one pick, he was a key part to the Pirates string of three consecutive National League East titles from 1990-92.  He would spend eight seasons in a black and gold uniform and have a .258 batting average, with 99 home runs, and 493 RBI. 

After a career best year in 1996 that saw him hit .271 with 30 home runs and 111 RBI he would be traded along with Jay Bell to the Kansas City Royals for Joe Randa.  King would only play in 2 full seasons for KC as back problems forced him to call it a career in late May of 1999.

While Jeff King did not live up to the potential of a number one overall pick, he still holds a special place in the baseball memories of those of us old enough to remember those early 90’s Pirates teams.  Be sure to check back next week for another edition of Bucco Blast From The Past.

Bucco Blast From The Past: Nellie Briles

By Chad Carlson

It’s Tuesday, and that means it’s time for another edition of Bucco Blast From The Past!  Inspired by the Pirates’ History segment during the game at PNC Park this past Saturday, Fans From The Stands looks back at the career of Nellie Briles. 

The right-handed hurler from Dorris, California entered the league as a reliever, but ended up pitching complete games in two of the most important World Series games for his teams.

Nelson Kelley “Nellie” Briles pitched for five different teams during his Major League career from 1965-1978.  He began his career with the St. Louis Cardinals as a reliever and spot starter.  After Bob Gibson suffered a broken leg when he was hit by a Roberto Clemente line drive on July 15, 1967, Nellie was promoted into the starting rotation.  He won nine straight games, leading the National League in winning percentage, as well as the Cardinals’ staff in ERA.  He also threw a complete game against the Red Sox in Game 3 of the 1967 World Series.

Briles won a career-high 19 games and 15 games the following two seasons in 1968 and 1969, but then slumped noticeably the next two years.  Before the 1971 season, the Cardinals traded Nellie, along with Vic Davalillo, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Matty Alou  He went 8-4 for the Pirates that season and pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 5 of the 1971 World Series. 

Following his run with the Pirates from 1971-1973, Nellie played ball for the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, as well as the Orioles.  He retired following the 1978 season. 

After retiring as a player, Briles returned to Pittsburgh and became a television sportscaster in 1979.  He went to work for the organization in 1986 as director of corporate sales and he was also the director of the Pirates’ annual fantasy camp.

Sadly, his life was cut way too short.  While participating in the annual Pirates’ alumni golf tournament in Orlando Florida, Briles collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack.  He was 61 years old when he died in 2005.

Be sure to check back next Tuesday to see who’s featured in the next Bucco Blast From The Past! 

And…

As Always…

Let’s Go Bucs!