Switch-hitting 2B Johnny Ray was a solid player for the Pirates. His best season for the Bucs came in 1984 when he appeared in 155 games in which he was 173 for 555 (.312 avg, .789 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 6 homers, 67 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. He played in 931 games in 7 years for the Pirates and he was 1,009 for 3,525 (.286 avg, .723 OPS) with 414 runs scored, 37 homers, 391 RBIs and 68 stolen bases. Ray never made it onto an All-Star team in his time with the Pirates but he did win a Silver Slugger Award in 1983 and he was 2nd in the voting for the Rookie of the Year Award back in 1982.

Righty reliever Elroy Face as the Pirates’ closer before they were chic. His best season for the Pirates came in 1962. Face pitched in 65 games (0 starts) in 1962 with the Pirates and he was 8-7 with 28 saves, a 1.88 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. His 28 saves in 1962 led the majors. Face pitched in 802 games (27 starts) in his 15 years with the Pirates and he was 100-93 witih 188 saves, a 3.46 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Face represented the Pirates in the All-Star Game 3 times while with the Pirates. He is the Pirates’ all-time leader in both games pitched (802) and saves (188).

Submarining righty reliever Kent Tekulve was the Pirates’ closer during a lot of the good times in the 70’s. He looked like a school teacher but he saved a lot of games for the Pirates. In 1979, Tekulve pitched in 94 games (0 starts) in which he was 10-8 with 31 saves, a 2.75 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He worked 134 1/3 innings that year and he only gave up 109 hits, as closers weren’t 1-inning only pitchers like they are today. Tekulve led the majors in games pitched three times in his 12 years with the Pirates but he only made one All-Star team (1980). Tekulve pitched in 722 games (0 starts) in his 12 years with the Pirates and he was 70-61 with 158 saves, a 2.68 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Tekulve is #2 in Pirates’ history in games pitched with 722. He’s also #2 in saves (158) and he has the ninth best ERA (2.68) in Pirates’ history.

59-year old starting pitcher Bert Blyleven has been elected into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Blyleven pitched three seasons in Pittsburgh from 1978-1980. He pitched in 105 games (103 starts) in his three years with the Pirates and he was 34-28 with 3.47 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Blyleven as the Pirates’ top starting pitcher on the “We Are Family” World Champion Pirates of 1979. He pitched in 3 games (2 starts) in the post season in 1979 and he was 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Blyleven pitched in 692 games (685 starts) in his 22 years in the majors and he was 287-250 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Blyleven only pitched for the Pirates three seasons but he will always have a spot in team history for his performance in 1979.

Lefty swinging RF Dave “The Cobra” Parker was one of the best outfielders the Pirates ever had. He made 4 All Star teams and he won 3 Gold Gloves in his 11 years with the Pirates. He saved his best for the 1978 season when he won the N.L. MVP Award by playing in 148 games in which he was 194 of 581 (.334 avg, .979 OPS) with 102 runs scored, 30 homers, 117 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Parker played in 1,301 games in his 11 years with the Pirates in which he was 1,479 of 4,848 (.305 avg, .848 OPS) with 728 runs scored, 166 homers, 758 RBIs and 123 stolen bases. Parker is #5 all-time in homers (166) and he’s #7 in doubles (296) in Pirates’ history. Parker was part of the “We Are Family” era of the Pirates which was the version I remember the best as those were good times.