eddie g,
You are one great grandfather, a fantastic memory trip for you & your Grandson, no doubt about it. Sense your Grandson is a big Pirates fan, I will give him a looks see at the men who taught me how to play baseball, on Dick Groat field in Swissvaile, Pa, way back. Although Pie's picture (Pie Traynor) is missing he started Little League Baseball and helped us kids in the Pittsburgh area in a big way. Billy Maz and Dick Groat in that era were the pros who spent many hours with us kids, I went to college on a full ride because of Maz, Groat and Pie, I will never forget their kindness to me and my family. Pittsburgh Pirate Baseball in that era was the very best, the men were truly bigger than life. The pictures below are Bill's Base Ball Hall of Fame collection, including MTH's 1960 World Series Box Car and Dick's 1960 Batting Title Picture, both personally autographed.
Pie Traynor often said Dick Groat was the greatest athlete who ever played Pro Baseball, and all American in both BasketBall and Baseball, drafted to play both Pro Baseball and Pro BasketBall he chose Baseball to stay in Pittsburgh/Swissvale, Pa were he grew up. In 1960 Bill and Dick broke the all time double play record for Pro baseball, Dick then retired, Bill and Gene Alley then re-broke the double play record in 1961, the record still stands today, Bill wanted Dick to stay around one more year so he would be Pro Baseballs all time double play short stop, Dick told Maz he could not due it, his legs were shot. In reality they were the greatest double play team that ever played Pro ball, I know, I watched both Dick and Maz and Gene and Maz play, they were both great, Billy Maz is the greatest 2nd Baseman in the history of Pro ball his stats prove it, nobody even comes close. Pie was the Greatest 3rd Baseman in baseball history, his stats also prove it, both were Pittsburgh Pirates. Dick Groat #24 was probably the greatest pure athlete to ever play Pro Baseball, he was a Pittsburgh Pirate born and raised in Swissvale, Pa just down the street in our neighborhood, one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. I watch him sign autographs for all the kids, never leaving till every kid was personally talked to and taken care of, I was one of those kids, these men were Pittsburgh Pirate Baseball and always will be. IMO the modern day pro baseball players could not even carry their spikes.
Just a little Pittsburgh Baseball history for your Grandson.
PCRR/Dave
