In an effort to try to produce entertaining and informative content, a number of publications recently have been running stories about the best players in a particular sport or franchise, or even the writer’s favorite player. As a bona fide senior citizen, I’ve had the chance to follow baseball – and the Pirates – for well over half a century, and I’ve had my share of favorites over that time. But as they say, you never forget your first.
My first favorite Pirate was a long, lanky first baseman named Donn Clendenon. Don’t ask me why he was my guy; the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Clendenon played first base, and I was a scrappy, pint-sized second baseman for the Lions club in the Robinson Township Little League.