City of Pittsburgh - File #: 2019-2125

• File #: 2019-2125
• Version: 1
• Type: Proclamation
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 10/1/2019
• In control: City Council
• On agenda: 10/1/2019
• Final action: 10/1/2019
• Enactment date: 10/1/2019
• Enactment #: 620
• Effective date: 10/1/2019
• Title: NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend the extraordinary career of Pittsburgh Pirate Steve Blass, congratulates him on 60 remarkable years and wishes him good times in his retirement; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, October 1, 2019, to be "STEVE BLASS DAY" in the City of Pittsburgh.
• Sponsors: Corey O'Connor, Theresa Kail-Smith, All Members
• Indexes: PROCLAMATION - MR. O'CONNOR, PROCLAMATION - MRS. KAIL-SMITH

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
10/1/2019	1	City Council	Adopted	Pass

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WHEREAS, born in Canaan, CT in April 1942, Steve Blass spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a player and a broadcast announcer. Signed in 1960, Steve Blass made his major league debut with the Bucs in 1964 and joined the team permanently in 1966; and,

WHEREAS, Steve Blass won 18 games in 1968, including a 2.12 ERA with seven shutouts, both career highs, finishing the season very strong, winning the National League Player of the Month Award for September of that year with a 5-1 record, 1.65 ERA and 46 strikeouts. In 1969, he won 16 games with a career-high 147 strikeouts and from 1969 to 1972, he won 60 games, with a career-high 19 victories in 1972. In that season, he made the National League All-Star Team and was runner up for the National League Cy Young Award; and,

WHEREAS, in the 1971 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, won by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Blass pitched two complete game wins, allowing only seven hits and two runs in 18 innings and was the winning pitcher in the 7^th and deciding game. He finished second in the voting for World Series MVP behind teammate and close friend, Roberto Clemente; and,

WHEREAS, in 1983, Steve Blass joined the Pirates TV and Radio broadcast team as a part time color commentator, taking on a full time post in 1986. His 60 seasons as a player and a broadcaster has made Blass the longest tenured broadcaster in franchise history. Announcing his retirement in January 2019, Steve Blass will officially retire at the end of the 2019 season; he will stay involved with the Pirates as an Alumni Ambassador and plans to golf, to travel with his wife, Karen  and to watch his grandson, Chris, pitch for Upper St. Clair High School; and,

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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend the extraordinary career of Pittsburgh Pirate Steve Blass, congratulates him on 60 remarkable years and wishes him good times in his retirement; and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, October 1, 2019, to be “STEVE BLASS DAY”  in the City of Pittsburgh.