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Banquet Honors Decade's Best Pirates
October 21 1959
disAssociated Press
Pittsburgh, Penn
The 1959 baseball season is over but there was one last baseball event in Pittsburgh on October 20. The Terrace Room restaurant at the William Penn Hotel was the location of a banquet honoring the best Pirates of the 50s.
The obvious choice for Pitcher of the Decade was two time Cy Young Award winner Connie Johnson. A late bloomer who didn't reach the majors until age 32, Johnson is the Pirates all time leader in ERA and winning percentage.
The oldest player on the team at age 36, Johnson says he still has gas in the tank. "I know I won't be here accepting the 60s award" said Johnson, "but there are still a lot of wins in this right arm." While handing Johnson the plaque, Bob Prince insisted shaking Johnson's left hand saying he didn't want to knock loose any wins.
Gus Bell was named Player of the Decade. Bell has been with the team since the league's first year in 1951 and is the Pirates all time leader in games, at bats, singles, doubles, and triples. He has hit with power, owner of five of the Pirates top ten all time seasons in slugging percentage.
In the early years of the franchise Bell was one of the few bright spots on a team that had few fans and fewer wins. "Baseball has always been fun for me" said Bell. "Its been more fun the last few years when we've been in contention."
After a rough first half of the decade, the Pirates have two consecutive second place finishes to their credit. "I'm proud of what these players and their team mates have accomplished" said General Manager Anne Bonny.
Connie Johnson, Gus Bell, Anne Bonny
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