Pirates rookie Don Leppert hits a home run on the first pitch thrown to him in his major league career, going deep off southpaw Curt Simmons in the second inning of the Bucs’ 5-3 victory over the Redbirds at Forbes Field. The 29 year-old freshman catcher’s feat will not be accomplished again by another Pittsburgh player until 2012, when Starling Marte homers on the first pitch he sees in his big league debut.

This Day In Baseball

On June 18, 1961 Pirates rookie Don Leppert hits a home run on the first pitch thrown to him in his major league career, going deep off southpaw Curt Simmons in the second inning of the Bucs’ 5-3 victory over the Redbirds at Forbes Field. The 29 year-old freshman catcher’s feat will not be accomplished again by another Pittsburgh player until 2012, when Starling Marte homers on the first pitch he sees in his big league debut.