The 1960s and 1970s "Lumber Company" of Pittsburgh is famous for its home runs and offensive pressure, but securing those rosters needed a top defensive anchor. Gene Alley was that anchor, signed in 1959. As a shortstop, he brought sharp instinct and consistent defense, focusing on stopping running games and turning tough grounders into outs, and he became one of the era's top defensive players.

His first appearance was in brief auditions in 1963, but Alley secured the starting shortstop position during the 1965 season. He excelled at run prevention, quickly establishing himself as a defensive force with a leading 2.5 defensive bWAR. His peak as a well-rounded player occurred in 1966, when he showcased a remarkable all-around game. Alley dominated at the plate, surpassing his previous offensive limits with a career-high 173 hits and a strong .299 batting average. He earned his first Gold Glove and finished eleventh in the National League MVP voting, demonstrating that his consistent performance could support a winning team.

While his offensive production normalized to a more modest and low-efficiency level, his defensive excellence continued to be a benchmark across Major League Baseball. Playing alongside second baseman Bill Mazeroski, Alley developed one of the most effective and instinctive double-play pairs in the sport's history. He was selected as an All-Star in the National League in 1967 and 1968, won his second Gold Glove in 1967, and led all of baseball with an impressive 3.4 defensive bWAR in 1968.

Tragically, playing on the harsh artificial turf of Three Rivers Stadium severely impacted his body. Alley suffered from ongoing shoulder and knee issues that significantly decreased his offensive effectiveness and reduced his playing time.

Demonstrating his strong competitive resilience throughout his career, he willingly shifted into a respected veteran reserve role. In this position, he offered vital stability that contributed to guiding the Pirates to an exciting seven-game World Series victory over Baltimore in 1971.

He stood as a steadfast pillar of the organization until his final walk off the diamond, officially retiring at the end of the 1973 season to mark a unique, 11-year career spent entirely in a Pittsburgh uniform.

Alley had 999 career hits with a lifetime defensive bWAR of 14.7.

While Ring of Honor has seen better days, having announced they are moving forward without any contracted talents, they are still operating, and have announced they will be having their own Hall of Fame.  The first inductees have been announced, Mark and Jay Briscoe, the most successful tag team in the promotion’s history.

The pair were with ROH when the organization started back in 2002.  Winning 12 Tag Team Titles with ROH, as well as being the current champs, Jay Briscoe also won the ROH World Championship twice.  

There will be inductees revealed over the next three Mondays.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the Briscoes for earning this accolade.

The early-1990s Pittsburgh Pirates featured flashy stars, but the team’s core was a smart, selfless player who understood his role. Acquired from Cleveland in 1989 as the player to be named later in the Felix Fermín trade, Jay Bell didn't rely on raw athleticism. Instead, he used his mental acuity, positional awareness, and situational skills to produce consistently excellent plays, thriving under manager Jim Leyland.

His initial appearance over 70 games in 1989 set the stage for him to take on the full-time starting shortstop position before the historic 1990 pennant race. He quickly established a reliable infield routine that minimized inconsistency. While Bell lacked exceptional lateral speed, he made up for it with sharp baseball intelligence, often predicting ball movements to position himself perfectly to cut off opposing offenses. He ranked among the top six in defensive bWAR in the Senior Circuit three times as a Pirate, led all National League shortstops in total assists four times and putouts three times, and earned a Gold Glove in 1993.

His best season was during a remarkable 1993 campaign. After star players Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla left through free agency, Bell took on a larger offensive role, breaking his previous limits by hitting .310 with a career-best 187 hits and 31 doubles. He was selected for his first All-Star game and received a Silver Slugger award, demonstrating his ability to lead a lineup with outstanding bat control.

During the mid-1990s, as the organization underwent a challenging financial restructuring in a small market, the front office formally indicated a shift for the remaining veteran core. After the 1996 season ended, management carried out a winter trade, sending the veteran leader to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Joe Randa and Jeff Wallace.

Bell would go on to enjoy an exceptional second act in the desert, famously scoring the game-winning run in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series for Arizona, but his defensive foundation was forever built on the Three Rivers Stadium turf.

He departed the Pirates, leaving behind a magnificent, high-volume localized baseline: 1,124 hits, 185 doubles, 61 home runs, and 434 RBIs alongside a highly respectable .269 batting average across 1,098 games.

The early history of baseball features many modest, low-velocity pitchers who quietly filled rotation spots, but Frank DeHaas Killen seemed like he was built in a laboratory for the 1890s. Standing 6-foot-1 with a lean, athletic frame, the left-hander from Pittsburgh had a commanding presence, easily fitting into the modern game. His raw, high-velocity talent was paired with a notoriously explosive, hyper-emotional temperament. Killen was a mercurial, cocky figure who often lost control on the mound, creating a tense show that frustrated management. After a spectacular 29-win rookie season for Washington in 1892, the Senators' front office traded him to the Pirates, a hometown team willing to tolerate his headaches for a top-tier ace.

During the 1893 campaign, the gamble produced immediate, game-changing gains. Returning to his local roots, Killen delivered an intense, high-volume performance, leading the major leagues with 36 wins and 44 complete games, making winning a daily part of the season. However, just as he captured the city's attention, his physical health sharply declined.

Killen faced a grueling, injury-filled 1894 season before collapsing in the brutal summer of 1895, where his lost velocity and bloated 5.09 ERA made him appear completely washed up. Fans frequently heckled him, and the front office openly questioned if the temperamental southpaw had truly reached the end of his career.

Fully healthy and fueled by a fierce competitive spirit, Killen crafted a legendary redemption story during the 1896 pennant race. He refused to give up, reestablishing his elite status by leading the National League in wins (30), complete games (44), and an exhausting 432.1 innings pitched, league highs. With relentless volume and determination, he carried the pitching staff himself, winning back the fans who had abandoned him a year earlier.

Sadly, the hefty 432-inning workload became the final straw for his throwing shoulder. After pushing his arm to the limit at his peak, Killen's effectiveness declined sharply over the following two summers. Once he lost his ability to prevent runs, his confrontational attitude was no longer a manageable risk the organization could afford. In August 1898, the front office officially ended their association with him through a release.

With the Pirates, Killen had a record of 112-82 over 207 games.