Remembering the one and only designated pinch runner in Pittsburgh Pirates history

It's very difficult to make it to Major League Baseball if speed is your only discernible skill. Designated hitters and relief pitchers are prototypical specialists, but you very rarely see designated pinch runners.

One of the most famous examples is Herb Washington, who was a college track star who played with the Oakland Athletics from 1974 to 1975, stealing 41 bases and never recording a single plate appearance. Another popular example is Terrance Gore, who appeared in parts of eight MLB seasons from 2014 to 2022, stealing 43 bases in 112 games, but only ever collecting more than 10 plate appearances in one of those eight seasons.

It is a role that is almost never specialized. After all, pinch runners aren’t used frequently enough to justify using an entire roster spot to one. When they are used, most teams have a speedy fourth outfielder or bench middle infielder who can also serve as the go-to pinch running option. But, against all odds, the Pittsburgh Pirates once had a player who almost only specialized in base running. 

That was Matt Alexander. Alexander was a second-round pick by the Chicago Cubs in 1968 out of Grambling. He only would collect 80 plate appearances in 57 games in 1973 and 1974 before following in the footsteps of Herb Washington, as the Athletics traded for Alexander in late April 1975. Just days later, the A’s released Washington, and Alexander would ultimately serve a similar purpose for the club.

Although Alexander would accumulate more plate appearances than Washington did, stepping to the dish 88 times across the next three seasons -- as well as making starts between all three outfield positions, second base, third base, and shortstop -- most of Alexander’s time with the A’s was spent as a pinch runner. Alexander would take 63 extra bases in 214 games played. 

Matt Alexander ran his way into Pittsburgh Pirates history

Alexander was released at the end of March 1978, and that marked the moment he signed with the Pirates. The utility man/pinch runner appeared in 103 games with 27 plate appearances in Pittsburgh. He had a dozen hits, but once again, his purpose to the Pirates was to come in and steal bases -- and he managed to swipe 30 more bags. Alexander would play the field from time to time, seeing innings all over the diamond, but he started in just three of the games he appeared in.

After 1981, Alexander headed over to the Mexican League, where he played a much more traditional role, appearing in 106 games with 450 plate appearances in 1982, followed by 116 games and 516 plate appearances in 1983.

According to SABR, Alexander only played the field 138 times, but was used as a pinch runner 271 times. Alexander also stated that playing in Pittsburgh was "the best highlight of my life and career." The speedster appeared in two playoff games for the Pirates during their 1979 World Series run.
During one of his appearances in the NLCS, Alexander pinch-ran for Tim Foli in the 11th inning of Game 1, and ended up scoring the winning run of that game.

Alexander was quite aggressive on the basepaths, swiping 103 bases in 374 career games, but he was also caught often as well. He attempted a stolen base 145 total times, bringing his stolen base success rate to 71%. Alexander ended his MLB career with just 36 hits, 18 walks, and a single hit-by-pitch through just 194 plate appearances. The 1973 season marked the only year he stepped to the plate more often than he appeared in games, but he is one of the few MLB players who can claim they had a fruitful career as a pinch runner -- and he nabbed a World Series ring to boot.