pitched three seasons for the Pirates, going 36-28 with a 2.98 ERA. Briles, who studied drama at Santa Clara, became just as famous off the field in Pittsburgh with a nightclub act in which he sang and told jokes. Perhaps the second most memorable moment of his time with the Pirates had to do with hockey rather than baseball. On his way to training camp in Bradenton, Florida in , Briles made a pit stop at a hockey game between the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins. Between periods, Blues radio broadcaster Dan Kelly interviewed Briles. Comments Briles made about Pittsburgh sports fans and the Pittsburgh Penguins were deemed insulting by Pittsburgh fans. He denied most of the quotes attributed to him and claimed that his words were misconstrued. His last act while a member of the Pirates was singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to Game 4 of the 1973 World Series. Kansas City Royals He was traded with Fernando González to the Kansas City Royals for Kurt Bevacqua, Ed Kirkpatrick and minor league first baseman Winston Cole at the Winter Meetings in Houston on December 4, 1973. Shortly after the trade, Briles released the single "Hey Hank" b/w "Soft the Summer Wind Blows" on Capitol Records. "Hey Hank" was the pitcher's plea to Hank Aaron that he try to hit home run number 715 off somebody else (though Briles was now in the American League). Briles suffered set back after set back with the Royals. Just as the season was set to begin, he was placed on the disabled list with a sore right knee. After two appearances, he reinjured the knee, requiring surgery. Likewise, his season was hampered by injuries. After missing the entire month of June, he returned on the Fourth of July, but was forced to leave his first game back with soreness in his elbow. He was forced out of his final start of the season on September 1 after three innings when his knee began acting up again. After the season, he was traded to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Dave Nelson. Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles Briles returned healthy to make 31 starts for the Rangers in . With a staff that also included Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry and Bert Blyleven, Rangers pitching kept them in first or near first place in the American League West through May. However, they ended the