1931 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1931 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersBarney Dreyfuss
ManagersJewel Ens
← 1930 Seasons 1932 →

The 1931 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 50th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 45th in the National League. The Pirates finished fifth in the league standings with a record of 75–79.

Offseason

Regular season

Notable transactions

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 101 53 .656 — 54‍–‍24 47‍–‍29
New York Giants 87 65 .572 13 50‍–‍27 37‍–‍38
Chicago Cubs 84 70 .545 17 50‍–‍27 34‍–‍43
Brooklyn Robins 79 73 .520 21 46‍–‍29 33‍–‍44
Pittsburgh Pirates 75 79 .487 26 44‍–‍33 31‍–‍46
Philadelphia Phillies 66 88 .429 35 40‍–‍36 26‍–‍52
Boston Braves 64 90 .416 37 36‍–‍41 28‍–‍49
Cincinnati Reds 58 96 .377 43 38‍–‍39 20‍–‍57

Record vs. opponents

1931 National League record

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BOS BR CHC CIN NYG PHI PIT STL
Boston — 11–11–1 8–14–1 8–14 6–16 11–11 11–11 9–13
Brooklyn 11–11–1 — 14–8 10–12 10–10 13–9 11–11 10–12
Chicago 14–8–1 8–14 — 14–8 12–10 14–8 14–8–1 8–14
Cincinnati 14–8 12–10 8–14 — 7–15 9–13 6–16 2–20
New York 16–6 10–10 10–12 15–7 — 14–8–1 12–10 10–12
Philadelphia 11–11 9–13 8–14 13–9 8–14–1 — 13–9 4–18
Pittsburgh 11–11 11–11 8–14–1 16–6 10–12 9–13 — 10–12
St. Louis 13–9 12–10 14–8 20–2 12–10 18–4 12–10 —


Game log

1931 Game Log: 75–79 (Home: 44–33; Away: 31–46)
April: 6–8 (Home: 1–2; Away: 5–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 14 @ Cubs 2–6 Root French (0–1) — 45,000 0–1
2 April 15 @ Cubs 5–6 Smith Willoughby (0–1) — — 0–2
3 April 16 @ Cubs 4–3 Spencer (1–0) Blake — — 1–2
4 April 17 @ Cubs 4–5 Bush Wood (0–1) Smith 30,000 1–3
5 April 18 @ Reds 9–6 French (1–1) Wysong — — 2–3
6 April 19 @ Reds 5–1 Kremer (1–0) Johnson — — 3–3
7 April 20 @ Reds 5–7 Lucas Meine (0–1) — — 3–4
8 April 24 Cubs 6–10 Sweetland French (1–2) — — 3–5
9 April 25 Cubs 3–8 Malone Kremer (1–1) May — 3–6
10 April 26 @ Cardinals 1–0 Meine (1–1) Hallahan — — 4–6
11 April 27 @ Cardinals 5–3 French (2–2) Rhem — — 5–6
12 April 28 @ Cardinals 2–8 Grimes Wood (0–2) — — 5–7
13 April 29 @ Cardinals 1–7 Haines Kremer (1–2) — — 5–8
14 April 30 Reds 8–3 Meine (2–1) Rixey — — 6–8
May: 11–14 (Home: 2–6; Away: 9–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
15 May 1 Reds 5–4 (11) Spencer (2–0) Carroll — — 7–8
16 May 2 Reds 11–5 Osborn (1–0) Ogden — — 8–8
17 May 3 @ Reds 6–3 Kremer (2–2) Lucas — — 9–8
18 May 3 @ Reds 5–10 Kolp Wood (0–3) — — 9–9
19 May 6 Cardinals 5–6 (13) Grimes Meine (2–2) Lindsey — 9–10
20 May 7 Cardinals 5–11 Haines French (2–3) — — 9–11
21 May 9 Cardinals 2–4 Johnson Kremer (2–3) — — 9–12
22 May 10 @ Robins 3–1 French (3–3) Phelps — 28,000 10–12
23 May 11 @ Robins 4–2 Meine (3–2) Vance — 5,000 11–12
24 May 15 @ Giants 3–2 (10) French (4–3) Mitchell — 8,000 12–12
25 May 16 @ Braves 2–9 Zachary Kremer (2–4) — 15,000 12–13
26 May 17 @ Braves 5–3 Meine (4–2) Seibold — — 13–13
27 May 18 @ Braves 1–3 Brandt Brame (0–1) — — 13–14
28 May 19 @ Phillies 2–3 Elliott French (4–4) Elliott — 13–15
29 May 20 @ Phillies 7–11 Shields Willoughby (0–2) — — 13–16
30 May 23 @ Cubs 4–3 Meine (5–2) Malone Spencer (1) — 14–16
31 May 24 @ Cubs 10–7 Brame (1–1) Root Spencer (2) — 15–16
32 May 25 @ Cubs 6–9 Sweetland Kremer (2–5) — — 15–17
33 May 26 @ Cardinals 9–11 Derringer Spencer (2–1) — — 15–18
34 May 27 @ Cardinals 4–0 Meine (6–2) Johnson — — 16–18
35 May 28 @ Cardinals 11–8 (7) Osborn (2–0) Rhem — — 17–18
36 May 29 Cubs 3–4 (10) Root Kremer (2–6) — — 17–19
37 May 30 Cubs 2–9 Sweetland Spencer (2–2) — 10,000 17–20
38 May 30 Cubs 5–6 May Brame (1–2) Root 18,000 17–21
39 May 31 @ Cubs 0–5 Smith Meine (6–3) — 30,000 17–22
June: 8–18 (Home: 4–7; Away: 4–11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
40 June 2 Braves 4–3 Osborn (3–0) Brandt — — 18–22
41 June 3 Braves 3–4 (10) Seibold Brame (1–3) — — 18–23
42 June 4 Braves 2–1 (13) Spencer (3–2) Haid — — 19–23
43 June 5 Braves 0–4 Zachary Meine (6–4) — — 19–24
44 June 6 Phillies 3–2 Kremer (3–6) Elliott — — 20–24
45 June 9 Phillies 3–7 Dudley Brame (1–4) Elliott — 20–25
46 June 10 Giants 5–1 French (5–4) Walker — — 21–25
47 June 11 Giants 6–8 (11) Berly Spencer (3–3) — 5,000 21–26
48 June 12 Giants 2–8 Fitzsimmons Kremer (3–7) — — 21–27
49 June 13 Giants 4–6 Mitchell Brame (1–5) — — 21–28
50 June 14 @ Robins 3–6 Shaute French (5–5) Quinn 15,000 21–29
51 June 17 Robins 0–2 Clark Meine (6–5) — — 21–30
52 June 18 @ Giants 1–3 Hubbell French (5–6) — — 21–31
53 June 19 @ Giants 4–1 Kremer (4–7) Mitchell — — 22–31
54 June 20 @ Giants 1–3 Walker Spencer (3–4) — 30,000 22–32
55 June 20 @ Giants 0–10 Fitzsimmons Brame (1–6) — 30,000 22–33
56 June 21 @ Giants 5–4 (11) French (6–6) Heving — — 23–33
57 June 22 @ Robins 2–3 (10) Clark Wood (0–4) — — 23–34
58 June 24 @ Robins 4–6 Shaute French (6–7) — — 23–35
59 June 24 @ Robins 3–5 Heimach Kremer (4–8) — 20,000 23–36
60 June 25 @ Phillies 1–5 Dudley Brame (1–7) — — 23–37
61 June 26 @ Phillies 2–13 Watt Meine (6–6) — — 23–38
62 June 27 @ Phillies 10–6 Wood (1–4) Elliott Swetonic (1) 15,000 24–38
63 June 27 @ Phillies 4–5 Benge French (6–8) Collins 15,000 24–39
64 June 29 @ Braves 4–2 Kremer (5–8) Zachary — — 25–39
65 June 30 @ Braves 1–5 Frankhouse Brame (1–8) — — 25–40
July: 19–10 (Home: 16–8; Away: 3–2)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
66 July 1 @ Braves 4–1 Spencer (4–4) Seibold — — 26–40
67 July 2 @ Braves 1–0 Meine (7–6) Cunningham — — 27–40
68 July 4 Cardinals 9–8 (11) Osborn (4–0) Lindsey — — 28–40
69 July 4 Cardinals 3–4 (12) Hallahan Kremer (5–9) — — 28–41
70 July 5 @ Reds 6–4 Brame (2–8) Johnson — — 29–41
71 July 8 Cubs 5–2 Meine (8–6) Warneke — — 30–41
72 July 9 Cubs 4–2 Kremer (6–9) Teachout — — 31–41
73 July 11 Cubs 2–9 Sweetland Spencer (4–5) — — 31–42
74 July 11 Cubs 5–5 (10) — — 31–42
75 July 12 @ Reds 7–14 Lucas Meine (8–7) — — 31–43
76 July 12 @ Reds 5–6 (11) Benton Swetonic (0–1) — — 31–44
77 July 13 Phillies 0–1 Elliott Kremer (6–10) — — 31–45
78 July 14 Phillies 9–4 Meine (9–7) Dudley — — 32–45
79 July 14 Phillies 4–3 (10) Spencer (5–5) Collins — — 33–45
80 July 15 Phillies 4–2 French (7–8) Benge — — 34–45
81 July 16 Phillies 12–8 Brame (3–8) Bolen — — 35–45
82 July 17 Phillies 1–4 Elliott Kremer (6–11) — — 35–46
83 July 18 Braves 9–3 Meine (10–7) Seibold — — 36–46
84 July 18 Braves 0–1 Cantwell Spencer (5–6) — — 36–47
85 July 22 Robins 10–6 French (8–8) Shaute — — 37–47
86 July 22 Robins 2–3 Heimach Kremer (6–12) — 8,000 37–48
87 July 23 Robins 17–6 Brame (4–8) Vance — 3,000 38–48
88 July 24 Robins 8–7 Osborn (5–0) Clark French (1) — 39–48
89 July 25 Robins 5–2 Wood (2–4) Luque — 12,000 40–48
90 July 25 Robins 3–2 (14) French (9–8) Heimach — 17,000 41–48
91 July 27 Giants 8–6 Kremer (7–12) Mitchell Spencer (3) — 42–48
92 July 28 Giants 2–6 Hubbell Brame (4–9) — — 42–49
93 July 29 Giants 4–5 Walker Meine (10–8) — — 42–50
94 July 30 Giants 9–0 French (10–8) Morrell — — 43–50
95 July 31 Reds 5–0 Kremer (8–12) Benton — — 44–50
August: 15–20 (Home: 6–4; Away: 9–16)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
96 August 1 Reds 1–0 Spencer (6–6) Rixey — — 45–50
97 August 2 @ Reds 3–0 Brame (5–9) Lucas — — 46–50
98 August 4 Cardinals 1–7 Haines Meine (10–9) — — 46–51
99 August 5 Cardinals 5–4 (12) French (11–8) Lindsey — — 47–51
100 August 5 Cardinals 2–16 Hallahan Wood (2–5) — — 47–52
101 August 6 Reds 2–3 Benton Spencer (6–7) — — 47–53
102 August 7 Reds 9–3 Kremer (9–12) Lucas — — 48–53
103 August 8 Reds 4–3 Meine (11–9) Johnson — — 49–53
104 August 9 @ Reds 2–6 Benton French (11–9) — — 49–54
105 August 9 @ Reds 8–4 Brame (6–9) Frey — — 50–54
106 August 10 Cubs 4–3 Spencer (7–7) Sweetland — — 51–54
107 August 12 @ Giants 6–4 Kremer (10–12) Hubbell — — 52–54
108 August 12 @ Giants 0–9 Walker Meine (11–10) — — 52–55
109 August 13 @ Giants 7–5 Brame (7–9) Fitzsimmons — — 53–55
110 August 13 @ Giants 1–6 Mitchell French (11–10) — 10,000 53–56
111 August 14 @ Giants 1–2 Mooney Spencer (7–8) — — 53–57
112 August 15 @ Phillies 4–5 Dudley Wood (2–6) Collins — 53–58
113 August 15 @ Phillies 1–3 Bolen Meine (11–11) Watt — 53–59
114 August 17 @ Phillies 4–2 French (12–10) Blake — — 54–59
115 August 17 @ Phillies 0–3 Collins Brame (7–10) — — 54–60
116 August 18 @ Phillies 14–5 Spencer (8–8) Bolen — — 55–60
117 August 20 @ Braves 1–2 (10) Brandt Swetonic (0–2) — — 55–61
118 August 20 @ Braves 5–4 Meine (12–11) Sherdel — — 56–61
119 August 21 @ Braves 1–2 Cantwell Brame (7–11) — — 56–62
120 August 22 @ Braves 1–2 Zachary Spencer (8–9) — — 56–63
121 August 23 @ Robins 4–5 Shaute Meine (12–12) — — 56–64
122 August 23 @ Robins 4–5 Quinn Osborn (5–1) — 15,000 56–65
123 August 25 @ Robins 5–3 Meine (13–12) Clark — — 57–65
124 August 25 @ Robins 0–5 Heimach Kremer (10–13) — 25,000 57–66
125 August 27 Cubs 3–2 Spencer (9–9) Sweetland — — 58–66
126 August 27 Cubs 4–11 Welch Brame (7–12) — — 58–67
127 August 28 @ Cardinals 4–6 Lindsey French (12–11) Hallahan 25,000 58–68
128 August 29 @ Cardinals 8–2 Meine (14–12) Johnson — 7,500 59–68
129 August 30 @ Cardinals 0–5 Derringer Kremer (10–14) — — 59–69
130 August 30 @ Cardinals 1–4 Hallahan Spencer (9–10) — — 59–70
September: 16–9 (Home: 15–6; Away: 1–3)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
131 September 3 Cardinals 6–4 Osborn (6–1) Grimes — — 60–70
132 September 4 Cardinals 3–1 Meine (15–12) Hallahan — — 61–70
133 September 5 Cardinals 8–5 Kremer (11–14) Lindsey — — 62–70
134 September 6 @ Cubs 5–4 Spencer (10–10) Root — — 63–70
135 September 7 Reds 6–1 French (13–11) Carroll — — 64–70
136 September 7 Reds 4–2 Brame (8–12) Rixey — — 65–70
137 September 8 Reds 3–0 Harris (1–0) Ogden — — 66–70
138 September 9 Robins 5–1 Meine (16–12) Heimach — — 67–70
139 September 10 Giants 1–6 Hubbell Kremer (11–15) — — 67–71
140 September 11 Giants 3–2 French (14–11) Parmelee — — 68–71
141 September 12 Giants 5–1 Harris (2–0) Mooney — — 69–71
142 September 13 @ Robins 5–6 Heimach Spencer (10–11) — 10,000 69–72
143 September 15 Robins 5–2 Meine (17–12) Clark — — 70–72
144 September 15 Robins 2–1 French (15–11) Vance — 4,000 71–72
145 September 16 Robins 5–11 Clark Brame (8–13) — — 71–73
146 September 17 Braves 0–1 Zachary Harris (2–1) — — 71–74
147 September 17 Braves 4–2 (8) Spencer (11–11) Brown — — 72–74
148 September 18 Braves 2–6 Brandt French (15–12) — — 72–75
149 September 18 Braves 4–1 Meine (18–12) Sherdel — — 73–75
150 September 19 Braves 7–0 Brame (9–13) Frankhouse — — 74–75
151 September 21 Phillies 4–6 Elliott Harris (2–2) Benge — 74–76
152 September 22 Phillies 3–2 (13) Meine (19–12) Collins — — 75–76
153 September 24 Phillies 1–5 Elliott French (15–13) — — 75–77
154 September 27 @ Cubs 1–3 Root Meine (19–13) Smith — 75–78
155 September 27 @ Cubs 4–8 Malone Spencer (11–12) — — 75–79
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Roster

1931 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
C Eddie Phillips 106 353 82 .232 7 44
1B George Grantham 127 465 142 .305 10 46
2B Tony Piet 44 167 50 .299 0 24
SS Tommy Thevenow 120 404 86 .213 0 38
3B Pie Traynor 155 615 183 .298 2 103
OF Lloyd Waner 154 681 214 .314 4 57
OF Paul Waner 150 559 180 .322 6 70
OF Adam Comorosky 99 350 85 .243 1 48

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Gus Suhr 87 270 57 .211 4 32
Woody Jensen 73 267 65 .243 3 17
Howdy Groskloss 53 161 45 .280 0 20
Earl Grace 47 150 42 .280 1 20
Ben Sankey 57 132 30 .227 0 14
Bill Regan 28 104 21 .202 1 10
Fred Bennett 32 89 25 .281 1 7
Jim Mosolf 39 44 11 .250 1 8
Rollie Hemsley 10 35 6 .171 0 1
Hal Finney 10 26 8 .308 0 2
Pete McClanahan 7 4 2 .500 0 0
Bill Steinecke 4 4 0 .000 0 0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Heinie Meine 36 284.0 19 13 2.98 58
Larry French 39 275.2 15 13 3.26 73
Ray Kremer 30 230.0 11 15 3.33 58
Erv Brame 26 179.2 9 13 4.21 33
Bill Harris 4 31.0 2 2 0.87 10

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Glenn Spencer 38 186.2 11 12 3.42 51
Spades Wood 15 64.0 2 6 6.05 33
Claude Willoughby 9 25.2 0 2 6.31 4

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Bob Osborn 27 6 1 0 5.01 9
Steve Swetonic 14 0 2 1 3.90 8
George Grant 11 0 0 0 7.41 6
Andy Bednar 3 0 0 0 11.25 2

Farm system

See also: Minor league baseball
Level Team League Manager
A Wichita Aviators Western League Art Griggs & Howie Gregory

Notes

  1. ^ From 1882-1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ Tommy Thevenow page at Baseball Reference
  3. ^ Earl Grace page at Baseball Reference

References