1942 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1942 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersBill Benswanger
ManagersFrankie Frisch
RadioWWSW
Rosey Rowswell, Jack Craddock
← 1941 Seasons 1943 →

The 1942 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 61st season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 56th in the National League. The Pirates finished fifth in the league standings with a record of 66–81.

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 106 48 .688 — 60‍–‍17 46‍–‍31
Brooklyn Dodgers 104 50 .675 2 57‍–‍22 47‍–‍28
New York Giants 85 67 .559 20 47‍–‍31 38‍–‍36
Cincinnati Reds 76 76 .500 29 38‍–‍39 38‍–‍37
Pittsburgh Pirates 66 81 .449 36½ 41‍–‍34 25‍–‍47
Chicago Cubs 68 86 .442 38 36‍–‍41 32‍–‍45
Boston Braves 59 89 .399 44 33‍–‍36 26‍–‍53
Philadelphia Phils 42 109 .278 62½ 23‍–‍51 19‍–‍58

Record vs. opponents

1942 National League record

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BOS BR CHC CIN NYG PHI PIT STL
Boston — 6–16 13–9 5–16–1 8–12 14–8 7–12–1 6–16
Brooklyn 16–6 — 16–6 15–7 14–8–1 18–4 16–6 9–13
Chicago 9–13 6–16 — 13–9 9–13–1 14–8 11–11 6–16
Cincinnati 16–5–1 7–15 9–13 — 9–13 16–6 12–9–1 7–15
New York 12–8 8–14–1 13–9–1 13–9 — 17–5 15–7 7–15
Philadelphia 8–14 4–18 8–14 6–16 5–17 — 6–13 5–17
Pittsburgh 12–7–1 6–16 11–11 9–12–1 7–15 13–6 — 8–14–2
St. Louis 16–6 13–9 16–6 15–7 15–7 17–5 14–8–2 —


Game log

1942 Game Log: 66–81 (Home: 41–34; Away: 25–47)
April: 9–6 (Home: 6–5; Away: 3–1)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 14 @ Reds 4–2 Butcher (1–0) Walters — 34,104 1–0
2 April 15 @ Reds 6–2 Dietz (1–0) Riddle — 3,628 2–0
3 April 16 @ Reds 7–8 (12) Beggs Wilkie (0–1) — 2,421 2–1
4 April 17 Cardinals 3–2 Sewell (1–0) Warneke — 18,324 3–1
5 April 18 Cardinals 3–0 Heintzelman (1–0) White — 5,945 4–1
6 April 19 Cardinals 2–3 Beazley Dietz (1–1) Gumbert 12,929 4–2
7 April 20 Cubs 2–8 Mooty Butcher (1–1) — 1,752 4–3
8 April 21 Cubs 5–2 Sewell (2–0) Bithorn — 2,397 5–3
9 April 22 Cubs 9–1 Hamlin (1–0) Erickson — 3,517 6–3
10 April 23 Reds 3–5 Vander Meer Lanning (0–1) — 4,533 6–4
11 April 24 Reds 5–9 Starr Dietz (1–2) Beggs 4,971 6–5
12 April 26 @ Cardinals 2–0 Heintzelman (2–0) Warneke — — 7–5
13 April 26 @ Cardinals 4–4 (11) — 14,820 7–5
14 April 28 Phillies 7–1 Butcher (2–1) Naylor — 1,752 8–5
15 April 29 Phillies 7–6 (10) Sewell (3–0) Blanton — 1,567 9–5
16 April 30 Phillies 3–6 Hoerst Lanning (0–2) — 1,826 9–6
May: 10–21 (Home: 6–7; Away: 4–14)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
17 May 1 Dodgers 7–6 Heintzelman (3–0) Allen — 9,199 10–6
18 May 2 Dodgers 10–5 Wilkie (1–1) Davis — 17,210 11–6
19 May 3 Braves 6–2 Butcher (3–1) Javery — — 12–6
20 May 3 Braves 3–12 (8) Earley Sewell (3–1) — 29,030 12–7
21 May 4 Braves 2–1 Klinger (1–0) Tobin — 1,637 13–7
22 May 5 Braves 1–7 Wallace Dietz (1–3) — 2,321 13–8
23 May 7 Giants 2–1 (11) Wilkie (2–1) Carpenter — — 14–8
24 May 7 Giants 2–6 Koslo Heintzelman (3–1) — 4,075 14–9
25 May 8 @ Cubs 6–4 Sewell (4–1) Schmitz — 4,133 15–9
26 May 9 @ Cubs 1–3 Lee Butcher (3–2) — 3,465 15–10
27 May 10 @ Cubs 2–4 Passeau Hamlin (1–1) — 22,042 15–11
28 May 10 @ Cubs 3–2 Klinger (2–0) Erickson — 22,042 16–11
29 May 12 @ Giants 3–7 Melton Heintzelman (3–2) — — 16–12
30 May 13 @ Giants 3–1 Butcher (4–2) Koslo — — 17–12
31 May 14 @ Dodgers 4–7 French Wilkie (2–2) Casey — 17–13
32 May 15 @ Dodgers 3–8 Wyatt Sewell (4–2) — — 17–14
33 May 16 @ Dodgers 1–8 Head Heintzelman (3–3) — — 17–15
34 May 17 @ Phillies 7–2 Hamlin (2–1) Hoerst — — 18–15
35 May 17 @ Phillies 4–5 (11) Melton Klinger (2–1) — — 18–16
36 May 19 @ Phillies 4–5 Podgajny Butcher (4–3) Hoerst 3,366 18–17
37 May 20 @ Braves 3–4 (10) Sain Heintzelman (3–4) — 3,010 18–18
38 May 23 Cubs 5–4 Lanning (1–2) Erickson Sewell (1) 3,090 19–18
39 May 24 Cubs 5–7 (10) Lee Sewell (4–3) — 16,746 19–19
40 May 24 Cubs 4–11 Passeau Heintzelman (3–5) — 16,746 19–20
41 May 25 @ Reds 1–6 Derringer Butcher (4–4) — 16,205 19–21
42 May 27 Cardinals 3–5 Beazley Sewell (4–4) — 1,635 19–22
43 May 28 Cardinals 2–3 (11) Beazley Wilkie (2–3) Gumbert 16,577 19–23
44 May 30 @ Cubs 5–10 Mooty Gornicki (0–1) Pressnell — 19–24
45 May 30 @ Cubs 2–3 Fleming Hamlin (2–2) Pressnell 22,735 19–25
46 May 31 @ Reds 2–8 Walters Sewell (4–5) — — 19–26
47 May 31 @ Reds 0–3 Starr Butcher (4–5) — 16,721 19–27
June: 13–9 (Home: 8–3; Away: 5–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
48 June 2 Dodgers 2–17 Webber Wilkie (2–4) — 3,257 19–28
49 June 5 Phillies 6–5 Heintzelman (4–5) Hoerst Dietz (1) 1,195 20–28
50 June 6 Phillies 3–1 Sewell (5–5) Hughes — 2,184 21–28
51 June 7 Phillies 5–4 (10) Heintzelman (5–5) Johnson — — 22–28
52 June 7 Phillies 8–6 (7) Lanning (2–2) Melton Wilkie (1) 8,461 23–28
53 June 9 Braves 10–2 Heintzelman (6–5) Tost — 1,871 24–28
54 June 10 Braves 3–0 Sewell (6–5) Tobin — 11,533 25–28
55 June 13 Giants 8–2 Klinger (3–1) Melton — 4,096 26–28
56 June 14 Giants 3–4 Carpenter Heintzelman (6–6) — 16,719 26–29
57 June 14 Giants 8–3 (8) Sewell (7–5) Sunkel — 16,719 27–29
58 June 15 Giants 2–6 Schumacher Butcher (4–6) — — 27–30
59 June 16 @ Phillies 1–5 Podgajny Hamlin (2–3) — 1,196 27–31
60 June 17 @ Phillies 6–1 Klinger (4–1) Hoerst — — 28–31
61 June 19 @ Braves 7–6 (11) Dietz (2–3) Sain — 3,304 29–31
62 June 20 @ Braves 0–4 Javery Heintzelman (6–7) — — 29–32
63 June 21 @ Braves 7–3 (10) Butcher (5–6) Errickson — 5,000 30–32
64 June 23 @ Dodgers 2–6 French Klinger (4–2) — 16,080 30–33
65 June 26 @ Giants 2–4 Melton Sewell (7–6) — 7,585 30–34
66 June 27 @ Giants 2–5 Carpenter Heintzelman (6–8) — 4,100 30–35
67 June 28 @ Giants 8–7 Wilkie (3–4) Adams — — 31–35
68 June 28 @ Giants 9–3 Klinger (5–2) Schumacher — 31,505 32–35
69 June 30 @ Cardinals 2–4 Cooper Sewell (7–7) — 13,252 32–36
July: 11–16 (Home: 8–7; Away: 3–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
70 July 1 @ Cardinals 0–4 White Heintzelman (6–9) — 1,439 32–37
71 July 2 @ Cardinals 1–3 Beazley Klinger (5–3) — 8,699 32–38
72 July 3 @ Cardinals 5–4 Lanning (3–2) Warneke Dietz (2) 1,169 33–38
73 July 4 Reds 0–2 Walters Butcher (5–7) — 18,000 33–39
74 July 5 Reds 4–3 Sewell (8–7) Derringer — — 34–39
75 July 5 Reds 2–5 Starr Hamlin (2–4) — 11,365 34–40
76 July 9 Phillies 9–0 Sewell (9–7) Melton — 29,488 35–40
77 July 11 Phillies 12–5 Wilkie (4–4) Pearson — 2,034 36–40
78 July 12 Dodgers 1–2 French Lanning (3–3) — — 36–41
79 July 12 Dodgers 6–4 Heintzelman (7–9) Higbe Sewell (2) 29,543 37–41
80 July 14 Dodgers 1–5 Wyatt Klinger (5–4) — 21,254 37–42
81 July 15 Giants 6–2 Sewell (10–7) Carpenter — 2,394 38–42
82 July 16 Giants 1–3 Hubbell Butcher (5–8) — 9,098 38–43
83 July 17 Giants 2–11 Schumacher Lanning (3–4) Adams 2,083 38–44
84 July 18 Braves 3–0 Heintzelman (8–9) Javery — — 39–44
85 July 19 Braves 8–7 Dietz (3–3) Errickson — — 40–44
86 July 19 Braves 9–0 (8) Klinger (6–4) Salvo — 7,425 41–44
87 July 20 Dodgers 0–5 French Lanning (3–5) — 13,600 41–45
88 July 21 @ Giants 5–6 Hubbell Wilkie (4–5) — 8,937 41–46
89 July 23 @ Giants 4–6 McGee Sewell (10–8) — 5,555 41–47
90 July 24 @ Dodgers 4–6 Wyatt Heintzelman (8–10) — 10,798 41–48
91 July 25 @ Dodgers 4–1 Gornicki (1–1) Davis — 11,314 42–48
92 July 26 @ Dodgers 2–3 Allen Klinger (6–5) Head — 42–49
93 July 26 @ Dodgers 3–5 Macon Lanning (3–6) Head 31,844 42–50
94 July 28 @ Braves 3–4 Tost Dietz (3–4) — 1,527 42–51
95 July 29 @ Braves 3–0 Sewell (11–8) Javery — — 43–51
96 July 29 @ Braves 5–6 Tobin Klinger (6–6) — 4,064 43–52
August: 15–15 (Home: 8–7; Away: 7–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
97 August 1 @ Phillies 1–2 (12) Hughes Sewell (11–9) — — 43–53
98 August 2 @ Phillies 4–2 Hamlin (3–4) Melton — — 44–53
99 August 2 @ Phillies 3–2 Dietz (4–4) Hoerst Butcher (1) — 45–53
100 August 4 Cubs 2–1 (11) Klinger (7–6) Bithorn — 2,042 46–53
101 August 5 Cubs 3–0 Sewell (12–9) Fleming — 8,826 47–53
102 August 7 Cardinals 13–6 Wilkie (5–5) Lanier — 10,430 48–53
103 August 8 Cardinals 5–5 (16) — 2,128 48–53
104 August 9 Cardinals 3–4 Dickson Lanning (3–7) — — 48–54
105 August 9 Cardinals 1–2 (8) Krist Klinger (7–7) — 15,561 48–55
106 August 10 Cardinals 6–4 Wilkie (6–5) Cooper Dietz (3) 1,507 49–55
107 August 11 Reds 3–1 Gornicki (2–1) Thompson — 2,108 50–55
108 August 12 Reds 0–3 Vander Meer Sewell (12–10) — 8,114 50–56
109 August 14 @ Cubs 1–7 Warneke Klinger (7–8) — 3,934 50–57
110 August 15 @ Cubs 8–5 Dietz (5–4) Bithorn Lanning (1) — 51–57
111 August 15 @ Cubs 8–7 (11) Sewell (13–10) Errickson — 11,702 52–57
112 August 16 @ Cubs 1–5 Lee Gornicki (2–2) — — 52–58
113 August 16 @ Cubs 1–4 Fleming Sewell (13–11) — 25,930 52–59
114 August 18 @ Reds 3–0 Lanning (4–7) Walters — 6,475 53–59
115 August 19 @ Reds 9–2 Gornicki (3–2) Derringer — 1,338 54–59
116 August 20 @ Reds 3–5 Vander Meer Sewell (13–12) — 1,324 54–60
117 August 21 @ Cardinals 2–10 Beazley Dietz (5–5) — 2,010 54–61
118 August 22 @ Cardinals 6–7 Lanier Klinger (7–9) — 3,067 54–62
119 August 23 @ Cardinals 5–3 Klinger (8–9) Cooper — — 55–62
120 August 23 @ Cardinals 2–5 Dickson Lanning (4–8) — — 55–63
121 August 25 Braves 6–0 Sewell (14–12) Earley — — 56–63
122 August 27 Braves 5–0 Gornicki (4–2) Tobin — 4,106 57–63
123 August 29 Giants 0–2 Schumacher Dietz (5–6) — — 57–64
124 August 29 Giants 4–7 McGee Klinger (8–10) — 5,212 57–65
125 August 30 Dodgers 1–3 Wyatt Heintzelman (8–11) Davis — 57–66
126 August 30 Dodgers 9–5 (8) Sewell (15–12) French — 26,377 58–66
127 August 31 Dodgers 4–5 (11) Davis Gornicki (4–3) — 3,697 58–67
September: 8–14 (Home: 5–5; Away: 3–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
128 September 1 Dodgers 2–4 Higbe Klinger (8–11) — 4,437 58–68
129 September 2 Phillies 5–2 Dietz (6–6) Hoerst — 3,712 59–68
130 September 4 Cubs 3–5 Bithorn Sewell (15–13) — 5,218 59–69
131 September 6 Cubs 6–0 Gornicki (5–3) Passeau — — 60–69
132 September 6 Cubs 5–0 Hamlin (4–4) Fleming — 8,610 61–69
133 September 7 Cardinals 11–6 Sewell (16–13) Dickson Klinger (1) — 62–69
134 September 7 Cardinals 4–6 (8) Beazley Dietz (6–7) — 18,785 62–70
135 September 8 @ Dodgers 0–4 Head Wilkie (6–6) — — 62–71
136 September 10 @ Phillies 1–2 (11) Hughes Dietz (6–8) — — 62–72
137 September 12 @ Braves 1–4 Tobin Gornicki (5–4) — — 62–73
138 September 12 @ Braves 2–2 (11) — — 62–73
139 September 13 @ Giants 0–5 Carpenter Sewell (16–14) — — 62–74
140 September 13 @ Giants 3–5 McGee Wilkie (6–7) — 17,794 62–75
141 September 14 @ Giants 1–6 Schumacher Dietz (6–9) — 2,428 62–76
142 September 16 @ Dodgers 3–10 Wyatt Gornicki (5–5) — 11,994 62–77
143 September 17 @ Dodgers 3–2 Sewell (17–14) Head — — 63–77
144 September 18 Reds 1–5 Vander Meer Hallett (0–1) — 5,154 63–78
145 September 19 Reds 3–4 Walters Brandt (0–1) — 1,485 63–79
146 September 20 Reds 2–1 (13) Lanning (5–8) Shoun — — 64–79
147 September 20 Reds 3–3 (7) — 4,161 64–79
148 September 21 @ Cardinals 1–2 White Gornicki (5–6) — 5,000 64–80
149 September 22 @ Cardinals 3–9 Gumbert Sewell (17–15) Dickson 8,823 64–81
150 September 27 @ Reds 8–7 (12) Lanning (6–8) Beggs Gornicki (1) — 65–81
151 September 27 @ Reds 7–4 Brandt (1–1) Vander Meer Gornicki (2) 2,070 66–81
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Roster

1942 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 Al López 103 289 74 .256 1 26
1B Elbie Fletcher 145 506 146 .289 7 57
2B Frankie Gustine 115 388 89 .229 2 35
SS Pete Coscarart 133 487 111 .228 3 29
3B Bob Elliott 143 560 166 .296 9 89
OF Johnny Barrett 111 332 82 .247 0 26
OF Vince DiMaggio 143 496 118 .238 15 75
OF Jimmy Wasdell 122 409 106 .259 3 38

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
Maurice Van Robays 100 328 76 .232 1 46
Babe Phelps 95 257 73 .284 9 41
Bud Stewart 82 183 40 .219 0 20
Alf Anderson 54 166 45 .271 0 7
Stu Martin 42 120 27 .225 1 12
Culley Rikard 38 52 10 .192 0 5
Frank Colman 10 37 5 .135 1 2
Johnny Wyrostek 9 35 4 .114 0 3
Huck Geary 9 22 5 .227 0 2
Bill Baker 18 17 2 .118 0 2
Jim Russell 5 14 1 .071 0 0
Ed Leip 3 0 0 ---- 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
Rip Sewell 40 248.0 17 15 3.41 69
Max Butcher 24 150.2 5 8 2.93 49
Ken Heintzelman 27 130.0 8 11 4.57 39
Jack Hallett 3 22.1 0 1 4.84 16
Bill Brandt 3 16.1 1 1 4.96 4

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
Bob Klinger 37 152.2 8 11 3.24 58
Dutch Dietz 40 134.1 6 9 3.95 35
Johnny Lanning 34 119.1 6 8 3.32 31
Hank Gornicki 25 112.0 5 6 2.57 48
Luke Hamlin 23 112.0 4 4 3.94 38
Lefty Wilkie 35 107.1 6 7 4.19 18
Nick Strincevich 7 22.1 0 0 2.82 10
Dick Conger 2 8.1 0 0 2.16 3

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
Ken Jungels 6 0 0 0 6.59 7
Harry Shuman 1 0 0 0 0.00 1

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AA Toronto Maple Leafs International League Burleigh Grimes
A Albany Senators Eastern League Ripper Collins
B Harrisburg Senators Interstate League Danny Taylor
C Hutchinson Pirates Western Association Walter Holke
D Moultrie Packers Georgia–Florida League F. M. McVay
D Oil City Oilers Pennsylvania State Association Frank Oceak
D Hornell Maples PONY League Poke Whalen and Leo Mackey

Toronto affiliation shared with Philadelphia Athletics

Notes

  1. ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ Hank Gornicki page at Baseball-Reference

References

  • 1942 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
  • 1942 Pittsburgh Pirates Page at Baseball Almanac
  • Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6.