1949 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1949 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersFrank E. McKinney, John W. Galbreath, Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson
General managersRoy Hamey
ManagersBilly Meyer
RadioWWSW
Rosey Rowswell, Bob Prince
← 1948 Seasons 1950 →

The 1949 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 68th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 63rd in the National League. The Pirates finished sixth in the league standings with a record of 71–83.

Offseason

  • Prior to 1949 season: Dick Smith was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.[2]

Regular season

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Brooklyn Dodgers 97 57 .630 48‍–‍29 49‍–‍28
St. Louis Cardinals 96 58 .623 1 51‍–‍26 45‍–‍32
Philadelphia Phillies 81 73 .526 16 40‍–‍37 41‍–‍36
Boston Braves 75 79 .487 22 43‍–‍34 32‍–‍45
New York Giants 73 81 .474 24 43‍–‍34 30‍–‍47
Pittsburgh Pirates 71 83 .461 26 36‍–‍41 35‍–‍42
Cincinnati Reds 62 92 .403 35 35‍–‍42 27‍–‍50
Chicago Cubs 61 93 .396 36 33‍–‍44 28‍–‍49

Record vs. opponents


Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BOS BR CHC CIN NYG PHI PIT STL
Boston 10–12 12–10 12–10–1 12–10–2 11–11 12–10 6–16
Brooklyn 12–10 17–5 17–5 14–8 11–11 16–6 10–12–1
Chicago 10–12 5–17 9–13 12–10 6–16 11–11 8–14
Cincinnati 10–12–1 5–17 13–9 7–15 13–9 9–13 5–17–1
New York 10–12–2 8–14 10–12 15–7 11–11 12–10 7–15
Philadelphia 11–11 11–11 16–6 9–13 11–11 13–9 10–12
Pittsburgh 10–12 6–16 11–11 13–9 10–12 9–13 12–10
St. Louis 16–6 12–10–1 14–8 17–5–1 15–7 12–10 10–12


Game log

1949 Game Log: 71–83 (Home: 36–41; Away: 35–42)
April: 5–6 (Home: 3–1; Away: 2–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 19 @ Cubs 1–0 Sewell (1–0) Leonard 29,392 1–0
2 April 20 @ Cubs 0–4 Rush Dickson (0–1) 11,218 1–1
3 April 21 @ Cubs 3–4 Kush Muncrief (0–1) 11,599 1–2
4 April 22 Reds 5–4 Werle (1–0) Fox Casey (1) 32,167 2–2
5 April 24 Reds 2–3 (10) Gumbert Casey (0–1) 2–3
6 April 24 Reds 3–1 Chambers (1–0) Lively 24,444 3–3
7 April 25 Cubs 8–2 Sewell (2–0) Rush 35,373 4–3
8 April 27 @ Cardinals 7–1 Dickson (1–1) Pollet 11,727 5–3
9 April 28 @ Cardinals 2–4 Brazle Lombardi (0–1) 4,561 5–4
10 April 29 @ Reds 3–7 Fox Werle (1–1) 20,046 5–5
11 April 30 @ Reds 4–8 Wehmeier Riddle (0–1) Burkhart 4,416 5–6
May: 11–18 (Home: 5–8; Away: 6–10)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
12 May 1 @ Reds 10–4 Chesnes (1–0) Howell Casey (2) 6–6
13 May 1 @ Reds 2–5 Lively Chambers (1–1) 24,872 6–7
14 May 3 @ Giants 3–5 Hartung Dickson (1–2) 33,995 6–8
15 May 4 @ Giants 4–11 Jansen Muncrief (0–2) 9,874 6–9
16 May 5 @ Giants 2–3 (10) Behrman Dickson (1–3) 8,422 6–10
17 May 6 @ Phillies 3–4 Meyer Riddle (0–2) 15,754 6–11
18 May 7 @ Phillies 6–4 Gregg (1–0) Rowe 6,832 7–11
19 May 8 @ Braves 8–3 Chambers (2–1) Sain Muncrief (1) 8–11
20 May 8 @ Braves 11–8 Casey (1–1) Potter Riddle (1) 27,211 9–11
21 May 9 @ Braves 1–4 Bickford Dickson (1–4) 13,706 9–12
22 May 11 @ Dodgers 5–3 Werle (2–1) Barney 22,709 10–12
23 May 12 @ Dodgers 6–11 Branca Gregg (1–1) 7,455 10–13
24 May 13 Cardinals 3–2 Casey (2–1) Munger 34,893 11–13
25 May 14 Cardinals 3–4 Pollet Dickson (1–5) Wilks 18,914 11–14
26 May 15 Cardinals 3–4 Staley Werle (2–2) Wilks 26,909 11–15
27 May 17 Giants 3–2 Chesnes (2–0) Hartung 30,450 12–15
28 May 18 Giants 5–3 Muncrief (1–2) Jansen Casey (3) 14,240 13–15
29 May 19 Braves 2–3 Bickford Riddle (0–3) 9,586 13–16
30 May 20 Braves 2–1 Werle (3–2) Hall 29,807 14–16
31 May 21 Braves 2–8 Spahn Dickson (1–6) Hogue 16,724 14–17
32 May 22 Phillies 5–6 Roberts Riddle (0–4) Konstanty 31,467 14–18
33 May 24 Dodgers 1–6 Branca Chesnes (2–1) 29,625 14–19
34 May 25 Dodgers 6–8 Banta Muncrief (1–3) 13,988 14–20
35 May 26 @ Cardinals 6–13 Wilks Higbe (0–1) 10,402 14–21
36 May 27 @ Cardinals 1–2 Brazle Dickson (1–7) 12,110 14–22
37 May 28 @ Cardinals 2–4 Wilks Werle (3–3) 15,931 14–23
38 May 29 @ Cardinals 4–2 Riddle (1–4) Brecheen Muncrief (2) 16,535 15–23
39 May 30 Cubs 5–8 Rush Higbe (0–2) 15–24
40 May 30 Cubs 8–6 Chesnes (3–1) McLish Muncrief (3) 38,089 16–24
June: 11–15 (Home: 8–7; Away: 3–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
41 June 1 @ Braves 6–8 Hall Muncrief (1–4) Potter 20,153 16–25
42 June 2 @ Braves 1–4 Spahn Bonham (0–1) 20,130 16–26
43 June 4 @ Dodgers 6–8 Banta Muncrief (1–5) 18,352 16–27
44 June 5 @ Dodgers 5–4 (10) Dickson (2–7) Barney 25,035 17–27
45 June 6 @ Dodgers 1–5 Newcombe Chesnes (3–2) 30,053 17–28
46 June 7 @ Phillies 5–6 Rowe Dickson (2–8) 12,105 17–29
47 June 8 @ Phillies 0–2 Roberts Bonham (0–2) 10,136 17–30
48 June 9 @ Phillies 3–4 (18) Konstanty Dickson (2–9) 4,095 17–31
49 June 10 @ Giants 6–1 Werle (4–3) Jansen 6,942 18–31
50 June 11 @ Giants 3–4 Behrman Riddle (1–5) 14,065 18–32
51 June 12 @ Giants 6–5 Sewell (3–0) Hansen Casey (4) 18,149 19–32
52 June 14 Braves 4–3 Bonham (1–2) Potter 29,639 20–32
53 June 15 Braves 8–7 Sewell (4–0) Hogue 15,048 21–32
54 June 16 Braves 2–7 Bickford Poat (0–1) 12,239 21–33
55 June 17 Giants 6–4 Bonham (2–2) Hartung 32,615 22–33
56 June 18 Giants 4–5 Jones Riddle (1–6) Koslo 17,752 22–34
57 June 19 Giants 9–4 Chesnes (4–2) Jansen 25,413 23–34
58 June 20 Phillies 1–7 Meyer Werle (4–4) 30,066 23–35
59 June 21 Phillies 4–9 Borowy Dickson (2–10) 32,332 23–36
60 June 22 Phillies 12–3 Lombardi (1–1) Roberts 8,957 24–36
61 June 23 Phillies 3–9 Simmons Riddle (1–7) 10,283 24–37
62 June 24 Dodgers 4–2 Bonham (3–2) Barney 34,670 25–37
63 June 25 Dodgers 10–17 Branca Chesnes (4–3) 19,800 25–38
64 June 26 Dodgers 3–15 Newcombe Werle (4–5) 39,548 25–39
65 June 29 Reds 7–3 Lombardi (2–1) Erautt 9,003 26–39
66 June 30 Reds 2–1 Chambers (3–1) Fox 8,283 27–39
July: 18–10 (Home: 6–5; Away: 12–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
67 July 1 @ Cubs 5–6 Muncrief Dickson (2–11) 10,526 27–40
68 July 2 @ Cubs 8–3 Bonham (4–2) Dubiel Sewell (1) 16,670 28–40
69 July 3 @ Cubs 7–3 Lombardi (3–1) Hacker 18,128 29–40
70 July 4 @ Reds 2–1 Chambers (4–1) Fox 30–40
71 July 4 @ Reds 1–0 Werle (5–5) Erautt 15,479 31–40
72 July 6 Cardinals 4–3 Dickson (3–11) Munger 32,983 32–40
73 July 7 Cardinals 2–0 Bonham (5–2) Staley 15,603 33–40
74 July 8 Cubs 2–1 Lombardi (4–1) Leonard 36,336 34–40
75 July 9 Cubs 6–5 (13) Sewell (5–0) Kush 15,924 35–40
76 July 10 Cubs 6–8 Rush Chesnes (4–4) Dubiel 35–41
77 July 10 Cubs 6–9 (6) Chipman Werle (5–6) Dubiel 26,317 35–42
78 July 14 @ Giants 3–4 Jansen Werle (5–7) 22,677 35–43
79 July 16 @ Giants 9–0 Chesnes (5–4) Hartung 36–43
80 July 16 @ Giants 7–6 (11) Werle (6–7) Hansen Casey (5) 20,001 37–43
81 July 17 @ Phillies 2–1 (5) Chambers (5–1) Meyer 12,761 38–43
82 July 18 @ Phillies 7–2 Dickson (4–11) Konstanty 4,068 39–43
83 July 19 @ Dodgers 3–4 Palica Sewell (5–1) 16,387 39–44
84 July 20 @ Dodgers 8–6 Chambers (6–1) Palica 12,381 40–44
85 July 21 @ Dodgers 6–7 Palica Werle (6–8) 11,947 40–45
86 July 22 @ Braves 3–5 Bickford Dickson (4–12) Hogue 16,958 40–46
87 July 23 @ Braves 12–9 Casey (3–1) Potter Chesnes (1) 8,213 41–46
88 July 24 @ Braves 4–3 Werle (7–8) Sain 42–46
89 July 24 @ Braves 7–6 Casey (4–1) Voiselle 21,986 43–46
90 July 26 Giants 4–1 Bonham (6–2) Hansen 35,041 44–46
91 July 27 Giants 3–8 Higbe Chesnes (5–5) 19,768 44–47
92 July 28 Giants 6–8 Jones Gumbert (0–1) Higbe 12,653 44–48
93 July 31 Braves 1–9 Sain Chambers (6–2) 44–49
94 July 31 Braves 6–5 Gumbert (1–1) Potter 27,105 45–49
August: 12–19 (Home: 4–9; Away: 8–10)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
95 August 1 Dodgers 0–9 Branca Bonham (6–3) 29,483 45–50
96 August 2 Dodgers 2–5 Barney Chesnes (5–6) 27,697 45–51
97 August 3 Dodgers 5–10 Erskine Riddle (1–8) 13,007 45–52
98 August 4 Dodgers 3–11 Newcombe Lombardi (4–2) 14,363 45–53
99 August 5 Phillies 1–0 Werle (8–8) Rowe 24,944 46–53
100 August 6 Phillies 3–4 Konstanty Gumbert (1–2) 13,260 46–54
101 August 7 Phillies 3–7 Borowy Chambers (6–3) 46–55
102 August 7 Phillies 4–5 Konstanty Chesnes (5–7) Roberts 27,928 46–56
103 August 9 @ Cubs 8–3 Chambers (7–3) Schmitz Gumbert (1) 11,313 47–56
104 August 10 @ Cubs 0–2 Lade Walsh (0–1) 10,326 47–57
105 August 11 @ Cubs 3–2 Werle (9–8) Dubiel Gumbert (2) 5,415 48–57
106 August 12 @ Cardinals 2–8 Staley Bonham (6–4) 22,231 48–58
107 August 13 @ Cardinals 6–3 Dickson (5–12) Munger 25,745 49–58
108 August 14 @ Cardinals 4–0 Chambers (8–3) Pollet 22,996 50–58
109 August 15 @ Reds 9–7 Sewell (6–1) Wehmeier Gumbert (3) 11,371 51–58
110 August 16 @ Reds 1–2 (10) Fox Chesnes (5–8) 2,526 51–59
111 August 18 Cubs 2–0 Walsh (1–1) Lade 6,922 52–59
112 August 19 Cardinals 8–2 Chambers (9–3) Staley 32,476 53–59
113 August 20 Cardinals 3–4 Pollet Gumbert (1–3) 20,659 53–60
114 August 21 Cardinals 2–4 Martin Werle (9–9) 53–61
115 August 21 Cardinals 8–0 Dickson (6–12) Brecheen 34,408 54–61
116 August 23 @ Braves 2–5 Sain Chesnes (5–9) 14,405 54–62
117 August 24 @ Braves 5–6 Spahn Chambers (9–4) 6,467 54–63
118 August 25 @ Phillies 5–1 Dickson (7–12) Meyer 4,548 55–63
119 August 25 @ Phillies 2–4 Roberts Walsh (1–2) 7,179 55–64
120 August 26 @ Phillies 3–2 Werle (10–9) Heintzelman 9,586 56–64
121 August 27 @ Phillies 8–2 Bonham (7–4) Rowe 6,070 57–64
122 August 28 @ Dodgers 0–9 Newcombe Chesnes (5–10) 23,663 57–65
123 August 29 @ Dodgers 1–5 Banta Chambers (9–5) 24,031 57–66
124 August 30 @ Dodgers 3–4 Barney Dickson (7–13) 13,708 57–67
125 August 31 @ Giants 5–12 Jones Werle (10–10) 4,701 57–68
September: 13–14 (Home: 9–10; Away: 4–4)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
126 September 1 @ Giants 5–9 Hansen Lombardi (4–3) Higbe 3,973 57–69
127 September 3 @ Cubs 7–11 Adkins Chambers (9–6) Chipman 13,289 57–70
128 September 4 @ Cubs 7–11 (7) Muncrief Chesnes (5–11) Rush 18,082 57–71
129 September 5 @ Cardinals 1–9 Munger Dickson (7–14) 57–72
130 September 5 @ Cardinals 5–4 (10) Lombardi (5–3) Munger 32,214 58–72
131 September 6 Reds 3–6 (10) Blackwell Walsh (1–3) 11,797 58–73
132 September 7 Reds 2–5 Raffensberger Chambers (9–7) 12,367 58–74
133 September 8 Reds 7–9 Wehmeier Lombardi (5–4) 4,170 58–75
134 September 9 Cubs 1–8 Dubiel Chesnes (5–12) 7,905 58–76
135 September 10 Cubs 5–9 Leonard Werle (10–11) Rush 5,369 58–77
136 September 11 Cubs 7–3 Dickson (8–14) Adkins 9,851 59–77
137 September 13 Phillies 11–6 Chambers (10–7) Borowy 11,878 60–77
138 September 14 Phillies 4–12 Roberts Walsh (1–4) 3,920 60–78
139 September 16 Dodgers 9–2 Werle (11–11) Newcombe 28,202 61–78
140 September 17 Dodgers 7–2 Dickson (9–14) Palica 14,842 62–78
141 September 18 Giants 4–13 Jones Chesnes (5–13) 62–79
142 September 18 Giants 7–2 (6) Chambers (11–7) Behrman 28,291 63–79
143 September 19 Giants 4–6 (10) Jones Gumbert (1–4) 11,542 63–80
144 September 20 Braves 2–4 Bickford Lombardi (5–5) 11,348 63–81
145 September 21 Braves 7–9 Hall Werle (11–12) 11,881 63–82
146 September 22 Braves 1–0 Dickson (10–14) Sain 8,261 64–82
147 September 24 @ Reds 6–5 Chambers (12–7) Raffensberger 2,019 65–82
148 September 25 @ Reds 7–3 Chesnes (6–13) Wehmeier 66–82
149 September 25 @ Reds 5–3 Dickson (11–14) Fox 9,086 67–82
150 September 27 Cardinals 6–4 Werle (12–12) Munger Lombardi (1) 27,283 68–82
151 September 29 Cardinals 7–2 Dickson (12–14) Staley 9,573 69–82
152 September 30 Reds 3–2 Chesnes (7–13) Wehmeier 9,416 70–82
October: 1–1 (Home: 1–1; Away: 0–0)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
153 October 2 Reds 4–2 Chambers (13–7) Fox 71–82
154 October 2 Reds 5–6 Raffensberger Werle (12–13) 40,025 71–83
Legend:        = Win        = Loss
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

Roster

1949 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 Clyde McCullough 91 241 57 .237 4 21
1B Johnny Hopp 105 371 118 .318 5 39
2B Monty Basgall 107 308 67 .218 2 26
SS Stan Rojek 144 557 136 .244 0 31
3B Pete Castiglione 118 448 120 .268 6 43
OF Dino Restelli 72 232 58 .250 12 40
OF Ralph Kiner 152 549 170 .310 54 127
OF Wally Westlake 147 525 148 .282 23 104

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
Danny Murtaugh 75 236 48 .203 2 24
Ed Stevens 67 221 58 .262 4 32
Eddie Bockman 79 220 49 .223 6 19
Tom Saffell 73 205 66 .322 2 25
Dixie Walker 88 181 51 .282 1 18
Ed Fitz Gerald 75 160 42 .263 2 18
Phil Masi 48 135 37 .274 2 13
Jack Phillips 18 56 13 .232 0 3
Marv Rackley 11 35 11 .314 0 2
Wally Judnich 10 35 8 .229 0 1
Les Fleming 24 31 8 .258 0 7
Ted Beard 14 24 2 .083 0 1
Bobby Rhawn 3 7 1 .143 0 0
Jack Cassini 8 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
Bill Werle 35 221.0 12 13 4.24 106
Bob Chesnes 27 145.1 7 13 5.88 49
Tiny Bonham 18 89.0 7 4 4.25 25
Elmer Riddle 16 74.1 1 8 5.33 24
Junior Walsh 9 42.2 1 4 5.06 24

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
Murry Dickson 44 224.1 12 14 3.29 89
Cliff Chambers 34 177.1 13 7 3.96 93
Vic Lombardi 34 134.0 5 5 4.57 64
Rip Sewell 28 76.0 6 1 3.97 26
Ray Poat 11 36.0 0 1 6.25 17
Bob Muncrief 13 35.2 1 5 6.31 11
Hal Gregg 8 18.2 1 1 3.38 9
Kirby Higbe 7 15.1 0 2 13.50 5

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
Hugh Casey 33 4 1 5 4.66 9
Harry Gumbert 16 1 4 3 5.86 5

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Indianapolis Indians American Association Al López
AA New Orleans Pelicans Southern Association Hugh Luby
A Albany Senators Eastern League Pinky May
B Waco Pirates Big State League Buddy Hancken
B Davenport Pirates Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League Bill Burwell
B York White Roses Interstate League Frank Oceak
C Modesto Reds California League Bill Jackson and Max Macon
C Keokuk Pirates Central Association Charlie Hargreaves
C Uniontown Coal Barons Middle Atlantic League Wes Griffin
D Greenville Pirates Alabama State League Walt Tauscher
D Tallahassee Pirates Georgia–Florida League Norman Veazey, Bob Shawkey,
Johnnie Heving and Gene Cabaniss
D Bartlesville Pirates Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League Tedd Gullic
D Salisbury Pirates North Carolina State League John Corriden and Mickey O'Neil

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Indianapolis, Waco

Notes

  1. ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ Dick Smith at Baseball-Reference
  3. ^ Nanny Fernandez at Baseball-Reference
  4. ^ Steve Nagy at Baseball-Reference

References

  • 1949 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Reference
  • 1949 Pittsburgh Pirates 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.