1950 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1950 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
← 1949 Seasons 1951 →

The 1950 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 69th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 64th in the National League. The Pirates finished eighth and last in the league standings with a record of 57–96.

Regular season

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Philadelphia Phillies 91 63 .591 — 48‍–‍29 43‍–‍34
Brooklyn Dodgers 89 65 .578 2 48‍–‍30 41‍–‍35
New York Giants 86 68 .558 5 44‍–‍32 42‍–‍36
Boston Braves 83 71 .539 8 46‍–‍31 37‍–‍40
St. Louis Cardinals 78 75 .510 12½ 48‍–‍28 30‍–‍47
Cincinnati Reds 66 87 .431 24½ 38‍–‍38 28‍–‍49
Chicago Cubs 64 89 .418 26½ 35‍–‍42 29‍–‍47
Pittsburgh Pirates 57 96 .373 33½ 33‍–‍44 24‍–‍52

Record vs. opponents

1950 National League record

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BOS BR CHC CIN NYG PHI PIT STL
Boston — 9–13 9–13 17–5 13–9 9–13–1 15–7–1 11–11
Brooklyn 13–9 — 10–12 12–10 12–10 11–11–1 19–3 12–10
Chicago 13–9 12–10 — 4–17 5–17 9–13–1 11–11 10–12
Cincinnati 5–17 10–12 17–4 — 11–11 4–18 12–10 7–15
New York 9–13 10–12 17–5 11–11 — 12–10 16–6 11–11
Philadelphia 13–9–1 11–11–1 13–9–1 18–4 10–12 — 14–8 12–10
Pittsburgh 7–15–1 3–19 11–11 10–12 6–16 8–14 — 12–9
St. Louis 11–11 10–12 12–10 15–7 11–11 10–12 9–12 —


Game log

1950 Game Log: 57–96 (Home: 33–44; Away: 24–52)
April: 6–5 (Home: 4–1; Away: 2–4)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 18 @ Cardinals 2–4 Staley Chesnes (0–1) — 20,871 0–1
2 April 19 @ Cardinals 4–3 Chambers (1–0) Munger — 5,648 1–1
3 April 20 @ Cardinals 8–4 Dickson (1–0) Pollet — 4,235 2–1
4 April 21 Reds 7–5 Werle (1–0) Wehmeier Lombardi (1) 32,685 3–1
5 April 22 Reds 9–2 Chesnes (1–1) Hetki — 14,533 4–1
6 April 23 Reds 5–3 Chambers (2–0) Smith — 18,049 5–1
7 April 27 Cardinals 2–5 Munger Dickson (1–1) — 34,995 5–2
8 April 28 Cardinals 4–3 Werle (2–0) Staley Main (1) 10,102 6–2
9 April 29 @ Reds 6–14 Erautt Chesnes (1–2) — 4,895 6–3
10 April 30 @ Reds 2–4 Fox Chambers (2–1) Wehmeier 6–4
11 April 30 @ Reds 1–2 Blackwell Queen (0–1) — 10,759 6–5
May: 10–18 (Home: 4–11; Away: 6–7)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
12 May 2 Braves 6–1 Dickson (2–1) Spahn — 24,115 7–5
13 May 3 Braves 4–15 Sain Lombardi (0–1) — 9,389 7–6
14 May 4 Giants 3–1 Chambers (3–1) Jansen — 6,680 8–6
15 May 5 Giants 5–4 Queen (1–1) Jones Werle (1) 31,785 9–6
16 May 6 Giants 8–9 Maglie Lombardi (0–2) Hansen 13,577 9–7
17 May 7 Dodgers 2–3 Barney Dickson (2–2) Erskine 33,734 9–8
18 May 8 Dodgers 5–7 Podbielan Chambers (3–2) Banta 9,476 9–9
19 May 9 Dodgers 10–5 Werle (3–0) Palica — 26,734 10–9
20 May 11 Phillies 2–3 Roberts Dickson (2–3) — 28,452 10–10
21 May 12 @ Cubs 3–6 Rush Gregg (0–1) — 8,763 10–11
22 May 13 @ Cubs 3–4 Hiller Chambers (3–3) Dubiel 25,453 10–12
23 May 14 @ Cubs 6–5 Chesnes (2–2) Leonard Werle (2) 11–12
24 May 14 @ Cubs 16–9 Main (1–0) Lade Werle (3) 34,659 12–12
25 May 16 @ Braves 0–3 Sain Dickson (2–4) — 10,273 12–13
26 May 17 @ Braves 4–1 Chambers (4–3) Bickford — 13,384 13–13
27 May 20 @ Dodgers 2–3 Banta Queen (1–2) — 13–14
28 May 20 @ Dodgers 3–4 (11) Bankhead Werle (3–1) — 20,311 13–15
29 May 21 @ Giants 4–2 Chesnes (3–2) Jansen — 14–15
30 May 21 @ Giants 8–6 Chambers (5–3) Jones Werle (4) 34,972 15–15
31 May 23 @ Phillies 6–0 Macdonald (1–0) Meyer — 12,428 16–15
32 May 24 @ Phillies 3–6 Konstanty Werle (3–2) — 18,993 16–16
33 May 25 @ Phillies 0–3 Miller Chambers (5–4) — 5,265 16–17
34 May 26 Cubs 0–4 Hiller Queen (1–3) — 22,526 16–18
35 May 27 Cubs 5–7 Minner Chesnes (3–3) Leonard 10,220 16–19
36 May 28 Cubs 0–6 Schmitz Dickson (2–5) — 16–20
37 May 28 Cubs 1–5 Rush Lombardi (0–3) — 23,873 16–21
38 May 30 Cardinals 13–17 Staley Werle (3–3) Brazle 16–22
39 May 30 Cardinals 5–8 Staley Dickson (2–6) — 33,182 16–23
June: 7–18 (Home: 4–9; Away: 3–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
40 June 1 Braves 2–14 Bickford Queen (1–4) — 5,468 16–24
41 June 2 Braves 5–4 Macdonald (2–0) Spahn — 23,549 17–24
42 June 3 Braves 6–10 Sain Lombardi (0–4) Hogue 5,737 17–25
43 June 4 Giants 3–4 Maglie Chambers (5–5) Kennedy 14,534 17–26
44 June 5 Giants 4–5 (10) Koslo Walsh (0–1) Hansen 16,733 17–27
45 June 6 Giants 4–10 Kramer Queen (1–5) — 5,111 17–28
46 June 7 Dodgers 0–9 Newcombe Macdonald (2–1) — 30,904 17–29
47 June 8 Dodgers 4–3 Chambers (6–5) Branca Werle (5) 22,697 18–29
48 June 9 Dodgers 7–9 Podbielan Werle (3–4) Newcombe 9,510 18–30
49 June 11 Phillies 6–7 Konstanty Law (0–1) — 18–31
50 June 11 Phillies 5–4 (12) Werle (4–4) Donnelly — 33,217 19–31
51 June 13 @ Giants 0–7 Jansen Chambers (6–6) — 15,088 19–32
52 June 16 @ Braves 5–6 Sain Queen (1–6) — 15,866 19–33
53 June 17 @ Braves 6–15 Hogue Borowy (0–1) — 6,272 19–34
54 June 18 @ Braves 6–8 Roy Dickson (2–7) — 19–35
55 June 18 @ Braves 8–8 — 22,817 19–35
56 June 19 @ Braves 1–0 Chambers (7–6) Spahn — 5,578 20–35
57 June 20 @ Phillies 3–7 Meyer Law (0–2) — 13,597 20–36
58 June 21 @ Phillies 5–3 Macdonald (3–1) Roberts Werle (6) 18,632 21–36
59 June 22 @ Phillies 4–7 Miller Borowy (0–2) — 5,326 21–37
60 June 23 @ Dodgers 3–15 Podbielan Dickson (2–8) — 25,519 21–38
61 June 24 @ Dodgers 12–21 Roe Werle (4–5) — 22,010 21–39
62 June 25 @ Dodgers 16–11 Chambers (8–6) Branca Macdonald (1) 20,196 22–39
63 June 27 Reds 3–8 Wehmeier Macdonald (3–2) Blackwell 13,500 22–40
64 June 28 Reds 6–5 Dickson (3–8) Smith — 12,040 23–40
65 June 30 @ Cardinals 4–9 Staley Chambers (8–7) — 12,631 23–41
July: 11–19 (Home: 8–8; Away: 3–11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
66 July 1 @ Cardinals 4–5 Pollet Queen (1–7) Brazle 15,795 23–42
67 July 2 @ Cardinals 1–2 Munger Werle (4–6) Brazle 25,630 23–43
68 July 3 @ Reds 5–8 Ramsdell Dickson (3–9) Blackwell 3,405 23–44
69 July 4 @ Reds 4–8 Wehmeier Chambers (8–8) — 23–45
70 July 4 @ Reds 4–5 Fox Macdonald (3–3) — 10,728 23–46
71 July 5 @ Cubs 4–1 Queen (2–7) Lade — 10,815 24–46
72 July 6 @ Cubs 2–4 Minner Werle (4–7) — 12,953 24–47
73 July 7 Cardinals 9–1 Law (1–2) Staley — 28,468 25–47
74 July 8 Cardinals 7–6 Dickson (4–9) Brecheen — 15,224 26–47
75 July 9 Cardinals 3–2 Queen (3–7) Lanier Werle (7) 21,431 27–47
76 July 14 Giants 5–7 Maglie Chambers (8–9) — 29,323 27–48
77 July 15 Giants 2–1 Werle (5–7) Jansen — 11,958 28–48
78 July 16 Braves 5–9 Bickford Law (1–3) — 28–49
79 July 16 Braves 6–5 Borowy (1–2) Hogue — 29,363 29–49
80 July 17 Braves 6–8 Johnson Borowy (1–3) Hogue 21,450 29–50
81 July 18 Braves 3–11 Spahn Dickson (4–10) — 5,445 29–51
82 July 19 Phillies 2–3 (11) Simmons Werle (5–8) Konstanty 29–52
83 July 19 Phillies 4–2 Macdonald (4–3) Meyer — 18,953 30–52
84 July 20 Phillies 10–8 Dickson (5–10) Donnelly — 7,291 31–52
85 July 21 Phillies 1–4 Church Queen (3–8) — 34,016 31–53
86 July 22 Dodgers 3–12 Branca Pierro (0–1) — 18,103 31–54
87 July 23 Dodgers 6–11 Barney Chambers (8–10) Newcombe 25,889 31–55
88 July 24 Phillies 2–1 (6) Macdonald (5–3) Miller — 15,431 32–55
89 July 25 @ Braves 2–7 Sain Pierro (0–2) — 18,461 32–56
90 July 26 @ Braves 8–4 Queen (4–8) Bickford Dickson (1) 12,689 33–56
91 July 27 @ Braves 3–5 Spahn Chambers (8–11) — 8,302 33–57
92 July 28 @ Phillies 1–4 Miller Macdonald (5–4) — 7,343 33–58
93 July 29 @ Phillies 7–4 Werle (6–8) Church — 10,252 34–58
94 July 30 @ Phillies 0–10 Roberts Queen (4–9) — 34–59
95 July 30 @ Phillies 2–4 Konstanty Dickson (5–11) Meyer 21,411 34–60
August: 8–22 (Home: 5–14; Away: 3–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
96 August 1 @ Dodgers 1–3 Palica Chambers (8–12) — 16,691 34–61
97 August 2 @ Dodgers 4–5 (10) Branca Dickson (5–12) — 6,361 34–62
98 August 4 @ Giants 2–3 Jones Law (1–4) Koslo 14,238 34–63
99 August 5 @ Giants 0–5 Hearn Queen (4–10) — 9,264 34–64
100 August 6 @ Giants 0–5 Jansen Werle (6–9) — 17,182 34–65
101 August 6 @ Giants 0–3 Maglie Dickson (5–13) — 17,182 34–66
102 August 8 Cardinals 4–6 Martin Chambers (8–13) — 18,243 34–67
103 August 10 Cubs 7–4 Law (2–4) Minner Dickson (2) 10,087 35–67
104 August 11 Cubs 1–3 Hiller Werle (6–10) — 11,082 35–68
105 August 12 Cubs 2–7 Rush Macdonald (5–5) — 6,770 35–69
106 August 13 Cubs 7–4 Chambers (9–13) Schmitz — 36–69
107 August 13 Cubs 2–0 Queen (5–10) Dubiel — 18,162 37–69
108 August 14 Reds 8–13 Smith Lombardi (0–5) — 4,306 37–70
109 August 15 Reds 10–9 Macdonald (6–5) Hetki — 5,495 38–70
110 August 16 @ Cardinals 5–3 Law (3–4) Boyer Dickson (3) 12,134 39–70
111 August 18 @ Cubs 9–3 Chambers (10–13) Dubiel — 3,823 40–70
112 August 19 @ Cubs 13–8 Dickson (6–13) Rush Werle (8) 13,290 41–70
113 August 20 @ Cubs 2–4 Minner Law (3–5) — 41–71
114 August 20 @ Cubs 2–5 Hiller Macdonald (6–6) — 29,589 41–72
115 August 21 Dodgers 2–3 Newcombe Werle (6–11) — 7,666 41–73
116 August 22 Dodgers 8–10 Palica Queen (5–11) Branca 19,526 41–74
117 August 23 Dodgers 5–7 (17) Branca Queen (5–12) — 16,382 41–75
118 August 24 Phillies 2–4 Church Law (3–6) — 9,096 41–76
119 August 25 Phillies 7–9 (15) Konstanty Chambers (10–14) — 25,686 41–77
120 August 26 Phillies 14–4 Dickson (7–13) Roberts — 12,157 42–77
121 August 27 Braves 3–7 (13) Surkont Werle (6–12) — 42–78
122 August 27 Braves 1–4 Roy Queen (5–13) — 24,279 42–79
123 August 29 Giants 5–10 Jansen Law (3–7) — 13,850 42–80
124 August 30 Giants 0–4 Maglie Chambers (10–15) — 7,794 42–81
125 August 31 Giants 1–2 Hearn Macdonald (6–7) — 3,552 42–82
September: 14–13 (Home: 8–1; Away: 6–12)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
126 September 1 Cardinals 10–4 Werle (7–12) Boyer — 12,589 43–82
127 September 2 Cardinals 6–0 Law (4–7) Staley — 5,638 44–82
128 September 3 Cardinals 12–11 (10) Werle (8–12) Brecheen — 12,736 45–82
129 September 4 Cubs 5–3 Barrett (1–0) Dubiel Walsh (1) 46–82
130 September 4 Cubs 3–0 Macdonald (7–7) Rush — 20,695 47–82
131 September 6 @ Reds 3–2 Law (5–7) Blackwell — 7,079 48–82
132 September 7 @ Reds 4–6 (10) Erautt Barrett (1–1) — 1,176 48–83
133 September 9 @ Cardinals 5–4 Dickson (8–13) Pollet — 13,527 49–83
134 September 10 @ Cardinals 5–6 (10) Wilks Barrett (1–2) — 49–84
135 September 10 @ Cardinals 6–2 Macdonald (8–7) Dusak — 12,436 50–84
136 September 12 @ Giants 0–3 Jones Werle (8–13) — 4,112 50–85
137 September 13 @ Giants 1–3 (7) Maglie Law (5–8) — 11,684 50–86
138 September 14 @ Giants 7–1 Dickson (9–13) Jansen — 4,272 51–86
139 September 14 @ Giants 1–6 Hearn Macdonald (8–8) — 51–87
140 September 15 @ Braves 4–7 Surkont Queen (5–14) — 9,168 51–88
141 September 16 @ Braves 4–0 (12) Chambers (11–15) Bickford — 4,606 52–88
142 September 17 @ Phillies 3–5 Meyer Werle (8–14) Konstanty 20,031 52–89
143 September 19 @ Dodgers 3–14 Newcombe Law (5–9) — 52–90
144 September 19 @ Dodgers 2–3 Palica Dickson (9–14) — 2,637 52–91
145 September 20 @ Dodgers 2–7 Erskine Macdonald (8–9) — 1,011 52–92
146 September 21 @ Dodgers 8–10 Palica Werle (8–15) — 5,241 52–93
147 September 22 Reds 8–7 (10) Walsh (1–1) Smith — 12,979 53–93
148 September 23 Reds 8–7 Law (6–9) Wehmeier Walsh (2) 4,009 54–93
149 September 24 Reds 1–7 Blackwell Macdonald (8–10) — 54–94
150 September 24 Reds 3–2 Dickson (10–14) Raffensberger — 25,233 55–94
151 September 27 @ Cubs 7–4 Law (7–9) Dubiel — 4,783 56–94
152 September 30 @ Reds 2–5 Fox Werle (8–16) — 1,719 56–95
October: 1–1 (Home: 0–0; Away: 1–1)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
153 October 1 @ Reds 2–3 Erautt Dickson (10–15) — 56–96
154 October 1 @ Reds 3–1 Chambers (12–15) Byerly — 8,390 57–96
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Roster

1950 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders 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 103 279 71 .254 6 34
1B Johnny Hopp 106 318 108 .340 8 47
2B Danny Murtaugh 118 367 108 .294 2 37
SS Danny O'Connell 79 315 92 .292 8 32
3B Bob Dillinger 58 222 64 .288 1 9
OF Gus Bell 111 422 119 .282 8 53
OF Ralph Kiner 150 547 149 .272 47 118
OF Wally Westlake 139 477 136 .285 24 95

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
Pete Castiglione 94 263 67 .255 3 22
Stan Rojek 76 230 59 .257 0 17
Jack Phillips 69 208 61 .293 5 34
Nanny Fernandez 65 198 51 .258 6 27
Tom Saffell 67 182 37 .203 2 6
Ted Beard 61 177 41 .232 4 12
Ray Mueller 67 156 42 .269 6 24
Johnny Berardino 40 131 27 .206 1 12
Dale Coogan 53 129 31 .240 1 13
Hank Schenz 58 101 23 .228 1 5
Earl Turner 40 74 18 .243 3 5
Ed Stevens 17 46 9 .196 0 3
George Strickland 23 27 3 .111 0 2
Marv Rickert 17 20 3 .150 0 0
Ed Fitz Gerald 6 15 1 .067 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
Cliff Chambers 37 249.1 12 15 4.30 93
Bob Chesnes 9 49.0 3 3 5.54 12

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 51 225.0 10 15 3.80 76
Bill Werle 48 215.1 8 16 4.60 78
Bill Macdonald 32 153.0 8 10 4.29 60
Vern Law 27 128.0 7 9 4.92 57
Mel Queen 33 120.1 5 14 5.98 76
Bill Pierro 12 29.0 0 2 10.55 13
Hank Borowy 11 25.1 1 3 6.39 9
Hal Gregg 5 5.1 0 1 13.50 3
Frank Papish 4 2.1 0 0 27.00 1

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
Vic Lombardi 39 0 5 1 6.60 26
Junior Walsh 38 1 1 2 5.05 33
Woody Main 12 1 0 1 4.87 12
Frank Barrett 5 1 2 0 4.15 0
Windy McCall 2 0 0 0 9.45 5
Jack Phillips 1 0 0 0 7.20 2
Harry Gumbert 1 0 0 0 5.40 0

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Indianapolis Indians American Association Al López
AA New Orleans Pelicans Southern Association Hugh Luby and Bill Burwell
A Albany Senators Eastern League Pinky May
A Charleston Rebels Sally League Rip Sewell
B Waco Pirates Big State League Buddy Hancken
B York White Roses Interstate League Frank Oceak
C Modesto Reds California League Marc Carrola
C Hutchinson Elks Western Association Wes Griffin
D Greenville Pirates Alabama State League Mickey O'Neil
D Tallahassee Pirates Georgia–Florida League Walt Tauscher
D Bartlesville Pirates Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League Tedd Gullic
D Mayfield Clothiers KITTY League Jerry Gardner
D Salisbury Pirates North Carolina State League George Detore

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Modesto, Hutchinson, Tallahassee, Mayfield

References

  1. ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.