1953 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1953 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersJohn W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson, Branch Rickey (minority shareholders)
General managersBranch Rickey
ManagersFred Haney
RadioWWSW
Rosey Rowswell, Bob Prince
← 1952 Seasons 1954 →

The 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 72nd in franchise history. In April 1953, the New York Yankees visited Forbes Field and played two preseason games against the Pirates. Mickey Mantle hit a 500-foot home run that landed on the roof.[2]

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Brooklyn Dodgers 105 49 .682 — 60‍–‍17 45‍–‍32
Milwaukee Braves 92 62 .597 13 45‍–‍31 47‍–‍31
Philadelphia Phillies 83 71 .539 22 48‍–‍29 35‍–‍42
St. Louis Cardinals 83 71 .539 22 48‍–‍30 35‍–‍41
New York Giants 70 84 .455 35 38‍–‍39 32‍–‍45
Cincinnati Redlegs 68 86 .442 37 38‍–‍39 30‍–‍47
Chicago Cubs 65 89 .422 40 43‍–‍34 22‍–‍55
Pittsburgh Pirates 50 104 .325 55 26‍–‍51 24‍–‍53

Record vs. opponents

1953 National League record

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BR CHC CIN MIL NYG PHI PIT STL
Brooklyn — 13–9–1 15–7 13–9 15–7 14–8 20–2 15–7
Chicago 9–13–1 — 12–10 8–14 9–13 5–17 11–11 11–11
Cincinnati 7–15 10–12 — 8–14 9–13 12–10 15–7 7–15–1
Milwaukee 9–13 14–8 14–8 — 14–8–1 13–9–1 15–7 13–9–1
New York 7–15 13–9 13–9 8–14–1 — 9–13 11–11 9–13
Philadelphia 8–14 17–5 10–12 9–13–1 13–9 — 15–7 11–11–1
Pittsburgh 2–20 11–11 7–15 7–15 11–11 7–15 — 5–17
St. Louis 7–15 11–11 15–7–1 9–13–1 13–9 11–11–1 17–5 —


Game log

1953 Game Log: 50–104 (Home: 26–51; Away: 24–53)
April: 5–9 (Home: 5–3; Away: 0–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 14 @ Dodgers 5–8 Black Dickson (0–1) — 12,433 0–1
2 April 15 @ Dodgers 2–4 Meyer Lindell (0–1) — 3,149 0–2
3 April 16 Phillies 14–12 Dickson (1–1) Hansen — 16,220 1–2
4 April 19 Dodgers 4–12 Erskine Dickson (1–2) — 8,801 1–3
5 April 21 Giants 5–4 Friend (1–0) Maglie — 2–3
6 April 22 Giants 2–4 Hearn LaPalme (0–1) Wilhelm 10,603 2–4
7 April 23 Giants 6–5 Pollet (1–0) Koslo Hetki (1) 4,372 3–4
8 April 24 @ Phillies 3–5 Konstanty Hall (0–1) — 6,506 3–5
9 April 25 @ Phillies 6–7 Simmons Lindell (0–2) Hansen 6,265 3–6
10 April 26 @ Phillies 5–7 Roberts Friend (1–1) — 3–7
11 April 26 @ Phillies 1–8 Drews Macdonald (0–1) — 18,490 3–8
12 April 28 Cubs 3–5 Rush LaPalme (0–2) Leonard 5,870 3–9
13 April 29 Cubs 4–3 Dickson (2–2) Hacker — 8,744 4–9
14 April 30 Cubs 4–2 Face (1–0) Minner — 2,930 5–9
May: 8–19 (Home: 6–8; Away: 2–11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
15 May 1 Reds 8–3 Pettit (1–0) Perkowski Dickson (1) 14,826 6–9
16 May 2 Reds 12–4 LaPalme (1–2) Podbielan — 7,437 7–9
17 May 3 Cardinals 8–2 Lindell (1–2) Haddix — 26,001 8–9
18 May 4 Cardinals 0–5 Mizell Dickson (2–3) — 18,778 8–10
19 May 9 @ Giants 2–0 Lindell (2–2) Jansen — 9–10
20 May 9 @ Giants 4–6 Wilhelm Pettit (1–1) — 9,889 9–11
21 May 10 @ Giants 0–4 Maglie Dickson (2–4) — 9–12
22 May 10 @ Giants 2–3 Hiller Pollet (1–1) — 17,940 9–13
23 May 14 @ Braves 2–3 Wilson Lindell (2–3) — 15,438 9–14
24 May 15 @ Braves 3–4 Surkont Friend (1–2) — 8,744 9–15
25 May 16 @ Cubs 3–2 Dickson (3–4) Rush Hetki (2) 9,728 10–15
26 May 17 @ Cubs 2–6 Minner LaPalme (1–3) — 10–16
27 May 17 @ Cubs 3–7 (7) Klippstein Pettit (1–2) Hacker 7,745 10–17
28 May 19 @ Cardinals 1–2 Staley Lindell (2–4) Miller 7,607 10–18
29 May 20 @ Cardinals 6–11 Presko Friend (1–3) Brazle 5,715 10–19
30 May 21 Phillies 7–2 Dickson (4–4) Drews — 7,507 11–19
31 May 23 Giants 8–4 LaPalme (2–3) Gomez — 7,444 12–19
32 May 24 Giants 3–11 Jansen Lindell (2–5) Wilhelm 20,966 12–20
33 May 25 Giants 3–6 Hiller Friend (1–4) — 2,369 12–21
34 May 27 Phillies 2–14 Roberts Dickson (4–5) — 12–22
35 May 27 Phillies 8–6 Face (2–0) Drews Dickson (2) 16,935 13–22
36 May 28 Phillies 8–9 Konstanty LaPalme (2–4) — 2,437 13–23
37 May 29 Dodgers 4–7 Meyer Lindell (2–6) Hughes 3,902 13–24
38 May 30 Dodgers 4–7 Wade Dickson (4–6) — 13–25
39 May 30 Dodgers 1–4 Podres Friend (1–5) Erskine 31,029 13–26
40 May 31 @ Dodgers 3–4 Loes LaPalme (2–5) Hughes 25,277 13–27
41 May 31 @ Dodgers 1–4 (7) Milliken Hetki (0–1) — 25,277 13–28
June: 12–22 (Home: 6–11; Away: 6–11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
42 June 2 Cubs 4–3 (11) Hetki (1–1) Klippstein — 8,158 14–28
43 June 3 Cubs 1–0 LaPalme (3–5) Hacker — 8,165 15–28
44 June 4 Cubs 6–1 Hall (1–1) Minner — 3,182 16–28
45 June 5 Reds 4–7 Wehmeier Bowman (0–1) — 12,229 16–29
46 June 6 Reds 7–15 Smith Friend (1–6) Collum 6,685 16–30
47 June 7 Reds 1–6 Podbielan Schultz (0–1) — 16–31
48 June 7 Reds 6–11 Nuxhall Lindell (2–7) Perkowski 9,021 16–32
49 June 8 Cardinals 3–5 (12) Brazle Hetki (1–2) Miller 7,643 16–33
50 June 9 Cardinals 7–4 Hall (2–1) Haddix — 1,894 17–33
51 June 10 Cardinals 1–5 Presko Friend (1–7) White 8,937 17–34
52 June 11 Cardinals 3–5 Miller Lindell (2–8) White 2,178 17–35
53 June 12 Braves 4–2 Dickson (5–6) Antonelli — 18–35
54 June 12 Braves 2–11 Surkont Schultz (0–2) — 17,344 18–36
55 June 13 Braves 4–5 Burdette LaPalme (3–6) — 5,134 18–37
56 June 14 Braves 3–7 Liddle Hall (2–2) — 18–38
57 June 14 Braves 0–8 Buhl Bowman (0–2) — 15,083 18–39
58 June 15 Braves 3–2 (10) Friend (2–7) Wilson — 6,548 19–39
59 June 16 @ Cubs 6–5 Lindell (3–8) Minner — 20–39
60 June 16 @ Cubs 2–3 Pollet Dickson (5–7) Klippstein 11,427 20–40
61 June 17 @ Cubs 4–5 (16) Lown Hetki (1–3) — 5,422 20–41
62 June 18 @ Cubs 4–8 Rush Hall (2–3) Leonard 3,969 20–42
63 June 19 @ Cardinals 2–10 Mizell LaPalme (3–7) — 7,552 20–43
64 June 20 @ Cardinals 1–2 Presko Friend (2–8) — 9,019 20–44
65 June 21 @ Cardinals 5–2 Dickson (6–7) Miller — 10,451 21–44
66 June 22 @ Cardinals 3–6 Staley Lindell (3–9) — 5,625 21–45
67 June 23 @ Braves 1–0 Hall (3–3) Spahn — 26,299 22–45
68 June 24 @ Braves 10–1 Face (3–0) Bickford — 21,438 23–45
69 June 25 @ Braves 6–4 (12) Hetki (2–3) Buhl — 14,841 24–45
70 June 26 @ Reds 4–8 Nuxhall Dickson (6–8) King 24–46
71 June 26 @ Reds 1–4 Collum LaPalme (3–8) — 7,758 24–47
72 June 27 @ Reds 5–15 Perkowski Face (3–1) — 2,599 24–48
73 June 28 @ Reds 1–4 Baczewski Hall (3–4) — 24–49
74 June 28 @ Reds 2–9 Raffensberger Bowman (0–3) — 10,432 24–50
75 June 30 @ Giants 3–1 Dickson (7–8) Gomez — 13,805 25–50
July: 8–23 (Home: 5–15; Away: 3–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
76 July 1 @ Giants 5–3 (11) Hetki (3–3) Wilhelm — 4,429 26–50
77 July 4 @ Dodgers 5–6 Hughes Hall (3–5) Wade 30,029 26–51
78 July 4 @ Dodgers 5–2 Friend (3–8) Loes — 30,029 27–51
79 July 5 Phillies 0–2 (10) Roberts Dickson (7–9) — 27–52
80 July 5 Phillies 7–4 Waugh (1–0) Ridzik LaPalme (1) 11,404 28–52
81 July 6 Dodgers 2–14 Meyer LaPalme (3–9) Hughes 13,497 28–53
82 July 7 Dodgers 4–5 Erskine Lindell (3–10) Wade 28–54
83 July 7 Dodgers 5–9 Roe Hall (3–6) Milliken 9,687 28–55
84 July 8 Giants 7–10 (11) Jansen Hetki (3–4) Koslo 7,095 28–56
85 July 9 Giants 0–4 Gomez Face (3–2) — 3,391 28–57
86 July 10 @ Phillies 3–13 Simmons Dickson (7–10) — 6,466 28–58
87 July 11 @ Phillies 4–8 Ridzik Dickson (7–11) — 3,608 28–59
88 July 12 @ Phillies 4–6 Roberts Face (3–3) — 28–60
89 July 12 @ Phillies 5–6 Ridzik LaPalme (3–10) — 10,806 28–61
90 July 16 Braves 5–2 Friend (4–8) Antonelli — 11,775 29–61
91 July 17 Braves 2–8 Spahn Hall (3–7) — 11,565 29–62
92 July 18 Braves 3–4 Liddle Waugh (1–1) Burdette 4,674 29–63
93 July 19 Cardinals 2–8 Haddix Dickson (7–12) — 29–64
94 July 19 Cardinals 6–4 LaPalme (4–10) Mizell — 9,045 30–64
95 July 20 Cardinals 4–9 Chambers Friend (4–9) White 9,045 30–65
96 July 21 Reds 2–7 Raffensberger Waugh (1–2) — 7,594 30–66
97 July 22 Reds 3–2 LaPalme (5–10) Collum — 1,567 31–66
98 July 23 Reds 0–7 Perkowski Dickson (7–13) — 1,807 31–67
99 July 24 Cubs 1–7 Minner Hall (3–8) — 10,406 31–68
100 July 25 Cubs 4–5 Lown Lindell (3–11) Leonard 4,217 31–69
101 July 26 Cubs 3–2 Face (4–3) Leonard — 32–69
102 July 26 Cubs 3–7 Hacker Waugh (1–3) Klippstein 11,358 32–70
103 July 28 @ Cardinals 4–6 Chambers LaPalme (5–11) Presko 7,973 32–71
104 July 29 @ Cardinals 2–8 Haddix Lindell (3–12) — 7,418 32–72
105 July 30 @ Cardinals 4–10 Erautt Hetki (3–5) — 3,402 32–73
106 July 31 @ Cubs 4–0 Dickson (8–13) Minner — 5,412 33–73
August: 8–22 (Home: 2–11; Away: 6–11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
107 August 1 @ Cubs 10–3 Lindell (4–12) Pollet — 8,017 34–73
108 August 2 @ Cubs 6–7 (11) Lown Dickson (8–14) — 14,110 34–74
109 August 3 @ Reds 0–5 Nuxhall LaPalme (5–12) — 3,499 34–75
110 August 4 @ Reds 2–1 Face (5–3) Collum Dickson (3) 4,463 35–75
111 August 5 @ Reds 6–4 Waugh (2–3) Podbielan Hetki (3) 1,797 36–75
112 August 6 @ Reds 4–3 Lindell (5–12) King LaPalme (2) 2,054 37–75
113 August 7 @ Braves 2–9 Bickford Dickson (8–15) — 26,902 37–76
114 August 8 @ Braves 4–7 Burdette Hall (3–9) — 17,163 37–77
115 August 9 @ Braves 4–7 Johnson LaPalme (5–13) Liddle 37–78
116 August 9 @ Braves 3–10 Wilson Face (5–4) — 33,376 37–79
117 August 11 Phillies 0–3 Simmons Dickson (8–16) — 8,985 37–80
118 August 12 Phillies 4–8 Roberts Lindell (5–13) — 6,505 37–81
119 August 13 Phillies 4–3 LaPalme (6–13) Miller — 2,373 38–81
120 August 15 @ Dodgers 6–14 Wade Face (5–5) — 12,842 38–82
121 August 16 @ Dodgers 1–3 Roe Hall (3–10) — 18,550 38–83
122 August 16 @ Dodgers 5–9 Erskine Dickson (8–17) Labine 18,550 38–84
123 August 17 @ Dodgers 2–5 (11) Labine Lindell (5–14) — 9,943 38–85
124 August 18 @ Phillies 0–1 Ridzik LaPalme (6–14) Roberts 3,945 38–86
125 August 19 @ Phillies 5–3 Face (6–5) Simmons — 4,554 39–86
126 August 20 @ Phillies 5–2 Waugh (3–3) Roberts — 4,376 40–86
127 August 21 Dodgers 7–1 Dickson (9–17) Podres — 12,459 41–86
128 August 22 Dodgers 3–5 Roe Hall (3–11) Labine 7,033 41–87
129 August 23 Dodgers 4–10 Meyer Lindell (5–15) — 1,848 41–88
130 August 23 Dodgers 7–9 Labine Friend (4–10) — 1,848 41–89
131 August 25 Reds 6–8 Collum Hetki (3–6) Kelly 41–90
132 August 25 Reds 8–9 Baczewski Bowman (0–4) — 8,370 41–91
133 August 28 Cardinals 9–10 White Hall (3–12) Staley 7,021 41–92
134 August 29 Cardinals 4–5 Mizell Dickson (9–18) Brazle 3,145 41–93
135 August 30 Braves 4–19 Antonelli Lindell (5–16) — 41–94
136 August 30 Braves 5–11 Liddle LaPalme (6–15) — 9,458 41–95
September: 9–9 (Home: 2–3; Away: 7–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
137 September 2 Cubs 8–1 Friend (5–10) Simpson — 5,659 42–95
138 September 6 Phillies 2–7 Drews Face (6–6) — 5,890 42–96
139 September 7 @ Giants 9–7 Friend (6–10) Worthington — 43–96
140 September 7 @ Giants 5–3 LaPalme (7–15) Hearn — 6,903 44–96
141 September 9 @ Cubs 7–8 Simpson Face (6–7) — 2,319 44–97
142 September 11 @ Cardinals 3–5 Mizell Waugh (3–4) Brazle 4,728 44–98
143 September 12 @ Cardinals 8–7 (12) Dickson (10–18) Chambers — 4,119 45–98
144 September 13 @ Reds 5–4 LaPalme (8–15) Raffensberger — 46–98
145 September 13 @ Reds 6–8 Smith Dickson (10–19) — 7,454 46–99
146 September 15 @ Braves 7–5 Friend (7–10) Burdette Hall (1) 32,145 47–99
147 September 16 @ Braves 3–7 Buhl Face (6–8) — 18,912 47–100
148 September 19 @ Giants 1–4 Worthington LaPalme (8–16) Jansen 47–101
149 September 19 @ Giants 6–5 Waugh (4–4) Hearn Dickson (4) 2,744 48–101
150 September 20 @ Giants 8–4 Friend (8–10) Gomez — 4,717 49–101
151 September 22 @ Dodgers 4–5 Podres Hogue (0–1) Labine 2,365 49–102
152 September 25 Giants 2–6 Worthington Friend (8–11) — 3,367 49–103
153 September 26 Giants 3–5 Jansen Waugh (4–5) — 1,385 49–104
154 September 27 Giants 6–4 Hogue (1–1) Corwin — 17,367 50–104
Legend:        = Win        = Loss
Bold = Pirates team member

Notable transactions

Roster

1953 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 Mike Sandlock 64 186 43 .231 0 12
1B Preston Ward 88 281 59 .210 8 27
2B Johnny O'Brien 89 279 69 .247 2 22
SS Eddie O'Brien 89 261 62 .238 0 14
3B Danny O'Connell 149 588 173 .294 7 55
OF Cal Abrams 119 448 128 .286 15 43
OF Frank Thomas 128 455 116 .255 30 102
OF Carlos Bernier 105 310 66 .213 3 31

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
Paul Smith 118 389 110 .283 4 44
Hal Rice 78 286 89 .311 4 42
Dick Cole 97 235 64 .272 0 23
Eddie Pellagrini 78 174 44 .253 4 19
Pete Castiglione 45 159 33 .208 4 21
Ralph Kiner 41 148 40 .270 7 29
Toby Atwell 53 139 34 .245 0 17
Vic Janowicz 42 123 31 .252 2 8
Joe Garagiola 27 73 17 .233 2 14
Gene Hermanski 41 62 11 .177 1 4
Felipe Montemayor 28 55 6 .109 0 2
Dick Smith 13 43 7 .163 0 2
Catfish Metkovich 26 41 6 .146 1 7
Brandy Davis 12 39 8 .205 0 2
Dick Hall 7 24 4 .167 0 1
Ed Fitz Gerald 6 17 2 .118 0 1
Nick Koback 7 16 2 .125 0 0
Pete Naton 6 12 2 .167 0 1
Jack Shepard 2 4 1 .250 0 0
Bob Addis 4 3 0 .000 0 0
Clem Koshorek 1 1 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
Paul LaPalme 35 176.1 8 16 4.59 86
Johnny Lindell 27 175.2 5 16 4.71 102
Bob Friend 32 170.2 8 11 4.90 66

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 45 200.2 10 19 4.53 88
Bob Hall 37 152.0 3 12 5.39 68
Roy Face 41 119.0 6 8 6.58 56
Jim Waugh 29 90.1 4 5 6.48 23
Paul Pettit 10 28.0 1 2 7.71 14
Cal Hogue 3 19.0 1 1 5.21 10
Howie Pollet 5 12.2 1 1 10.66 8
Bill Macdonald 4 7.1 0 1 12.27 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
Johnny Hetki 54 3 6 3 3.95 37
Roger Bowman 30 0 4 0 4.82 36
Bob Schultz 11 0 2 0 8.20 5
Woody Main 2 0 0 0 11.25 4

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AA New Orleans Pelicans Southern Association Danny Murtaugh
A Charleston Rebels Sally League Frank Oceak, Norm Shope and Larry Shepard
A Denver Bears Western League Andy Cohen
B Waco/Longview Pirates Big State League Buster Chatham
B Burlington-Graham Pirates Carolina League Stan Wentzel
C Billings Mustangs Pioneer League Cliff Dapper
C St. Jean Canadiens Provincial League George Genovese
C Hutchinson Elks Western Association Wes Griffin
D Bristol Twins Appalachian League George Detore
D Dublin Irish Georgia State League John George and Frank Oceak
D Brunswick Pirates Georgia–Florida League Jack Paepke
D Batavia Clippers PONY League George Kinnamon
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Hutchinson, Brunswick
Waco franchise transferred to Longview, May 22, 1953

References

  1. ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ The Best Game Ever, Prologue, p. xx, Jim Reisler, Carroll & Graf Publishers, New York, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7867-1943-3
  3. ^ Gus Bell page at Baseball Reference
  4. ^ Don Williams page at Baseball Reference
  5. ^ Johnny O'Brien page at Baseball Reference
  6. ^ Eddie O'Brien page at Baseball Reference
  7. ^ "Ralph Kiner traded to Cubs". Lodi News-Sentinel. June 4, 1953. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  8. ^ Hal Rice page at Baseball Reference