1959 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1959 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersJohn W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson (minority shareholders)
General managersJoe L. Brown
ManagersDanny Murtaugh
TelevisionKDKA-TV
Bob Prince, Jim Woods
RadioKDKA
Bob Prince, Paul Long, Jim Woods
← 1958 Seasons 1960 →

The 1959 Major League Baseball season saw the Pittsburgh Pirates finish in fourth place in the National League at 78–76, nine games behind the NL and World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Pirates set the record for most extra innings victories in a season, winning 19 of their 21 extra inning games.[2][3]

Offseason

Regular season

  • May 26, 1959: Harvey Haddix took a perfect game into the 13th inning of a game against the Milwaukee Braves. Haddix retired 36 consecutive batters in 12 innings, but lost the game 1–0.[6] Braves pitcher Lew Burdette also pitched a shutout for 13 full innings, giving up 12 hits. NOTE: On September 4, 1991, MLB redefined no-hitters to no longer include games in which the first hit was surrendered in extra innings. Until then, Haddix had been credited with a perfect game.

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Los Angeles Dodgers 88 68 .564 — 46‍–‍32 42‍–‍36
Milwaukee Braves 86 70 .551 2 49‍–‍29 37‍–‍41
San Francisco Giants 83 71 .539 4 42‍–‍35 41‍–‍36
Pittsburgh Pirates 78 76 .506 9 47‍–‍30 31‍–‍46
Chicago Cubs 74 80 .481 13 38‍–‍39 36‍–‍41
Cincinnati Reds 74 80 .481 13 43‍–‍34 31‍–‍46
St. Louis Cardinals 71 83 .461 16 42‍–‍35 29‍–‍48
Philadelphia Phillies 64 90 .416 23 37‍–‍40 27‍–‍50

Record vs. opponents

1959 National League record

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team CHC CIN LA MIL PHI PIT SF STL
Chicago — 9–13 11–11 10–12 10–12–1 12–10 12–10 10–12
Cincinnati 13–9 — 13–9 11–11 9–13 9–13 8–14 11–11
Los Angeles 11–11 9–13 — 14–10 17–5 11–11 14–8 12–10
Milwaukee 12–10 11–11 10–14 — 13–9 15–7–1 12–10 13–9
Philadelphia 12–10–1 13–9 5–17 9–13 — 9–13 9–13 7–15
Pittsburgh 10–12 13–9 11–11 7–15–1 13–9 — 10–12 14–8
San Francisco 10–12 14–8 8–14 10–12 13–9 12–10 — 16–6
St. Louis 12–10 11–11 10–12 9–13 15–7 8–14 6–16 —


Game log

1959 Game Log: 78–76 (Home: 47–30; Away: 31–46)
April: 6–8 (Home: 2–4; Away: 4–4)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 9 @ Reds 1–4 Purkey Kline (0–1) — 32,190 0–1
2 April 10 Braves 0–8 Spahn Friend (0–1) — 33,317 0–2
3 April 11 Braves 3–4 Burdette Law (0–1) — 11,800 0–3
4 April 14 @ Reds 2–3 Purkey Witt (0–1) — 7,631 0–4
5 April 15 @ Reds 5–10 Nuxhall Friend (0–2) Mabe 3,228 0–5
6 April 17 @ Braves 2–2 — 8,562 0–5
7 April 18 @ Braves 11–5 Law (1–1) Buhl — 15,703 1–5
8 April 22 Reds 9–8 Face (1–0) Pena — 16,038 2–5
9 April 23 Reds 2–5 Lawrence Witt (0–2) — 18,819 2–6
10 April 24 @ Phillies 8–5 Face (2–0) Schroll — 15,675 3–6
11 April 25 @ Phillies 4–2 Haddix (1–0) Morehead — 6,678 4–6
12 April 26 @ Phillies 9–2 Law (2–1) Cardwell — 5–6
13 April 26 @ Phillies 5–10 Meyer Friend (0–3) — 19,266 5–7
14 April 27 Dodgers 3–9 Drysdale Witt (0–3) — 10,689 5–8
15 April 29 Giants 3–2 Kline (1–1) Antonelli — 19,799 6–8
May: 19–14 (Home: 10–6; Away: 9–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
16 May 1 Cardinals 6–7 Mizell Friend (0–4) Brosnan 18,950 6–9
17 May 2 Cardinals 2–1 Haddix (2–0) McDaniel — 10,758 7–9
18 May 3 Cardinals 4–3 (10) Face (3–0) Brosnan — 8–9
19 May 3 Cardinals 1–3 Blaylock Daniels (0–1) McDaniel 26,080 8–10
20 May 4 Cubs 2–1 Kline (2–1) Anderson Face (1) 14,421 9–10
21 May 5 Cubs 3–6 Hobbie Friend (0–5) — 17,429 9–11
22 May 6 Cubs 0–3 Hillman Haddix (2–1) — 5,860 9–12
23 May 7 Phillies 5–4 (10) Face (4–0) Owens — 10,358 10–12
24 May 8 Phillies 1–8 Conley Witt (0–4) Farrell 17,691 10–13
25 May 9 Phillies 9–1 Kline (3–1) Gomez — 9,633 11–13
26 May 10 Phillies 3–6 Roberts Friend (0–6) Farrell 11–14
27 May 10 Phillies 7–6 Haddix (3–1) Hearn Face (2) 23,549 12–14
28 May 11 @ Giants 4–14 Sanford Daniels (0–2) — 13,789 12–15
29 May 12 @ Giants 6–5 (12) Daniels (1–2) Jones — 8,084 13–15
30 May 13 @ Dodgers 6–4 Face (5–0) Drysdale — 16,718 14–15
31 May 14 @ Dodgers 7–6 Face (6–0) Labine — 15,416 15–15
32 May 16 @ Cubs 2–3 Elston Haddix (3–2) — 10,496 15–16
33 May 17 @ Cubs 5–4 Law (3–1) Anderson Face (3) 16–16
34 May 17 @ Cubs 6–7 Hobbie Daniels (1–3) Henry 32,017 16–17
35 May 19 @ Cardinals 2–8 Jackson Kline (3–2) — 8,470 16–18
36 May 20 @ Cardinals 1–11 Mizell Friend (0–7) — 8,555 16–19
37 May 21 @ Cardinals 7–2 Haddix (4–2) McDaniel — 8,141 17–19
38 May 22 Reds 4–3 Law (4–1) Jeffcoat — 27,675 18–19
39 May 23 Reds 6–5 Daniels (2–3) Pena Blackburn (1) 13,119 19–19
40 May 24 Reds 2–1 Kline (4–2) Lawrence — 20–19
41 May 24 Reds 5–4 (10) Blackburn (1–0) Purkey — 32,273 21–19
42 May 26 @ Braves 0–1 (13) Burdette Haddix (4–3) — 19,194 21–20
43 May 27 @ Braves 3–4 Spahn Law (4–2) McMahon 17,721 21–21
44 May 28 @ Braves 3–0 Friend (1–7) Jay — 12,635 22–21
45 May 29 @ Reds 5–8 Mabe Kline (4–3) Acker 18,958 22–22
46 May 30 @ Reds 3–1 Daniels (3–3) O'Toole Face (4) 8,613 23–22
47 May 31 @ Reds 6–2 Law (5–2) Purkey — 24–22
48 May 31 @ Reds 14–11 Face (7–0) Mabe — 17,847 25–22
June: 15–15 (Home: 8–7; Away: 7–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
49 June 2 Cardinals 3–0 Haddix (5–3) Jackson — 28,644 26–22
50 June 3 Cardinals 5–3 Friend (2–7) Mizell Face (5) 16,857 27–22
51 June 4 Cardinals 9–3 Kline (5–3) Broglio — 7,555 28–22
52 June 5 Cubs 5–10 Hobbie Law (5–3) Elston 27,335 28–23
53 June 6 Cubs 2–8 Drabowsky Daniels (3–4) — 12,953 28–24
54 June 7 Cubs 2–4 Buzhardt Haddix (5–4) Henry 28–25
55 June 7 Cubs 0–1 Singleton Friend (2–8) Elston 32,078 28–26
56 June 8 Giants 12–9 (11) Face (8–0) McCormick — 19,080 29–26
57 June 9 Giants 2–6 Antonelli Law (5–4) — 24,272 29–27
58 June 10 Giants 7–11 Jones Witt (0–5) Miller 24,317 29–28
59 June 11 Giants 12–9 Face (9–0) Miller Law (1) 9,444 30–28
60 June 12 Dodgers 6–9 McDevitt Daniels (3–5) Erskine 27,970 30–29
61 June 13 Dodgers 5–3 Kline (6–3) Fowler — 11,944 31–29
62 June 14 Dodgers 6–3 Face (10–0) Labine — 32–29
63 June 14 Dodgers 5–2 Law (6–4) Erskine — 30,082 33–29
64 June 16 @ Cubs 5–2 Friend (3–8) Hillman Face (6) 10,391 34–29
65 June 17 @ Cubs 2–5 Henry Haddix (5–5) — 10,230 34–30
66 June 18 @ Cubs 4–2 (13) Face (11–0) Henry — 7,562 35–30
67 June 19 @ Cardinals 6–0 Law (7–4) Ricketts — 17,461 36–30
68 June 20 @ Cardinals 2–5 Mizell Friend (3–9) McDaniel 10,698 36–31
69 June 21 @ Cardinals 1–5 Jackson Haddix (5–6) McDaniel 36–32
70 June 21 @ Cardinals 10–8 Daniels (4–5) Blaylock Face (7) 23,731 37–32
71 June 22 @ Giants 1–4 Fisher Kline (6–4) Worthington 11,002 37–33
72 June 23 @ Giants 5–1 Law (8–4) Jones — 22,706 38–33
73 June 24 @ Giants 3–4 McCormick Daniels (4–6) — 12,643 38–34
74 June 25 @ Giants 3–1 (12) Face (12–0) Fisher — 11,487 39–34
75 June 26 @ Dodgers 5–6 Podres Kline (6–5) McDevitt 22,719 39–35
76 June 27 @ Dodgers 0–3 Koufax Law (8–5) — 31,649 39–36
77 June 28 @ Dodgers 4–9 McDevitt Friend (3–10) Drysdale 27,785 39–37
78 June 30 @ Phillies 4–3 Haddix (6–6) Roberts Face (8) 11,149 40–37
July: 10–17 (Home: 9–8; Away: 1–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
79 July 1 @ Phillies 0–1 Conley Kline (6–6) — 7,897 40–38
80 July 2 Braves 4–3 (10) Law (9–5) McMahon — 28,282 41–38
81 July 3 Braves 0–6 Pizarro Witt (0–6) — 34,093 41–39
82 July 4 Reds 4–3 Friend (4–10) Nuxhall — 16,548 42–39
83 July 5 Reds 7–5 Haddix (7–6) Lawrence Face (9) 43–39
84 July 5 Reds 3–2 (11) Kline (7–6) Pena — 22,622 44–39
85 July 9 Cubs 4–3 (10) Face (13–0) Henry — 22,080 45–39
86 July 10 Cubs 7–6 (11) Daniels (5–6) Elston — 25,360 46–39
87 July 11 Cubs 1–5 Hillman Kline (7–7) — 15,110 46–40
88 July 12 Cardinals 6–5 (10) Face (14–0) McDaniel — 47–40
89 July 12 Cardinals 6–8 (10) McDaniel Porterfield (0–1) — 25,530 47–41
90 July 14 Dodgers 9–1 Law (10–5) Podres — 30,199 48–41
91 July 15 Dodgers 0–3 Drysdale Friend (4–11) — 28,268 48–42
92 July 17 Giants 1–4 Jones Kline (7–8) — 33,220 48–43
93 July 18 Giants 3–4 Fisher Haddix (7–7) McCormick 20,577 48–44
94 July 19 Giants 3–2 Law (11–5) Miller — 27,992 49–44
95 July 21 Phillies 2–4 Roberts Friend (4–12) — 25,960 49–45
96 July 22 Phillies 4–11 Conley Kline (7–9) — 17,024 49–46
97 July 24 @ Braves 0–8 Pizarro Haddix (7–8) — 27,708 49–47
98 July 25 @ Braves 0–3 Burdette Law (11–6) — 25,295 49–48
99 July 26 @ Braves 0–4 Spahn Friend (4–13) — 49–49
100 July 26 @ Braves 1–2 Buhl Witt (0–7) McMahon 39,420 49–50
101 July 27 @ Braves 2–5 Jay Kline (7–10) — 15,817 49–51
102 July 28 @ Dodgers 4–9 Williams Blackburn (1–1) — 23,493 49–52
103 July 29 @ Dodgers 0–2 Craig Law (11–7) — 24,324 49–53
104 July 30 @ Dodgers 5–4 (12) Daniels (6–6) Williams Gross (1) 24,221 50–53
105 July 31 @ Giants 3–4 Sanford Haddix (7–9) — 22,371 50–54
August: 20–8 (Home: 15–3; Away: 5–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
106 August 1 @ Giants 5–9 Byerly Daniels (6–7) Miller 21,567 50–55
107 August 2 @ Giants 3–5 Antonelli Porterfield (0–2) — 22,653 50–56
108 August 4 @ Cardinals 7–3 Law (12–7) Gibson — 10,971 51–56
109 August 5 @ Cardinals 0–3 Broglio Friend (4–14) — 8,079 51–57
110 August 6 @ Cardinals 18–2 Haddix (8–9) Jackson — 8,503 52–57
111 August 7 @ Cubs 0–4 Drabowsky Kline (7–11) — 7,434 52–58
112 August 8 @ Cubs 4–3 (14) Gross (1–0) Donnelly — 5,693 53–58
113 August 9 @ Cubs 5–3 (10) Face (15–0) Elston — 19,138 54–58
114 August 11 @ Phillies 4–6 Cardwell Friend (4–15) Farrell 12,127 54–59
115 August 12 @ Phillies 6–2 Haddix (9–9) Roberts — 11,163 55–59
116 August 14 Braves 2–1 Law (13–7) Jay — 26,873 56–59
117 August 15 Braves 10–8 Kline (8–11) Burdette Green (1) 34,478 57–59
118 August 16 Braves 2–1 Friend (5–15) Pizarro Porterfield (1) 58–59
119 August 16 Braves 2–5 Spahn Daniels (6–8) — 24,518 58–60
120 August 17 Cubs 7–6 Green (1–0) Henry — 12,815 59–60
121 August 19 Cardinals 4–2 Law (14–7) Gibson — 19,075 60–60
122 August 20 Cardinals 3–1 Friend (6–15) Broglio — 8,059 61–60
123 August 21 Dodgers 5–6 Podres Kline (8–12) Koufax 24,678 61–61
124 August 22 Dodgers 2–0 Daniels (7–8) Craig Gross (2) 10,260 62–61
125 August 23 Dodgers 9–2 Haddix (10–9) Drysdale — 63–61
126 August 23 Dodgers 4–3 (10) Face (16–0) Drysdale — 25,173 64–61
127 August 24 Giants 6–0 Friend (7–15) Jones — 23,617 65–61
128 August 25 Giants 5–12 Antonelli Kline (8–13) — 29,927 65–62
129 August 26 Giants 5–4 (10) Kline (9–13) Miller — 20,244 66–62
130 August 28 Phillies 9–0 Law (15–7) Keegan — 20,926 67–62
131 August 29 Phillies 11–1 Friend (8–15) Roberts — 9,714 68–62
132 August 30 Phillies 2–1 Haddix (11–9) Robinson — 69–62
133 August 30 Phillies 7–6 (10) Face (17–0) Farrell — 20,015 70–62
September: 8–14 (Home: 3–2; Away: 5–12)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
134 September 2 @ Reds 3–6 O'Toole Law (15–8) — 70–63
135 September 2 @ Reds 1–2 Newcombe Friend (8–16) — 13,014 70–64
136 September 4 @ Phillies 0–3 Owens Haddix (11–10) — 13,136 70–65
137 September 5 @ Phillies 7–6 Porterfield (1–2) Farrell Daniels (1) 5,993 71–65
138 September 6 @ Phillies 1–2 Roberts Law (15–9) — 9,684 71–66
139 September 7 @ Braves 1–5 Burdette Friend (8–17) — 71–67
140 September 7 @ Braves 1–4 Buhl Daniels (7–9) — 26,910 71–68
141 September 9 @ Giants 2–7 Sanford Haddix (11–11) Miller 22,768 71–69
142 September 10 @ Giants 5–3 Law (16–9) Antonelli — 14,130 72–69
143 September 11 @ Dodgers 4–5 Churn Face (17–1) — 72–70
144 September 11 @ Dodgers 0–4 Sherry Green (1–1) — 48,526 72–71
145 September 13 @ Dodgers 4–3 Kline (10–13) Churn — 20,176 73–71
146 September 16 @ Cubs 3–2 Law (17–9) Anderson — 74–71
147 September 16 @ Cubs 2–4 Elston Friend (8–18) — 1,366 74–72
148 September 17 @ Cardinals 7–0 Haddix (12–11) Jackson — 4,970 75–72
149 September 19 Reds 4–3 (12) Face (18–1) Lawrence — 8,406 76–72
150 September 20 Reds 10–1 Law (18–9) Brosnan — 21,068 77–72
151 September 21 Braves 6–8 Spahn Friend (8–19) McMahon 17,205 77–73
152 September 22 Braves 3–5 Pizarro Haddix (12–12) McMahon 17,658 77–74
153 September 23 Braves 5–4 Kline (11–13) Jay Face (10) 20,502 78–74
154 September 26 @ Reds 6–7 Purkey Gross (1–1) — 4,703 78–75
155 September 27 @ Reds 7–9 Nuxhall Green (1–2) Purkey 15,522 78–76
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

Roster

1959 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 Smoky Burgess 114 377 112 .297 11 59
1B Dick Stuart 118 397 118 .297 27 78
2B Bill Mazeroski 135 493 119 .241 7 59
SS Dick Groat 147 593 163 .275 5 51
3B Don Hoak 155 564 166 .294 8 65
LF Bob Skinner 143 547 153 .280 13 61
CF Bill Virdon 144 519 132 .254 8 41
RF Roberto Clemente 105 432 128 .296 4 50

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
Román Mejías 96 276 65 .236 7 28
Rocky Nelson 98 175 51 .291 6 32
Danny Kravitz 52 162 41 .253 3 21
Dick Schofield 81 145 31 .234 1 9
Ted Kluszewski 60 122 32 .262 2 17
Hank Foiles 53 80 18 .225 3 4
Harry Bright 40 48 12 .250 3 8
Harry Simpson 9 15 4 .267 0 2
Joe Christopher 15 12 0 .000 0 0
Ken Hamlin 3 8 1 .125 0 2
R.C. Stevens 3 7 2 .286 1 1
Hardy Peterson 2 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
Vern Law 34 266.0 18 9 2.98 110
Bob Friend 35 234.2 8 19 4.03 104
Harvey Haddix 31 224.1 12 12 3.13 149
Ron Kline 33 186.0 11 13 4.26 91
George Witt 15 50.2 0 7 6.93 30
Jim Umbricht 1 7.0 0 0 6.43 3

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
Bennie Daniels 34 100.2 7 9 5.45 67
Al Jackson 8 18.0 0 0 6.50 13
Dick Hall 2 8.2 0 0 3.12 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
Roy Face 57 18 1 10 2.70 69
Bob Porterfield 36 1 2 1 4.35 19
Ron Blackburn 26 1 1 1 3.65 19
Don Gross 21 1 1 2 3.55 15
Bob Smith 20 0 0 0 3.49 12
Fred Green 17 1 2 1 3.13 20
Don Williams 6 0 0 0 6.75 3
Paul Giel 4 0 0 0 14.09 3

Awards and honors

Records

  • Roy Face, major league record, most wins in one season by a relief pitcher (18)[9]
  • Harvey Haddix, major league record, Most consecutive batters retired in one game (36) [10]

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Columbus Jets International League Cal Ermer
AAA Salt Lake City Bees Pacific Coast League Larry Shepard
A Columbus/Gastonia Pirates Sally League Ray Hathaway
B Wilson Tobs Carolina League Harding "Pete" Peterson and Don Osborn
C Grand Forks Chiefs Northern League James Adlam
C Idaho Falls Russets Pioneer League Bob Clear
D Salem Rebels Appalachian League Lamar Dorton
D Dubuque Packers Midwest League Wally Millies, John Armstrong,
Syd Thrift and Al Kubski
D San Angelo/Roswell Pirates Sophomore League Al Kubski, Joe Bauman and Wally Millies
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Salt Lake City, Gastonia, Wilson
Columbus (GA) franchise transferred to Gastonia, May 26, 1959; San Angelo franchise transferred to Roswell, June 9, 1959

References

  1. ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ "Team Batting Game Finder: In years 1904 to 2019, Only extra-inning games, Team Won, sorted by greatest number of games in a single season matching the selected criteria". Stathead. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "1959 Pittsburgh Pirates Schedule". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Smoky Burgess at Baseball Reference
  5. ^ Dick Rand at Baseball Reference
  6. ^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Milwaukee Braves 1, Pittsburgh Pirates 0". Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  7. ^ Gene Baker at Baseball Reference
  8. ^ Bob Smith at Baseball Reference
  9. ^ Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p. 290, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0
  10. ^ Baseball's Top 100: The Game's Greatest Records, p. 29, Kerry Banks, 2010, Greystone Books, Vancouver, BC, ISBN 978-1-55365-507-7