1946 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1946 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersBill Benswanger; Frank E. McKinney, Bing Crosby, John W. Galbreath and Thomas P. Johnson
General managersRay Kennedy
ManagersFrankie Frisch, Spud Davis
RadioWWSW
Rosey Rowswell, Jack Craddock
← 1945 Seasons 1947 →

The 1946 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 65th in the history of the Major League Baseball franchise and its jubilee of diamonds in the National League. The Pirates finished seventh in the league standings with a record of 63–91, and attracted 749,962 fans to Forbes Field.

It was a year of transition for the Pirates. Ralph Kiner made his debut, and he proceeded to lead the National League in home runs with 23. He was one of only two NL players to reach 20+ home runs that year (Johnny Mize was runner-up with 22), but 1946 would be the first of seven straight years in which Kiner would lead his league, or tie for the lead, in homers en route to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

On August 8, the Pirates changed hands for the first time since 1900 when the heirs of Hall of Fame owner Barney Dreyfuss sold the franchise to a syndicate led by Indianapolis banker Frank E. McKinney and including John W. Galbreath, Thomas P. Johnson and Bing Crosby. Galbreath became majority owner in 1950, and under his family's 35-year stewardship, the Pirates would win the 1960, 1971 and 1979 World Series championships.

The sale was accompanied by changes in the dugout and front office. Frankie Frisch, manager since 1940, resigned his post September 27 with three games to go in the season. After coach Spud Davis finished the campaign, the Pirates acquired 37-year-old Billy Herman, like Frisch a Hall of Fame second baseman, and named him playing manager for 1947. General manager Ray Kennedy, in only his first year in the position, was demoted by the new owners to farm system director and replaced by Roy Hamey.

In addition, the 1946 Pirates were the focus of an unsuccessful unionizing campaign by the recently formed American Baseball Guild. After the Guild successfully enrolled 34 of the club's 36 roster players when the season began, it was rebuffed by Pirates' then-president William Benswanger when it attempted to start collective bargaining talks. In response, the Guild called for a strike authorization vote on June 7 before a game at Forbes Field. Although 20 of the team's 36 players voted yes to a strike, the union fell short of the needed two-thirds supermajority, and the Guild movement collapsed. Players would form their own association in 1953, and the MLBPA would become their first official bargaining unit in 1966.

Regular season

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 98 58 .628 — 49‍–‍29 49‍–‍29
Brooklyn Dodgers 96 60 .615 2 56‍–‍22 40‍–‍38
Chicago Cubs 82 71 .536 14½ 44‍–‍33 38‍–‍38
Boston Braves 81 72 .529 15½ 45‍–‍31 36‍–‍41
Philadelphia Phillies 69 85 .448 28 41‍–‍36 28‍–‍49
Cincinnati Reds 67 87 .435 30 35‍–‍42 32‍–‍45
Pittsburgh Pirates 63 91 .409 34 37‍–‍40 26‍–‍51
New York Giants 61 93 .396 36 38‍–‍39 23‍–‍54

Record vs. opponents

1946 National League record

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


Game log

1946 Game Log: 63–91 (Home: 37–40; Away: 26–51)
April: 5–8 (Home: 4–4; Away: 1–4)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 16 @ Cardinals 6–4 Heintzelman (1–0) Brecheen — 14,000 1–0
2 April 17 @ Cardinals 0–6 Lanier Gables (0–1) — 4,819 1–1
3 April 18 @ Cardinals 2–6 Pollet Strincevich (0–1) — 6,328 1–2
4 April 20 Reds 2–1 Sewell (1–0) Walters — 27,891 2–2
5 April 21 Reds 2–8 Heusser Hopper (0–1) — 2–3
6 April 21 Reds 3–4 Beggs Hallett (0–1) — 30,237 2–4
7 April 23 Cubs 1–3 Passeau Albosta (0–1) — 8,224 2–5
8 April 24 Cubs 4–3 Sewell (2–0) Schmitz — 6,287 3–5
9 April 25 Cardinals 5–3 Heintzelman (2–0) Brecheen Roe (1) 10,585 4–5
10 April 26 Cardinals 2–3 Martin Ostermueller (0–1) — 4,885 4–6
11 April 27 @ Reds 2–5 Beggs Strincevich (0–2) — 3,086 4–7
12 April 28 @ Reds 1–7 Heusser Sewell (2–1) — 24,002 4–8
13 April 30 Phillies 4–1 Hallett (1–1) Hughes — 4,970 5–8
May: 10–10 (Home: 8–5; Away: 2–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
14 May 1 Phillies 0–8 Pearson Albosta (0–2) — 4,426 5–9
15 May 2 Phillies 8–3 Ostermueller (1–1) Judd — 3,458 6–9
16 May 3 Braves 3–2 Heintzelman (3–0) Sain — 7–9
17 May 5 Dodgers 5–4 (11) Hallett (2–1) Lombardi — 8–9
18 May 5 Dodgers 4–3 (6) Roe (1–0) Casey — 37,953 9–9
19 May 8 Giants 0–1 Koslo Ostermueller (1–2) — 6,267 9–10
20 May 9 Giants 1–6 Voiselle Roe (1–1) — 7,786 9–11
21 May 12 @ Cubs 1–3 Passeau Heintzelman (3–1) — 22,065 9–12
22 May 14 @ Braves 1–5 Wallace Gables (0–2) — 20,762 9–13
23 May 17 @ Dodgers 6–16 Hatten Strincevich (0–3) — 9,307 9–14
24 May 19 @ Giants 3–1 Ostermueller (2–2) Kennedy — 10–14
25 May 19 @ Giants 1–5 Koslo Heintzelman (3–2) — 39,482 10–15
26 May 22 @ Phillies 2–6 Rowe Heintzelman (3–3) Karl 4,813 10–16
27 May 23 @ Phillies 10–2 Bahr (1–0) Hughes — 4,746 11–16
28 May 24 Cubs 6–3 Roe (2–1) Borowy — 27,432 12–16
29 May 26 Cubs 8–2 Heintzelman (4–3) Bithorn — 13,000 13–16
30 May 28 Reds 6–3 Bahr (2–0) Heusser Strincevich (1) 16,995 14–16
31 May 29 Reds 6–7 Gumbert Strincevich (0–4) — 4,112 14–17
32 May 30 Cardinals 9–3 Ostermueller (3–2) Krist — 15–17
33 May 30 Cardinals 11–12 Schmidt Hallett (2–2) Wilks 34,985 15–18
June: 11–19 (Home: 8–9; Away: 3–10)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
34 June 2 Phillies 5–1 Sewell (3–1) Hughes — 16–18
35 June 2 Phillies 3–10 Jurisich Bahr (2–1) Karl 8,971 16–19
36 June 3 Phillies 4–8 Schanz Albosta (0–3) Karl 2,175 16–20
37 June 4 Dodgers 4–3 Ostermueller (4–2) Casey — 17–20
38 June 4 Dodgers 6–7 (11) Webber Lanning (0–1) Head 11,521 17–21
39 June 5 Dodgers 3–5 Higbe Roe (2–2) Melton 26,206 17–22
40 June 6 Dodgers 8–13 Behrman Sewell (3–2) Herring 3,093 17–23
41 June 7 Giants 10–5 Bahr (3–1) Voiselle Gables (1) 16,884 18–23
42 June 8 Giants 3–5 Koslo Strincevich (0–5) — 5,785 18–24
43 June 9 Giants 2–1 Ostermueller (5–2) Kennedy — 19–24
44 June 9 Giants 5–1 Lanning (1–1) Joyce — 24,787 20–24
45 June 10 Braves 5–10 Wright Roe (2–3) Posedel 3,652 20–25
46 June 11 Braves 5–3 Sewell (4–2) Cooper — 17,181 21–25
47 June 15 @ Phillies 1–3 Rowe Strincevich (0–6) Mauney 23,804 21–26
48 June 16 @ Phillies 3–4 Raffensberger Sewell (4–3) Hughes 21–27
49 June 16 @ Phillies 10–1 Ostermueller (6–2) Stanceu — 36,910 22–27
50 June 17 @ Phillies 3–7 Mauney Gables (0–3) — 16,529 22–28
51 June 18 @ Dodgers 6–3 Heintzelman (5–3) Barney — 32,565 23–28
52 June 19 @ Dodgers 0–7 Hatten Roe (2–4) — 13,093 23–29
53 June 20 @ Dodgers 3–7 Higbe Strincevich (0–7) — 9,490 23–30
54 June 21 @ Braves 2–3 Cooper Ostermueller (6–3) — 13,256 23–31
55 June 22 @ Braves 3–4 (10) Roser Sewell (4–4) — 4,421 23–32
56 June 23 @ Braves 3–4 Lee Heintzelman (5–4) Posedel 23–33
57 June 23 @ Braves 0–4 Sain Roe (2–5) — 19,784 23–34
58 June 25 @ Giants 3–0 Strincevich (1–7) Schumacher — 20,317 24–34
59 June 26 @ Giants 0–4 Koslo Bahr (3–2) — 4,812 24–35
60 June 27 Cubs 5–6 Erickson Hallett (2–3) Schmitz 3,019 24–36
61 June 28 Cardinals 1–5 Pollet Roe (2–6) — 20,475 24–37
62 June 30 Cardinals 4–3 Ostermueller (7–3) Brazle — 25–37
63 June 30 Cardinals 1–0 Strincevich (2–7) Brecheen — 20,040 26–37
July: 11–19 (Home: 5–7; Away: 6–12)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
64 July 1 @ Cubs 1–0 Sewell (5–4) Wyse — 18,828 27–37
65 July 2 @ Cubs 9–0 Heintzelman (6–4) Chipman — 12,970 28–37
66 July 3 @ Cubs 3–4 Kush Gerheauser (0–1) — 28–38
67 July 3 @ Cubs 1–2 Erickson Roe (2–7) — 25,623 28–39
68 July 4 @ Reds 6–1 Strincevich (3–7) Heusser — 29–39
69 July 4 @ Reds 3–4 (11) Shoun Albosta (0–4) — 15,437 29–40
70 July 5 @ Reds 3–4 Walters Sewell (5–5) — 18,519 29–41
71 July 6 @ Cardinals 4–12 Wilks Gables (0–4) — 12,660 29–42
72 July 7 @ Cardinals 3–4 Dickson Ostermueller (7–4) — 29–43
73 July 7 @ Cardinals 0–6 Pollet Heintzelman (6–5) — 16,625 29–44
74 July 11 Phillies 1–4 Rowe Strincevich (3–8) — 3,772 29–45
75 July 12 Phillies 4–3 Bahr (4–2) Judd Roe (2) 15,047 30–45
76 July 13 Phillies 8–1 Lanning (2–1) Schanz — 5,011 31–45
77 July 14 Braves 1–4 Spahn Ostermueller (7–5) — 31–46
78 July 14 Braves 5–2 Sewell (6–5) Wright — 17,414 32–46
79 July 15 Braves 2–3 Niggeling Heintzelman (6–6) — 11,787 32–47
80 July 16 Braves 0–10 Cooper Albosta (0–5) — 2,387 32–48
81 July 17 Giants 8–5 Strincevich (4–8) Trinkle — 33–48
82 July 18 Giants 7–3 Roe (3–7) Koslo Lanning (1) 3,397 34–48
83 July 20 Dodgers 1–4 Herring Heintzelman (6–7) — 7,736 34–49
84 July 21 Dodgers 0–3 Lombardi Ostermueller (7–6) — 34–50
85 July 21 Dodgers 5–6 Behrman Sewell (6–6) Gregg 18,844 34–51
86 July 24 @ Phillies 0–2 Rowe Strincevich (4–9) — 22,025 34–52
87 July 25 @ Phillies 2–1 Lanning (3–1) Judd — 35–52
88 July 25 @ Phillies 2–9 Donnelly Sewell (6–7) — 10,252 35–53
89 July 26 @ Dodgers 5–0 Ostermueller (8–6) Lombardi — 26,918 36–53
90 July 27 @ Dodgers 3–4 Casey Roe (3–8) — 33,645 36–54
91 July 27 @ Dodgers 3–4 Higbe Albosta (0–6) Casey 33,645 36–55
92 July 28 @ Dodgers 7–3 Strincevich (5–9) Barney — 19,836 37–55
93 July 31 @ Braves 1–2 Sain Lanning (3–2) — 9,343 37–56
August: 11–15 (Home: 9–10; Away: 2–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
94 August 2 @ Giants 6–0 Ostermueller (9–6) Koslo — 11,873 38–56
95 August 2 @ Giants 2–3 Trinkle Heintzelman (6–8) Thompson 12,561 38–57
96 August 4 @ Giants 0–4 Budnick Strincevich (5–10) — 38–58
97 August 4 @ Giants 1–10 Kennedy Lanning (3–3) — 27,709 38–59
98 August 7 Cardinals 1–8 Brecheen Ostermueller (9–7) — 14,888 38–60
99 August 9 Cubs 3–9 Erickson Heintzelman (6–9) — 13,624 38–61
100 August 10 Cubs 3–2 Strincevich (6–10) Schmitz — 3,452 39–61
101 August 11 Cubs 10–9 Gerheauser (1–1) Borowy — 40–61
102 August 11 Cubs 4–4 — 18,700 40–61
103 August 12 Reds 3–2 Bahr (5–2) Heusser — 2,764 41–61
104 August 13 Reds 3–2 Hallett (3–3) Gumbert — 15,575 42–61
105 August 14 Reds 3–2 Strincevich (7–10) Malloy — 3,890 43–61
106 August 16 @ Cardinals 3–0 Heintzelman (7–9) Dickson — 10,795 44–61
107 August 17 @ Cubs 1–2 Schmitz Bahr (5–3) — 15,127 44–62
108 August 18 @ Cubs 0–8 Erickson Hallett (3–4) — 30,965 44–63
109 August 20 Dodgers 10–0 Strincevich (8–10) Lombardi — 31,106 45–63
110 August 21 Dodgers 2–8 Hatten Heintzelman (7–10) — 7,974 45–64
111 August 22 Giants 0–1 (10) Kennedy Sewell (6–8) — 3,958 45–65
112 August 23 Giants 7–3 Bahr (6–3) Trinkle — 15,306 46–65
113 August 24 Giants 1–8 Voiselle Lanning (3–4) — 5,260 46–66
114 August 25 Braves 5–7 Wright Ostermueller (9–8) Barrett 46–67
115 August 25 Braves 5–10 Johnson Strincevich (8–11) Spahn 20,049 46–68
116 August 26 Braves 3–2 Heintzelman (8–10) Niggeling — 2,169 47–68
117 August 27 Braves 1–9 Spahn Ostermueller (9–9) — 3,094 47–69
118 August 28 Phillies 1–4 Judd Sewell (6–9) Donnelly 11,594 47–70
119 August 29 Phillies 2–5 Raffensberger Bahr (6–4) — 1,124 47–71
120 August 31 Cardinals 6–1 Strincevich (9–11) Dickson — 6,074 48–71
September: 15–20 (Home: 3–5; Away: 12–15)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
121 September 1 Cardinals 6–7 (10) Pollet Sewell (6–10) — 48–72
122 September 1 Cardinals 2–1 (7) Ostermueller (10–9) Brecheen — 28,167 49–72
123 September 2 Cubs 4–1 Bahr (7–4) Erickson — 50–72
124 September 2 Cubs 3–7 Bauers Sewell (6–11) — 18,237 50–73
125 September 3 Cubs 0–2 Chipman Hallett (3–5) — 1,802 50–74
126 September 4 @ Reds 0–6 Beggs Strincevich (9–12) — 10,465 50–75
127 September 5 @ Reds 2–1 Sewell (7–11) Vander Meer — 1,254 51–75
128 September 6 @ Cardinals 6–7 Beazley Heintzelman (8–11) Burkhart 17,496 51–76
129 September 7 @ Cardinals 9–2 Ostermueller (11–9) Pollet — 17,266 52–76
130 September 8 @ Cardinals 4–5 (11) Munger Bahr (7–5) — 52–77
131 September 8 @ Cardinals 2–12 Brazle Strincevich (9–13) — 25,572 52–78
132 September 10 @ Giants 7–4 Gerheauser (2–1) Trinkle — 9,971 53–78
133 September 11 @ Giants 7–6 Lanning (4–4) Thompson — 54–78
134 September 11 @ Giants 7–5 Gables (1–4) Voiselle Heintzelman (1) 6,358 55–78
135 September 12 @ Braves 1–0 Hallett (4–5) Johnson — 56–78
136 September 12 @ Braves 1–2 Wright Strincevich (9–14) — 3,822 56–79
137 September 13 @ Braves 4–2 (14) Ostermueller (12–9) Cooper — 57–79
138 September 13 @ Braves 10–1 Bahr (8–5) Lee — 2,776 58–79
139 September 14 @ Braves 3–9 Sain Gerheauser (2–2) — 6,077 58–80
140 September 15 @ Phillies 5–6 (11) Karl Sewell (7–12) — 14,279 58–81
141 September 16 @ Phillies 0–2 Raffensberger Hallett (4–6) — 19,247 58–82
142 September 18 @ Dodgers 3–2 Ostermueller (13–9) Higbe — 59–82
143 September 18 @ Dodgers 0–3 Branca Heintzelman (8–12) — 26,659 59–83
144 September 19 @ Dodgers 0–7 Gregg Strincevich (9–15) — 11,462 59–84
145 September 21 Reds 2–1 (13) Hallett (5–6) Gumbert — 13,810 60–84
146 September 22 Reds 2–4 Beggs Lanning (4–5) — 60–85
147 September 22 Reds 5–6 Blackwell Walsh (0–1) Malloy 11,138 60–86
148 September 24 @ Cubs 3–13 Erickson Ostermueller (13–10) Chipman 60–87
149 September 24 @ Cubs 13–0 (8) Sewell (8–12) Lade — 8,396 61–87
150 September 25 @ Cubs 6–5 (16) Gables (2–4) Lade — 3,339 62–87
151 September 26 @ Cubs 3–5 Hanyzewski Hallett (5–7) Meyer 5,369 62–88
152 September 27 @ Reds 0–8 Beggs Bahr (8–6) — 1,120 62–89
153 September 28 @ Reds 10–3 Strincevich (10–15) Blackwell — 1,930 63–89
154 September 29 @ Reds 0–1 Vander Meer Howard (0–1) — 63–90
155 September 29 @ Reds 2–3 Hetki Tate (0–1) — 6,329 63–91
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

Roster

1946 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 56 150 46 .307 1 12
1B Elbie Fletcher 148 532 136 .256 4 66
2B Frankie Gustine 131 495 128 .259 8 52
SS Billy Cox 121 411 119 .290 2 36
3B Lee Handley 116 416 99 .238 1 28
OF Ralph Kiner 144 502 124 .247 23 81
OF Bob Elliott 140 486 128 .263 5 68
OF Jim Russell 146 516 143 .277 8 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
Jimmy Brown 79 241 58 .241 0 12
Bill Salkeld 69 160 47 .294 3 19
Maurice Van Robays 59 146 31 .212 1 12
Chuck Workman 58 145 32 .221 2 16
Burgess Whitehead 55 127 28 .220 0 5
Bill Baker 53 113 27 .239 1 8
Al Gionfriddo 64 102 26 .255 0 10
Hank Camelli 42 96 20 .208 0 5
Johnny Barrett 32 71 12 .169 0 6
Frank Colman 26 53 9 .170 1 6
Vinnie Smith 7 21 4 .190 0 0
Frankie Zak 21 20 4 .200 0 0
Roy Jarvis 2 4 1 .250 0 0
Ben Guintini 2 3 0 .000 0 0
Pete Coscarart 3 2 1 .500 0 0
Alf Anderson 2 1 0 .000 0 0
Vic Barnhart 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
Fritz Ostermueller 27 193.1 13 10 2.84 57
Nick Strincevich 32 176.0 10 15 3.58 49
Ken Heintzelman 32 157.2 8 12 3.77 57
Rip Sewell 25 149.1 8 12 3.68 33

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
Ed Bahr 27 136.2 8 6 2.63 44
Jack Hallett 35 115.0 5 7 3.29 64
Ken Gables 32 100.2 2 4 5.27 39
Johnny Lanning 27 91.0 4 5 3.07 16
Preacher Roe 21 70.0 3 8 5.14 28
Ed Albosta 17 39.2 0 6 6.13 19
Lee Howard 3 13.1 0 1 2.03 6
Junior Walsh 4 10.1 0 1 5.23 2
Al Tate 2 9.0 0 1 5.00 2
Jim Hopper 2 4.1 0 1 10.38 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
Al Gerheauser 35 2 2 0 3.97 32
Hank Gornicki 7 0 0 0 3.55 4
Lefty Wilkie 7 0 0 0 10.57 3
Bill Clemensen 1 0 0 0 0.00 2

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Hollywood Stars Pacific Coast League Buck Fausett and Jimmy Dykes
AA Birmingham Barons Southern Association Frank Snyder
A Albany Senators Eastern League Ripper Collins
B York White Roses Interstate League Boom-Boom Beck
B Anniston Rams Southeastern League Tommy West
B Selma Cloverleafs Southeastern League Frank Oceak
B Yakima Stars Western International League Spencer Harris and Harlond Clift
C Oil City Oilers Middle Atlantic League Charles Muse and Charles Harig
D Tallassee Indians Georgia–Alabama League Johnnie Heving
D Tallahassee Pirates Georgia–Florida League Art Doll
D Bartlesville Owls Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League Keith Willoughby
D Salisbury Pirates North Carolina State League Tuck McWilliams
D Hornell Pirates PONY League Lou Briganti and Phil Seghi

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Anniston, Tallassee

References

  1. ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ Frank Colman page at Baseball Reference
  3. ^ Wally Westlake page at Baseball Reference