1951 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1951 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
ManagersBilly Meyer
RadioWWSW
Rosey Rowswell, Bob Prince
Seasons

The 1951 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 70th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 65th in the National League. The Pirates finished seventh in the league standings with a record of 64–90.

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Giants 98 59 .624 — 50‍–‍28 48‍–‍31
Brooklyn Dodgers 97 60 .618 1 49‍–‍29 48‍–‍31
St. Louis Cardinals 81 73 .526 15½ 44‍–‍34 37‍–‍39
Boston Braves 76 78 .494 20½ 42‍–‍35 34‍–‍43
Philadelphia Phillies 73 81 .474 23½ 38‍–‍39 35‍–‍42
Cincinnati Reds 68 86 .442 28½ 35‍–‍42 33‍–‍44
64 90 .416 32½ 32‍–‍45 32‍–‍45
Chicago Cubs 62 92 .403 34½ 32‍–‍45 30‍–‍47

Record vs. opponents

1951 National League record

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


Game log

1951 Game Log: 64–90 (Home: 32–45; Away: 32–45)
April: 5–5 (Home: 2–2; Away: 3–3)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 16 @ Reds 4–3 Chambers (1–0) Blackwell Werle (1) 30,441 1–0
2 April 17 Cardinals 5–4 Dickson (1–0) Poholsky Werle (2) 25,894 2–0
3 April 21 @ Reds 3–8 Fox Chambers (1–1) — 4,180 2–1
4 April 22 @ Reds 7–5 Werle (1–0) Blackwell — 7,254 3–1
5 April 23 @ Cubs 1–2 Hiller Queen (0–1) — 7,899 3–2
6 April 24 @ Cubs 6–4 Law (1–0) Lown Werle (3) 7,750 4–2
7 April 25 @ Cardinals 0–4 Poholsky Chambers (1–2) — 9,628 4–3
8 April 27 Reds 5–7 Blackwell Muir (0–1) Fox 27,135 4–4
9 April 28 Reds 2–4 Wehmeier Dempsey (0–1) Smith 10,657 4–5
10 April 29 Reds 9–8 (13) Dickson (2–0) Smith — 5–5
11 April 29 Reds 1–1 (10) — 23,601 5–5
May: 10–18 (Home: 3–10; Away: 7–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
12 May 1 @ Dodgers 6–2 Chambers (2–2) Palica — 6,716 6–5
13 May 2 @ Dodgers 4–3 Dickson (3–0) Newcombe — 6,238 7–5
14 May 3 @ Giants 7–4 (10) Queen (1–1) Jones Werle (4) 9,649 8–5
15 May 4 @ Giants 1–5 Maglie Dempsey (0–2) — 3,947 8–6
16 May 5 @ Giants 3–8 Bowman Koski (0–1) — 10,265 8–7
17 May 6 @ Braves 0–6 Spahn Dickson (3–1) — 8–8
18 May 6 @ Braves 3–0 Chambers (3–2) Estock — 15,492 9–8
19 May 8 @ Phillies 9–3 Queen (2–1) Heintzelman Werle (5) 13,700 10–8
20 May 9 @ Phillies 5–6 (10) Konstanty Muir (0–2) — 14,134 10–9
21 May 10 @ Phillies 2–0 Dickson (4–1) Church — 3,562 11–9
22 May 11 Cubs 4–10 Rush Chambers (3–3) — 22,760 11–10
23 May 12 Cubs 4–8 Hiller Law (1–1) Minner 7,528 11–11
24 May 13 Cubs 2–1 Queen (3–1) Schultz — 12–11
25 May 13 Cubs 0–6 Klippstein Dickson (4–2) — 25,434 12–12
26 May 15 Giants 7–3 Werle (2–0) Spencer Law (1) 25,838 13–12
27 May 16 Giants 1–2 Hearn Walsh (0–1) — 24,103 13–13
28 May 17 Giants 12–7 Dickson (5–2) Kennedy — 13,926 14–13
29 May 18 Braves 3–12 Surkont Queen (3–2) — 30,890 14–14
30 May 19 Braves 2–6 Bickford Law (1–2) — 13,217 14–15
31 May 20 Phillies 0–17 Meyer Dickson (5–3) — 14–16
32 May 20 Phillies 4–12 Roberts Dusak (0–1) — 36,166 14–17
33 May 22 Dodgers 8–17 Erskine Friend (0–1) Branca 22,360 14–18
34 May 23 Dodgers 4–11 Newcombe Queen (3–3) — 15,759 14–19
35 May 25 @ Cubs 10–1 Dickson (6–3) Hiller — 8,143 15–19
36 May 26 @ Cubs 4–5 (10) Schmitz Walsh (0–2) — 9,006 15–20
37 May 28 @ Cardinals 5–6 (10) Poholsky LaPalme (0–1) — 9,757 15–21
38 May 30 @ Cardinals 3–4 Presko Dickson (6–4) Wilks 15–22
39 May 30 @ Cardinals 3–7 Munger Queen (3–4) — 26,952 15–23
June: 10–18 (Home: 4–9; Away: 6–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
40 June 1 @ Giants 2–8 Maglie Chambers (3–4) — 16,875 15–24
41 June 2 @ Giants 3–14 Hearn LaPalme (0–2) — 7,003 15–25
42 June 3 @ Phillies 2–11 Roberts Queen (3–5) — 15–26
43 June 3 @ Phillies 3–8 Church Dickson (6–5) — 19,325 15–27
44 June 4 @ Phillies 12–4 Friend (1–1) Meyer Dickson (1) 2,343 16–27
45 June 5 @ Braves 8–0 LaPalme (1–2) Sain — 4,302 17–27
46 June 6 @ Braves 2–5 Spahn Chambers (3–5) — 5,030 17–28
47 June 7 @ Braves 0–5 Bickford Queen (3–6) — 4,916 17–29
48 June 9 @ Dodgers 4–1 Dickson (7–5) Newcombe — 11,462 18–29
49 June 10 @ Dodgers 1–2 Branca Friend (1–2) — 18–30
50 June 10 @ Dodgers 5–4 (11) Werle (3–0) Erskine — 24,602 19–30
51 June 12 Braves 3–13 Sain Chambers (3–6) — 16,054 19–31
52 June 14 Braves 9–4 Dickson (8–5) Bickford — 4,277 20–31
53 June 15 Giants 6–11 Hearn Friend (1–3) — 22,746 20–32
54 June 16 Giants 1–6 Maglie LaPalme (1–3) — 8,673 20–33
55 June 17 Giants 11–5 Pollet (1–0) Bowman Werle (6) 21–33
56 June 17 Giants 6–7 (10) Jansen Dickson (8–6) — 25,090 21–34
57 June 19 Phillies 2–9 Meyer Dickson (8–7) — 16,601 21–35
58 June 20 Phillies 0–1 Church Friend (1–4) — 12,751 21–36
59 June 21 Phillies 5–10 Roberts LaPalme (1–4) — 5,682 21–37
60 June 22 Dodgers 4–8 King Wilks (0–1) — 24,966 21–38
61 June 23 Dodgers 1–13 Newcombe Werle (3–1) — 9,937 21–39
62 June 24 Dodgers 10–7 Dickson (9–7) Erskine — 22–39
63 June 24 Dodgers 5–4 Wilks (1–1) King — 31,435 23–39
64 June 26 @ Reds 3–2 Pollet (2–0) Perkowski — 8,313 24–39
65 June 27 @ Reds 1–2 Ramsdell Friend (1–5) — 5,788 24–40
66 June 28 @ Reds 7–5 Werle (4–1) Raffensberger Wilks (2) 7,568 25–40
67 June 30 @ Cardinals 4–8 Chambers Dickson (9–8) — 13,479 25–41
July: 14–16 (Home: 10–7; Away: 4–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
68 July 1 @ Cardinals 4–5 (12) Staley Pollet (2–1) — 21,195 25–42
69 July 2 Cubs 7–2 Dickson (10–8) Hiller — 12,661 26–42
70 July 3 Cubs 2–0 Law (2–2) Rush — 4,650 27–42
71 July 4 Reds 4–1 Friend (2–5) Blackwell Wilks (3) 28–42
72 July 4 Reds 16–4 (6) Werle (5–1) Ramsdell — 16,061 29–42
73 July 5 Reds 0–4 Fox Pollet (2–2) — 2,212 29–43
74 July 6 Cardinals 2–3 Munger Dickson (10–9) — 24,532 29–44
75 July 7 Cardinals 5–1 Law (3–2) Lanier — 10,127 30–44
76 July 8 Cardinals 6–2 Friend (3–5) Staley Wilks (4) 31–44
77 July 8 Cardinals 8–9 Chambers Wilks (1–2) Staley 31,085 31–45
78 July 12 @ Phillies 6–11 Meyer Dickson (10–10) — 10,618 31–46
79 July 13 @ Phillies 2–3 Roberts Pollet (2–3) — 7,786 31–47
80 July 14 @ Phillies 0–2 Church Law (3–3) — 4,106 31–48
81 July 15 @ Giants 7–6 (12) Dickson (11–10) Koslo — 32–48
82 July 15 @ Giants 3–8 Hearn Werle (5–2) — 17,945 32–49
83 July 16 @ Giants 6–7 Spencer Werle (5–3) — 3,390 32–50
84 July 17 @ Dodgers 4–3 Pollet (3–3) Podbielan Wilks (5) 18,097 33–50
85 July 18 @ Dodgers 13–12 Walsh (1–2) Palica Wilks (6) 7,083 34–50
86 July 20 @ Braves 6–11 Spahn Law (3–4) — 5,767 34–51
87 July 21 @ Braves 6–11 Bickford Law (3–5) — 3,263 34–52
88 July 22 @ Braves 3–5 Chipman Wilks (1–3) — 34–53
89 July 22 @ Braves 5–2 Dickson (12–10) Wilson — 8,514 35–53
90 July 23 Braves 14–15 Paine Law (3–6) Chipman 8,112 35–54
91 July 24 Giants 3–4 (10) Maglie Friend (3–6) — 17,858 35–55
92 July 25 Giants 5–4 Wilks (2–3) Spencer — 8,718 36–55
93 July 27 Braves 8–4 Pollet (4–3) Surkont — 17,256 37–55
94 July 28 Braves 8–4 Dickson (13–10) Spahn — 6,848 38–55
95 July 29 Braves 6–2 Friend (4–6) Sain — 39–55
96 July 29 Braves 4–5 Wilson Queen (3–7) Estock 17,881 39–56
97 July 31 Dodgers 3–8 Newcombe Pollet (4–4) — 26,132 39–57
August: 16–17 (Home: 6–6; Away: 10–11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
98 August 1 Dodgers 12–9 Werle (6–3) King Wilks (7) 19,502 40–57
99 August 2 Dodgers 5–10 Erskine Friend (4–7) — 10,986 40–58
100 August 3 Phillies 4–5 Roberts Law (3–7) — 13,607 40–59
101 August 4 Phillies 7–3 Dickson (14–10) Johnson — 7,206 41–59
102 August 5 Phillies 1–5 Church Friend (4–8) — 41–60
103 August 5 Phillies 7–12 Heintzelman Wilks (2–4) Konstanty 20,049 41–61
104 August 7 @ Cardinals 7–16 Boyer LaPalme (1–5) Brazle 7,465 41–62
105 August 8 @ Cardinals 10–7 Dickson (15–10) Poholsky Wilks (8) 7,482 42–62
106 August 9 @ Cardinals 0–4 Chambers Pollet (4–5) — 6,855 42–63
107 August 10 @ Cubs 3–0 Queen (4–7) McLish — 7,703 43–63
108 August 11 @ Cubs 3–4 Kelly Law (3–8) — 43–64
109 August 11 @ Cubs 2–1 Friend (5–8) Rush — 20,522 44–64
110 August 12 @ Cubs 1–0 Dickson (16–10) Hatten — 45–64
111 August 12 @ Cubs 0–6 Minner Werle (6–4) — 25,891 45–65
112 August 13 @ Reds 0–2 Fox Pollet (4–6) — 45–66
113 August 13 @ Reds 1–7 Blackwell Walsh (1–3) — 9,992 45–67
114 August 15 Cardinals 7–0 Friend (6–8) Staley — 17,853 46–67
115 August 16 Cardinals 6–9 Staley Dickson (16–11) — 6,619 46–68
116 August 17 Cubs 8–3 Queen (5–7) Minner — 10,007 47–68
117 August 18 Cubs 5–11 Kelly Pollet (4–7) Leonard 6,212 47–69
118 August 19 Cubs 4–2 Carlsen (1–0) Hatten — 48–69
119 August 19 Cubs 5–4 Law (4–8) Leonard — 16,434 49–69
120 August 21 @ Braves 1–3 Wilson Friend (6–9) — 3,289 49–70
121 August 22 @ Braves 4–5 (10) Chipman Werle (6–5) — 4,585 49–71
122 August 24 @ Phillies 5–1 Dickson (17–11) Thompson — 8,847 50–71
123 August 25 @ Phillies 3–2 (12) Carlsen (2–0) Konstanty — 5,276 51–71
124 August 26 @ Dodgers 12–11 Law (5–8) King Dickson (2) 52–71
125 August 26 @ Dodgers 3–4 (10) Roe Wilks (2–5) — 30,189 52–72
126 August 27 @ Dodgers 0–5 Branca Queen (5–8) — 52–73
127 August 27 @ Dodgers 5–2 Werle (7–5) Palica Law (2) 32,561 53–73
128 August 28 @ Giants 2–0 Pollet (5–7) Jones — 8,803 54–73
129 August 29 @ Giants 1–3 Hearn Dickson (17–12) — 7,678 54–74
130 August 30 @ Giants 10–9 Dickson (18–12) Jansen — 8,230 55–74
September: 9–16 (Home: 7–11; Away: 2–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
131 September 1 @ Cardinals 2–6 Chambers Carlsen (2–1) — 11,637 55–75
132 September 2 @ Cardinals 1–6 Poholsky Pollet (5–8) — 12,852 55–76
133 September 3 @ Cubs 10–11 (12) Dubiel Law (5–9) — 55–77
134 September 3 @ Cubs 4–3 (7) Wilks (3–5) Lown — 20,242 56–77
135 September 5 Reds 3–6 Wehmeier Werle (7–6) Raffensberger 9,086 56–78
136 September 6 Reds 7–4 Pollet (6–8) Fox Wilks (9) 4,222 57–78
137 September 7 Cardinals 4–11 Bokelmann Carlsen (2–2) — 7,371 57–79
138 September 8 Cardinals 2–4 Brazle Queen (5–9) — 5,511 57–80
139 September 9 Cardinals 1–2 (10) Lanier Dickson (18–13) — 57–81
140 September 9 Cardinals 4–7 Bokelmann Walsh (1–4) — 17,456 57–82
141 September 11 Phillies 2–3 Roberts Carlsen (2–3) — 8,152 57–83
142 September 12 Phillies 8–6 Law (6–9) Hansen Wilks (10) 2,364 58–83
143 September 14 Dodgers 1–3 Roe Dickson (18–14) — 18,050 58–84
144 September 15 Dodgers 11–4 Queen (6–9) Branca Wilks (11) 11,098 59–84
145 September 16 Giants 1–7 Jansen Pollet (6–9) — 59–85
146 September 16 Giants 4–6 Maglie Dickson (18–15) — 24,990 59–86
147 September 18 Braves 6–5 Yochim (1–0) Wilson Wilks (12) 8,036 60–86
148 September 19 Braves 7–3 Dickson (19–15) Nichols — 2,793 61–86
149 September 22 @ Reds 0–9 Wehmeier Friend (6–10) — 1,093 61–87
150 September 23 @ Reds 3–0 Dickson (20–15) Blackwell — 62–87
151 September 23 @ Reds 0–2 Fox Pollet (6–10) — 6,152 62–88
152 September 25 Cubs 6–3 Queen (7–9) Lown Wilks (13) 6,063 63–88
153 September 28 Reds 3–4 Wehmeier Yochim (1–1) — 4,250 63–89
154 September 29 Reds 2–4 Blackwell Dickson (20–16) Smith 13,843 63–90
155 September 30 Reds 8–4 (11) Werle (8–6) Smith — 9,068 64–90
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

Roster

1951 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 92 259 77 .297 8 39
1B Jack Phillips 70 156 37 .237 0 12
2B Monty Basgall 55 153 32 .209 0 9
SS George Strickland 138 454 98 .216 9 47
3B Pete Castiglione 132 482 126 .261 7 42
OF Catfish Metkovich 120 423 124 .293 3 40
OF Gus Bell 149 600 167 .278 16 89
OF Ralph Kiner 151 531 164 .309 42 109

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
Bill Howerton 80 219 60 .274 11 37
Joe Garagiola 72 212 54 .255 9 35
Rocky Nelson 71 195 52 .267 1 14
Wally Westlake 50 181 51 .282 16 45
Danny Murtaugh 77 151 30 .199 1 11
Frank Thomas 39 148 39 .264 2 16
Pete Reiser 74 140 38 .271 2 13
Dick Cole 42 106 25 .236 1 11
Ed Fitz Gerald 55 97 22 .227 0 13
Tom Saffell 49 65 13 .200 1 5
Hank Schenz 25 61 13 .213 0 3
Jack Merson 13 50 18 .360 1 14
Ted Beard 22 48 9 .188 1 3
Dick Smith 12 46 8 .174 0 4
Bob Dillinger 12 43 10 .233 0 0
Erv Dusak 21 39 12 .308 1 7
Dino Restelli 21 38 7 .184 1 3
Stan Rojek 8 16 3 .188 0 0
Dale Long 10 12 2 .167 1 1
Jack Maguire 8 5 0 .000 0 0
Harry Fisher 3 3 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
Murry Dickson 45 288.2 20 16 4.02 112
Howie Pollet 21 128.2 6 10 5.04 47
Cliff Chambers 10 59.2 3 6 5.58 19
Don Carlsen 7 43.2 2 3 4.19 20
Len Yochim 2 8.2 1 1 8.31 5

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
Mel Queen 39 168.1 7 9 4.44 123
Bob Friend 34 149.2 6 10 4.27 41
Vern Law 28 114.0 6 9 4.50 41
Paul LaPalme 22 54.1 1 5 6.29 24
Con Dempsey 3 7.0 0 2 9.00 3
Erv Dusak 3 6.2 0 1 12.15 2

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
Ted Wilks 48 3 5 12 2.83 43
Bill Werle 59 8 6 6 5.65 57
Junior Walsh 36 1 4 0 6.87 32
Bill Koski 13 0 1 0 6.67 6
Joe Muir 9 0 2 0 2.76 5
Paul Pettit 2 0 0 0 3.38 0

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Indianapolis Indians American Association Don Gutteridge
AAA Hollywood Stars Pacific Coast League Fred Haney
AA New Orleans Pelicans Southern Association Rip Sewell
A Charleston Rebels Sally League Frank Oceak
B Waco Pirates Big State League Walt Tauscher
B Burlington Bees Carolina League Frank Barrett and Mike Kash
C Modesto Reds California League Tony Freitas
C Butler Tigers Middle Atlantic League Norm Gerdeman, William Allen and Frank Barrett
C Hutchinson Elks Western Association Wes Griffin
D Eugene Larks Far West League Duster Mails, George Matile and Cliff Dapper
D Brunswick Pirates Georgia–Florida League Mickey O'Neil
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

References

  1. ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ Catfish Metkovich page at Baseball-Reference
  3. ^ Joe Garagiola page at Baseball-Reference
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.