| 1947 Pittsburgh Pirates | ||
|---|---|---|
| League | National League | |
| Ballpark | Forbes Field | |
| City | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1] | |
| Owners | Frank E. McKinney, John W. Galbreath, Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson | |
| General managers | Roy Hamey | |
| Managers | Billy Herman, Bill Burwell | |
| Radio | WWSW Rosey Rowswell, Jack Craddock | |
| 
 | ||
The 1947 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 66th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 61st in the National League. The Pirates finished tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for eighth and last in the league standings with a record of 62–92.
Offseason
- October 2, 1946: Steve Nagy was purchased by the Pirates from the Brooklyn Dodgers.[2]
- Prior to 1947 season (exact date unknown)
- Joe Muir was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.[3]
- Tod Davis was returned by the Pirates to the Hollywood Stars after the expiration of their minor league working agreement.[4]
 
Regular season
- June 24: Against the Pirates, Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers stole home plate for the first time in his career.[5] The Pirates catcher was Dixie Howell.
Season standings
| National League | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 94 | 60 | 0.610 | — | 52–25 | 42–35 | 
| St. Louis Cardinals | 89 | 65 | 0.578 | 5 | 46–31 | 43–34 | 
| Boston Braves | 86 | 68 | 0.558 | 8 | 50–27 | 36–41 | 
| New York Giants | 81 | 73 | 0.526 | 13 | 45–31 | 36–42 | 
| Cincinnati Reds | 73 | 81 | 0.474 | 21 | 42–35 | 31–46 | 
| Chicago Cubs | 69 | 85 | 0.448 | 25 | 36–43 | 33–42 | 
| Philadelphia Phillies | 62 | 92 | 0.403 | 32 | 38–38 | 24–54 | 
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 62 | 92 | 0.403 | 32 | 32–45 | 30–47 | 
Record vs. opponents
| Sources: | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | BOS | BR | CHC | CIN | NYG | PHI | PIT | STL | |||||
| Boston | — | 12–10 | 13–9 | 13–9 | 13–9 | 14–8 | 12–10 | 9–13 | |||||
| Brooklyn | 10–12 | — | 15–7 | 15–7 | 14–8 | 14–8 | 15–7 | 11–11–1 | |||||
| Chicago | 9–13 | 7–15 | — | 12–10 | 7–15 | 16–6–1 | 8–14 | 10–12 | |||||
| Cincinnati | 9–13 | 7–15 | 10–12 | — | 13–9 | 13–9 | 13–9 | 8–14 | |||||
| New York | 9–13 | 8–14 | 15–7 | 9–13 | — | 12–10 | 15–7–1 | 13–9 | |||||
| Philadelphia | 8–14 | 8–14 | 6–16–1 | 9–13 | 10–12 | — | 13–9 | 8–14 | |||||
| Pittsburgh | 10–12 | 7–15 | 14–8 | 9–13 | 7–15–1 | 9–13 | — | 6–16–1 | |||||
| St. Louis | 13–9 | 11–11–1 | 12–10 | 14–8 | 9–13 | 14–8 | 16–6–1 | — | |||||
Game log
| 1947 Game Log: 62–92 (Home: 32–45; Away: 30–47) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April: 8–5 (Home: 3–2; Away: 5–3) 
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| May: 9–12 (Home: 7–4; Away: 2–8) 
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| June: 8–21 (Home: 2–9; Away: 6–12) 
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| July: 15–18 (Home: 8–9; Away: 7–9) 
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August: 14–18 (Home: 5–6; Away: 9–12) 
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September: 8–18 (Home: 7–15; Away: 1–3) 
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pirates team member | 
Opening Day lineup
Notable transactions
- July 23, 1947: Frank Thomas was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.[6]
- September 23, 1947: Joe Grace was selected off waivers by the Pirates from the Washington Senators.[7]
Roster
| 1947 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 | Dixie Howell | 76 | 214 | 59 | .276 | 4 | 25 | 
| 1B | Hank Greenberg | 125 | 402 | 100 | .249 | 25 | 74 | 
| 2B | Jimmy Bloodworth | 88 | 316 | 79 | .250 | 7 | 48 | 
| SS | Billy Cox | 132 | 529 | 145 | .274 | 15 | 54 | 
| 3B | Frankie Gustine | 156 | 616 | 183 | .297 | 9 | 67 | 
| OF | Ralph Kiner | 152 | 565 | 177 | .313 | 51 | 127 | 
| OF | Wally Westlake | 112 | 407 | 111 | .273 | 17 | 69 | 
| OF | Jim Russell | 128 | 478 | 121 | .253 | 8 | 51 | 
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 | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Culley Rikard | 109 | 324 | 93 | .287 | 4 | 32 | 
| Clyde Kluttz | 73 | 232 | 70 | .302 | 6 | 42 | 
| Eddie Basinski | 56 | 161 | 32 | .199 | 4 | 17 | 
| Elbie Fletcher | 69 | 157 | 38 | .242 | 1 | 22 | 
| Whitey Wietelmann | 48 | 128 | 30 | .234 | 1 | 7 | 
| Gene Woodling | 22 | 79 | 21 | .266 | 0 | 10 | 
| Bill Salkeld | 47 | 61 | 13 | .213 | 0 | 8 | 
| Billy Sullivan | 38 | 55 | 14 | .255 | 0 | 8 | 
| Pete Castiglione | 13 | 50 | 14 | .280 | 0 | 1 | 
| Billy Herman | 15 | 47 | 10 | .213 | 0 | 6 | 
| Roy Jarvis | 18 | 45 | 7 | .156 | 1 | 4 | 
| Gene Mauch | 16 | 30 | 9 | .300 | 0 | 1 | 
| Al Gionfriddo | 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 | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fritz Ostermueller | 26 | 183.0 | 12 | 10 | 3.84 | 66 | 
| Mel Queen | 14 | 74.0 | 3 | 7 | 4.01 | 34 | 
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 | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirby Higbe | 46 | 225.0 | 11 | 17 | 3.72 | 99 | 
| Tiny Bonham | 33 | 149.2 | 11 | 8 | 3.85 | 63 | 
| Preacher Roe | 38 | 144.0 | 4 | 15 | 5.25 | 59 | 
| Rip Sewell | 24 | 121.0 | 6 | 4 | 3.57 | 36 | 
| Nick Strincevich | 32 | 89.0 | 1 | 6 | 5.26 | 22 | 
| Ed Bahr | 19 | 82.1 | 3 | 5 | 4.59 | 25 | 
| Roger Wolff | 13 | 30.0 | 1 | 4 | 8.70 | 7 | 
| Hank Behrman | 10 | 24.2 | 0 | 2 | 9.12 | 11 | 
| Steve Nagy | 6 | 14.0 | 1 | 3 | 5.79 | 4 | 
| Hugh Mulcahy | 2 | 6.2 | 0 | 0 | 4.05 | 2 | 
| Ken Heintzelman | 2 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 20.25 | 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 | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Bagby | 37 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4.67 | 23 | 
| Elmer Singleton | 36 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6.31 | 24 | 
| Al Lyons | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7.31 | 16 | 
| Art Herring | 11 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8.44 | 6 | 
| Lee Howard | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.38 | 2 | 
| Lou Tost | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 0 | 
| Cal McLish | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18.00 | 0 | 
| Ken Gables | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54.00 | 0 | 
Farm system
| Level | Team | League | Manager | 
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | Indianapolis Indians | American Association | Jimmy Brown | 
| A | Albany Senators | Eastern League | Pinky May | 
| B | York White Roses | Interstate League | Ed Turchin | 
| B | Selma Cloverleafs | Southeastern League | Carl Fischer and Boom-Boom Beck | 
| C | Keokuk Pirates | Central Association | Frank Oceak | 
| C | Uniontown Coal Barons | Middle Atlantic League | Alex Stutzke | 
| C | Fargo-Moorhead Twins | Northern League | Bruno Haas | 
| C | Riverside Dons | Sunset League | Norm DeWeese and Jack Rothrock | 
| D | Rehoboth Beach Pirates | Eastern Shore League | Gordon McKinnon and Doug Peden | 
| D | Leesburg Pirates | Florida State League | Wilbur Good, Jr. | 
| D | Tallahassee Pirates | Georgia–Florida League | Phil Seghi | 
| D | Bartlesville Oilers | Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League | Charles Marleau | 
| D | Salisbury Pirates | North Carolina State League | Edgar Leip | 
| D | Hornell Pirates | PONY League | Art Doll | 
Notes
- ↑ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
- ↑ Steve Nagy at Baseball-Reference
- ↑ Joe Muir at Baseball-Reference
- ↑ Tod Davis at Baseball-Reference
- ↑ Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season, p. 167, Jonathan Eig, Simon & Schuster, 2007, New York, ISBN 978-0-7432-9461-4
- ↑ Frank Thomas at Baseball-Reference
- ↑ Joe Grace at Baseball-Reference
References
- 1947 Pittsburgh Pirates team at Baseball-Reference
- 1947 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Almanac
- Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6.