1928 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1928 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersBarney Dreyfuss
ManagersDonie Bush

The 1928 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 47th season in franchise history. The team scored the most runs in the National League. However, they also allowed the third most and slipped down to fourth place in the standings.

Offseason

Regular season

During the season, Burleigh Grimes became the last pitcher to win at least 25 games in one season for the Pirates in the 20th century.[3]

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 95 59 .617 — 42‍–‍35 53‍–‍24
New York Giants 93 61 .604 2 51‍–‍26 42‍–‍35
Chicago Cubs 91 63 .591 4 52‍–‍25 39‍–‍38
Pittsburgh Pirates 85 67 .559 9 47‍–‍30 38‍–‍37
Cincinnati Reds 78 74 .513 16 44‍–‍33 34‍–‍41
Brooklyn Robins 77 76 .503 17½ 41‍–‍35 36‍–‍41
Boston Braves 50 103 .327 44½ 25‍–‍51 25‍–‍52
Philadelphia Phillies 43 109 .283 51 26‍–‍49 17‍–‍60

Record vs. opponents


Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BSN BRO CHC CIN NYG PHI PIT STL
Boston — 7–15 5–17 10–12 6–16 13–9 5–16 4–18
Brooklyn 15–7 — 10–12 10–12–1 9–13–1 15–7 9–12 9–13
Chicago 17–5 12–10 — 13–9 14–8 13–9 11–11 11–11
Cincinnati 12–10 12–10–1 9–13 — 8–14 13–7 12–10 12–10
New York 16–6 13–9–1 8–14 14–8 — 17–5 11–11 14–8
Philadelphia 9–13 7–15 9–13 7–13 5–17 — 4–18 2–20
Pittsburgh 16–5 12–9 11–11 10–12 11–11 18–4 — 7–15
St. Louis 18–4 13–9 11–11 10–12 8–14 20–2 15–7 —

Game log

1928 Game Log: 85–67 (Home: 47–30; Away: 38–37)
April: 6–8 (Home: 2–2; Away: 4–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 11 @ Cardinals 7–14 Haines Kremer (0–1) — 25,000 0–1
2 April 12 @ Cardinals 0–5 Alexander Grimes (0–1) — — 0–2
3 April 14 @ Reds 0–5 Lucas Miljus (0–1) — 2,500 0–3
4 April 15 @ Reds 3–2 Dawson (1–0) Luque Hill (1) — 1–3
5 April 16 @ Reds 8–1 Grimes (1–1) Rixey — — 2–3
6 April 19 Cardinals 10–13 Littlejohn Miljus (0–2) Sherdel 30,000 2–4
7 April 20 Cardinals 2–6 Haines Grimes (1–2) — — 2–5
8 April 22 @ Cubs 2–3 Jones Miljus (0–3) — 50,000 2–6
9 April 23 @ Cubs 6–0 Kremer (1–1) Malone — — 3–6
10 April 24 @ Cubs 2–7 Blake Dawson (1–1) — — 3–7
11 April 25 @ Cubs 10–0 Grimes (2–2) Root — — 4–7
12 April 26 Reds 7–2 Hill (1–0) Edwards — — 5–7
13 April 29 @ Reds 2–3 Rixey Kremer (1–2) — — 5–8
14 April 30 Cubs 8–7 Miljus (1–3) Malone — — 6–8
May: 12–16 (Home: 11–10; Away: 1–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
15 May 1 Cubs 4–1 Hill (2–0) Bush — — 7–8
16 May 2 Cubs 9–8 (10) Dawson (2–1) Nehf — — 8–8
17 May 3 Braves 4–5 (11) Brandt Kremer (1–3) — — 8–9
18 May 4 Braves 13–3 Grimes (3–2) Greenfield — — 9–9
19 May 5 Braves 6–2 Dawson (3–1) Smith Miljus (1) — 10–9
20 May 7 Braves 9–4 Miljus (2–3) Robertson — — 11–9
21 May 8 Giants 6–5 Grimes (4–2) Henry — — 12–9
22 May 9 Giants 0–6 Barnes Dawson (3–2) — — 12–10
23 May 10 Giants 4–5 Fitzsimmons Kremer (1–4) — — 12–11
24 May 12 Robins 5–4 Hill (3–0) McWeeny — 10,000 13–11
25 May 13 @ Robins 5–8 Clark Grimes (4–3) — 22,000 13–12
26 May 14 Robins 6–7 Doak Brame (0–1) Vance — 13–13
27 May 15 Robins 3–10 McWeeny Miljus (2–4) — — 13–14
28 May 18 Phillies 6–4 Kremer (2–4) Miller Grimes (1) — 14–14
29 May 19 Phillies 3–1 Hill (4–0) Benge — — 15–14
30 May 20 @ Reds 2–3 Lucas Grimes (4–4) — — 15–15
31 May 21 @ Reds 3–4 Rixey Dawson (3–3) — — 15–16
32 May 21 @ Reds 6–3 Fussell (1–0) May — — 16–16
33 May 22 @ Reds 4–5 Mays Kremer (2–5) — — 16–17
34 May 23 @ Reds 3–4 (10) Luque Hill (4–1) — — 16–18
35 May 24 Cubs 6–2 Grimes (5–4) Nehf — — 17–18
36 May 25 Cubs 3–10 Root Fussell (1–1) — — 17–19
37 May 26 Cubs 1–6 Malone Kremer (2–6) — — 17–20
38 May 27 @ Cubs 0–3 Blake Hill (4–2) — 35,000 17–21
39 May 29 Cardinals 1–7 Rhem Grimes (5–5) — — 17–22
40 May 30 Cardinals 1–10 Sherdel Miljus (2–5) — — 17–23
41 May 30 Cardinals 3–4 Johnson Kremer (2–7) Haid — 17–24
42 May 31 Cardinals 3–2 Hill (5–2) Haines — — 18–24
June: 13–11 (Home: 4–2; Away: 9–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
43 June 1 Cubs 10–4 Grimes (6–5) Blake — — 19–24
44 June 2 Cubs 6–10 Weinert Dawson (3–4) Root — 19–25
45 June 3 @ Robins 9–7 (14) Grimes (7–5) Petty — 25,000 20–25
46 June 7 @ Braves 8–6 (12) Burwell (1–0) Smith — — 21–25
47 June 8 @ Braves 5–9 Brandt Kremer (2–8) — — 21–26
48 June 9 @ Braves 6–2 Grimes (8–5) Genewich — — 22–26
49 June 9 @ Braves 6–3 Miljus (3–5) Robertson — — 23–26
50 June 11 @ Phillies 4–6 Ring Hill (5–3) Sweetland — 23–27
51 June 12 @ Phillies 15–4 Kremer (3–8) Miller — — 24–27
52 June 13 @ Phillies 3–4 Sweetland Grimes (8–6) — — 24–28
53 June 14 @ Giants 4–3 (11) Miljus (4–5) Fitzsimmons — — 25–28
54 June 15 @ Giants 1–9 Aldridge Hill (5–4) — 9,000 25–29
55 June 16 @ Giants 0–4 Benton Kremer (3–9) — — 25–30
56 June 17 @ Giants 6–0 Grimes (9–6) Henry — — 26–30
57 June 20 Reds 2–1 Kremer (4–9) Rixey — — 27–30
58 June 21 Reds 4–5 Appleton Fussell (1–2) — — 27–31
59 June 22 Reds 11–1 Grimes (10–6) Kolp — — 28–31
60 June 23 Reds 6–5 (10) Miljus (5–5) Kolp — — 29–31
61 June 24 @ Cubs 1–8 Nehf Kremer (4–10) — 15,000 29–32
62 June 26 @ Cubs 1–0 Grimes (11–6) Blake — — 30–32
63 June 26 @ Cubs 3–7 Bush Miljus (5–6) Malone — 30–33
64 June 28 @ Cardinals 3–4 Sherdel Hill (5–5) — — 30–34
65 June 29 @ Cardinals 4–9 Mitchell Kremer (4–11) — — 30–35
66 June 30 @ Cardinals 4–3 Grimes (12–6) Alexander — — 31–35
July: 17–12 (Home: 11–6; Away: 6–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
67 July 1 @ Cardinals 2–0 Fussell (2–2) Haines — — 32–35
68 July 1 @ Cardinals 6–8 Johnson Miljus (5–7) Haid — 32–36
69 July 3 Reds 7–9 Edwards Grimes (12–7) — — 32–37
70 July 4 Reds 0–6 Rixey Dawson (3–5) — — 32–38
71 July 4 Reds 3–11 Kolp Grimes (12–8) — — 32–39
72 July 6 Giants 7–11 Faulkner Fussell (2–3) — — 32–40
73 July 7 Giants 8–6 Fussell (3–3) Benton — — 33–40
74 July 7 Giants 5–2 Brame (1–1) Fitzsimmons — — 34–40
75 July 9 Giants 5–3 Grimes (13–8) Faulkner — — 35–40
76 July 10 Phillies 6–5 Kremer (5–11) Ring — — 36–40
77 July 11 Phillies 3–1 (6) Brame (2–1) Benge Hill (2) — 37–40
78 July 14 Braves 10–0 Grimes (14–8) Brandt — — 38–40
79 July 16 Braves 8–3 Kremer (6–11) Delaney — — 39–40
80 July 17 Braves 7–6 Hill (6–5) Smith Fussell (1) — 40–40
81 July 18 Braves 16–3 Grimes (15–8) Barnes — — 41–40
82 July 19 Robins 0–3 McWeeny Fussell (3–4) — — 41–41
83 July 20 Robins 7–8 Elliott Kremer (6–12) Clark 4,000 41–42
84 July 21 Robins 7–3 Hill (7–5) Ehrhardt — — 42–42
85 July 21 Robins 10–2 Meadows (1–0) Petty — 15,000 43–42
86 July 22 @ Robins 0–5 Vance Grimes (15–9) — — 43–43
87 July 22 @ Robins 6–5 Kremer (7–12) Clark — 29,000 44–43
88 July 23 @ Robins 2–1 Fussell (4–4) McWeeny — — 45–43
89 July 24 @ Giants 3–6 Benton Dawson (3–6) — — 45–44
90 July 25 @ Giants 5–6 Walker Hill (7–6) Genewich — 45–45
91 July 26 @ Giants 7–5 Grimes (16–9) Hubbell — — 46–45
92 July 27 @ Giants 2–4 Fitzsimmons Fussell (4–5) — — 46–46
93 July 30 @ Braves 2–1 Kremer (8–12) Brandt — — 47–46
94 July 30 @ Braves 6–5 (10) Grimes (17–9) Barnes — — 48–46
95 July 31 @ Braves 5–11 Smith Meadows (1–1) — — 48–47
August: 23–9 (Home: 15–8; Away: 8–1)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
96 August 2 @ Phillies 18–4 Grimes (18–9) Miller Dawson (1) — 49–47
97 August 3 @ Phillies 14–6 Fussell (5–5) Sweetland Tauscher (1) — 50–47
98 August 4 @ Phillies 14–8 Grimes (19–9) Benge — — 51–47
99 August 4 @ Phillies 11–4 Hill (8–6) Ring Dawson (2) — 52–47
100 August 7 @ Robins 4–3 Grimes (20–9) McWeeny — — 53–47
101 August 7 @ Robins 3–2 (12) Hill (9–6) Elliott — 6,500 54–47
102 August 8 @ Robins 4–3 Kremer (9–12) McWeeny — 2,500 55–47
103 August 9 Cardinals 5–4 Hill (10–6) Haines Grimes (2) — 56–47
104 August 10 Cardinals 1–2 (12) Mitchell Fussell (5–6) Sherdel — 56–48
105 August 11 Reds 0–1 Lucas Grimes (20–10) — — 56–49
106 August 13 Robins 6–1 Kremer (10–12) Doak — — 57–49
107 August 14 Robins 4–2 Hill (11–6) McWeeny — — 58–49
108 August 15 Robins 5–6 Vance Fussell (5–7) Petty — 58–50
109 August 16 Robins 11–6 Grimes (21–10) Doak — — 59–50
110 August 17 Phillies 10–3 Kremer (11–12) Willoughby — — 60–50
111 August 17 Phillies 9–1 Brame (3–1) Sweetland — — 61–50
112 August 18 Phillies 9–0 Hill (12–6) Benge — — 62–50
113 August 18 Phillies 8–11 Ring Fussell (5–8) Ferguson — 62–51
114 August 20 Braves 11–14 Smith Grimes (21–11) Delaney — 62–52
115 August 21 Braves 6–2 Kremer (12–12) Brandt — — 63–52
116 August 22 Braves 10–3 Brame (4–1) Greenfield — — 64–52
117 August 23 Giants 3–6 Benton Hill (12–7) Scott 35,000 64–53
118 August 23 Giants 13–3 Fussell (6–8) Hubbell — 30,000 65–53
119 August 24 Giants 16–5 Grimes (22–11) Genewich — — 66–53
120 August 25 Giants 7–1 Kremer (13–12) Fitzsimmons — — 67–53
121 August 26 @ Reds 3–4 Lucas Brame (4–2) — — 67–54
122 August 27 @ Reds 9–4 Fussell (7–8) Luque — — 68–54
123 August 28 Phillies 9–2 Hill (13–7) Sweetland — — 69–54
124 August 28 Phillies 16–7 Dawson (4–6) Benge — — 70–54
125 August 29 Phillies 0–4 (7) Willoughby Brame (4–3) — — 70–55
126 August 31 Cardinals 6–5 Kremer (14–12) Alexander Grimes (3) — 71–55
127 August 31 Cardinals 2–6 Haines Fussell (7–9) — — 71–56
September: 14–11 (Home: 4–2; Away: 10–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
128 September 1 Cardinals 1–4 Sherdel Hill (13–8) — — 71–57
129 September 2 @ Cubs 2–3 Malone Grimes (22–12) — 32,000 71–58
130 September 3 Cubs 16–1 Brame (5–3) Root — — 72–58
131 September 3 Cubs 6–3 Kremer (15–12) Carlson — — 73–58
132 September 4 Cubs 8–9 Blake Hill (13–9) — — 73–59
133 September 6 @ Cardinals 3–4 (10) Mitchell Grimes (22–13) — 10,000 73–60
134 September 7 @ Cardinals 3–6 Haines Kremer (15–13) — — 73–61
135 September 8 @ Cardinals 4–2 Hill (14–9) Sherdel — — 74–61
136 September 9 @ Cardinals 8–7 Dawson (5–6) Reinhart — — 75–61
137 September 10 @ Cubs 7–5 Grimes (23–13) Nehf — — 76–61
138 September 11 @ Cubs 3–9 Malone Hill (14–10) — — 76–62
139 September 14 Reds 4–1 Grimes (24–13) Rixey — — 77–62
140 September 15 Reds 6–1 Hill (15–10) Ash — — 78–62
141 September 16 @ Giants 1–0 Fussell (8–9) Benton — 50,000 79–62
142 September 17 @ Giants 2–9 Hubbell Brame (5–4) — 3,000 79–63
143 September 18 @ Giants 2–3 (10) Fitzsimmons Dawson (5–7) — — 79–64
144 September 20 @ Phillies 6–4 Hill (16–10) Willoughby — — 80–64
145 September 21 @ Phillies 6–5 Dawson (6–7) Sweetland — — 81–64
146 September 22 @ Phillies 9–7 Grimes (25–13) McGraw — — 82–64
147 September 22 @ Phillies 5–3 Brame (6–4) Caldwell — — 83–64
148 September 24 @ Braves 3–1 (10) Dawson (7–7) Delaney — — 84–64
149 September 24 @ Braves 2–4 Smith Blankenship (0–1) — — 84–65
150 September 25 @ Braves 13–8 Brame (7–4) Greenfield Dawson (3) — 85–65
151 September 27 @ Robins 6–7 (10) Petty Grimes (25–14) — — 85–66
152 September 27 @ Robins 1–8 Koupal Blankenship (0–2) — — 85–67
Legend:        = Win        = Loss
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Roster

1928 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

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 Charlie Hargreaves 79 260 74 .285 1 32
1B George Grantham 124 440 142 .323 10 85
2B Sparky Adams 135 539 149 .276 0 38
SS Glenn Wright 108 407 126 .310 8 66
3B Pie Traynor 144 569 192 .337 3 124
OF Lloyd Waner 152 659 221 .335 5 61
OF Paul Waner 152 602 223 .370 6 86
OF Fred Brickell 81 202 65 .322 3 41

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
Dick Bartell 72 233 71 .305 1 36
Fred Brickell 81 202 65 .322 3 41
Clyde Barnhart 61 196 58 .296 4 30
Pete Scott 60 177 55 .311 5 33
Rollie Hemsley 50 133 36 .271 0 18
Earl Smith 32 85 21 .247 2 11
Johnny Gooch 31 80 19 .238 0 5
Eddie Mulligan 27 43 10 .233 0 1
Mack Hillis 11 36 9 .250 1 7
Joe Harris 16 23 9 .391 0 2
Cobe Jones 1 2 1 .500 0 0
Bill Windle 1 1 1 1.000 0 0
John O'Connell 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
Burleigh Grimes 48 330.2 25 14 2.99 97
Carmen Hill 36 237.0 16 10 3.53 73
Ray Kremer 34 219.0 15 13 4.64 61
Fred Fussell 28 159.2 8 9 3.61 43

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
Joe Dawson 31 128.2 7 7 3.29 36
Erv Brame 24 95.2 7 4 5.08 22
Johnny Miljus 21 69.2 5 7 5.30 26
Homer Blankenship 5 21.2 0 1 5.82 6
Bill Burwell 4 20.2 1 0 5.23 2
Lee Meadows 4 10.0 1 1 8.10 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
Walt Tauscher 17 0 0 1 4.91 7
Les Bartholomew 6 0 0 0 7.15 6
Glenn Spencer 4 0 0 0 1.59 2
Elmer Tutwiler 2 0 0 0 4.91 1

League leaders

George Grantham

  • #3 in NL in on-base percentage (.408)

Burleigh Grimes

  • MLB leader in wins (25)
  • #4 in NL in strikeouts (97)

Pie Traynor

  • #2 in NL in RBI (124)

Lloyd Waner

  • #3 in NL in runs scored (121)

Paul Waner

  • NL leader in runs scored (142)
  • #2 in NL in batting average (.370)
  • #2 in NL in on-base percentage (.446)

References

  1. ^ From 1882-1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ Mike Cvengros page at Baseball Reference
  3. ^ Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.98, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, NY, ISBN 978-0-451-22363-0