1943 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1943 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersBill Benswanger
ManagersFrankie Frisch
RadioWWSW
Rosey Rowswell, Jack Craddock

The 1943 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 62nd season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 57th in the National League. The Pirates finished fourth in the league standings with a record of 80–74.

Regular season

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 105 49 .682 — 58‍–‍21 47‍–‍28
Cincinnati Reds 87 67 .565 18 48‍–‍29 39‍–‍38
Brooklyn Dodgers 81 72 .529 23½ 46‍–‍31 35‍–‍41
Pittsburgh Pirates 80 74 .519 25 47‍–‍30 33‍–‍44
Chicago Cubs 74 79 .484 30½ 36‍–‍38 38‍–‍41
Boston Braves 68 85 .444 36½ 38‍–‍39 30‍–‍46
Philadelphia Phillies 64 90 .416 41 33‍–‍43 31‍–‍47
New York Giants 55 98 .359 49½ 34‍–‍43 21‍–‍55

Record vs. opponents


Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BSN BRO CHC CIN NYG PHI PIT STL
Boston — 12–9 8–14 11–11 11–11 11–11 12–10 3–19
Brooklyn 9–12 — 10–12 13–9 14–8 17–5 11–11 7–15
Chicago 14–8 12–10 — 9–13 12–9–1 10–12 8–14 9–13
Cincinnati 11–11 9–13 13–9 — 16–6–1 19–3 9–13 10–12
New York 11–11 8–14 9–12–1 6–16–1 — 8–14–1 9–13 4–18
Philadelphia 11–11 5–17 12–10 3–19 14–8–1 — 10–12–1 9–13–1
Pittsburgh 10–12 11–11 14–8 13–9 13–9 12–10–1 — 7–15–2
St. Louis 19–3 15–7 13–9 12–10 18–4 13–9–1 15–7–2 —

Game log

1943 Game Log: 80–74 (Home: 47–30; Away: 33–44)
April: 3–4 (Home: 1–2; Away: 2–2)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 21 @ Cubs 6–0 Sewell (1–0) Derringer — 9,044 1–0
2 April 22 @ Cubs 3–4 Hanyzewski Dietz (0–1) — 3,325 1–1
3 April 24 @ Cubs 3–6 Bithorn Hallett (0–1) — 6,771 1–2
4 April 25 @ Cubs 6–2 Sewell (2–0) Warneke — 7,349 2–2
5 April 27 Reds 4–1 Lanning (1–0) Starr Rescigno (1) 11,937 3–2
6 April 28 Reds 1–3 Riddle Hebert (0–1) Beggs 2,121 3–3
7 April 29 Reds 1–6 Vander Meer Gornicki (0–1) — 3,146 3–4
May: 13–13 (Home: 9–3; Away: 4–10)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
8 May 1 Cubs 6–3 Sewell (3–0) Passeau — 2,667 4–4
9 May 2 Cubs 3–0 Hebert (1–1) Bithorn — 16,491 5–4
10 May 2 Cubs 1–0 Klinger (1–0) Barrett — 16,491 6–4
11 May 3 @ Reds 5–7 Vander Meer Dietz (0–2) Riddle 2,958 6–5
12 May 4 @ Reds 8–3 Rescigno (1–0) Starr — 1,685 7–5
13 May 5 @ Reds 2–3 Walters Lanning (1–1) — 8,370 7–6
14 May 9 Cardinals 1–8 Cooper Hebert (1–2) — 25,887 7–7
15 May 9 Cardinals 3–3 — 25,887 7–7
16 May 13 @ Dodgers 4–5 Webber Dietz (0–3) — 6,735 7–8
17 May 14 @ Dodgers 5–2 Gornicki (1–1) Fitzsimmons — 7,230 8–8
18 May 15 @ Giants 1–2 (11) Adams Rescigno (1–1) — 6,856 8–9
19 May 16 @ Giants 1–3 Wittig Butcher (0–1) — 13,056 8–10
20 May 16 @ Giants 2–1 Klinger (2–0) Trinkle — 13,056 9–10
21 May 18 @ Braves 0–4 Javery Sewell (3–1) — 1,026 9–11
22 May 19 @ Braves 1–2 (11) Andrews Rescigno (1–2) — — 9–12
23 May 19 @ Braves 3–5 Jeffcoat Gornicki (1–2) Stout 4,959 9–13
24 May 22 @ Phillies 0–10 Rowe Klinger (2–1) — 11,692 9–14
25 May 23 @ Phillies 4–1 Sewell (4–1) Podgajny — — 10–14
26 May 23 @ Phillies 2–5 Kraus Rescigno (1–3) Johnson — 10–15
27 May 26 Dodgers 17–4 Hebert (2–2) Macon — 2,130 11–15
28 May 27 Dodgers 9–5 Lanning (2–1) Melton Butcher (1) 14,724 12–15
29 May 28 Dodgers 2–6 Head Gornicki (1–3) — 2,456 12–16
30 May 29 Phillies 12–4 Rescigno (2–3) Gerheauser — 1,727 13–16
31 May 30 Phillies 4–3 Sewell (5–1) Rowe — — 14–16
32 May 30 Phillies 2–1 (10) Hebert (3–2) Kraus — 7,297 15–16
33 May 31 Braves 1–6 Tobin Brandt (0–1) — 14,391 15–17
34 May 31 Braves 4–0 Klinger (3–1) Salvo — 14,391 16–17
June: 16–11 (Home: 12–4; Away: 4–7)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
35 June 1 Braves 5–4 (14) Lanning (3–1) Javery — 1,077 17–17
36 June 2 Braves 3–2 Rescigno (3–3) Andrews — 10,162 18–17
37 June 3 Giants 9–6 Sewell (6–1) Trinkle Lanning (1) 3,051 19–17
38 June 4 Giants 9–8 Butcher (1–1) Mungo Gornicki (1) 14,120 20–17
39 June 5 Giants 1–5 Hubbell Rescigno (3–4) — 3,186 20–18
40 June 6 Giants 18–1 Klinger (4–1) Melton — — 21–18
41 June 6 Giants 7–0 Hallett (1–1) Wittig — 21,358 22–18
42 June 7 Dodgers 1–4 Fitzsimmons Hebert (3–3) — 19,162 22–19
43 June 9 @ Cardinals 3–4 Cooper Sewell (6–2) — 2,365 22–20
44 June 10 @ Cardinals 0–5 Lanier Gornicki (1–4) — 13,356 22–21
45 June 12 @ Cardinals 0–1 Pollet Hallett (1–2) — 3,022 22–22
46 June 13 @ Cardinals 10–3 Hebert (4–3) Brecheen — 16,255 23–22
47 June 13 @ Cardinals 4–4 (12) — 16,255 23–22
48 June 15 Cubs 4–2 Sewell (7–2) Prim — 1,707 24–22
49 June 16 Cubs 5–2 Gornicki (2–4) Bithorn — 12,389 25–22
50 June 17 Cubs 2–3 (7) Derringer Hebert (4–4) — 2,071 25–23
51 June 18 Reds 0–1 (14) Starr Butcher (1–2) — 2,274 25–24
52 June 19 Reds 4–3 (11) Lanning (4–1) Shoun — 4,235 26–24
53 June 20 Reds 5–4 Sewell (8–2) Vander Meer — — 27–24
54 June 20 Reds 4–2 Rescigno (4–4) Beggs Lanning (2) 27,392 28–24
55 June 22 @ Cubs 0–1 Derringer Podgajny (0–1) — 3,783 28–25
56 June 23 @ Cubs 1–4 Passeau Hebert (4–5) — — 28–26
57 June 23 @ Cubs 7–5 Gornicki (3–4) Fleming — 8,893 29–26
58 June 24 @ Cubs 2–1 Sewell (9–2) Lee — 3,217 30–26
59 June 26 @ Reds 9–0 Butcher (2–2) Vander Meer — 2,104 31–26
60 June 27 @ Reds 3–6 Riddle Podgajny (0–2) — 12,015 31–27
61 June 27 @ Reds 1–5 Starr Gornicki (3–5) Beggs 12,015 31–28
62 June 28 Reds 7–1 Sewell (10–2) Walters — 12,979 32–28
63 June 30 @ Phillies 3–3 (11) — 10,655 32–28
July: 18–14 (Home: 12–7; Away: 6–7)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
64 July 1 @ Phillies 1–6 Rowe Podgajny (0–3) — — 32–29
65 July 1 @ Phillies 2–1 Klinger (5–1) Gerheauser — 6,884 33–29
66 July 2 @ Phillies 2–1 Sewell (11–2) Kraus — 3,669 34–29
67 July 3 @ Braves 10–1 Rescigno (5–4) Javery — 2,559 35–29
68 July 4 @ Braves 1–3 Barrett Hebert (4–6) — — 35–30
69 July 4 @ Braves 0–13 Tobin Gornicki (3–6) — 13,275 35–31
70 July 5 @ Giants 8–4 Butcher (3–2) Melton — — 36–31
71 July 5 @ Giants 0–9 Chase Klinger (5–2) — 8,688 36–32
72 July 8 @ Dodgers 8–2 Sewell (12–2) Fitzsimmons — 7,075 37–32
73 July 9 @ Dodgers 7–8 (10) Higbe Klinger (5–3) — 9,563 37–33
74 July 10 @ Dodgers 6–23 Davis Podgajny (0–4) — 14,631 37–34
75 July 11 @ Dodgers 3–2 Butcher (4–2) Higbe — — 38–34
76 July 11 @ Dodgers 4–5 Allen Rescigno (5–5) Head 28,696 38–35
77 July 15 Cardinals 4–3 Klinger (6–3) Lanier — 24,578 39–35
78 July 16 Cardinals 9–5 Sewell (13–2) Krist — 4,050 40–35
79 July 17 Cardinals 7–3 Butcher (5–2) Brecheen — — 41–35
80 July 17 Cardinals 3–2 Hebert (5–6) Munger — 11,362 42–35
81 July 18 Cardinals 4–7 Cooper Gornicki (3–7) — — 42–36
82 July 18 Cardinals 5–6 Munger Sewell (13–3) Cooper 34,349 42–37
83 July 20 Phillies 1–0 Sewell (14–3) Barrett — 11,996 43–37
84 July 21 Phillies 10–2 Klinger (7–3) Conger — 2,041 44–37
85 July 22 Phillies 0–3 Rowe Butcher (5–3) — — 44–38
86 July 22 Phillies 6–9 Kraus Gornicki (3–8) — 5,199 44–39
87 July 23 Phillies 3–2 Gee (1–0) Gerheauser — 1,895 45–39
88 July 24 Dodgers 6–1 Sewell (15–3) Melton — 5,951 46–39
89 July 25 Dodgers 7–1 Klinger (8–3) Head — — 47–39
90 July 25 Dodgers 7–1 Hebert (6–6) Higbe — 30,309 48–39
91 July 26 Dodgers 6–10 (10) Macon Butcher (5–4) — 6,125 48–40
92 July 27 Giants 8–5 Gee (2–0) Chase — 2,735 49–40
93 July 28 Giants 8–3 Sewell (16–3) Hubbell — 29,585 50–40
94 July 30 Giants 7–13 Melton Klinger (8–4) Adams 2,851 50–41
95 July 31 Braves 5–6 Javery Hebert (6–7) — 3,762 50–42
August: 17–20 (Home: 6–7; Away: 11–13)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
96 August 1 Braves 3–6 (10) Tobin Gee (2–1) — — 50–43
97 August 1 Braves 7–1 Sewell (17–3) Odom — 31,844 51–43
98 August 2 Braves 5–4 Gornicki (4–8) Barrett — 11,109 52–43
99 August 3 Braves 1–6 Andrews Rescigno (5–6) — 2,455 52–44
100 August 4 Phillies 6–2 Butcher (6–4) Gerheauser — 10,417 53–44
101 August 6 @ Cardinals 3–8 Lanier Sewell (17–4) — 23,976 53–45
102 August 7 @ Cardinals 4–1 Hebert (7–7) Munger — 3,530 54–45
103 August 8 @ Cardinals 6–8 Dickson Rescigno (5–7) Lanier — 54–46
104 August 8 @ Cardinals 2–5 Brecheen Klinger (8–5) — 15,572 54–47
105 August 11 @ Phillies 1–2 Rowe Sewell (17–5) — — 54–48
106 August 11 @ Phillies 0–2 Barrett Gornicki (4–9) — 11,129 54–49
107 August 12 @ Phillies 3–4 Conger Rescigno (5–8) Kimball 12,065 54–50
108 August 14 @ Phillies 8–2 Klinger (9–5) Kraus — — 55–50
109 August 14 @ Phillies 2–1 Butcher (7–4) Gerheauser Gornicki (2) 6,344 56–50
110 August 15 @ Braves 1–5 Tobin Hebert (7–8) — — 56–51
111 August 15 @ Braves 11–1 Sewell (18–5) Barrett — 18,400 57–51
112 August 16 @ Braves 5–1 Gee (3–1) Javery — 1,654 58–51
113 August 17 @ Braves 8–0 Gornicki (5–9) Andrews — — 59–51
114 August 17 @ Braves 4–3 (11) Gornicki (6–9) Andrews Sewell (1) 4,831 60–51
115 August 18 @ Giants 7–6 (10) Gornicki (7–9) Allen Sewell (2) — 61–51
116 August 18 @ Giants 2–3 Hubbell Butcher (7–5) — 5,805 61–52
117 August 19 @ Giants 8–1 Hebert (8–8) Fischer — 2,863 62–52
118 August 20 @ Giants 2–3 Chase Sewell (18–6) — — 62–53
119 August 20 @ Giants 4–7 Melton Klinger (9–6) — 7,050 62–54
120 August 21 @ Giants 4–3 Brandt (1–1) Feldman — 5,186 63–54
121 August 22 @ Dodgers 1–6 Head Gornicki (7–10) — — 63–55
122 August 22 @ Dodgers 6–8 Barney Gornicki (7–11) — 28,285 63–56
123 August 24 @ Dodgers 9–6 (6) Sewell (19–6) Davis Gornicki (3) 6,611 64–56
124 August 25 @ Dodgers 4–6 Wyatt Butcher (7–6) Webber 10,995 64–57
125 August 26 Cubs 2–3 Derringer Hebert (8–9) — 2,107 64–58
126 August 27 Cubs 2–3 Passeau Klinger (9–7) — 9,115 64–59
127 August 28 Cubs 5–4 Gee (4–1) Wyse — 3,154 65–59
128 August 29 Cubs 2–11 Bithorn Sewell (19–7) — — 65–60
129 August 29 Cubs 3–1 Gornicki (8–11) Hanyzewski — 19,142 66–60
130 August 30 Cardinals 4–3 (10) Brandt (2–1) Brazle — — 67–60
September: 13–10 (Home: 7–5; Away: 6–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
133 September 1 Cardinals 6–8 Dickson Gee (4–2) — 5,234 67–63
134 September 3 @ Cubs 5–1 Sewell (20–7) Hanyzewski — 5,717 68–63
135 September 4 @ Cubs 7–4 Gornicki (9–11) Derringer Rescigno (2) 3,212 69–63
136 September 5 @ Cubs 5–4 (12) Brandt (3–1) Erickson Sewell (3) — 70–63
137 September 6 @ Cardinals 2–3 Brazle Butcher (7–7) — — 70–64
138 September 6 @ Cardinals 2–6 Brecheen Hebert (8–11) — 13,429 70–65
139 September 8 @ Cardinals 1–5 Munger Sewell (20–8) — 4,049 70–66
140 September 10 @ Reds 9–6 Hebert (9–11) Beggs — — 71–66
141 September 10 @ Reds 0–1 Walters Butcher (7–8) — 9,613 71–67
142 September 11 @ Reds 11–1 Klinger (10–8) Vander Meer — 1,568 72–67
143 September 12 @ Reds 0–1 Riddle Sewell (20–9) — — 72–68
144 September 12 @ Reds 7–0 Rescigno (6–8) Starr — 10,303 73–68
145 September 17 Reds 1–0 Butcher (8–8) Walters — 6,118 74–68
146 September 19 Reds 10–3 Sewell (21–9) Riddle — — 75–68
147 September 19 Reds 2–1 Butcher (9–8) Vander Meer — 13,646 76–68
148 September 22 Braves 3–5 Andrews Gornicki (9–12) — 1,404 76–69
149 September 23 Braves 1–2 Tobin Gee (4–3) — 1,784 76–70
150 September 25 Giants 7–2 Butcher (10–8) Chase — 1,530 77–70
151 September 26 Giants 5–0 Klinger (11–8) Melton — — 78–70
152 September 26 Giants 3–4 (10) Voiselle Gornicki (9–13) — 38,617 78–71
153 September 28 Dodgers 5–2 Hebert (10–11) Melton — — 79–71
154 September 28 Dodgers 4–2 Brandt (4–1) Davis Gornicki (4) 3,410 80–71
155 September 29 Dodgers 7–14 Ostermueller Rescigno (6–9) — 1,579 80–72
October: 0–2 (Home: 0–2; Away: 0–0)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
156 October 3 Phillies 1–3 Barrett Gee (4–4) — — 80–73
157 October 3 Phillies 3–11 McKee Cuccurullo (0–1) — 5,430 80–74
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Roster

1943 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 118 372 98 .263 1 39
1B Elbie Fletcher 154 544 154 .283 9 70
2B Pete Coscarart 133 491 119 .242 0 48
SS Frankie Gustine 112 414 120 .290 0 43
3B Bob Elliott 156 581 183 .315 7 101
OF Johnny Barrett 130 290 67 .231 1 32
OF Vince DiMaggio 157 580 144 .248 15 88
OF Jim Russell 146 533 138 .259 4 44

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
Maurice Van Robays 69 236 68 .288 1 35
Tommy O'Brien 89 232 72 .310 2 26
Bill Baker 63 172 47 .273 1 26
Al Rubeling 47 168 44 .262 0 9
Huck Geary 46 166 25 .151 1 13
Johnny Wyrostek 51 79 12 .152 0 1
Frank Colman 32 59 16 .271 0 4
Tony Ordeñana 1 4 2 .500 0 3
Hank Camelli 1 3 0 .000 0 0
Jimmy Wasdell 4 2 1 .500 0 1

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
Rip Sewell 35 265.1 21 9 2.54 65
Bob Klinger 33 195.0 11 8 2.72 65
Max Butcher 33 193.2 10 8 2.60 45
Wally Hebert 34 184.0 10 11 2.98 41
Johnny Gee 15 82.0 4 4 4.28 18
Cookie Cuccurullo 1 7.0 0 1 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
Hank Gornicki 42 147.0 9 13 3.98 63
Xavier Rescigno 37 132.2 6 9 2.98 41
Jack Hallett 9 47.2 1 2 1.70 11
Johnny Podgajny 15 34.1 0 4 4.72 7
Johnny Lanning 12 27.0 4 1 2.33 11

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
Bill Brandt 29 4 1 0 3.14 17
Harry Shuman 11 0 0 0 5.32 5
Dutch Dietz 8 0 3 0 6.00 4

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AA Toronto Maple Leafs International League Burleigh Grimes
A Albany Senators Eastern League Ripper Collins
B York White Roses Interstate League Bunny Griffiths
D Hornell Maples PONY League Frank Oceak

References

  1. ^ From 1882-1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  • 1943 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
  • 1943 Pittsburgh Pirates Page at Baseball Almanac
  • Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6.