1901 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1901 Pittsburgh^[a] Pirates finished in first place in the National League, 7½ games ahead of the second-place Philadelphia Phillies.^[1] It was the first year that the American League operated as a major league, but there would be no World Series between the leagues until 1903.

1901 Pittsburgh Pirates
National League champions
League	National League
Ballpark	Exposition Park
City	Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Owners	Barney Dreyfuss
Managers	Fred Clarke
← 1900 Seasons 1902 →

The team was managed by Fred Clarke, who was also their starting left fielder. Clarke, in his fifth year as a manager at age 28, won his first pennant. The Pirates won the National League championship in the next two years as well.

Regular season

The Pirates were led offensively by Honus Wagner, who led the league in RBI and stolen bases. Although the "Flying Dutchman" had never played shortstop in the majors until 1901, he appeared 61 times at shortstop that year in addition to spending time at third base and the outfield.

In a league that batted .267 as a whole, the Pirates outfield was notable for its hitting. Ginger Beaumont hit .332, player-manager Fred Clarke hit .324, and Lefty Davis hit .313.

The pitching staff of the Pirates allowed the fewest runs in the league and was among the greatest ever. The four top starting pitchers – Deacon Phillippe, Jack Chesbro, Jesse Tannehill, and Sam Leever – were the four top pitchers in the National League in terms of winning percentage. All of them were in the top ten in the league in ERA. Future Hall of Famer Rube Waddell had pitched well in 1900 for the Pirates, but was sold in May 1901 to the Chicago Orphans. With a record of 90-49, the Pirates had the best record in the league.

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Pittsburgh Pirates	90	49	.647	—	45‍–‍24	45‍–‍25
Philadelphia Phillies	83	57	.593	7½	46‍–‍23	37‍–‍34
Brooklyn Superbas	79	57	.581	9½	43‍–‍25	36‍–‍32
St. Louis Cardinals	76	64	.543	14½	40‍–‍31	36‍–‍33
Boston Beaneaters	69	69	.500	20½	41‍–‍29	28‍–‍40
Chicago Orphans	53	86	.381	37	30‍–‍39	23‍–‍47
New York Giants	52	85	.380	37	30‍–‍38	22‍–‍47
Cincinnati Reds	52	87	.374	38	27‍–‍43	25‍–‍44

Record vs. opponents

1901 National League record v t e Sources:
Team	BOS	BR	CHI	CIN	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Boston	—	10–10	13–6	11–8–1	14–6–1	7–13	5–15	9–11
Brooklyn	10–10	—	13–7	14–6–1	11–6	11–9	11–8	9–11
Chicago	6–13	7–13	—	10–10	11–9–1	3–17	6–14	10–10
Cincinnati	8–11–1	6–14–1	10–10	—	8–12	4–16	7–13	9–11–1
New York	6–14–1	6–11	9–11–1	12–8	—	8–12	4–16–1	7–13–1
Philadelphia	13–7	9–11	17–3	16–4	12–8	—	7–13	9–11
Pittsburgh	15–5	8–11	14–6	13–7	16–4–1	13–7	—	11–9
St. Louis	11–9	11–9	10–10	11–9–1	13–7–1	11–9	9–11	—

Game log

1901 Game Log: 90–49 (Home: 45–24; Away: 45–25)
April: 3–3 (Home: 1–2; Away: 2–1) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 20 @ Reds 4–2 — — 1–0 2 April 23 @ Cardinals 4–10 — — 1–1 3 April 24 @ Cardinals 5–4 — — 2–1 4 April 27 Cardinals 2–7 — — 2–2 5 April 29 Cardinals 14–12 — — 3–2 6 April 30 Cardinals 2–4 — — 3–3
May: 13–11 (Home: 3–3; Away: 10–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 7 May 1 Orphans 3–8 — — 3–4 8 May 2 Orphans 3–2 — — 4–4 9 May 3 Orphans 10–6 — — 5–4 10 May 4 Orphans 2–4 — — 5–5 11 May 5 @ Orphans 4–2 — — 6–5 12 May 7 @ Orphans 8–0 — — 7–5 13 May 8 @ Orphans 8–7 — — 8–5 14 May 9 @ Orphans 8–1 — — 9–5 15 May 10 Reds 3–0 — — 10–5 16 May 12 @ Reds 1–6 — — 10–6 17 May 13 Reds 2–3 — — 10–7 18 May 14 @ Phillies 3–2 — — 11–7 19 May 15 @ Phillies 5–6 — — 11–8 20 May 16 @ Phillies 2–12 — — 11–9 21 May 17 @ Phillies 6–4 — — 12–9 22 May 21 @ Giants 1–2 — — 12–10 23 May 22 @ Giants 1–2 — — 12–11 24 May 23 @ Beaneaters 3–7 — — 12–12 25 May 24 @ Beaneaters 6–4 — — 13–12 26 May 25 @ Beaneaters 11–1 — — 14–12 27 May 28 @ Superbas 7–8 — — 14–13 28 May 30 @ Superbas 4–3 — 2,300 15–13 29 May 30 @ Superbas 2–8 — 11,000 15–14 30 May 31 @ Superbas 5–2 — — 16–14
June: 17–9 (Home: 10–4; Away: 7–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 31 June 1 Reds 3–4 — — 16–15 32 June 2 @ Orphans 6–1 — — 17–15 33 June 3 Phillies 11–1 — — 18–15 34 June 4 Phillies 4–3 — — 19–15 35 June 5 Phillies 5–2 — — 20–15 36 June 6 Superbas 1–4 — — 20–16 37 June 7 Superbas 5–4 — — 21–16 38 June 8 Superbas 3–7 — — 21–17 39 June 10 Giants 3–1 — — 22–17 40 June 11 Giants 4–0 — — 23–17 41 June 12 Giants 5–2 — — 24–17 42 June 13 Beaneaters 6–2 — — 25–17 43 June 14 Beaneaters 1–7 — — 25–18 44 June 15 Beaneaters 1–0 — — 26–18 45 June 16 @ Reds 2–0 — — 27–18 46 June 18 Cardinals 9–2 — — 28–18 47 June 19 @ Giants 5–5 — — 28–18 48 June 20 @ Giants 7–0 — — 29–18 49 June 21 @ Giants 2–3 — — 29–19 50 June 22 @ Beaneaters 2–4 — — 29–20 51 June 22 @ Beaneaters 6–2 — — 30–20 52 June 24 @ Beaneaters 8–2 — — 31–20 53 June 25 @ Beaneaters 4–9 — — 31–21 54 June 26 @ Superbas 3–16 — — 31–22 55 June 27 @ Superbas 7–8 — — 31–23 56 June 28 @ Superbas 5–3 — — 32–23 57 June 29 @ Phillies 5–4 — — 33–23
July: 16–9 (Home: 12–6; Away: 4–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 58 July 1 @ Phillies 0–1 — — 33–24 59 July 2 @ Phillies 5–3 — — 34–24 60 July 4 Giants 3–5 — — 34–25 61 July 4 Giants 12–0 — — 35–25 62 July 5 Giants 7–2 — — 36–25 63 July 6 Giants 6–2 — — 37–25 64 July 8 Beaneaters 5–0 — — 38–25 65 July 9 Beaneaters 9–4 — — 39–25 66 July 10 Beaneaters 1–0 — — 40–25 67 July 11 Beaneaters 5–0 — — 41–25 68 July 12 Phillies 2–4 — — 41–26 69 July 13 Phillies 5–3 — — 42–26 70 July 14 @ Orphans 3–1 — — 43–26 71 July 16 Phillies 3–6 — — 43–27 72 July 17 Superbas 3–7 — — 43–28 73 July 18 Superbas 3–4 — — 43–29 74 July 19 Superbas 4–5 — — 43–30 75 July 20 Superbas 15–2 — — 44–30 76 July 23 Reds 9–2 — — 45–30 77 July 24 Reds 11–2 — — 46–30 78 July 25 Reds 9–5 — — 47–30 79 July 26 @ Cardinals 7–12 — — 47–31 80 July 27 @ Cardinals 7–4 — — 48–31 81 July 28 @ Cardinals 3–5 — — 48–32 82 July 29 @ Cardinals 8–0 — — 49–32
August: 13–9 (Home: 7–7; Away: 6–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 83 August 3 Reds 4–7 — — 49–33 84 August 4 @ Reds 6–3 — — 50–33 85 August 5 Cardinals 6–20 — — 50–34 86 August 6 Cardinals 8–1 — — 51–34 87 August 7 Cardinals 9–3 — — 52–34 88 August 8 Orphans 7–6 — — 53–34 89 August 9 Orphans 1–4 — — 53–35 90 August 11 @ Orphans 5–1 — — 54–35 91 August 17 Reds 5–0 — — 55–35 92 August 18 @ Reds 4–5 — — 55–36 93 August 19 @ Cardinals 9–5 — — 56–36 94 August 20 @ Cardinals 14–2 — — 57–36 95 August 21 @ Cardinals 3–4 — — 57–37 96 August 22 @ Cardinals 4–3 — — 58–37 97 August 25 @ Reds 6–3 — — 59–37 98 August 26 Cardinals 2–5 — — 59–38 99 August 27 Cardinals 7–1 — — 60–38 100 August 28 Cardinals 7–9 — — 60–39 101 August 29 Orphans 1–4 — — 60–40 102 August 29 Orphans 2–1 — — 61–40 103 August 31 Orphans 1–5 — — 61–41 104 August 31 Orphans 5–2 — — 62–41
September: 25–7 (Home: 10–2; Away: 15–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 105 September 2 @ Beaneaters 5–3 — — 63–41 106 September 2 @ Beaneaters 3–0 — — 64–41 107 September 3 @ Beaneaters 5–2 — — 65–41 108 September 4 @ Giants 12–6 — — 66–41 109 September 4 @ Giants 10–3 — — 67–41 110 September 5 @ Giants 15–1 — — 68–41 111 September 5 @ Giants 15–7 — — 69–41 112 September 6 @ Giants 15–2 — — 70–41 113 September 6 @ Giants 13–4 — — 71–41 114 September 7 @ Phillies 1–4 — — 71–42 115 September 9 @ Phillies 11–5 — — 72–42 116 September 10 @ Phillies 8–5 — — 73–42 117 September 11 @ Superbas 5–4 — — 74–42 118 September 13 @ Superbas 3–5 — — 74–43 119 September 13 @ Superbas 2–4 — — 74–44 120 September 14 Reds 5–3 — — 75–44 121 September 14 Reds 8–4 — — 76–44 122 September 15 @ Reds 3–0 — — 77–44 123 September 17 @ Reds 7–2 — — 78–44 124 September 18 Phillies 5–1 — — 79–44 125 September 20 Phillies 10–1 — — 80–44 126 September 20 Phillies 7–2 — — 81–44 127 September 21 Phillies 2–4 — — 81–45 128 September 22 @ Orphans 15–9 — — 82–45 129 September 23 Giants 5–4 — — 83–45 130 September 24 Giants 14–9 — — 84–45 131 September 25 Giants 10–5 — — 85–45 132 September 26 Superbas 4–3 — — 86–45 133 September 27 Superbas 5–4 — — 87–45 134 September 29 @ Reds 1–2 — — 87–46 135 September 29 @ Reds 1–2 — — 87–47 136 September 30 Beaneaters 1–5 — — 87–48
October: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Away: 1–1) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 137 October 1 Beaneaters 9–0 — — 88–48 138 October 2 Beaneaters 8–4 — — 89–48 139 October 5 @ Orphans 1–2 — — 89–49 140 October 6 @ Orphans 9–5 — — 90–49
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pittsburgh Pirates team member

Detailed records

National League Opponent W L WP RS RA Boston Beaneaters 15 5 0.750 99 56 Brooklyn Superbas 8 11 0.421 86 101 Chicago Orphans 14 6 0.700 102 71 Cincinnati Reds 13 7 0.650 94 55 New York Giants 16 4 0.800 165 65 Philadelphia Phillies 13 7 0.650 100 73 Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals 11 9 0.550 130 113 Total 90 49 0.647 776 534 Season Total 90 49 0.647 776 534

Month Games Won Lost Win % RS RA April 6 3 3 0.500 31 39 May 24 13 11 0.542 108 100 June 26 17 9 0.654 123 96 July 25 16 9 0.640 145 79 August 22 13 9 0.591 116 94 September 32 25 7 0.781 226 115 October 4 3 1 0.750 27 11 Total 139 90 49 0.647 776 534 Games Won Lost Win % RS RA Home 69 45 24 0.652 372 255 Away 70 45 25 0.643 399 274 Total 139 90 49 0.647 776 534

Opening Day lineup

• Chief Zimmer – C
• Kitty Bransfield – 1B
• Claude Ritchey – 2B
• Tommy Leach – 3B
• Bones Ely – SS
• Fred Clarke – LF
• Ginger Beaumont – CF
• Lefty Davis – RF

Roster

1901 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Jack Chesbro Ed Doheny Sam Leever George Merritt Deacon Phillippe Ed Poole Jesse Tannehill Rube Waddell Snake Wiltse		Catchers Jiggs Donahue Jack O'Connor George Yeager Chief Zimmer Infielders Kitty Bransfield Jimmy Burke Lew Carr Truck Eagan Bones Ely Tommy Leach Claude Ritchey Jud Smith Terry Turner Honus Wagner		Outfielders Ginger Beaumont Fred Clarke Lefty Davis Mike Smith		Manager Fred Clarke

Awards and honors

Ginger Beaumont

• #3 in NL in runs scored (120)

Deacon Phillippe

• #2 in NL in ERA (2.22)
• #3 in NL in wins (22)

Jesse Tannehill

• NL leader in ERA (2.18)

Honus Wagner

• NL leader in RBI (126)
• NL leader in stolen bases (49)
• #4 in NL in batting average (.353)
• #4 in NL in on-base percentage (.417)

Statistics

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	Chief Zimmer	69	236	52	.220	0	21
1B	Kitty Bransfield	139	566	167	.295	0	91
2B	Claude Ritchey	140	540	160	.296	1	74
SS	Honus Wagner	140	549	194	.353	6	126
3B	Tommy Leach	98	374	114	.305	2	44
OF	Fred Clarke	129	527	171	.324	6	60
OF	Lefty Davis	87	335	105	.313	2	33
OF	Ginger Beaumont	133	558	185	.332	8	72

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
Bones Ely	65	240	50	.208	0	28
Jack O'Connor	61	202	39	.193	0	22
George Yeager	26	91	24	.264	0	10
Ed Poole	26	78	16	.205	1	4
Jimmy Burke	14	51	10	.196	0	4
Lew Carr	9	28	7	.250	0	4
Jud Smith	6	21	3	.143	0	0
Truck Eagan	4	12	1	.083	0	2
Terry Turner	7	7	3	.429	0	1
Mike Smith	4	4	0	.000	0	0
Jiggs Donahue	2	0	0	----	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
Deacon Phillippe	37	296.0	22	12	2.22	103
Jack Chesbro	36	287.2	21	10	2.38	129
Jesse Tannehill	35	252.1	18	10	2.18	118
Sam Leever	21	176.0	14	5	2.86	82
Ed Poole	12	80.0	5	4	3.60	26
Ed Doheny	11	76.2	6	2	2.00	28
George Merritt	3	24.0	3	0	4.88	5
Rube Waddell	2	7.2	0	2	9.39	4

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
Snake Wiltse	7	44.1	1	4	4.26	10

Transactions

• June 27, 1901: Snake Wiltse was released by the Pirates.^[2]

Notes

1. In the early 20th century and earlier, the name of Pittsburgh was spelled both with and without the 'h'.