1949 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1949 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 68th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 63rd in the National League. The Pirates finished sixth in the league standings with a record of 71–83.

1949 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 Meyer
Radio	WWSW Rosey Rowswell, Bob Prince
← 1948 Seasons 1950 →

Offseason

• Prior to 1949 season: Dick Smith was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.^[2]

Regular season

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Brooklyn Dodgers	97	57	.630	—	48‍–‍29	49‍–‍28
St. Louis Cardinals	96	58	.623	1	51‍–‍26	45‍–‍32
Philadelphia Phillies	81	73	.526	16	40‍–‍37	41‍–‍36
Boston Braves	75	79	.487	22	43‍–‍34	32‍–‍45
New York Giants	73	81	.474	24	43‍–‍34	30‍–‍47
Pittsburgh Pirates	71	83	.461	26	36‍–‍41	35‍–‍42
Cincinnati Reds	62	92	.403	35	35‍–‍42	27‍–‍50
Chicago Cubs	61	93	.396	36	33‍–‍44	28‍–‍49

Record vs. opponents

1949 National League record v t e Sources:
Team	BOS	BR	CHC	CIN	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Boston	—	10–12	12–10	12–10–1	12–10–2	11–11	12–10	6–16
Brooklyn	12–10	—	17–5	17–5	14–8	11–11	16–6	10–12–1
Chicago	10–12	5–17	—	9–13	12–10	6–16	11–11	8–14
Cincinnati	10–12–1	5–17	13–9	—	7–15	13–9	9–13	5–17–1
New York	10–12–2	8–14	10–12	15–7	—	11–11	12–10	7–15
Philadelphia	11–11	11–11	16–6	9–13	11–11	—	13–9	10–12
Pittsburgh	10–12	6–16	11–11	13–9	10–12	9–13	—	12–10
St. Louis	16–6	12–10–1	14–8	17–5–1	15–7	12–10	10–12	—

Game log

1949 Game Log: 71–83 (Home: 36–41; Away: 35–42)
April: 5–6 (Home: 3–1; Away: 2–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 19 @ Cubs 1–0 Sewell (1–0) Leonard — 29,392 1–0 2 April 20 @ Cubs 0–4 Rush Dickson (0–1) — 11,218 1–1 3 April 21 @ Cubs 3–4 Kush Muncrief (0–1) — 11,599 1–2 4 April 22 Reds 5–4 Werle (1–0) Fox Casey (1) 32,167 2–2 5 April 24 Reds 2–3 (10) Gumbert Casey (0–1) — 2–3 6 April 24 Reds 3–1 Chambers (1–0) Lively — 24,444 3–3 7 April 25 Cubs 8–2 Sewell (2–0) Rush — 35,373 4–3 8 April 27 @ Cardinals 7–1 Dickson (1–1) Pollet — 11,727 5–3 9 April 28 @ Cardinals 2–4 Brazle Lombardi (0–1) — 4,561 5–4 10 April 29 @ Reds 3–7 Fox Werle (1–1) — 20,046 5–5 11 April 30 @ Reds 4–8 Wehmeier Riddle (0–1) Burkhart 4,416 5–6
May: 11–18 (Home: 5–8; Away: 6–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 12 May 1 @ Reds 10–4 Chesnes (1–0) Howell Casey (2) 6–6 13 May 1 @ Reds 2–5 Lively Chambers (1–1) — 24,872 6–7 14 May 3 @ Giants 3–5 Hartung Dickson (1–2) — 33,995 6–8 15 May 4 @ Giants 4–11 Jansen Muncrief (0–2) — 9,874 6–9 16 May 5 @ Giants 2–3 (10) Behrman Dickson (1–3) — 8,422 6–10 17 May 6 @ Phillies 3–4 Meyer Riddle (0–2) — 15,754 6–11 18 May 7 @ Phillies 6–4 Gregg (1–0) Rowe — 6,832 7–11 19 May 8 @ Braves 8–3 Chambers (2–1) Sain Muncrief (1) 8–11 20 May 8 @ Braves 11–8 Casey (1–1) Potter Riddle (1) 27,211 9–11 21 May 9 @ Braves 1–4 Bickford Dickson (1–4) — 13,706 9–12 22 May 11 @ Dodgers 5–3 Werle (2–1) Barney — 22,709 10–12 23 May 12 @ Dodgers 6–11 Branca Gregg (1–1) — 7,455 10–13 24 May 13 Cardinals 3–2 Casey (2–1) Munger — 34,893 11–13 25 May 14 Cardinals 3–4 Pollet Dickson (1–5) Wilks 18,914 11–14 26 May 15 Cardinals 3–4 Staley Werle (2–2) Wilks 26,909 11–15 27 May 17 Giants 3–2 Chesnes (2–0) Hartung — 30,450 12–15 28 May 18 Giants 5–3 Muncrief (1–2) Jansen Casey (3) 14,240 13–15 29 May 19 Braves 2–3 Bickford Riddle (0–3) — 9,586 13–16 30 May 20 Braves 2–1 Werle (3–2) Hall — 29,807 14–16 31 May 21 Braves 2–8 Spahn Dickson (1–6) Hogue 16,724 14–17 32 May 22 Phillies 5–6 Roberts Riddle (0–4) Konstanty 31,467 14–18 33 May 24 Dodgers 1–6 Branca Chesnes (2–1) — 29,625 14–19 34 May 25 Dodgers 6–8 Banta Muncrief (1–3) — 13,988 14–20 35 May 26 @ Cardinals 6–13 Wilks Higbe (0–1) — 10,402 14–21 36 May 27 @ Cardinals 1–2 Brazle Dickson (1–7) — 12,110 14–22 37 May 28 @ Cardinals 2–4 Wilks Werle (3–3) — 15,931 14–23 38 May 29 @ Cardinals 4–2 Riddle (1–4) Brecheen Muncrief (2) 16,535 15–23 39 May 30 Cubs 5–8 Rush Higbe (0–2) — 15–24 40 May 30 Cubs 8–6 Chesnes (3–1) McLish Muncrief (3) 38,089 16–24
June: 11–15 (Home: 8–7; Away: 3–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 41 June 1 @ Braves 6–8 Hall Muncrief (1–4) Potter 20,153 16–25 42 June 2 @ Braves 1–4 Spahn Bonham (0–1) — 20,130 16–26 43 June 4 @ Dodgers 6–8 Banta Muncrief (1–5) — 18,352 16–27 44 June 5 @ Dodgers 5–4 (10) Dickson (2–7) Barney — 25,035 17–27 45 June 6 @ Dodgers 1–5 Newcombe Chesnes (3–2) — 30,053 17–28 46 June 7 @ Phillies 5–6 Rowe Dickson (2–8) — 12,105 17–29 47 June 8 @ Phillies 0–2 Roberts Bonham (0–2) — 10,136 17–30 48 June 9 @ Phillies 3–4 (18) Konstanty Dickson (2–9) — 4,095 17–31 49 June 10 @ Giants 6–1 Werle (4–3) Jansen — 6,942 18–31 50 June 11 @ Giants 3–4 Behrman Riddle (1–5) — 14,065 18–32 51 June 12 @ Giants 6–5 Sewell (3–0) Hansen Casey (4) 18,149 19–32 52 June 14 Braves 4–3 Bonham (1–2) Potter — 29,639 20–32 53 June 15 Braves 8–7 Sewell (4–0) Hogue — 15,048 21–32 54 June 16 Braves 2–7 Bickford Poat (0–1) — 12,239 21–33 55 June 17 Giants 6–4 Bonham (2–2) Hartung — 32,615 22–33 56 June 18 Giants 4–5 Jones Riddle (1–6) Koslo 17,752 22–34 57 June 19 Giants 9–4 Chesnes (4–2) Jansen — 25,413 23–34 58 June 20 Phillies 1–7 Meyer Werle (4–4) — 30,066 23–35 59 June 21 Phillies 4–9 Borowy Dickson (2–10) — 32,332 23–36 60 June 22 Phillies 12–3 Lombardi (1–1) Roberts — 8,957 24–36 61 June 23 Phillies 3–9 Simmons Riddle (1–7) — 10,283 24–37 62 June 24 Dodgers 4–2 Bonham (3–2) Barney — 34,670 25–37 63 June 25 Dodgers 10–17 Branca Chesnes (4–3) — 19,800 25–38 64 June 26 Dodgers 3–15 Newcombe Werle (4–5) — 39,548 25–39 65 June 29 Reds 7–3 Lombardi (2–1) Erautt — 9,003 26–39 66 June 30 Reds 2–1 Chambers (3–1) Fox — 8,283 27–39
July: 18–10 (Home: 6–5; Away: 12–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 67 July 1 @ Cubs 5–6 Muncrief Dickson (2–11) — 10,526 27–40 68 July 2 @ Cubs 8–3 Bonham (4–2) Dubiel Sewell (1) 16,670 28–40 69 July 3 @ Cubs 7–3 Lombardi (3–1) Hacker — 18,128 29–40 70 July 4 @ Reds 2–1 Chambers (4–1) Fox — 30–40 71 July 4 @ Reds 1–0 Werle (5–5) Erautt — 15,479 31–40 72 July 6 Cardinals 4–3 Dickson (3–11) Munger — 32,983 32–40 73 July 7 Cardinals 2–0 Bonham (5–2) Staley — 15,603 33–40 74 July 8 Cubs 2–1 Lombardi (4–1) Leonard — 36,336 34–40 75 July 9 Cubs 6–5 (13) Sewell (5–0) Kush — 15,924 35–40 76 July 10 Cubs 6–8 Rush Chesnes (4–4) Dubiel 35–41 77 July 10 Cubs 6–9 (6) Chipman Werle (5–6) Dubiel 26,317 35–42 78 July 14 @ Giants 3–4 Jansen Werle (5–7) — 22,677 35–43 79 July 16 @ Giants 9–0 Chesnes (5–4) Hartung — 36–43 80 July 16 @ Giants 7–6 (11) Werle (6–7) Hansen Casey (5) 20,001 37–43 81 July 17 @ Phillies 2–1 (5) Chambers (5–1) Meyer — 12,761 38–43 82 July 18 @ Phillies 7–2 Dickson (4–11) Konstanty — 4,068 39–43 83 July 19 @ Dodgers 3–4 Palica Sewell (5–1) — 16,387 39–44 84 July 20 @ Dodgers 8–6 Chambers (6–1) Palica — 12,381 40–44 85 July 21 @ Dodgers 6–7 Palica Werle (6–8) — 11,947 40–45 86 July 22 @ Braves 3–5 Bickford Dickson (4–12) Hogue 16,958 40–46 87 July 23 @ Braves 12–9 Casey (3–1) Potter Chesnes (1) 8,213 41–46 88 July 24 @ Braves 4–3 Werle (7–8) Sain — 42–46 89 July 24 @ Braves 7–6 Casey (4–1) Voiselle — 21,986 43–46 90 July 26 Giants 4–1 Bonham (6–2) Hansen — 35,041 44–46 91 July 27 Giants 3–8 Higbe Chesnes (5–5) — 19,768 44–47 92 July 28 Giants 6–8 Jones Gumbert (0–1) Higbe 12,653 44–48 93 July 31 Braves 1–9 Sain Chambers (6–2) — 44–49 94 July 31 Braves 6–5 Gumbert (1–1) Potter — 27,105 45–49
August: 12–19 (Home: 4–9; Away: 8–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 95 August 1 Dodgers 0–9 Branca Bonham (6–3) — 29,483 45–50 96 August 2 Dodgers 2–5 Barney Chesnes (5–6) — 27,697 45–51 97 August 3 Dodgers 5–10 Erskine Riddle (1–8) — 13,007 45–52 98 August 4 Dodgers 3–11 Newcombe Lombardi (4–2) — 14,363 45–53 99 August 5 Phillies 1–0 Werle (8–8) Rowe — 24,944 46–53 100 August 6 Phillies 3–4 Konstanty Gumbert (1–2) — 13,260 46–54 101 August 7 Phillies 3–7 Borowy Chambers (6–3) — 46–55 102 August 7 Phillies 4–5 Konstanty Chesnes (5–7) Roberts 27,928 46–56 103 August 9 @ Cubs 8–3 Chambers (7–3) Schmitz Gumbert (1) 11,313 47–56 104 August 10 @ Cubs 0–2 Lade Walsh (0–1) — 10,326 47–57 105 August 11 @ Cubs 3–2 Werle (9–8) Dubiel Gumbert (2) 5,415 48–57 106 August 12 @ Cardinals 2–8 Staley Bonham (6–4) — 22,231 48–58 107 August 13 @ Cardinals 6–3 Dickson (5–12) Munger — 25,745 49–58 108 August 14 @ Cardinals 4–0 Chambers (8–3) Pollet — 22,996 50–58 109 August 15 @ Reds 9–7 Sewell (6–1) Wehmeier Gumbert (3) 11,371 51–58 110 August 16 @ Reds 1–2 (10) Fox Chesnes (5–8) — 2,526 51–59 111 August 18 Cubs 2–0 Walsh (1–1) Lade — 6,922 52–59 112 August 19 Cardinals 8–2 Chambers (9–3) Staley — 32,476 53–59 113 August 20 Cardinals 3–4 Pollet Gumbert (1–3) — 20,659 53–60 114 August 21 Cardinals 2–4 Martin Werle (9–9) — 53–61 115 August 21 Cardinals 8–0 Dickson (6–12) Brecheen — 34,408 54–61 116 August 23 @ Braves 2–5 Sain Chesnes (5–9) — 14,405 54–62 117 August 24 @ Braves 5–6 Spahn Chambers (9–4) — 6,467 54–63 118 August 25 @ Phillies 5–1 Dickson (7–12) Meyer — 4,548 55–63 119 August 25 @ Phillies 2–4 Roberts Walsh (1–2) — 7,179 55–64 120 August 26 @ Phillies 3–2 Werle (10–9) Heintzelman — 9,586 56–64 121 August 27 @ Phillies 8–2 Bonham (7–4) Rowe — 6,070 57–64 122 August 28 @ Dodgers 0–9 Newcombe Chesnes (5–10) — 23,663 57–65 123 August 29 @ Dodgers 1–5 Banta Chambers (9–5) — 24,031 57–66 124 August 30 @ Dodgers 3–4 Barney Dickson (7–13) — 13,708 57–67 125 August 31 @ Giants 5–12 Jones Werle (10–10) — 4,701 57–68
September: 13–14 (Home: 9–10; Away: 4–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 126 September 1 @ Giants 5–9 Hansen Lombardi (4–3) Higbe 3,973 57–69 127 September 3 @ Cubs 7–11 Adkins Chambers (9–6) Chipman 13,289 57–70 128 September 4 @ Cubs 7–11 (7) Muncrief Chesnes (5–11) Rush 18,082 57–71 129 September 5 @ Cardinals 1–9 Munger Dickson (7–14) — 57–72 130 September 5 @ Cardinals 5–4 (10) Lombardi (5–3) Munger — 32,214 58–72 131 September 6 Reds 3–6 (10) Blackwell Walsh (1–3) — 11,797 58–73 132 September 7 Reds 2–5 Raffensberger Chambers (9–7) — 12,367 58–74 133 September 8 Reds 7–9 Wehmeier Lombardi (5–4) — 4,170 58–75 134 September 9 Cubs 1–8 Dubiel Chesnes (5–12) — 7,905 58–76 135 September 10 Cubs 5–9 Leonard Werle (10–11) Rush 5,369 58–77 136 September 11 Cubs 7–3 Dickson (8–14) Adkins — 9,851 59–77 137 September 13 Phillies 11–6 Chambers (10–7) Borowy — 11,878 60–77 138 September 14 Phillies 4–12 Roberts Walsh (1–4) — 3,920 60–78 139 September 16 Dodgers 9–2 Werle (11–11) Newcombe — 28,202 61–78 140 September 17 Dodgers 7–2 Dickson (9–14) Palica — 14,842 62–78 141 September 18 Giants 4–13 Jones Chesnes (5–13) — 62–79 142 September 18 Giants 7–2 (6) Chambers (11–7) Behrman — 28,291 63–79 143 September 19 Giants 4–6 (10) Jones Gumbert (1–4) — 11,542 63–80 144 September 20 Braves 2–4 Bickford Lombardi (5–5) — 11,348 63–81 145 September 21 Braves 7–9 Hall Werle (11–12) — 11,881 63–82 146 September 22 Braves 1–0 Dickson (10–14) Sain — 8,261 64–82 147 September 24 @ Reds 6–5 Chambers (12–7) Raffensberger — 2,019 65–82 148 September 25 @ Reds 7–3 Chesnes (6–13) Wehmeier — 66–82 149 September 25 @ Reds 5–3 Dickson (11–14) Fox — 9,086 67–82 150 September 27 Cardinals 6–4 Werle (12–12) Munger Lombardi (1) 27,283 68–82 151 September 29 Cardinals 7–2 Dickson (12–14) Staley — 9,573 69–82 152 September 30 Reds 3–2 Chesnes (7–13) Wehmeier — 9,416 70–82
October: 1–1 (Home: 1–1; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 153 October 2 Reds 4–2 Chambers (13–7) Fox — 71–82 154 October 2 Reds 5–6 Raffensberger Werle (12–13) — 40,025 71–83
Legend:        = Win        = Loss Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

• May 19, 1949: Ed Bahr and Grady Wilson were traded by the Pirates to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Nanny Fernandez.^[3]
• September 21, 1949: The Pirates traded a player to be named later and cash to the San Francisco Seals for Bill Werle. The Pirates completed the deal by sending Steve Nagy to the Seals on September 27.^[4]

Roster

1949 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 10 Tiny Bonham 25 Hugh Casey 23 Cliff Chambers 24 Bob Chesnes 18,22 Murry Dickson 37 Hal Gregg 37 Harry Gumbert 13 Kirby Higbe 28 Vic Lombardi 27 Bob Muncrief 27,37 Ray Poat 21 Elmer Riddle 30 Rip Sewell 29 Junior Walsh 19,29 Bill Werle		Catchers  9 Ed Fitz Gerald 17 Phil Masi  8 Clyde McCullough Infielders 10 Monty Basgall  3 Eddie Bockman 16 Pete Castiglione  2 Les Fleming 12 Johnny Hopp  7 Danny Murtaugh  5 Jack Phillips 17 Bobby Rhawn  6 Stan Rojek  5 Ed Stevens		Outfielders 17 Ted Beard 14 Wally Judnich  4 Ralph Kiner 17 Marv Rackley 14 Dino Restelli 18 Tom Saffell 11 Dixie Walker 15 Wally Westlake Other batters 19 Jack Cassini		Manager  1 Billy Meyer Coaches 31 Goldie Holt 32 Bill Posedel 34 Johnny Riddle 33 Honus Wagner

Player stats

= Indicates league leader

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	91	241	57	.237	4	21
1B	Johnny Hopp	105	371	118	.318	5	39
2B	Monty Basgall	107	308	67	.218	2	26
SS	Stan Rojek	144	557	136	.244	0	31
3B	Pete Castiglione	118	448	120	.268	6	43
OF	Dino Restelli	72	232	58	.250	12	40
OF	Ralph Kiner	152	549	170	.310	54	127
OF	Wally Westlake	147	525	148	.282	23	104

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
Danny Murtaugh	75	236	48	.203	2	24
Ed Stevens	67	221	58	.262	4	32
Eddie Bockman	79	220	49	.223	6	19
Tom Saffell	73	205	66	.322	2	25
Dixie Walker	88	181	51	.282	1	18
Ed Fitz Gerald	75	160	42	.263	2	18
Phil Masi	48	135	37	.274	2	13
Jack Phillips	18	56	13	.232	0	3
Marv Rackley	11	35	11	.314	0	2
Wally Judnich	10	35	8	.229	0	1
Les Fleming	24	31	8	.258	0	7
Ted Beard	14	24	2	.083	0	1
Bobby Rhawn	3	7	1	.143	0	0
Jack Cassini	8	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
Bill Werle	35	221.0	12	13	4.24	106
Bob Chesnes	27	145.1	7	13	5.88	49
Tiny Bonham	18	89.0	7	4	4.25	25
Elmer Riddle	16	74.1	1	8	5.33	24
Junior Walsh	9	42.2	1	4	5.06	24

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
Murry Dickson	44	224.1	12	14	3.29	89
Cliff Chambers	34	177.1	13	7	3.96	93
Vic Lombardi	34	134.0	5	5	4.57	64
Rip Sewell	28	76.0	6	1	3.97	26
Ray Poat	11	36.0	0	1	6.25	17
Bob Muncrief	13	35.2	1	5	6.31	11
Hal Gregg	8	18.2	1	1	3.38	9
Kirby Higbe	7	15.1	0	2	13.50	5

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
Hugh Casey	33	4	1	5	4.66	9
Harry Gumbert	16	1	4	3	5.86	5

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Indianapolis Indians	American Association	Al López
AA	New Orleans Pelicans	Southern Association	Hugh Luby
A	Albany Senators	Eastern League	Pinky May
B	Waco Pirates	Big State League	Buddy Hancken
B	Davenport Pirates	Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League	Bill Burwell
B	York White Roses	Interstate League	Frank Oceak
C	Modesto Reds	California League	Bill Jackson and Max Macon
C	Keokuk Pirates	Central Association	Charlie Hargreaves
C	Uniontown Coal Barons	Middle Atlantic League	Wes Griffin
D	Greenville Pirates	Alabama State League	Walt Tauscher
D	Tallahassee Pirates	Georgia–Florida League	Norman Veazey, Bob Shawkey, Johnnie Heving and Gene Cabaniss
D	Bartlesville Pirates	Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League	Tedd Gullic
D	Salisbury Pirates	North Carolina State League	John Corriden and Mickey O'Neil

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Indianapolis, Waco