1959 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1959 Major League Baseball season saw the Pittsburgh Pirates finish in fourth place in the National League at 78–76, nine games behind the NL and World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Pirates set the record for most extra innings victories in a season, winning 19 of their 21 extra inning games.^[2][3]

1959 Pittsburgh Pirates
League	National League
Ballpark	Forbes Field
City	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
Owners	John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson (minority shareholders)
General managers	Joe L. Brown
Managers	Danny Murtaugh
Television	KDKA-TV Bob Prince, Jim Woods
Radio	KDKA Bob Prince, Paul Long, Jim Woods
← 1958 Seasons 1960 →

Offseason

• January 30, 1959: Whammy Douglas, Jim Pendleton, Frank Thomas, and John Powers were traded by the Pirates to the Cincinnati Reds for Smoky Burgess, Harvey Haddix and Don Hoak.^[4]
• Prior to 1959 season: Dick Rand was traded by the Pirates to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tom Burgess.^[5]

Regular season

• May 26, 1959: Harvey Haddix took a perfect game into the 13th inning of a game against the Milwaukee Braves. Haddix retired 36 consecutive batters in 12 innings, but lost the game 1–0.^[6] Braves pitcher Lew Burdette also pitched a shutout for 13 full innings, giving up 12 hits. NOTE: On September 4, 1991, MLB redefined no-hitters to no longer include games in which the first hit was surrendered in extra innings. Until then, Haddix had been credited with a perfect game.

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Los Angeles Dodgers	88	68	.564	—	46‍–‍32	42‍–‍36
Milwaukee Braves	86	70	.551	2	49‍–‍29	37‍–‍41
San Francisco Giants	83	71	.539	4	42‍–‍35	41‍–‍36
Pittsburgh Pirates	78	76	.506	9	47‍–‍30	31‍–‍46
Chicago Cubs	74	80	.481	13	38‍–‍39	36‍–‍41
Cincinnati Reds	74	80	.481	13	43‍–‍34	31‍–‍46
St. Louis Cardinals	71	83	.461	16	42‍–‍35	29‍–‍48
Philadelphia Phillies	64	90	.416	23	37‍–‍40	27‍–‍50

Record vs. opponents

1959 National League record v t e Sources:
Team	CHC	CIN	LAD	MIL	PHI	PIT	SF	STL
Chicago	—	9–13	11–11	10–12	10–12–1	12–10	12–10	10–12
Cincinnati	13–9	—	13–9	11–11	9–13	9–13	8–14	11–11
Los Angeles	11–11	9–13	—	14–10	17–5	11–11	14–8	12–10
Milwaukee	12–10	11–11	10–14	—	13–9	15–7–1	12–10	13–9
Philadelphia	12–10–1	13–9	5–17	9–13	—	9–13	9–13	7–15
Pittsburgh	10–12	13–9	11–11	7–15–1	13–9	—	10–12	14–8
San Francisco	10–12	14–8	8–14	10–12	13–9	12–10	—	16–6
St. Louis	12–10	11–11	10–12	9–13	15–7	8–14	6–16	—

Game log

1959 Game Log: 78–76 (Home: 47–30; Away: 31–46)
April: 6–8 (Home: 2–4; Away: 4–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 9 @ Reds 1–4 Purkey Kline (0–1) — 32,190 0–1 2 April 10 Braves 0–8 Spahn Friend (0–1) — 33,317 0–2 3 April 11 Braves 3–4 Burdette Law (0–1) — 11,800 0–3 4 April 14 @ Reds 2–3 Purkey Witt (0–1) — 7,631 0–4 5 April 15 @ Reds 5–10 Nuxhall Friend (0–2) Mabe 3,228 0–5 6 April 17 @ Braves 2–2 — 8,562 0–5 7 April 18 @ Braves 11–5 Law (1–1) Buhl — 15,703 1–5 8 April 22 Reds 9–8 Face (1–0) Pena — 16,038 2–5 9 April 23 Reds 2–5 Lawrence Witt (0–2) — 18,819 2–6 10 April 24 @ Phillies 8–5 Face (2–0) Schroll — 15,675 3–6 11 April 25 @ Phillies 4–2 Haddix (1–0) Morehead — 6,678 4–6 12 April 26 @ Phillies 9–2 Law (2–1) Cardwell — 5–6 13 April 26 @ Phillies 5–10 Meyer Friend (0–3) — 19,266 5–7 14 April 27 Dodgers 3–9 Drysdale Witt (0–3) — 10,689 5–8 15 April 29 Giants 3–2 Kline (1–1) Antonelli — 19,799 6–8
May: 19–14 (Home: 10–6; Away: 9–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 16 May 1 Cardinals 6–7 Mizell Friend (0–4) Brosnan 18,950 6–9 17 May 2 Cardinals 2–1 Haddix (2–0) McDaniel — 10,758 7–9 18 May 3 Cardinals 4–3 (10) Face (3–0) Brosnan — 8–9 19 May 3 Cardinals 1–3 Blaylock Daniels (0–1) McDaniel 26,080 8–10 20 May 4 Cubs 2–1 Kline (2–1) Anderson Face (1) 14,421 9–10 21 May 5 Cubs 3–6 Hobbie Friend (0–5) — 17,429 9–11 22 May 6 Cubs 0–3 Hillman Haddix (2–1) — 5,860 9–12 23 May 7 Phillies 5–4 (10) Face (4–0) Owens — 10,358 10–12 24 May 8 Phillies 1–8 Conley Witt (0–4) Farrell 17,691 10–13 25 May 9 Phillies 9–1 Kline (3–1) Gomez — 9,633 11–13 26 May 10 Phillies 3–6 Roberts Friend (0–6) Farrell 11–14 27 May 10 Phillies 7–6 Haddix (3–1) Hearn Face (2) 23,549 12–14 28 May 11 @ Giants 4–14 Sanford Daniels (0–2) — 13,789 12–15 29 May 12 @ Giants 6–5 (12) Daniels (1–2) Jones — 8,084 13–15 30 May 13 @ Dodgers 6–4 Face (5–0) Drysdale — 16,718 14–15 31 May 14 @ Dodgers 7–6 Face (6–0) Labine — 15,416 15–15 32 May 16 @ Cubs 2–3 Elston Haddix (3–2) — 10,496 15–16 33 May 17 @ Cubs 5–4 Law (3–1) Anderson Face (3) 16–16 34 May 17 @ Cubs 6–7 Hobbie Daniels (1–3) Henry 32,017 16–17 35 May 19 @ Cardinals 2–8 Jackson Kline (3–2) — 8,470 16–18 36 May 20 @ Cardinals 1–11 Mizell Friend (0–7) — 8,555 16–19 37 May 21 @ Cardinals 7–2 Haddix (4–2) McDaniel — 8,141 17–19 38 May 22 Reds 4–3 Law (4–1) Jeffcoat — 27,675 18–19 39 May 23 Reds 6–5 Daniels (2–3) Pena Blackburn (1) 13,119 19–19 40 May 24 Reds 2–1 Kline (4–2) Lawrence — 20–19 41 May 24 Reds 5–4 (10) Blackburn (1–0) Purkey — 32,273 21–19 42 May 26 @ Braves 0–1 (13) Burdette Haddix (4–3) — 19,194 21–20 43 May 27 @ Braves 3–4 Spahn Law (4–2) McMahon 17,721 21–21 44 May 28 @ Braves 3–0 Friend (1–7) Jay — 12,635 22–21 45 May 29 @ Reds 5–8 Mabe Kline (4–3) Acker 18,958 22–22 46 May 30 @ Reds 3–1 Daniels (3–3) O'Toole Face (4) 8,613 23–22 47 May 31 @ Reds 6–2 Law (5–2) Purkey — 24–22 48 May 31 @ Reds 14–11 Face (7–0) Mabe — 17,847 25–22
June: 15–15 (Home: 8–7; Away: 7–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 49 June 2 Cardinals 3–0 Haddix (5–3) Jackson — 28,644 26–22 50 June 3 Cardinals 5–3 Friend (2–7) Mizell Face (5) 16,857 27–22 51 June 4 Cardinals 9–3 Kline (5–3) Broglio — 7,555 28–22 52 June 5 Cubs 5–10 Hobbie Law (5–3) Elston 27,335 28–23 53 June 6 Cubs 2–8 Drabowsky Daniels (3–4) — 12,953 28–24 54 June 7 Cubs 2–4 Buzhardt Haddix (5–4) Henry 28–25 55 June 7 Cubs 0–1 Singleton Friend (2–8) Elston 32,078 28–26 56 June 8 Giants 12–9 (11) Face (8–0) McCormick — 19,080 29–26 57 June 9 Giants 2–6 Antonelli Law (5–4) — 24,272 29–27 58 June 10 Giants 7–11 Jones Witt (0–5) Miller 24,317 29–28 59 June 11 Giants 12–9 Face (9–0) Miller Law (1) 9,444 30–28 60 June 12 Dodgers 6–9 McDevitt Daniels (3–5) Erskine 27,970 30–29 61 June 13 Dodgers 5–3 Kline (6–3) Fowler — 11,944 31–29 62 June 14 Dodgers 6–3 Face (10–0) Labine — 32–29 63 June 14 Dodgers 5–2 Law (6–4) Erskine — 30,082 33–29 64 June 16 @ Cubs 5–2 Friend (3–8) Hillman Face (6) 10,391 34–29 65 June 17 @ Cubs 2–5 Henry Haddix (5–5) — 10,230 34–30 66 June 18 @ Cubs 4–2 (13) Face (11–0) Henry — 7,562 35–30 67 June 19 @ Cardinals 6–0 Law (7–4) Ricketts — 17,461 36–30 68 June 20 @ Cardinals 2–5 Mizell Friend (3–9) McDaniel 10,698 36–31 69 June 21 @ Cardinals 1–5 Jackson Haddix (5–6) McDaniel 36–32 70 June 21 @ Cardinals 10–8 Daniels (4–5) Blaylock Face (7) 23,731 37–32 71 June 22 @ Giants 1–4 Fisher Kline (6–4) Worthington 11,002 37–33 72 June 23 @ Giants 5–1 Law (8–4) Jones — 22,706 38–33 73 June 24 @ Giants 3–4 McCormick Daniels (4–6) — 12,643 38–34 74 June 25 @ Giants 3–1 (12) Face (12–0) Fisher — 11,487 39–34 75 June 26 @ Dodgers 5–6 Podres Kline (6–5) McDevitt 22,719 39–35 76 June 27 @ Dodgers 0–3 Koufax Law (8–5) — 31,649 39–36 77 June 28 @ Dodgers 4–9 McDevitt Friend (3–10) Drysdale 27,785 39–37 78 June 30 @ Phillies 4–3 Haddix (6–6) Roberts Face (8) 11,149 40–37
July: 10–17 (Home: 9–8; Away: 1–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 79 July 1 @ Phillies 0–1 Conley Kline (6–6) — 7,897 40–38 80 July 2 Braves 4–3 (10) Law (9–5) McMahon — 28,282 41–38 81 July 3 Braves 0–6 Pizarro Witt (0–6) — 34,093 41–39 82 July 4 Reds 4–3 Friend (4–10) Nuxhall — 16,548 42–39 83 July 5 Reds 7–5 Haddix (7–6) Lawrence Face (9) 43–39 84 July 5 Reds 3–2 (11) Kline (7–6) Pena — 22,622 44–39 85 July 9 Cubs 4–3 (10) Face (13–0) Henry — 22,080 45–39 86 July 10 Cubs 7–6 (11) Daniels (5–6) Elston — 25,360 46–39 87 July 11 Cubs 1–5 Hillman Kline (7–7) — 15,110 46–40 88 July 12 Cardinals 6–5 (10) Face (14–0) McDaniel — 47–40 89 July 12 Cardinals 6–8 (10) McDaniel Porterfield (0–1) — 25,530 47–41 90 July 14 Dodgers 9–1 Law (10–5) Podres — 30,199 48–41 91 July 15 Dodgers 0–3 Drysdale Friend (4–11) — 28,268 48–42 92 July 17 Giants 1–4 Jones Kline (7–8) — 33,220 48–43 93 July 18 Giants 3–4 Fisher Haddix (7–7) McCormick 20,577 48–44 94 July 19 Giants 3–2 Law (11–5) Miller — 27,992 49–44 95 July 21 Phillies 2–4 Roberts Friend (4–12) — 25,960 49–45 96 July 22 Phillies 4–11 Conley Kline (7–9) — 17,024 49–46 97 July 24 @ Braves 0–8 Pizarro Haddix (7–8) — 27,708 49–47 98 July 25 @ Braves 0–3 Burdette Law (11–6) — 25,295 49–48 99 July 26 @ Braves 0–4 Spahn Friend (4–13) — 49–49 100 July 26 @ Braves 1–2 Buhl Witt (0–7) McMahon 39,420 49–50 101 July 27 @ Braves 2–5 Jay Kline (7–10) — 15,817 49–51 102 July 28 @ Dodgers 4–9 Williams Blackburn (1–1) — 23,493 49–52 103 July 29 @ Dodgers 0–2 Craig Law (11–7) — 24,324 49–53 104 July 30 @ Dodgers 5–4 (12) Daniels (6–6) Williams Gross (1) 24,221 50–53 105 July 31 @ Giants 3–4 Sanford Haddix (7–9) — 22,371 50–54
August: 20–8 (Home: 15–3; Away: 5–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 106 August 1 @ Giants 5–9 Byerly Daniels (6–7) Miller 21,567 50–55 107 August 2 @ Giants 3–5 Antonelli Porterfield (0–2) — 22,653 50–56 108 August 4 @ Cardinals 7–3 Law (12–7) Gibson — 10,971 51–56 109 August 5 @ Cardinals 0–3 Broglio Friend (4–14) — 8,079 51–57 110 August 6 @ Cardinals 18–2 Haddix (8–9) Jackson — 8,503 52–57 111 August 7 @ Cubs 0–4 Drabowsky Kline (7–11) — 7,434 52–58 112 August 8 @ Cubs 4–3 (14) Gross (1–0) Donnelly — 5,693 53–58 113 August 9 @ Cubs 5–3 (10) Face (15–0) Elston — 19,138 54–58 114 August 11 @ Phillies 4–6 Cardwell Friend (4–15) Farrell 12,127 54–59 115 August 12 @ Phillies 6–2 Haddix (9–9) Roberts — 11,163 55–59 116 August 14 Braves 2–1 Law (13–7) Jay — 26,873 56–59 117 August 15 Braves 10–8 Kline (8–11) Burdette Green (1) 34,478 57–59 118 August 16 Braves 2–1 Friend (5–15) Pizarro Porterfield (1) 58–59 119 August 16 Braves 2–5 Spahn Daniels (6–8) — 24,518 58–60 120 August 17 Cubs 7–6 Green (1–0) Henry — 12,815 59–60 121 August 19 Cardinals 4–2 Law (14–7) Gibson — 19,075 60–60 122 August 20 Cardinals 3–1 Friend (6–15) Broglio — 8,059 61–60 123 August 21 Dodgers 5–6 Podres Kline (8–12) Koufax 24,678 61–61 124 August 22 Dodgers 2–0 Daniels (7–8) Craig Gross (2) 10,260 62–61 125 August 23 Dodgers 9–2 Haddix (10–9) Drysdale — 63–61 126 August 23 Dodgers 4–3 (10) Face (16–0) Drysdale — 25,173 64–61 127 August 24 Giants 6–0 Friend (7–15) Jones — 23,617 65–61 128 August 25 Giants 5–12 Antonelli Kline (8–13) — 29,927 65–62 129 August 26 Giants 5–4 (10) Kline (9–13) Miller — 20,244 66–62 130 August 28 Phillies 9–0 Law (15–7) Keegan — 20,926 67–62 131 August 29 Phillies 11–1 Friend (8–15) Roberts — 9,714 68–62 132 August 30 Phillies 2–1 Haddix (11–9) Robinson — 69–62 133 August 30 Phillies 7–6 (10) Face (17–0) Farrell — 20,015 70–62
September: 8–14 (Home: 3–2; Away: 5–12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 134 September 2 @ Reds 3–6 O'Toole Law (15–8) — 70–63 135 September 2 @ Reds 1–2 Newcombe Friend (8–16) — 13,014 70–64 136 September 4 @ Phillies 0–3 Owens Haddix (11–10) — 13,136 70–65 137 September 5 @ Phillies 7–6 Porterfield (1–2) Farrell Daniels (1) 5,993 71–65 138 September 6 @ Phillies 1–2 Roberts Law (15–9) — 9,684 71–66 139 September 7 @ Braves 1–5 Burdette Friend (8–17) — 71–67 140 September 7 @ Braves 1–4 Buhl Daniels (7–9) — 26,910 71–68 141 September 9 @ Giants 2–7 Sanford Haddix (11–11) Miller 22,768 71–69 142 September 10 @ Giants 5–3 Law (16–9) Antonelli — 14,130 72–69 143 September 11 @ Dodgers 4–5 Churn Face (17–1) — 72–70 144 September 11 @ Dodgers 0–4 Sherry Green (1–1) — 48,526 72–71 145 September 13 @ Dodgers 4–3 Kline (10–13) Churn — 20,176 73–71 146 September 16 @ Cubs 3–2 Law (17–9) Anderson — 74–71 147 September 16 @ Cubs 2–4 Elston Friend (8–18) — 1,366 74–72 148 September 17 @ Cardinals 7–0 Haddix (12–11) Jackson — 4,970 75–72 149 September 19 Reds 4–3 (12) Face (18–1) Lawrence — 8,406 76–72 150 September 20 Reds 10–1 Law (18–9) Brosnan — 21,068 77–72 151 September 21 Braves 6–8 Spahn Friend (8–19) McMahon 17,205 77–73 152 September 22 Braves 3–5 Pizarro Haddix (12–12) McMahon 17,658 77–74 153 September 23 Braves 5–4 Kline (11–13) Jay Face (10) 20,502 78–74 154 September 26 @ Reds 6–7 Purkey Gross (1–1) — 4,703 78–75 155 September 27 @ Reds 7–9 Nuxhall Green (1–2) Purkey 15,522 78–76
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

• May 29, 1959: Gene Baker was released by the Pirates.^[7]
• June 13, 1959: Bob Smith was selected off waivers from the Pirates by the Detroit Tigers.^[8]

Roster

1959 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 36 Ron Blackburn 39 Bennie Daniels 26 Roy Face 19 Bob Friend 34 Paul Giel 35 Fred Green 37 Don Gross 31 Harvey Haddix 38 Dick Hall 38 Al Jackson 22 Ron Kline 32 Vern Law 16 Bob Porterfield 37 Bob Smith 34 Jim Umbricht 35 Don Williams 30 George Witt		Catchers  6 Smoky Burgess 20 Hank Foiles 10 Danny Kravitz 20 Hardy Peterson Infielders 24 Dick Groat 48 Ken Hamlin 12 Don Hoak  3 Ted Kluszewski  9 Bill Mazeroski 14 Rocky Nelson 11 Dick Schofield 28 R. C. Stevens  7 Dick Stuart		Outfielders  8 Harry Bright 23 Joe Christopher 21 Roberto Clemente 15 Román Mejías  2 Harry Simpson  4 Bob Skinner 18 Bill Virdon		Manager 40 Danny Murtaugh Coaches 41 Bill Burwell 42 George Detore 42 Jimmy Dykes 45 Lenny Levy 43 Sam Narron 44 Frank Oceak

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	Smoky Burgess	114	377	112	.297	11	59
1B	Dick Stuart	118	397	118	.297	27	78
2B	Bill Mazeroski	135	493	119	.241	7	59
SS	Dick Groat	147	593	163	.275	5	51
3B	Don Hoak	155	564	166	.294	8	65
LF	Bob Skinner	143	547	153	.280	13	61
CF	Bill Virdon	144	519	132	.254	8	41
RF	Roberto Clemente	105	432	128	.296	4	50

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
Román Mejías	96	276	65	.236	7	28
Rocky Nelson	98	175	51	.291	6	32
Danny Kravitz	52	162	41	.253	3	21
Dick Schofield	81	145	31	.234	1	9
Ted Kluszewski	60	122	32	.262	2	17
Hank Foiles	53	80	18	.225	3	4
Harry Bright	40	48	12	.250	3	8
Harry Simpson	9	15	4	.267	0	2
Joe Christopher	15	12	0	.000	0	0
Ken Hamlin	3	8	1	.125	0	2
R.C. Stevens	3	7	2	.286	1	1
Hardy Peterson	2	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
Vern Law	34	266.0	18	9	2.98	110
Bob Friend	35	234.2	8	19	4.03	104
Harvey Haddix	31	224.1	12	12	3.13	149
Ron Kline	33	186.0	11	13	4.26	91
George Witt	15	50.2	0	7	6.93	30
Jim Umbricht	1	7.0	0	0	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
Bennie Daniels	34	100.2	7	9	5.45	67
Al Jackson	8	18.0	0	0	6.50	13
Dick Hall	2	8.2	0	0	3.12	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
Roy Face	57	18	1	10	2.70	69
Bob Porterfield	36	1	2	1	4.35	19
Ron Blackburn	26	1	1	1	3.65	19
Don Gross	21	1	1	2	3.55	15
Bob Smith	20	0	0	0	3.49	12
Fred Green	17	1	2	1	3.13	20
Don Williams	6	0	0	0	6.75	3
Paul Giel	4	0	0	0	14.09	3

Awards and honors

Records

• Roy Face, major league record, most wins in one season by a relief pitcher (18)^[9]
• Harvey Haddix, major league record, Most consecutive batters retired in one game (36) ^[10]

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Columbus Jets	International League	Cal Ermer
AAA	Salt Lake City Bees	Pacific Coast League	Larry Shepard
A	Columbus/Gastonia Pirates	Sally League	Ray Hathaway
B	Wilson Tobs	Carolina League	Harding "Pete" Peterson and Don Osborn
C	Grand Forks Chiefs	Northern League	James Adlam
C	Idaho Falls Russets	Pioneer League	Bob Clear
D	Salem Rebels	Appalachian League	Lamar Dorton
D	Dubuque Packers	Midwest League	Wally Millies, John Armstrong, Syd Thrift and Al Kubski
D	San Angelo/Roswell Pirates	Sophomore League	Al Kubski, Joe Bauman and Wally Millies

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Salt Lake City, Gastonia, Wilson
Columbus (GA) franchise transferred to Gastonia, May 26, 1959; San Angelo franchise transferred to Roswell, June 9, 1959