1943 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1943 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersBill Benswanger
ManagersFrankie Frisch
RadioWWSW
Rosey Rowswell, Jack Craddock
← 1942 Seasons 1944 →

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

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Season standings

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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

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Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BOS BR 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

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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

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Roster

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1943 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Player stats

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Batting

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Starters by position

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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

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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

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Starting pitchers

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  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.