1948 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1948 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 67th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 62nd in the National League. The Pirates finished fourth in the league standings with a record of 83–71.

1948 Pittsburgh Pirates
League	National League
Ballpark	Forbes Field
City	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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
Seasons

Offseason

• December 8, 1947: Billy Cox, Gene Mauch and Preacher Roe were traded by the Pirates to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Hal Gregg, Vic Lombardi and Dixie Walker.

Regular season

Season standings

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Boston Braves	91	62	.595	—	45‍–‍31	46‍–‍31
St. Louis Cardinals	85	69	.552	6½	44‍–‍33	41‍–‍36
Brooklyn Dodgers	84	70	.545	7½	36‍–‍41	48‍–‍29
Pittsburgh Pirates	83	71	.539	8½	47‍–‍31	36‍–‍40
New York Giants	78	76	.506	13½	37‍–‍40	41‍–‍36
Philadelphia Phillies	66	88	.429	25½	32‍–‍44	34‍–‍44
Cincinnati Reds	64	89	.418	27	32‍–‍45	32‍–‍44
Chicago Cubs	64	90	.416	27½	35‍–‍42	29‍–‍48

Record vs. opponents

1948 National League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team	BOS	BR	CHC	CIN	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Boston	—	14–8	16–6–1	13–8	11–11	14–8	12–10	11–11
Brooklyn	8–14	—	11–11	18–4	11–11–1	15–7	9–13	12–10
Chicago	6–16–1	11–11	—	10–12	11–11	7–15	8–14	11–11
Cincinnati	8–13	4–18	12–10	—	10–12	11–11	9–13	10–12
New York	11–11	11–11–1	11–11	12–10	—	14–8	12–10	7–15
Philadelphia	8–14	7–15	15–7	11–11	8–14	—	12–10–1	5–17
Pittsburgh	10–12	13–9	14–8	13–9	10–12	10–12–1	—	13–9–1
St. Louis	11–11	10–12	11–11	12–10	15–7	17–5	9–13–1	—

Game log

1948 Game Log: 83–71 (Home: 47–31; Away: 36–40)
April: 6–4 (Home: 2–1; Away: 4–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 19 @ Reds 1–4 Blackwell Gregg (0–1) — 32,147 0–1 2 April 20 Cubs 3–2 Sewell (1–0) Meyer — 38,546 1–1 3 April 21 Cubs 3–6 Borowy Bonham (0–1) Chipman 5,555 1–2 4 April 22 Cubs 3–0 Riddle (1–0) Rush — 38,546 2–2 5 April 23 @ Reds 3–5 Blackwell Higbe (0–1) Gumbert 5,355 2–3 6 April 24 @ Reds 7–1 Singleton (1–0) Hughes — 10,385 3–3 7 April 25 @ Reds 6–7 Gumbert Lombardi (0–1) — 3–4 8 April 25 @ Reds 13–10 Walsh (1–0) Hetki — 28,086 4–4 9 April 29 @ Cubs 4–2 Riddle (2–0) Borowy — 6,637 5–4 10 April 30 @ Cubs 10–4 Sewell (2–0) Rush Higbe (1) 13,058 6–4
May: 14–12 (Home: 9–4; Away: 5–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 11 May 1 Reds 7–2 Ostermueller (1–0) Hughes — 13,661 7–4 12 May 2 Reds 6–4 Queen (1–0) Blackwell Lombardi (1) 35,779 8–4 13 May 5 Braves 3–2 Higbe (1–1) Sain — 5,210 9–4 14 May 6 Giants 2–9 Poat Bonham (0–2) — 14,542 9–5 15 May 8 Giants 5–12 Jansen Lombardi (0–2) Trinkle 11,535 9–6 16 May 9 Dodgers 2–14 Branca Singleton (1–1) — 9–7 17 May 9 Dodgers 10–8 Sewell (3–0) Ramsdell — 40,797 10–7 18 May 10 Dodgers 4–2 Riddle (3–0) Palica — 11,355 11–7 19 May 12 Phillies 0–5 Donnelly Bonham (0–3) — 11,664 11–8 20 May 13 Phillies 5–1 Chesnes (1–0) Leonard Singleton (1) 29,789 12–8 21 May 14 @ Cardinals 1–2 Pollet Ostermueller (1–1) — 14,839 12–9 22 May 15 @ Cardinals 3–8 Brecheen Riddle (3–1) — 10,086 12–10 23 May 16 @ Cardinals 5–6 (10) Pollet Gregg (0–2) — 20,484 12–11 24 May 18 @ Braves 4–3 Lombardi (1–2) Voiselle — 19,181 13–11 25 May 19 @ Braves 1–4 Bickford Sewell (3–1) — 15,978 13–12 26 May 20 @ Braves 13–0 Riddle (4–1) Barrett — 3,089 14–12 27 May 21 @ Dodgers 8–4 Ostermueller (2–1) Barney Gregg (1) 8,803 15–12 28 May 22 @ Dodgers 3–1 Higbe (2–1) Branca — 12,821 16–12 29 May 23 @ Giants 1–2 Jansen Singleton (1–2) — 36,473 16–13 30 May 25 @ Phillies 1–4 Erickson Riddle (4–2) Rowe 7,138 16–14 31 May 27 @ Phillies 1–2 Simmons Higbe (2–2) — 13,839 16–15 32 May 28 Cardinals 1–1 (6) — 24,029 16–15 33 May 29 Cardinals 7–3 Chesnes (2–0) Munger — 15,336 17–15 34 May 30 Cardinals 9–3 Higbe (3–2) Pollet — 18–15 35 May 30 Cardinals 7–6 Lombardi (2–2) Staley — 33,584 19–15 36 May 31 @ Cubs 3–4 Rush Higbe (3–3) — 19–16 37 May 31 @ Cubs 4–2 Riddle (5–2) Chambers — 46,965 20–16
June: 13–13 (Home: 6–6; Away: 7–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 38 June 2 Braves 1–5 Sain Lombardi (2–3) — 25,710 20–17 39 June 3 Braves 5–3 Higbe (4–3) Voiselle Singleton (2) 9,767 21–17 40 June 4 Braves 7–10 Hogue Gregg (0–3) Voiselle 37,355 21–18 41 June 5 Braves 8–7 Lombardi (3–3) Bickford — 11,397 22–18 42 June 6 Giants 4–16 Poat Singleton (1–3) — 22–19 43 June 6 Giants 4–3 Riddle (6–2) Trinkle — 36,496 23–19 44 June 7 Giants 5–9 Jones Singleton (1–4) — 23,243 23–20 45 June 9 Dodgers 6–4 Sewell (4–1) Barney Higbe (2) 11,790 24–20 46 June 10 Dodgers 4–1 Bonham (1–3) Taylor — 30,344 25–20 47 June 11 Dodgers 2–3 (13) Branca Lombardi (3–4) Ramsdell 10,233 25–21 48 June 13 Phillies 7–8 Dubiel Higbe (4–4) Heintzelman 25–22 49 June 13 Phillies 9–2 Riddle (7–2) Rowe — 30,385 26–22 50 June 15 @ Giants 2–0 Ostermueller (3–1) Hartung — 44,150 27–22 51 June 16 @ Giants 11–5 Bonham (2–3) Konikowski — 8,160 28–22 52 June 17 @ Giants 9–8 Singleton (2–4) Jansen Higbe (3) 13,556 29–22 53 June 18 @ Phillies 2–0 Riddle (8–2) Roberts — 13,501 30–22 54 June 19 @ Phillies 7–6 Chesnes (3–0) Dubiel Higbe (4) 7,555 31–22 55 June 20 @ Phillies 0–9 Leonard Sewell (4–2) — 31–23 56 June 20 @ Phillies 7–5 Gregg (1–3) Donnelly Queen (1) 23,810 32–23 57 June 21 @ Dodgers 2–5 Branca Lombardi (3–5) — 28,404 32–24 58 June 24 @ Dodgers 2–6 Ramsdell Chesnes (3–1) — 32–25 59 June 24 @ Dodgers 6–8 (8) Barney Riddle (8–3) Roe 24,745 32–26 60 June 25 @ Braves 3–12 Spahn Ostermueller (3–2) — 25,587 32–27 61 June 26 @ Braves 7–1 Bonham (3–3) Voiselle — 31,490 33–27 62 June 27 @ Braves 1–9 Sain Lombardi (3–6) — 17,648 33–28 63 June 29 @ Reds 5–6 (14) Raffensberger Singleton (2–5) — 23,233 33–29
July: 13–16 (Home: 8–10; Away: 5–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 64 July 1 @ Reds 5–2 Ostermueller (4–2) Wehmeier — 5,493 34–29 65 July 2 Cubs 1–5 Meyer Chesnes (3–2) — 30,041 34–30 66 July 4 Cubs 5–1 Sewell (5–2) Borowy Higbe (5) 35–30 67 July 4 Cubs 6–2 Riddle (9–3) Rush — 26,183 36–30 68 July 5 Reds 10–3 Lombardi (4–6) Fox — 37–30 69 July 5 Reds 4–6 Gumbert Bonham (3–4) Fox 32,029 37–31 70 July 6 Reds 4–6 Vander Meer Queen (1–1) Gumbert 31,035 37–32 71 July 7 @ Cardinals 2–1 Chesnes (4–2) Brazle — 14,255 38–32 72 July 8 @ Cardinals 6–4 Ostermueller (5–2) Staley Higbe (6) 15,035 39–32 73 July 9 @ Cubs 1–2 Hamner Riddle (9–4) — 14,506 39–33 74 July 10 @ Cubs 2–4 Schmitz Sewell (5–3) — 19,873 39–34 75 July 11 @ Cubs 0–1 Meyer Bonham (3–5) — 29,683 39–35 76 July 15 Giants 4–3 Queen (2–1) Hartung — 40–35 77 July 15 Giants 3–10 Poat Riddle (9–5) — 26,050 40–36 78 July 17 Giants 5–6 Konikowski Higbe (4–5) — 16,071 40–37 79 July 18 Braves 2–10 Potter Riddle (9–6) — 40–38 80 July 18 Braves 1–3 Bickford Bonham (3–6) — 34,116 40–39 81 July 19 Braves 1–0 Ostermueller (6–2) Sain — 28,115 41–39 82 July 20 Phillies 11–2 Chesnes (5–2) Simmons — 26,019 42–39 83 July 21 Phillies 2–3 (10) Rowe Singleton (2–6) — 6,797 42–40 84 July 22 Phillies 5–3 Sewell (6–3) Bicknell — 43–40 85 July 22 Phillies 1–1 (5) — 14,107 43–40 86 July 23 Dodgers 3–4 Palica Queen (2–2) Behrman 33,702 43–41 87 July 25 Dodgers 6–7 Erskine Chesnes (5–3) Palica 43–42 88 July 25 Dodgers 7–4 (8) Singleton (3–6) Barney — 39,204 44–42 89 July 27 @ Braves 1–5 Potter Ostermueller (6–3) — 29,031 44–43 90 July 28 @ Braves 2–8 Bickford Riddle (9–7) — 25,446 44–44 91 July 29 @ Braves 1–2 Voiselle Queen (2–3) — 12,813 44–45 92 July 30 @ Dodgers 10–5 Chesnes (6–3) Branca — 31,278 45–45 93 July 31 @ Dodgers 5–2 Higbe (5–5) Behrman Lombardi (2) 15,633 46–45
August: 20–9 (Home: 15–5; Away: 5–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 94 August 6 @ Giants 6–7 Poat Ostermueller (6–4) Jones 6,544 46–46 95 August 7 @ Giants 5–4 (11) Higbe (6–5) Poat — 20,408 47–46 96 August 8 @ Giants 2–6 Jansen Riddle (9–8) Jones 47–47 97 August 8 @ Giants 5–4 Chesnes (7–3) Konikowski — 46,214 48–47 98 August 10 Cubs 5–1 Gregg (2–3) Rush — 21,256 49–47 99 August 11 Cubs 4–2 Sewell (7–3) Hamner — 4,652 50–47 100 August 12 Cardinals 3–2 Lombardi (5–6) Dickson — 26,004 51–47 101 August 13 Cardinals 5–4 Chesnes (8–3) Wilks — 34,893 52–47 102 August 14 Cardinals 3–6 Brecheen Ostermueller (6–5) — 22,283 52–48 103 August 15 Cardinals 3–8 Wilks Higbe (6–6) — 52–49 104 August 15 Cardinals 5–4 Bonham (4–6) Dickson — 37,767 53–49 105 August 16 Reds 2–5 Vander Meer Gregg (2–4) — 19,230 53–50 106 August 17 Reds 4–3 Lombardi (6–6) Blackwell — 25,929 54–50 107 August 18 @ Cubs 7–4 Chesnes (9–3) Meyer Higbe (7) 13,317 55–50 108 August 19 @ Cubs 2–1 Sewell (8–3) Lade — 10,853 56–50 109 August 20 @ Cardinals 4–7 Staley Ostermueller (6–6) Brazle 21,580 56–51 110 August 21 @ Cardinals 2–9 Munger Bonham (4–7) — 22,387 56–52 111 August 22 @ Cardinals 4–1 (10) Riddle (10–8) Dickson Lombardi (3) 18,578 57–52 112 August 24 Dodgers 9–1 Chesnes (10–3) Erskine — 38,265 58–52 113 August 25 Dodgers 12–11 Main (1–0) Erskine — 17,048 59–52 114 August 26 Phillies 11–4 Sewell (9–3) Heintzelman Higbe (8) 60–52 115 August 26 Phillies 4–1 Queen (3–3) Leonard Higbe (9) 10,387 61–52 116 August 27 Phillies 4–3 Higbe (7–6) Leonard — 32,367 62–52 117 August 28 Phillies 2–9 Rowe Ostermueller (6–7) — 62–53 118 August 28 Phillies 7–11 Leonard Bonham (4–8) — 14,286 62–54 119 August 29 Braves 6–1 Chesnes (11–3) Spahn — 63–54 120 August 29 Braves 5–2 Lombardi (7–6) Voiselle — 30,276 64–54 121 August 30 Braves 2–1 Ostermueller (7–7) Sain — 33,174 65–54 122 August 31 Giants 5–4 Riddle (11–8) Poat Higbe (10) 30,386 66–54
September: 16–16 (Home: 7–5; Away: 9–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 123 September 1 Giants 1–3 Kennedy Bonham (4–9) — 33,946 66–55 124 September 2 Giants 4–5 Jansen Chesnes (11–4) — 16,250 66–56 125 September 3 Cubs 1–10 Meyer Queen (3–4) — 27,843 66–57 126 September 5 Cubs 7–3 Sewell (10–3) Borowy — 67–57 127 September 5 Cubs 3–11 Lade Riddle (11–9) — 25,569 67–58 128 September 6 Cardinals 2–1 Chesnes (12–4) Dickson — 68–58 129 September 6 Cardinals 4–1 Lombardi (8–6) Munger — 69–58 130 September 7 Cardinals 6–2 Ostermueller (8–7) Hearn — 36,136 70–58 131 September 8 @ Reds 5–1 Bonham (5–9) Fox — 12,436 71–58 132 September 9 @ Reds 6–1 Riddle (12–9) Walters — 2,002 72–58 133 September 11 @ Cubs 13–12 Queen (4–4) Chambers Riddle (1) 17,095 73–58 134 September 12 @ Cubs 7–3 Sewell (11–3) McCall — 27,967 74–58 135 September 13 @ Giants 2–5 Kennedy Lombardi (8–7) — 33,372 74–59 136 September 14 @ Dodgers 5–8 Behrman Ostermueller (8–8) — 74–60 137 September 14 @ Dodgers 3–7 Taylor Riddle (12–10) — 74–61 138 September 15 @ Giants 8–3 Bonham (6–9) Jansen — 9,180 75–61 139 September 16 @ Giants 10–6 Chesnes (13–4) Koslo — 7,174 76–61 140 September 17 @ Braves 2–6 Sain Lombardi (8–8) — 11,838 76–62 141 September 18 @ Braves 1–2 Spahn Ostermueller (8–9) — 21,085 76–63 142 September 19 @ Phillies 6–9 Leonard Main (1–1) — 76–64 143 September 19 @ Phillies 3–5 Rowe Higbe (7–7) — 15,713 76–65 144 September 20 @ Phillies 2–5 Roberts Chesnes (13–5) — 2,884 76–66 145 September 20 @ Phillies 4–7 Possehl Bonham (6–10) — 3,513 76–67 146 September 21 @ Dodgers 6–3 Lombardi (9–8) Barney — 10,882 77–67 147 September 22 @ Dodgers 5–1 Sewell (12–3) Taylor — 3,756 78–67 148 September 24 Reds 3–4 Wehmeier Ostermueller (8–10) Gumbert 18,914 78–68 149 September 25 Reds 16–6 Chesnes (14–5) Blackburn — 7,766 79–68 150 September 26 Reds 8–6 Sewell (13–3) Gumbert Lombardi (4) 80–68 151 September 26 Reds 8–5 (8) Singleton (4–6) Peterson — 26,483 81–68 152 September 29 @ Cardinals 2–1 Lombardi (10–8) Dickson — 5,977 82–68 153 September 30 @ Cardinals 1–6 Munger Chesnes (14–6) — 2,060 82–69 154 September 30 @ Cardinals 1–4 Brecheen Ostermueller (8–11) — 8,597 82–70
October: 1–1 (Home: 0–0; Away: 1–1) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 155 October 1 @ Reds 2–1 Higbe (8–7) Cress — 1,162 83–70 156 October 3 @ Reds 0–1 Vander Meer Lombardi (10–9) — 7,255 83–71
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

Roster

1948 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 35 Tiny Bonham 24 Bob Chesnes 32 Hal Gregg 13 Kirby Higbe 28 Vic Lombardi 36 Woody Main 38 Cal McLish 21 Fritz Ostermueller 23 Mel Queen 37 Elmer Riddle 30 Rip Sewell 26 Elmer Singleton 22 Nick Strincevich 34 Junior Walsh		Catchers  9 Ed Fitz Gerald 10 Clyde Kluttz  3 Johnny Riddle 31 Earl Turner Infielders  8 Monty Basgall 18 Eddie Bockman -- Pete Castiglione 16 Frankie Gustine  7 Danny Murtaugh  6 Stan Rojek  5 Ed Stevens 14 Max West 17 Grady Wilson		Outfielders 17 Ted Beard 12 Johnny Hopp  4 Ralph Kiner 11 Dixie Walker 15 Wally Westlake Other batters 29 Don Gutteridge		Manager  1 Billy Meyer Coaches  2 Bill Burwell 19 Goldie Holt  3 Johnny Riddle 30 Rip Sewell 33 Honus Wagner

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	Clyde Kluttz	94	271	60	.221	4	20
1B	Ed Stevens	128	429	109	.254	10	69
2B	Danny Murtaugh	146	514	149	.290	1	71
SS	Stan Rojek	156	641	186	.290	4	51
3B	Frankie Gustine	131	449	120	.267	9	42
OF	Dixie Walker	129	408	129	.316	2	54
OF	Ralph Kiner	156	555	147	.265	40	123
OF	Wally Westlake	132	428	122	.285	17	65

Other batters

Note: 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
UT	Johnny Hopp	120	392	109	.278	1	31
C	Ed Fitz Gerald	102	262	70	.267	1	35
3B	Eddie Bockman	70	176	42	.239	4	23
1B	Max West	87	146	26	.178	8	21
OF	Ted Beard	25	81	16	.198	0	7
2B	Monty Basgall	38	51	11	.216	2	6
C	Johnny Riddle	10	15	3	.200	0	0
SS	Grady Wilson	12	10	1	.100	0	1
PH	Don Gutteridge	4	2	0	.000	0	0
SS	Pete Castiglione	4	2	0	.000	0	0
C	Earl Turner	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
Bob Chesnes	25	194.1	14	6	3.57	69
Elmer Riddle	28	191.0	12	10	3.49	63
Tiny Bonham	22	135.2	6	10	4.31	42
Fritz Ostermueller	23	134.1	8	11	4.42	43
Rip Sewell	21	121.2	13	3	3.48	36

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
Vic Lombardi	38	163.0	10	9	3.70	54
Kirby Higbe	56	158.0	8	7	3.36	86
Elmer Singleton	38	92.1	4	6	4.97	53
Hal Gregg	22	74.1	2	4	4.60	25
Mel Queen	25	66.1	4	4	6.65	34
Cal McLish	2	5.0	0	0	9.00	1

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
Woody Main	17	1	1	0	8.33	12
Nick Strincevich	3	0	0	0	8.31	1
Junior Walsh	2	1	0	0	10.38	0

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Indianapolis Indians	American Association	Al López
AA	New Orleans Pelicans	Southern Association	Jimmy Brown
A	Fort Wayne Generals	Central League	Boom-Boom Beck
A	Albany Senators	Eastern League	Pinky May
B	Waco Pirates	Big State League	Buster Chatham
B	Davenport Pirates	Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League	Ival Goodman
B	York White Roses	Interstate League	Frank Oceak
B	Anderson Rebels	Tri-State League	Bob Richards
C	Keokuk Pirates	Central Association	Phil Seghi
C	Uniontown Coal Barons	Middle Atlantic League	Bill Mongiello
C	Fargo-Moorhead Twins	Northern League	Bruno Haas and Ralph DiLullo
D	Greenville Pirates	Alabama State League	Walt Tauscher
D	Rehoboth Beach Pirates	Eastern Shore League	Doug Peden
D	New Iberia Pelicans	Evangeline League	George Stumpf
D	Santa Rosa Pirates	Far West League	Dan Reagan
D	Leesburg Pirates	Florida State League	Edgar Leip
D	Tallahassee Pirates	Georgia–Florida League	Jack Rothrock
D	Bartlesville Oilers	Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League	Eddie Marleau
D	Salisbury Pirates	North Carolina State League	Art Doll

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Santa Rosa

References

• 1948 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Reference
• 1948 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Almanac
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6.