1955 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1955 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 74th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 69th in the National League. The Pirates finished eighth and last in the league standings with a record of 60–94.

1955 Pittsburgh Pirates
League	National League
Ballpark	Forbes Field
City	Pittsburgh
Owners	John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson, Branch Rickey (minority shareholders)
General managers	Branch Rickey
Managers	Fred Haney
Radio	WWSW Bob Prince, Dick Bingham
Seasons

Offseason

• Prior to 1955 season: Ellis Burton was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.

Regular season

Season standings

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Brooklyn Dodgers	98	55	.641	—	56‍–‍21	42‍–‍34
Milwaukee Braves	85	69	.552	13½	46‍–‍31	39‍–‍38
New York Giants	80	74	.519	18½	44‍–‍35	36‍–‍39
Philadelphia Phillies	77	77	.500	21½	46‍–‍31	31‍–‍46
Cincinnati Redlegs	75	79	.487	23½	46‍–‍31	29‍–‍48
Chicago Cubs	72	81	.471	26	43‍–‍33	29‍–‍48
St. Louis Cardinals	68	86	.442	30½	41‍–‍36	27‍–‍50
Pittsburgh Pirates	60	94	.390	38½	36‍–‍39	24‍–‍55

Record vs. opponents

1955 National League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team	BR	CHC	CIN	MIL	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Brooklyn	—	14–7–1	12–10	15–7	13–9	16–6	14–8	14–8
Chicago	7–14–1	—	11–11	7–15	12–10	10–12	11–11	14–8
Cincinnati	10–12	11–11	—	9–13	9–13	11–11	14–8	11–11
Milwaukee	7–15	15–7	13–9	—	14–8	14–8	11–11	11–11
New York	9–13	10–12	13–9	8–14	—	10–12	17–5	13–9
Philadelphia	6–16	12–10	11–11	8–14	12–10	—	15–7	13–9
Pittsburgh	8–14	11–11	8–14	11–11	5–17	7–15	—	10–12
St. Louis	8–14	8–14	11–11	11–11	9–13	9–13	12–10	—

Game log

1955 Game Log: 60–94 (Home: 36–39; Away: 24–55)
April: 3–11 (Home: 2–6; Away: 1–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 13 @ Dodgers 1–6 Erskine Surkont (0–1) — 6,999 0–1 2 April 14 Phillies 3–4 Wehmeier Littlefield (0–1) — 23,540 0–2 3 April 16 Dodgers 0–6 Meyer Purkey (0–1) — 5,533 0–3 4 April 17 Dodgers 3–10 Podres Thies (0–1) — 0–4 5 April 17 Dodgers 2–3 Labine Kline (0–1) Hughes 20,499 0–5 6 April 18 @ Giants 3–12 Liddle Surkont (0–2) Grissom 2,915 0–6 7 April 22 @ Phillies 4–5 Miller Bowman (0–1) — 5,821 0–7 8 April 23 @ Phillies 0–8 Dickson Kline (0–2) — 4,132 0–8 9 April 24 @ Phillies 6–1 Surkont (1–2) Owens — 1–8 10 April 24 @ Phillies 0–3 Meyer King (0–1) Roberts 8,224 1–9 11 April 27 Cubs 4–1 Purkey (1–1) Minner — 1,044 2–9 12 April 28 Redlegs 2–3 Staley Littlefield (0–2) Lane 6,907 2–10 13 April 29 Redlegs 0–5 Nuxhall Surkont (1–3) — 6,341 2–11 14 April 30 Redlegs 5–4 Friend (1–0) Lane — 3,118 3–11
May: 11–20 (Home: 7–9; Away: 4–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 15 May 1 Cardinals 3–4 Tiefenauer Bowman (0–2) Moford 3–12 16 May 1 Cardinals 7–0 Kline (1–2) Jones — 13,213 4–12 17 May 2 Cardinals 5–1 Purkey (2–1) Haddix — 2,181 5–12 18 May 3 Braves 4–0 Littlefield (1–2) Spahn — 10,784 6–12 19 May 4 Braves 5–4 Surkont (2–3) Jolly Friend (1) 13,374 7–12 20 May 5 Braves 9–4 King (1–1) Buhl Law (1) 4,329 8–12 21 May 6 @ Giants 3–2 Kline (2–2) Antonelli Wade (1) 10,330 9–12 22 May 7 @ Giants 3–11 Hearn Purkey (2–2) — 8,926 9–13 23 May 8 @ Giants 7–5 Littlefield (2–2) Gomez Face (1) 10–13 24 May 8 @ Giants 3–6 Maglie Law (0–1) — 14,180 10–14 25 May 10 @ Braves 9–6 Surkont (3–3) Johnson — 20,562 11–14 26 May 11 @ Braves 3–8 Nichols Kline (2–3) — 12,444 11–15 27 May 12 @ Cubs 0–4 Jones King (1–2) — 2,918 11–16 28 May 14 @ Cardinals 0–6 Lawrence Littlefield (2–3) — 9,479 11–17 29 May 15 @ Cardinals 1–5 Jones Surkont (3–4) Schultz 10,996 11–18 30 May 16 @ Cardinals 0–6 Arroyo Kline (2–4) — 5,184 11–19 31 May 17 @ Redlegs 2–9 Nuxhall Purkey (2–3) — 4,881 11–20 32 May 18 @ Redlegs 1–5 Minarcin Littlefield (2–4) — 2,079 11–21 33 May 20 Giants 3–6 Wilhelm Surkont (3–5) Grissom 15,722 11–22 34 May 21 Giants 2–3 Maglie Kline (2–5) Grissom 5,731 11–23 35 May 22 Giants 2–5 Gomez Bowman (0–3) — 11–24 36 May 22 Giants 3–5 (8) Wilhelm Wade (0–1) Grissom 16,691 11–25 37 May 24 Dodgers 15–1 Friend (2–0) Podres — 9,251 12–25 38 May 26 Dodgers 2–6 Newcombe Kline (2–6) — 2,680 12–26 39 May 27 Phillies 2–5 (10) Wehmeier Friend (2–1) — 6,956 12–27 40 May 28 Phillies 4–8 (11) Miller Face (0–1) Meyer 3,082 12–28 41 May 29 Phillies 2–5 Roberts Pepper (0–1) — 12–29 42 May 29 Phillies 11–5 Surkont (4–5) Cole — 5,918 13–29 43 May 30 @ Dodgers 4–8 Meyer Purkey (2–4) Roebuck 13–30 44 May 30 @ Dodgers 3–8 Newcombe Kline (2–7) — 26,711 13–31 45 May 31 @ Dodgers 6–3 Friend (3–1) Roebuck — 6,008 14–31
June: 10–18 (Home: 5–7; Away: 5–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 46 June 1 Cardinals 2–6 Arroyo Purkey (2–5) — 7,580 14–32 47 June 2 Cardinals 12–3 Surkont (5–5) Haddix — 2,052 15–32 48 June 3 Redlegs 7–6 Law (1–1) Ridzik — 16–32 49 June 4 Redlegs 0–6 Minarcin Kline (2–8) — 4,072 16–33 50 June 5 Redlegs 7–6 Surkont (6–5) Klippstein — 17–33 51 June 5 Redlegs 1–5 Collum Purkey (2–6) — 10,308 17–34 52 June 7 Cubs 3–4 Hacker King (1–3) Pollet 65,681 17–35 53 June 8 Cubs 2–1 Kline (3–8) Davis — 3,779 18–35 54 June 9 Cubs 2–6 Minner Purkey (2–7) — 2,187 18–36 55 June 11 Braves 4–7 Conley Friend (3–2) — 1,995 18–37 56 June 12 Braves 5–3 Law (2–1) Spahn Face (2) 19–37 57 June 12 Braves 5–6 Buhl Surkont (6–6) — 12,738 19–38 58 June 14 @ Cardinals 10–5 Kline (4–8) Jackson — 7,962 20–38 59 June 15 @ Cardinals 3–7 Arroyo Friend (3–3) — 6,524 20–39 60 June 16 @ Cardinals 0–5 Haddix Law (2–2) — 6,277 20–40 61 June 17 @ Redlegs 3–1 Surkont (7–6) Collum Kline (1) 6,872 21–40 62 June 18 @ Redlegs 1–4 Staley Donoso (0–1) — 3,433 21–41 63 June 19 @ Redlegs 5–2 Friend (4–3) Minarcin — 22–41 64 June 19 @ Redlegs 0–4 Nuxhall Kline (4–9) — 11,640 22–42 65 June 20 @ Braves 1–2 Conley Law (2–3) — 21,510 22–43 66 June 21 @ Braves 4–6 Buhl Kline (4–10) — 25,510 22–44 67 June 22 @ Braves 0–6 Spahn Surkont (7–7) — 23,219 22–45 68 June 24 @ Cubs 3–10 Minner Friend (4–4) — 4,424 22–46 69 June 25 @ Cubs 4–6 Hacker Littlefield (2–5) — 12,181 22–47 70 June 26 @ Cubs 5–4 Law (3–3) Davis Surkont (1) 23–47 71 June 26 @ Cubs 1–2 Rush Donoso (0–2) — 24,500 23–48 72 June 28 @ Phillies 7–5 (10) Friend (5–4) Meyer Face (3) 8,635 24–48 73 June 29 @ Phillies 3–6 Negray Littlefield (2–6) — 4,919 24–49
July: 14–19 (Home: 10–12; Away: 4–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 74 July 1 @ Dodgers 3–2 Law (4–3) Podres — 10,325 25–49 75 July 2 @ Dodgers 7–6 (10) Kline (5–10) Labine — 6,158 26–49 76 July 3 @ Dodgers 7–5 Kline (6–10) Roebuck — 27–49 77 July 3 @ Dodgers 1–3 Loes Surkont (7–8) Labine 15,000 27–50 78 July 4 Giants 4–3 Donoso (1–2) McCall — 28–50 79 July 4 Giants 3–5 (11) Grissom Donoso (1–3) — 16,902 28–51 80 July 5 Giants 1–11 Antonelli Martin (0–1) — 7,245 28–52 81 July 6 Dodgers 5–10 Erskine Face (0–2) Roebuck 28–53 82 July 6 Dodgers 4–1 Law (5–3) Roebuck — 20,674 29–53 83 July 7 Dodgers 3–4 Loes Kline (6–11) — 4,533 29–54 84 July 8 Phillies 1–5 Wehmeier Surkont (7–9) — 7,304 29–55 85 July 9 Phillies 1–7 Roberts Littlefield (2–7) — 2,637 29–56 86 July 10 Phillies 1–4 Simmons Friend (5–5) — 29–57 87 July 10 Phillies 3–1 Law (6–3) Negray — 6,454 30–57 88 July 14 Redlegs 1–19 Collum Surkont (7–10) — 6,947 30–58 89 July 15 Redlegs 1–9 Nuxhall Law (6–4) Freeman 1,563 30–59 90 July 16 Cardinals 5–1 Donoso (2–3) Arroyo — 2,579 31–59 91 July 17 Cardinals 8–9 (12) Arroyo Donoso (2–4) Lawrence 31–60 92 July 17 Cardinals 0–1 Haddix Face (0–3) — 8,490 31–61 93 July 19 Braves 4–3 (19) Friend (6–5) Conley — 7,953 32–61 94 July 20 Braves 4–3 Littlefield (3–7) Crone — 5,568 33–61 95 July 21 Braves 3–5 Spahn Donoso (2–5) — 2,568 33–62 96 July 22 Cubs 3–1 Face (1–3) Minner — 7,388 34–62 97 July 23 Cubs 10–2 Friend (7–5) Hacker — 2,955 35–62 98 July 24 Cubs 12–5 Hall (1–0) Rush — 36–62 99 July 24 Cubs 3–2 (10) Law (7–4) Jones — 14,466 37–62 100 July 26 @ Cardinals 3–1 Littlefield (4–7) Arroyo — 10,261 38–62 101 July 27 @ Cardinals 1–6 Haddix Face (1–4) — 6,424 38–63 102 July 28 @ Cardinals 1–4 Schmidt Hall (1–1) — 6,039 38–64 103 July 29 @ Redlegs 5–16 Nuxhall Law (7–5) — 5,690 38–65 104 July 30 @ Redlegs 2–5 Collum Friend (7–6) — 3,030 38–66 105 July 31 @ Redlegs 4–7 Black Littlefield (4–8) Freeman 38–67 106 July 31 @ Redlegs 5–6 Freeman Donoso (2–6) — 9,704 38–68
August: 14–12 (Home: 9–4; Away: 5–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 107 August 1 @ Cubs 5–4 Hall (2–1) Minner — 3,194 39–68 108 August 2 @ Cubs 4–12 Rush Littlefield (4–9) — 1,788 39–69 109 August 3 @ Cubs 3–2 Face (2–4) Davis Surkont (2) 40–69 110 August 3 @ Cubs 4–5 (12) Perkowski Law (7–6) — 8,805 40–70 111 August 4 @ Cubs 10–11 Tremel Littlefield (4–10) — 3,486 40–71 112 August 5 @ Braves 8–5 Hall (3–1) Spahn Donoso (1) 21,791 41–71 113 August 6 @ Braves 2–0 Friend (8–6) Crone — 16,337 42–71 114 August 7 @ Braves 3–6 Nichols Law (7–7) Johnson 42–72 115 August 7 @ Braves 2–4 Buhl Face (2–5) — 26,955 42–73 116 August 9 @ Phillies 1–9 Wehmeier Hall (3–2) — 9,347 42–74 117 August 10 @ Phillies 3–2 (10) Friend (9–6) Miller — 3,922 43–74 118 August 14 @ Giants 2–4 Antonelli Law (7–8) — 43–75 119 August 14 @ Giants 1–3 Hearn Hall (3–3) — 7,166 43–76 120 August 16 Phillies 3–12 Wehmeier Friend (9–7) — 6,290 43–77 121 August 17 Phillies 6–4 Face (3–5) Simmons — 3,721 44–77 122 August 19 Giants 8–3 Law (8–8) Antonelli — 9,695 45–77 123 August 20 Giants 9–14 (12) Hearn Littlefield (4–11) — 4,336 45–78 124 August 23 Redlegs 2–1 Law (9–8) Freeman — 6,387 46–78 125 August 24 Redlegs 4–2 Hall (4–3) Nuxhall — 2,399 47–78 126 August 25 Cubs 2–1 Face (4–5) Minner — 6,181 48–78 127 August 26 Cubs 3–6 Jones Friend (9–8) — 5,376 48–79 128 August 27 Cubs 3–4 Pollet Surkont (7–11) — 3,210 48–80 129 August 28 Braves 5–3 Hall (5–3) Crone Kline (2) 49–80 130 August 28 Braves 2–0 Law (10–8) Spahn — 12,032 50–80 131 August 30 Cardinals 3–1 Littlefield (5–11) Haddix Face (4) 7,526 51–80 132 August 31 Cardinals 4–3 (10) Donoso (3–6) Schmidt — 6,379 52–80
September: 8–14 (Home: 3–1; Away: 5–13) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 133 September 1 Cardinals 7–6 Face (5–5) Wright — 2,878 53–80 134 September 2 @ Dodgers 0–2 Spooner Hall (5–4) — 10,827 53–81 135 September 3 @ Dodgers 0–4 Koufax Friend (9–9) — 7,767 53–82 136 September 4 @ Dodgers 5–6 Labine Surkont (7–12) Craig 13,258 53–83 137 September 5 @ Giants 8–5 (10) Friend (10–9) Grissom Hall (1) 54–83 138 September 5 @ Giants 3–6 Liddle Face (5–6) — 10,352 54–84 139 September 7 @ Cubs 2–0 Friend (11–9) Minner — 3,076 55–84 140 September 9 @ Braves 2–3 Spahn Hall (5–5) — 15,614 55–85 141 September 10 @ Braves 5–13 Crone Law (10–9) — 11,071 55–86 142 September 11 @ Cardinals 5–6 Jackson Littlefield (5–12) — 7,877 55–87 143 September 12 @ Cardinals 9–3 Donoso (4–6) Haddix — 3,289 56–87 144 September 13 @ Redlegs 5–2 Friend (12–9) Nuxhall — 3,962 57–87 145 September 16 @ Phillies 1–8 Roberts Surkont (7–13) — 10,023 57–88 146 September 18 @ Phillies 5–2 Friend (13–9) Wehmeier Face (5) 58–88 147 September 18 @ Phillies 1–2 Rogovin Hall (5–6) — 12,683 58–89 148 September 20 @ Giants 1–11 Antonelli Law (10–10) — 58–90 149 September 20 @ Giants 8–14 Wilhelm Surkont (7–14) — 1,165 58–91 150 September 21 @ Giants 2–7 Liddle Face (5–7) — 58–92 151 September 21 @ Giants 3–7 Monzant Kline (6–12) — 2,091 58–93 152 September 24 Dodgers 4–3 Hall (6–6) Bessent — 59–93 153 September 24 Dodgers 6–1 Friend (14–9) Koufax — 4,531 60–93 154 September 25 Dodgers 0–4 Meyer Kline (6–13) Craig 25,185 60–94
Legend:        = Win        = Loss Bold = Pirates team member

Notable transactions

• August 27, 1955: Red Swanson was signed as an amateur free agent (bonus baby) by the Pirates.

Roster

1955 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 20,57 Bill Bell 31 Roger Bowman 31 Lino Donoso 26 Roy Face 19 Bob Friend 37 Al Grunwald 30 Dick Hall 30 Nellie King 22 Ron Kline 32 Vern Law 27 Dick Littlefield 28 Paul Martin 23 Laurin Pepper 34 Bob Purkey 35 Max Surkont 20 Red Swanson 39 Jake Thies 28 Ben Wade 34 Fred Waters		Catchers 11 Toby Atwell  9 Nick Koback 17 Hardy Peterson 10 Jack Shepard Infielders 12 Dick Cole  8 Gene Freese  3 George Freese  4 Sid Gordon 24 Dick Groat 29 Dale Long  6 Johnny O'Brien  7 Curt Roberts  6 Dick Smith  5 Preston Ward		Outfielders 13,21 Roberto Clemente 18 Jerry Lynch 25 Román Mejías 14 Felipe Montemayor  7 Eddie O'Brien 14 Johnny Powers 16 Tom Saffell 21 Earl Smith 15 Frank Thomas		Manager  2 Fred Haney Coaches 40 John Fitzpatrick 43 Sam Narron 41 Clyde Sukeforth

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	Jack Shepard	94	264	63	.239	2	23
1B	Dale Long	131	419	122	.291	16	79
2B	Johnny O'Brien	84	278	83	.299	1	25
SS	Dick Groat	151	521	139	.267	4	51
3B	Gene Freese	134	455	115	.253	14	44
LF	Frank Thomas	142	510	125	.245	25	72
CF	Eddie O'Brien	75	236	55	.233	0	8
RF	Roberto Clemente	124	474	121	.255	5	47

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
Jerry Lynch	88	282	80	.284	5	28
Dick Cole	77	239	54	.226	0	21
Toby Atwell	71	207	44	.213	1	18
Preston Ward	84	179	38	.212	5	25
George Freese	51	179	46	.257	3	22
Román Mejías	71	167	36	.216	3	21
Tom Saffell	73	113	19	.168	1	3
Felipe Montemayor	36	95	20	.211	2	8
Hardy Peterson	32	81	20	.247	1	10
Sid Gordon	16	47	8	.170	0	1
Curt Roberts	6	17	2	.118	0	0
Earl Smith	5	16	1	.063	0	0
Nick Koback	5	7	2	.286	0	0
John Powers	2	4	1	.250	0	0
Dick Smith	4	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
Vern Law	43	200.2	10	10	3.81	82
Max Surkont	35	166.1	7	14	5.57	84
Dick Hall	15	94.1	6	6	3.91	46
Bob Purkey	14	67.2	2	7	5.32	24
Jake Thies	1	3.2	0	1	4.91	0

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
Bob Friend	44	200.1	14	9	2.83	98
Ron Kline	36	136.2	6	13	4.15	48
Dick Littlefield	35	130.0	5	12	5.12	70
Roy Face	42	125.2	5	7	3.58	84
Lino Donoso	25	95.0	4	6	5.31	38
Nellie King	17	54.1	1	3	2.98	21
Roger Bowman	7	16.2	0	3	8.64	8
Paul Martin	7	7.0	0	1	14.14	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
Laurin Pepper	14	0	1	0	10.35	7
Ben Wade	11	0	1	1	3.21	7
Al Grunwald	3	0	0	0	4.70	2
Fred Waters	2	0	0	0	3.60	0
Red Swanson	1	0	0	0	18.00	0
Bill Bell	1	0	0	0	0.00	0

Awards and honors

All-Star Game

• Frank Thomas, reserve

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
Open	Hollywood Stars	Pacific Coast League	Bobby Bragan
AA	New Orleans Pelicans	Southern Association	Andy Cohen
A	Williamsport Grays	Eastern League	Larry Shepard
A	Lincoln Chiefs	Western League	Bill Burwell
B	Waco Pirates	Big State League	Stan Wentzel
B	Burlington-Graham Pirates	Carolina League	Lamar Dorton
C	Phoenix Stars	Arizona–Mexico League	Jerry Gardner
C	Salinas Packers	California League	Buck Elliott and Jack Paepke
C	Billings Mustangs	Pioneer League	Jack Paepke and Buck Elliott
C	St. Jean Canadiens	Provincial League	Steve Mizerak and Fred Luciano
D	Dublin Irish	Georgia State League	George Kinnamon
D	Brunswick Pirates	Georgia–Florida League	Frank Oceak
D	Clinton Pirates	Mississippi–Ohio Valley League	Robert Clark

LEAGUE CO-CHAMPIONS: Brunswick

References

• 1955 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Reference
• 1955 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Almanac
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.