1958 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1958 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 77th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 72nd in the National League. The Pirates finished second in the league standings with a record of 84–70, a 22-game improvement over 1957. They ended the year in the first division for the first time since 1948 and recorded their highest league standing since the 1944 edition also finished in second place. Manager Danny Murtaugh, in his first full season at the Pirates' helm, was voted Major League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News.

1958 Pittsburgh Pirates
League	National League
Ballpark	Forbes Field
City	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Owners	John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson, Branch Rickey (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
Seasons

Offseason

• December 2, 1957: Ellis Burton was drafted from the Pirates by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1957 minor league draft.
• December 28, 1957: Dee Fondy was traded by the Pirates to the Cincinnati Redlegs for Ted Kluszewski.

Regular season

Season standings

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Milwaukee Braves	92	62	.597	—	48‍–‍29	44‍–‍33
Pittsburgh Pirates	84	70	.545	8	49‍–‍28	35‍–‍42
San Francisco Giants	80	74	.519	12	44‍–‍33	36‍–‍41
Cincinnati Redlegs	76	78	.494	16	40‍–‍37	36‍–‍41
Chicago Cubs	72	82	.468	20	35‍–‍42	37‍–‍40
St. Louis Cardinals	72	82	.468	20	39‍–‍38	33‍–‍44
Los Angeles Dodgers	71	83	.461	21	39‍–‍38	32‍–‍45
Philadelphia Phillies	69	85	.448	23	35‍–‍42	34‍–‍43

Record vs. opponents

1958 National League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team	CHC	CIN	LAD	MIL	PHI	PIT	SFG	STL
Chicago	—	10–12	11–11	10–12	13–9	9–13	12–10	7–15
Cincinnati	12–10	—	11–11	5–17	15–7	10–12	11–11	12–10
Los Angeles	11–11	11–11	—	14–8	10–12	8–14	6–16	11–11
Milwaukee	12–10	17–5	8–14	—	13–9	11–11	16–6	15–7
Philadelphia	9–13	7–15	12–10	9–13	—	12–10	8–14	12–10
Pittsburgh	13–9	12–10	14–8	11–11	10–12	—	12–10	12–10
San Francisco	10–12	11–11	16–6	6–16	14–8	10–12	—	13–9
St. Louis	15–7	10–12	11–11	7–15	10–12	10–12	9–13	—

Game log

1958 Game Log: 84–70 (Home: 49–28; Away: 35–42)
April: 7–5 (Home: 1–3; Away: 6–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 15 @ Braves 4–3 (14) Blackburn (1–0) Conley Raydon (1) 43,339 1–0 2 April 17 @ Braves 1–6 Burdette Law (0–1) — 12,854 1–1 3 April 18 Redlegs 1–4 Purkey Kline (0–1) Jeffcoat 34,032 1–2 4 April 19 Redlegs 6–9 Haddix Smith (0–1) Jeffcoat 12,171 1–3 5 April 20 Redlegs 4–3 Friend (1–0) Schmidt — 15,142 2–3 6 April 22 Braves 2–5 Buhl Kline (0–2) — 6,991 2–4 7 April 23 @ Phillies 1–8 Sanford Blackburn (1–1) — 7,668 2–5 8 April 24 @ Phillies 7–4 Friend (2–0) Simmons Face (1) 7,456 3–5 9 April 25 @ Redlegs 4–3 Law (1–1) Haddix Face (2) 7,744 4–5 10 April 26 @ Redlegs 8–4 Gross (1–0) Rabe — 3,291 5–5 11 April 29 @ Dodgers 7–1 Friend (3–0) Erskine — 19,778 6–5 12 April 30 @ Dodgers 3–1 Kline (1–2) Drysdale — 13,890 7–5
May: 15–15 (Home: 11–7; Away: 4–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 13 May 1 @ Dodgers 8–3 Law (2–1) Newcombe Blackburn (1) 16,503 8–5 14 May 2 @ Dodgers 5–9 Podres Perez (0–1) Labine 22,940 8–6 15 May 3 @ Dodgers 3–1 Friend (4–0) Kipp Face (3) 16,288 9–6 16 May 4 @ Giants 6–2 Kline (2–2) Antonelli Face (4) 10–6 17 May 4 @ Giants 3–4 (10) Worthington Face (0–1) — 22,721 10–7 18 May 5 @ Giants 11–10 Law (3–1) Gomez Gross (1) 5,506 11–7 19 May 6 @ Giants 0–7 McCormick Daniels (0–1) — 10,849 11–8 20 May 7 @ Giants 6–8 Worthington Friend (4–1) Grissom 8,052 11–9 21 May 9 Phillies 1–0 (12) Kline (3–2) Roberts — 21,304 12–9 22 May 10 Phillies 14–4 Law (4–1) Semproch — 11,807 13–9 23 May 11 Phillies 10–4 Friend (5–1) Sanford — 14–9 24 May 11 Phillies 1–0 (11) Porterfield (1–0) Simmons — 20,544 15–9 25 May 13 Redlegs 6–3 Kline (4–2) Lawrence Gross (2) 24,123 16–9 26 May 14 Redlegs 5–4 Law (5–1) Rabe — 24,102 17–9 27 May 15 Redlegs 4–9 Klippstein Friend (5–2) Jeffcoat 12,022 17–10 28 May 16 @ Phillies 2–6 Simmons Porterfield (1–1) — 12,401 17–11 29 May 17 @ Phillies 3–4 Roberts Daniels (0–2) — 6,262 17–12 30 May 18 @ Phillies 4–6 Sanford Kline (4–3) Farrell 17–13 31 May 18 @ Phillies 2–6 Semproch Law (5–2) — 19,068 17–14 32 May 20 Cubs 12–3 Friend (6–2) Drott — 15,848 18–14 33 May 21 Cubs 1–5 Phillips Porterfield (1–2) — 5,393 18–15 34 May 23 Cardinals 3–2 Kline (5–3) Mizell Gross (3) 29,369 19–15 35 May 24 Cardinals 6–1 Friend (7–2) Jackson — 13,330 20–15 36 May 25 Giants 2–5 Gomez Law (5–3) — 20–16 37 May 25 Giants 1–6 Monzant Raydon (0–1) — 35,797 20–17 38 May 27 Dodgers 5–3 Kline (6–3) Drysdale Blackburn (2) 15,705 21–17 39 May 28 Dodgers 1–7 Koufax Friend (7–3) — 14,320 21–18 40 May 30 Braves 4–7 McMahon Face (0–2) Trowbridge 21–19 41 May 30 Braves 12–6 Gross (2–0) Robinson — 32,428 22–19 42 May 31 Braves 3–8 Spahn Kline (6–4) — 17,596 22–20
June: 12–17 (Home: 7–9; Away: 5–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 43 June 1 Braves 5–1 (8) Friend (8–3) Conley — 17,485 23–20 44 June 2 @ Redlegs 2–8 Nuxhall Smith (0–2) — 2,827 23–21 45 June 3 @ Cardinals 4–8 Jackson Raydon (0–2) — 11,465 23–22 46 June 4 @ Cardinals 3–6 Brosnan Kline (6–5) Muffett 12,264 23–23 47 June 5 @ Cardinals 3–4 Mizell Friend (8–4) — 7,570 23–24 48 June 6 @ Cubs 1–6 Drott Law (5–4) — 4,567 23–25 49 June 7 @ Cubs 8–6 (10) Face (1–2) Nichols Smith (1) 14,487 24–25 50 June 8 @ Cubs 0–4 Drabowsky Kline (6–6) — 15,670 24–26 51 June 10 @ Giants 5–4 Friend (9–4) Monzant — 16,621 25–26 52 June 11 @ Giants 14–6 Law (6–4) Gomez Face (5) 7,912 26–26 53 June 12 @ Giants 2–1 Raydon (1–2) Giel — 9,273 27–26 54 June 13 @ Dodgers 4–5 Labine Kline (6–7) — 27,748 27–27 55 June 14 @ Dodgers 2–4 Podres Friend (9–5) — 35,345 27–28 56 June 15 @ Dodgers 12–1 Law (7–4) Newcombe — 30,752 28–28 57 June 17 Giants 6–1 Raydon (2–2) Antonelli Face (6) 27,763 29–28 58 June 18 Giants 1–2 (10) Giel Friend (9–6) Grissom 21,512 29–29 59 June 19 Giants 6–5 Kline (7–7) Worthington Gross (4) 8,474 30–29 60 June 20 Dodgers 2–1 Witt (1–0) Koufax — 21,614 31–29 61 June 21 Dodgers 11–7 Face (2–2) Roebuck — 6,633 32–29 62 June 22 Dodgers 1–4 Kipp Friend (9–7) Klippstein 32–30 63 June 22 Dodgers 2–3 (10) Koufax Porterfield (1–3) — 30,109 32–31 64 June 23 Cardinals 5–7 Brosnan Gross (2–1) Jackson 13,529 32–32 65 June 24 Cardinals 1–2 Paine Kline (7–8) — 15,899 32–33 66 June 25 Cardinals 1–3 Mizell Witt (1–1) — 15,375 32–34 67 June 26 Cardinals 2–6 McDaniel Law (7–5) Jackson 5,048 32–35 68 June 27 Cubs 1–3 Drabowsky Friend (9–8) Henry 17,026 32–36 69 June 28 Cubs 7–3 Raydon (3–2) Drott Porterfield (1) 8,413 33–36 70 June 29 Cubs 4–3 Face (3–2) Phillips — 34–36 71 June 29 Cubs 3–8 Briggs Gross (2–2) Henry 28,968 34–37
July: 15–12 (Home: 8–3; Away: 7–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 72 July 1 Phillies 2–4 Semproch Friend (9–9) — 17,990 34–38 73 July 3 @ Redlegs 2–0 Witt (2–1) Nuxhall Face (7) 11,707 35–38 74 July 4 @ Redlegs 3–4 Kellner Kline (7–9) — 35–39 75 July 4 @ Redlegs 3–8 Purkey Law (7–6) — 15,999 35–40 76 July 5 @ Braves 4–2 Friend (10–9) Burdette Face (8) 23,833 36–40 77 July 6 @ Braves 0–2 Jay Raydon (3–3) — 26,288 36–41 78 July 10 @ Cubs 7–8 Phillips Law (7–7) Henry 35,000 36–42 79 July 11 @ Cubs 7–2 Kline (8–9) Drabowsky — 8,070 37–42 80 July 12 @ Cardinals 0–2 Mizell Friend (10–10) — 12,956 37–43 81 July 13 @ Cardinals 10–8 Blackburn (2–1) Jackson Law (1) 27,844 38–43 82 July 13 @ Cardinals 8–6 Law (8–7) Stobbs — 27,844 39–43 83 July 15 @ Dodgers 6–2 Kline (9–9) Drysdale Gross (5) 20,827 40–43 84 July 16 @ Dodgers 7–4 Friend (11–10) Kipp Face (9) 19,706 41–43 85 July 17 @ Dodgers 3–5 Williams Witt (2–2) Labine 18,677 41–44 86 July 18 @ Giants 4–5 Miller Law (8–8) Grissom 22,770 41–45 87 July 19 @ Giants 4–5 Monzant Porterfield (1–4) Antonelli 19,685 41–46 88 July 20 @ Giants 3–7 Giel Friend (11–11) Gomez 22,814 41–47 89 July 23 Dodgers 11–3 Kline (10–9) Williams — 42–47 90 July 23 Dodgers 6–3 Friend (12–11) Labine Face (10) 18,938 43–47 91 July 24 Dodgers 5–3 Witt (3–2) Williams Face (11) 7,437 44–47 92 July 25 Giants 10–0 Raydon (4–3) Miller — 30,545 45–47 93 July 26 Giants 0–1 Antonelli Law (8–9) Grissom 15,549 45–48 94 July 27 Giants 2–1 (14) Gross (3–2) Monzant — 46–48 95 July 27 Giants 4–3 Porterfield (2–4) Giel — 31,718 47–48 96 July 29 Cubs 6–4 Friend (13–11) Briggs Face (12) 20,325 48–48 97 July 30 Cubs 7–1 (8) Witt (4–2) Phillips Porterfield (2) 20,869 49–48 98 July 31 Cubs 4–5 (8) Hobbie Gross (3–3) Henry 13,060 49–49
August: 21–12 (Home: 10–0; Away: 11–12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 99 August 1 Cardinals 2–0 Kline (11–9) Mabe — 27,862 50–49 100 August 2 Cardinals 1–0 Law (9–9) Jones — 15,028 51–49 101 August 3 Cardinals 2–0 Friend (14–11) Maglie — 52–49 102 August 3 Cardinals 2–1 Witt (5–2) Mizell — 53–49 103 August 4 @ Braves 4–3 Raydon (5–3) Pizarro Face (13) 24,096 54–49 104 August 5 @ Braves 1–6 Burdette Kline (11–10) — 25,545 54–50 105 August 6 @ Braves 1–2 Willey Law (9–10) — 28,760 54–51 106 August 7 @ Braves 2–3 Spahn Friend (14–12) — 24,525 54–52 107 August 8 Redlegs 1–0 Witt (6–2) Nuxhall — 26,040 55–52 108 August 9 Redlegs 5–2 Raydon (6–3) Kellner Face (14) 13,122 56–52 109 August 10 Redlegs 3–2 (10) Gross (4–3) Jeffcoat — 57–52 110 August 10 Redlegs 4–3 Face (4–2) Lawrence — 26,426 58–52 111 August 11 Braves 6–4 Friend (15–12) Spahn Face (15) 38,938 59–52 112 August 12 Braves 10–0 Witt (7–2) Rush — 36,867 60–52 113 August 13 @ Phillies 10–9 Smith (1–2) Meyer Law (2) 19,132 61–52 114 August 15 @ Redlegs 1–6 Purkey Kline (11–11) — 11,277 61–53 115 August 16 @ Redlegs 13–4 Friend (16–12) Lawrence Porterfield (3) 9,564 62–53 116 August 17 @ Redlegs 3–4 Acker Porterfield (2–5) — 62–54 117 August 17 @ Redlegs 5–7 Nuxhall Gross (4–4) Newcombe 17,416 62–55 118 August 19 @ Cubs 4–3 Raydon (7–3) Phillips Porterfield (4) 12,929 63–55 119 August 20 @ Cubs 4–2 Kline (12–11) Hillman Face (16) 64–55 120 August 20 @ Cubs 1–5 (5) Drott Friend (16–13) — 20,974 64–56 121 August 21 @ Cubs 3–5 Drabowsky Law (9–11) Hobbie 10,027 64–57 122 August 22 @ Cubs 8–2 Witt (8–2) Solis Law (3) 8,507 65–57 123 August 23 @ Cubs 6–1 Porterfield (3–5) Phillips — 16,097 66–57 124 August 24 @ Cardinals 8–4 Friend (17–13) Mizell Face (17) 67–57 125 August 24 @ Cardinals 8–12 Brosnan Gross (4–5) Wight 25,630 67–58 126 August 25 @ Cardinals 1–7 Jackson Kline (12–12) — 9,464 67–59 127 August 26 @ Cardinals 5–3 Gross (5–5) Jones Face (18) 13,271 68–59 128 August 27 @ Cardinals 14–1 Law (10–11) Chittum — 10,467 69–59 129 August 29 @ Braves 3–2 Friend (18–13) Spahn Gross (6) 35,642 70–59 130 August 30 @ Braves 1–9 Burdette Raydon (7–4) — 28,648 70–60 131 August 31 @ Braves 0–2 Willey Kline (12–13) — 32,870 70–61
September: 14–9 (Home: 12–6; Away: 2–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 132 September 1 Phillies 5–2 Law (11–11) Sanford — 71–61 133 September 1 Phillies 0–9 Simmons Porterfield (3–6) — 25,438 71–62 134 September 2 Phillies 3–2 Friend (19–13) Cardwell — 9,911 72–62 135 September 3 @ Redlegs 4–7 Schmidt Gross (5–6) Pena 7,917 72–63 136 September 5 Braves 1–0 (10) Witt (9–2) Willey — 30,319 73–63 137 September 6 Braves 7–6 Smith (2–2) Robinson Face (19) 23,392 74–63 138 September 7 Braves 1–3 Spahn Kline (12–14) — 74–64 139 September 7 Braves 4–1 Law (12–11) Burdette Face (20) 36,567 75–64 140 September 8 Redlegs 4–1 Raydon (8–4) Acker Gross (7) 11,577 76–64 141 September 9 Giants 2–1 Face (5–2) Jones — 32,250 77–64 142 September 10 Giants 6–4 (10) Friend (20–13) Grissom — 20,260 78–64 143 September 12 Dodgers 3–7 Craig Kline (12–15) — 21,267 78–65 144 September 13 Dodgers 9–4 Law (13–11) Mauriello Porterfield (5) 14,259 79–65 145 September 14 Cubs 5–4 Porterfield (4–6) Hillman Blackburn (3) 80–65 146 September 14 Cubs 6–2 Friend (21–13) Phillips — 23,160 81–65 147 September 16 Cardinals 3–1 Kline (13–15) Mabe — 25,977 82–65 148 September 19 @ Phillies 4–2 Friend (22–13) Cardwell — 8,498 83–65 149 September 20 @ Phillies 4–3 Law (14–11) Roberts Smith (2) 4,217 84–65 150 September 22 @ Phillies 2–3 (14) Meyer Kline (13–16) — 84–66 151 September 22 @ Phillies 0–1 Sanford Daniels (0–3) — 5,605 84–67 152 September 26 Phillies 2–3 Roberts Friend (22–14) — 12,000 84–68 153 September 27 Phillies 3–7 Cardwell Law (14–12) — 9,104 84–69 154 September 28 Phillies 4–6 (10) Meyer Gross (5–7) — 33,109 84–70
Legend:        = Win        = Loss Bold = Pirates team member

Notable transactions

• June 15, 1958: Johnny O'Brien and Gene Freese were traded by the Pirates to the St. Louis Cardinals for Dick Schofield and cash.

Roster

1958 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 48 Ron Blackburn 30 Bennie Daniels 26 Roy Face 19 Bob Friend 38 Don Gross 22 Ron Kline 32 Vern Law 16 Eddie O'Brien 47 George Perez 16 Bob Porterfield 34 Curt Raydon 37 Bob Smith 35 Don Williams 29,30 George Witt		Catchers 20 Hank Foiles 11 Bill Hall 28 Danny Kravitz 17 Hardy Peterson Infielders 23 Gene Baker  8 Harry Bright  8 Gene Freese 24 Dick Groat  3 Ted Kluszewski  9 Bill Mazeroski  6 Dick Schofield  7 R. C. Stevens  7 Dick Stuart 15 Frank Thomas		Outfielders 21 Roberto Clemente 25 Román Mejías 14 John Powers  4 Bob Skinner 18 Bill Virdon Other batters  6 Johnny O'Brien 12 Jim Pendleton 11 Paul Smith		Manager 40 Danny Murtaugh Coaches 41 Bill Burwell 42 Lenny Levy 43 Sam Narron 44 Frank Oceak

Player stats

= Indicates team 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	Hank Foiles	104	264	54	.205	8	50
1B	Ted Kluszewski	100	301	88	.292	4	37
2B	Bill Mazeroski	152	567	156	.275	19	68
3B	Frank Thomas	149	562	158	.281	35	109
SS	Dick Groat	151	584	175	.300	3	66
LF	Bob Skinner	144	529	170	.321	13	70
CF	Bill Virdon	144	604	161	.267	9	46
RF	Roberto Clemente	140	519	150	.289	6	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
Dick Stuart	67	254	68	.268	16	48
Román Mejías	76	157	42	.268	5	19
Bill Hall	51	116	33	.284	1	15
Danny Kravitz	45	100	24	.240	1	5
R.C. Stevens	59	90	24	.267	7	18
John Powers	57	82	15	.183	2	2
Gene Baker	29	56	14	.250	0	7
Dick Schofield	26	27	4	.148	0	2
Harry Bright	15	24	6	.250	1	3
Gene Freese	17	18	3	.167	1	2
Hardy Peterson	2	6	2	.333	0	0
Paul Smith	6	3	1	.333	0	0
Jim Pendleton	3	3	1	.333	0	0
Johnny O'Brien	3	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 Friend	38	274.0	22	14	3.68	135
Ron Kline	32	237.1	13	16	3.53	109
Vern Law	35	202.1	14	12	3.96	56
Red Witt	18	106.0	9	2	1.61	81

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
Curt Raydon	31	134.1	8	4	3.62	85
Bob Porterfield	37	87.2	4	6	3.29	39
Bennie Daniels	8	27.2	0	3	5.53	7

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	5	2	20	2.89	47
Don Gross	40	5	7	7	3.98	59
Ron Blackburn	38	2	1	3	3.39	31
Bob Smith	35	2	2	1	4.43	24
George Perez	4	0	1	1	5.40	2
Don Williams	2	0	0	0	6.75	3
Eddie O'Brien	1	0	0	0	13.50	1

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Columbus Jets	International League	Clyde King
AAA	Salt Lake City Bees	Pacific Coast League	Larry Shepard
A	Lincoln Chiefs	Western League	Monty Basgall
B	Tri-City Braves	Northwest League	Ray Hathaway
C	Douglas Copper Kings	Arizona–Mexico League	Bob Clear
C	San Jose Pirates/Las Vegas Wranglers	California League	Jack Paepke
C	Grand Forks Chiefs	Northern League	James Adlam
D	Salem Rebels	Appalachian League	Lamar Dorton
D	Clinton Pirates	Midwest League	Stan Wentzel and Wally Millies
D	San Angelo Pirates	Sophomore League	Al Kubski

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Douglas
San Jose franchised transferred to Las Vegas and renamed, May 26, 1958

References

• 1958 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
• 1958 Pittsburgh Pirates Page 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.