1952 Pittsburgh Pirates season
Encyclopedia
The 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates
season was the team's 71st season in Major League Baseball
, and their 66th season in the National League
. The Pirates posted a record of 42 wins and 112 losses, their worst record since 1890
, and one of the worst in major league history.
Branch Rickey
and 60-year-old manager
Billy Meyer
. Meyer had led Pittsburgh to a last-place finish in the National League
in 1950
. After Rickey was installed as general manager, the Pirates were second-to-last in 1951
. Tension was high as the two-year contract of their star slugger, Ralph Kiner
, expired before the 1952 season. Kiner was the premier power hitter in baseball, having won the previous six National League home run titles. Rickey voiced what he viewed as inconsistent levels of commitment by Kiner when talking to the media. Kiner received permission to instead negotiate directly with owner John W. Galbreath and agreed to a reported one-year, $90,000 contract, making him the highest-paid player in the National League. Kiner was signed, but the most famous Pirate of all, 78-year-old Hall of Fame
member Honus Wagner
, decided to retire from his part-time coaching duties with the team. His number was retired, and he was given a lifetime pass to Forbes Field
.
Rickey wanted to hold a tryout for dozens of kids from the low minor league
levels, and his plan was largely supported by Bing Crosby
and the rest of the team's ownership. Rickey hired his former scout and coach Clyde Sukeforth
, who had scouted Jackie Robinson
for Rickey in the 1940s. Several top young prospects, like Vern Law
and Danny O'Connell
, were called to military service
for the Korean War
, and the more experienced Danny Murtaugh
retired to accept a minor league managing position. Expectations were high for 23-year-old outfielder Gus Bell
to support Kiner in the lineup. Murry Dickson
, who had won 21 games in 1951, nearly a third of the entire team's win total, was once again expected to be the anchor of the pitching rotation.
in 1952. Gus Bell missed training time due to family-related car problems and illness and was sent to the minor leagues. Towards the end of spring training, pitcher Bill Werle
was suspended indefinitely and fined $500, only the third player fined in over two decades of Billy Meyer's managing career. Werle professed his innocence and was reinstated before Opening Day
but he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
two weeks later.
13 rookie
s made the Pirates' Opening Day roster, including four teenagers: Bobby Del Greco
, Tony Bartirome
, Jim Waugh
and Lee Walls
. After four games, Pittsburgh's record was 2-2 but they quickly tumbled to the bottom of the majors by losing 16 of their next 17 games. The early two-game winning streak matched the longest they would see all year. Their top three pitchers combined to win just one of their first nine games started
. Kiner's hitting was affected by the lack of support as well as back problems and his batting average
was under .220 several weeks into the season. Kiner's difficulties and a club earned run average
over five resulted in a 5-28 record in mid-May. Gus Bell returned from the minors on May 12 and hit for some power but Kiner hit only .241 with 13 home runs and 31 RBIs in the first half which ended with Pittsburgh at 21-59. 21-year-old Dick Groat
was one of the Pirates' few bright spots in the first half with four hits in his first three games, but others went into long slumps like Jack Merson
's 0-for-35, Clyde McCullough
's 0-for-24 and Tony Bartirome's 0-for-29.
The second half soon resembled the first with a 2-11 stretch in mid-July. They were mathematically eliminated from pennant contention on August 6 with more than six weeks left to play. In early August, Pittsburgh called up 20-year-old pitcher Ron Necciai
from the minors. Necciai had pitched a legendary 27-strikeout game in the minors but gave up five runs in his first inning in the majors. Necciai not only finished the season with poor numbers but also injured his arm and never again pitched in the majors. Branch Rickey's youth movement, derided as "Operation Peach Fuzz", continued unabated. On August 20, the average age of Pittsburgh's starting lineup was only 23 with Kiner and Garagiola being the only non-rookies. On September 5, pitcher Bill Bell
made his major league debut at age 18. Including Bell, seven of the eight youngest players in the National League in 1952 were Pittsburgh Pirates. "Rickey's Dinks", as they were sometimes called, were not only young but small. In one game, the entire infield
was less than six feet tall.
The Pirates difficulties reached off the field as well. Ralph Kiner, enduring his worst season to-date, received a death threat in an attempt to extort $6,200. Rather than pay, he contacted the authorities and was kept under guard for a time. Financially, Pittsburgh's attendance was the lowest since World War II, falling more than 30% short of the one million budgeted. Branch Rickey sometimes saved money by sending only 21 players on road trips. The final losses for the franchise, including minor leagues and bonuses, were $800,000.
Billy Meyer resigned as manager on September 27, the second-to-last day of the season.
(which was greatly affected by the inclusion of the Players' League) and the worst for any franchise since the 1935 Boston Braves
. Since 1952, the only non-expansion team
to finish worse has been the 2003 Detroit Tigers
.
A few individuals came away with positive notes. A late-season home run surge by Ralph Kiner brought him his seventh consecutive home run championship (he finished tied with Hank Sauer
with 37 on the year). It was also his last. Dick Groat finished at .284 and was third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. Joe Garagiola logged the most playing time of his career and hit .273 with a career-high 54 RBIs, third most on the team behind only Kiner and Gus Bell.
On the flipside, teenagers Tony Bartirome and Bobby Del Greco were regulars but neither hit over .220. Seven other players had at least 40 at-bats but hit under .200. Kiner's home run total (37) was more than the next four highest on the team combined (16, 8, 7, 5). As a team, Pittsburgh was last in the National League in runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs, batting average, slugging percentage, complete games, ERA, walks allowed, home runs allowed, fielding percentage and errors committed. Murry Dickson, who won 21 games in 1951, lost 20 games in 1952, going 14-20. Only three other pitchers won more than two games.
Among their young players, only Jim Waugh - the youngest - played in the majors again before 1955. Waugh played in 1953, his last year; Ron Necciai and Tony Bartirome never played in the majors after 1952; Bill Bell pitched one inning in 1955, his last; and Bobby Del Greco, Lee Walls and Ron Kline
had longer careers but not until several years later. Dick Groat and pitcher Bob Friend
were the only players to endure the 1952 season who also played with the 1960 World Series
champion Pirates.
writer Len Biederman recalled an earlier humorous practice by giving Dick Groat a dime
while he was in an 0-for-19 slump. When Groat broke out of the slump with a 5-for-5 game, Biederman gave Kiner a quarter
with similar positive results so Biederman continued giving coins to various Pirates. Joe Garagiola, the regular catcher for the 1952 Pirates, frequently used the team's struggles in his later career as a baseball sportscaster
with lines like, "They talk about Pearl Harbor
being something; they should have seen the 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates" and "In an eight-team league, we should've finished ninth."
Bartlesville franchise transferred to Pittsburg (Kansas), July 7, 1952
The 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
season was the team's 71st season in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, and their 66th season in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. The Pirates posted a record of 42 wins and 112 losses, their worst record since 1890
1890 Pittsburg Alleghenys season
The Pittsburgh Alleghenys season was a season in American baseball. The team finished eighth and last in the National League with a record of 23-113, 66.5 games behind the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. The 113 losses by the Alleghenys set a new major league record, breaking the old record of 111 set the...
, and one of the worst in major league history.
Offseason
The Pirates were led in 1952 by 70-year-old general managerGeneral manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
Branch Rickey
Branch Rickey
Wesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1967...
and 60-year-old manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Billy Meyer
Billy Meyer
William Adam Meyer was an American baseball player and manager. He holds the dubious distinction as having played for, and managed, two of the worst teams in the history of Major League Baseball....
. Meyer had led Pittsburgh to a last-place finish in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in 1950
1950 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
. After Rickey was installed as general manager, the Pirates were second-to-last in 1951
1951 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* November 16, 1950: Catfish Metkovich was drafted by the Pirates from the Oakland Oaks in the 1950 rule 5 draft.- Notable transactions :* June 15, 1951: Cliff Chambers and Wally Westlake were traded by the Pirates to the St...
. Tension was high as the two-year contract of their star slugger, Ralph Kiner
Ralph Kiner
Ralph McPherran Kiner is an American former Major League Baseball player and has been an announcer for the New York Mets since the team's inception. Though injuries forced his retirement from active play after 10 seasons, Kiner's tremendous slugging outpaced nearly all of his National League...
, expired before the 1952 season. Kiner was the premier power hitter in baseball, having won the previous six National League home run titles. Rickey voiced what he viewed as inconsistent levels of commitment by Kiner when talking to the media. Kiner received permission to instead negotiate directly with owner John W. Galbreath and agreed to a reported one-year, $90,000 contract, making him the highest-paid player in the National League. Kiner was signed, but the most famous Pirate of all, 78-year-old Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
member Honus Wagner
Honus Wagner
-Louisville Colonels:Recognizing his talent, Barrow recommended Wagner to the Louisville Colonels. After some hesitation about his awkward figure, Wagner was signed by the Colonels, where he hit .338 in 61 games....
, decided to retire from his part-time coaching duties with the team. His number was retired, and he was given a lifetime pass to Forbes Field
Forbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
.
Rickey wanted to hold a tryout for dozens of kids from the low minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
levels, and his plan was largely supported by Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
and the rest of the team's ownership. Rickey hired his former scout and coach Clyde Sukeforth
Clyde Sukeforth
Clyde Leroy Sukeforth , nicknamed "Sukey," was a former Major League Baseball catcher, coach, scout and manager who was best known for scouting and signing the Major Leagues' first black player in the modern era, Jackie Robinson.Sukeforth was born in Washington, Maine...
, who had scouted Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
for Rickey in the 1940s. Several top young prospects, like Vern Law
Vern Law
Vernon Sanders Law is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for 16 seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Career:Law was a member of the National League All Star Team in...
and Danny O'Connell
Danny O'Connell
Daniel Francis O'Connell was an American infielder in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Milwaukee Braves , New York/San Francisco Giants andWashington Senators...
, were called to military service
Military service
Military service, in its simplest sense, is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary draft . Some nations require a specific amount of military service from every citizen...
for the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, and the more experienced Danny Murtaugh
Danny Murtaugh
Daniel Edward Murtaugh was an American second baseman, manager, front-office executive and coach in Major League Baseball best known for his 29-year association with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a player and manager...
retired to accept a minor league managing position. Expectations were high for 23-year-old outfielder Gus Bell
Gus Bell
David Russell "Gus" Bell, Jr. was an American center and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Pittsburgh Pirates , Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs , New York Mets and Milwaukee Braves...
to support Kiner in the lineup. Murry Dickson
Murry Dickson
Murry Monroe Dickson was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and 1950s...
, who had won 21 games in 1951, nearly a third of the entire team's win total, was once again expected to be the anchor of the pitching rotation.
Notable transactions
- Prior to 1952 season: Sonny Senerchia was signed as a free agent by the Pirates.
A season to forget
The Pirates struggled throughout spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1952. Gus Bell missed training time due to family-related car problems and illness and was sent to the minor leagues. Towards the end of spring training, pitcher Bill Werle
Bill Werle
William George "Bill" Werle was a left-handed major league baseball pitcher fromOakland, California. He pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox from 1949–1954. His nickname was Bugs. He threw and batted left-handed...
was suspended indefinitely and fined $500, only the third player fined in over two decades of Billy Meyer's managing career. Werle professed his innocence and was reinstated before Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
but he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
two weeks later.
13 rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
s made the Pirates' Opening Day roster, including four teenagers: Bobby Del Greco
Bobby Del Greco
Robert George Del Greco was an Outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs , New York Yankees , Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Athletics .Del Greco grew up in Pittsburgh's Hill District and was signed by the hometown Pirates...
, Tony Bartirome
Tony Bartirome
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Bartirome was an American baseball player. He played infield for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1952 baseball season. He also went on to serve as a coach for the Atlanta Braves in 1986 and 1987. He was the team trainer for the Pittsburgh Pirates for several years as...
, Jim Waugh
Jim Waugh
James Elden "Jim" Waugh was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Waugh played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in and . Born in Lancaster, Ohio, he batted and threw right-handed....
and Lee Walls
Lee Walls
Raymond Lee Walls, Jr. , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1953-1964. Walls would play for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played one season in Japan in 1965 for the...
. After four games, Pittsburgh's record was 2-2 but they quickly tumbled to the bottom of the majors by losing 16 of their next 17 games. The early two-game winning streak matched the longest they would see all year. Their top three pitchers combined to win just one of their first nine games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
. Kiner's hitting was affected by the lack of support as well as back problems and his batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
was under .220 several weeks into the season. Kiner's difficulties and a club earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
over five resulted in a 5-28 record in mid-May. Gus Bell returned from the minors on May 12 and hit for some power but Kiner hit only .241 with 13 home runs and 31 RBIs in the first half which ended with Pittsburgh at 21-59. 21-year-old Dick Groat
Dick Groat
Richard Morrow Groat is a former two-sport athlete best known as a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for four National League teams, mainly the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in after winning the batting title with a .325...
was one of the Pirates' few bright spots in the first half with four hits in his first three games, but others went into long slumps like Jack Merson
Jack Merson
John Warren Merson was a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. He was originally signed by the Washington Senators in 1940, but was released in 1941 without playing a single game for them. In 1947, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Merson as a free agent, and he made his debut with...
's 0-for-35, Clyde McCullough
Clyde McCullough
Clyde Edward McCullough was an American catcher in Major League Baseball. After his playing career ended, he also managed in the minor leagues and was a major-league coach...
's 0-for-24 and Tony Bartirome's 0-for-29.
The second half soon resembled the first with a 2-11 stretch in mid-July. They were mathematically eliminated from pennant contention on August 6 with more than six weeks left to play. In early August, Pittsburgh called up 20-year-old pitcher Ron Necciai
Ron Necciai
Ronald Andrew Necciai [nec-shy], , is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1952 season...
from the minors. Necciai had pitched a legendary 27-strikeout game in the minors but gave up five runs in his first inning in the majors. Necciai not only finished the season with poor numbers but also injured his arm and never again pitched in the majors. Branch Rickey's youth movement, derided as "Operation Peach Fuzz", continued unabated. On August 20, the average age of Pittsburgh's starting lineup was only 23 with Kiner and Garagiola being the only non-rookies. On September 5, pitcher Bill Bell
Bill Bell (baseball)
William Samuel "Ding Dong" Bell was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Bell played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in and . In 5 career games, he had a 0-1 record, with a 4.32 ERA. He batted and threw right-handed....
made his major league debut at age 18. Including Bell, seven of the eight youngest players in the National League in 1952 were Pittsburgh Pirates. "Rickey's Dinks", as they were sometimes called, were not only young but small. In one game, the entire infield
Infield
Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
was less than six feet tall.
The Pirates difficulties reached off the field as well. Ralph Kiner, enduring his worst season to-date, received a death threat in an attempt to extort $6,200. Rather than pay, he contacted the authorities and was kept under guard for a time. Financially, Pittsburgh's attendance was the lowest since World War II, falling more than 30% short of the one million budgeted. Branch Rickey sometimes saved money by sending only 21 players on road trips. The final losses for the franchise, including minor leagues and bonuses, were $800,000.
Billy Meyer resigned as manager on September 27, the second-to-last day of the season.
Final results
When the season mercifully ended, Pittsburgh's final record was 42-112. The winning percentage and number of losses were the worst for the franchise since the 1890 season1890 Pittsburg Alleghenys season
The Pittsburgh Alleghenys season was a season in American baseball. The team finished eighth and last in the National League with a record of 23-113, 66.5 games behind the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. The 113 losses by the Alleghenys set a new major league record, breaking the old record of 111 set the...
(which was greatly affected by the inclusion of the Players' League) and the worst for any franchise since the 1935 Boston Braves
1935 Boston Braves season
The 1935 Boston Braves season saw the Braves finish with the worst record in the National League and the majors, with a record of 38 wins and 115 losses.In an attempt to make his dream come true to manage, Babe Ruth came to the Braves in February 1935...
. Since 1952, the only non-expansion team
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
to finish worse has been the 2003 Detroit Tigers
2003 Detroit Tigers season
The 2003 Detroit Tigers lost more games than any other team in American League history and came within one loss of tying the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in modern major league history. The team’s record was 43-119, giving them a .265 winning percentage...
.
A few individuals came away with positive notes. A late-season home run surge by Ralph Kiner brought him his seventh consecutive home run championship (he finished tied with Hank Sauer
Hank Sauer
Henry John "Hank" Sauer was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1959, Sauer played for the Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs , St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants and San Francisco Giants...
with 37 on the year). It was also his last. Dick Groat finished at .284 and was third in National League Rookie of the Year voting. Joe Garagiola logged the most playing time of his career and hit .273 with a career-high 54 RBIs, third most on the team behind only Kiner and Gus Bell.
On the flipside, teenagers Tony Bartirome and Bobby Del Greco were regulars but neither hit over .220. Seven other players had at least 40 at-bats but hit under .200. Kiner's home run total (37) was more than the next four highest on the team combined (16, 8, 7, 5). As a team, Pittsburgh was last in the National League in runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBIs, batting average, slugging percentage, complete games, ERA, walks allowed, home runs allowed, fielding percentage and errors committed. Murry Dickson, who won 21 games in 1951, lost 20 games in 1952, going 14-20. Only three other pitchers won more than two games.
Among their young players, only Jim Waugh - the youngest - played in the majors again before 1955. Waugh played in 1953, his last year; Ron Necciai and Tony Bartirome never played in the majors after 1952; Bill Bell pitched one inning in 1955, his last; and Bobby Del Greco, Lee Walls and Ron Kline
Ron Kline
Ronald Lee Kline was a former professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of seventeen seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta...
had longer careers but not until several years later. Dick Groat and pitcher Bob Friend
Bob Friend
Robert Bartmess Friend is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who pitched primarily for the Pittsburgh Pirates , joining the New York Yankees and New York Mets in his final season of...
were the only players to endure the 1952 season who also played with the 1960 World Series
1960 World Series
The 1960 World Series was played between the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League and the New York Yankees of the American League from October 5 to October 13, 1960...
champion Pirates.
Anecdotes, etc.
The failure of the 1952 Pirates was the source of several anecdotes and side-stories. Pittsburgh PressPittsburgh Press
The Pittsburgh Press is an online newspaper in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, currently owned and operated by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Historically, it was a major afternoon paper...
writer Len Biederman recalled an earlier humorous practice by giving Dick Groat a dime
Dime (United States coin)
The dime is a coin 10 cents, one tenth of a United States dollar, labeled formally as "one dime". The denomination was first authorized by the Coinage Act of 1792. The dime is the smallest in diameter and is the thinnest of all U.S...
while he was in an 0-for-19 slump. When Groat broke out of the slump with a 5-for-5 game, Biederman gave Kiner a quarter
Quarter (United States coin)
A quarter dollar, commonly shortened to quarter, is a coin worth ¼ of a United States dollar, or 25 cents. The quarter has been produced since 1796. The choice of 25¢ as a denomination, as opposed to 20¢ which is more common in other parts of the world, originated with the practice of dividing...
with similar positive results so Biederman continued giving coins to various Pirates. Joe Garagiola, the regular catcher for the 1952 Pirates, frequently used the team's struggles in his later career as a baseball sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
with lines like, "They talk about Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
being something; they should have seen the 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates" and "In an eight-team league, we should've finished ninth."
Opening Day lineup
| Opening Day Starters | |
|---|---|
| 4/15/1952 @St. Louis 1952 St. Louis Cardinals season The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 71st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 61st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 88-66 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League.... |
|
| Position | Player |
| P | Murry Dickson Murry Dickson Murry Monroe Dickson was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and 1950s... |
| C | Clyde McCullough Clyde McCullough Clyde Edward McCullough was an American catcher in Major League Baseball. After his playing career ended, he also managed in the minor leagues and was a major-league coach... |
| 1B | Catfish Metkovich Catfish Metkovich George Michael "Catfish" Metkovich was an American outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox , Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Braves... |
| 2B | Jack Merson Jack Merson John Warren Merson was a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. He was originally signed by the Washington Senators in 1940, but was released in 1941 without playing a single game for them. In 1947, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Merson as a free agent, and he made his debut with... |
| 3B | Dick Hall Dick Hall Richard Wallace Hall was a Pitcher and part-time Outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Athletics , Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies .-Biography:He helped the Orioles win the 1966 and 1970 World Series and 1969 and 1971 American League... |
| SS | Clem Koshorek Clem Koshorek Clement John Koshorek was an infielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-External links:... |
| LF | Ralph Kiner Ralph Kiner Ralph McPherran Kiner is an American former Major League Baseball player and has been an announcer for the New York Mets since the team's inception. Though injuries forced his retirement from active play after 10 seasons, Kiner's tremendous slugging outpaced nearly all of his National League... |
| CF | Ted Beard Ted Beard Cramer Theodore Beard was an American professional baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago White Sox for parts of seven season spanning 1948-1958... |
| RF | Gus Bell Gus Bell David Russell "Gus" Bell, Jr. was an American center and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Pittsburgh Pirates , Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs , New York Mets and Milwaukee Braves... |
Notable transactions
- May 17, 1952: Bill HowertonBill HowertonWilliam Ray Howerton was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors, from until , for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Giants.-Sources:...
was selected off waivers from the Pirates by the New York GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. - June 16, 1952: Dick GroatDick GroatRichard Morrow Groat is a former two-sport athlete best known as a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for four National League teams, mainly the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in after winning the batting title with a .325...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.
Roster
| 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | Manager Coaches |
||||||
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 | 118 | 344 | 94 | .273 | 8 | 54 | |
| 1B | 124 | 355 | 78 | .220 | 0 | 16 | |
| 2B | 111 | 398 | 98 | .246 | 5 | 38 | |
| 3B | 67 | 214 | 57 | .266 | 4 | 18 | |
| SS | 95 | 384 | 109 | .284 | 1 | 29 | |
| OF | 149 | 516 | 126 | .244 | 37 | 87 | |
| OF | 131 | 468 | 117 | .250 | 16 | 59 | |
| OF | 99 | 341 | 74 | .217 | 1 | 20 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | 373 | 101 | .271 | 7 | 41 | |
| 98 | 322 | 84 | .261 | 0 | 15 | |
| 76 | 232 | 41 | .177 | 5 | 22 | |
| 66 | 172 | 40 | .233 | 1 | 15 | |
| 29 | 100 | 22 | .220 | 3 | 11 | |
| 55 | 95 | 17 | .179 | 0 | 1 | |
| 26 | 80 | 11 | .138 | 0 | 2 | |
| 32 | 80 | 15 | .188 | 2 | 5 | |
| 51 | 73 | 17 | .233 | 1 | 7 | |
| 29 | 66 | 7 | .106 | 0 | 5 | |
| 19 | 56 | 8 | .143 | 0 | 4 | |
| 15 | 44 | 8 | .182 | 0 | 3 | |
| 20 | 27 | 6 | .222 | 1 | 3 | |
| 13 | 25 | 8 | .320 | 0 | 4 | |
| 6 | 21 | 2 | .095 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | 13 | 2 | .154 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 277.2 | 14 | 21 | 3.57 | 112 | |
| 31 | 214 | 7 | 16 | 4.12 | 90 | |
| 12 | 54.2 | 1 | 6 | 7.08 | 31 | |
| 5 | 26.1 | 0 | 3 | 7.18 | 8 | |
| 2 | 3.1 | 0 | 2 | 29.70 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 185 | 7 | 17 | 4.18 | 75 | |
| 48 | 153.1 | 2 | 12 | 4.46 | 79 | |
| 19 | 83.2 | 1 | 8 | 4.84 | 34 | |
| 27 | 78.2 | 0 | 7 | 5.49 | 27 | |
| 17 | 52.1 | 1 | 6 | 6.36 | 18 | |
| 12 | 35.2 | 2 | 3 | 6.31 | 17 | |
| 8 | 18.1 | 1 | 2 | 6.87 | 5 | |
| 4 | 15.2 | 0 | 1 | 4.60 | 4 | |
| 5 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 10.80 | 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3.61 | 24 | |
| 31 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3.92 | 25 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 6 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.38 | 2 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 1 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.36 | 1 |
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Hollywood, DenverBartlesville franchise transferred to Pittsburg (Kansas), July 7, 1952