Offseason

• October 14, 1952: 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...
  
   was traded by the Pirates to the Cincinnati Reds
  Cincinnati Reds
  The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
  
   for Cal Abrams
  Cal Abrams
  Calvin Ross Abrams , nicknamed Abie, was an American left-handed Major League Baseball player.-Baseball career:...
  
  , Joe Rossi
  Joe Rossi (baseball)
  Joseph Anthony Rossi was a professional baseball player. He played one season in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds in 1952, primarily as a catcher. Listed at 6' 1", 205 lb., Rossi batted and threw right handed...
  
  , and Gail Henley
  Gail Henley
  Gail Curtice Henley is a former Minor League Baseball manager, who spent one season in the majors as a player with the 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates.-Minor League managing career:*Montgomery Rebels...
  
  .
• Prior to 1953 season: Don Williams was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.
• March 19, 1953: Johnny O'Brien
  Johnny O'Brien
  John Thomas O'Brien is a former backup second baseman and pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Braves . O'Brien batted and threw right-handed...
  
   was signed by the Pirates as an amateur free agent (bonus baby
  Bonus Rule
  The Bonus Rule was a rule instituted by Major League Baseball in 1947 that prevented teams from assigning certain players to farm clubs. The rule stipulated that when a Major league team signed a player to a contract in excess of $4,000 , the Major League team was required to keep that player on...
  
  ).
• March 19, 1953: Eddie O'Brien
  Eddie O'Brien (baseball)
  Edward Joseph O'Brien is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop, outfielder and pitcher. He played his entire five-year baseball career for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
  
   was signed by the Pirates as an amateur free agent (bonus baby).

Notable transactions

• June 4, 1953: 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...
  
  , Joe Garagiola, 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...
  
  , and Howie Pollet
  Howie Pollet
  Howard Joseph Pollet was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and 1950s. A three-time All-Star in , and , he twice he led the National League in earned run average .Born in New Orleans, Pollet signed his first professional contract with the St...
  
   were traded by the Pirates to the Chicago Cubs
  Chicago Cubs
  The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
  
   for Toby Atwell
  Toby Atwell
  Maurice Dailey "Toby" Atwell was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Braves . Atwell batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
  
  , Bob Schultz
  Bob Schultz
  Robert Duffy Schultz was an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, his career extended for 11 seasons , including a full season and parts of three others in Major League Baseball as a member of the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers. Nicknamed "Bullet Bob,"...
  
  , Preston Ward
  Preston Ward
  Preston Meyer Ward was a lefty-hitting, righty-throwing first baseman/outfielder/third baseman, who played 9 seasons in the major leagues, playing in both the National and American Leagues. In the National League, he played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates...
  
  , George Freese
  George Freese
  George Walter Freese was a third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the Detroit Tigers in 1953, Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955 and Chicago Cubs in 1961....
  
  , Bob Addis
  Bob Addis
  Robert Gordon Addis, , more commonly known as Bob Addis, was a Major League outfielder.-Career:...
  
  , Gene Hermanski
  Gene Hermanski
  Eugene Victor Hermanski was a Major League Baseball outfielder. A native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, he attended Seton Hall University....
  
  , and $150,000.
• June 14, 1953: Pete Castiglione
  Pete Castiglione
  Peter Paul "Pete" Castiglione was an infielder in Major League Baseball player for eight seasons from 1947 to 1954...
  
   was traded by the Pirates 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...
  
   for Hal Rice
  Hal Rice
  Harold Housten "Hal" Rice also known as "Hoot", was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball for all or parts of seven seasons, from until , for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cubs. Most of his career was spent with the Cardinals, where he backed up Stan Musial...
  
  .

Roster

Starters by position

Other batters

Starting pitchers

Other pitchers

Relief pitchers

Farm system