1908 Pittsburgh Pirates season

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1908  Pittsburgh Pirates
Pirates 1908.png
League National League
Ballpark Exposition Park
City Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [a]
Owners Barney Dreyfuss
Managers Fred Clarke
  1907 Seasons 1909  

The 1908 Pittsburgh [b] Pirates season was the 27th season for the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise. The team finished in a tie for second place in the National League with the New York Giants, one game behind the Chicago Cubs.

Contents

Background

The Pirates spent 46 days in first place, and were on top on October 3; however, the team lost its last game to the Cubs, which set up a replay of the infamous "Merkle" game between the Cubs and the Giants. The Cubs took it to win the pennant. Pittsburgh finished tied for second place with the Giants, just one game back. It was one of the closest races in baseball history.

Shortstop Honus Wagner had one of the most dominating hitting performances of all-time. The "Flying Dutchman" led the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs batted in, and stolen bases. He missed the triple crown by two home runs. For his efforts, Wagner was paid $5,000, possibly the most on the team.

Regular season

Season summary

The Pirates opened the season by winning three straight games in St. Louis. On Opening Day, the Pirates committed four errors while the Cardinals committed six. [1]

Fans were concerned because Honus Wagner, who had led the National League in hitting, slugging, and stolen bases in 1907, was not at the game; many worried that he was taking the year off. On April 17, Charlie Starr, who was Wagner's replacement, committed two errors. After that game, Wagner signed with the Pirates.

The home opener for the Pirates was a 5–1 victory for the Pirates over the Cardinals. From April 26 to May 9, the Pirates played only 3 games due to poor weather. [2]

On June 30, the Pirates took first place, as the Chicago Cubs lost to the Cincinnati Reds. [3]

On July 2, the Pirates began a critical five-game series against the Cubs. During the first game, Mordecai Brown threw a six-hit, no-walk shutout, winning the game 3–0. [4] The Pirates scheduled a doubleheader on the Fourth of July and more than 30,000 fans showed up. The Cubs won the first game 2–0 as Mordecai Brown only allowed two hits. [5]

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Chicago Cubs 9955.64347305225
New York Giants 9856.636152254631
Pittsburgh Pirates 9856.636142355621
Philadelphia Phillies 8371.5391643344037
Cincinnati Reds 7381.4742640373344
Boston Doves 6391.4093635422849
Brooklyn Superbas 53101.3444627502651
St. Louis Cardinals 49105.3185028492156

Record vs. opponents


Sources:
TeamBOSBRCHICINNYGPHIPITSTL
Boston 12–106–16–28–146–1610–127–1514–8
Brooklyn 10–124–186–166–165–179–1313–9
Chicago 16–6–218–416–611–11–19–13–110–1219–3
Cincinnati 14–816–66–168–14–110–128–1411–11
New York 16–616–611–11–114–8–116–611–11–114–8
Philadelphia 12–1017–513–9–112–106–169–1314–8
Pittsburgh 15–713–912–1014–811–11–113–920–2
St. Louis 8–149–133–1911–118–148–142–20

Opening Day lineup

Roster

1908 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

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

PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C George Gibson 143486111.228245
1B Harry Swacina 5317638.216013
2B Ed Abbaticchio 146500125.250161
SS Honus Wagner 151568201.35410109
3B Tommy Leach 152583151.259541
LF Fred Clarke 151551146.265235
CF Roy Thomas 10238699.256124
RF Chief Wilson 144529120.227343

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Alan Storke 6420251.252112
Jim Kane 5514535.241022
Spike Shannon 3212725.197012
Danny Moeller 3610921.19309
Warren Gill 277617.224014
Beals Becker 206510.15400
Ed Phelps 346415.234011
Charlie Starr 205911.18608
Paddy O'Connor 12163.18802
John Sullivan 110.00000
Hunky Shaw 110.00000
Cy Neighbors 100----00

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Vic Willis 41304.223112.0797
Nick Maddox 36260.22382.2870
Howie Camnitz 38236.21691.56118
Lefty Leifield 34218.215142.1087

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Sam Leever 38192.21572.1028
Irv Young 1689.2432.0131
Harley Young 848.1022.2317
Chick Brandom 317.0100.538
Bob Vail 415.0126.009
Tom McCarthy 26.0000.001

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Deacon Phillippe 512.00011.251
Homer Hillebrand 11.0000.001

Awards and honors

League top five finishers

Howie Camnitz

Fred Clarke

Tommy Leach

Honus Wagner

Notes

  1. From 1882-1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. In the early 20th century and earlier, the name of Pittsburgh was spelled with and without the final 'h'.

References

  1. Crazy '08: How a cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads and Magnates created the Greatest Year in Baseball History, p. 68, by Cait Murphy, Smithsonian Books, a Division of Harper Collins, 2007, ISBN   978-0-06-088937-1
  2. Crazy '08, p. 69
  3. Crazy '08, p. 95
  4. Crazy '08, p. 99
  5. Crazy '08, p. 101