1943 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1943 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 62nd season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 57th in the National League. The Pirates finished fourth in the league standings with a record of 80–74.

1943 Pittsburgh Pirates
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1887)
Location
Forbes Field (since 1909) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1] (since 1907)
Other information
Owner(s)	Bill Benswanger
Manager(s)	Frankie Frisch
Local radio	WWSW Rosey Rowswell, Jack Craddock
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Regular season

Season standings

National League	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
St. Louis Cardinals	105	49	0.682	—	58–21	47–28
Cincinnati Reds	87	67	0.565	18	48–29	39–38
Brooklyn Dodgers	81	72	0.529	23½	46–31	35–41
Pittsburgh Pirates	80	74	0.519	25	47–30	33–44
Chicago Cubs	74	79	0.484	30½	36–38	38–41
Boston Braves	68	85	0.444	36½	38–39	30–46
Philadelphia Phillies	64	90	0.416	41	33–43	31–47
New York Giants	55	98	0.359	49½	34–43	21–55

Record vs. opponents

1943 National League Records Sources:
Team	BOS	BR	CHC	CIN	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Boston	—	12–9	8–14	11–11	11–11	11–11	12–10	3–19
Brooklyn	9–12	—	10–12	13–9	14–8	17–5	11–11	7–15
Chicago	14–8	12–10	—	9–13	12–9–1	10–12	8–14	9–13
Cincinnati	11–11	9–13	13–9	—	16–6–1	19–3	9–13	10–12
New York	11–11	8–14	9–12–1	6–16–1	—	8–14–1	9–13	4–18
Philadelphia	11–11	5–17	12–10	3–19	14–8–1	—	10–12–1	9–13–1
Pittsburgh	10–12	11–11	14–8	13–9	13–9	12–10–1	—	7–15–2
St. Louis	19–3	15–7	13–9	12–10	18–4	13–9–1	15–7–2	—

Game log

1943 Game Log: 80–74 (Home: 47–30; Away: 33–44)
April: 3–4 (Home: 1–2; Away: 2–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 21 @ Cubs 6–0 Sewell (1–0) Derringer — 9,044 1–0 2 April 22 @ Cubs 3–4 Hanyzewski Dietz (0–1) — 3,325 1–1 3 April 24 @ Cubs 3–6 Bithorn Hallett (0–1) — 6,771 1–2 4 April 25 @ Cubs 6–2 Sewell (2–0) Warneke — 7,349 2–2 5 April 27 Reds 4–1 Lanning (1–0) Starr Rescigno (1) 11,937 3–2 6 April 28 Reds 1–3 Riddle Hebert (0–1) Beggs 2,121 3–3 7 April 29 Reds 1–6 Vander Meer Gornicki (0–1) — 3,146 3–4
May: 13–13 (Home: 9–3; Away: 4–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 8 May 1 Cubs 6–3 Sewell (3–0) Passeau — 2,667 4–4 9 May 2 Cubs 3–0 Hebert (1–1) Bithorn — 16,491 5–4 10 May 2 Cubs 1–0 Klinger (1–0) Barrett — 16,491 6–4 11 May 3 @ Reds 5–7 Vander Meer Dietz (0–2) Riddle 2,958 6–5 12 May 4 @ Reds 8–3 Rescigno (1–0) Starr — 1,685 7–5 13 May 5 @ Reds 2–3 Walters Lanning (1–1) — 8,370 7–6 14 May 9 Cardinals 1–8 Cooper Hebert (1–2) — 25,887 7–7 15 May 9 Cardinals 3–3 — 25,887 7–7 16 May 13 @ Dodgers 4–5 Webber Dietz (0–3) — 6,735 7–8 17 May 14 @ Dodgers 5–2 Gornicki (1–1) Fitzsimmons — 7,230 8–8 18 May 15 @ Giants 1–2 (11) Adams Rescigno (1–1) — 6,856 8–9 19 May 16 @ Giants 1–3 Wittig Butcher (0–1) — 13,056 8–10 20 May 16 @ Giants 2–1 Klinger (2–0) Trinkle — 13,056 9–10 21 May 18 @ Braves 0–4 Javery Sewell (3–1) — 1,026 9–11 22 May 19 @ Braves 1–2 (11) Andrews Rescigno (1–2) — — 9–12 23 May 19 @ Braves 3–5 Jeffcoat Gornicki (1–2) Stout 4,959 9–13 24 May 22 @ Phillies 0–10 Rowe Klinger (2–1) — 11,692 9–14 25 May 23 @ Phillies 4–1 Sewell (4–1) Podgajny — — 10–14 26 May 23 @ Phillies 2–5 Kraus Rescigno (1–3) Johnson — 10–15 27 May 26 Dodgers 17–4 Hebert (2–2) Macon — 2,130 11–15 28 May 27 Dodgers 9–5 Lanning (2–1) Melton Butcher (1) 14,724 12–15 29 May 28 Dodgers 2–6 Head Gornicki (1–3) — 2,456 12–16 30 May 29 Phillies 12–4 Rescigno (2–3) Gerheauser — 1,727 13–16 31 May 30 Phillies 4–3 Sewell (5–1) Rowe — — 14–16 32 May 30 Phillies 2–1 (10) Hebert (3–2) Kraus — 7,297 15–16 33 May 31 Braves 1–6 Tobin Brandt (0–1) — 14,391 15–17 34 May 31 Braves 4–0 Klinger (3–1) Salvo — 14,391 16–17
June: 16–11 (Home: 12–4; Away: 4–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 35 June 1 Braves 5–4 (14) Lanning (3–1) Javery — 1,077 17–17 36 June 2 Braves 3–2 Rescigno (3–3) Andrews — 10,162 18–17 37 June 3 Giants 9–6 Sewell (6–1) Trinkle Lanning (1) 3,051 19–17 38 June 4 Giants 9–8 Butcher (1–1) Mungo Gornicki (1) 14,120 20–17 39 June 5 Giants 1–5 Hubbell Rescigno (3–4) — 3,186 20–18 40 June 6 Giants 18–1 Klinger (4–1) Melton — — 21–18 41 June 6 Giants 7–0 Hallett (1–1) Wittig — 21,358 22–18 42 June 7 Dodgers 1–4 Fitzsimmons Hebert (3–3) — 19,162 22–19 43 June 9 @ Cardinals 3–4 Cooper Sewell (6–2) — 2,365 22–20 44 June 10 @ Cardinals 0–5 Lanier Gornicki (1–4) — 13,356 22–21 45 June 12 @ Cardinals 0–1 Pollet Hallett (1–2) — 3,022 22–22 46 June 13 @ Cardinals 10–3 Hebert (4–3) Brecheen — 16,255 23–22 47 June 13 @ Cardinals 4–4 (12) — 16,255 23–22 48 June 15 Cubs 4–2 Sewell (7–2) Prim — 1,707 24–22 49 June 16 Cubs 5–2 Gornicki (2–4) Bithorn — 12,389 25–22 50 June 17 Cubs 2–3 (7) Derringer Hebert (4–4) — 2,071 25–23 51 June 18 Reds 0–1 (14) Starr Butcher (1–2) — 2,274 25–24 52 June 19 Reds 4–3 (11) Lanning (4–1) Shoun — 4,235 26–24 53 June 20 Reds 5–4 Sewell (8–2) Vander Meer — — 27–24 54 June 20 Reds 4–2 Rescigno (4–4) Beggs Lanning (2) 27,392 28–24 55 June 22 @ Cubs 0–1 Derringer Podgajny (0–1) — 3,783 28–25 56 June 23 @ Cubs 1–4 Passeau Hebert (4–5) — — 28–26 57 June 23 @ Cubs 7–5 Gornicki (3–4) Fleming — 8,893 29–26 58 June 24 @ Cubs 2–1 Sewell (9–2) Lee — 3,217 30–26 59 June 26 @ Reds 9–0 Butcher (2–2) Vander Meer — 2,104 31–26 60 June 27 @ Reds 3–6 Riddle Podgajny (0–2) — 12,015 31–27 61 June 27 @ Reds 1–5 Starr Gornicki (3–5) Beggs 12,015 31–28 62 June 28 Reds 7–1 Sewell (10–2) Walters — 12,979 32–28 63 June 30 @ Phillies 3–3 (11) — 10,655 32–28
July: 18–14 (Home: 12–7; Away: 6–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 64 July 1 @ Phillies 1–6 Rowe Podgajny (0–3) — — 32–29 65 July 1 @ Phillies 2–1 Klinger (5–1) Gerheauser — 6,884 33–29 66 July 2 @ Phillies 2–1 Sewell (11–2) Kraus — 3,669 34–29 67 July 3 @ Braves 10–1 Rescigno (5–4) Javery — 2,559 35–29 68 July 4 @ Braves 1–3 Barrett Hebert (4–6) — — 35–30 69 July 4 @ Braves 0–13 Tobin Gornicki (3–6) — 13,275 35–31 70 July 5 @ Giants 8–4 Butcher (3–2) Melton — — 36–31 71 July 5 @ Giants 0–9 Chase Klinger (5–2) — 8,688 36–32 72 July 8 @ Dodgers 8–2 Sewell (12–2) Fitzsimmons — 7,075 37–32 73 July 9 @ Dodgers 7–8 (10) Higbe Klinger (5–3) — 9,563 37–33 74 July 10 @ Dodgers 6–23 Davis Podgajny (0–4) — 14,631 37–34 75 July 11 @ Dodgers 3–2 Butcher (4–2) Higbe — — 38–34 76 July 11 @ Dodgers 4–5 Allen Rescigno (5–5) Head 28,696 38–35 77 July 15 Cardinals 4–3 Klinger (6–3) Lanier — 24,578 39–35 78 July 16 Cardinals 9–5 Sewell (13–2) Krist — 4,050 40–35 79 July 17 Cardinals 7–3 Butcher (5–2) Brecheen — — 41–35 80 July 17 Cardinals 3–2 Hebert (5–6) Munger — 11,362 42–35 81 July 18 Cardinals 4–7 Cooper Gornicki (3–7) — — 42–36 82 July 18 Cardinals 5–6 Munger Sewell (13–3) Cooper 34,349 42–37 83 July 20 Phillies 1–0 Sewell (14–3) Barrett — 11,996 43–37 84 July 21 Phillies 10–2 Klinger (7–3) Conger — 2,041 44–37 85 July 22 Phillies 0–3 Rowe Butcher (5–3) — — 44–38 86 July 22 Phillies 6–9 Kraus Gornicki (3–8) — 5,199 44–39 87 July 23 Phillies 3–2 Gee (1–0) Gerheauser — 1,895 45–39 88 July 24 Dodgers 6–1 Sewell (15–3) Melton — 5,951 46–39 89 July 25 Dodgers 7–1 Klinger (8–3) Head — — 47–39 90 July 25 Dodgers 7–1 Hebert (6–6) Higbe — 30,309 48–39 91 July 26 Dodgers 6–10 (10) Macon Butcher (5–4) — 6,125 48–40 92 July 27 Giants 8–5 Gee (2–0) Chase — 2,735 49–40 93 July 28 Giants 8–3 Sewell (16–3) Hubbell — 29,585 50–40 94 July 30 Giants 7–13 Melton Klinger (8–4) Adams 2,851 50–41 95 July 31 Braves 5–6 Javery Hebert (6–7) — 3,762 50–42
August: 17–20 (Home: 6–7; Away: 11–13) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 96 August 1 Braves 3–6 (10) Tobin Gee (2–1) — — 50–43 97 August 1 Braves 7–1 Sewell (17–3) Odom — 31,844 51–43 98 August 2 Braves 5–4 Gornicki (4–8) Barrett — 11,109 52–43 99 August 3 Braves 1–6 Andrews Rescigno (5–6) — 2,455 52–44 100 August 4 Phillies 6–2 Butcher (6–4) Gerheauser — 10,417 53–44 101 August 6 @ Cardinals 3–8 Lanier Sewell (17–4) — 23,976 53–45 102 August 7 @ Cardinals 4–1 Hebert (7–7) Munger — 3,530 54–45 103 August 8 @ Cardinals 6–8 Dickson Rescigno (5–7) Lanier — 54–46 104 August 8 @ Cardinals 2–5 Brecheen Klinger (8–5) — 15,572 54–47 105 August 11 @ Phillies 1–2 Rowe Sewell (17–5) — — 54–48 106 August 11 @ Phillies 0–2 Barrett Gornicki (4–9) — 11,129 54–49 107 August 12 @ Phillies 3–4 Conger Rescigno (5–8) Kimball 12,065 54–50 108 August 14 @ Phillies 8–2 Klinger (9–5) Kraus — — 55–50 109 August 14 @ Phillies 2–1 Butcher (7–4) Gerheauser Gornicki (2) 6,344 56–50 110 August 15 @ Braves 1–5 Tobin Hebert (7–8) — — 56–51 111 August 15 @ Braves 11–1 Sewell (18–5) Barrett — 18,400 57–51 112 August 16 @ Braves 5–1 Gee (3–1) Javery — 1,654 58–51 113 August 17 @ Braves 8–0 Gornicki (5–9) Andrews — — 59–51 114 August 17 @ Braves 4–3 (11) Gornicki (6–9) Andrews Sewell (1) 4,831 60–51 115 August 18 @ Giants 7–6 (10) Gornicki (7–9) Allen Sewell (2) — 61–51 116 August 18 @ Giants 2–3 Hubbell Butcher (7–5) — 5,805 61–52 117 August 19 @ Giants 8–1 Hebert (8–8) Fischer — 2,863 62–52 118 August 20 @ Giants 2–3 Chase Sewell (18–6) — — 62–53 119 August 20 @ Giants 4–7 Melton Klinger (9–6) — 7,050 62–54 120 August 21 @ Giants 4–3 Brandt (1–1) Feldman — 5,186 63–54 121 August 22 @ Dodgers 1–6 Head Gornicki (7–10) — — 63–55 122 August 22 @ Dodgers 6–8 Barney Gornicki (7–11) — 28,285 63–56 123 August 24 @ Dodgers 9–6 (6) Sewell (19–6) Davis Gornicki (3) 6,611 64–56 124 August 25 @ Dodgers 4–6 Wyatt Butcher (7–6) Webber 10,995 64–57 125 August 26 Cubs 2–3 Derringer Hebert (8–9) — 2,107 64–58 126 August 27 Cubs 2–3 Passeau Klinger (9–7) — 9,115 64–59 127 August 28 Cubs 5–4 Gee (4–1) Wyse — 3,154 65–59 128 August 29 Cubs 2–11 Bithorn Sewell (19–7) — — 65–60 129 August 29 Cubs 3–1 Gornicki (8–11) Hanyzewski — 19,142 66–60 130 August 30 Cardinals 4–3 (10) Brandt (2–1) Brazle — — 67–60
September: 13–10 (Home: 7–5; Away: 6–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 133 September 1 Cardinals 6–8 Dickson Gee (4–2) — 5,234 67–63 134 September 3 @ Cubs 5–1 Sewell (20–7) Hanyzewski — 5,717 68–63 135 September 4 @ Cubs 7–4 Gornicki (9–11) Derringer Rescigno (2) 3,212 69–63 136 September 5 @ Cubs 5–4 (12) Brandt (3–1) Erickson Sewell (3) — 70–63 137 September 6 @ Cardinals 2–3 Brazle Butcher (7–7) — — 70–64 138 September 6 @ Cardinals 2–6 Brecheen Hebert (8–11) — 13,429 70–65 139 September 8 @ Cardinals 1–5 Munger Sewell (20–8) — 4,049 70–66 140 September 10 @ Reds 9–6 Hebert (9–11) Beggs — — 71–66 141 September 10 @ Reds 0–1 Walters Butcher (7–8) — 9,613 71–67 142 September 11 @ Reds 11–1 Klinger (10–8) Vander Meer — 1,568 72–67 143 September 12 @ Reds 0–1 Riddle Sewell (20–9) — — 72–68 144 September 12 @ Reds 7–0 Rescigno (6–8) Starr — 10,303 73–68 145 September 17 Reds 1–0 Butcher (8–8) Walters — 6,118 74–68 146 September 19 Reds 10–3 Sewell (21–9) Riddle — — 75–68 147 September 19 Reds 2–1 Butcher (9–8) Vander Meer — 13,646 76–68 148 September 22 Braves 3–5 Andrews Gornicki (9–12) — 1,404 76–69 149 September 23 Braves 1–2 Tobin Gee (4–3) — 1,784 76–70 150 September 25 Giants 7–2 Butcher (10–8) Chase — 1,530 77–70 151 September 26 Giants 5–0 Klinger (11–8) Melton — — 78–70 152 September 26 Giants 3–4 (10) Voiselle Gornicki (9–13) — 38,617 78–71 153 September 28 Dodgers 5–2 Hebert (10–11) Melton — — 79–71 154 September 28 Dodgers 4–2 Brandt (4–1) Davis Gornicki (4) 3,410 80–71 155 September 29 Dodgers 7–14 Ostermueller Rescigno (6–9) — 1,579 80–72
October: 0–2 (Home: 0–2; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 156 October 3 Phillies 1–3 Barrett Gee (4–4) — — 80–73 157 October 3 Phillies 3–11 McKee Cuccurullo (0–1) — 5,430 80–74
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

Roster

1943 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 24 Bill Brandt 19 Max Butcher 23 Cookie Cuccurullo 22 Dutch Dietz 26 Johnny Gee 27 Hank Gornicki 40 Jack Hallett 21 Wally Hebert 20 Bob Klinger 29 Johnny Lanning 39 Johnny Podgajny  4 Xavier Rescigno 30 Rip Sewell 25 Harry Shuman		Catchers  1 Bill Baker 22 Hank Camelli 12 Al López Infielders  5 Pete Coscarart  8 Bob Elliott  3 Elbie Fletcher  4 Huck Geary 16 Frankie Gustine  2 Tony Ordeñana  4 Al Rubeling		Outfielders 18 Johnny Barrett 23 Frank Colman  9 Vince DiMaggio 11,26 Tommy O'Brien 32 Jim Russell 17 Maurice Van Robays 14 Johnny Wyrostek Other batters -- Jimmy Wasdell		Manager 35 Frankie Frisch Coaches 36 Spud Davis 34 Jake Flowers 33 Honus Wagner

Player stats

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	Al López	118	372	98	.263	1	39
1B	Elbie Fletcher	154	544	154	.283	9	70
2B	Pete Coscarart	133	491	119	.242	0	48
SS	Frankie Gustine	112	414	120	.290	0	43
3B	Bob Elliott	156	581	183	.315	7	101
OF	Johnny Barrett	130	290	67	.231	1	32
OF	Vince DiMaggio	157	580	144	.248	15	88
OF	Jim Russell	146	533	138	.259	4	44

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
Maurice Van Robays	69	236	68	.288	1	35
Tommy O'Brien	89	232	72	.310	2	26
Bill Baker	63	172	47	.273	1	26
Al Rubeling	47	168	44	.262	0	9
Huck Geary	46	166	25	.151	1	13
Johnny Wyrostek	51	79	12	.152	0	1
Frank Colman	32	59	16	.271	0	4
Tony Ordeñana	1	4	2	.500	0	3
Hank Camelli	1	3	0	.000	0	0
Jimmy Wasdell	4	2	1	.500	0	1

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
Rip Sewell	35	265.1	21	9	2.54	65
Bob Klinger	33	195	11	8	2.72	65
Max Butcher	33	193.2	10	8	2.60	45
Wally Hebert	34	184	10	11	2.98	41
Johnny Gee	15	82	4	4	4.28	18
Cookie Cuccurullo	1	7	0	1	6.43	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
Hank Gornicki	42	147	9	13	3.98	63
Xavier Rescigno	37	132.2	6	9	2.98	41
Jack Hallett	9	47.2	1	2	1.70	11
Johnny Podgajny	15	34.1	0	4	4.72	7
Johnny Lanning	12	27	4	1	2.33	11

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
Bill Brandt	29	4	1	0	3.14	17
Harry Shuman	11	0	0	0	5.32	5
Dutch Dietz	8	0	3	0	6.00	4

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AA	Toronto Maple Leafs	International League	Burleigh Grimes
A	Albany Senators	Eastern League	Ripper Collins
B	York White Roses	Interstate League	Bunny Griffiths
D	Hornell Maples	PONY League	Frank Oceak

References

1. From 1882-1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Shore in 1907.

• 1943 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
• 1943 Pittsburgh Pirates Page at Baseball Almanac
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6.