1944 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1944 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 63rd season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 58th in the National League. The Pirates finished second in the league standings with a record of 90–63.

1944 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	—	54–22	51–27
Pittsburgh Pirates	90	63	0.588	14½	49–28	41–35
Cincinnati Reds	89	65	0.578	16	45–33	44–32
Chicago Cubs	75	79	0.487	30	35–42	40–37
New York Giants	67	87	0.435	38	39–36	28–51
Boston Braves	65	89	0.422	40	38–40	27–49
Brooklyn Dodgers	63	91	0.409	42	37–39	26–52
Philadelphia Phillies	61	92	0.399	43½	29–49	32–43

Record vs. opponents

1944 National League Records Sources:
Team	BOB	BKN	CHC	CIN	NYG	PHP	PIT	SLC
Boston	—	9–13	11–11	8–14	9–13	11–11–1	9–13	8–14
Brooklyn	13–9	—	8–14–1	8–14	10–12	16–6	4–18	4–18
Chicago	11–11	14–8–1	—	9–13–1	10–12	13–9	12–10–1	6–16
Cincinnati	14–8	14–8	13–9–1	—	15–7	13–19	12–10	8–14
New York	13–9	12–10	12–10	7–15	—	10–12	7–15–1	6–16
Philadelphia	11–11–1	6–16	9–13	9–13	12–10	—	9–12	5–17
Pittsburgh	13–9	18–4	10–12–1	10–12	15–7–1	12–9	—	12–10–3
St. Louis	14–8	18–4	16–6	14–8	16–6	17–5	10–12–3	—

Game log

1944 Game Log: 90–63 (Home: 49–28; Away: 41–35)
April: 3–5 (Home: 1–1; Away: 2–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 18 @ Cardinals 0–2 Lanier Roe (0–1) — 4,030 0–1 2 April 20 @ Cardinals 3–5 Munger Rescigno (0–1) — 2,272 0–2 3 April 21 Reds 2–4 Beggs Sewell (0–1) — 10,877 0–3 4 April 26 Cubs 6–1 Roe (1–1) Fleming — 3,463 1–3 5 April 28 @ Reds 0–2 Heusser Butcher (0–1) — 1,080 1–4 6 April 29 @ Reds 7–3 Sewell (1–1) Ferguson — 2,695 2–4 7 April 30 @ Reds 7–1 Strincevich (1–0) Riddle — — 3–4 8 April 30 @ Reds 1–4 Walters Rescigno (0–2) — 16,060 3–5
May: 16–11 (Home: 10–6; Away: 6–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 9 May 2 Cardinals 3–1 Roe (2–1) Jurisich Cuccurullo (1) 4,895 4–5 10 May 3 Cardinals 1–5 Gumbert Sewell (1–2) — 5,007 4–6 11 May 4 Cardinals 6–3 Butcher (1–1) Cooper — 3,877 5–6 12 May 7 @ Cubs 6–5 (14) Sewell (2–2) Derringer — — 6–6 13 May 7 @ Cubs 3–2 (11) Rescigno (1–2) Wyse Butcher (1) 19,067 7–6 14 May 10 Braves 4–2 Strincevich (2–0) Barrett Cuccurullo (2) 23,011 8–6 15 May 11 Braves 2–7 Tobin Butcher (1–2) — 2,509 8–7 16 May 12 Braves 3–10 Andrews Roe (2–2) — 2,302 8–8 17 May 13 Braves 2–16 Barrett Rescigno (1–3) — 4,037 8–9 18 May 14 Giants 1–0 (10) Sewell (3–2) Voiselle — — 9–9 19 May 14 Giants 8–2 Strincevich (3–0) Pyle — 23,771 10–9 20 May 15 Giants 7–8 Adams Cuccurullo (0–1) Polli 1,699 10–10 21 May 17 Dodgers 8–5 (6) Roe (3–2) McLish — 18,748 11–10 22 May 18 Dodgers 4–3 Butcher (2–2) Melton — 3,361 12–10 23 May 19 Dodgers 5–2 Sewell (4–2) Webber — 2,520 13–10 24 May 20 Phillies 4–3 Strincevich (4–0) Gerheauser — 4,096 14–10 25 May 21 Phillies 4–3 Butcher (3–2) Schanz — — 15–10 26 May 21 Phillies 4–9 Barrett Rescigno (1–4) — 23,009 15–11 27 May 24 @ Braves 8–1 Sewell (5–2) Tobin — 1,706 16–11 28 May 25 @ Braves 0–1 Javery Strincevich (4–1) — 1,318 16–12 29 May 26 @ Braves 7–5 Rescigno (2–4) Hutchinson Sewell (1) 1,518 17–12 30 May 28 @ Phillies 4–0 Sewell (6–2) Schanz — — 18–12 31 May 28 @ Phillies 2–8 Barrett Strincevich (4–2) — — 18–13 32 May 29 @ Phillies 3–2 (11) Rescigno (3–4) Raffensberger — — 19–13 33 May 30 @ Dodgers 3–9 Flowers Butcher (3–3) Ostermueller — 19–14 34 May 30 @ Dodgers 3–4 Gregg Rescigno (3–5) Davis 25,845 19–15 35 May 31 @ Dodgers 4–8 McLish Strincevich (4–3) — 16,993 19–16
June: 14–11 (Home: 7–7; Away: 7–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 36 June 1 @ Dodgers 2–1 Sewell (7–2) Davis — — 20–16 37 June 2 @ Giants 4–6 Fischer Roe (3–3) Polli 2,532 20–17 38 June 3 @ Giants 7–6 (10) Rescigno (4–5) Adams — 9,171 21–17 39 June 4 @ Giants 9–4 Ostermueller (1–0) Voiselle Rescigno (1) — 22–17 40 June 4 @ Giants 7–4 Roe (4–3) Pyle Rescigno (2) 30,659 23–17 41 June 7 Reds 4–2 Sewell (8–2) de la Cruz Rescigno (3) 17,161 24–17 42 June 8 Cubs 6–10 Vandenberg Roe (4–4) — 2,616 24–18 43 June 9 Cubs 3–3 (11) — 13,119 24–18 44 June 10 Cubs 9–4 Roe (5–4) Fleming — 1,710 25–18 45 June 11 Cubs 0–5 Erickson Butcher (3–4) — — 25–19 46 June 11 Cubs 0–1 Chipman Strincevich (4–4) — 23,016 25–20 47 June 13 @ Reds 3–2 (5) Starr (1–0) Heusser — 2,460 26–20 48 June 14 @ Reds 2–3 (11) Walters Rescigno (4–6) — 6,455 26–21 49 June 15 @ Reds 1–0 Butcher (4–4) de la Cruz — 1,101 27–21 50 June 17 @ Cardinals 1–2 Munger Roe (5–5) — 18,645 27–22 51 June 18 @ Cardinals 2–12 Cooper Sewell (8–3) — — 27–23 52 June 18 @ Cardinals 3–1 Ostermueller (2–0) Lanier — 16,292 28–23 53 June 20 Reds 0–3 Walters Butcher (4–5) — 7,369 28–24 54 June 21 Reds 2–1 Starr (2–0) Heusser — 2,414 29–24 55 June 22 Reds 9–4 Sewell (9–3) de la Cruz — — 30–24 56 June 22 Reds 7–4 Strincevich (5–4) Gumbert — 5,394 31–24 57 June 23 Cardinals 5–5 (14) — 12,086 31–24 58 June 24 Cardinals 0–16 Cooper Ostermueller (2–1) — 4,899 31–25 59 June 25 Cardinals 1–2 Munger Sewell (9–4) — — 31–26 60 June 25 Cardinals 5–5 — 33,111 31–26 61 June 28 Giants 9–2 Butcher (5–5) Fischer — 18,479 32–26 62 June 29 Giants 1–1 (5) — 2,057 32–26 63 June 30 Giants 5–7 Adams Sewell (9–5) — — 32–27 64 June 30 Giants 9–8 Cuccurullo (1–1) Adams — 5,378 33–27
July: 19–13 (Home: 8–3; Away: 11–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 65 July 1 Braves 5–1 Starr (3–0) Tobin — 2,940 34–27 66 July 2 Braves 1–4 Andrews Roe (5–6) — — 34–28 67 July 2 Braves 7–6 (12) Sewell (10–5) Barrett — 16,076 35–28 68 July 4 Phillies 2–3 Gerheauser Sewell (10–6) Schanz — 35–29 69 July 4 Phillies 4–0 Butcher (6–5) Lee — 16,285 36–29 70 July 5 Phillies 2–12 Barrett Starr (3–1) — 2,055 36–30 71 July 6 Phillies 6–5 Strincevich (6–4) Raffensberger Rescigno (4) 9,136 37–30 72 July 7 Dodgers 13–2 Ostermueller (3–1) Melton — 2,356 38–30 73 July 8 Dodgers 8–5 Sewell (11–6) McLish — 3,732 39–30 74 July 9 Dodgers 10–1 Roe (6–6) Head — — 40–30 75 July 9 Dodgers 9–7 Rescigno (5–6) Davis Ostermueller (2) 18,706 41–30 76 July 13 @ Cubs 3–2 Ostermueller (4–1) Wyse — 7,160 42–30 77 July 14 @ Cubs 5–11 Vandenberg Starr (3–2) — 5,630 42–31 78 July 15 @ Cubs 3–4 Fleming Roe (6–7) Derringer 6,972 42–32 79 July 16 @ Cubs 0–1 Wyse Sewell (11–7) — — 42–33 80 July 16 @ Cubs 1–0 Butcher (7–5) Passeau — 40,920 43–33 81 July 18 @ Giants 2–5 Voiselle Ostermueller (4–2) — 26,164 43–34 82 July 19 @ Phillies 2–4 Raffensberger Strincevich (6–5) — 7,784 43–35 83 July 20 @ Phillies 4–1 Starr (4–2) Lee — — 44–35 84 July 20 @ Phillies 2–3 (11) Schanz Rescigno (5–7) — — 44–36 85 July 21 @ Phillies 5–3 Butcher (8–5) Gerheauser — 8,527 45–36 86 July 22 @ Dodgers 11–0 Ostermueller (5–2) Warren — 8,479 46–36 87 July 23 @ Dodgers 7–5 Rescigno (6–7) Gregg — — 47–36 88 July 23 @ Dodgers 9–4 (11) Strincevich (7–5) Webber Rescigno (5) 16,571 48–36 89 July 24 @ Dodgers 7–12 Fuchs Sewell (11–8) Davis 9,072 48–37 90 July 25 @ Giants 15–0 Butcher (9–5) Barthelson — 4,524 49–37 91 July 26 @ Giants 6–5 Ostermueller (6–2) Feldman Strincevich (1) 12,909 50–37 92 July 28 @ Giants 0–4 Voiselle Roe (6–8) — 12,871 50–38 93 July 29 @ Braves 3–0 Sewell (12–8) Tobin — 2,065 51–38 94 July 30 @ Braves 4–6 Klopp Starr (4–3) Tobin — 51–39 95 July 30 @ Braves 0–2 Javery Strincevich (7–6) — 7,143 51–40 96 July 31 @ Braves 9–2 Ostermueller (7–2) Andrews — 1,346 52–40
August: 20–10 (Home: 17–6; Away: 3–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 97 August 1 @ Braves 13–8 Starr (5–3) Tobin Sewell (2) 1,787 53–40 98 August 2 Cardinals 4–8 Lanier Sewell (12–9) — 27,481 53–41 99 August 3 Cardinals 2–15 Wilks Roe (6–9) — 3,001 53–42 100 August 4 Cubs 3–4 Derringer Butcher (9–6) — 10,022 53–43 101 August 5 Cubs 2–7 Fleming Ostermueller (7–3) Passeau 2,861 53–44 102 August 6 Cubs 13–5 Roe (7–9) Derringer Starr (1) — 54–44 103 August 6 Cubs 5–4 Strincevich (8–6) Chipman Roe (1) 13,362 55–44 104 August 8 Giants 4–8 Voiselle Butcher (9–7) — 2,277 55–45 105 August 9 Giants 4–3 Ostermueller (8–3) Fischer — 12,683 56–45 106 August 10 Giants 10–4 Roe (8–9) Brewer — 4,324 57–45 107 August 11 Giants 12–8 Cuccurullo (2–1) Pyle — 13,024 58–45 108 August 12 Giants 8–0 Butcher (10–7) Voiselle — 3,335 59–45 109 August 13 Braves 8–1 Sewell (13–9) Tobin — — 60–45 110 August 13 Braves 3–1 Ostermueller (9–3) Hutchings — 15,079 61–45 111 August 14 Braves 5–0 Roe (9–9) Barrett — 2,409 62–45 112 August 15 Braves 7–5 Rescigno (7–7) Hutchinson Strincevich (2) 12,397 63–45 113 August 17 Phillies 7–6 Rescigno (8–7) Karl — — 64–45 114 August 17 Phillies 6–5 (10) Strincevich (9–6) Barrett — 3,262 65–45 115 August 18 Phillies 2–3 Raffensberger Sewell (13–10) — 14,566 65–46 116 August 19 Phillies 5–3 Roe (10–9) Gerheauser — 3,327 66–46 117 August 20 Dodgers 10–7 Butcher (11–7) Chapman Cuccurullo (3) — 67–46 118 August 20 Dodgers 7–1 Strincevich (10–6) Wyatt — 20,953 68–46 119 August 21 Dodgers 7–6 (10) Starr (6–3) Webber — 3,039 69–46 120 August 22 Dodgers 7–5 Sewell (14–10) Sunkel — 19,444 70–46 121 August 25 @ Cardinals 0–4 Schmidt Roe (10–10) — 11,000 70–47 122 August 27 @ Cardinals 14–6 Sewell (15–10) Lanier — — 71–47 123 August 27 @ Cardinals 1–1 (10) — 10,676 71–47 124 August 29 @ Cubs 4–15 Derringer Butcher (11–8) — — 71–48 125 August 29 @ Cubs 5–4 Roe (11–10) Passeau — 11,649 72–48 126 August 30 @ Cubs 5–12 Wyse Sewell (15–11) Lynn — 72–49 127 August 30 @ Cubs 3–6 Passeau Starr (6–4) Wyse 17,438 72–50
September: 17–12 (Home: 6–5; Away: 11–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 128 September 1 Cardinals 3–2 Ostermueller (10–3) Lanier — 17,030 73–50 129 September 2 Cardinals 5–4 Butcher (12–8) Wilks — 5,864 74–50 130 September 3 Cardinals 6–5 Sewell (16–11) Cooper — — 75–50 131 September 3 Cardinals 8–2 Strincevich (11–6) Brecheen — 34,395 76–50 132 September 4 Cubs 3–6 Erickson Butcher (12–9) — — 76–51 133 September 4 Cubs 4–3 (6) Rescigno (9–7) Derringer — 18,175 77–51 134 September 7 @ Reds 1–2 Heusser Ostermueller (10–4) — 4,702 77–52 135 September 9 @ Reds 2–3 Shoun Sewell (16–12) — 1,818 77–53 136 September 10 @ Reds 7–5 Strincevich (12–6) Walters — — 78–53 137 September 10 @ Reds 0–2 Carter Butcher (12–10) — 17,343 78–54 138 September 12 @ Cardinals 5–3 Ostermueller (11–4) Schmidt — — 79–54 139 September 12 @ Cardinals 6–5 Roe (12–10) Byerly Starr (2) 6,445 80–54 140 September 13 @ Cardinals 7–3 Sewell (17–12) Brecheen — — 81–54 141 September 13 @ Cardinals 10–5 Rescigno (10–7) Lanier Starr (3) 6,495 82–54 142 September 15 Reds 3–5 (10) Walters Rescigno (10–8) — 12,198 82–55 143 September 16 Reds 1–2 de la Cruz Butcher (12–11) — — 82–56 144 September 16 Reds 1–3 Carter Starr (6–5) — 3,670 82–57 145 September 17 Reds 7–1 Sewell (18–12) Shoun — — 83–57 146 September 17 Reds 1–2 (10) Gumbert Ostermueller (11–5) — 19,823 83–58 147 September 20 @ Dodgers 2–1 Strincevich (13–6) Wells — 1,338 84–58 148 September 21 @ Dodgers 10–4 Sewell (19–12) Gregg — — 85–58 149 September 21 @ Dodgers 14–6 Roe (13–10) Zachary — 2,579 86–58 150 September 23 @ Giants 6–4 (13) Sewell (20–12) Adams Cuccurullo (4) 3,749 87–58 151 September 24 @ Giants 4–5 Voiselle Ostermueller (11–6) — — 87–59 152 September 24 @ Giants 3–2 (10) Strincevich (14–6) Melton — 17,778 88–59 153 September 25 @ Braves 4–5 (13) Barrett Roe (13–11) — 463 88–60 154 September 26 @ Braves 6–2 Butcher (13–11) Andrews — 1,644 89–60 155 September 27 @ Braves 3–4 Javery Strincevich (14–7) Hutchings 655 89–61 156 September 29 @ Phillies 0–3 Raffensberger Ostermueller (11–7) — 1,000 89–62
October: 1–1 (Home: 0–0; Away: 1–1) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 157 October 1 @ Phillies 9–1 Sewell (21–12) Schanz — — 90–62 158 October 1 @ Phillies 1–7 Barrett Gilmore (0–1) — — 90–63
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

All-Star Game

The Pirates hosted the 1944 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 11, 1944, at Forbes Field. Pitcher Rip Sewell, infielder Bob Elliott, and outfielder Vince DiMaggio were selected for the National League squad. Pirates pitchers Max Butcher and Cookie Cuccurullo were named the NL's batting practice pitchers and Pirates catcher Spud Davis was the NL's batting practice catcher. Honus Wagner was named an honorary coach, the first time this honor was bestowed in Major League Baseball's All-Star Game.[2]

Roster

1944 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 19 Max Butcher 27 Cookie Cuccurullo 26 Johnny Gee -- Len Gilmore 21 Fritz Ostermueller  4 Xavier Rescigno 29 Preacher Roe 30 Rip Sewell 20 Ray Starr 22 Nick Strincevich 25 Joe Vitelli -- Roy Wise		Catchers 10 Hank Camelli 36 Spud Davis 12 Al López Infielders -- Vic Barnhart  5 Pete Coscarart  7 Babe Dahlgren  8 Bob Elliott 16 Frankie Gustine  6 Lee Handley -- Hank Sweeney 14 Frankie Zak		Outfielders 18 Johnny Barrett 23 Frank Colman  9 Vince DiMaggio -- Al Gionfriddo 11 Tommy O'Brien -- Bill Rodgers  4 Al Rubeling 32 Jim Russell 15 Lloyd Waner 14 Johnny Wyrostek		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 Lopez	115	331	76	.230	1	34
1B	Babe Dahlgren	158	599	173	.289	12	101
2B	Pete Coscarart	139	554	146	.264	4	42
SS	Frankie Gustine	127	405	93	.230	2	42
3B	Bob Elliott	143	538	160	.297	10	108
OF	Johnny Barrett	149	568	153	.269	7	83
OF	Vince DiMaggio	109	342	82	.240	9	50
OF	Jim Russell	152	580	181	.312	8	66

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
Frank Colman	99	226	61	.270	6	53
Al Rubeling	92	184	45	.245	4	30
Frankie Zak	87	160	48	.300	0	11
Tommy O'Brien	85	156	39	.250	3	20
Hank Camelli	63	125	37	.296	1	10
Spud Davis	54	93	28	.301	2	14
Lee Handley	40	86	19	.221	0	5
Lloyd Waner	19	14	5	.357	0	2
Al Gionfriddo	4	6	1	.167	0	0
Bill Rodgers	2	4	1	.250	0	0
Vic Barnhart	1	2	1	.500	0	0
Hank Sweeney	1	2	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
Rip Sewell	38	286	21	12	3.18	87
Fritz Ostermueller	28	204.2	11	7	2.73	80
Max Butcher	35	199	13	11	3.12	43
Len Gilmore	1	8	0	1	7.88	0

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
Nick Strincevich	40	190	14	7	3.08	47
Preacher Roe	39	185.1	13	11	3.11	88
Ray Starr	27	89.2	6	5	5.02	25

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
Xavier Rescigno	48	10	8	5	4.35	45
Cookie Cuccurullo	32	2	1	4	4.06	31
Johnny Gee	4	0	0	0	7.15	3
Joe Vitelli	4	0	0	0	2.57	2
Roy Wise	3	0	0	0	9.00	1

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	Dutch Schleser, Fred Hering, Frank Pareman and John Morrow

References

1. From 1882-1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Shore in 1907.
2. Louis Effrat (July 4, 1944). "National League Managers Pick 6 Cardinals for All-Star Squad; Munger and Lanier Lead Hurlers, With Walters of Reds – Musial, Walker of Brooks and Nicholson Top Hitters". New York Times. p. 23.

External links

• 1944 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
• 1944 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.