1946 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1946 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, John W. Galbreath
General manager(s)	Ray Kennedy
Manager(s)	Frankie Frisch, Spud Davis
Local radio	WWSW Rosey Rowswell, Jack Craddock
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The 1946 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 65th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 60th in the National League. The Pirates finished seventh in the league standings with a record of 63–91.

Regular season

Season standings

National League	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
St. Louis Cardinals	98	58	0.628	—	49–29	49–29
Brooklyn Dodgers	96	60	0.615	2	56–22	40–38
Chicago Cubs	82	71	0.536	14½	44–33	38–38
Boston Braves	81	72	0.529	15½	45–31	36–41
Philadelphia Phillies	69	85	0.448	28	41–36	28–49
Cincinnati Reds	67	87	0.435	30	35–42	32–45
Pittsburgh Pirates	63	91	0.409	34	37–40	26–51
New York Giants	61	93	0.396	36	38–39	23–54

Record vs. opponents

1946 National League Records Sources:
Team	BOS	BR	CHC	CIN	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Boston	—	5–17	12–9–1	15–7	13–9	14–8	15–7	7–15
Brooklyn	17–5	—	11–11	14–8–1	15–7	17–5	14–8	8–16
Chicago	9–12–1	11–11	—	13–9	17–5	12–10	12–10–1	8–14
Cincinnati	7–15	8–14–1	9–13	—	14–8	8–14–1	13–9	8–14
New York	9–13	7–15	5–17	8–14	—	12–10	10–12	10–12
Philadelphia	8–14	5–17	10–12	14–8–1	10–12	—	14–8	8–14
Pittsburgh	7–15	8–14	10–12–1	9–13	12–10	8–14	—	9–13
St. Louis	15–7	16–8	14–8	14–8	12–10	14–8	13–9	—

Game log

1946 Game Log: 63–91 (Home: 37–40; Away: 26–51)
April: 5–8 (Home: 4–4; Away: 1–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 16 @ Cardinals 6–4 Heintzelman (1–0) Brecheen — 14,000 1–0 2 April 17 @ Cardinals 0–6 Lanier Gables (0–1) — 4,819 1–1 3 April 18 @ Cardinals 2–6 Pollet Strincevich (0–1) — 6,328 1–2 4 April 20 Reds 2–1 Sewell (1–0) Walters — 27,891 2–2 5 April 21 Reds 2–8 Heusser Hopper (0–1) — 2–3 6 April 21 Reds 3–4 Beggs Hallett (0–1) — 30,237 2–4 7 April 23 Cubs 1–3 Passeau Albosta (0–1) — 8,224 2–5 8 April 24 Cubs 4–3 Sewell (2–0) Schmitz — 6,287 3–5 9 April 25 Cardinals 5–3 Heintzelman (2–0) Brecheen Roe (1) 10,585 4–5 10 April 26 Cardinals 2–3 Martin Ostermueller (0–1) — 4,885 4–6 11 April 27 @ Reds 2–5 Beggs Strincevich (0–2) — 3,086 4–7 12 April 28 @ Reds 1–7 Heusser Sewell (2–1) — 24,002 4–8 13 April 30 Phillies 4–1 Hallett (1–1) Hughes — 4,970 5–8
May: 10–10 (Home: 8–5; Away: 2–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 14 May 1 Phillies 0–8 Pearson Albosta (0–2) — 4,426 5–9 15 May 2 Phillies 8–3 Ostermueller (1–1) Judd — 3,458 6–9 16 May 3 Braves 3–2 Heintzelman (3–0) Sain — 7–9 17 May 5 Dodgers 5–4 (11) Hallett (2–1) Lombardi — 8–9 18 May 5 Dodgers 4–3 (6) Roe (1–0) Casey — 37,953 9–9 19 May 8 Giants 0–1 Koslo Ostermueller (1–2) — 6,267 9–10 20 May 9 Giants 1–6 Voiselle Roe (1–1) — 7,786 9–11 21 May 12 @ Cubs 1–3 Passeau Heintzelman (3–1) — 22,065 9–12 22 May 14 @ Braves 1–5 Wallace Gables (0–2) — 20,762 9–13 23 May 17 @ Dodgers 6–16 Hatten Strincevich (0–3) — 9,307 9–14 24 May 19 @ Giants 3–1 Ostermueller (2–2) Kennedy — 10–14 25 May 19 @ Giants 1–5 Koslo Heintzelman (3–2) — 39,482 10–15 26 May 22 @ Phillies 2–6 Rowe Heintzelman (3–3) Karl 4,813 10–16 27 May 23 @ Phillies 10–2 Bahr (1–0) Hughes — 4,746 11–16 28 May 24 Cubs 6–3 Roe (2–1) Borowy — 27,432 12–16 29 May 26 Cubs 8–2 Heintzelman (4–3) Bithorn — 13,000 13–16 30 May 28 Reds 6–3 Bahr (2–0) Heusser Strincevich (1) 16,995 14–16 31 May 29 Reds 6–7 Gumbert Strincevich (0–4) — 4,112 14–17 32 May 30 Cardinals 9–3 Ostermueller (3–2) Krist — 15–17 33 May 30 Cardinals 11–12 Schmidt Hallett (2–2) Wilks 34,985 15–18
June: 11–19 (Home: 8–9; Away: 3–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 34 June 2 Phillies 5–1 Sewell (3–1) Hughes — 16–18 35 June 2 Phillies 3–10 Jurisich Bahr (2–1) Karl 8,971 16–19 36 June 3 Phillies 4–8 Schanz Albosta (0–3) Karl 2,175 16–20 37 June 4 Dodgers 4–3 Ostermueller (4–2) Casey — 17–20 38 June 4 Dodgers 6–7 (11) Webber Lanning (0–1) Head 11,521 17–21 39 June 5 Dodgers 3–5 Higbe Roe (2–2) Melton 26,206 17–22 40 June 6 Dodgers 8–13 Behrman Sewell (3–2) Herring 3,093 17–23 41 June 7 Giants 10–5 Bahr (3–1) Voiselle Gables (1) 16,884 18–23 42 June 8 Giants 3–5 Koslo Strincevich (0–5) — 5,785 18–24 43 June 9 Giants 2–1 Ostermueller (5–2) Kennedy — 19–24 44 June 9 Giants 5–1 Lanning (1–1) Joyce — 24,787 20–24 45 June 10 Braves 5–10 Wright Roe (2–3) Posedel 3,652 20–25 46 June 11 Braves 5–3 Sewell (4–2) Cooper — 17,181 21–25 47 June 15 @ Phillies 1–3 Rowe Strincevich (0–6) Mauney 23,804 21–26 48 June 16 @ Phillies 3–4 Raffensberger Sewell (4–3) Hughes 21–27 49 June 16 @ Phillies 10–1 Ostermueller (6–2) Stanceu — 36,910 22–27 50 June 17 @ Phillies 3–7 Mauney Gables (0–3) — 16,529 22–28 51 June 18 @ Dodgers 6–3 Heintzelman (5–3) Barney — 32,565 23–28 52 June 19 @ Dodgers 0–7 Hatten Roe (2–4) — 13,093 23–29 53 June 20 @ Dodgers 3–7 Higbe Strincevich (0–7) — 9,490 23–30 54 June 21 @ Braves 2–3 Cooper Ostermueller (6–3) — 13,256 23–31 55 June 22 @ Braves 3–4 (10) Roser Sewell (4–4) — 4,421 23–32 56 June 23 @ Braves 3–4 Lee Heintzelman (5–4) Posedel 23–33 57 June 23 @ Braves 0–4 Sain Roe (2–5) — 19,784 23–34 58 June 25 @ Giants 3–0 Strincevich (1–7) Schumacher — 20,317 24–34 59 June 26 @ Giants 0–4 Koslo Bahr (3–2) — 4,812 24–35 60 June 27 Cubs 5–6 Erickson Hallett (2–3) Schmitz 3,019 24–36 61 June 28 Cardinals 1–5 Pollet Roe (2–6) — 20,475 24–37 62 June 30 Cardinals 4–3 Ostermueller (7–3) Brazle — 25–37 63 June 30 Cardinals 1–0 Strincevich (2–7) Brecheen — 20,040 26–37
July: 11–19 (Home: 5–7; Away: 6–12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 64 July 1 @ Cubs 1–0 Sewell (5–4) Wyse — 18,828 27–37 65 July 2 @ Cubs 9–0 Heintzelman (6–4) Chipman — 12,970 28–37 66 July 3 @ Cubs 3–4 Kush Gerheauser (0–1) — 28–38 67 July 3 @ Cubs 1–2 Erickson Roe (2–7) — 25,623 28–39 68 July 4 @ Reds 6–1 Strincevich (3–7) Heusser — 29–39 69 July 4 @ Reds 3–4 (11) Shoun Albosta (0–4) — 15,437 29–40 70 July 5 @ Reds 3–4 Walters Sewell (5–5) — 18,519 29–41 71 July 6 @ Cardinals 4–12 Wilks Gables (0–4) — 12,660 29–42 72 July 7 @ Cardinals 3–4 Dickson Ostermueller (7–4) — 29–43 73 July 7 @ Cardinals 0–6 Pollet Heintzelman (6–5) — 16,625 29–44 74 July 11 Phillies 1–4 Rowe Strincevich (3–8) — 3,772 29–45 75 July 12 Phillies 4–3 Bahr (4–2) Judd Roe (2) 15,047 30–45 76 July 13 Phillies 8–1 Lanning (2–1) Schanz — 5,011 31–45 77 July 14 Braves 1–4 Spahn Ostermueller (7–5) — 31–46 78 July 14 Braves 5–2 Sewell (6–5) Wright — 17,414 32–46 79 July 15 Braves 2–3 Niggeling Heintzelman (6–6) — 11,787 32–47 80 July 16 Braves 0–10 Cooper Albosta (0–5) — 2,387 32–48 81 July 17 Giants 8–5 Strincevich (4–8) Trinkle — 33–48 82 July 18 Giants 7–3 Roe (3–7) Koslo Lanning (1) 3,397 34–48 83 July 20 Dodgers 1–4 Herring Heintzelman (6–7) — 7,736 34–49 84 July 21 Dodgers 0–3 Lombardi Ostermueller (7–6) — 34–50 85 July 21 Dodgers 5–6 Behrman Sewell (6–6) Gregg 18,844 34–51 86 July 24 @ Phillies 0–2 Rowe Strincevich (4–9) — 22,025 34–52 87 July 25 @ Phillies 2–1 Lanning (3–1) Judd — 35–52 88 July 25 @ Phillies 2–9 Donnelly Sewell (6–7) — 10,252 35–53 89 July 26 @ Dodgers 5–0 Ostermueller (8–6) Lombardi — 26,918 36–53 90 July 27 @ Dodgers 3–4 Casey Roe (3–8) — 33,645 36–54 91 July 27 @ Dodgers 3–4 Higbe Albosta (0–6) Casey 33,645 36–55 92 July 28 @ Dodgers 7–3 Strincevich (5–9) Barney — 19,836 37–55 93 July 31 @ Braves 1–2 Sain Lanning (3–2) — 9,343 37–56
August: 11–15 (Home: 9–10; Away: 2–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 94 August 2 @ Giants 6–0 Ostermueller (9–6) Koslo — 11,873 38–56 95 August 2 @ Giants 2–3 Trinkle Heintzelman (6–8) Thompson 12,561 38–57 96 August 4 @ Giants 0–4 Budnick Strincevich (5–10) — 38–58 97 August 4 @ Giants 1–10 Kennedy Lanning (3–3) — 27,709 38–59 98 August 7 Cardinals 1–8 Brecheen Ostermueller (9–7) — 14,888 38–60 99 August 9 Cubs 3–9 Erickson Heintzelman (6–9) — 13,624 38–61 100 August 10 Cubs 3–2 Strincevich (6–10) Schmitz — 3,452 39–61 101 August 11 Cubs 10–9 Gerheauser (1–1) Borowy — 40–61 102 August 11 Cubs 4–4 — 18,700 40–61 103 August 12 Reds 3–2 Bahr (5–2) Heusser — 2,764 41–61 104 August 13 Reds 3–2 Hallett (3–3) Gumbert — 15,575 42–61 105 August 14 Reds 3–2 Strincevich (7–10) Malloy — 3,890 43–61 106 August 16 @ Cardinals 3–0 Heintzelman (7–9) Dickson — 10,795 44–61 107 August 17 @ Cubs 1–2 Schmitz Bahr (5–3) — 15,127 44–62 108 August 18 @ Cubs 0–8 Erickson Hallett (3–4) — 30,965 44–63 109 August 20 Dodgers 10–0 Strincevich (8–10) Lombardi — 31,106 45–63 110 August 21 Dodgers 2–8 Hatten Heintzelman (7–10) — 7,974 45–64 111 August 22 Giants 0–1 (10) Kennedy Sewell (6–8) — 3,958 45–65 112 August 23 Giants 7–3 Bahr (6–3) Trinkle — 15,306 46–65 113 August 24 Giants 1–8 Voiselle Lanning (3–4) — 5,260 46–66 114 August 25 Braves 5–7 Wright Ostermueller (9–8) Barrett 46–67 115 August 25 Braves 5–10 Johnson Strincevich (8–11) Spahn 20,049 46–68 116 August 26 Braves 3–2 Heintzelman (8–10) Niggeling — 2,169 47–68 117 August 27 Braves 1–9 Spahn Ostermueller (9–9) — 3,094 47–69 118 August 28 Phillies 1–4 Judd Sewell (6–9) Donnelly 11,594 47–70 119 August 29 Phillies 2–5 Raffensberger Bahr (6–4) — 1,124 47–71 120 August 31 Cardinals 6–1 Strincevich (9–11) Dickson — 6,074 48–71
September: 15–20 (Home: 3–5; Away: 12–15) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 121 September 1 Cardinals 6–7 (10) Pollet Sewell (6–10) — 48–72 122 September 1 Cardinals 2–1 (7) Ostermueller (10–9) Brecheen — 28,167 49–72 123 September 2 Cubs 4–1 Bahr (7–4) Erickson — 50–72 124 September 2 Cubs 3–7 Bauers Sewell (6–11) — 18,237 50–73 125 September 3 Cubs 0–2 Chipman Hallett (3–5) — 1,802 50–74 126 September 4 @ Reds 0–6 Beggs Strincevich (9–12) — 10,465 50–75 127 September 5 @ Reds 2–1 Sewell (7–11) Vander Meer — 1,254 51–75 128 September 6 @ Cardinals 6–7 Beazley Heintzelman (8–11) Burkhart 17,496 51–76 129 September 7 @ Cardinals 9–2 Ostermueller (11–9) Pollet — 17,266 52–76 130 September 8 @ Cardinals 4–5 (11) Munger Bahr (7–5) — 52–77 131 September 8 @ Cardinals 2–12 Brazle Strincevich (9–13) — 25,572 52–78 132 September 10 @ Giants 7–4 Gerheauser (2–1) Trinkle — 9,971 53–78 133 September 11 @ Giants 7–6 Lanning (4–4) Thompson — 54–78 134 September 11 @ Giants 7–5 Gables (1–4) Voiselle Heintzelman (1) 6,358 55–78 135 September 12 @ Braves 1–0 Hallett (4–5) Johnson — 56–78 136 September 12 @ Braves 1–2 Wright Strincevich (9–14) — 3,822 56–79 137 September 13 @ Braves 4–2 (14) Ostermueller (12–9) Cooper — 57–79 138 September 13 @ Braves 10–1 Bahr (8–5) Lee — 2,776 58–79 139 September 14 @ Braves 3–9 Sain Gerheauser (2–2) — 6,077 58–80 140 September 15 @ Phillies 5–6 (11) Karl Sewell (7–12) — 14,279 58–81 141 September 16 @ Phillies 0–2 Raffensberger Hallett (4–6) — 19,247 58–82 142 September 18 @ Dodgers 3–2 Ostermueller (13–9) Higbe — 59–82 143 September 18 @ Dodgers 0–3 Branca Heintzelman (8–12) — 26,659 59–83 144 September 19 @ Dodgers 0–7 Gregg Strincevich (9–15) — 11,462 59–84 145 September 21 Reds 2–1 (13) Hallett (5–6) Gumbert — 13,810 60–84 146 September 22 Reds 2–4 Beggs Lanning (4–5) — 60–85 147 September 22 Reds 5–6 Blackwell Walsh (0–1) Malloy 11,138 60–86 148 September 24 @ Cubs 3–13 Erickson Ostermueller (13–10) Chipman 60–87 149 September 24 @ Cubs 13–0 (8) Sewell (8–12) Lade — 8,396 61–87 150 September 25 @ Cubs 6–5 (16) Gables (2–4) Lade — 3,339 62–87 151 September 26 @ Cubs 3–5 Hanyzewski Hallett (5–7) Meyer 5,369 62–88 152 September 27 @ Reds 0–8 Beggs Bahr (8–6) — 1,120 62–89 153 September 28 @ Reds 10–3 Strincevich (10–15) Blackwell — 1,930 63–89 154 September 29 @ Reds 0–1 Vander Meer Howard (0–1) — 63–90 155 September 29 @ Reds 2–3 Hetki Tate (0–1) — 6,329 63–91
Legend:           = Win           = Loss           = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

Notable transactions

• June 17, 1946: Frank Colman was purchased from the Pirates by the New York Yankees.^[2]
• September 25, 1946: The Pirates traded $35,000 to the Oakland Oaks for Wally Westlake. The Pirates completed the deal by sending Johnny Hutchings to the Oaks on December 5.^[3]

Roster

1946 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 24 Ed Albosta 46 Ed Bahr 47 Bill Clemensen 45 Ken Gables 40 Al Gerheauser 26 Hank Gornicki 39 Jack Hallett 20 Ken Heintzelman 42 Jim Hopper 11 Lee Howard 25 Johnny Lanning 21 Fritz Ostermueller 29 Preacher Roe 30 Rip Sewell 22 Nick Strincevich 11,47 Al Tate 27 Junior Walsh 31 Lefty Wilkie		Catchers 44 Bill Baker 10 Hank Camelli 31 Roy Jarvis 12 Al López  1 Bill Salkeld 28 Vinnie Smith Infielders  2 Jimmy Brown  5 Pete Coscarart  4 Billy Cox 15 Elbie Fletcher 16 Frankie Gustine  6 Lee Handley  9 Burgess Whitehead 14 Frankie Zak		Outfielders 18 Johnny Barrett 23 Frank Colman  8 Bob Elliott  3 Al Gionfriddo 49 Ben Guintini 43 Ralph Kiner 32 Jim Russell 7,19 Maurice Van Robays 41 Chuck Workman Other batters 37 Alf Anderson 17 Vic Barnhart		Manager 36 Spud Davis 35 Frankie Frisch Coaches 34 Del Bissonette 36 Spud Davis 33 Honus Wagner

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

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
SS	Cox, BillyBilly Cox	121	411	119	.290	2	36

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
Colman, FrankFrank Colman	26	53	9	.170	1	6

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI

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
Bahr, EdEd Bahr	27	136.2	8	6	2.63	44
Albosta, EdEd Albosta	17	39.2	0	6	6.13	19

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
Gornicki, HankHank Gornicki	7	0	0	0	3.55	4

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Hollywood Stars	Pacific Coast League	Buck Fausett and Jimmy Dykes
AA	Birmingham Barons	Southern Association	Frank Snyder
A	Albany Senators	Eastern League	Ripper Collins
B	York White Roses	Interstate League	Boom-Boom Beck
B	Anniston Rams	Southeastern League	Tommy West
B	Selma Cloverleafs	Southeastern League	Frank Oceak
B	Yakima Stars	Western International League	Spencer Harris and Harlond Clift
C	Oil City Oilers	Middle Atlantic League	Charles Muse and Charles Harig
D	Tallassee Indians	Georgia–Alabama League	Johnnie Heving
D	Tallahassee Pirates	Georgia–Florida League	Art Doll
D	Bartlesville Owls	Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League	Keith Willoughby
D	Salisbury Pirates	North Carolina State League	Tuck McWilliams
D	Hornell Pirates	PONY League	Lou Briganti and Phil Seghi

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Anniston, Tallassee

References

1. From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Shore in 1907.
2. Frank Colman page at Baseball Reference
3. Wally Westlake page at Baseball Reference

External links

• 1946 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
• 1946 Pittsburgh Pirates Page at Baseball Almanac