1901 Pittsburgh Pirates season

March 2026 November 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates 1901 National League champions National League Exposition Park Allegheny, Pennsylvania Barney Dreyfuss Fred Clarke The 1901 PittsburghIn the early 20th century and earlier, the name of Pittsburgh was spelled both with and without the 'h'. Pirates finished in first place in the National League, 7½ games ahead of the second-place Philadelphia Phillies.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal-1901-nl-standing/173698924/ Last of Baseball - The Big League Has a Very Tame Finish The Minneapolis Journal October 7, 1901 9 Newspapers.com It was the first year that the American League operated as a major league, but there would be no World Series between the leagues until 1903. The team was managed by Fred Clarke, who was also their starting left fielder. Clarke, in his fifth year as a manager at age 28, won his first pennant. The Pirates won the National League championship in the next two years as well. Regular season The Pirates were led offensively by Honus Wagner, who led the league in RBI and stolen bases. Although the "Flying Dutchman" had never played shortstop in the majors until 1901, he appeared 61 times at shortstop that year in addition to spending time at third base and the outfield. In a league that batted .267 as a whole, the Pirates outfield was notable for its hitting. Ginger Beaumont hit .332, player-manager Fred Clarke hit .324, and Lefty Davis hit .313. The pitching staff of the Pirates allowed the fewest runs in the league and was among the greatest ever. The four top starting pitchers – Deacon Phillippe, Jack Chesbro, Jesse Tannehill, and Sam Leever – were the four top pitchers in the National League in terms of winning percentage. All of them were in the top ten in the league in ERA. Future Hall of Famer Rube Waddell had pitched well in 1900 for the Pirates, but was sold in May 1901 to the Chicago Orphans. With a record of 90-49, the Pirates had the best record in the league. Season standings Pittsburgh Pirates Record vs. opponents PIT Game log 1901 Game Log: 90–49 (Home: 45–24; Away: 45–25) y background:#F9F9F9; April: 3–3 (Home: 1–2; Away: 2–1) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 20 || @ Reds || 4–2 || || || — || — || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 23 || @ Cardinals || 4–10 || || || — || — || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 24 || @ Cardinals || 5–4 || || || — || — || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 27 || Cardinals || 2–7 || || || — || — || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 29 || Cardinals || 14–12 || || || — || — || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 30 || Cardinals || 2–4 || || || — || — || 3–3 |- y background:#F9F9F9; May: 13–11 (Home: 3–3; Away: 10–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || May 1 || Orphans || 3–8 || || || — || — || 3–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || May 2 || Orphans || 3–2 || || || — || — || 4–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || May 3 || Orphans || 10–6 || || || — || — || 5–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || May 4 || Orphans || 2–4 || || || — || — || 5–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || May 5 || @ Orphans || 4–2 || || || — || — || 6–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || May 7 || @ Orphans || 8–0 || || || — || — || 7–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || May 8 || @ Orphans || 8–7 || || || — || — || 8–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || May 9 || @ Orphans || 8–1 || || || — || — || 9–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || May 10 || Reds || 3–0 || || || — || — || 10–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || May 12 || @ Reds || 1–6 || || || — || — || 10–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || May 13 || Reds || 2–3 || || || — || — || 10–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || May 14 || @ Phillies || 3–2 || || || — || — || 11–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || May 15 || @ Phillies || 5–6 || || || — || — || 11–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || May 16 || @ Phillies || 2–12 || || || — || — || 11–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || May 17 || @ Phillies || 6–4 || || || — || — || 12–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || May 21 || @ Giants || 1–2 || || || — || — || 12–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || May 22 || @ Giants || 1–2 || || || — || — || 12–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || May 23 || @ Beaneaters || 3–7 || || || — || — || 12–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || May 24 || @ Beaneaters || 6–4 || || || — || — || 13–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || May 25 || @ Beaneaters || 11–1 || || || — || — || 14–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 28 || @ Superbas || 7–8 || || || — || — || 14–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 30 || @ Superbas || 4–3 || || || — || 2,300 || 15–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 30 || @ Superbas || 2–8 || || || — || 11,000 || 15–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 31 || @ Superbas || 5–2 || || || — || — || 16–14 |- y background:#F9F9F9; June: 17–9 (Home: 10–4; Away: 7–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || June 1 || Reds || 3–4 || || || — || — || 16–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || June 2 || @ Orphans || 6–1 || || || — || — || 17–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || June 3 || Phillies || 11–1 || || || — || — || 18–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || June 4 || Phillies || 4–3 || || || — || — || 19–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || June 5 || Phillies || 5–2 || || || — || — || 20–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || June 6 || Superbas || 1–4 || || || — || — || 20–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || June 7 || Superbas || 5–4 || || || — || — || 21–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || June 8 || Superbas || 3–7 || || || — || — || 21–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || June 10 || Giants || 3–1 || || || — || — || 22–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || June 11 || Giants || 4–0 || || || — || — || 23–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || June 12 || Giants || 5–2 || || || — || — || 24–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || June 13 || Beaneaters || 6–2 || || || — || — || 25–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || June 14 || Beaneaters || 1–7 || || || — || — || 25–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || June 15 || Beaneaters || 1–0 || || || — || — || 26–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || June 16 || @ Reds || 2–0 || || || — || — || 27–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || June 18 || Cardinals || 9–2 || || || — || — || 28–18 |- bgcolor="ffffff" | 47 || June 19 || @ Giants || 5–5 || || || — || — || 28–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || June 20 || @ Giants || 7–0 || || || — || — || 29–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 21 || @ Giants || 2–3 || || || — || — || 29–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 22 || @ Beaneaters || 2–4 || || || — || — || 29–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || June 22 || @ Beaneaters || 6–2 || || || — || — || 30–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || June 24 || @ Beaneaters || 8–2 || || || — || — || 31–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 25 || @ Beaneaters || 4–9 || || || — || — || 31–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 26 || @ Superbas || 3–16 || || || — || — || 31–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 27 || @ Superbas || 7–8 || || || — || — || 31–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 28 || @ Superbas || 5–3 || || || — || — || 32–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 29 || @ Phillies || 5–4 || || || — || — || 33–23 |- y background:#F9F9F9; July: 16–9 (Home: 12–6; Away: 4–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || July 1 || @ Phillies || 0–1 || || || — || — || 33–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || July 2 || @ Phillies || 5–3 || || || — || — || 34–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || July 4 || Giants || 3–5 || || || — || — || 34–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || July 4 || Giants || 12–0 || || || — || — || 35–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || July 5 || Giants || 7–2 || || || — || — || 36–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || July 6 || Giants || 6–2 || || || — || — || 37–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || July 8 || Beaneaters || 5–0 || || || — || — || 38–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || July 9 || Beaneaters || 9–4 || || || — || — || 39–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || July 10 || Beaneaters || 1–0 || || || — || — || 40–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || July 11 || Beaneaters || 5–0 || || || — || — || 41–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || July 12 || Phillies || 2–4 || || || — || — || 41–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || July 13 || Phillies || 5–3 || || || — || — || 42–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || July 14 || @ Orphans || 3–1 || || || — || — || 43–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || July 16 || Phillies || 3–6 || || || — || — || 43–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || July 17 || Superbas || 3–7 || || || — || — || 43–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || July 18 || Superbas || 3–4 || || || — || — || 43–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || July 19 || Superbas || 4–5 || || || — || — || 43–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || July 20 || Superbas || 15–2 || || || — || — || 44–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || July 23 || Reds || 9–2 || || || — || — || 45–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || July 24 || Reds || 11–2 || || || — || — || 46–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || July 25 || Reds || 9–5 || || || — || — || 47–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || July 26 || @ Cardinals || 7–12 || || || — || — || 47–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || July 27 || @ Cardinals || 7–4 || || || — || — || 48–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 28 || @ Cardinals || 3–5 || || || — || — || 48–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 29 || @ Cardinals || 8–0 || || || — || — || 49–32 |- y background:#F9F9F9; August: 13–9 (Home: 7–7; Away: 6–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || August 3 || Reds || 4–7 || || || — || — || 49–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 84 || August 4 || @ Reds || 6–3 || || || — || — || 50–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || August 5 || Cardinals || 6–20 || || || — || — || 50–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 86 || August 6 || Cardinals || 8–1 || || || — || — || 51–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || August 7 || Cardinals || 9–3 || || || — || — || 52–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || August 8 || Orphans || 7–6 || || || — || — || 53–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 89 || August 9 || Orphans || 1–4 || || || — || — || 53–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 90 || August 11 || @ Orphans || 5–1 || || || — || — || 54–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 91 || August 17 || Reds || 5–0 || || || — || — || 55–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || August 18 || @ Reds || 4–5 || || || — || — || 55–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || August 19 || @ Cardinals || 9–5 || || || — || — || 56–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 94 || August 20 || @ Cardinals || 14–2 || || || — || — || 57–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || August 21 || @ Cardinals || 3–4 || || || — || — || 57–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 96 || August 22 || @ Cardinals || 4–3 || || || — || — || 58–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || August 25 || @ Reds || 6–3 || || || — || — || 59–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 98 || August 26 || Cardinals || 2–5 || || || — || — || 59–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || August 27 || Cardinals || 7–1 || || || — || — || 60–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 100 || August 28 || Cardinals || 7–9 || || || — || — || 60–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 101 || August 29 || Orphans || 1–4 || || || — || — || 60–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 102 || August 29 || Orphans || 2–1 || || || — || — || 61–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 103 || August 31 || Orphans || 1–5 || || || — || — || 61–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 104 || August 31 || Orphans || 5–2 || || || — || — || 62–41 |- y background:#F9F9F9; September: 25–7 (Home: 10–2; Away: 15–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 105 || September 2 || @ Beaneaters || 5–3 || || || — || — || 63–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 106 || September 2 || @ Beaneaters || 3–0 || || || — || — || 64–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 107 || September 3 || @ Beaneaters || 5–2 || || || — || — || 65–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 108 || September 4 || @ Giants || 12–6 || || || — || — || 66–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 109 || September 4 || @ Giants || 10–3 || || || — || — || 67–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 110 || September 5 || @ Giants || 15–1 || || || — || — || 68–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 111 || September 5 || @ Giants || 15–7 || || || — || — || 69–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 112 || September 6 || @ Giants || 15–2 || || || — || — || 70–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 113 || September 6 || @ Giants || 13–4 || || || — || — || 71–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 114 || September 7 || @ Phillies || 1–4 || || || — || — || 71–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 115 || September 9 || @ Phillies || 11–5 || || || — || — || 72–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 116 || September 10 || @ Phillies || 8–5 || || || — || — || 73–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 117 || September 11 || @ Superbas || 5–4 || || || — || — || 74–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 118 || September 13 || @ Superbas || 3–5 || || || — || — || 74–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 119 || September 13 || @ Superbas || 2–4 || || || — || — || 74–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 120 || September 14 || Reds || 5–3 || || || — || — || 75–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 121 || September 14 || Reds || 8–4 || || || — || — || 76–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 122 || September 15 || @ Reds || 3–0 || || || — || — || 77–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 123 || September 17 || @ Reds || 7–2 || || || — || — || 78–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 124 || September 18 || Phillies || 5–1 || || || — || — || 79–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 125 || September 20 || Phillies || 10–1 || || || — || — || 80–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 126 || September 20 || Phillies || 7–2 || || || — || — || 81–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 127 || September 21 || Phillies || 2–4 || || || — || — || 81–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 128 || September 22 || @ Orphans || 15–9 || || || — || — || 82–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 129 || September 23 || Giants || 5–4 || || || — || — || 83–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 130 || September 24 || Giants || 14–9 || || || — || — || 84–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 131 || September 25 || Giants || 10–5 || || || — || — || 85–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 132 || September 26 || Superbas || 4–3 || || || — || — || 86–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 133 || September 27 || Superbas || 5–4 || || || — || — || 87–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 134 || September 29 || @ Reds || 1–2 || || || — || — || 87–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 135 || September 29 || @ Reds || 1–2 || || || — || — || 87–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 136 || September 30 || Beaneaters || 1–5 || || || — || — || 87–48 |- y background:#F9F9F9; October: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Away: 1–1) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 137 || October 1 || Beaneaters || 9–0 || || || — || — || 88–48 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 138 || October 2 || Beaneaters || 8–4 || || || — || — || 89–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 139 || October 5 || @ Orphans || 1–2 || || || — || — || 89–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 140 || October 6 || @ Orphans || 9–5 || || || — || — || 90–49 |- |- | Legend:      #cfc = Win      #fbb = Loss      #fff = TieBold = Pittsburgh Pirates team member Detailed records National League Opponent W L WP RS Runs scored RA Runs against Boston Beaneaters 15 5 15 5 y 99 56 Brooklyn Superbas 8 11 8 11 y 86 101 Chicago Orphans 14 6 14 6 y 102 71 Cincinnati Reds 13 7 13 7 y 94 55 New York Giants 16 4 16 4 y 165 65 Philadelphia Phillies 13 7 13 7 y 100 73 Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals 11 9 11 9 y 130 113 Total 90 49 90 49 y 776 534 Season Total 90 49 90 49 y 776 534 Month Games Won Lost Win % RS Runs scored RA Runs against April 6 3 3 3 3 y 31 39 May 24 13 11 13 11 y 108 100 June 26 17 9 17 9 y 123 96 July 25 16 9 16 9 y 145 79 August 22 13 9 13 9 y 116 94 September 32 25 7 25 7 y 226 115 October 4 3 1 3 1 y 27 11 Total 139 90 49 90 49 y 776 534 Games Won Lost Win % RS Runs scored RA Runs against Home 69 45 24 45 24 y 372 255 Away 70 45 25 45 25 y 399 274 Total 139 90 49 90 49 y 776 534 Opening Day lineup Chief Zimmer – C Kitty Bransfield – 1B Claude Ritchey – 2B Tommy Leach – 3B Bones Ely – SS Fred Clarke – LF Ginger Beaumont – CF Lefty Davis – RF Roster 1901 Pittsburgh Pirates Roster Pitchers Jack Chesbro Ed Doheny Sam Leever George Merritt Deacon Phillippe Ed Poole Jesse Tannehill Rube Waddell Snake Wiltse Catchers Jiggs Donahue Jack O'Connor George Yeager Chief Zimmer Infielders Kitty Bransfield Jimmy Burke Lew Carr Truck Eagan Bones Ely Tommy Leach Claude Ritchey Jud Smith Terry Turner Honus Wagner Outfielders Ginger Beaumont Fred Clarke Lefty Davis Mike Smith Manager Fred Clarke Awards and honors Ginger Beaumont #3 in NL in runs scored (120) Deacon Phillippe #2 in NL in ERA (2.22) #3 in NL in wins (22) Jesse Tannehill NL leader in ERA (2.18) Honus Wagner NL leader in RBI (126) NL leader in stolen bases (49) #4 in NL in batting average (.353) #4 in NL in on-base percentage (.417) Statistics 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 C Chief Zimmer 69 236 52 .220 0 21 1B Kitty Bransfield 139 566 167 .295 0 91 2B Claude Ritchey 140 540 160 .296 1 74 SS Honus Wagner 140 549 194 .353 6 126 3B Tommy Leach 98 374 114 .305 2 44 OF Fred Clarke 129 527 171 .324 6 60 OF Lefty Davis 87 335 105 .313 2 33 OF Ginger Beaumont 133 558 185 .332 8 72 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 Bones Ely 65 240 50 .208 0 28 Jack O'Connor Jack O'Connor (catcher) 61 202 39 .193 0 22 George Yeager 26 91 24 .264 0 10 Ed Poole 26 78 16 .205 1 4 Jimmy Burke Jimmy Burke (baseball) 14 51 10 .196 0 4 Lew Carr 9 28 7 .250 0 4 Jud Smith 6 21 3 .143 0 0 Truck Eagan 4 12 1 .083 0 2 Terry Turner baseball 7 7 3 .429 0 1 Mike Smith Mike Smith (1890s outfielder) 4 4 0 .000 0 0 Jiggs Donahue 2 0 0 ---- 0 0 Pitching 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 Deacon Phillippe 37 296.0 22 12 2.22 103 Jack Chesbro 36 287.2 21 10 2.38 129 Jesse Tannehill 35 252.1 18 10 2.18 118 Sam Leever 21 176.0 14 5 2.86 82 Ed Poole 12 80.0 5 4 3.60 26 Ed Doheny 11 76.2 6 2 2.00 28 George Merritt George Merritt (baseball) 3 24.0 3 0 4.88 5 Rube Waddell 2 7.2 0 2 9.39 4 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 Snake Wiltse 7 44.1 1 4 4.26 10 Transactions June 27, 1901: Snake Wiltse was released by the Pirates.Snake Wiltse page at Baseball Reference Notes References External links 1901 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference 1901 Pittsburgh Pirates Page at Baseball Almanac Category:Pittsburgh Pirates seasons Pittsburgh Pirates season Category:National League champion seasons Pittsburg Pir Category:1900s in Pittsburgh