1950 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1950 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 69th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 64th in the National League. The Pirates finished eighth and last in the league standings with a record of 57–96.

1950 Pittsburgh Pirates
League	National League
Ballpark	Forbes Field
City	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
Owners	Frank E. McKinney, John W. Galbreath, Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson
General managers	Roy Hamey
Managers	Billy Meyer
Radio	WWSW Rosey Rowswell, Bob Prince
← 1949 Seasons 1951 →

Regular season

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Philadelphia Phillies	91	63	.591	—	48‍–‍29	43‍–‍34
Brooklyn Dodgers	89	65	.578	2	48‍–‍30	41‍–‍35
New York Giants	86	68	.558	5	44‍–‍32	42‍–‍36
Boston Braves	83	71	.539	8	46‍–‍31	37‍–‍40
St. Louis Cardinals	78	75	.510	12½	48‍–‍28	30‍–‍47
Cincinnati Reds	66	87	.431	24½	38‍–‍38	28‍–‍49
Chicago Cubs	64	89	.418	26½	35‍–‍42	29‍–‍47
Pittsburgh Pirates	57	96	.373	33½	33‍–‍44	24‍–‍52

Record vs. opponents

1950 National League record v t e Sources:
Team	BOS	BR	CHC	CIN	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Boston	—	9–13	9–13	17–5	13–9	9–13–1	15–7–1	11–11
Brooklyn	13–9	—	10–12	12–10	12–10	11–11–1	19–3	12–10
Chicago	13–9	12–10	—	4–17	5–17	9–13–1	11–11	10–12
Cincinnati	5–17	10–12	17–4	—	11–11	4–18	12–10	7–15
New York	9–13	10–12	17–5	11–11	—	12–10	16–6	11–11
Philadelphia	13–9–1	11–11–1	13–9–1	18–4	10–12	—	14–8	12–10
Pittsburgh	7–15–1	3–19	11–11	10–12	6–16	8–14	—	12–9
St. Louis	11–11	10–12	12–10	15–7	11–11	10–12	9–12	—

Game log

1950 Game Log: 57–96 (Home: 33–44; Away: 24–52)
April: 6–5 (Home: 4–1; Away: 2–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 18 @ Cardinals 2–4 Staley Chesnes (0–1) — 20,871 0–1 2 April 19 @ Cardinals 4–3 Chambers (1–0) Munger — 5,648 1–1 3 April 20 @ Cardinals 8–4 Dickson (1–0) Pollet — 4,235 2–1 4 April 21 Reds 7–5 Werle (1–0) Wehmeier Lombardi (1) 32,685 3–1 5 April 22 Reds 9–2 Chesnes (1–1) Hetki — 14,533 4–1 6 April 23 Reds 5–3 Chambers (2–0) Smith — 18,049 5–1 7 April 27 Cardinals 2–5 Munger Dickson (1–1) — 34,995 5–2 8 April 28 Cardinals 4–3 Werle (2–0) Staley Main (1) 10,102 6–2 9 April 29 @ Reds 6–14 Erautt Chesnes (1–2) — 4,895 6–3 10 April 30 @ Reds 2–4 Fox Chambers (2–1) Wehmeier 6–4 11 April 30 @ Reds 1–2 Blackwell Queen (0–1) — 10,759 6–5
May: 10–18 (Home: 4–11; Away: 6–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 12 May 2 Braves 6–1 Dickson (2–1) Spahn — 24,115 7–5 13 May 3 Braves 4–15 Sain Lombardi (0–1) — 9,389 7–6 14 May 4 Giants 3–1 Chambers (3–1) Jansen — 6,680 8–6 15 May 5 Giants 5–4 Queen (1–1) Jones Werle (1) 31,785 9–6 16 May 6 Giants 8–9 Maglie Lombardi (0–2) Hansen 13,577 9–7 17 May 7 Dodgers 2–3 Barney Dickson (2–2) Erskine 33,734 9–8 18 May 8 Dodgers 5–7 Podbielan Chambers (3–2) Banta 9,476 9–9 19 May 9 Dodgers 10–5 Werle (3–0) Palica — 26,734 10–9 20 May 11 Phillies 2–3 Roberts Dickson (2–3) — 28,452 10–10 21 May 12 @ Cubs 3–6 Rush Gregg (0–1) — 8,763 10–11 22 May 13 @ Cubs 3–4 Hiller Chambers (3–3) Dubiel 25,453 10–12 23 May 14 @ Cubs 6–5 Chesnes (2–2) Leonard Werle (2) 11–12 24 May 14 @ Cubs 16–9 Main (1–0) Lade Werle (3) 34,659 12–12 25 May 16 @ Braves 0–3 Sain Dickson (2–4) — 10,273 12–13 26 May 17 @ Braves 4–1 Chambers (4–3) Bickford — 13,384 13–13 27 May 20 @ Dodgers 2–3 Banta Queen (1–2) — 13–14 28 May 20 @ Dodgers 3–4 (11) Bankhead Werle (3–1) — 20,311 13–15 29 May 21 @ Giants 4–2 Chesnes (3–2) Jansen — 14–15 30 May 21 @ Giants 8–6 Chambers (5–3) Jones Werle (4) 34,972 15–15 31 May 23 @ Phillies 6–0 Macdonald (1–0) Meyer — 12,428 16–15 32 May 24 @ Phillies 3–6 Konstanty Werle (3–2) — 18,993 16–16 33 May 25 @ Phillies 0–3 Miller Chambers (5–4) — 5,265 16–17 34 May 26 Cubs 0–4 Hiller Queen (1–3) — 22,526 16–18 35 May 27 Cubs 5–7 Minner Chesnes (3–3) Leonard 10,220 16–19 36 May 28 Cubs 0–6 Schmitz Dickson (2–5) — 16–20 37 May 28 Cubs 1–5 Rush Lombardi (0–3) — 23,873 16–21 38 May 30 Cardinals 13–17 Staley Werle (3–3) Brazle 16–22 39 May 30 Cardinals 5–8 Staley Dickson (2–6) — 33,182 16–23
June: 7–18 (Home: 4–9; Away: 3–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 40 June 1 Braves 2–14 Bickford Queen (1–4) — 5,468 16–24 41 June 2 Braves 5–4 Macdonald (2–0) Spahn — 23,549 17–24 42 June 3 Braves 6–10 Sain Lombardi (0–4) Hogue 5,737 17–25 43 June 4 Giants 3–4 Maglie Chambers (5–5) Kennedy 14,534 17–26 44 June 5 Giants 4–5 (10) Koslo Walsh (0–1) Hansen 16,733 17–27 45 June 6 Giants 4–10 Kramer Queen (1–5) — 5,111 17–28 46 June 7 Dodgers 0–9 Newcombe Macdonald (2–1) — 30,904 17–29 47 June 8 Dodgers 4–3 Chambers (6–5) Branca Werle (5) 22,697 18–29 48 June 9 Dodgers 7–9 Podbielan Werle (3–4) Newcombe 9,510 18–30 49 June 11 Phillies 6–7 Konstanty Law (0–1) — 18–31 50 June 11 Phillies 5–4 (12) Werle (4–4) Donnelly — 33,217 19–31 51 June 13 @ Giants 0–7 Jansen Chambers (6–6) — 15,088 19–32 52 June 16 @ Braves 5–6 Sain Queen (1–6) — 15,866 19–33 53 June 17 @ Braves 6–15 Hogue Borowy (0–1) — 6,272 19–34 54 June 18 @ Braves 6–8 Roy Dickson (2–7) — 19–35 55 June 18 @ Braves 8–8 — 22,817 19–35 56 June 19 @ Braves 1–0 Chambers (7–6) Spahn — 5,578 20–35 57 June 20 @ Phillies 3–7 Meyer Law (0–2) — 13,597 20–36 58 June 21 @ Phillies 5–3 Macdonald (3–1) Roberts Werle (6) 18,632 21–36 59 June 22 @ Phillies 4–7 Miller Borowy (0–2) — 5,326 21–37 60 June 23 @ Dodgers 3–15 Podbielan Dickson (2–8) — 25,519 21–38 61 June 24 @ Dodgers 12–21 Roe Werle (4–5) — 22,010 21–39 62 June 25 @ Dodgers 16–11 Chambers (8–6) Branca Macdonald (1) 20,196 22–39 63 June 27 Reds 3–8 Wehmeier Macdonald (3–2) Blackwell 13,500 22–40 64 June 28 Reds 6–5 Dickson (3–8) Smith — 12,040 23–40 65 June 30 @ Cardinals 4–9 Staley Chambers (8–7) — 12,631 23–41
July: 11–19 (Home: 8–8; Away: 3–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 66 July 1 @ Cardinals 4–5 Pollet Queen (1–7) Brazle 15,795 23–42 67 July 2 @ Cardinals 1–2 Munger Werle (4–6) Brazle 25,630 23–43 68 July 3 @ Reds 5–8 Ramsdell Dickson (3–9) Blackwell 3,405 23–44 69 July 4 @ Reds 4–8 Wehmeier Chambers (8–8) — 23–45 70 July 4 @ Reds 4–5 Fox Macdonald (3–3) — 10,728 23–46 71 July 5 @ Cubs 4–1 Queen (2–7) Lade — 10,815 24–46 72 July 6 @ Cubs 2–4 Minner Werle (4–7) — 12,953 24–47 73 July 7 Cardinals 9–1 Law (1–2) Staley — 28,468 25–47 74 July 8 Cardinals 7–6 Dickson (4–9) Brecheen — 15,224 26–47 75 July 9 Cardinals 3–2 Queen (3–7) Lanier Werle (7) 21,431 27–47 76 July 14 Giants 5–7 Maglie Chambers (8–9) — 29,323 27–48 77 July 15 Giants 2–1 Werle (5–7) Jansen — 11,958 28–48 78 July 16 Braves 5–9 Bickford Law (1–3) — 28–49 79 July 16 Braves 6–5 Borowy (1–2) Hogue — 29,363 29–49 80 July 17 Braves 6–8 Johnson Borowy (1–3) Hogue 21,450 29–50 81 July 18 Braves 3–11 Spahn Dickson (4–10) — 5,445 29–51 82 July 19 Phillies 2–3 (11) Simmons Werle (5–8) Konstanty 29–52 83 July 19 Phillies 4–2 Macdonald (4–3) Meyer — 18,953 30–52 84 July 20 Phillies 10–8 Dickson (5–10) Donnelly — 7,291 31–52 85 July 21 Phillies 1–4 Church Queen (3–8) — 34,016 31–53 86 July 22 Dodgers 3–12 Branca Pierro (0–1) — 18,103 31–54 87 July 23 Dodgers 6–11 Barney Chambers (8–10) Newcombe 25,889 31–55 88 July 24 Phillies 2–1 (6) Macdonald (5–3) Miller — 15,431 32–55 89 July 25 @ Braves 2–7 Sain Pierro (0–2) — 18,461 32–56 90 July 26 @ Braves 8–4 Queen (4–8) Bickford Dickson (1) 12,689 33–56 91 July 27 @ Braves 3–5 Spahn Chambers (8–11) — 8,302 33–57 92 July 28 @ Phillies 1–4 Miller Macdonald (5–4) — 7,343 33–58 93 July 29 @ Phillies 7–4 Werle (6–8) Church — 10,252 34–58 94 July 30 @ Phillies 0–10 Roberts Queen (4–9) — 34–59 95 July 30 @ Phillies 2–4 Konstanty Dickson (5–11) Meyer 21,411 34–60
August: 8–22 (Home: 5–14; Away: 3–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 96 August 1 @ Dodgers 1–3 Palica Chambers (8–12) — 16,691 34–61 97 August 2 @ Dodgers 4–5 (10) Branca Dickson (5–12) — 6,361 34–62 98 August 4 @ Giants 2–3 Jones Law (1–4) Koslo 14,238 34–63 99 August 5 @ Giants 0–5 Hearn Queen (4–10) — 9,264 34–64 100 August 6 @ Giants 0–5 Jansen Werle (6–9) — 17,182 34–65 101 August 6 @ Giants 0–3 Maglie Dickson (5–13) — 17,182 34–66 102 August 8 Cardinals 4–6 Martin Chambers (8–13) — 18,243 34–67 103 August 10 Cubs 7–4 Law (2–4) Minner Dickson (2) 10,087 35–67 104 August 11 Cubs 1–3 Hiller Werle (6–10) — 11,082 35–68 105 August 12 Cubs 2–7 Rush Macdonald (5–5) — 6,770 35–69 106 August 13 Cubs 7–4 Chambers (9–13) Schmitz — 36–69 107 August 13 Cubs 2–0 Queen (5–10) Dubiel — 18,162 37–69 108 August 14 Reds 8–13 Smith Lombardi (0–5) — 4,306 37–70 109 August 15 Reds 10–9 Macdonald (6–5) Hetki — 5,495 38–70 110 August 16 @ Cardinals 5–3 Law (3–4) Boyer Dickson (3) 12,134 39–70 111 August 18 @ Cubs 9–3 Chambers (10–13) Dubiel — 3,823 40–70 112 August 19 @ Cubs 13–8 Dickson (6–13) Rush Werle (8) 13,290 41–70 113 August 20 @ Cubs 2–4 Minner Law (3–5) — 41–71 114 August 20 @ Cubs 2–5 Hiller Macdonald (6–6) — 29,589 41–72 115 August 21 Dodgers 2–3 Newcombe Werle (6–11) — 7,666 41–73 116 August 22 Dodgers 8–10 Palica Queen (5–11) Branca 19,526 41–74 117 August 23 Dodgers 5–7 (17) Branca Queen (5–12) — 16,382 41–75 118 August 24 Phillies 2–4 Church Law (3–6) — 9,096 41–76 119 August 25 Phillies 7–9 (15) Konstanty Chambers (10–14) — 25,686 41–77 120 August 26 Phillies 14–4 Dickson (7–13) Roberts — 12,157 42–77 121 August 27 Braves 3–7 (13) Surkont Werle (6–12) — 42–78 122 August 27 Braves 1–4 Roy Queen (5–13) — 24,279 42–79 123 August 29 Giants 5–10 Jansen Law (3–7) — 13,850 42–80 124 August 30 Giants 0–4 Maglie Chambers (10–15) — 7,794 42–81 125 August 31 Giants 1–2 Hearn Macdonald (6–7) — 3,552 42–82
September: 14–13 (Home: 8–1; Away: 6–12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 126 September 1 Cardinals 10–4 Werle (7–12) Boyer — 12,589 43–82 127 September 2 Cardinals 6–0 Law (4–7) Staley — 5,638 44–82 128 September 3 Cardinals 12–11 (10) Werle (8–12) Brecheen — 12,736 45–82 129 September 4 Cubs 5–3 Barrett (1–0) Dubiel Walsh (1) 46–82 130 September 4 Cubs 3–0 Macdonald (7–7) Rush — 20,695 47–82 131 September 6 @ Reds 3–2 Law (5–7) Blackwell — 7,079 48–82 132 September 7 @ Reds 4–6 (10) Erautt Barrett (1–1) — 1,176 48–83 133 September 9 @ Cardinals 5–4 Dickson (8–13) Pollet — 13,527 49–83 134 September 10 @ Cardinals 5–6 (10) Wilks Barrett (1–2) — 49–84 135 September 10 @ Cardinals 6–2 Macdonald (8–7) Dusak — 12,436 50–84 136 September 12 @ Giants 0–3 Jones Werle (8–13) — 4,112 50–85 137 September 13 @ Giants 1–3 (7) Maglie Law (5–8) — 11,684 50–86 138 September 14 @ Giants 7–1 Dickson (9–13) Jansen — 4,272 51–86 139 September 14 @ Giants 1–6 Hearn Macdonald (8–8) — 51–87 140 September 15 @ Braves 4–7 Surkont Queen (5–14) — 9,168 51–88 141 September 16 @ Braves 4–0 (12) Chambers (11–15) Bickford — 4,606 52–88 142 September 17 @ Phillies 3–5 Meyer Werle (8–14) Konstanty 20,031 52–89 143 September 19 @ Dodgers 3–14 Newcombe Law (5–9) — 52–90 144 September 19 @ Dodgers 2–3 Palica Dickson (9–14) — 2,637 52–91 145 September 20 @ Dodgers 2–7 Erskine Macdonald (8–9) — 1,011 52–92 146 September 21 @ Dodgers 8–10 Palica Werle (8–15) — 5,241 52–93 147 September 22 Reds 8–7 (10) Walsh (1–1) Smith — 12,979 53–93 148 September 23 Reds 8–7 Law (6–9) Wehmeier Walsh (2) 4,009 54–93 149 September 24 Reds 1–7 Blackwell Macdonald (8–10) — 54–94 150 September 24 Reds 3–2 Dickson (10–14) Raffensberger — 25,233 55–94 151 September 27 @ Cubs 7–4 Law (7–9) Dubiel — 4,783 56–94 152 September 30 @ Reds 2–5 Fox Werle (8–16) — 1,719 56–95
October: 1–1 (Home: 0–0; Away: 1–1) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 153 October 1 @ Reds 2–3 Erautt Dickson (10–15) — 56–96 154 October 1 @ Reds 3–1 Chambers (12–15) Byerly — 8,390 57–96
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Roster

1950 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 38 Frank Barrett 24 Hank Borowy 23 Cliff Chambers 24 Bob Chesnes 22 Murry Dickson 20 Hal Gregg 37 Harry Gumbert 20 Vern Law 28 Vic Lombardi 25 Bill Macdonald 39 Woody Main 40 Windy McCall 30 Frank Papish 13 Bill Pierro 27 Mel Queen 29 Junior Walsh 19 Bill Werle		Catchers  9 Ed Fitz Gerald  8 Clyde McCullough  9 Ray Mueller 10 Earl Turner Infielders 10 Johnny Berardino 16 Pete Castiglione  3 Dale Coogan  3 Bob Dillinger 11 Nanny Fernandez 12 Johnny Hopp  7 Danny Murtaugh 11 Danny O'Connell  5 Jack Phillips  6 Stan Rojek  2 Hank Schenz 37 Ed Stevens 14 George Strickland		Outfielders 17 Ted Beard 18,21 Gus Bell  4 Ralph Kiner 13 Marv Rickert 18,21 Tom Saffell 15 Wally Westlake		Manager  1 Billy Meyer Coaches 31 Frankie Gustine 31 Goldie Holt 32 Bill Posedel 34 Johnny Riddle 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
C	Clyde McCullough	103	279	71	.254	6	34
1B	Johnny Hopp	106	318	108	.340	8	47
2B	Danny Murtaugh	118	367	108	.294	2	37
SS	Danny O'Connell	79	315	92	.292	8	32
3B	Bob Dillinger	58	222	64	.288	1	9
OF	Gus Bell	111	422	119	.282	8	53
OF	Ralph Kiner	150	547	149	.272	47	118
OF	Wally Westlake	139	477	136	.285	24	95

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
Pete Castiglione	94	263	67	.255	3	22
Stan Rojek	76	230	59	.257	0	17
Jack Phillips	69	208	61	.293	5	34
Nanny Fernandez	65	198	51	.258	6	27
Tom Saffell	67	182	37	.203	2	6
Ted Beard	61	177	41	.232	4	12
Ray Mueller	67	156	42	.269	6	24
Johnny Berardino	40	131	27	.206	1	12
Dale Coogan	53	129	31	.240	1	13
Hank Schenz	58	101	23	.228	1	5
Earl Turner	40	74	18	.243	3	5
Ed Stevens	17	46	9	.196	0	3
George Strickland	23	27	3	.111	0	2
Marv Rickert	17	20	3	.150	0	0
Ed Fitz Gerald	6	15	1	.067	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
Cliff Chambers	37	249.1	12	15	4.30	93
Bob Chesnes	9	49.0	3	3	5.54	12

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
Murry Dickson	51	225.0	10	15	3.80	76
Bill Werle	48	215.1	8	16	4.60	78
Bill Macdonald	32	153.0	8	10	4.29	60
Vern Law	27	128.0	7	9	4.92	57
Mel Queen	33	120.1	5	14	5.98	76
Bill Pierro	12	29.0	0	2	10.55	13
Hank Borowy	11	25.1	1	3	6.39	9
Hal Gregg	5	5.1	0	1	13.50	3
Frank Papish	4	2.1	0	0	27.00	1

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
Vic Lombardi	39	0	5	1	6.60	26
Junior Walsh	38	1	1	2	5.05	33
Woody Main	12	1	0	1	4.87	12
Frank Barrett	5	1	2	0	4.15	0
Windy McCall	2	0	0	0	9.45	5
Jack Phillips	1	0	0	0	7.20	2
Harry Gumbert	1	0	0	0	5.40	0

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Indianapolis Indians	American Association	Al López
AA	New Orleans Pelicans	Southern Association	Hugh Luby and Bill Burwell
A	Albany Senators	Eastern League	Pinky May
A	Charleston Rebels	Sally League	Rip Sewell
B	Waco Pirates	Big State League	Buddy Hancken
B	York White Roses	Interstate League	Frank Oceak
C	Modesto Reds	California League	Marc Carrola
C	Hutchinson Elks	Western Association	Wes Griffin
D	Greenville Pirates	Alabama State League	Mickey O'Neil
D	Tallahassee Pirates	Georgia–Florida League	Walt Tauscher
D	Bartlesville Pirates	Kansas–Oklahoma–Missouri League	Tedd Gullic
D	Mayfield Clothiers	KITTY League	Jerry Gardner
D	Salisbury Pirates	North Carolina State League	George Detore

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Modesto, Hutchinson, Tallahassee, Mayfield