1951 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1951 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 70th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 65th in the National League. The Pirates finished seventh in the league standings with a record of 64–90.

1951 Pittsburgh Pirates
League	National League
Ballpark	Forbes Field
City	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
Owners	John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson, Branch Rickey (minority shareholders)
General managers	Branch Rickey
Managers	Billy Meyer
Radio	WWSW Rosey Rowswell, Bob Prince
← 1950 Seasons 1952 →

Offseason

• November 16, 1950: Catfish Metkovich was drafted by the Pirates from the Oakland Oaks in the 1950 rule 5 draft.^[2]

Regular season

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Giants	98	59	.624	—	50‍–‍28	48‍–‍31
Brooklyn Dodgers	97	60	.618	1	49‍–‍29	48‍–‍31
St. Louis Cardinals	81	73	.526	15½	44‍–‍34	37‍–‍39
Boston Braves	76	78	.494	20½	42‍–‍35	34‍–‍43
Philadelphia Phillies	73	81	.474	23½	38‍–‍39	35‍–‍42
Cincinnati Reds	68	86	.442	28½	35‍–‍42	33‍–‍44
Pittsburgh Pirates	64	90	.416	32½	32‍–‍45	32‍–‍45
Chicago Cubs	62	92	.403	34½	32‍–‍45	30‍–‍47

Record vs. opponents

1951 National League record v t e Sources:
Team	BOS	BR	CHC	CIN	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Boston	—	10–12–1	10–12	10–12	8–14	12–10	13–9	13–9
Brooklyn	12–10–1	—	14–8	14–8	14–11	15–7	10–12	18–4
Chicago	12–10	8–14	—	10–12	7–15	7–15	9–13	9–13–1
Cincinnati	12–10	8–14	12–10	—	5–17	11–11	12–10–1	8–14
New York	14–8	11–14	15–7	17–5	—	16–6	14–8	11–11
Philadelphia	10–12	7–15	15–7	11–11	6–16	—	15–7	9–13
Pittsburgh	9–13	12–10	13–9	10–12–1	8–14	7–15	—	5–17
St. Louis	9–13	4–18	13–9–1	14–8	11–11	13–9	17–5	—

Game log

1951 Game Log: 64–90 (Home: 32–45; Away: 32–45)
April: 5–5 (Home: 2–2; Away: 3–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 16 @ Reds 4–3 Chambers (1–0) Blackwell Werle (1) 30,441 1–0 2 April 17 Cardinals 5–4 Dickson (1–0) Poholsky Werle (2) 25,894 2–0 3 April 21 @ Reds 3–8 Fox Chambers (1–1) — 4,180 2–1 4 April 22 @ Reds 7–5 Werle (1–0) Blackwell — 7,254 3–1 5 April 23 @ Cubs 1–2 Hiller Queen (0–1) — 7,899 3–2 6 April 24 @ Cubs 6–4 Law (1–0) Lown Werle (3) 7,750 4–2 7 April 25 @ Cardinals 0–4 Poholsky Chambers (1–2) — 9,628 4–3 8 April 27 Reds 5–7 Blackwell Muir (0–1) Fox 27,135 4–4 9 April 28 Reds 2–4 Wehmeier Dempsey (0–1) Smith 10,657 4–5 10 April 29 Reds 9–8 (13) Dickson (2–0) Smith — 5–5 11 April 29 Reds 1–1 (10) — 23,601 5–5
May: 10–18 (Home: 3–10; Away: 7–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 12 May 1 @ Dodgers 6–2 Chambers (2–2) Palica — 6,716 6–5 13 May 2 @ Dodgers 4–3 Dickson (3–0) Newcombe — 6,238 7–5 14 May 3 @ Giants 7–4 (10) Queen (1–1) Jones Werle (4) 9,649 8–5 15 May 4 @ Giants 1–5 Maglie Dempsey (0–2) — 3,947 8–6 16 May 5 @ Giants 3–8 Bowman Koski (0–1) — 10,265 8–7 17 May 6 @ Braves 0–6 Spahn Dickson (3–1) — 8–8 18 May 6 @ Braves 3–0 Chambers (3–2) Estock — 15,492 9–8 19 May 8 @ Phillies 9–3 Queen (2–1) Heintzelman Werle (5) 13,700 10–8 20 May 9 @ Phillies 5–6 (10) Konstanty Muir (0–2) — 14,134 10–9 21 May 10 @ Phillies 2–0 Dickson (4–1) Church — 3,562 11–9 22 May 11 Cubs 4–10 Rush Chambers (3–3) — 22,760 11–10 23 May 12 Cubs 4–8 Hiller Law (1–1) Minner 7,528 11–11 24 May 13 Cubs 2–1 Queen (3–1) Schultz — 12–11 25 May 13 Cubs 0–6 Klippstein Dickson (4–2) — 25,434 12–12 26 May 15 Giants 7–3 Werle (2–0) Spencer Law (1) 25,838 13–12 27 May 16 Giants 1–2 Hearn Walsh (0–1) — 24,103 13–13 28 May 17 Giants 12–7 Dickson (5–2) Kennedy — 13,926 14–13 29 May 18 Braves 3–12 Surkont Queen (3–2) — 30,890 14–14 30 May 19 Braves 2–6 Bickford Law (1–2) — 13,217 14–15 31 May 20 Phillies 0–17 Meyer Dickson (5–3) — 14–16 32 May 20 Phillies 4–12 Roberts Dusak (0–1) — 36,166 14–17 33 May 22 Dodgers 8–17 Erskine Friend (0–1) Branca 22,360 14–18 34 May 23 Dodgers 4–11 Newcombe Queen (3–3) — 15,759 14–19 35 May 25 @ Cubs 10–1 Dickson (6–3) Hiller — 8,143 15–19 36 May 26 @ Cubs 4–5 (10) Schmitz Walsh (0–2) — 9,006 15–20 37 May 28 @ Cardinals 5–6 (10) Poholsky LaPalme (0–1) — 9,757 15–21 38 May 30 @ Cardinals 3–4 Presko Dickson (6–4) Wilks 15–22 39 May 30 @ Cardinals 3–7 Munger Queen (3–4) — 26,952 15–23
June: 10–18 (Home: 4–9; Away: 6–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 40 June 1 @ Giants 2–8 Maglie Chambers (3–4) — 16,875 15–24 41 June 2 @ Giants 3–14 Hearn LaPalme (0–2) — 7,003 15–25 42 June 3 @ Phillies 2–11 Roberts Queen (3–5) — 15–26 43 June 3 @ Phillies 3–8 Church Dickson (6–5) — 19,325 15–27 44 June 4 @ Phillies 12–4 Friend (1–1) Meyer Dickson (1) 2,343 16–27 45 June 5 @ Braves 8–0 LaPalme (1–2) Sain — 4,302 17–27 46 June 6 @ Braves 2–5 Spahn Chambers (3–5) — 5,030 17–28 47 June 7 @ Braves 0–5 Bickford Queen (3–6) — 4,916 17–29 48 June 9 @ Dodgers 4–1 Dickson (7–5) Newcombe — 11,462 18–29 49 June 10 @ Dodgers 1–2 Branca Friend (1–2) — 18–30 50 June 10 @ Dodgers 5–4 (11) Werle (3–0) Erskine — 24,602 19–30 51 June 12 Braves 3–13 Sain Chambers (3–6) — 16,054 19–31 52 June 14 Braves 9–4 Dickson (8–5) Bickford — 4,277 20–31 53 June 15 Giants 6–11 Hearn Friend (1–3) — 22,746 20–32 54 June 16 Giants 1–6 Maglie LaPalme (1–3) — 8,673 20–33 55 June 17 Giants 11–5 Pollet (1–0) Bowman Werle (6) 21–33 56 June 17 Giants 6–7 (10) Jansen Dickson (8–6) — 25,090 21–34 57 June 19 Phillies 2–9 Meyer Dickson (8–7) — 16,601 21–35 58 June 20 Phillies 0–1 Church Friend (1–4) — 12,751 21–36 59 June 21 Phillies 5–10 Roberts LaPalme (1–4) — 5,682 21–37 60 June 22 Dodgers 4–8 King Wilks (0–1) — 24,966 21–38 61 June 23 Dodgers 1–13 Newcombe Werle (3–1) — 9,937 21–39 62 June 24 Dodgers 10–7 Dickson (9–7) Erskine — 22–39 63 June 24 Dodgers 5–4 Wilks (1–1) King — 31,435 23–39 64 June 26 @ Reds 3–2 Pollet (2–0) Perkowski — 8,313 24–39 65 June 27 @ Reds 1–2 Ramsdell Friend (1–5) — 5,788 24–40 66 June 28 @ Reds 7–5 Werle (4–1) Raffensberger Wilks (2) 7,568 25–40 67 June 30 @ Cardinals 4–8 Chambers Dickson (9–8) — 13,479 25–41
July: 14–16 (Home: 10–7; Away: 4–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 68 July 1 @ Cardinals 4–5 (12) Staley Pollet (2–1) — 21,195 25–42 69 July 2 Cubs 7–2 Dickson (10–8) Hiller — 12,661 26–42 70 July 3 Cubs 2–0 Law (2–2) Rush — 4,650 27–42 71 July 4 Reds 4–1 Friend (2–5) Blackwell Wilks (3) 28–42 72 July 4 Reds 16–4 (6) Werle (5–1) Ramsdell — 16,061 29–42 73 July 5 Reds 0–4 Fox Pollet (2–2) — 2,212 29–43 74 July 6 Cardinals 2–3 Munger Dickson (10–9) — 24,532 29–44 75 July 7 Cardinals 5–1 Law (3–2) Lanier — 10,127 30–44 76 July 8 Cardinals 6–2 Friend (3–5) Staley Wilks (4) 31–44 77 July 8 Cardinals 8–9 Chambers Wilks (1–2) Staley 31,085 31–45 78 July 12 @ Phillies 6–11 Meyer Dickson (10–10) — 10,618 31–46 79 July 13 @ Phillies 2–3 Roberts Pollet (2–3) — 7,786 31–47 80 July 14 @ Phillies 0–2 Church Law (3–3) — 4,106 31–48 81 July 15 @ Giants 7–6 (12) Dickson (11–10) Koslo — 32–48 82 July 15 @ Giants 3–8 Hearn Werle (5–2) — 17,945 32–49 83 July 16 @ Giants 6–7 Spencer Werle (5–3) — 3,390 32–50 84 July 17 @ Dodgers 4–3 Pollet (3–3) Podbielan Wilks (5) 18,097 33–50 85 July 18 @ Dodgers 13–12 Walsh (1–2) Palica Wilks (6) 7,083 34–50 86 July 20 @ Braves 6–11 Spahn Law (3–4) — 5,767 34–51 87 July 21 @ Braves 6–11 Bickford Law (3–5) — 3,263 34–52 88 July 22 @ Braves 3–5 Chipman Wilks (1–3) — 34–53 89 July 22 @ Braves 5–2 Dickson (12–10) Wilson — 8,514 35–53 90 July 23 Braves 14–15 Paine Law (3–6) Chipman 8,112 35–54 91 July 24 Giants 3–4 (10) Maglie Friend (3–6) — 17,858 35–55 92 July 25 Giants 5–4 Wilks (2–3) Spencer — 8,718 36–55 93 July 27 Braves 8–4 Pollet (4–3) Surkont — 17,256 37–55 94 July 28 Braves 8–4 Dickson (13–10) Spahn — 6,848 38–55 95 July 29 Braves 6–2 Friend (4–6) Sain — 39–55 96 July 29 Braves 4–5 Wilson Queen (3–7) Estock 17,881 39–56 97 July 31 Dodgers 3–8 Newcombe Pollet (4–4) — 26,132 39–57
August: 16–17 (Home: 6–6; Away: 10–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 98 August 1 Dodgers 12–9 Werle (6–3) King Wilks (7) 19,502 40–57 99 August 2 Dodgers 5–10 Erskine Friend (4–7) — 10,986 40–58 100 August 3 Phillies 4–5 Roberts Law (3–7) — 13,607 40–59 101 August 4 Phillies 7–3 Dickson (14–10) Johnson — 7,206 41–59 102 August 5 Phillies 1–5 Church Friend (4–8) — 41–60 103 August 5 Phillies 7–12 Heintzelman Wilks (2–4) Konstanty 20,049 41–61 104 August 7 @ Cardinals 7–16 Boyer LaPalme (1–5) Brazle 7,465 41–62 105 August 8 @ Cardinals 10–7 Dickson (15–10) Poholsky Wilks (8) 7,482 42–62 106 August 9 @ Cardinals 0–4 Chambers Pollet (4–5) — 6,855 42–63 107 August 10 @ Cubs 3–0 Queen (4–7) McLish — 7,703 43–63 108 August 11 @ Cubs 3–4 Kelly Law (3–8) — 43–64 109 August 11 @ Cubs 2–1 Friend (5–8) Rush — 20,522 44–64 110 August 12 @ Cubs 1–0 Dickson (16–10) Hatten — 45–64 111 August 12 @ Cubs 0–6 Minner Werle (6–4) — 25,891 45–65 112 August 13 @ Reds 0–2 Fox Pollet (4–6) — 45–66 113 August 13 @ Reds 1–7 Blackwell Walsh (1–3) — 9,992 45–67 114 August 15 Cardinals 7–0 Friend (6–8) Staley — 17,853 46–67 115 August 16 Cardinals 6–9 Staley Dickson (16–11) — 6,619 46–68 116 August 17 Cubs 8–3 Queen (5–7) Minner — 10,007 47–68 117 August 18 Cubs 5–11 Kelly Pollet (4–7) Leonard 6,212 47–69 118 August 19 Cubs 4–2 Carlsen (1–0) Hatten — 48–69 119 August 19 Cubs 5–4 Law (4–8) Leonard — 16,434 49–69 120 August 21 @ Braves 1–3 Wilson Friend (6–9) — 3,289 49–70 121 August 22 @ Braves 4–5 (10) Chipman Werle (6–5) — 4,585 49–71 122 August 24 @ Phillies 5–1 Dickson (17–11) Thompson — 8,847 50–71 123 August 25 @ Phillies 3–2 (12) Carlsen (2–0) Konstanty — 5,276 51–71 124 August 26 @ Dodgers 12–11 Law (5–8) King Dickson (2) 52–71 125 August 26 @ Dodgers 3–4 (10) Roe Wilks (2–5) — 30,189 52–72 126 August 27 @ Dodgers 0–5 Branca Queen (5–8) — 52–73 127 August 27 @ Dodgers 5–2 Werle (7–5) Palica Law (2) 32,561 53–73 128 August 28 @ Giants 2–0 Pollet (5–7) Jones — 8,803 54–73 129 August 29 @ Giants 1–3 Hearn Dickson (17–12) — 7,678 54–74 130 August 30 @ Giants 10–9 Dickson (18–12) Jansen — 8,230 55–74
September: 9–16 (Home: 7–11; Away: 2–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 131 September 1 @ Cardinals 2–6 Chambers Carlsen (2–1) — 11,637 55–75 132 September 2 @ Cardinals 1–6 Poholsky Pollet (5–8) — 12,852 55–76 133 September 3 @ Cubs 10–11 (12) Dubiel Law (5–9) — 55–77 134 September 3 @ Cubs 4–3 (7) Wilks (3–5) Lown — 20,242 56–77 135 September 5 Reds 3–6 Wehmeier Werle (7–6) Raffensberger 9,086 56–78 136 September 6 Reds 7–4 Pollet (6–8) Fox Wilks (9) 4,222 57–78 137 September 7 Cardinals 4–11 Bokelmann Carlsen (2–2) — 7,371 57–79 138 September 8 Cardinals 2–4 Brazle Queen (5–9) — 5,511 57–80 139 September 9 Cardinals 1–2 (10) Lanier Dickson (18–13) — 57–81 140 September 9 Cardinals 4–7 Bokelmann Walsh (1–4) — 17,456 57–82 141 September 11 Phillies 2–3 Roberts Carlsen (2–3) — 8,152 57–83 142 September 12 Phillies 8–6 Law (6–9) Hansen Wilks (10) 2,364 58–83 143 September 14 Dodgers 1–3 Roe Dickson (18–14) — 18,050 58–84 144 September 15 Dodgers 11–4 Queen (6–9) Branca Wilks (11) 11,098 59–84 145 September 16 Giants 1–7 Jansen Pollet (6–9) — 59–85 146 September 16 Giants 4–6 Maglie Dickson (18–15) — 24,990 59–86 147 September 18 Braves 6–5 Yochim (1–0) Wilson Wilks (12) 8,036 60–86 148 September 19 Braves 7–3 Dickson (19–15) Nichols — 2,793 61–86 149 September 22 @ Reds 0–9 Wehmeier Friend (6–10) — 1,093 61–87 150 September 23 @ Reds 3–0 Dickson (20–15) Blackwell — 62–87 151 September 23 @ Reds 0–2 Fox Pollet (6–10) — 6,152 62–88 152 September 25 Cubs 6–3 Queen (7–9) Lown Wilks (13) 6,063 63–88 153 September 28 Reds 3–4 Wehmeier Yochim (1–1) — 4,250 63–89 154 September 29 Reds 2–4 Blackwell Dickson (20–16) Smith 13,843 63–90 155 September 30 Reds 8–4 (11) Werle (8–6) Smith — 9,068 64–90
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

• June 15, 1951: Cliff Chambers and Wally Westlake were traded by the Pirates to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joe Garagiola, Dick Cole, Bill Howerton, Howie Pollet, and Ted Wilks.^[3]

Roster

1951 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 24 Don Carlsen 23 Cliff Chambers 30 Con Dempsey 21,22 Murry Dickson 25 Bob Friend 26 Bill Koski 24 Paul LaPalme 20 Vern Law 31 Joe Muir 23 Paul Pettit 30 Howie Pollet 36 Mel Queen 29 Junior Walsh 19 Bill Werle 28 Ted Wilks 23 Len Yochim		Catchers  9 Ed Fitz Gerald  2 Joe Garagiola 3,8 Clyde McCullough Infielders 10,12 Monty Basgall 16 Pete Castiglione 12 Dick Cole  3 Bob Dillinger  2 Dale Long 12 Jack Maguire 10 Jack Merson  7 Danny Murtaugh  6 Rocky Nelson  5 Jack Phillips  6 Stan Rojek 10 Hank Schenz  6 Dick Smith 14 George Strickland 15 Wally Westlake		Outfielders 13 Ted Beard 18 Gus Bell 15 Erv Dusak  8 Bill Howerton  4 Ralph Kiner 11 Catfish Metkovich 27 Pete Reiser 21 Dino Restelli 17 Tom Saffell 27 Frank Thomas Other batters 35,39 Harry Fisher		Manager  1 Billy Meyer Coaches 41 Babe Herman 43 Sam Narron 42 Bill Posedel 40 Milt Stock 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	92	259	77	.297	8	39
1B	Jack Phillips	70	156	37	.237	0	12
2B	Monty Basgall	55	153	32	.209	0	9
SS	George Strickland	138	454	98	.216	9	47
3B	Pete Castiglione	132	482	126	.261	7	42
OF	Catfish Metkovich	120	423	124	.293	3	40
OF	Gus Bell	149	600	167	.278	16	89
OF	Ralph Kiner	151	531	164	.309	42	109

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
Bill Howerton	80	219	60	.274	11	37
Joe Garagiola	72	212	54	.255	9	35
Rocky Nelson	71	195	52	.267	1	14
Wally Westlake	50	181	51	.282	16	45
Danny Murtaugh	77	151	30	.199	1	11
Frank Thomas	39	148	39	.264	2	16
Pete Reiser	74	140	38	.271	2	13
Dick Cole	42	106	25	.236	1	11
Ed Fitz Gerald	55	97	22	.227	0	13
Tom Saffell	49	65	13	.200	1	5
Hank Schenz	25	61	13	.213	0	3
Jack Merson	13	50	18	.360	1	14
Ted Beard	22	48	9	.188	1	3
Dick Smith	12	46	8	.174	0	4
Bob Dillinger	12	43	10	.233	0	0
Erv Dusak	21	39	12	.308	1	7
Dino Restelli	21	38	7	.184	1	3
Stan Rojek	8	16	3	.188	0	0
Dale Long	10	12	2	.167	1	1
Jack Maguire	8	5	0	.000	0	0
Harry Fisher	3	3	0	.000	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
Murry Dickson	45	288.2	20	16	4.02	112
Howie Pollet	21	128.2	6	10	5.04	47
Cliff Chambers	10	59.2	3	6	5.58	19
Don Carlsen	7	43.2	2	3	4.19	20
Len Yochim	2	8.2	1	1	8.31	5

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
Mel Queen	39	168.1	7	9	4.44	123
Bob Friend	34	149.2	6	10	4.27	41
Vern Law	28	114.0	6	9	4.50	41
Paul LaPalme	22	54.1	1	5	6.29	24
Con Dempsey	3	7.0	0	2	9.00	3
Erv Dusak	3	6.2	0	1	12.15	2

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
Ted Wilks	48	3	5	12	2.83	43
Bill Werle	59	8	6	6	5.65	57
Junior Walsh	36	1	4	0	6.87	32
Bill Koski	13	0	1	0	6.67	6
Joe Muir	9	0	2	0	2.76	5
Paul Pettit	2	0	0	0	3.38	0

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Indianapolis Indians	American Association	Don Gutteridge
AAA	Hollywood Stars	Pacific Coast League	Fred Haney
AA	New Orleans Pelicans	Southern Association	Rip Sewell
A	Charleston Rebels	Sally League	Frank Oceak
B	Waco Pirates	Big State League	Walt Tauscher
B	Burlington Bees	Carolina League	Frank Barrett and Mike Kash
C	Modesto Reds	California League	Tony Freitas
C	Butler Tigers	Middle Atlantic League	Norm Gerdeman, William Allen and Frank Barrett
C	Hutchinson Elks	Western Association	Wes Griffin
D	Eugene Larks	Far West League	Duster Mails, George Matile and Cliff Dapper
D	Brunswick Pirates	Georgia–Florida League	Mickey O'Neil
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