1957 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1957 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 76th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 71st in the National League. The Pirates finished tied with the Chicago Cubs for eighth and last in the league standings with a record of 62–92.

1957 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	Joe L. Brown
Managers	Bobby Bragan, Danny Murtaugh
Television	KDKA-TV Bob Prince, Paul Long
Radio	KDKA Bob Prince, Dick Bingham
← 1956 Seasons 1958 →

The first season to be broadcast on television, the games were aired on KDKA-TV, making them the last of the original MLB teams to debut television broadcasts of its home and away games.

Regular season

The Pittsburgh Pirates played the Brooklyn Dodgers in the final game at Ebbets Field. The game was contested on September 24, 1957, and Brooklyn pitcher Danny McDevitt pitched a complete-game shutout, winning 2–0. He had nine strikeouts while allowing just five hits.^[2]

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Milwaukee Braves	95	59	.617	—	45‍–‍32	50‍–‍27
St. Louis Cardinals	87	67	.565	8	42‍–‍35	45‍–‍32
Brooklyn Dodgers	84	70	.545	11	43‍–‍34	41‍–‍36
Cincinnati Redlegs	80	74	.519	15	45‍–‍32	35‍–‍42
Philadelphia Phillies	77	77	.500	18	38‍–‍39	39‍–‍38
New York Giants	69	85	.448	26	37‍–‍40	32‍–‍45
Pittsburgh Pirates	62	92	.403	33	36‍–‍41	26‍–‍51
Chicago Cubs	62	92	.403	33	31‍–‍46	31‍–‍46

Record vs. opponents

1957 National League record v t e Sources:
Team	BRO	CHC	CIN	MIL	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Brooklyn	—	17–5	12–10	10–12	12–10	9–13	12–10	12–10
Chicago	5–17	—	7–15	9–13	9–13	8–14–1	12–10–1	12–10
Cincinnati	10–12	15–7	—	4–18	12–10	16–6	14–8	9–13
Milwaukee	12–10	13–9	18–4	—	13–9	12–10–1	16–6	11–11
New York	10–12	13–9	10–12	9–13	—	10–12	9–13	8–14
Philadelphia	13–9	14–8–1	6–16	10–12–1	12–10	—	13–9	9–13
Pittsburgh	10–12	10–12–1	8–14	6–16	13–9	9–13	—	6–16
St. Louis	10–12	10–12	13–9	11–11	14–8	13–9	16–6	—

Game log

1957 Game Log: 62–92 (Home: 36–41; Away: 26–51)
April: 4–8 (Home: 3–2; Away: 1–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 16 Giants 9–2 Friend (1–0) Antonelli — 33,405 1–0 2 April 18 @ Dodgers 1–6 Maglie Arroyo (0–1) — 11,202 1–1 3 April 20 @ Dodgers 0–2 Podres Friend (1–1) — 11,083 1–2 4 April 21 @ Dodgers 6–3 Purkey (1–0) Newcombe Face (1) 2–2 5 April 21 @ Dodgers 4–7 Drysdale Kline (0–1) Labine 19,635 2–3 6 April 22 @ Giants 1–3 Gomez Arroyo (0–2) — 5,403 2–4 7 April 23 @ Giants 0–1 Burnside Kline (0–2) — 3,445 2–5 8 April 24 @ Phillies 5–8 Simmons Friend (1–2) Miller 15,849 2–6 9 April 26 Dodgers 7–1 Purkey (2–0) Podres — 26,918 3–6 10 April 27 Dodgers 2–6 Newcombe Kline (0–3) — 12,926 3–7 11 April 28 Dodgers 3–0 Friend (2–2) Craig — 17,317 4–7 12 April 30 Cardinals 5–6 (13) Jackson Face (0–1) — 19,291 4–8
May: 7–19 (Home: 4–13; Away: 3–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 13 May 1 Cardinals 2–9 Schmidt Purkey (2–1) Smith 4,919 4–9 14 May 2 Braves 5–8 (10) Burdette Face (0–2) Murff 14,131 4–10 15 May 3 Braves 7–8 (11) Murff Face (0–3) Spahn 16,621 4–11 16 May 4 Braves 1–0 Law (1–0) Pizarro — 6,398 5–11 17 May 5 Redlegs 2–6 Lawrence Arroyo (0–3) — 5–12 18 May 5 Redlegs 3–7 Gross Purkey (2–2) — 23,629 5–13 19 May 7 Cubs 8–10 (14) Lown Pepper (0–1) Collum 9,957 5–14 20 May 8 Cubs 1–7 Drott Law (1–1) — 7,896 5–15 21 May 10 Phillies 1–3 Sanford Kline (0–4) — 10,027 5–16 22 May 11 Phillies 2–7 Haddix Friend (2–3) — 4,994 5–17 23 May 12 Phillies 2–6 Simmons Arroyo (0–4) Miller 5–18 24 May 12 Phillies 6–1 Law (2–1) Roberts — 10,457 6–18 25 May 14 @ Cubs 8–6 Arroyo (1–4) Drott Face (2) 2,478 7–18 26 May 16 @ Braves 2–1 Friend (3–3) Pizarro — 15,622 8–18 27 May 18 @ Braves 5–6 Burdette Smith (0–1) — 18,850 8–19 28 May 19 @ Redlegs 7–8 Acker Purkey (2–3) — 8–20 29 May 19 @ Redlegs 4–5 Acker Kline (0–5) — 24,564 8–21 30 May 24 @ Phillies 3–7 Sanford Friend (3–4) Farrell 17,340 8–22 31 May 25 @ Phillies 6–8 Haddix Kline (0–6) Farrell 6,445 8–23 32 May 26 @ Phillies 13–5 Face (1–3) Simmons — 9–23 33 May 26 @ Phillies 3–6 Cardwell Arroyo (1–5) — 13,557 9–24 34 May 28 Dodgers 3–2 (11) Face (2–3) Newcombe — 13,259 10–24 35 May 29 Dodgers 0–1 Podres Kline (0–7) — 3,610 10–25 36 May 30 Dodgers 3–4 Maglie Law (2–2) Labine 10–26 37 May 30 Dodgers 2–1 Purkey (3–3) Koufax — 24,263 11–26 38 May 31 Giants 2–3 Worthington Face (2–4) — 13,070 11–27
June: 15–19 (Home: 10–8; Away: 5–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 39 June 1 Giants 2–3 Worthington Friend (3–5) — 5,301 11–28 40 June 2 Giants 3–2 Kline (1–7) Barclay Arroyo (1) 12–28 41 June 2 Giants 2–0 Purkey (4–3) Burnside — 12,792 13–28 42 June 3 Giants 6–5 King (1–0) Margoneri Face (3) 7,504 14–28 43 June 4 Cardinals 5–4 Arroyo (2–5) Wilhelm Face (4) 12,178 15–28 44 June 5 Cardinals 1–5 McDaniel Friend (3–6) — 12,570 15–29 45 June 6 Cardinals 0–6 Dickson Kline (1–8) — 4,017 15–30 46 June 7 Braves 0–5 Spahn Purkey (4–4) — 21,762 15–31 47 June 9 Braves 1–2 (11) Trowbridge Friend (3–7) Johnson 15–32 48 June 9 Braves 5–3 Kline (2–8) Pizarro Face (5) 21,888 16–32 49 June 10 Redlegs 5–2 Law (3–2) Nuxhall — 11,471 17–32 50 June 11 Redlegs 8–1 Purkey (5–4) Gross — 10,653 18–32 51 June 12 Redlegs 4–3 (10) Face (3–4) Acker — 14,920 19–32 52 June 13 Redlegs 3–2 Friend (4–7) Jeffcoat — 7,346 20–32 53 June 14 Cubs 5–11 Drott Kline (2–9) Elston 17,088 20–33 54 June 15 Cubs 1–5 Drabowsky Law (3–3) — 7,495 20–34 55 June 16 Cubs 1–4 Kaiser Arroyo (2–6) Lown 20–35 56 June 16 Cubs 5–4 Law (4–3) Brosnan — 18,525 21–35 57 June 17 @ Braves 7–5 Purkey (6–4) Jolly Law (1) 26,664 22–35 58 June 18 @ Cardinals 8–1 Swanson (1–0) Jackson — 17,694 23–35 59 June 19 @ Cardinals 2–5 Jones Kline (2–10) — 23–36 60 June 19 @ Cardinals 1–5 McDaniel Purkey (6–5) Wilhelm 25,880 23–37 61 June 20 @ Cardinals 4–7 Dickson Arroyo (2–7) Merritt 11,223 23–38 62 June 21 @ Redlegs 3–2 (11) Purkey (7–5) Jeffcoat — 19,648 24–38 63 June 22 @ Redlegs 3–6 (11) Lawrence Purkey (7–6) — 9,299 24–39 64 June 23 @ Redlegs 3–5 Jeffcoat Swanson (1–1) — 24–40 65 June 23 @ Redlegs 2–5 Acker Kline (2–11) Sanchez 22,188 24–41 66 June 25 @ Cubs 3–5 Hillman Friend (4–8) Lown 5,002 24–42 67 June 26 @ Cubs 15–5 Law (5–3) Poholsky — 25–42 68 June 26 @ Cubs 5–5 (11) — 7,460 25–42 69 June 27 @ Cubs 5–4 (10) King (2–0) Lown — 4,900 26–42 70 June 28 @ Braves 2–4 Spahn Friend (4–9) — 27,087 26–43 71 June 29 @ Braves 6–13 Pizarro O'Brien (0–1) — 22,383 26–44 72 June 30 @ Braves 4–7 Johnson Law (5–4) — 26–45 73 June 30 @ Braves 5–6 (13) Jolly Arroyo (2–8) — 36,283 26–46
July: 10–20 (Home: 4–10; Away: 6–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 74 July 1 Phillies 4–5 Hearn Smith (0–2) Morehead 14,680 26–47 75 July 4 @ Dodgers 5–1 Friend (5–9) Erskine — 27–47 76 July 4 @ Dodgers 2–8 Newcombe Purkey (7–7) — 20,664 27–48 77 July 5 @ Giants 6–11 Antonelli Trimble (0–1) Grissom 4,998 27–49 78 July 6 @ Giants 3–2 (13) Purkey (8–7) Miller — 5,334 28–49 79 July 7 @ Giants 10–6 Swanson (2–1) Worthington King (1) 29–49 80 July 7 @ Giants 8–1 Friend (6–9) Gomez — 10,825 30–49 81 July 10 Braves 5–2 Purkey (9–7) Buhl — 18,731 31–49 82 July 11 Braves 2–7 Trowbridge Friend (6–10) — 17,278 31–50 83 July 12 Braves 4–5 Spahn Face (3–5) McMahon 20,078 31–51 84 July 13 Braves 3–4 Burdette Kline (2–12) — 9,330 31–52 85 July 14 Redlegs 6–9 Freeman Friend (6–11) — 31–53 86 July 14 Redlegs 4–12 Nuxhall Trimble (0–2) — 24,540 31–54 87 July 16 Cubs 5–3 Friend (7–11) Rush — 11,300 32–54 88 July 17 Cubs 3–4 Drabowsky Kline (2–13) Littlefield 8,534 32–55 89 July 18 Cubs 6–5 Arroyo (3–8) Lown — 3,877 33–55 90 July 19 Cardinals 7–0 Law (6–4) McDaniel — 25,774 34–55 91 July 20 Cardinals 4–9 Dickson Friend (7–12) Merritt 9,230 34–56 92 July 21 Cardinals 3–7 (10) Schmidt Arroyo (3–9) Wilhelm 34–57 93 July 21 Cardinals 2–11 McDaniel Purkey (9–8) — 20,280 34–58 94 July 23 @ Redlegs 6–3 (15) Law (7–4) Lawrence Purkey (1) 17,551 35–58 95 July 24 @ Redlegs 0–2 Nuxhall Friend (7–13) — 11,961 35–59 96 July 25 @ Redlegs 1–9 Fowler Kline (2–14) — 10,997 35–60 97 July 26 @ Cardinals 3–4 (10) Schmidt Kline (2–15) — 15,352 35–61 98 July 27 @ Cardinals 4–2 Purkey (10–8) Dickson — 9,633 36–61 99 July 28 @ Cardinals 0–4 McDaniel Law (7–5) — 36–62 100 July 28 @ Cardinals 8–9 (11) Wilhelm King (2–1) — 21,319 36–63 101 July 29 @ Cardinals 0–4 Mizell Douglas (0–1) — 10,302 36–64 102 July 30 @ Braves 2–5 Burdette Swanson (2–2) — 23,670 36–65 103 July 31 @ Braves 2–4 Buhl Purkey (10–9) — 24,522 36–66
August: 12–13 (Home: 8–6; Away: 4–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 104 August 2 @ Cubs 4–6 Hillman Law (7–6) — 5,414 36–67 105 August 4 @ Cubs 0–6 Drabowsky Friend (7–14) — 36–68 106 August 4 @ Cubs 2–3 (11) Hillman Arroyo (3–10) — 14,757 36–69 107 August 6 Phillies 5–3 Kline (3–15) Sanford — 11,136 37–69 108 August 8 Phillies 3–6 Simmons Law (7–7) Miller 5,238 37–70 109 August 9 Dodgers 2–4 McDevitt Friend (7–15) Labine 14,100 37–71 110 August 10 Dodgers 0–3 Drysdale Purkey (10–10) — 7,751 37–72 111 August 11 Dodgers 4–3 (10) Law (8–7) Labine — 38–72 112 August 11 Dodgers 6–2 Douglas (1–1) Craig Face (6) 18,350 39–72 113 August 13 @ Phillies 6–0 Friend (8–15) Hacker — 14,129 40–72 114 August 14 @ Phillies 10–3 Law (9–7) Simmons — 8,641 41–72 115 August 16 @ Dodgers 1–4 Podres Purkey (10–11) Roebuck 9,592 41–73 116 August 17 @ Dodgers 7–3 Kline (4–15) Koufax — 6,830 42–73 117 August 18 @ Dodgers 1–2 Maglie Friend (8–16) — 14,416 42–74 118 August 18 @ Dodgers 8–6 Face (4–5) Labine Purkey (2) 14,416 43–74 119 August 20 Braves 1–3 Spahn Arroyo (3–11) — 21,328 43–75 120 August 22 Redlegs 8–3 Friend (9–16) Gross — 10,027 44–75 121 August 23 Redlegs 0–6 Nuxhall Purkey (10–12) — 13,223 44–76 122 August 24 Redlegs 4–1 Kline (5–15) Lawrence — 7,037 45–76 123 August 25 Cubs 3–0 Law (10–7) Drabowsky — 46–76 124 August 25 Cubs 2–8 Elston Douglas (1–2) Lown 11,770 46–77 125 August 27 Cardinals 2–1 Friend (10–16) McDaniel — 12,845 47–77 126 August 28 Cardinals 2–0 Kline (6–15) Jackson — 10,367 48–77 127 August 30 @ Phillies 3–4 Sanford Law (10–8) — 8,157 48–78 128 August 31 @ Phillies 1–7 Cardwell Friend (10–17) — 5,141 48–79
September: 14–13 (Home: 7–2; Away: 7–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 129 September 1 @ Phillies 3–11 Roberts Purkey (10–13) — 48–80 130 September 1 @ Phillies 6–3 Douglas (2–2) Simmons Face (7) 11,294 49–80 131 September 2 @ Giants 5–11 Monzant Face (4–6) — 49–81 132 September 2 @ Giants 3–4 Antonelli O'Brien (0–2) Grissom 10,310 49–82 133 September 3 @ Giants 5–6 (12) Miller Smith (0–3) — 49–83 134 September 4 Giants 2–0 Friend (11–17) McCormick — 8,909 50–83 135 September 5 Giants 4–2 Douglas (3–2) Worthington Face (8) 5,189 51–83 136 September 6 Phillies 3–2 Kline (7–15) Haddix — 6,915 52–83 137 September 7 Phillies 6–3 Swanson (3–2) Sanford Face (9) 4,612 53–83 138 September 8 Phillies 4–7 Farrell Purkey (10–14) Roberts 53–84 139 September 8 Phillies 6–2 Smith (1–3) Hacker — 12,021 54–84 140 September 10 @ Braves 3–4 Burdette Douglas (3–3) — 22,257 54–85 141 September 11 @ Braves 2–1 Kline (8–15) Spahn — 14,713 55–85 142 September 13 @ Cubs 4–1 Friend (12–17) Elston — 56–85 143 September 13 @ Cubs 2–1 Smith (2–3) Drabowsky Face (10) 2,197 57–85 144 September 14 @ Cubs 3–1 O'Brien (1–2) Brosnan — 58–85 145 September 14 @ Cubs 3–7 Brosnan O'Brien (1–3) Lown 6,170 58–86 146 September 15 @ Cardinals 6–9 Wehmeier Kline (8–16) Muffett 58–87 147 September 15 @ Cardinals 3–11 Jones Swanson (3–3) Muffett 24,577 58–88 148 September 17 @ Redlegs 5–9 Nuxhall Friend (12–18) Kennedy 3,676 58–89 149 September 18 @ Redlegs 1–2 Lawrence Smith (2–4) — 3,607 58–90 150 September 21 Giants 5–4 Purkey (11–14) Worthington — 59–90 151 September 21 Giants 5–9 Gomez Witt (0–1) Grissom 8,110 59–91 152 September 22 Giants 5–1 Friend (13–18) Monzant — 19,574 60–91 153 September 24 @ Dodgers 0–2 McDevitt Daniels (0–1) — 6,702 60–92 154 September 28 @ Giants 1–0 Kline (9–16) Gomez — 61–92 155 September 29 @ Giants 9–1 Friend (14–18) Antonelli — 11,606 62–92
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

• May 1, 1957: Dale Long and Lee Walls were traded by the Pirates to the Chicago Cubs for Dee Fondy and Gene Baker.^[3]
• May 14, 1957: Bob Smith was purchased by the Pirates from the St. Louis Cardinals.^[4]

Roster

1957 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 39 Luis Arroyo 28 Chuck Churn 30 Bennie Daniels 31 Whammy Douglas 26 Roy Face 19 Bob Friend 30 Dick Hall 29 Nellie King 22 Ron Kline 37 Bob Kuzava 32 Vern Law 16 Eddie O'Brien  6 Johnny O'Brien 31 Laurin Pepper 34 Bob Purkey 37 Bob Smith 35 Red Swanson 36 Joe Trimble 38,52 George Witt		Catchers 20 Hank Foiles 17,28 Danny Kravitz 17 Hardy Peterson 10 Dick Rand Infielders 23 Gene Baker  3 Dee Fondy  8 Gene Freese 24 Dick Groat 31 Ken Hamlin  3 Dale Long  9 Bill Mazeroski  5 Buddy Pritchard 15 Frank Thomas		Outfielders 21 Roberto Clemente 25 Román Mejías 12 Jim Pendleton 14 John Powers  4 Bob Skinner 11 Paul Smith 18 Bill Virdon 16 Lee Walls		Manager  2 Bobby Bragan 40 Danny Murtaugh Coaches 42 Lenny Levy 40 Danny Murtaugh 43 Sam Narron 41 Clyde Sukeforth

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	Hank Foiles	109	281	76	.270	9	36
1B	Dee Fondy	95	323	101	.313	2	35
2B	Bill Mazeroski	148	526	149	.283	8	54
SS	Dick Groat	125	501	158	.315	7	54
3B	Gene Freese	114	346	98	.283	6	31
LF	Bob Skinner	126	387	118	.305	13	45
CF	Bill Virdon	144	561	141	.251	8	50
RF	Roberto Clemente	111	451	114	.253	4	30

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 Thomas	151	594	172	.290	23	89
Gene Baker	111	365	97	.266	2	36
Paul Smith	81	150	38	.253	3	11
Román Mejías	58	142	39	.275	2	15
Dick Rand	60	105	23	.219	1	9
Hardy Peterson	30	73	22	.301	2	11
Jim Pendleton	46	59	18	.305	0	9
Danny Kravitz	19	41	6	.146	0	4
Johnny O'Brien	34	35	11	.314	0	1
John Powers	20	35	10	.286	2	8
Dale Long	7	22	4	.182	0	5
Lee Walls	8	22	4	.182	0	0
Buddy Pritchard	23	11	1	.091	0	0
Ken Hamlin	2	1	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
Bob Friend	40	277.0	14	18	3.38	143
Ron Kline	40	205.0	9	16	4.04	88
Vern Law	31	172.2	10	8	2.87	55
Whammy Douglas	11	47.0	3	3	3.26	28
Bennie Daniels	1	7.0	0	1	1.29	101
George Witt	1	1.1	0	1	40.50	1

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
Bob Purkey	48	179.2	11	14	3.86	51
Luis Arroyo	54	130.2	3	11	4.68	2
Red Swanson	32	72.2	3	3	3.72	29
Joe Trimble	5	19.2	0	2	8.24	9
Eddie O'Brien	3	12.1	1	0	2.19	10
Laurin Pepper	5	9.0	0	0	8.00	4

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
Roy Face	59	4	6	10	3.07	53
Nellie King	36	2	1	1	4.50	23
Bob Smith	20	2	4	0	3.11	35
Johnny O'Brien	16	0	3	0	6.08	19
Dick Hall	8	0	0	0	10.80	7
Chuck Churn	5	0	0	0	4.32	4
Bob Kuzava	4	0	0	0	9.00	1

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
Open	Hollywood Stars	Pacific Coast League	Clyde King
AAA	Columbus Jets	International League	Frank Oceak
A	Lincoln Chiefs	Western League	Larry Shepard
B	Beaumont Pirates	Big State League	Monty Basgall
C	Douglas Copper Kings	Arizona–Mexico League	Bob Clear
C	San Jose JoSox	California League	Dick Whitman
C	Grand Forks Chiefs	Northern League	Al Kubski and Jack Paepke
D	Salem Rebels	Appalachian League	Lamar Dorton
D	Clinton Pirates	Midwest League	Stan Wentzel
D	Jamestown Falcons	New York–Penn League	Jack Paepke

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Lincoln
Jamestown club folded, June 25, 1957

Notes

1. From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
2. Sports Illustrated, December 6, 2010, Volume 113, Number 21, p.24, Published by Time Inc.
3. Dee Fondy at Baseball Reference
4. Bob Smith at Baseball Reference

References

• 1957 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Reference
• 1957 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Almanac
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.