1908 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1908 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkExposition Park
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[a]
OwnersBarney Dreyfuss
ManagersFred Clarke
← 1907 Seasons 1909 →

The 1908 Pittsburgh[b] Pirates season was the 27th season for the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise. The team finished in a tie for second place in the National League with the New York Giants, one game behind the Chicago Cubs.

Background[edit]

The Pirates spent 46 days in first place, and were on top on October 3; however, the team lost its last game to the Cubs, which set up a replay of the infamous "Merkle" game between the Cubs and the Giants. The Cubs took it to win the pennant. Pittsburgh finished tied for second place with the Giants, just one game back. It was one of the closest races in baseball history.

Shortstop Honus Wagner had one of the most dominating hitting performances of all-time. The "Flying Dutchman" led the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs batted in, and stolen bases. He missed the triple crown by two home runs. For his efforts, Wagner was paid $5,000, possibly the most on the team.

Regular season[edit]

Season summary[edit]

The Pirates opened the season by winning three straight games in St. Louis. On Opening Day, the Pirates committed four errors while the Cardinals committed six.[1]

Fans were concerned because Honus Wagner, who had led the National League in hitting, slugging, and stolen bases in 1907, was not at the game; many worried that he was taking the year off. On April 17, Charlie Starr, who was Wagner's replacement, committed two errors. After that game, Wagner signed with the Pirates.

The home opener for the Pirates was a 5–1 victory for the Pirates over the Cardinals. From April 26 to May 9, the Pirates played only 3 games due to poor weather.[2]

On June 30, the Pirates took first place, as the Chicago Cubs lost to the Cincinnati Reds.[3]

On July 2, the Pirates began a critical five-game series against the Cubs. During the first game, Mordecai Brown threw a six-hit, no-walk shutout, winning the game 3–0.[4] The Pirates scheduled a doubleheader on the Fourth of July and more than 30,000 fans showed up. The Cubs won the first game 2–0 as Mordecai Brown only allowed two hits.[5]

Season standings[edit]

National League 		W L Pct. GB Home Road
Chicago Cubs 99 55 0.643 — 47–30 52–25
New York Giants 98 56 0.636 1 52–25 46–31
Pittsburgh Pirates 98 56 0.636 1 42–35 56–21
Philadelphia Phillies 83 71 0.539 16 43–34 40–37
Cincinnati Reds 73 81 0.474 26 40–37 33–44
Boston Doves 63 91 0.409 36 35–42 28–49
Brooklyn Superbas 53 101 0.344 46 27–50 26–51
St. Louis Cardinals 49 105 0.318 50 28–49 21–56

Record vs. opponents[edit]

1908 National League record

Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BOS BKN CHC CIN NYG PHI PIT SLC
Boston — 12–10 6–16–2 8–14 6–16 10–12 7–15 14–8
Brooklyn 10–12 — 4–18 6–16 6–16 5–17 9–13 13–9
Chicago 16–6–2 18–4 — 16–6 11–11–1 9–13–1 10–12 19–3
Cincinnati 14–8 16–6 6–16 — 8–14–1 10–12 8–14 11–11
New York 16–6 16–6 11–11–1 14–8–1 — 16–6 11–11–1 14–8
Philadelphia 12–10 17–5 13–9–1 12–10 6–16 — 9–13 14–8
Pittsburgh 15–7 13–9 12–10 14–8 11–11–1 13–9 — 20–2
St. Louis 8–14 9–13 3–19 11–11 8–14 8–14 2–20 —


Opening Day lineup[edit]

Roster[edit]

1908 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Player stats[edit]

Batting[edit]

Starters by position[edit]

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 George Gibson 143 486 111 .228 2 45
1B Harry Swacina 53 176 38 .216 0 13
2B Ed Abbaticchio 146 500 125 .250 1 61
SS Honus Wagner 151 568 201 .354 10 109
3B Tommy Leach 152 583 151 .259 5 41
LF Fred Clarke 151 551 146 .265 2 35
CF Roy Thomas 102 386 99 .256 1 24
RF Chief Wilson 144 529 120 .227 3 43

Other batters[edit]

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
Alan Storke 64 202 51 .252 1 12
Jim Kane 55 145 35 .241 0 22
Spike Shannon 32 127 25 .197 0 12
Danny Moeller 36 109 21 .193 0 9
Warren Gill 27 76 17 .224 0 14
Beals Becker 20 65 10 .154 0 0
Ed Phelps 34 64 15 .234 0 11
Charlie Starr 20 59 11 .186 0 8
Paddy O'Connor 12 16 3 .188 0 2
John Sullivan 1 1 0 .000 0 0
Hunky Shaw 1 1 0 .000 0 0
Cy Neighbors 1 0 0 ---- 0 0

Pitching[edit]

Starting pitchers[edit]

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Vic Willis 41 304.2 23 11 2.07 97
Nick Maddox 36 260.2 23 8 2.28 70
Howie Camnitz 38 236.2 16 9 1.56 118
Lefty Leifield 34 218.2 15 14 2.10 87

Other pitchers[edit]

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Sam Leever 38 192.2 15 7 2.10 28
Irv Young 16 89.2 4 3 2.01 31
Harley Young 8 48.1 0 2 2.23 17
Chick Brandom 3 17.0 1 0 0.53 8
Bob Vail 4 15.0 1 2 6.00 9
Tom McCarthy 2 6.0 0 0 0.00 1

Relief pitchers[edit]

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Deacon Phillippe 5 12.0 0 0 11.25 1
Homer Hillebrand 1 1.0 0 0 0.00 1

Awards and honors[edit]

League top five finishers[edit]

Howie Camnitz

  • #4 in NL in ERA (1.56)

Fred Clarke

  • #4 in NL in runs scored (83)

Tommy Leach

  • #3 in NL in runs scored (93)

Honus Wagner

  • MLB leader in batting average (.354)
  • MLB leader in RBI (109)
  • MLB leader in stolen bases (53)
  • MLB leader in on-base percentage (.415)
  • MLB leader in slugging percentage (.542)
  • #2 in NL in home runs (10)
  • #2 in NL in runs scored (100)

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ From 1882-1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ In the early 20th century and earlier, the name of Pittsburgh was spelled with and without the final 'h'.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Crazy '08: How a cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads and Magnates created the Greatest Year in Baseball History, p. 68, by Cait Murphy, Smithsonian Books, a Division of Harper Collins, 2007, ISBN 978-0-06-088937-1
  2. ^ Crazy '08, p. 69
  3. ^ Crazy '08, p. 95
  4. ^ Crazy '08, p. 99
  5. ^ Crazy '08, p. 101

External links[edit]

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