1901 Pittsburgh Pirates

From BR Bullpen

1901 Pittsburgh Pirates / Franchise: Pittsburgh Pirates / BR Team Page[edit]

Record: 90-49-1, Finished 1st in National League (1901 NL)

Clinched Pennant: September 27, 1901, vs. Brooklyn Superbas

Managed by Fred Clarke

Ballpark: Exposition Park

History, Comments, Contributions[edit]

   

1901 Pirates Roster

   
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The 1901 Pirates dominated the 1901 National League, finishing 7 1/2 games ahead of the second-place 1901 Phillies. It was the first year that the American League operated as a major league, and there would be no World Series between the leagues until 1903.

The Pirates were led offensively by Honus Wagner, who led the league in RBI and stolen bases but otherwise did not have one of his best seasons with the bat. Wagner had never played shortstop in the majors until 1901, and while he appeared 61 times at shortstop that year, teammate Bones Ely appeared 65 times at the position.

In a league that hit .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. Wagner was the fourth outfielder in terms of games played.

The pitching staff of the Pirates was simply awesome. The four starters 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. Deacon Phillippe had 22 wins, Jack Chesbro had 21 wins, Jesse Tannehill had 18 wins, and Sam Leever went 14-5.

Future Hall of Famer Rube Waddell had pitched well in 1900 for the Pirates but was sold in May 1901 by the Pirates to the 1901 Chicago Orphans

Player-manager Fred Clarke, in his fifth year as a manager at age 28, won his first pennant.

The Pirates would go on to win the National League championship for the next two years, in 1902-03.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Ronald T. Waldo: "Honus Wagner and His Pittsburgh Pirates: Scenes from a Golden Era", McFarland & Co., Inc., (C) 2015