1908 Pittsburgh Pirates season
{{short description|Baseball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox baseball team season
| name = Pittsburgh Pirates
| season = 1908
| misc =
| league = National League
| ballpark = Exposition Park
| city = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania{{efn|From 1882-1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.}}
| owners = Barney Dreyfuss
| managers = Fred Clarke
| television =
| radio =
|}}
The 1908 Pittsburgh{{efn|In the early 20th century and earlier, the name of Pittsburgh was spelled with and without the final 'h'.}} 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
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
= Season summary =
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.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}}
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.Crazy '08, p. 69
On June 30, the Pirates took first place, as the Chicago Cubs lost to the Cincinnati Reds.Crazy '08, p. 95
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.Crazy '08, p. 99 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.Crazy '08, p. 101
= Season standings =
{{1908 National League standings|highlight=Pittsburgh Pirates}}
= Record vs. opponents =
{{1908 NL Record vs. opponents|team=PIT}}
= Opening Day lineup =
= Roster =
| class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%;" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| colspan="10" style="background-color: #023465; color: white; text-align: center;" | 1908 Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan="10" style="background-color: #ba313c; color: white; text-align: center;" | Roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| valign="top" | Pitchers
{{MLBplayer | Chick Brandom}}
{{MLBplayer | Howie Camnitz}}
{{MLBplayer | Homer Hillebrand}}
{{MLBplayer | Sam Leever}}
{{MLBplayer | Lefty Leifield}}
{{MLBplayer | Nick Maddox}}
{{MLBplayer | Tom McCarthy}}
{{MLBplayer | Deacon Phillippe}}
{{MLBplayer | Bob Vail}}
{{MLBplayer | Vic Willis}}
{{MLBplayer | Harley Young}}
{{MLBplayer | Irv Young}}
| width="25px" | | valign="top" | Catchers {{MLBplayer | George Gibson}}
{{MLBplayer | Paddy O'Connor}}
{{MLBplayer | Ed Phelps}}
{{MLBplayer | John Sullivan}}
Infielders {{MLBplayer | Ed Abbaticchio}}
{{MLBplayer | Warren Gill}}
{{MLBplayer | Jim Kane}}
{{MLBplayer | Tommy Leach}}
{{MLBplayer | Charlie Starr}}
{{MLBplayer | Alan Storke}}
{{MLBplayer | Harry Swacina}}
{{MLBplayer | Honus Wagner}}
| width="25px" | | valign="top" | Outfielders {{MLBplayer | Beals Becker}}
{{MLBplayer | Fred Clarke}}
{{MLBplayer | Danny Moeller}}
{{MLBplayer | Cy Neighbors}}
{{MLBplayer | Spike Shannon}}
{{MLBplayer | Roy Thomas}}
{{MLBplayer | Chief Wilson}}
Other batters {{MLBplayer | Hunky Shaw}}
| width="25px" | | valign="top" | Manager {{MLBplayer | Fred Clarke}} |
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
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||||||
| style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | Pos
! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="16%" | Player ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | G ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | AB ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | H ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | Avg. ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | HR ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | RBI | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"
| C | {{sortname|George|Gibson|George Gibson (baseball)}} | 143 | 486 | 111 | .228 | 2 | 45 |
| align="center"
| 1B | {{sortname|Harry|Swacina}} | 53 | 176 | 38 | .216 | 0 | 13 |
| align="center"
| 2B | {{sortname|Ed|Abbaticchio}} | 146 | 500 | 125 | .250 | 1 | 61 |
| align="center"
| SS | {{sortname|Honus|Wagner}} | 151 | 568 | 201 | .354 | 10 | 109 |
| align="center"
| 3B | {{sortname|Tommy|Leach}} | 152 | 583 | 151 | .259 | 5 | 41 |
| align="center"
| LF | {{sortname|Fred|Clarke}} | 151 | 551 | 146 | .265 | 2 | 35 |
| align="center"
| CF | {{sortname|Roy|Thomas|Roy Thomas (outfielder)}} | 102 | 386 | 99 | .256 | 1 | 24 |
| align="center"
| RF | {{sortname|Chief|Wilson}} | 144 | 529 | 120 | .227 | 3 | 43 |
== Other batters ==
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="16%" | Player
! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | G ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | AB ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | H ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | Avg. ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | HR ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | RBI | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Alan|Storke}} | 64 | 202 | 51 | .252 | 1 | 12 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Jim|Kane|Jim Kane (baseball)}} | 55 | 145 | 35 | .241 | 0 | 22 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Spike|Shannon}} | 32 | 127 | 25 | .197 | 0 | 12 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Danny|Moeller}} | 36 | 109 | 21 | .193 | 0 | 9 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Warren|Gill}} | 27 | 76 | 17 | .224 | 0 | 14 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Beals|Becker}} | 20 | 65 | 10 | .154 | 0 | 0 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Ed|Phelps}} | 34 | 64 | 15 | .234 | 0 | 11 |
| align=center
| {{sortname|Charlie|Starr}} | 20 | 59 | 11 | .186 | 0 | 8 |
| align=center
| {{sortname|Paddy|O'Connor}} | 12 | 16 | 3 | .188 | 0 | 2 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|John|Sullivan|John Sullivan (1900s catcher)}} | 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Hunky|Shaw}} | 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Cy|Neighbors}} | 1 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 0 | 0 |
= Pitching =
== Starting pitchers ==
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="16%" | Player
! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | G ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | IP ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | W ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | L ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | ERA ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | SO | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Vic|Willis}} | 41 | 304.2 | 23 | 11 | 2.07 | 97 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Nick|Maddox}} | 36 | 260.2 | 23 | 8 | 2.28 | 70 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Howie|Camnitz}} | 38 | 236.2 | 16 | 9 | 1.56 | 118 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Lefty|Leifield}} | 34 | 218.2 | 15 | 14 | 2.10 | 87 |
| align="center" |
== Other pitchers ==
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="16%" | Player
! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | G ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | IP ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | W ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | L ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | ERA ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | SO | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Sam|Leever}} | 38 | 192.2 | 15 | 7 | 2.10 | 28 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Irv|Young}} | 16 | 89.2 | 4 | 3 | 2.01 | 31 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Harley|Young}} | 8 | 48.1 | 0 | 2 | 2.23 | 17 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Chick|Brandom}} | 3 | 17.0 | 1 | 0 | 0.53 | 8 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Bob|Vail}} | 4 | 15.0 | 1 | 2 | 6.00 | 9 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Tom|McCarthy|Tom McCarthy (1900s pitcher)}} | 2 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 |
== Relief pitchers ==
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="16%" | Player
! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | G ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | IP ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | W ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | L ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | ERA ! style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#023465 5px solid; border-bottom:#ba313c 5px solid;" width="9%" | SO | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Deacon|Phillippe}} | 5 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 | 11.25 | 1 |
| align="center"
| {{sortname|Homer|Hillebrand}} | 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 |
Awards and honors
= League top five finishers =
- #4 in NL in ERA (1.56)
- #4 in NL in runs scored (83)
- #3 in NL in runs scored (93)
- 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
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/1908.shtml 1908 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference]
- [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1908&t=PIT 1908 Pittsburgh Pirates Page at Baseball Almanac]
{{1908 MLB season by team}}
{{Pittsburgh Pirates}}