1945 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1945 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 64th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 59th in the National League. The Pirates finished fourth in the league standings with a record of 82–72.

1945 Pittsburgh Pirates
League	National League
Ballpark	Forbes Field
City	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Owners	Bill Benswanger
Managers	Frankie Frisch
Radio	WWSW Rosey Rowswell, Jack Craddock
Seasons

Offseason

• Prior to 1945 season: Tod Davis was acquired by the Pirates from the Hollywood Stars as part of a minor league working agreement.

Regular season

Season standings

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Chicago Cubs	98	56	.636	—	49‍–‍26	49‍–‍30
St. Louis Cardinals	95	59	.617	3	48‍–‍29	47‍–‍30
Brooklyn Dodgers	87	67	.565	11	48‍–‍30	39‍–‍37
Pittsburgh Pirates	82	72	.532	16	45‍–‍34	37‍–‍38
New York Giants	78	74	.513	19	47‍–‍30	31‍–‍44
Boston Braves	67	85	.441	30	36‍–‍38	31‍–‍47
Cincinnati Reds	61	93	.396	37	36‍–‍41	25‍–‍52
Philadelphia Phillies	46	108	.299	52	22‍–‍55	24‍–‍53

Record vs. opponents

1945 National League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team	BOS	BR	CHC	CIN	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Boston	—	9–13–1	7–15	10–12	10–10–2	14–8	7–15	10–12
Brooklyn	13–9–1	—	8–14–1	11–11	15–7	19–3	12–10	9–13
Chicago	15–7	14–8–1	—	21–1	11–11	17–5	14–8	6–16
Cincinnati	12–10	11–11	1–21	—	6–16	12–10	10–12	9–13
New York	10–10–2	7–15	11–11	16–6	—	17–5	11–11	6–16
Philadelphia	8–14	3–19	5–17	10–12	5–17	—	6–16	9–13
Pittsburgh	15–7	10–12	8–14	12–10	11–11	16–6	—	10–12–1
St. Louis	12–10	13–9	16–6	13–9	16–6	13–9	12–10–1	—

Game log

1945 Game Log: 82–72 (Home: 45–34; Away: 37–38)
April: 4–7 (Home: 1–3; Away: 3–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 17 @ Reds 6–7 (11) Lisenbee Sewell (0–1) — 30,126 0–1 2 April 18 @ Reds 0–6 Heusser Strincevich (0–1) — 1,467 0–2 3 April 19 @ Reds 5–1 Butcher (1–0) Beck — 1,106 1–2 4 April 20 Cubs 5–4 Sewell (1–1) Wyse — 9,449 2–2 5 April 21 Cubs 3–4 Derringer Roe (0–1) — 3,891 2–3 6 April 22 Cubs 0–3 Chipman Ostermueller (0–1) — — 2–4 7 April 22 Cubs 2–5 Prim Gerheauser (0–1) — 27,690 2–5 8 April 27 @ Cubs 3–7 Derringer Sewell (1–2) — 4,655 2–6 9 April 28 @ Cubs 0–6 Wyse Butcher (1–1) — 5,708 2–7 10 April 29 @ Cubs 6–2 Roe (1–1) Chipman — — 3–7 11 April 29 @ Cubs 5–4 Strincevich (1–1) Comellas Rescigno (1) 36,637 4–7
May: 15–9 (Home: 10–4; Away: 5–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 12 May 2 Cardinals 2–4 Brecheen Sewell (1–3) — 6,000 4–8 13 May 2 Cardinals 11–1 Butcher (2–1) Donnelly — 6,159 5–8 14 May 6 Reds 1–3 Heusser Butcher (2–2) — — 5–9 15 May 6 Reds 5–1 Sewell (2–3) Walters — 10,157 6–9 16 May 9 @ Braves 9–5 Roe (2–1) Tobin Rescigno (2) 2,574 7–9 17 May 12 @ Phillies 5–3 Strincevich (2–1) Barrett Rescigno (3) 2,693 8–9 18 May 13 @ Phillies 9–6 Sewell (3–3) Schanz — — 9–9 19 May 13 @ Phillies 5–6 Lee Starr (0–1) Sproull 10,402 9–10 20 May 14 @ Dodgers 1–4 Pfund Roe (2–2) — 7,343 9–11 21 May 15 @ Dodgers 3–6 Lombardi Cuccurullo (0–1) — 25,828 9–12 22 May 16 @ Dodgers 1–3 Gregg Gerheauser (0–2) — 7,352 9–13 23 May 17 @ Dodgers 12–3 Strincevich (3–1) Seats — 6,575 10–13 24 May 20 @ Giants 1–5 Voiselle Sewell (3–4) — — 10–14 25 May 20 @ Giants 4–0 Roe (3–2) Feldman — — 11–14 26 May 21 Giants 5–2 Butcher (3–2) Hansen — 21,682 12–14 27 May 23 Braves 9–8 (13) Sewell (4–4) Hutchings — 10,106 13–14 28 May 24 Braves 10–9 (11) Gables (1–0) Logan — — 14–14 29 May 25 Braves 5–3 Roe (4–2) Tobin — 2,768 15–14 30 May 27 Giants 16–4 Sewell (5–4) Voiselle — — 16–14 31 May 27 Giants 11–5 Rescigno (1–0) Fischer — 29,121 17–14 32 May 29 Giants 4–3 Gables (2–0) Adams — — 18–14 33 May 30 Dodgers 13–5 Sewell (6–4) Seats — — 19–14 34 May 30 Dodgers 10–14 Pfund Rescigno (1–1) Gregg 27,029 19–15 35 May 31 Dodgers 4–6 (13) King Strincevich (3–2) — 13,126 19–16
June: 14–15 (Home: 8–7; Away: 6–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 36 June 1 Phillies 6–5 Butcher (4–2) Karl — 1,513 20–16 37 June 2 Phillies 7–6 Gerheauser (1–2) Coffman Rescigno (4) 2,695 21–16 38 June 3 Phillies 7–6 (10) Cuccurullo (1–1) Judd — — 22–16 39 June 3 Phillies 9–11 Karl Cuccurullo (1–2) — 9,086 22–17 40 June 5 Reds 0–4 Heusser Strincevich (3–3) — — 22–18 41 June 5 Reds 9–1 Butcher (5–2) Beck — 2,634 23–18 42 June 6 Reds 0–3 Walters Roe (4–3) — 13,277 23–19 43 June 7 Reds 3–7 Bowman Sewell (6–5) — 2,954 23–20 44 June 8 @ Cardinals 3–4 (13) Burkhart Gerheauser (1–3) — 3,695 23–21 45 June 9 @ Cardinals 5–1 Strincevich (4–3) Barrett — 5,195 24–21 46 June 10 @ Cardinals 8–6 (10) Sewell (7–5) Brecheen — — 25–21 47 June 10 @ Cardinals 4–1 (10) Roe (5–3) Burkhart — 13,794 26–21 48 June 12 Cubs 9–3 Gerheauser (2–3) Wyse — 15,126 27–21 49 June 14 Cubs 5–2 Butcher (6–2) Chipman — — 28–21 50 June 14 Cubs 6–5 Sewell (8–5) Derringer Rescigno (5) 12,880 29–21 51 June 15 Cardinals 5–2 Strincevich (5–3) Barrett — 24,315 30–21 52 June 16 Cardinals 10–13 Byerly Starr (0–2) Donnelly 6,019 30–22 53 June 17 Cardinals 0–7 Burkhart Sewell (8–6) — — 30–23 54 June 17 Cardinals 2–6 Wilks Gerheauser (2–4) — — 30–24 55 June 20 @ Cubs 3–5 Passeau Butcher (6–3) — — 30–25 56 June 21 @ Cubs 4–5 Wyse Roe (5–4) — 10,123 30–26 57 June 22 @ Reds 3–1 Strincevich (6–3) Heusser — 5,814 31–26 58 June 24 @ Reds 7–5 Sewell (9–6) Riddle Strincevich (1) — 32–26 59 June 24 @ Reds 3–4 Bowman Butcher (6–4) — 11,732 32–27 60 June 27 @ Giants 4–10 Mungo Gerheauser (2–5) — — 32–28 61 June 27 @ Giants 2–3 Brewer Roe (5–5) — 17,735 32–29 62 June 28 @ Giants 3–1 Strincevich (7–3) Feldman — 22,321 33–29 63 June 29 @ Giants 2–3 Adams Butcher (6–5) — 3,779 33–30 64 June 30 @ Dodgers 5–8 Herring Sewell (9–7) King 23,736 33–31
July: 16–15 (Home: 11–5; Away: 5–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 65 July 1 @ Dodgers 4–3 Roe (6–5) Gregg Cuccurullo (1) — 34–31 66 July 1 @ Dodgers 2–4 Davis Gerheauser (2–6) — 23,370 34–32 67 July 3 @ Phillies 10–3 Strincevich (8–3) Barrett — — 35–32 68 July 4 @ Phillies 6–7 Kraus Rescigno (1–2) Schanz — 35–33 69 July 4 @ Phillies 13–0 Butcher (7–5) Judd — 14,334 36–33 70 July 6 @ Braves 5–13 Andrews Rescigno (1–3) Cooper — 36–34 71 July 6 @ Braves 8–14 Hendrickson Roe (6–6) — 8,025 36–35 72 July 7 @ Braves 6–7 Cooper Gerheauser (2–7) — 5,159 36–36 73 July 8 @ Braves 10–8 Gables (3–0) Andrews Sewell (1) — 37–36 74 July 8 @ Braves 1–13 Tobin Butcher (7–6) — 25,317 37–37 75 July 12 Phillies 4–0 Strincevich (9–3) Kraus — 15,044 38–37 76 July 13 Phillies 3–2 (10) Butcher (8–6) Barrett — 3,660 39–37 77 July 15 Dodgers 9–1 Sewell (10–7) Lombardi — — 40–37 78 July 15 Dodgers 15–3 Gables (4–0) Gregg — 24,129 41–37 79 July 16 Dodgers 4–8 Seats Rescigno (1–4) — 3,162 41–38 80 July 17 Dodgers 2–5 Gregg Strincevich (9–4) Herring 20,148 41–39 81 July 18 Giants 3–6 Brewer Roe (6–7) Adams — 41–40 82 July 18 Giants 3–4 Fischer Butcher (8–7) Adams 6,253 41–41 83 July 19 Giants 4–0 Sewell (11–7) Feldman — 14,168 42–41 84 July 20 Giants 13–5 Beck (1–0) Voiselle Roe (1) 3,210 43–41 85 July 21 Braves 1–5 Lee Gerheauser (2–8) — — 43–42 86 July 21 Braves 3–1 Strincevich (10–4) Logan — 8,173 44–42 87 July 22 Braves 2–1 Gables (5–0) Tobin — — 45–42 88 July 22 Braves 3–1 Roe (7–7) Andrews — 19,184 46–42 89 July 23 Braves 8–5 Beck (2–0) Hutchings Strincevich (2) 3,163 47–42 90 July 24 Braves 6–5 (11) Gables (6–0) Hendrickson — 20,168 48–42 91 July 26 @ Cardinals 2–10 Burkhart Strincevich (10–5) — 9,213 48–43 92 July 27 @ Cardinals 0–2 Donnelly Roe (7–8) — 4,948 48–44 93 July 28 @ Cardinals 0–2 Barrett Gables (6–1) — 9,242 48–45 94 July 29 @ Cardinals 9–6 (10) Gerheauser (3–8) Barrett — — 49–45 95 July 29 @ Cardinals 4–6 Dockins Strincevich (10–6) — 15,971 49–46
August: 18–16 (Home: 5–7; Away: 13–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 96 August 1 @ Cubs 1–0 Butcher (9–7) Passeau — 17,780 50–46 97 August 2 @ Cubs 0–1 Derringer Roe (7–9) — 18,535 50–47 98 August 3 Cardinals 1–5 Dockins Gables (6–2) — 22,218 50–48 99 August 4 Cardinals 5–6 Brecheen Gerheauser (3–9) — 5,280 50–49 100 August 5 Cardinals 3–10 Barrett Butcher (9–8) — — 50–50 101 August 5 Cardinals 12–5 Ostermueller (1–1) Burkhart Gables (1) 22,105 51–50 102 August 8 @ Phillies 4–0 Roe (8–9) Kraus — — 52–50 103 August 8 @ Phillies 0–5 Mauney Cuccurullo (1–3) — 6,630 52–51 104 August 9 @ Phillies 3–1 Gables (7–2) Barrett — 5,017 53–51 105 August 10 @ Phillies 10–2 Ostermueller (2–1) Schanz — — 54–51 106 August 10 @ Phillies 1–6 Judd Strincevich (10–7) — 5,728 54–52 107 August 12 @ Braves 6–7 Hendrickson Gerheauser (3–10) — — 54–53 108 August 12 @ Braves 3–0 Roe (9–9) Wright — 14,961 55–53 109 August 13 @ Braves 4–6 Andrews Gables (7–3) Hendrickson 2,095 55–54 110 August 14 @ Braves 7–5 (10) Ostermueller (3–1) Hendrickson — — 56–54 111 August 14 @ Braves 6–2 Beck (3–0) Javery — 4,542 57–54 112 August 15 @ Giants 11–9 Gables (8–3) Feldman Gerheauser (1) — 58–54 113 August 15 @ Giants 3–2 Strincevich (11–7) Zabala — 18,822 59–54 114 August 16 @ Giants 1–2 Mungo Roe (9–10) Adams 22,807 59–55 115 August 17 @ Giants 2–3 Brewer Gables (8–4) — 3,834 59–56 116 August 18 @ Giants 0–6 Maglie Rescigno (1–5) — 10,126 59–57 117 August 19 @ Dodgers 2–6 Webber Ostermueller (3–2) — — 59–58 118 August 19 @ Dodgers 4–2 Strincevich (12–7) Branca — 19,422 60–58 119 August 20 @ Dodgers 11–1 Roe (10–10) Seats — 6,322 61–58 120 August 21 @ Dodgers 12–1 Gables (9–4) Gregg — 5,484 62–58 121 August 23 Reds 6–2 Beck (4–0) Harrist — 1,567 63–58 122 August 24 Reds 1–2 Heusser Strincevich (12–8) — 12,923 63–59 123 August 25 Reds 0–1 Kennedy Roe (10–11) — 3,402 63–60 124 August 26 Reds 10–7 Rescigno (2–5) Fox — 527 64–60 125 August 26 Reds 2–1 Gables (10–4) Bowman — 14,193 65–60 126 August 28 Cubs 3–6 Borowy Ostermueller (3–3) — 23,335 65–61 127 August 29 Cubs 0–2 Prim Strincevich (12–9) Vandenberg 4,881 65–62 128 August 30 Cubs 6–4 Roe (11–11) Erickson Rescigno (6) — 66–62 129 August 31 @ Reds 6–5 Gables (11–4) Bowman Rescigno (7) 4,499 67–62
September: 15–10 (Home: 10–8; Away: 5–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 130 September 2 @ Reds 4–2 Beck (5–0) Bowman — — 68–62 131 September 2 @ Reds 7–3 Strincevich (13–9) Walters — 9,810 69–62 132 September 3 @ Cardinals 6–5 Ostermueller (4–3) Wilks Rescigno (8) — 70–62 133 September 3 @ Cardinals 6–2 Roe (12–11) Donnelly — 19,492 71–62 134 September 4 @ Cardinals 8–8 (12) — 1,755 71–62 135 September 5 Dodgers 3–5 (10) Lombardi Gables (11–5) — 19,504 71–63 136 September 6 Dodgers 17–5 Strincevich (14–9) Gregg — 1,885 72–63 137 September 7 Dodgers 2–3 Seats Roe (12–12) Herring 1,874 72–64 138 September 8 Dodgers 6–5 (12) Gerheauser (4–10) King — 3,550 73–64 139 September 9 Phillies 4–3 Beck (6–0) Kraus — — 74–64 140 September 9 Phillies 3–14 Mauney Sewell (11–8) Karl 5,525 74–65 141 September 10 Phillies 9–5 (7) Strincevich (15–9) Leon — 6,000 75–65 142 September 11 Phillies 5–4 (10) Rescigno (3–5) Schanz — — 76–65 143 September 11 Phillies 5–1 Butcher (10–8) Sproull Rescigno (9) 2,047 77–65 144 September 13 Braves 4–3 Gerheauser (5–10) Singleton — — 78–65 145 September 13 Braves 2–0 Ostermueller (5–3) Whitcher — 3,836 79–65 146 September 15 Giants 5–9 Zabala Strincevich (15–10) — 411 79–66 147 September 16 Giants 3–2 Roe (13–12) Maglie — — 80–66 148 September 16 Giants 2–9 Brewer Gables (11–6) — 15,175 80–67 149 September 23 @ Cubs 3–7 Wyse Roe (13–13) — 43,755 80–68 150 September 26 @ Reds 2–5 Hetki Beck (6–1) — — 80–69 151 September 26 @ Reds 2–1 Strincevich (16–10) Harrist — 715 81–69 152 September 27 Cardinals 5–2 Roe (14–13) Dockins — 9,603 82–69 153 September 29 Cubs 3–4 Borowy Ostermueller (5–4) Erickson — 82–70 154 September 29 Cubs 0–5 (7) Vandenberg Sewell (11–9) Warneke 4,016 82–71 155 September 30 Cubs 3–5 Chipman Gables (11–7) Erickson 3,751 82–72
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

Roster

1945 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 20 Boom-Boom Beck 19 Max Butcher 27 Cookie Cuccurullo 45 Ken Gables 40 Al Gerheauser 25 Johnny Lanning 21 Fritz Ostermueller  4 Xavier Rescigno 29 Preacher Roe 30 Rip Sewell 20 Ray Starr 22 Nick Strincevich		Catchers  2 Hank Camelli 36 Spud Davis 12 Al López  1 Bill Salkeld Infielders 17 Vic Barnhart 23 Frank Colman  5 Pete Coscarart  7 Babe Dahlgren  8 Bob Elliott 16 Frankie Gustine  6 Lee Handley  4 Jack Saltzgaver 14 Frankie Zak		Outfielders 18 Johnny Barrett  3 Al Gionfriddo 11 Tommy O'Brien 32 Jim Russell 15 Lloyd Waner Other batters  4 Bill Rodgers 25 Joe Vitelli		Manager 35 Frankie Frisch Coaches 36 Spud Davis 34 Jake Flowers 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	Al López	91	243	53	.218	0	18
1B	Babe Dahlgren	144	531	133	.250	5	75
2B	Pete Coscarart	123	392	95	.242	8	38
SS	Frankie Gustine	128	478	134	.280	2	66
3B	Bob Elliott	144	541	157	.290	8	108
OF	Johnny Barrett	142	507	130	.256	15	67
OF	Al Gionfriddo	122	409	116	.284	2	42
OF	Jim Russell	146	510	145	.284	12	77

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
Lee Handley	98	312	93	.298	1	32
Bill Salkeld	95	267	83	.311	15	52
Vic Barnhart	71	201	54	.269	0	19
Tommy O'Brien	58	161	54	.335	0	18
Frank Colman	77	153	32	.209	4	30
Jack Saltzgaver	52	117	38	.325	0	10
Spud Davis	23	33	8	.242	0	6
Frankie Zak	15	28	4	.143	0	3
Lloyd Waner	23	19	5	.263	0	1
Hank Camelli	1	2	0	.000	0	0
Bill Rodgers	1	1	1	1.000	0	0
Joe Vitelli	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

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Preacher Roe	33	235.0	14	13	2.87	148
Nick Strincevich	36	228.1	16	10	3.31	74
Rip Sewell	33	188.0	11	9	4.07	60
Max Butcher	28	169.1	10	8	3.03	37
Fritz Ostermueller	14	80.2	5	4	4.57	29

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
Al Gerheauser	32	140.1	5	10	3.91	55
Ken Gables	29	138.2	11	7	4.15	49
Boom-Boom Beck	14	63.0	6	1	2.14	20

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
Xavier Rescigno	44	3	5	9	5.72	29
Cookie Cuccurullo	29	1	3	1	5.24	17
Ray Starr	4	0	2	0	9.45	0
Johnny Lanning	1	0	0	0	36.00	0

Farm system

See also: Minor league baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AA	Hollywood Stars	Pacific Coast League	Buck Fausett
A	Albany Senators	Eastern League	Ripper Collins
B	York White Roses	Interstate League	Bunny Griffiths
D	Salisbury Pirates	North Carolina State League	Tuck McWilliams
D	Hornell Pirates	PONY League	John Morrow and Fred Hering

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Albany

References

• 1945 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
• 1945 Pittsburgh Pirates Page at Baseball Almanac
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6.