Harman Patil (Editor)

1959 Pittsburgh Pirates season

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General manager(s)
  
Joe L. Brown

Manager(s)
  
Danny Murtaugh

Owner(s)
  
John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas Johnson (minority shareholders)

Local television
  
KDKA-TV Bob Prince, Jim Woods

Local radio
  
KDKA Bob Prince, Paul Long, Jim Woods

The 1959 Pittsburgh Pirates season saw the team finish in fourth place in the National League at 78–76, nine games behind the NL and World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Contents

Offseason

  • January 30, 1959: Whammy Douglas, Jim Pendleton, Frank Thomas, and John Powers were traded by the Pirates to the Cincinnati Reds for Smoky Burgess, Harvey Haddix and Don Hoak.
  • Prior to 1959 season: Dick Rand was traded by the Pirates to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tom Burgess.

    • Regular season

  • May 26, 1959: Harvey Haddix took a perfect game into the 13th inning of a game against the Milwaukee Braves. Haddix retired 36 consecutive batters in 12 innings, but lost the game 1–0. Braves pitcher Lew Burdette also pitched a shutout for 13 full innings, giving up 12 hits. NOTE: On September 4, 1991, MLB redefined no-hitters to no longer include games in which the first hit was surrendered in extra innings. Until then, Haddix had been credited with a perfect game.

    • Notable transactions

  • May 29, 1959: Gene Baker was released by the Pirates.
  • June 13, 1959: Bob Smith was selected off waivers from the Pirates by the Detroit Tigers.

    • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

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

    Other pitchers

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

    Relief pitchers

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

    Records

  • Roy Face, major league record, most wins in one season by a relief pitcher (18)
  • Harvey Haddix, major league record, Most consecutive batters retired in one game (36)

    • Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Salt Lake City, Gastonia

    Columbus (GA) franchise transferred to Gastonia, May 26, 1959; San Angelo franchise transferred to Roswell, June 9, 1959

    References

    1959 Pittsburgh Pirates season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA