1954 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 73rd season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 68th in the National League. The Pirates finished eighth and last in the league standings with a record of 53–101.

1954 Pittsburgh Pirates
League	National League
Ballpark	Forbes Field
City	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Owners	John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson, Branch Rickey (minority shareholders)
General managers	Branch Rickey
Managers	Fred Haney
Radio	WWSW Rosey Rowswell, Bob Prince
Seasons

Offseason

• December 1, 1953: Sonny Senerchia was drafted from the Pirates by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1953 minor league draft.

Regular season

During the season, Curt Roberts became the first black player in the history of the Pirates.

Season standings

National League

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
New York Giants	97	57	.630	—	53‍–‍23	44‍–‍34
Brooklyn Dodgers	92	62	.597	5	45‍–‍32	47‍–‍30
Milwaukee Braves	89	65	.578	8	43‍–‍34	46‍–‍31
Philadelphia Phillies	75	79	.487	22	39‍–‍39	36‍–‍40
Cincinnati Redlegs	74	80	.481	23	41‍–‍36	33‍–‍44
St. Louis Cardinals	72	82	.468	25	33‍–‍44	39‍–‍38
Chicago Cubs	64	90	.416	33	40‍–‍37	24‍–‍53
Pittsburgh Pirates	53	101	.344	44	31‍–‍46	22‍–‍55

Record vs. opponents

1954 National League record Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team	BKN	CHC	CIN	MIL	NYG	PHP	PIT	STL
Brooklyn	—	15–7	16–6	10–12	9–13	13–9	15–7	14–8
Chicago	7–15	—	8–14	6–16	7–15	7–15	15–7	14–8
Cincinnati	6–16	14–8	—	10–12	7–15	14–8	15–7	8–14
Milwaukee	12–10	16–6	12–10	—	10–12	13–9	14–8	12–10
New York	13–9	15–7	15–7	12–10	—	16–6	14–8	12–10
Philadelphia	9–13	15–7	8–14	9–13	6–16	—	16–6	12–10
Pittsburgh	7–15	7–15	7–15	8–14	8–14	6–16	—	10–12
St. Louis	8–14	8–14	14–8	10–12	10–12	10–12	12–10	—

Game log

1954 Game Log: 53–101 (Home: 31–46; Away: 22–55)
April: 6–10 (Home: 4–4; Away: 2–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 13 Phillies 4–2 Law (1–0) Roberts Hetki (1) 32,294 1–0 2 April 14 Phillies 0–6 Simmons LaPalme (0–1) — 5,853 1–1 3 April 15 @ Dodgers 4–7 Meyer Surkont (0–1) Hughes 13,496 1–2 4 April 18 @ Phillies 0–6 Roberts Friend (0–1) — 1–3 5 April 18 @ Phillies 1–7 Simmons Law (1–1) — 9,975 1–4 6 April 19 @ Giants 7–5 Hetki (1–0) Hearn — 6,380 2–4 7 April 20 @ Giants 2–6 Antonelli LaPalme (0–2) — 6,865 2–5 8 April 21 Giants 5–4 Surkont (1–1) Liddle Hetki (2) 13,552 3–5 9 April 22 Giants 7–4 O'Donnell (1–0) Gomez — 3,296 4–5 10 April 23 Dodgers 5–6 (13) Milliken Purkey (0–1) — 10,574 4–6 11 April 24 Dodgers 0–3 Erskine Hogue (0–1) — 8,671 4–7 12 April 25 Dodgers 9–3 Law (2–1) Newcombe — 8,671 5–7 13 April 25 Dodgers 2–4 Podres LaPalme (0–3) — 23,714 5–8 14 April 27 @ Redlegs 7–8 Valentine Surkont (1–2) Smith 3,634 5–9 15 April 28 @ Redlegs 4–8 Collum Friend (0–2) — 1,206 5–10 16 April 29 @ Cardinals 4–3 Purkey (1–1) Haddix Hetki (3) 7,603 6–10
May: 8–23 (Home: 6–12; Away: 2–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 17 May 1 @ Cardinals 4–5 (10) Lint O'Donnell (1–1) — 6,745 6–11 18 May 2 @ Cubs 3–5 Minner Law (2–2) — 17,472 6–12 19 May 2 @ Cubs 18–10 (8) Friend (1–2) Church Hetki (4) 7,636 7–12 20 May 4 @ Braves 1–6 Spahn Surkont (1–3) — 12,383 7–13 21 May 5 @ Braves 1–4 Conley Purkey (1–2) — 13,194 7–14 22 May 6 @ Braves 0–3 Burdette O'Donnell (1–2) — 11,856 7–15 23 May 8 Giants 1–2 Antonelli Law (2–3) — 7,147 7–16 24 May 9 Giants 1–5 Maglie Surkont (1–4) — 4,577 7–17 25 May 12 Cardinals 5–13 Haddix O'Donnell (1–3) Brazle 1,559 7–18 26 May 13 Braves 2–4 Nichols Purkey (1–3) — 6,090 7–19 27 May 14 Braves 3–2 (10) Surkont (2–4) Spahn — 8,225 8–19 28 May 15 Braves 6–1 Law (3–3) Buhl — 3,366 9–19 29 May 16 Cubs 3–12 Minner Friend (1–3) — 8,225 9–20 30 May 16 Cubs 5–1 Thies (1–0) Willis — 32,807 10–20 31 May 17 Cubs 6–10 Pollet Purkey (1–4) Davis 1,420 10–21 32 May 18 Redlegs 5–6 Collum LaPalme (0–4) Smith 5,696 10–22 33 May 19 Redlegs 3–2 Surkont (3–4) Valentine — 4,476 11–22 34 May 20 Cardinals 4–17 Poholsky Purkey (1–5) — 4,902 11–23 35 May 21 @ Dodgers 2–3 Labine Law (3–4) Hughes 7,202 11–24 36 May 22 @ Dodgers 1–3 Palica Thies (1–1) Hughes 7,061 11–25 37 May 23 @ Dodgers 4–5 Roe Friend (1–4) — 7,061 11–26 38 May 23 @ Dodgers 2–6 Loes O'Donnell (1–4) Milliken 18,409 11–27 39 May 24 @ Dodgers 5–2 Surkont (4–4) Erskine — 9,386 12–27 40 May 25 @ Giants 4–21 Antonelli Purkey (1–6) — 7,206 12–28 41 May 26 @ Giants 1–2 Gomez Law (3–5) — 2,849 12–29 42 May 28 Phillies 0–4 (6) Dickson Surkont (4–5) — 5,521 12–30 43 May 29 Phillies 3–2 O'Donnell (2–4) Ridzik — 2,525 13–30 44 May 30 Phillies 0–8 Roberts Littlefield (0–1) — 2,525 13–31 45 May 30 Phillies 7–10 Drews Friend (1–5) Konstanty 9,651 13–32 46 May 31 Giants 0–4 Gomez Yochim (0–1) — 13–33 47 May 31 Giants 4–3 Law (4–5) Wilhelm — 10,506 14–33
June: 9–15 (Home: 5–8; Away: 4–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 48 June 4 @ Braves 4–1 Surkont (5–5) Nichols — 21,582 15–33 49 June 5 @ Braves 0–7 Spahn O'Donnell (2–5) — 19,415 15–34 50 June 6 @ Braves 0–5 Wilson Law (4–6) — 15–35 51 June 6 @ Braves 6–4 Littlefield (1–1) Gorin — 34,095 16–35 52 June 8 @ Redlegs 0–5 Valentine O'Donnell (2–6) — 4,342 16–36 53 June 9 @ Redlegs 3–4 Nuxhall Surkont (5–6) — 4,813 16–37 54 June 10 @ Redlegs 0–6 Baczewski Thies (1–2) — 1,900 16–38 55 June 11 @ Cardinals 8–5 Law (5–6) Presko Hetki (5) 9,820 17–38 56 June 12 @ Cardinals 4–2 Littlefield (2–1) Staley — 11,365 18–38 57 June 13 @ Cardinals 0–5 Haddix O'Donnell (2–7) — 11,365 18–39 58 June 13 @ Cardinals 3–5 Miller LaPalme (0–5) — 16,648 18–40 59 June 14 Cubs 5–6 Davis Surkont (5–7) Minner 6,462 18–41 60 June 18 Braves 2–1 Law (6–6) Spahn — 8,859 19–41 61 June 19 Braves 2–11 Jolly Littlefield (2–2) — 3,961 19–42 62 June 20 Braves 2–1 (10) Surkont (6–7) Burdette — 8,859 20–42 63 June 20 Braves 6–3 Friend (2–5) Buhl Law (1) 10,236 21–42 64 June 23 Cardinals 1–7 Haddix Littlefield (2–3) — 9,301 21–43 65 June 24 Cardinals 1–5 Lawrence Law (6–7) — 2,637 21–44 66 June 25 Redlegs 4–8 Fowler Surkont (6–8) Smith 6,327 21–45 67 June 26 Redlegs 4–3 Friend (3–5) Baczewski — 2,551 22–45 68 June 27 Redlegs 0–9 Valentine Law (6–8) — 22–46 69 June 27 Redlegs 4–3 Hetki (2–0) Podbielan — 7,717 23–46 70 June 29 Phillies 0–4 Wehmeier Surkont (6–9) — 5,088 23–47 71 June 30 Phillies 0–8 Roberts Law (6–9) — 4,209 23–48
July: 10–21 (Home: 4–8; Away: 6–13) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 72 July 2 Giants 5–9 Wilhelm Friend (3–6) Maglie 9,603 23–49 73 July 3 Giants 6–4 Littlefield (3–3) Hearn O'Donnell (1) 3,488 24–49 74 July 4 Giants 2–9 Liddle Surkont (6–10) McCall 3,488 24–50 75 July 4 Giants 7–6 LaPalme (1–5) Grissom Hetki (6) 12,818 25–50 76 July 5 Dodgers 6–8 Wade Law (6–10) Hughes 9,603 25–51 77 July 5 Dodgers 2–7 Loes Thies (1–3) — 16,905 25–52 78 July 6 @ Phillies 0–3 Simmons Friend (3–7) — 3,967 25–53 79 July 9 @ Giants 3–6 Antonelli LaPalme (1–6) — 12,423 25–54 80 July 10 @ Giants 10–7 O'Donnell (3–7) Wilhelm — 9,744 26–54 81 July 11 @ Giants 7–13 Maglie Law (6–11) Grissom 9,744 26–55 82 July 11 @ Giants 5–1 Littlefield (4–3) Hearn — 21,504 27–55 83 July 15 @ Cubs 2–9 Minner Surkont (6–11) — 5,900 27–56 84 July 15 @ Cubs 0–3 Hacker O'Donnell (3–8) Tremel 10,855 27–57 85 July 16 @ Cubs 2–3 Rush Hetki (2–1) — 4,586 27–58 86 July 17 @ Cubs 3–11 Davis Law (6–12) Tremel 4,586 27–59 87 July 17 @ Cubs 6–2 Purkey (2–6) Klippstein O'Donnell (2) 10,842 28–59 88 July 18 @ Braves 1–4 Spahn Littlefield (4–4) Johnson 25,074 28–60 89 July 18 @ Braves 7–5 Friend (4–7) Nichols — 29,371 29–60 90 July 19 @ Braves 1–4 Wilson Surkont (6–12) — 23,281 29–61 91 July 21 @ Cardinals 12–13 Lawrence O'Donnell (3–9) Haddix 6,623 29–62 92 July 22 @ Cardinals 2–3 (14) Staley Friend (4–8) — 7,059 29–63 93 July 23 @ Redlegs 7–4 Littlefield (5–4) Nuxhall — 7,682 30–63 94 July 24 @ Redlegs 3–5 Fowler Surkont (6–13) Smith 3,383 30–64 95 July 25 @ Redlegs 4–2 LaPalme (2–6) Perkowski — 31–64 96 July 25 @ Redlegs 2–3 Judson Friend (4–9) Smith 13,514 31–65 97 July 26 Braves 1–3 Conley Purkey (2–7) — 6,850 31–66 98 July 28 Braves 4–6 Burdette Littlefield (5–5) Jolly 6,728 31–67 99 July 29 Braves 3–5 (10) Nichols Hetki (2–2) — 2,259 31–68 100 July 30 Cubs 8–6 Purkey (3–7) Minner Hetki (7) 6,728 32–68 101 July 30 Cubs 5–8 Pollet Surkont (6–14) Jeffcoat 7,754 32–69 102 July 31 Cubs 5–3 LaPalme (3–6) Hacker Friend (1) 2,688 33–69
August: 13–17 (Home: 7–6; Away: 6–11) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 103 August 1 Cubs 2–0 Littlefield (6–5) Davis — 2,688 34–69 104 August 1 Cubs 2–12 Cole Pepper (0–1) — 7,281 34–70 105 August 3 Redlegs 2–7 Nuxhall Friend (4–10) — 4,671 34–71 106 August 4 Redlegs 4–3 Law (7–12) Smith — 3,778 35–71 107 August 6 Cardinals 7–3 Littlefield (7–5) Poholsky — 2,688 36–71 108 August 6 Cardinals 6–5 Hetki (3–2) Lawrence — 8,624 37–71 109 August 7 Cardinals 6–8 Presko Purkey (3–8) Brazle 3,846 37–72 110 August 8 Cardinals 12–4 LaPalme (4–6) Haddix — 8,624 38–72 111 August 8 Cardinals 5–3 Surkont (7–14) Staley — 10,790 39–72 112 August 10 Giants 1–2 Antonelli Littlefield (7–6) Grissom 9,945 39–73 113 August 13 @ Phillies 9–5 Friend (5–10) Roberts — 24,536 40–73 114 August 13 @ Phillies 5–0 Thies (2–3) Wehmeier — 8,804 41–73 115 August 14 @ Phillies 8–4 Law (8–12) Simmons — 2,865 42–73 116 August 15 @ Phillies 9–6 Littlefield (8–6) Dickson Hetki (8) 2,865 43–73 117 August 15 @ Phillies 6–7 Roberts Hetki (3–3) — 4,773 43–74 118 August 17 Dodgers 4–2 Surkont (8–14) Podres — 20,102 44–74 119 August 18 Dodgers 2–3 Erskine Thies (2–4) Hughes 18,797 44–75 120 August 19 Dodgers 5–7 Newcombe Law (8–13) Hughes 9,299 44–76 121 August 20 @ Giants 0–4 Liddle Littlefield (8–7) — 8,985 44–77 122 August 22 @ Giants 4–5 McCall LaPalme (4–7) — 44–78 123 August 22 @ Giants 3–5 Wilhelm Surkont (8–15) — 22,702 44–79 124 August 24 @ Cardinals 8–7 Littlefield (9–7) Haddix Law (2) 8,718 45–79 125 August 25 @ Cardinals 0–13 Jones Thies (2–5) — 6,826 45–80 126 August 26 @ Cardinals 2–1 Pepper (1–1) Beard Law (3) 7,094 46–80 127 August 27 @ Redlegs 2–3 Nuxhall Surkont (8–16) — 5,227 46–81 128 August 28 @ Redlegs 1–2 Valentine LaPalme (4–8) — 2,995 46–82 129 August 29 @ Cubs 4–7 Jeffcoat Littlefield (9–8) — 5,790 46–83 130 August 29 @ Cubs 1–4 Davis Hetki (3–4) — 15,318 46–84 131 August 31 @ Cubs 2–14 Pollet Pepper (1–2) — 15,318 46–85 132 August 31 @ Cubs 3–7 Rush Thies (2–6) Jeffcoat 18,217 46–86
September: 7–15 (Home: 5–8; Away: 2–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 133 September 1 @ Braves 1–3 Spahn Surkont (8–17) — 40,494 46–87 134 September 3 Phillies 1–7 Simmons Friend (5–11) — 10,790 46–88 135 September 3 Phillies 2–10 Ridzik Littlefield (9–9) — 5,302 46–89 136 September 5 Phillies 5–12 Wehmeier Pepper (1–3) — 4,645 46–90 137 September 6 @ Dodgers 9–6 (12) Law (9–13) Loes — 26,349 47–90 138 September 6 @ Dodgers 9–7 Thies (3–6) Newcombe Friend (2) 21,561 48–90 139 September 8 Braves 2–5 Spahn Littlefield (9–10) — 2,516 48–91 140 September 10 Cardinals 3–2 Hetki (4–4) Staley — 2,615 49–91 141 September 11 Cardinals 2–7 Poholsky Pepper (1–4) — 1,851 49–92 142 September 12 Redlegs 5–11 Nuxhall LaPalme (4–9) — 49–93 143 September 12 Redlegs 2–13 Lane Thies (3–7) Ross 5,672 49–94 144 September 13 Redlegs 6–5 Littlefield (10–10) Judson — 1,148 50–94 145 September 14 Cubs 2–9 Rush Thies (3–8) — 1,851 50–95 146 September 14 Cubs 4–0 Friend (6–11) Minner — 2,361 51–95 147 September 17 Dodgers 9–1 Surkont (9–17) Loes — 6,198 52–95 148 September 19 Dodgers 1–0 Friend (7–11) Meyer — 21,308 53–95 149 September 22 @ Phillies 1–12 Simmons Pepper (1–5) — 5,157 53–96 150 September 22 @ Phillies 1–5 Roberts Littlefield (10–11) — 2,837 53–97 151 September 23 @ Phillies 2–4 Wehmeier LaPalme (4–10) — 936 53–98 152 September 24 @ Dodgers 5–6 Erskine Surkont (9–18) Hughes 751 53–99 153 September 25 @ Dodgers 5–10 Meyer Friend (7–12) Labine 4,597 53–100 154 September 26 @ Dodgers 0–1 Spooner Thies (3–9) — 9,344 53–101
Legend:        = Win        = Loss Bold = Pirates team member

Notable transactions

• June 14, 1954: Hal Rice was traded by the Pirates to the Chicago Cubs for Luis Márquez.

Roster

1954 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 19 Bob Friend 29 Johnny Hetki 25 Cal Hogue 30 Nellie King 24 Paul LaPalme 32 Vern Law 27 Dick Littlefield 23 George O'Donnell 00 Joe Page 18 Laurin Pepper 34 Bob Purkey 35 Max Surkont 39 Jake Thies 38 Len Yochim		Catchers 11 Toby Atwell 23,28 Walker Cooper 46 Bill Hall  9 Nick Koback 20 Jim Mangan 10 Jack Shepard Infielders  8 Gair Allie 12 Dick Cole 31 Vic Janowicz 13 Eddie Pellagrini  7 Curt Roberts  3 Bob Skinner  6 Dick Smith  5 Preston Ward		Outfielders 18 Cal Abrams  4 Sid Gordon 17 Dick Hall 26 Gail Henley 20 Sam Jethroe 14 Jerry Lynch 44 Luis Márquez 44 Hal Rice 15 Frank Thomas		Manager  2 Fred Haney Coaches 40 John Fitzpatrick 43 Sam Narron 41 Clyde Sukeforth

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	Toby Atwell	96	287	83	.289	3	26
1B	Bob Skinner	132	470	117	.249	8	46
2B	Curt Roberts	134	496	115	.232	1	36
SS	Gair Allie	121	418	83	.199	3	30
3B	Dick Cole	138	486	131	.270	1	40
LF	Jerry Lynch	98	284	68	.239	8	36
CF	Frank Thomas	153	577	172	.298	23	94
RF	Sid Gordon	131	363	111	.306	12	49

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
Preston Ward	117	360	97	.269	7	48
Dick Hall	112	310	74	.239	2	27
Jack Shepard	82	227	69	.304	3	22
Eddie Pellagrini	73	125	27	.216	0	16
Hal Rice	28	81	14	.173	1	9
Vic Janowicz	41	73	11	.151	0	2
Cal Abrams	17	42	6	.143	0	2
Dick Smith	12	31	3	.097	0	0
Gail Henley	14	30	9	.300	1	2
Jim Mangan	14	26	5	.192	0	2
Walker Cooper	14	15	3	.200	0	1
Nick Koback	4	10	0	.000	0	0
Luis Márquez	14	9	1	.111	0	0
Bill Hall	5	7	0	.000	0	0
Sam Jethroe	2	1	0	.000	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
Max Surkont	33	208.1	9	18	4.41	78
Dick Littlefield	23	155.0	10	11	3.60	92

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
Bob Friend	35	170.1	7	12	5.07	73
Vern Law	39	161.2	9	13	5.51	57
Bob Purkey	36	131.1	3	8	5.07	38
Jake Thies	33	130.1	3	9	3.87	57
Paul LaPalme	33	120.2	4	10	5.52	57
George O'Donnell	21	87.1	3	9	4.53	8
Laurin Pepper	14	50.2	1	5	7.99	17
Cal Hogue	3	11.0	0	1	4.91	7

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
Johnny Hetki	58	4	4	9	4.99	27
Len Yochim	10	0	1	0	7.32	7
Joe Page	7	0	0	0	11.17	4
Nellie King	4	0	0	0	5.14	3

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
Open	Hollywood Stars	Pacific Coast League	Bobby Bragan
AA	New Orleans Pelicans	Southern Association	Danny Murtaugh
A	Williamsport Grays	Eastern League	Larry Shepard
A	Denver Bears	Western League	Andy Cohen
B	Waco Pirates	Big State League	Jack Paepke
B	Burlington-Graham Pirates	Carolina League	Stan Wentzel
C	Billings Mustangs	Pioneer League	Cliff Dapper
C	St. Jean Canadiens	Provincial League	George Detore and Steve Mizerak
C	Hutchinson Elks	Western Association	George Genovese and Lamar Dorton
D	Dublin Irish	Georgia State League	George Kinnamon
D	Brunswick Pirates	Georgia–Florida League	Frank Oceak
D	Clinton Pirates	Mississippi–Ohio Valley League	Robert Clark

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Waco

References

• 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Reference
• 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Almanac
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.