Pittsburgh Pirates - The Depression Years (1930-1939)

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1930

1933

1937

1930

Decade

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Titles:

Top Pirates Players of the Thirties

None

Pitchers:

Ballpark:

Bill Swift (19.2) - 62

Forbes Field

Larry French (17.65) - 58

Cy Blanton (14.37) - 42

Team Name:

Heinie Meine (6.62) - 36

Pirates

Mace Brown (5.15) - 27

Russ Bauers (5.15) - 22

Owners:

Jim Weaver (4.8) - 22

Barney Dreyfuss (1930-1932)

Bob Klinger (3.94) - 20

William E Benswanger (1933-1939)

Red Lucas (9.71) - 20

Ray Kremer (2.57) - 20

General Managers:

Joe Bowman (3.7) - 19

None

Jim Tobin (3.8) - 19

Waite Hoyt (12.1) - 18

Managers:

Steve Swetonic (6.2) - 16

Jewel Ens (1930-1931)

George Gibson (1932-1934)

Catchers:

Pie Traynor (1934-1939)

Earl Grace (5.6) - 16

Al Todd (4.06) - 16

Hall of Famers:

Tom Padden (2.2) - 12

Burleigh Grimes

Waite Hoyt

First Basemen:

Arky Vaughan

Gus Suhr (21.38) - 49

Fred Lindstrom

George Grantham (6.94) - 16

Pie Traynor

Chuck Klein

Second Basemen:

Heinie Manush

Tony Piet (5.66) - 22

Lloyd Waner

Pep Young (6.41) - 14

Paul Waner

ShortStop:

No Hitters:

Arky Vaughan (53.18) - 116

None

Dick Bartell (2.57) - 9

MVP

Third Base:

None

Pie Traynor (13.21) - 34

Freddie Lindstrom (4.93) - 12

Notable Events:

Lee Handley (4.05) - 11

1930 - The Buccos enter the Thirties with high hopes after a very

Outfield:

successful decade in the Twenties. They've got several future Hall

Paul Waner (44.07) - 97

of Famers on their roster in Pie Traynor, 31, Paul Waner, 27, and

Lloyd Waner (16.44) - 63

Lloyd Waner, 24. On the mound, there's ageless righthander Ray Kremer.

Adam Comorosky (3.9) - 18

The club also finished second in 1929. However, Ptttsburgh was unable

Johnny Rizzo (4.93) - 14

to sustain their high level of success in the Thirties, altho' they

Woody Jensen (0.61) - 12

weren't terrible as they averaged 81-73 throughout the decade.

A big reason for the decline is that owner Barney Dreyfuss died

Notable Events:

early on in the decade. It wouldn't be until the 1970's that the Pirates

would achieve the level of success they enjoyed under Dreyfuss.

1938 - The Waner's hit back to back homers, the only brothers

to accomplish that feat in a big league ball game

1932 - Twenty four year old righthander Bill Swift is brought up from

Kansas City. He would be the mainstay of the Bucs staff throughout

1938 - The Pirates finish second, two games out

the rest of the decade.

1938 - Righthander Rip Sewell, 31, is brought up from Buffalo. He had

1932 - Arky Vaughan comes up from Witchita as a twenty year

a brief appearance with the Tigers six years earlier. Sewell would

old rookie.The shortstop was Barney Dreyfuss's last great player and

become a mainstay of the Pirates staff in the Forties.

the only great player brought up by the Pirates during the decade.

1939 - Max Butcher, 28 year old righthander, is obtained from the

1932 - After Barney Dreyfuss dies, his son in law, William Benswanger,

Phillies in exchange for first baseman Gus Suhr.

takes over the operation of the club, Just too big a pair of shoes to fill.

1939 - First Baseman Elbie Fletcher is obtained from the Braves in

1932 - The Pirates finish second, four games out

exchange for cash in a salary dump. He is twenty three.

1933 - The Pirates finish second, five games out

1939 - Third baseman Frankie Gustine, 19, is a rookie. He played

for Gadsden

1934 - Righthander Cy Blanton, 25 is a rookie. He was acquired from Albany

1939 - Outfielder Bob Elliott, 22, is a rookie. He came up from Louisville.

1935 - Babe Ruth has a three homer game in May against the Pirates

for the Braves including one that clears the right field roof

1939 - The Bucs fall to sixth place after dropping 19 games in the standings.

and leaves the park - the first home run at that point to do it.

After treading water for most of the decade, Pittsburgh is now a second

They are the Babe's last homers, 712 thru 714.

division club moving forward.