Pittsburgh Pirates - The Depression Years (1930-1939)

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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:

Jim Tobin (3.8) - 19

None

Waite Hoyt (12.1) - 18

Steve Swetonic (6.2) - 16

Managers:

Jewel Ens (1930-1931)

Catchers:

George Gibson (1932-1934)

Earl Grace (5.6) - 16

Pie Traynor (1934-1939)

Al Todd (4.06) - 16

Tom Padden (2.2) - 12

Hall of Famers:

Burleigh Grimes

First Basemen:

Waite Hoyt

Gus Suhr (21.38) - 49

Arky Vaughan

George Grantham (6.94) - 16

Fred Lindstrom

Pie Traynor

Second Basemen:

Chuck Klein

Tony Piet (5.66) - 22

Heinie Manush

Pep Young (6.41) - 14

Lloyd Waner

Paul Waner

ShortStop:

Arky Vaughan (53.18) - 116

No Hitters:

Dick Bartell (2.57) - 9

None

Third Base:

MVP

Pie Traynor (13.21) - 34

None

Freddie Lindstrom (4.93) - 12

Lee Handley (4.05) - 11

Notable Events:

Outfield:

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

Paul Waner (44.07) - 97

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

Lloyd Waner (16.44) - 63

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

Adam Comorosky (3.9) - 18

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

Johnny Rizzo (4.93) - 14

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

Woody Jensen (0.61) - 12

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

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

Notable Events:

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

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

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

would achieve the level of success they enjoyed under Dreyfuss.

to accomplish that feat in a big league ball game

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

1938 - The Pirates finish second, two games out

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

the rest of the decade.

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

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

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

become a mainstay of the Pirates staff in the Forties.

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

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

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

Phillies in exchange for first baseman Gus Suhr.

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

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

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

1932 - The Pirates finish second, four games out

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

1933 - The Pirates finish second, five games out

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

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

for the Braves including one that clears the right field roof

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

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

division club moving forward.

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