1928 Pittsburgh Pirates season

Offseason

• December 3, 1927: Mike Cvengros and Ike Danning were traded by the Pirates to the Wichita Falls Spudders for Fred Fussell.

Regular season

During the season, Burleigh Grimes became the last pitcher to win at least 25 games in one season for the Pirates in the 20th century.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 11 || @ Cardinals || 7–14 || Haines || Kremer (0–1) || — || 25,000 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 12 || @ Cardinals || 0–5 || Alexander || Grimes (0–1) || — || — || 0–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 14 || @ Reds || 0–5 || Lucas || Miljus (0–1) || — || 2,500 || 0–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 15 || @ Reds || 3–2 || Dawson (1–0) || Luque || Hill (1) || — || 1–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 16 || @ Reds || 8–1 || Grimes (1–1) || Rixey || — || — || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 19 || Cardinals || 10–13 || Littlejohn || Miljus (0–2) || Sherdel || 30,000 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 20 || Cardinals || 2–6 || Haines || Grimes (1–2) || — || — || 2–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 22 || @ Cubs || 2–3 || Jones || Miljus (0–3) || — || 50,000 || 2–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || April 23 || @ Cubs || 6–0 || Kremer (1–1) || Malone || — || — || 3–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 24 || @ Cubs || 2–7 || Blake || Dawson (1–1) || — || — || 3–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 25 || @ Cubs || 10–0 || Grimes (2–2) || Root || — || — || 4–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 26 || Reds || 7–2 || Hill (1–0) || Edwards || — || — || 5–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 29 || @ Reds || 2–3 || Rixey || Kremer (1–2) || — || — || 5–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 30 || Cubs || 8–7 || Miljus (1–3) || Malone || — || — || 6–8 |- |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || May 1 || Cubs || 4–1 || Hill (2–0) || Bush || — || — || 7–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || May 2 || Cubs || 9–8 (10) || Dawson (2–1) || Nehf || — || — || 8–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || May 3 || Braves || 4–5 (11) || Brandt || Kremer (1–3) || — || — || 8–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || May 4 || Braves || 13–3 || Grimes (3–2) || Greenfield || — || — || 9–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || May 5 || Braves || 6–2 || Dawson (3–1) || Smith || Miljus (1) || — || 10–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || May 7 || Braves || 9–4 || Miljus (2–3) || Robertson || — || — || 11–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || May 8 || Giants || 6–5 || Grimes (4–2) || Henry || — || — || 12–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || May 9 || Giants || 0–6 || Barnes || Dawson (3–2) || — || — || 12–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || May 10 || Giants || 4–5 || Fitzsimmons || Kremer (1–4) || — || — || 12–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || May 12 || Robins || 5–4 || Hill (3–0) || McWeeny || — || 10,000 || 13–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 13 || @ Robins || 5–8 || Clark || Grimes (4–3) || — || 22,000 || 13–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 14 || Robins || 6–7 || Doak || Brame (0–1) || Vance || — || 13–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 15 || Robins || 3–10 || McWeeny || Miljus (2–4) || — || — || 13–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 18 || Phillies || 6–4 || Kremer (2–4) || Miller || Grimes (1) || — || 14–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 19 || Phillies || 3–1 || Hill (4–0) || Benge || — || — || 15–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 20 || @ Reds || 2–3 || Lucas || Grimes (4–4) || — || — || 15–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 21 || @ Reds || 3–4 || Rixey || Dawson (3–3) || — || — || 15–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 21 || @ Reds || 6–3 || Fussell (1–0) || May || — || — || 16–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 22 || @ Reds || 4–5 || Mays || Kremer (2–5) || — || — || 16–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 23 || @ Reds || 3–4 (10) || Luque || Hill (4–1) || — || — || 16–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 24 || Cubs || 6–2 || Grimes (5–4) || Nehf || — || — || 17–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 25 || Cubs || 3–10 || Root || Fussell (1–1) || — || — || 17–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 26 || Cubs || 1–6 || Malone || Kremer (2–6) || — || — || 17–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 27 || @ Cubs || 0–3 || Blake || Hill (4–2) || — || 35,000 || 17–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 29 || Cardinals || 1–7 || Rhem || Grimes (5–5) || — || — || 17–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 30 || Cardinals || 1–10 || Sherdel || Miljus (2–5) || — || — || 17–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 30 || Cardinals || 3–4 || Johnson || Kremer (2–7) || Haid || — || 17–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 31 || Cardinals || 3–2 || Hill (5–2) || Haines || — || — || 18–24 |- |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || June 1 || Cubs || 10–4 || Grimes (6–5) || Blake || — || — || 19–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || June 2 || Cubs || 6–10 || Weinert || Dawson (3–4) || Root || — || 19–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || June 3 || @ Robins || 9–7 (14) || Grimes (7–5) || Petty || — || 25,000 || 20–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || June 7 || @ Braves || 8–6 (12) || Burwell (1–0) || Smith || — || — || 21–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || June 8 || @ Braves || 5–9 || Brandt || Kremer (2–8) || — || — || 21–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || June 9 || @ Braves || 6–2 || Grimes (8–5) || Genewich || — || — || 22–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || June 9 || @ Braves || 6–3 || Miljus (3–5) || Robertson || — || — || 23–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 11 || @ Phillies || 4–6 || Ring || Hill (5–3) || Sweetland || — || 23–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || June 12 || @ Phillies || 15–4 || Kremer (3–8) || Miller || — || — || 24–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 13 || @ Phillies || 3–4 || Sweetland || Grimes (8–6) || — || — || 24–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 14 || @ Giants || 4–3 (11) || Miljus (4–5) || Fitzsimmons || — || — || 25–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 15 || @ Giants || 1–9 || Aldridge || Hill (5–4) || — || 9,000 || 25–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 16 || @ Giants || 0–4 || Benton || Kremer (3–9) || — || — || 25–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 17 || @ Giants || 6–0 || Grimes (9–6) || Henry || — || — || 26–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 20 || Reds || 2–1 || Kremer (4–9) || Rixey || — || — || 27–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 21 || Reds || 4–5 || Appleton || Fussell (1–2) || — || — || 27–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 22 || Reds || 11–1 || Grimes (10–6) || Kolp || — || — || 28–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 23 || Reds || 6–5 (10) || Miljus (5–5) || Kolp || — || — || 29–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 24 || @ Cubs || 1–8 || Nehf || Kremer (4–10) || — || 15,000 || 29–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 26 || @ Cubs || 1–0 || Grimes (11–6) || Blake || — || — || 30–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 26 || @ Cubs || 3–7 || Bush || Miljus (5–6) || Malone || — || 30–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 28 || @ Cardinals || 3–4 || Sherdel || Hill (5–5) || — || — || 30–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 29 || @ Cardinals || 4–9 || Mitchell || Kremer (4–11) || — || — || 30–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 30 || @ Cardinals || 4–3 || Grimes (12–6) || Alexander || — || — || 31–35 |- |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || July 1 || @ Cardinals || 2–0 || Fussell (2–2) || Haines || — || — || 32–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || July 1 || @ Cardinals || 6–8 || Johnson || Miljus (5–7) || Haid || — || 32–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || July 3 || Reds || 7–9 || Edwards || Grimes (12–7) || — || — || 32–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || July 4 || Reds || 0–6 || Rixey || Dawson (3–5) || — || — || 32–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || July 4 || Reds || 3–11 || Kolp || Grimes (12–8) || — || — || 32–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || July 6 || Giants || 7–11 || Faulkner || Fussell (2–3) || — || — || 32–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || July 7 || Giants || 8–6 || Fussell (3–3) || Benton || — || — || 33–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || July 7 || Giants || 5–2 || Brame (1–1) || Fitzsimmons || — || — || 34–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || July 9 || Giants || 5–3 || Grimes (13–8) || Faulkner || — || — || 35–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || July 10 || Phillies || 6–5 || Kremer (5–11) || Ring || — || — || 36–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || July 11 || Phillies || 3–1 (6) || Brame (2–1) || Benge || Hill (2) || — || 37–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || July 14 || Braves || 10–0 || Grimes (14–8) || Brandt || — || — || 38–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || July 16 || Braves || 8–3 || Kremer (6–11) || Delaney || — || — || 39–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || July 17 || Braves || 7–6 || Hill (6–5) || Smith || Fussell (1) || — || 40–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 81 || July 18 || Braves || 16–3 || Grimes (15–8) || Barnes || — || — || 41–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 82 || July 19 || Robins || 0–3 || McWeeny || Fussell (3–4) || — || — || 41–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 20 || Robins || 7–8 || Elliott || Kremer (6–12) || Clark || 4,000 || 41–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 84 || July 21 || Robins || 7–3 || Hill (7–5) || Ehrhardt || — || — || 42–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 85 || July 21 || Robins || 10–2 || Meadows (1–0) || Petty || — || 15,000 || 43–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 22 || @ Robins || 0–5 || Vance || Grimes (15–9) || — || — || 43–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 22 || @ Robins || 6–5 || Kremer (7–12) || Clark || — || 29,000 || 44–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 23 || @ Robins || 2–1 || Fussell (4–4) || McWeeny || — || — || 45–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 89 || July 24 || @ Giants || 3–6 || Benton || Dawson (3–6) || — || — || 45–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || July 25 || @ Giants || 5–6 || Walker || Hill (7–6) || Genewich || — || 45–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 91 || July 26 || @ Giants || 7–5 || Grimes (16–9) || Hubbell || — || — || 46–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 27 || @ Giants || 2–4 || Fitzsimmons || Fussell (4–5) || — || — || 46–46 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 30 || @ Braves || 2–1 || Kremer (8–12) || Brandt || — || — || 47–46 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 94 || July 30 || @ Braves || 6–5 (10) || Grimes (17–9) || Barnes || — || — || 48–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 31 || @ Braves || 5–11 || Smith || Meadows (1–1) || — || — || 48–47 |- |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 96 || August 2 || @ Phillies || 18–4 || Grimes (18–9) || Miller || Dawson (1) || — || 49–47 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || August 3 || @ Phillies || 14–6 || Fussell (5–5) || Sweetland || Tauscher (1) || — || 50–47 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 98 || August 4 || @ Phillies || 14–8 || Grimes (19–9) || Benge || — || — || 51–47 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || August 4 || @ Phillies || 11–4 || Hill (8–6) || Ring || Dawson (2) || — || 52–47 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 100 || August 7 || @ Robins || 4–3 || Grimes (20–9) || McWeeny || — || — || 53–47 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 101 || August 7 || @ Robins || 3–2 (12) || Hill (9–6) || Elliott || — || 6,500 || 54–47 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 102 || August 8 || @ Robins || 4–3 || Kremer (9–12) || McWeeny || — || 2,500 || 55–47 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 103 || August 9 || Cardinals || 5–4 || Hill (10–6) || Haines || Grimes (2) || — || 56–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || August 10 || Cardinals || 1–2 (12) || Mitchell || Fussell (5–6) || Sherdel || — || 56–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 105 || August 11 || Reds || 0–1 || Lucas || Grimes (20–10) || — || — || 56–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 106 || August 13 || Robins || 6–1 || Kremer (10–12) || Doak || — || — || 57–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 107 || August 14 || Robins || 4–2 || Hill (11–6) || McWeeny || — || — || 58–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 108 || August 15 || Robins || 5–6 || Vance || Fussell (5–7) || Petty || — || 58–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 109 || August 16 || Robins || 11–6 || Grimes (21–10) || Doak || — || — || 59–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 110 || August 17 || Phillies || 10–3 || Kremer (11–12) || Willoughby || — || — || 60–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 111 || August 17 || Phillies || 9–1 || Brame (3–1) || Sweetland || — || — || 61–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 112 || August 18 || Phillies || 9–0 || Hill (12–6) || Benge || — || — || 62–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 113 || August 18 || Phillies || 8–11 || Ring || Fussell (5–8) || Ferguson || — || 62–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 114 || August 20 || Braves || 11–14 || Smith || Grimes (21–11) || Delaney || — || 62–52 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 115 || August 21 || Braves || 6–2 || Kremer (12–12) || Brandt || — || — || 63–52 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 116 || August 22 || Braves || 10–3 || Brame (4–1) || Greenfield || — || — || 64–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 117 || August 23 || Giants || 3–6 || Benton || Hill (12–7) || Scott || 35,000 || 64–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 118 || August 23 || Giants || 13–3 || Fussell (6–8) || Hubbell || — || 30,000 || 65–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 119 || August 24 || Giants || 16–5 || Grimes (22–11) || Genewich || — || — || 66–53 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 120 || August 25 || Giants || 7–1 || Kremer (13–12) || Fitzsimmons || — || — || 67–53 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 121 || August 26 || @ Reds || 3–4 || Lucas || Brame (4–2) || — || — || 67–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 122 || August 27 || @ Reds || 9–4 || Fussell (7–8) || Luque || — || — || 68–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 123 || August 28 || Phillies || 9–2 || Hill (13–7) || Sweetland || — || — || 69–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 124 || August 28 || Phillies || 16–7 || Dawson (4–6) || Benge || — || — || 70–54 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 125 || August 29 || Phillies || 0–4 (7) || Willoughby || Brame (4–3) || — || — || 70–55 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 126 || August 31 || Cardinals || 6–5 || Kremer (14–12) || Alexander || Grimes (3) || — || 71–55 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 127 || August 31 || Cardinals || 2–6 || Haines || Fussell (7–9) || — || — || 71–56 |- |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 128 || September 1 || Cardinals || 1–4 || Sherdel || Hill (13–8) || — || — || 71–57 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 129 || September 2 || @ Cubs || 2–3 || Malone || Grimes (22–12) || — || 32,000 || 71–58 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 130 || September 3 || Cubs || 16–1 || Brame (5–3) || Root || — || — || 72–58 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 131 || September 3 || Cubs || 6–3 || Kremer (15–12) || Carlson || — || — || 73–58 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 132 || September 4 || Cubs || 8–9 || Blake || Hill (13–9) || — || — || 73–59 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 133 || September 6 || @ Cardinals || 3–4 (10) || Mitchell || Grimes (22–13) || — || 10,000 || 73–60 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 134 || September 7 || @ Cardinals || 3–6 || Haines || Kremer (15–13) || — || — || 73–61 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 135 || September 8 || @ Cardinals || 4–2 || Hill (14–9) || Sherdel || — || — || 74–61 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 136 || September 9 || @ Cardinals || 8–7 || Dawson (5–6) || Reinhart || — || — || 75–61 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 137 || September 10 || @ Cubs || 7–5 || Grimes (23–13) || Nehf || — || — || 76–61 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 138 || September 11 || @ Cubs || 3–9 || Malone || Hill (14–10) || — || — || 76–62 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 139 || September 14 || Reds || 4–1 || Grimes (24–13) || Rixey || — || — || 77–62 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 140 || September 15 || Reds || 6–1 || Hill (15–10) || Ash || — || — || 78–62 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 141 || September 16 || @ Giants || 1–0 || Fussell (8–9) || Benton || — || 50,000 || 79–62 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 142 || September 17 || @ Giants || 2–9 || Hubbell || Brame (5–4) || — || 3,000 || 79–63 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 143 || September 18 || @ Giants || 2–3 (10) || Fitzsimmons || Dawson (5–7) || — || — || 79–64 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 144 || September 20 || @ Phillies || 6–4 || Hill (16–10) || Willoughby || — || — || 80–64 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 145 || September 21 || @ Phillies || 6–5 || Dawson (6–7) || Sweetland || — || — || 81–64 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 146 || September 22 || @ Phillies || 9–7 || Grimes (25–13) || McGraw || — || — || 82–64 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 147 || September 22 || @ Phillies || 5–3 || Brame (6–4) || Caldwell || — || — || 83–64 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 148 || September 24 || @ Braves || 3–1 (10) || Dawson (7–7) || Delaney || — || — || 84–64 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 149 || September 24 || @ Braves || 2–4 || Smith || Blankenship (0–1) || — || — || 84–65 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 150 || September 25 || @ Braves || 13–8 || Brame (7–4) || Greenfield || Dawson (3) || — || 85–65 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 151 || September 27 || @ Robins || 6–7 (10) || Petty || Grimes (25–14) || — || — || 85–66 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 152 || September 27 || @ Robins || 1–8 || Koupal || Blankenship (0–2) || — || — || 85–67

Opening Day lineup

Roster

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

Other batters

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

Pitching

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

League leaders

George Grantham

• #3 in NL in on-base percentage (.408)

Burleigh Grimes

• MLB leader in wins (25)
• #4 in NL in strikeouts (97)

Pie Traynor

• #2 in NL in RBI (124)

Lloyd Waner

• #3 in NL in runs scored (121)

Paul Waner

• NL leader in runs scored (142)
• #2 in NL in batting average (.370)
• #2 in NL in on-base percentage (.446)

References

References

1. From 1882-1906, the team played in [[Allegheny, Pennsylvania]], which became annexed by [[Pittsburgh]] as the [[North Side (Pittsburgh). North Side]] in 1907.
2. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cvengmi01.shtml Mike Cvengros page at Baseball Reference]
3. Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.98, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 978-0-451-22363-0