1934 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1934 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersBill Benswanger
ManagersGeorge Gibson, Pie Traynor
RadioKQV
Jimmy Murray
WWSW
Walt Sickles
← 1933 Seasons 1935 →

The 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 53rd season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 48th in the National League. The Pirates finished fifth in the league standings with a record of 74–76.

Regular season

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The roster featured seven future Hall of Famers: player-manager Pie Traynor, pitcher Waite Hoyt, pitcher Burleigh Grimes, shortstop Arky Vaughan, outfielder Freddie Lindstrom, center fielder Lloyd Waner, and right fielder Paul Waner.

Season standings

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National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 95 58 .621 48‍–‍29 47‍–‍29
New York Giants 93 60 .608 2 49‍–‍26 44‍–‍34
Chicago Cubs 86 65 .570 8 47‍–‍30 39‍–‍35
Boston Braves 78 73 .517 16 40‍–‍35 38‍–‍38
Pittsburgh Pirates 74 76 .493 19½ 45‍–‍32 29‍–‍44
Brooklyn Dodgers 71 81 .467 23½ 43‍–‍33 28‍–‍48
Philadelphia Phillies 56 93 .376 37 35‍–‍36 21‍–‍57
Cincinnati Reds 52 99 .344 42 30‍–‍47 22‍–‍52

Record vs. opponents

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Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
Team BOS BR CHC CIN NYG PHI PIT STL
Boston 16–6–1 12–10 15–7 7–15 14–8 9–11 5–16
Brooklyn 6–16–1 8–12 13–9 8–14 13–9 16–6 7–15
Chicago 10–12 12–8 14–8 11–10 13–9 14–8–1 12–10
Cincinnati 7–15 9–13 8–14 6–16 9–10 7–15 6–16–1
New York 15–7 14–8 10–11 16–6 15–7 14–8 9–13
Philadelphia 8–14 9–13 9–13 10–9 7–15 7–13 6–16
Pittsburgh 11–9 6–16 8–14–1 15–7 8–14 13–7 13–9
St. Louis 16–5 15–7 10–12 16–6–1 13–9 16–6 9–13


Game log

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1934 Game Log: 74–76 (Home: 45–32; Away: 29–44)
April: 5–5 (Home: 2–3; Away: 3–2)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 17 @ Cardinals 1–7 Dean Meine (0–1) 0–1
2 April 18 @ Cardinals 7–6 French (1–0) Grimes Chagnon (1) 1–1
3 April 19 @ Cardinals 14–4 Birkofer (1–0) Hallahan 2–1
4 April 21 @ Reds 3–8 Stout Swift (0–1) Shaute 2–2
5 April 22 @ Reds 5–4 Smith (1–0) Shaute 3–2
6 April 24 Cardinals 5–4 Chagnon (1–0) Haines 15,000 4–2
7 April 26 Cardinals 1–10 Hallahan Birkofer (1–1) 4–3
8 April 28 Reds 4–7 Frey Swift (0–2) Derringer 4–4
9 April 29 Reds 9–5 Lucas (1–0) Shaute 20,000 5–4
10 April 30 Cubs 6–8 (12) Bush French (1–1) 5–5
May: 15–11 (Home: 10–2; Away: 5–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
11 May 1 Cubs 4–1 Birkofer (2–1) Root 6–5
12 May 2 Cubs 4–2 Meine (1–1) Warneke 7–5
13 May 3 Giants 3–5 Bell Smith (1–1) 7–6
14 May 4 Giants 4–3 Lucas (2–0) Hubbell 8–6
15 May 5 Giants 6–3 Birkofer (3–1) Fitzsimmons 9–6
16 May 6 Dodgers 8–5 Meine (2–1) Leonard Hoyt (1) 12,000 10–6
17 May 7 Dodgers 7–6 (10) Chagnon (2–0) Leonard 11–6
18 May 8 Dodgers 5–2 Swift (1–2) Mungo 12–6
19 May 9 Phillies 2–6 Davis Lucas (2–1) 12–7
20 May 11 Phillies 6–4 (10) Hoyt (1–0) Collins 13–7
21 May 12 Phillies 11–6 Chagnon (3–0) Holley Hoyt (2) 14–7
22 May 13 Braves 9–2 Smith (2–1) Brandt 14,000 15–7
23 May 17 @ Dodgers 1–2 (10) Mungo Swift (1–3) 15–8
24 May 18 @ Dodgers 8–3 Birkofer (4–1) Perkins French (1) 16–8
25 May 19 @ Dodgers 5–8 Herring Lucas (2–2) 16–9
26 May 20 @ Phillies 4–16 Davis Smith (2–2) Hansen 16–10
27 May 21 @ Phillies 11–4 French (2–1) Pearce 17–10
28 May 22 @ Phillies 13–4 (7) Birkofer (5–1) Darrow 18–10
29 May 23 @ Braves 1–6 Frankhouse Meine (2–2) 18–11
30 May 24 @ Braves 7–3 Swift (2–3) Brandt 19–11
31 May 27 @ Giants 7–3 Lucas (3–2) Smith 35,000 20–11
32 May 28 @ Giants 2–3 (11) Luque French (2–2) 20–12
33 May 28 @ Giants 0–1 Hubbell Birkofer (5–2) 20–13
34 May 30 @ Cubs 2–7 Warneke Meine (2–3) 20–14
35 May 30 @ Cubs 4–5 (11) Root French (2–3) 40,000 20–15
36 May 31 @ Cubs 5–11 Bush Swift (2–4) 20–16
June: 14–13 (Home: 11–11; Away: 3–2)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
37 June 1 Cardinals 4–3 Hoyt (2–0) Hallahan 21–16
38 June 2 Cardinals 4–13 Dean Lucas (3–3) 21–17
39 June 2 Cardinals 6–3 French (3–3) Winford 22–17
40 June 3 Cardinals 4–2 Meine (3–3) Carleton Hoyt (3) 23–17
41 June 6 @ Reds 3–1 Swift (3–4) Derringer 24–17
42 June 6 @ Reds 5–1 Birkofer (6–2) Frey 25–17
43 June 7 @ Reds 2–1 Lucas (4–3) Kleinhans 26–17
44 June 8 @ Cardinals 2–6 Carleton French (3–4) 26–18
45 June 10 @ Cardinals 2–3 Dean French (3–5) 26–19
46 June 12 Dodgers 7–9 Smythe Hoyt (2–1) 26–20
47 June 13 Dodgers 15–2 Swift (4–4) Herring 27–20
48 June 14 Dodgers 2–3 (10) Mungo Birkofer (6–3) 27–21
49 June 15 Dodgers 4–6 Zachary Lucas (4–4) 27–22
50 June 16 Giants 2–5 Hubbell Birkofer (6–4) 27–23
51 June 17 Giants 3–9 Bell Meine (3–4) Luque 10,000 27–24
52 June 19 Giants 3–5 Schumacher French (3–6) Hubbell 27–25
53 June 20 Braves 6–5 Chagnon (4–0) Smith 28–25
54 June 21 Braves 1–4 Frankhouse Birkofer (6–5) 28–26
55 June 21 Braves 7–8 Mangum French (3–7) Smith 28–27
56 June 22 Braves 7–6 Birkofer (7–5) Mangum 29–27
57 June 23 Braves 4–0 French (4–7) Brandt 30–27
58 June 24 Phillies 11–5 Hoyt (3–1) Lohrman 31–27
59 June 25 Phillies 7–1 Swift (5–4) Grabowski 32–27
60 June 26 Phillies 4–5 Collins Birkofer (7–6) 32–28
61 June 26 Phillies 4–2 (6) Lucas (5–4) Holley 33–28
62 June 27 Phillies 4–1 French (5–7) Davis 34–28
63 June 29 Cubs 8–8 (8) 34–28
64 June 30 Cubs 4–6 Lee Birkofer (7–7) 34–29
July: 11–19 (Home: 5–2; Away: 6–17)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
65 July 1 Cubs 5–4 Hoyt (4–1) Tinning 35–29
66 July 3 Reds 10–0 Lucas (6–4) Kleinhans 36–29
67 July 4 Reds 5–1 French (6–7) Johnson 37–29
68 July 4 Reds 3–4 Derringer Swift (5–5) 37–30
69 July 6 @ Cubs 1–9 Bush Hoyt (4–2) 27,000 37–31
70 July 7 @ Cubs 2–4 Warneke Lucas (6–5) 37–32
71 July 8 @ Cubs 11–4 Birkofer (8–7) Lee 38–32
72 July 8 @ Cubs 3–12 Weaver Swift (5–6) 47,138 38–33
73 July 11 @ Giants 2–3 Schumacher Hoyt (4–3) 38–34
74 July 12 @ Giants 3–1 French (7–7) Parmelee 39–34
75 July 12 @ Giants 1–11 Hubbell Birkofer (8–8) 39–35
76 July 13 @ Giants 6–7 Fitzsimmons Lucas (6–6) Smith 39–36
77 July 14 @ Braves 4–3 (12) Swift (6–6) Smith 40–36
78 July 15 @ Braves 5–0 Hoyt (5–3) Rhem 41–36
79 July 15 @ Braves 0–4 Brandt Meine (3–5) 41–37
80 July 18 @ Braves 1–3 Frankhouse French (7–8) 41–38
81 July 18 @ Braves 5–7 Betts Holley (0–1) Brandt 41–39
82 July 19 @ Dodgers 2–4 Leonard Swift (6–7) 41–40
83 July 21 @ Dodgers 7–8 Carroll Lucas (6–7) 41–41
84 July 22 @ Dodgers 2–3 Babich French (7–9) 41–42
85 July 22 @ Dodgers 10–13 Benge Holley (0–2) Leonard 15,000 41–43
86 July 23 @ Phillies 2–3 Moore Swift (6–8) 41–44
87 July 24 @ Phillies 0–9 Johnson Lucas (6–8) 41–45
88 July 26 @ Phillies 3–0 French (8–9) Collins 42–45
89 July 26 @ Phillies 3–5 Davis Smith (2–3) 42–46
90 July 27 Cardinals 4–0 Swift (7–8) Haines 43–46
91 July 28 Cardinals 5–4 Hoyt (6–3) Dean 44–46
92 July 29 Cardinals 5–9 Carleton Swift (7–9) Dean 44–47
93 July 31 @ Reds 4–6 Kleinhans French (8–10) 44–48
94 July 31 @ Reds 7–5 (11) Hoyt (7–3) Freitas 5,500 45–48
August: 14–16 (Home: 11–13; Away: 3–3)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
95 August 1 @ Reds 6–7 Derringer Chagnon (4–1) Johnson 45–49
96 August 2 @ Reds 13–3 Lucas (7–8) Frey 46–49
97 August 3 @ Cardinals 3–9 Dean Hoyt (7–4) 46–50
98 August 4 @ Cardinals 4–6 Carleton French (8–11) Dean 46–51
99 August 5 @ Cardinals 6–4 French (9–11) Dean 47–51
100 August 5 @ Cardinals 7–2 Hoyt (8–4) Hallahan 48–51
101 August 7 Cubs 4–1 Meine (4–5) Lee 49–51
102 August 8 Cubs 4–7 Malone Holley (0–3) Warneke 49–52
103 August 8 Cubs 3–14 Bush Swift (7–10) 49–53
104 August 10 Reds 8–7 Meine (5–5) Derringer 50–53
105 August 11 Reds 3–4 Johnson French (9–12) Freitas 50–54
106 August 11 Reds 8–3 Lucas (8–8) Kleinhans 51–54
107 August 12 Reds 9–6 Hoyt (9–4) Derringer 52–54
108 August 14 Giants 3–2 Hoyt (10–4) Hubbell 53–54
109 August 15 Giants 4–5 Fitzsimmons French (9–13) Smith 53–55
110 August 15 Giants 4–3 Hoyt (11–4) Bell 18,000 54–55
111 August 17 Giants 3–7 Parmelee Lucas (8–9) Smith 54–56
112 August 17 Giants 3–8 Hubbell Meine (5–6) 54–57
113 August 18 Dodgers 2–6 Clark Grimes (0–1) 54–58
114 August 19 Dodgers 1–2 Benge Hoyt (11–5) 3,000 54–59
115 August 20 Dodgers 6–2 Swift (8–10) Babich 55–59
116 August 21 Dodgers 5–9 Mungo French (9–14) Zachary 55–60
117 August 23 Phillies 6–5 Meine (6–6) Davis 56–60
118 August 25 Phillies 4–1 Hoyt (12–5) Hansen 57–60
119 August 25 Phillies 8–12 Moore Swift (8–11) Collins 57–61
120 August 26 Braves 5–8 Mangum Smith (2–4) Cantwell 57–62
121 August 27 Braves 8–5 Birkofer (9–8) Smith Hoyt (4) 58–62
122 August 28 Braves 3–5 Brandt Grimes (0–2) 58–63
123 August 29 Braves 0–11 Betts French (9–15) 58–64
124 August 29 Braves 7–0 Hoyt (13–5) Mangum 59–64
September: 15–12 (Home: 6–1; Away: 9–11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
125 September 2 @ Reds 1–2 Derringer Birkofer (9–9) 59–65
126 September 2 @ Reds 11–4 Swift (9–11) Freitas 10,147 60–65
127 September 3 Cardinals 12–2 French (10–15) Dean 61–65
128 September 3 Cardinals 6–5 Meine (7–6) Dean 62–65
129 September 5 @ Braves 8–2 Swift (10–11) Cantwell 63–65
130 September 6 @ Braves 4–1 Birkofer (10–9) Brandt 64–65
131 September 9 @ Giants 1–0 French (11–15) Fitzsimmons 20,000 65–65
132 September 10 @ Giants 9–7 Grimes (1–2) Schumacher Birkofer (1) 66–65
133 September 11 @ Giants 1–3 Parmelee Swift (10–12) 66–66
134 September 12 @ Giants 2–3 Hubbell Birkofer (10–10) 66–67
135 September 15 @ Phillies 6–1 French (12–15) Davis 67–67
136 September 15 @ Phillies 4–1 Hoyt (14–5) Hansen 68–67
137 September 18 @ Dodgers 4–9 Leonard Swift (10–13) 68–68
138 September 19 @ Dodgers 1–4 Mungo Birkofer (10–11) 68–69
139 September 19 @ Dodgers 4–8 Babich French (12–16) 68–70
140 September 20 @ Dodgers 1–2 Munns Hoyt (14–6) 68–71
141 September 21 Reds 9–3 Lucas (9–9) Richmond 69–71
142 September 21 Reds 16–3 Swift (11–13) Johnson 70–71
143 September 22 Cubs 2–1 Birkofer (11–11) Lee 71–71
144 September 22 Cubs 11–7 Smith (3–4) Tinning Hoyt (5) 72–71
145 September 23 Cubs 2–3 Weaver Blanton (0–1) 72–72
146 September 25 @ Cardinals 2–3 Dean French (12–17) 72–73
147 September 26 @ Cardinals 3–0 Hoyt (15–6) Dean 73–73
148 September 27 @ Cubs 2–4 Lee Birkofer (11–12) 73–74
149 September 29 @ Cubs 6–3 Lucas (10–9) Weaver 74–74
150 September 30 @ Cubs 2–8 Warneke French (12–18) 74–75
151 September 30 @ Cubs 5–7 Bush Struss (0–1) 10,000 74–76
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

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Roster

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1934 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Player stats

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Batting

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Starters by position

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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 Earl Grace 95 289 78 .270 4 24
1B Gus Suhr 151 573 162 .283 13 103
2B Cookie Lavagetto 87 304 67 .220 3 46
3B Pie Traynor 119 444 137 .309 1 61
SS Arky Vaughan 149 558 186 .333 12 94
OF Paul Waner 146 599 217 .362 14 90
OF Lloyd Waner 140 611 173 .283 1 48
OF Freddie Lindstrom 97 383 111 .290 4 49

Other batters

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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
Tommy Thevenow 122 446 121 .271 0 54
Woody Jensen 88 283 82 .290 0 27
Tom Padden 82 237 76 .321 0 22
Wally Roettger 47 106 26 .245 0 11
Pat Veltman 12 28 3 .107 0 2
Pep Young 19 17 4 .235 0 2
Bill Brubaker 3 6 2 .333 0 1
Hal Finney 5 0 0 ---- 0 0

Pitching

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Starting pitchers

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Larry French 49 263.2 12 18 3.58 103
Bill Swift 37 212.2 11 13 3.98 81
Red Lucas 29 172.2 10 9 4.38 44
Cy Blanton 1 8.0 0 1 3.38 5
Steamboat Struss 1 7.0 0 1 6.43 3

Other pitchers

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Ralph Birkofer 41 204.0 11 12 4.10 71
Waite Hoyt 48 190.2 15 6 2.93 105
Heinie Meine 26 106.1 7 6 4.32 22
Hal Smith 20 50.0 3 4 7.20 15
Burleigh Grimes 8 27.1 1 2 7.24 9
Ed Holley 5 9.1 0 3 15.43 2

Relief pitchers

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

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Leon Chagnon 33 4 1 1 4.81 19
Bill Harris 11 0 0 0 6.63 8
Lloyd Johnson 1 0 0 0 0.00 0

Farm system

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Level Team League Manager
A Little Rock Travelers Southern Association Doc Prothro
C Springfield Pirates Middle Atlantic League Al DeVormer and Rube Bressler
D McKeesport Tubers Pennsylvania State Association Leo Mackey

References

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  1. ^ From 1882-1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  • 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
  • 1934 Pittsburgh Pirates Page at Baseball Almanac
  • Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6.