Chapter ELEVEN

1952 Pittsburgh Pirates

Won 42

Lost 112

Barney’s Buccaneers

Originally known as the Alleghenys, the Pittsburgh club shifted from the American Association (AA) to the National League (NL) in 1887. The team moniker was changed in 1891, after the Alleghenys compiled the worst record in franchise history (as detailed in chapter 1). The nineteenth century was a forgettable era overall, as Pittsburgh finished below the .500 mark nine times in eighteen seasons. Entrepreneur Barney Dreyfuss sought to reverse the club’s fortunes when he assumed ownership before the 1900 slate.

The German born Dreyfuss immigrated to the United States in 1885, making a living in his family’s bourbon distillery. He took a passionate interest in baseball, gradually acquiring a majority share of the Louisville Colonels. Upon obtaining the Pirates at the turn of the century, he transferred all of his top Louisville players to Pittsburgh, among them future Hall of Famers Honus Wagner and Fred Clarke. The benefits were immediate, as the Pirates remained in contention for more than a decade, winning four pennants and one World Series between 1900 and 1909.

Described by commissioner Mountain Landis as a man of “integrity” and “fidelity,” Dreyfuss devoted his entire career to the abolition of gambling within the sport. His most significant contribution to the city of Pittsburgh was the construction of a concrete and steel marvel known as Forbes Field. Completed in 1909, the costly stadium was once referred to as a “tribute to the game of baseball.” Its spacious power alleys allowed the Pirates to regularly lead the league in triples, while a notoriously hard infield surface forced players to contend with bad hops on an almost daily basis. A no-hitter was never thrown there during the park’s sixty-two-year lifespan.

Dreyfuss passed away in 1932, and the team stayed within the family until 1946, when it was sold to a syndicate headed by Indianapolis businessman Frank McKinney. By then, the club had hit a prolonged dry spell following periods of success in the 1920s and early 1930s. The partnership included singer/actor Bing Crosby and Ohio-based real estate magnate John W. Galbreath. When Galbreath emerged as majority owner in 1950, he hired prominent executive Branch Rickey as general manager. This marked one of the least bountiful periods in team history.

Operation Peach Fuzz

While acting as president and manager of the Cardinals, Branch Rickey had assembled an elaborate farm system—the first of its kind. With a fine array of young talent that included superstars Dizzy Dean and Joe Medwick, St. Louis captured five pennants and three world championships in a ten-year span. When an ownership opportunity surfaced in Brooklyn after the 1942 slate, Rickey defected to the Dodger organization. He went on to attain a moderate level of success there, with the club making two World Series appearances during his tenure. By the time he was pressured out of Brooklyn by ambitious co-owner Walter O’Malley, Rickey was approaching his seventieth birthday and had lost his touch to an extent. Although some of his decisions would prove advantageous in the long run, few, if any, would help the Bucs in the immediate future.

Following a last-place finish in 1950, the Pirates became the subject of a popular film entitled Angels in the Outfield. Remade by the Disney corporation decades later, the light-hearted comedy featured Paul Douglas as foul-tempered manager “Guffy” McGovern and Janet Leigh as a reporter interested in McGovern’s story. In the film, the abusive skipper is aided by celestial entities, who offer to bolster the club’s pennant chances if he amends his reprehensible behavior. Joe DiMaggio, Ty Cobb, and Bing Crosby all made cameo appearances in the commercially successful fantasy.

There was no such help beyond the world of celluloid for the Pirates, as they sputtered to a seventh-place showing in 1951. By spring of the following year, the Bucs were among twelve clubs that had yet to sign a black player, a surprising detail considering that Branch Rickey had broken the color barrier in Brooklyn. There was still plenty of untapped talent available, but since Pirate owners were not ready to pursue that option, Rickey explored a different avenue. Before the 1952 season began, he invited a slew of unproven recruits who were clearly not ready for primetime to participate in an open tryout. In all, thirteen rookies made the opening day roster, including four teenagers, none of whom had seen action above the AA level.

The results were highly predictable. Nineteen-year-old center fielder Bobby Del Greco fielded his position adequately but hit just .217 in 99 games. First baseman Tony Bartirome, who turned twenty shortly after opening day, had a .220 year at the plate and then disappeared from the majors for good. Eighteen-year-old hurler Jim Waugh appeared in 17 games, posting a 1–6 record with an unwieldy 6.36 ERA. Members of the press sarcastically dubbed Rickey’s project “Operation Peach Fuzz.” The Pirates themselves were often referred to as “Rickey Dinks,” a derogatory term alluding to their inexperience and physical stature, as a majority of Pittsburgh regulars were shorter than six feet tall.

A Turbulent Spring

From the onset, the 1952 season had an ominous feel to it. Beloved Pittsburgh icon Honus Wagner retired from his part-time coaching duties at the age of seventy-eight. Top prospects Vern Law and Danny O’Connell were called to military service. Left fielder Ralph Kiner, the NL’s reigning home run king, negotiated a contract making him the highest-paid player in the senior circuit, while Branch Rickey blustered at the notion. There were issues of conduct as well, specifically involving outfielder Gus Bell and pitcher Bill Werle.

Werle was suspended indefinitely for breaking training rules. The circumstances were not clearly explained to the public, but he apparently showed up late for a team function, while also being accused of having a woman in his hotel room. The mediocre hurler denied the charge and was reinstated, only to be traded in early May for fading right-hander Red Munger. A three-time All-Star, Munger went on to lose three of four starts while compiling a stratospheric ERA.

The case of Gus Bell had a deeper impact on the club, because Bell was a reliable right fielder with some pop in his bat. The trouble began when he showed up two days late for camp accompanied by his family—an arrangement strongly discouraged by management. He missed a third training session when he transported his ailing son to a doctor’s appointment. He later requested a brief leave of absence after his wife reportedly fell ill. Questioning his dedication to the club, Branch Rickey demoted Bell to the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League. Bell played in 17 games and was recalled in mid-April. The experience did nothing for his offensive production, as his batting average hovered below the .200 mark into mid-June. He finished moderately strong but harbored a grudge against Rickey for quite some time.

The atmosphere in Pittsburgh was chaotic all season long with a steady influx of arrivals and departures. Catcher Joe Garagiola admitted that there were times when he didn’t even recognize his own teammates. Ill-equipped for the regular season, the inexperienced Pirates lost 16 of 17 games from April 19 to May 6. By the time consistently warm weather arrived in the Northeast, it was all over but the shouting.

The Bottom of the Sea

The Pirates would have been hard-pressed to find a better commander for their rapidly sinking ship. A former catcher, Billy Meyer had spent nearly two decades managing in the Yankee farm system before Pittsburgh afforded him a big-league opportunity in 1948. He made the most of it, leading a middling squad to a respectable 83–71 finish. It would prove to be the defining moment of his career, as he was named major league Manager of the Year. In describing his persona, a writer from the Sporting News referred to him as an “understanding old geezer” with a knack for making players realize their full potential.

Despite his many qualities, the years following Meyer’s major league managerial debut were difficult ones, as the Pirates placed no higher than sixth and posted records well below .500. As the losses piled up, the veteran skipper worked hard to maintain a positive relationship with the press. He was also considerate of fans, encouraging players to be accessible for autographs and extend their best effort, even in spring training games. But the burdens of managing in Pittsburgh would eventually take their toll. To save money during the disastrous 1952 campaign, Branch Rickey cut several slots from the roster, forcing Meyer to work with just twenty-one players on a regular basis. With Operation Peach Fuzz in full swing, many of those players were unsuitable for daily use. One highly amusing anecdote involves one of Rickey’s young flunkies in a matinee against St. Louis. After reaching base, the rookie was ordered to steal by Meyer several times but failed to comprehend the instructions. Finally, the Cardinals’ second baseman informed the runner that the steal sign was on and encouraged him to make a break for it.

Although the story is entertaining in hindsight, it was likely quite exasperating for Meyer at the time, who had managed some of the top Yankee prospects over the years. At one point during the season, he told players that they could go on the popular game show What’s My Line? in full uniform and stump the panel (the panel’s objective was to determine the undisclosed occupation of contestants by asking “yes” or “no” questions). During his tenure in Pittsburgh, Meyer was plagued by recurring ulcers, for which he was hospitalized on one occasion. By the time he announced his retirement in late September of 1952, the Pirates had secured one of the worst records in baseball history. As a result, the wizened field general had lost some of his characteristic charm. During a press conference, he referred to his young players as “hopeless” and said he couldn’t stand to be associated with the club any longer.

The 1952 season did not pass without a fair share of highlights, most of them occurring at the Pirates’ expense. On April 22, the Cubs batted around in the fourth inning at Forbes Field. Don Carlsen and Bill Werle were sent to rescue embattled starter Bob Friend but yielded 6 runs on 6 hits without even retiring a batter. By the time Jim Suchecki halted the Chicago surge, the Cubs had added 8 runs to a 3–0 lead. The Pirates scratched out a pair but dropped the contest by a disproportionate score of 13–2. The biggest blowout of the season occurred at Braves Field on September 12, as Boston dealt Pittsburgh a humbling 16–0 defeat in the nightcap of a doubleheader. Each Pirate reliever coughed up at least 2 runs before a mercifully small gathering of 2,600 fans.

The Pirates never gained any momentum in 1952, least of all in the first half, when they compiled four separate losing streaks of 6 or more games. In that span, they batted below .230 as a team, while spotting opponents more than 50 unearned runs. At the end of play on July 6, the unfortunate Bucs had settled to the bottom of the pack, with a 21–59 record—11 games behind the seventh-place Braves. No one was terribly surprised when Ralph Kiner was selected as the sole representative for Pittsburgh at the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Yet another disappointment to Pirate fans, the match was called in the bottom of the fifth on account of rain before Kiner had even picked up a glove or a bat.

The Boy Wonder

At the very least, Branch Rickey did not sit idly watching his team go down in flames. In mid-June, he persuaded a twenty-one-year-old All-American basketball player from Duke University to consider baseball as his chosen profession. The young man’s name was Dick Groat, and he went on to finish third in balloting for Rookie of the Year honors on his way to a stellar career at shortstop, nine years of which would be spent in the Steel City. Looking to shore up his woeful pitching corps, the industrious Rickey pinned his hopes on a twenty-year-old flamethrower from the Carolina League.

After two mediocre years at the Class D level, Ron Necciai was invited to Rickey’s preseason tryout. Rickey had actually been on hand one evening to watch the young hurler strike out nine opponents during a 6-hit victory in the North Carolina State League. The seasoned executive practically purred when discussing Necciai’s future, remarking that Necciai was even harder to hit than Hall of Famer Dizzy Dean. The lanky right-hander appeared to live up to that hype when he held the world champion Giants scoreless for five frames in an exhibition game. But Necciai was a chronic worrier, and the prospect of playing in the majors literally made him sick. Hampered by ulcers, he began to lose weight and spit up blood. He soon grew too weak to pitch at the major league level and was optioned to the Pirates’ Appalachian League affiliate. It was there that he struck out 27 batters in a 9-inning game—a professional record unduplicated before or since.

It wasn’t pretty. A ground ball out in the second inning made the feat seem unattainable, but, in the final frame, Necciai was aided by backstop Harry Dunlop on two occasions. A career minor leaguer, Dunlop deliberately allowed a catchable pop-up to land harmlessly in foul territory near home. Two batters later, he dropped strike three, advancing the runner to first and bringing victim number twenty-seven to the plate. An interesting side note: While warming up before his magnum opus, Necciai felt that he didn’t have good stuff and told the Bristol Twins’ manager that he doubted he could go 9 innings. His ulcers were still troubling him, and, at one point during the historic contest, he called time-out to wash down a Banthine pill with a cup of milk. The righty fireballer had no idea he had attained a record at the time.

The next few months were a blur of activity. Necciai was quickly promoted to Burlington-Graham of the Carolina League. By the second week of August, he was toeing the rubber for the Pirates. His debut was a nightmare, as the Cubs touched him up for 7 runs on 11 hits. He returned to action the following day, tossing 3 scoreless frames in a mop-up assignment. It was the only scoreless appearance of his major league career, as opponents accrued a robust .390 on-base percentage against him. By season’s end, Rickey’s great white hope had turned out to be a complete flop, with a 1–6 record and 7.08 ERA. Necciai never got a second chance, as a rotator cuff injury the following year completely robbed him of his effectiveness.

Laughter Is the Best Medicine

Even in the face of bitter disappointment, there was humor to be found in the Pittsburgh dugout, although sometimes unintentional. In his classic book Baseball Is a Funny Game, Joe Garagiola wrote that Ralph Kiner belonged “in the practical joker’s nine.” In one of his more elaborate gags, Kiner took all the bottles out of the trainer’s med kit and stuffed it with lunch meat. When one of the Pittsburgh players got spiked, the trainer ran out onto the field, reached for a bottle of antiseptic, and pulled out a liverwurst sandwich instead.

Other events were less rehearsed. After striking out looking at three pitches against Max Surkont of the Braves, first baseman George Metkovich took a spot on the bench next to rookie Dick Groat and stated dryly that Surkont had just tossed him a “radio ball.” When Groat asked what a radio ball was, Metkovich explained, “You can hear it, but you can’t see it.” Some people have a knack for making unfortunate situations tolerable, and Metkovich had that kind of personality. During one particularly rough defensive outing, the big utility man—known as “Catfish” to his teammates—couldn’t get his glove on anything as a barrage of hard shots went sailing past him at first base. When he finally got in front of one, it bounced off of his shins into right field. At one point, he actually shouted at umpire Augie Donatelli to stop standing idly and help him out. Metkovich was such a character that he could even lend some humor to a death threat.

In his 2004 autobiography Baseball Forever, Kiner recalled a largely forgotten incident from the 1952 campaign in which he received a menacing extortion note ordering him to place a sum of money in a cab, which would then be driven to Ambridge for the exchange. Kiner was placed under FBI protection for a while, and many of his teammates were anxious, especially during a July 4 contest, when the lighting of firecrackers by fans had everyone so skittish that Kiner found himself virtually alone on the bench. Metkovich admitted to Kiner after the game that he feared he might be shot because their uniform numbers were so similar (Kiner wore the number 4 and Metkovich 44). Defending his position, Metkovich speculated that the extortionist might be suffering from diplopia, commonly known as “double vision.” A FBI agent eventually completed the drop, but no one showed up. According to Kiner, the culprit ended up being a rival team’s batboy, who needed money to pay off his bookie.

It’s a Wrap

The Pirates played moderately better during July and August, winning 20 games in that stretch before completely collapsing in September with a 4–18 record. On August 8, the team recorded its most dramatic victory of the season, a 1–0 squeaker over the fifth-place Cubs. Murry Dickson, the Bucs’ most reliable starter, was dominant that day, allowing just 6 hits over 10 frames while striking out 7. Only 8,500 people were in attendance at the beginning of Dickson’s masterful performance. Fewer stuck around to see the hurler drive in the winning run himself with a timely single in the bottom of the tenth. It was a rare walk-off victory, as Pittsburgh went on to produce just 8 runs in extra innings all year.

Aside from Dick Groat’s commendable rookie performance and Ralph Kiner’s seventh consecutive home run title, the Pirates had little to look back on with pride. Kiner was the only one hitting them out of the park with regularity, as the club compiled its lowest run total since the Deadball Era. The defense was equally culpable, generating the worst fielding percentage in the majors. On the mound, twenty different hurlers allowed more walks and homers than any other staff. Only two teams suffered worse attendance: the Braves and Reds, although neither fared as poorly as Pittsburgh in the win column.

The world was a scary place in 1952, as the hydrogen bomb was detonated for the first time, and a Wisconsin Senator named Joseph McCarthy was embroiled in a divisive anti-Communist witch hunt that destroyed the lives of many. Britain announced its development of atomic weapons as King Farouk of Egypt was ousted in a military coup. On a positive note, an experimentally safe polio vaccine was developed by virologist Jonas Salk. In the realm of literature, Ernest Hemingway published his most celebrated work, The Old Man and the Sea, which netted him a Pulitzer Prize.

With chronic back problems curtailing his production, Ralph Kiner was traded to the Cubs shortly into the 1953 campaign, along with Joe Garagiola, George Metkovich, and pitcher Howie Pollet. The careers of each quickly went into a rapid decline. Transferred to the Reds in October of 1952, Gus Bell saved his best years for Cincinnati, collecting 100 or more RBIs on four occasions between 1953 and 1959. In declining health, Branch Rickey retired from his post after the 1955 slate. His shining moment as Pirates GM came that same year, when he imported Hispanic sensation Roberto Clemente from Puerto Rico. Several of Rickey’s lesser handpicked stars, including Vern Law, Bob Friend, and Dick Groat, stuck around to form the core of the 1960 world champion squad. It would be the last championship banner flown in the Steel City for another eleven years.

Bright Spots of 1952

Ralph Kiner

Ralph Kiner lost the better part of three seasons to military service during World War II. From the moment he stepped onto the Pittsburgh scene after a three-year stint in the U.S. Navy Air Corps, he was the heart and soul of the Pirate offense, leading the NL in long balls every year from 1946 to 1952. He played in six All-Star Games and finished among the top ten in MVP voting five times. With no other serious threats in the lineup, opposing hurlers pitched around Kiner quite often, leaving him with impressive on-base percentages throughout his tenure in the Steel City. Plagued by back trouble in 1952, he still managed to pace the circuit in homers (37) and walks (110). He also finished among the top ten in RBIs, extra-base hits, and times on base. After becoming the highest-paid NL player in 1952, Kiner requested a small raise the following year on the strength of his offensive showing. Branch Rickey bristled at the proposition, commenting acrimoniously that the Pirates could finish last without him. To prepare fans for the impending trade of their most popular player, Rickey spread several false rumors, among them the ridiculous notion that Kiner had refused to play unless the outfield fences were shortened. The slugger appeared in 43 games with the Pirates during the 1953 slate before being dealt to the Cubs in a blockbuster deal involving nine other players and cash. Kiner’s offensive production tapered off until his retirement in 1955. He went on to a long and successful broadcasting career, most notably with the Mets. He was notorious for mispronouncing names and making unintentionally funny statements, for example, the pronouncement that solo homers usually occur with the bases empty.

Dick Groat

A multisport star at Duke University, Dick Groat could have given up baseball, having been named the UPI National Basketball Player of the Year in 1951. Fortunately for the Pirates, he chose the diamond over the hardwood. Signed as an amateur free agent in 1952, the Pennsylvania native made his first start on June 19, driving in 2 runs with a pair of singles in a convincing 8–1 Pirate victory. By season’s end, he had logged the highest batting average among Pittsburgh regulars, at .284. After two years in the army, he returned to claim the starting shortstop position in Pittsburgh for eight more seasons. In that span, he exceeded the .300 mark four times and claimed the 1960 batting title, along with MVP honors. Although he led the league in errors five times during his fourteen-year career, he also topped the circuit in assists and putouts on multiple occasions. He earned two World Series rings, one with the Pirates and another with the Cardinals. Turning to basketball after his retirement in 1967, he called play-by-play for the University of Pittsburgh.

Joe Garagiola

Joe Garagiola hailed from the same neighborhood as Yogi Berra, and the two honed their craft on the sandlots of St. Louis. While Berra went on to find fame and fortune in New York, Garagiola earned a roster spot as a platoon catcher for the 1946 Cardinals. The team won the World Series, and the articulate Garagiola hung around St. Louis until 1951, when he was dealt to the Pirates in a seven-player deal. The year 1952 was arguably Garagiola’s best, as he set career-high marks in virtually every statistical category. He was third on the club in homers and RBIs, while finishing second to Dick Groat with a .273 batting average. Possessing a strong, accurate throwing arm, he gunned down 43 percent of all attempted steals. His 63 assists were third most among NL catchers. The Pirates let him go in 1953, and he finished his playing career with the Giants the following year. It was just the beginning, however, as Garagiola used his wry wit to fashion a distinguished broadcasting career. In addition to calling games for numerous major league teams, he authored several baseball books while appearing on a slew of nonsports-related television programs, among them the Today Show and the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Murry Dickson

Originally signed by the Cardinals in 1937, Murry Dickson toiled in the majors for seven seasons before joining the Pittsburgh staff in 1949. The right-hander finished in double-digit win totals for ten straight seasons despite his five-year affiliation with the doleful Pirates. A waif of a player, at 5 feet, 11 inches and 157 pounds, he was once described by Branch Rickey as a “scatter brain.” Despite the denunciation, he pitched exceedingly well in 1951, notching 20 wins on a seventh-place squad that collected 90 losses. After a 5–13 start the following year, he had a productive second half, going 9–8 down the stretch. He was lights-out in relief, collecting 2 wins and 2 saves, while tossing 16 scoreless frames. His 21 complete games were second in the NL. Sportswriters recognized his value to the club and gave him a moderate share of MVP votes in 1952. He finished thirteenth overall behind infielder Alvin Dark. Traded to the Phillies in 1954 for two players and cash, he led the league with 20 losses. He went on to play for four teams over the next five seasons and made a World Series appearance with the Yankees in 1958. Always a victim of the home run, he briefly held the all-time record for circuit blasts allowed, a record eventually broken by Hall of Famer Robin Roberts. What Dickson lacked in physical stature, he made up for with courage. During World War II, he took part in the bloody D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach, a scene graphically depicted in the film Saving Private Ryan. The Missouri native saw combat in four countries, surviving to throw more than 200 innings ten times in his baseball career.

“Catfish” Metkovich

“Catfish” Metkovich, actual name George Metkovich, was once described by Branch Rickey as a “good team man.” This was accurate, as the affable outfielder/first baseman would be fondly remembered by teammates for his good humor and positive clubhouse presence. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, he made two celluloid appearances in 1952, with one uncredited role in the romantic comedy Love Is Better Than Ever and one cameo in The Winning Team, a biopic film about hard-luck hurler Grover Cleveland Alexander. A seven-year veteran, Metkovich was moved from his customary center field position when Rickey’s young prospect, Tony Bartirome, failed to produce offensively. He hit at a steady .271 clip after getting off to a slow start. A difficult man to strike out, he averaged just 1 whiff per 14 plate appearances. Metkovich spent two more seasons in the majors after the 1952 slate, logging time with Milwaukee and Chicago. His finest professional campaign came in 1950 with the Oakland Oaks, when he drove in 141 runs and received MVP accolades. He continued in the Pacific Coast League until his retirement in 1957.

Pathetic Pirates

Cal Hogue

This right-hander had been kicking around the Pirate farm system for several years before blooming into a top prospect in 1952, with a 10–3 record in the South Atlantic League. In his first major league start, Hogue appeared destined for greatness, lasting through 9 innings while yielding just 1 run on 4 hits to the Phillies. It was his only win of the season, as the Bucs dropped 17 of the 19 games he pitched in. He seemed best suited to relief, logging 5 scoreless appearances out of the bull pen. But his 1–8 record and lack of control (he walked 68 batters while striking out just 34) would be his undoing. He bounced up and down from the majors to the minors for two more seasons before finishing out his career in the lower ranks.

Joe Muir

Joe Muir’s 10–10 record with Indianapolis in 1950 was good enough to land him an audition with the Pirates the following year. He made just 9 appearances then returned to the AA, where his ERA skyrocketed to 5.65. Ignoring the warning signs, the Pirates brought him up again in 1952. He didn’t last long, staking opponents to a .366 on-base percentage in 12 games. His least successful outing of the season came on April 25, against the Cardinals, when he was replaced in the fifth inning after coughing up 6 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks. By the time he completed his last assignment on June 27, his ERA stood at 6.31. Muir spent one more season in the minors before retiring to join the Maryland State Police.

George Strickland

George Strickland had a reputation as a slick-fielding infielder, but he failed to earn that distinction in 1952, committing 19 errors in 73 games at shortstop and second base. Classified by Branch Rickey as a “free-swinger,” he failed to contribute on offense, hitting .177 with 13 extra-base hits in 256 plate appearances. In August 1952, he was shipped to the Indians in exchange for veteran infielder Johnny Berardino. He wasn’t sad to go, later commenting that he was “lucky” to have been traded. Strickland had his best offensive year in 1953 and stayed with The Tribe through the 1960 campaign. He went 0-for-9 at the plate in the 1954 World Series against the Giants. After his retirement, he managed and coached for the Indians, Twins, and Royals.

Ron Kline

Another of Branch Rickey’s youngsters, Ron Kline had pitched decently in the minors during the 1951 slate, earning a promotion from Class D to AA ball. At the AA level, his ERA jumped 150 points, although he remained on the fast track to the majors. In his disastrous big-league debut, he lasted just one inning against the Cubs at Forbes Field, spotting Chicago 6 runs on 5 hits. Sturdily built at 6 feet, 3 inches and 205 pounds, the twenty-year-old right-hander was quite wild, averaging 8 free passes per 9 innings. He finished the 1952 slate with a 0–7 record and 5.49 ERA. After two years in the military, he returned for five unsuccessful seasons with the Pirates, leading the league in losses twice and wild pitches once. In all, he spent seventeen years at the major league level. He developed a habit of touching his cap, shirt, and belt between pitches and was accused of throwing spitballs. Upon his retirement, he became mayor of his hometown in Pennsylvania, which had a population of just more than 400.

Woody Main

Woody Main was a product of the Yankee farm system, slowly climbing his way to the AAA level, while losing three years to World War II service in the marines. The Pirates acquired him via the Rule 5 draft in 1947, but he flopped in his debut season, posting an ugly 8.33 ERA. After another mediocre showing in 1950, he spent the entire 1951 slate with Indianapolis of the AA. Returning for another shot in 1952, he appeared in 48 games, 11 as a starter and 19 as a closer. He was poison for the club, as Pittsburgh lost 42 of the games he appeared in. As a reliever, he collected just 2 saves, while being charged with 7 losses. He wasn’t much better as a starter, compiling a dismal 2–12 record overall. The Pirates gave him a final look in 1953, before demoting him to the minors. Main played one more season with the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League before calling it quits.