# 1901 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1901 Pittsburgh Pirates finished in first place in the National League, 7½ games ahead of the second-place Philadelphia Phillies. It was the first year that the American League operated as a major league, but there would be no World Series between the leagues until 1903.
The team was managed by Fred Clarke, who was also their starting left fielder. Clarke, in his fifth year as a manager at age 28, won his first pennant. The Pirates won the National League championship in the next two years as well.

## Regular season

The Pirates were led offensively by Honus Wagner, who led the league in RBI and stolen bases. Although the "Flying Dutchman" had never played shortstop in the majors until 1901, he appeared 61 times at shortstop that year in addition to spending time at third base and the outfield.
In a league that batted .267 as a whole, the Pirates outfield was notable for its hitting. Ginger Beaumont hit .332, player-manager Fred Clarke hit .324, and Lefty Davis hit .313.
The pitching staff of the Pirates allowed the fewest runs in the league and was among the greatest ever. The four top starting pitchers – Deacon Phillippe, Jack Chesbro, Jesse Tannehill, and Sam Leever – were the four top pitchers in the National League in terms of winning percentage. All of them were in the top ten in the league in ERA. Future Hall of Famer Rube Waddell had pitched well in 1900 for the Pirates, but was sold in May 1901 to the Chicago Orphans. With a record of 90-49, the Pirates had the best record in the league.

### Season standings

vteNational League :
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 90 | 49 | .647 | — | 45‍–‍24 | 45‍–‍25 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 83 | 57 | .593 | 7½ | 46‍–‍23 | 37‍–‍34 |
| Brooklyn Superbas | 79 | 57 | .581 | 9½ | 43‍–‍25 | 36‍–‍32 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 76 | 64 | .543 | 14½ | 40‍–‍31 | 36‍–‍33 |
| Boston Beaneaters | 69 | 69 | .500 | 20½ | 41‍–‍29 | 28‍–‍40 |
| Chicago Orphans | 53 | 86 | .381 | 37 | 30‍–‍39 | 23‍–‍47 |
| New York Giants | 52 | 85 | .380 | 37 | 30‍–‍38 | 22‍–‍47 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 52 | 87 | .374 | 38 | 27‍–‍43 | 25‍–‍44 |

### Record vs. opponents

1901 National League recordvte Sources: :
| Team | BOS | BR | CHI | CIN | NYG | PHI | PIT | STL |
| Boston | — | 10–10 | 13–6 | 11–8–1 | 14–6–1 | 7–13 | 5–15 | 9–11 |
| Brooklyn | 10–10 | — | 13–7 | 14–6–1 | 11–6 | 11–9 | 11–8 | 9–11 |
| Chicago | 6–13 | 7–13 | — | 10–10 | 11–9–1 | 3–17 | 6–14 | 10–10 |
| Cincinnati | 8–11–1 | 6–14–1 | 10–10 | — | 8–12 | 4–16 | 7–13 | 9–11–1 |
| New York | 6–14–1 | 6–11 | 9–11–1 | 12–8 | — | 8–12 | 4–16–1 | 7–13–1 |
| Philadelphia | 13–7 | 9–11 | 17–3 | 16–4 | 12–8 | — | 7–13 | 9–11 |
| Pittsburgh | 15–5 | 8–11 | 14–6 | 13–7 | 16–4–1 | 13–7 | — | 11–9 |
| St. Louis | 11–9 | 11–9 | 10–10 | 11–9–1 | 13–7–1 | 11–9 | 9–11 | — |

### Game log

1901 Game Log: 90–49 (Home: 45–24; Away: 45–25) :
April: 3–3 (Home: 1–2; Away: 2–1)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
1April 20@ Reds4–2——1–0
2April 23@ Cardinals4–10——1–1
3April 24@ Cardinals5–4——2–1
4April 27Cardinals2–7——2–2
5April 29Cardinals14–12——3–2
6April 30Cardinals2–4——3–3 :
May: 13–11 (Home: 3–3; Away: 10–8)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
7May 1Orphans3–8——3–4
8May 2Orphans3–2——4–4
9May 3Orphans10–6——5–4
10May 4Orphans2–4——5–5
11May 5@ Orphans4–2——6–5
12May 7@ Orphans8–0——7–5
13May 8@ Orphans8–7——8–5
14May 9@ Orphans8–1——9–5
15May 10Reds3–0——10–5
16May 12@ Reds1–6——10–6
17May 13Reds2–3——10–7
18May 14@ Phillies3–2——11–7
19May 15@ Phillies5–6——11–8
20May 16@ Phillies2–12——11–9
21May 17@ Phillies6–4——12–9
22May 21@ Giants1–2——12–10
23May 22@ Giants1–2——12–11
24May 23@ Beaneaters3–7——12–12
25May 24@ Beaneaters6–4——13–12
26May 25@ Beaneaters11–1——14–12
27May 28@ Superbas7–8——14–13
28May 30@ Superbas4–3—2,30015–13
29May 30@ Superbas2–8—11,00015–14
30May 31@ Superbas5–2——16–14 :
June: 17–9 (Home: 10–4; Away: 7–5)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
31June 1Reds3–4——16–15
32June 2@ Orphans6–1——17–15
33June 3Phillies11–1——18–15
34June 4Phillies4–3——19–15
35June 5Phillies5–2——20–15
36June 6Superbas1–4——20–16
37June 7Superbas5–4——21–16
38June 8Superbas3–7——21–17
39June 10Giants3–1——22–17
40June 11Giants4–0——23–17
41June 12Giants5–2——24–17
42June 13Beaneaters6–2——25–17
43June 14Beaneaters1–7——25–18
44June 15Beaneaters1–0——26–18
45June 16@ Reds2–0——27–18
46June 18Cardinals9–2——28–18
47June 19@ Giants5–5——28–18
48June 20@ Giants7–0——29–18
49June 21@ Giants2–3——29–19
50June 22@ Beaneaters2–4——29–20
51June 22@ Beaneaters6–2——30–20
52June 24@ Beaneaters8–2——31–20
53June 25@ Beaneaters4–9——31–21
54June 26@ Superbas3–16——31–22
55June 27@ Superbas7–8——31–23
56June 28@ Superbas5–3——32–23
57June 29@ Phillies5–4——33–23 :
July: 16–9 (Home: 12–6; Away: 4–3)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
58July 1@ Phillies0–1——33–24
59July 2@ Phillies5–3——34–24
60July 4Giants3–5——34–25
61July 4Giants12–0——35–25
62July 5Giants7–2——36–25
63July 6Giants6–2——37–25
64July 8Beaneaters5–0——38–25
65July 9Beaneaters9–4——39–25
66July 10Beaneaters1–0——40–25
67July 11Beaneaters5–0——41–25
68July 12Phillies2–4——41–26
69July 13Phillies5–3——42–26
70July 14@ Orphans3–1——43–26
71July 16Phillies3–6——43–27
72July 17Superbas3–7——43–28
73July 18Superbas3–4——43–29
74July 19Superbas4–5——43–30
75July 20Superbas15–2——44–30
76July 23Reds9–2——45–30
77July 24Reds11–2——46–30
78July 25Reds9–5——47–30
79July 26@ Cardinals7–12——47–31
80July 27@ Cardinals7–4——48–31
81July 28@ Cardinals3–5——48–32
82July 29@ Cardinals8–0——49–32 :
August: 13–9 (Home: 7–7; Away: 6–2)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
83August 3Reds4–7——49–33
84August 4@ Reds6–3——50–33
85August 5Cardinals6–20——50–34
86August 6Cardinals8–1——51–34
87August 7Cardinals9–3——52–34
88August 8Orphans7–6——53–34
89August 9Orphans1–4——53–35
90August 11@ Orphans5–1——54–35
91August 17Reds5–0——55–35
92August 18@ Reds4–5——55–36
93August 19@ Cardinals9–5——56–36
94August 20@ Cardinals14–2——57–36
95August 21@ Cardinals3–4——57–37
96August 22@ Cardinals4–3——58–37
97August 25@ Reds6–3——59–37
98August 26Cardinals2–5——59–38
99August 27Cardinals7–1——60–38
100August 28Cardinals7–9——60–39
101August 29Orphans1–4——60–40
102August 29Orphans2–1——61–40
103August 31Orphans1–5——61–41
104August 31Orphans5–2——62–41 :
September: 25–7 (Home: 10–2; Away: 15–5)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
105September 2@ Beaneaters5–3——63–41
106September 2@ Beaneaters3–0——64–41
107September 3@ Beaneaters5–2——65–41
108September 4@ Giants12–6——66–41
109September 4@ Giants10–3——67–41
110September 5@ Giants15–1——68–41
111September 5@ Giants15–7——69–41
112September 6@ Giants15–2——70–41
113September 6@ Giants13–4——71–41
114September 7@ Phillies1–4——71–42
115September 9@ Phillies11–5——72–42
116September 10@ Phillies8–5——73–42
117September 11@ Superbas5–4——74–42
118September 13@ Superbas3–5——74–43
119September 13@ Superbas2–4——74–44
120September 14Reds5–3——75–44
121September 14Reds8–4——76–44
122September 15@ Reds3–0——77–44
123September 17@ Reds7–2——78–44
124September 18Phillies5–1——79–44
125September 20Phillies10–1——80–44
126September 20Phillies7–2——81–44
127September 21Phillies2–4——81–45
128September 22@ Orphans15–9——82–45
129September 23Giants5–4——83–45
130September 24Giants14–9——84–45
131September 25Giants10–5——85–45
132September 26Superbas4–3——86–45
133September 27Superbas5–4——87–45
134September 29@ Reds1–2——87–46
135September 29@ Reds1–2——87–47
136September 30Beaneaters1–5——87–48 :
October: 3–1 (Home: 2–0; Away: 1–1)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
137October 1Beaneaters9–0——88–48
138October 2Beaneaters8–4——89–48
139October 5@ Orphans1–2——89–49
140October 6@ Orphans9–5——90–49 :
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pittsburgh Pirates team member :

### Detailed records

National League :
| Opponent | W | L | WP | RS | RA |
| Boston Beaneaters | 15 | 5 | 0.750 | 99 | 56 |
| Brooklyn Superbas | 8 | 11 | 0.421 | 86 | 101 |
| Chicago Orphans | 14 | 6 | 0.700 | 102 | 71 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 13 | 7 | 0.650 | 94 | 55 |
| New York Giants | 16 | 4 | 0.800 | 165 | 65 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 13 | 7 | 0.650 | 100 | 73 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | | | | | |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 11 | 9 | 0.550 | 130 | 113 |
| Total | 90 | 49 | 0.647 | 776 | 534 |
| Season Total | 90 | 49 | 0.647 | 776 | 534 |
| Month | Games | Won | Lost | Win % | RS | RA |
| April | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0.500 | 31 | 39 |
| May | 24 | 13 | 11 | 0.542 | 108 | 100 |
| June | 26 | 17 | 9 | 0.654 | 123 | 96 |
| July | 25 | 16 | 9 | 0.640 | 145 | 79 |
| August | 22 | 13 | 9 | 0.591 | 116 | 94 |
| September | 32 | 25 | 7 | 0.781 | 226 | 115 |
| October | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0.750 | 27 | 11 |
| Total | 139 | 90 | 49 | 0.647 | 776 | 534 |
| | Games | Won | Lost | Win % | RS | RA |
| Home | 69 | 45 | 24 | 0.652 | 372 | 255 |
| Away | 70 | 45 | 25 | 0.643 | 399 | 274 |
| Total | 139 | 90 | 49 | 0.647 | 776 | 534 |

### Opening Day lineup

* Chief Zimmer – C
* Kitty Bransfield – 1B
* Claude Ritchey – 2B
* Tommy Leach – 3B
* Bones Ely – SS
* Fred Clarke – LF
* Ginger Beaumont – CF
* Lefty Davis – RF

### Roster
## Awards and honors

Ginger Beaumont
* #3 in NL in runs scored (120)
Deacon Phillippe
* #2 in NL in ERA (2.22)
* #3 in NL in wins (22)
Jesse Tannehill
* NL leader in ERA (2.18)
Honus Wagner
* NL leader in RBI (126)
* NL leader in stolen bases (49)
* #4 in NL in batting average (.353)
* #4 in NL in on-base percentage (.417)

## Statistics
### 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
| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
| C | Chief Zimmer | 69 | 236 | 52 | .220 | 0 | 21 |
| 1B | Kitty Bransfield | 139 | 566 | 167 | .295 | 0 | 91 |
| 2B | Claude Ritchey | 140 | 540 | 160 | .296 | 1 | 74 |
| SS | Honus Wagner | 140 | 549 | 194 | .353 | 6 | 126 |
| 3B | Tommy Leach | 98 | 374 | 114 | .305 | 2 | 44 |
| OF | Fred Clarke | 129 | 527 | 171 | .324 | 6 | 60 |
| OF | Lefty Davis | 87 | 335 | 105 | .313 | 2 | 33 |
| OF | Ginger Beaumont | 133 | 558 | 185 | .332 | 8 | 72 |

#### Other batters

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 |
| Bones Ely | 65 | 240 | 50 | .208 | 0 | 28 |
| Jack O'Connor | 61 | 202 | 39 | .193 | 0 | 22 |
| George Yeager | 26 | 91 | 24 | .264 | 0 | 10 |
| Ed Poole | 26 | 78 | 16 | .205 | 1 | 4 |
| Jimmy Burke | 14 | 51 | 10 | .196 | 0 | 4 |
| Lew Carr | 9 | 28 | 7 | .250 | 0 | 4 |
| Jud Smith | 6 | 21 | 3 | .143 | 0 | 0 |
| Truck Eagan | 4 | 12 | 1 | .083 | 0 | 2 |
| Terry Turner | 7 | 7 | 3 | .429 | 0 | 1 |
| Mike Smith | 4 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
| Jiggs Donahue | 2 | 0 | 0 | ---- | 0 | 0 |

### Pitching
#### Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
| Deacon Phillippe | 37 | 296.0 | 22 | 12 | 2.22 | 103 |
| Jack Chesbro | 36 | 287.2 | 21 | 10 | 2.38 | 129 |
| Jesse Tannehill | 35 | 252.1 | 18 | 10 | 2.18 | 118 |
| Sam Leever | 21 | 176.0 | 14 | 5 | 2.86 | 82 |
| Ed Poole | 12 | 80.0 | 5 | 4 | 3.60 | 26 |
| Ed Doheny | 11 | 76.2 | 6 | 2 | 2.00 | 28 |
| George Merritt | 3 | 24.0 | 3 | 0 | 4.88 | 5 |
| Rube Waddell | 2 | 7.2 | 0 | 2 | 9.39 | 4 |

#### Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
| Snake Wiltse | 7 | 44.1 | 1 | 4 | 4.26 | 10 |

## Transactions

* June 27, 1901: Snake Wiltse was released by the Pirates.