# 1928 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1928 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 47th season in franchise history. The team scored the most runs in the National League. However, they also allowed the third most and slipped down to fourth place in the standings.

## 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

vteNational League :
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 95 | 59 | .617 | — | 42‍–‍35 | 53‍–‍24 |
| New York Giants | 93 | 61 | .604 | 2 | 51‍–‍26 | 42‍–‍35 |
| Chicago Cubs | 91 | 63 | .591 | 4 | 52‍–‍25 | 39‍–‍38 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 85 | 67 | .559 | 9 | 47‍–‍30 | 38‍–‍37 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 78 | 74 | .513 | 16 | 44‍–‍33 | 34‍–‍41 |
| Brooklyn Robins | 77 | 76 | .503 | 17½ | 41‍–‍35 | 36‍–‍41 |
| Boston Braves | 50 | 103 | .327 | 44½ | 25‍–‍51 | 25‍–‍52 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 43 | 109 | .283 | 51 | 26‍–‍49 | 17‍–‍60 |

### Record vs. opponents

1928 National League recordvte Sources: :
| Team | BOS | BR | CHC | CIN | NYG | PHI | PIT | STL |
| Boston | — | 7–15 | 5–17 | 10–12 | 6–16 | 13–9 | 5–16 | 4–18 |
| Brooklyn | 15–7 | — | 10–12 | 10–12–1 | 9–13–1 | 15–7 | 9–12 | 9–13 |
| Chicago | 17–5 | 12–10 | — | 13–9 | 14–8 | 13–9 | 11–11 | 11–11 |
| Cincinnati | 12–10 | 12–10–1 | 9–13 | — | 8–14 | 13–7 | 12–10 | 12–10 |
| New York | 16–6 | 13–9–1 | 8–14 | 14–8 | — | 17–5 | 11–11 | 14–8 |
| Philadelphia | 9–13 | 7–15 | 9–13 | 7–13 | 5–17 | — | 4–18 | 2–20 |
| Pittsburgh | 16–5 | 12–9 | 11–11 | 10–12 | 11–11 | 18–4 | — | 7–15 |
| St. Louis | 18–4 | 13–9 | 11–11 | 10–12 | 8–14 | 20–2 | 15–7 | — |

### Game log

1928 Game Log: 85–67 (Home: 47–30; Away: 38–37) :
April: 6–8 (Home: 2–2; Away: 4–6)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
1April 11@ Cardinals7–14HainesKremer (0–1)—25,0000–1
2April 12@ Cardinals0–5AlexanderGrimes (0–1)——0–2
3April 14@ Reds0–5LucasMiljus (0–1)—2,5000–3
4April 15@ Reds3–2Dawson (1–0)LuqueHill (1)—1–3
5April 16@ Reds8–1Grimes (1–1)Rixey——2–3
6April 19Cardinals10–13LittlejohnMiljus (0–2)Sherdel30,0002–4
7April 20Cardinals2–6HainesGrimes (1–2)——2–5
8April 22@ Cubs2–3JonesMiljus (0–3)—50,0002–6
9April 23@ Cubs6–0Kremer (1–1)Malone——3–6
10April 24@ Cubs2–7BlakeDawson (1–1)——3–7
11April 25@ Cubs10–0Grimes (2–2)Root——4–7
12April 26Reds7–2Hill (1–0)Edwards——5–7
13April 29@ Reds2–3RixeyKremer (1–2)——5–8
14April 30Cubs8–7Miljus (1–3)Malone——6–8 :
May: 12–16 (Home: 11–10; Away: 1–6)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
15May 1Cubs4–1Hill (2–0)Bush——7–8
16May 2Cubs9–8 (10)Dawson (2–1)Nehf——8–8
17May 3Braves4–5 (11)BrandtKremer (1–3)——8–9
18May 4Braves13–3Grimes (3–2)Greenfield——9–9
19May 5Braves6–2Dawson (3–1)SmithMiljus (1)—10–9
20May 7Braves9–4Miljus (2–3)Robertson——11–9
21May 8Giants6–5Grimes (4–2)Henry——12–9
22May 9Giants0–6BarnesDawson (3–2)——12–10
23May 10Giants4–5FitzsimmonsKremer (1–4)——12–11
24May 12Robins5–4Hill (3–0)McWeeny—10,00013–11
25May 13@ Robins5–8ClarkGrimes (4–3)—22,00013–12
26May 14Robins6–7DoakBrame (0–1)Vance—13–13
27May 15Robins3–10McWeenyMiljus (2–4)——13–14
28May 18Phillies6–4Kremer (2–4)MillerGrimes (1)—14–14
29May 19Phillies3–1Hill (4–0)Benge——15–14
30May 20@ Reds2–3LucasGrimes (4–4)——15–15
31May 21@ Reds3–4RixeyDawson (3–3)——15–16
32May 21@ Reds6–3Fussell (1–0)May——16–16
33May 22@ Reds4–5MaysKremer (2–5)——16–17
34May 23@ Reds3–4 (10)LuqueHill (4–1)——16–18
35May 24Cubs6–2Grimes (5–4)Nehf——17–18
36May 25Cubs3–10RootFussell (1–1)——17–19
37May 26Cubs1–6MaloneKremer (2–6)——17–20
38May 27@ Cubs0–3BlakeHill (4–2)—35,00017–21
39May 29Cardinals1–7RhemGrimes (5–5)——17–22
40May 30Cardinals1–10SherdelMiljus (2–5)——17–23
41May 30Cardinals3–4JohnsonKremer (2–7)Haid—17–24
42May 31Cardinals3–2Hill (5–2)Haines——18–24 :
June: 13–11 (Home: 4–2; Away: 9–9)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
43June 1Cubs10–4Grimes (6–5)Blake——19–24
44June 2Cubs6–10WeinertDawson (3–4)Root—19–25
45June 3@ Robins9–7 (14)Grimes (7–5)Petty—25,00020–25
46June 7@ Braves8–6 (12)Burwell (1–0)Smith——21–25
47June 8@ Braves5–9BrandtKremer (2–8)——21–26
48June 9@ Braves6–2Grimes (8–5)Genewich——22–26
49June 9@ Braves6–3Miljus (3–5)Robertson——23–26
50June 11@ Phillies4–6RingHill (5–3)Sweetland—23–27
51June 12@ Phillies15–4Kremer (3–8)Miller——24–27
52June 13@ Phillies3–4SweetlandGrimes (8–6)——24–28
53June 14@ Giants4–3 (11)Miljus (4–5)Fitzsimmons——25–28
54June 15@ Giants1–9AldridgeHill (5–4)—9,00025–29
55June 16@ Giants0–4BentonKremer (3–9)——25–30
56June 17@ Giants6–0Grimes (9–6)Henry——26–30
57June 20Reds2–1Kremer (4–9)Rixey——27–30
58June 21Reds4–5AppletonFussell (1–2)——27–31
59June 22Reds11–1Grimes (10–6)Kolp——28–31
60June 23Reds6–5 (10)Miljus (5–5)Kolp——29–31
61June 24@ Cubs1–8NehfKremer (4–10)—15,00029–32
62June 26@ Cubs1–0Grimes (11–6)Blake——30–32
63June 26@ Cubs3–7BushMiljus (5–6)Malone—30–33
64June 28@ Cardinals3–4SherdelHill (5–5)——30–34
65June 29@ Cardinals4–9MitchellKremer (4–11)——30–35
66June 30@ Cardinals4–3Grimes (12–6)Alexander——31–35 :
July: 17–12 (Home: 11–6; Away: 6–6)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
67July 1@ Cardinals2–0Fussell (2–2)Haines——32–35
68July 1@ Cardinals6–8JohnsonMiljus (5–7)Haid—32–36
69July 3Reds7–9EdwardsGrimes (12–7)——32–37
70July 4Reds0–6RixeyDawson (3–5)——32–38
71July 4Reds3–11KolpGrimes (12–8)——32–39
72July 6Giants7–11FaulknerFussell (2–3)——32–40
73July 7Giants8–6Fussell (3–3)Benton——33–40
74July 7Giants5–2Brame (1–1)Fitzsimmons——34–40
75July 9Giants5–3Grimes (13–8)Faulkner——35–40
76July 10Phillies6–5Kremer (5–11)Ring——36–40
77July 11Phillies3–1 (6)Brame (2–1)BengeHill (2)—37–40
78July 14Braves10–0Grimes (14–8)Brandt——38–40
79July 16Braves8–3Kremer (6–11)Delaney——39–40
80July 17Braves7–6Hill (6–5)SmithFussell (1)—40–40
81July 18Braves16–3Grimes (15–8)Barnes——41–40
82July 19Robins0–3McWeenyFussell (3–4)——41–41
83July 20Robins7–8ElliottKremer (6–12)Clark4,00041–42
84July 21Robins7–3Hill (7–5)Ehrhardt——42–42
85July 21Robins10–2Meadows (1–0)Petty—15,00043–42
86July 22@ Robins0–5VanceGrimes (15–9)——43–43
87July 22@ Robins6–5Kremer (7–12)Clark—29,00044–43
88July 23@ Robins2–1Fussell (4–4)McWeeny——45–43
89July 24@ Giants3–6BentonDawson (3–6)——45–44
90July 25@ Giants5–6WalkerHill (7–6)Genewich—45–45
91July 26@ Giants7–5Grimes (16–9)Hubbell——46–45
92July 27@ Giants2–4FitzsimmonsFussell (4–5)——46–46
93July 30@ Braves2–1Kremer (8–12)Brandt——47–46
94July 30@ Braves6–5 (10)Grimes (17–9)Barnes——48–46
95July 31@ Braves5–11SmithMeadows (1–1)——48–47 :
August: 23–9 (Home: 15–8; Away: 8–1)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
96August 2@ Phillies18–4Grimes (18–9)MillerDawson (1)—49–47
97August 3@ Phillies14–6Fussell (5–5)SweetlandTauscher (1)—50–47
98August 4@ Phillies14–8Grimes (19–9)Benge——51–47
99August 4@ Phillies11–4Hill (8–6)RingDawson (2)—52–47
100August 7@ Robins4–3Grimes (20–9)McWeeny——53–47
101August 7@ Robins3–2 (12)Hill (9–6)Elliott—6,50054–47
102August 8@ Robins4–3Kremer (9–12)McWeeny—2,50055–47
103August 9Cardinals5–4Hill (10–6)HainesGrimes (2)—56–47
104August 10Cardinals1–2 (12)MitchellFussell (5–6)Sherdel—56–48
105August 11Reds0–1LucasGrimes (20–10)——56–49
106August 13Robins6–1Kremer (10–12)Doak——57–49
107August 14Robins4–2Hill (11–6)McWeeny——58–49
108August 15Robins5–6VanceFussell (5–7)Petty—58–50
109August 16Robins11–6Grimes (21–10)Doak——59–50
110August 17Phillies10–3Kremer (11–12)Willoughby——60–50
111August 17Phillies9–1Brame (3–1)Sweetland——61–50
112August 18Phillies9–0Hill (12–6)Benge——62–50
113August 18Phillies8–11RingFussell (5–8)Ferguson—62–51
114August 20Braves11–14SmithGrimes (21–11)Delaney—62–52
115August 21Braves6–2Kremer (12–12)Brandt——63–52
116August 22Braves10–3Brame (4–1)Greenfield——64–52
117August 23Giants3–6BentonHill (12–7)Scott35,00064–53
118August 23Giants13–3Fussell (6–8)Hubbell—30,00065–53
119August 24Giants16–5Grimes (22–11)Genewich——66–53
120August 25Giants7–1Kremer (13–12)Fitzsimmons——67–53
121August 26@ Reds3–4LucasBrame (4–2)——67–54
122August 27@ Reds9–4Fussell (7–8)Luque——68–54
123August 28Phillies9–2Hill (13–7)Sweetland——69–54
124August 28Phillies16–7Dawson (4–6)Benge——70–54
125August 29Phillies0–4 (7)WilloughbyBrame (4–3)——70–55
126August 31Cardinals6–5Kremer (14–12)AlexanderGrimes (3)—71–55
127August 31Cardinals2–6HainesFussell (7–9)——71–56 :
September: 14–11 (Home: 4–2; Away: 10–9)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
128September 1Cardinals1–4SherdelHill (13–8)——71–57
129September 2@ Cubs2–3MaloneGrimes (22–12)—32,00071–58
130September 3Cubs16–1Brame (5–3)Root——72–58
131September 3Cubs6–3Kremer (15–12)Carlson——73–58
132September 4Cubs8–9BlakeHill (13–9)——73–59
133September 6@ Cardinals3–4 (10)MitchellGrimes (22–13)—10,00073–60
134September 7@ Cardinals3–6HainesKremer (15–13)——73–61
135September 8@ Cardinals4–2Hill (14–9)Sherdel——74–61
136September 9@ Cardinals8–7Dawson (5–6)Reinhart——75–61
137September 10@ Cubs7–5Grimes (23–13)Nehf——76–61
138September 11@ Cubs3–9MaloneHill (14–10)——76–62
139September 14Reds4–1Grimes (24–13)Rixey——77–62
140September 15Reds6–1Hill (15–10)Ash——78–62
141September 16@ Giants1–0Fussell (8–9)Benton—50,00079–62
142September 17@ Giants2–9HubbellBrame (5–4)—3,00079–63
143September 18@ Giants2–3 (10)FitzsimmonsDawson (5–7)——79–64
144September 20@ Phillies6–4Hill (16–10)Willoughby——80–64
145September 21@ Phillies6–5Dawson (6–7)Sweetland——81–64
146September 22@ Phillies9–7Grimes (25–13)McGraw——82–64
147September 22@ Phillies5–3Brame (6–4)Caldwell——83–64
148September 24@ Braves3–1 (10)Dawson (7–7)Delaney——84–64
149September 24@ Braves2–4SmithBlankenship (0–1)——84–65
150September 25@ Braves13–8Brame (7–4)GreenfieldDawson (3)—85–65
151September 27@ Robins6–7 (10)PettyGrimes (25–14)——85–66
152September 27@ Robins1–8KoupalBlankenship (0–2)——85–67 :
Legend:        = Win        = Loss Bold = Pirates team member :

### 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
| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
| C | Charlie Hargreaves | 79 | 260 | 74 | .285 | 1 | 32 |
| 1B | George Grantham | 124 | 440 | 142 | .323 | 10 | 85 |
| 2B | Sparky Adams | 135 | 539 | 149 | .276 | 0 | 38 |
| SS | Glenn Wright | 108 | 407 | 126 | .310 | 8 | 66 |
| 3B | Pie Traynor | 144 | 569 | 192 | .337 | 3 | 124 |
| OF | Lloyd Waner | 152 | 659 | 221 | .335 | 5 | 61 |
| OF | Paul Waner | 152 | 602 | 223 | .370 | 6 | 86 |
| OF | Fred Brickell | 81 | 202 | 65 | .322 | 3 | 41 |

#### 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 |
| Dick Bartell | 72 | 233 | 71 | .305 | 1 | 36 |
| Fred Brickell | 81 | 202 | 65 | .322 | 3 | 41 |
| Clyde Barnhart | 61 | 196 | 58 | .296 | 4 | 30 |
| Pete Scott | 60 | 177 | 55 | .311 | 5 | 33 |
| Rollie Hemsley | 50 | 133 | 36 | .271 | 0 | 18 |
| Earl Smith | 32 | 85 | 21 | .247 | 2 | 11 |
| Johnny Gooch | 31 | 80 | 19 | .238 | 0 | 5 |
| Eddie Mulligan | 27 | 43 | 10 | .233 | 0 | 1 |
| Mack Hillis | 11 | 36 | 9 | .250 | 1 | 7 |
| Joe Harris | 16 | 23 | 9 | .391 | 0 | 2 |
| Cobe Jones | 1 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Windle | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 |
| John O'Connell | 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 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 |
| Burleigh Grimes | 48 | 330.2 | 25 | 14 | 2.99 | 97 |
| Carmen Hill | 36 | 237.0 | 16 | 10 | 3.53 | 73 |
| Ray Kremer | 34 | 219.0 | 15 | 13 | 4.64 | 61 |
| Fred Fussell | 28 | 159.2 | 8 | 9 | 3.61 | 43 |

#### 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 |
| Joe Dawson | 31 | 128.2 | 7 | 7 | 3.29 | 36 |
| Erv Brame | 24 | 95.2 | 7 | 4 | 5.08 | 22 |
| Johnny Miljus | 21 | 69.2 | 5 | 7 | 5.30 | 26 |
| Homer Blankenship | 5 | 21.2 | 0 | 1 | 5.82 | 6 |
| Bill Burwell | 4 | 20.2 | 1 | 0 | 5.23 | 2 |
| Lee Meadows | 4 | 10.0 | 1 | 1 | 8.10 | 3 |

#### Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
| Walt Tauscher | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4.91 | 7 |
| Les Bartholomew | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.15 | 6 |
| Glenn Spencer | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.59 | 2 |
| Elmer Tutwiler | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.91 | 1 |

## 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)