1909 Pittsburgh Pirates season


The 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 28th season for the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise, during which they won the National League pennant with a record of 110–42 and their first World Series over the Detroit Tigers. Led by shortstop Honus Wagner and outfielder-manager Fred Clarke, the Pirates scored the most runs in the majors. Wagner led the league in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and runs batted in. Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss opened the Pirates' new ballpark, named Forbes Field, on June 30, 1909.
The Pirates' 110 wins remain a team record, a record they set in the last game of the season by beating the Cincinnati Reds 7–4 in muddy conditions on October 5. It is in fact the best regular season win percentage by any World Series winning team.

Regular season

Opening Day lineup

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

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
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C150510135.265252
1B137512133.260170
2B151560156.279387
3B9135077.220025
SS137495168.3395100
OF151587153.261643
OF152550158.287368
OF154569155.272459

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
3B4616843.25607
1B, 3B3711830.254012
2B, SS368720.230116
1B496720.29907
OF15568.14304
C12183.16702
C9165.31303

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
39289.222112.2495
412832561.62133
31203.11382.2156
32201.21982.3743

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
22131.2832.3238
251301231.1165
1970812.8323
1340.2101.1121
836.1212.4811
37.1013.682

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
10004.501
10000.000
100018.002

Awards and honors

League top five finishers

Howie Camnitz
Fred Clarke
Tommy Leach
Dots Miller
Honus Wagner
Vic Willis
In the World Series, Pittsburgh faced the American League champion Detroit Tigers, led by triple crown winner Ty Cobb. The matchup was largely billed as one between the major leagues' two superstars. Wagner thoroughly outplayed Cobb, and rookie Babe Adams won all three of his starts, as the Pirates won in seven games.

Game 1

October 8, 1909, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game 2

October 9, 1909, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game 3

October 11, 1909, at Bennett Park in Detroit, Michigan

Game 4

October 12, 1909, at Bennett Park in Detroit, Michigan

Game 5

October 13, 1909, at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game 6

October 14, 1909, at Bennett Park in Detroit, Michigan

Game 7

October 16, 1909, at Bennett Park in Detroit, Michigan