1953 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 72nd in franchise history. In April 1953, the New York Yankees visited Forbes Field and played two preseason games against the Pirates. Mickey Mantle hit a 500-foot home run that landed on the roof.The Best Game Ever, Prologue, p. xx, Jim Reisler, Carroll & Graf Publishers, New York, 2007,

Offseason October 14, 1952: Gus Bell was traded by the Pirates to the Cincinnati Reds for Cal Abrams, Joe Rossi, and Gail Henley.Gus Bell page at Baseball Reference Prior to 1953 season: Don Williams was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.Don Williams page at Baseball Reference March 19, 1953: Johnny O'Brien was signed by the Pirates as an amateur free agent (bonus baby).Johnny O'Brien page at Baseball Reference March 19, 1953: Eddie O'Brien was signed by the Pirates as an amateur free agent (bonus baby).Eddie O'Brien page at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 14 || @ Dodgers || 5–8 || Black || Dickson (0–1) || — || 12,433 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 15 || @ Dodgers || 2–4 || Meyer || Lindell (0–1) || — || 3,149 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 16 || Phillies || 14–12 || Dickson (1–1) || Hansen || — || 16,220 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 19 || Dodgers || 4–12 || Erskine || Dickson (1–2) || — || 8,801 || 1–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 21 || Giants || 5–4 || Friend (1–0) || Maglie || — || || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 22 || Giants || 2–4 || Hearn || LaPalme (0–1) || Wilhelm || 10,603 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 23 || Giants || 6–5 || Pollet (1–0) || Koslo || Hetki (1) || 4,372 || 3–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 24 || @ Phillies || 3–5 || Konstanty || Hall (0–1) || — || 6,506 || 3–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 25 || @ Phillies || 6–7 || Simmons || Lindell (0–2) || Hansen || 6,265 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 26 || @ Phillies || 5–7 || Roberts || Friend (1–1) || — || || 3–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 26 || @ Phillies || 1–8 || Drews || Macdonald (0–1) || — || 18,490 || 3–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 28 || Cubs || 3–5 || Rush || LaPalme (0–2) || Leonard || 5,870 || 3–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 29 || Cubs || 4–3 || Dickson (2–2) || Hacker || — || 8,744 || 4–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 30 || Cubs || 4–2 || Face (1–0) || Minner || — || 2,930 || 5–9

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || May 1 || Reds || 8–3 || Pettit (1–0) || Perkowski || Dickson (1) || 14,826 || 6–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || May 2 || Reds || 12–4 || LaPalme (1–2) || Podbielan || — || 7,437 || 7–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || May 3 || Cardinals || 8–2 || Lindell (1–2) || Haddix || — || 26,001 || 8–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || May 4 || Cardinals || 0–5 || Mizell || Dickson (2–3) || — || 18,778 || 8–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || May 9 || @ Giants || 2–0 || Lindell (2–2) || Jansen || — || || 9–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || May 9 || @ Giants || 4–6 || Wilhelm || Pettit (1–1) || — || 9,889 || 9–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || May 10 || @ Giants || 0–4 || Maglie || Dickson (2–4) || — || || 9–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || May 10 || @ Giants || 2–3 || Hiller || Pollet (1–1) || — || 17,940 || 9–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || May 14 || @ Braves || 2–3 || Wilson || Lindell (2–3) || — || 15,438 || 9–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || May 15 || @ Braves || 3–4 || Surkont || Friend (1–2) || — || 8,744 || 9–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || May 16 || @ Cubs || 3–2 || Dickson (3–4) || Rush || Hetki (2) || 9,728 || 10–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 17 || @ Cubs || 2–6 || Minner || LaPalme (1–3) || — || || 10–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 17 || @ Cubs || 3–7 (7) || Klippstein || Pettit (1–2) || Hacker || 7,745 || 10–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 19 || @ Cardinals || 1–2 || Staley || Lindell (2–4) || Miller || 7,607 || 10–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 20 || @ Cardinals || 6–11 || Presko || Friend (1–3) || Brazle || 5,715 || 10–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 21 || Phillies || 7–2 || Dickson (4–4) || Drews || — || 7,507 || 11–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 23 || Giants || 8–4 || LaPalme (2–3) || Gomez || — || 7,444 || 12–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 24 || Giants || 3–11 || Jansen || Lindell (2–5) || Wilhelm || 20,966 || 12–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 25 || Giants || 3–6 || Hiller || Friend (1–4) || — || 2,369 || 12–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 27 || Phillies || 2–14 || Roberts || Dickson (4–5) || — || || 12–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 27 || Phillies || 8–6 || Face (2–0) || Drews || Dickson (2) || 16,935 || 13–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 28 || Phillies || 8–9 || Konstanty || LaPalme (2–4) || — || 2,437 || 13–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 29 || Dodgers || 4–7 || Meyer || Lindell (2–6) || Hughes || 3,902 || 13–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 30 || Dodgers || 4–7 || Wade || Dickson (4–6) || — || || 13–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 30 || Dodgers || 1–4 || Podres || Friend (1–5) || Erskine || 31,029 || 13–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 31 || @ Dodgers || 3–4 || Loes || LaPalme (2–5) || Hughes || 25,277 || 13–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 31 || @ Dodgers || 1–4 (7) || Milliken || Hetki (0–1) || — || 25,277 || 13–28

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || June 2 || Cubs || 4–3 (11) || Hetki (1–1) || Klippstein || — || 8,158 || 14–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || June 3 || Cubs || 1–0 || LaPalme (3–5) || Hacker || — || 8,165 || 15–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || June 4 || Cubs || 6–1 || Hall (1–1) || Minner || — || 3,182 || 16–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || June 5 || Reds || 4–7 || Wehmeier || Bowman (0–1) || — || 12,229 || 16–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || June 6 || Reds || 7–15 || Smith || Friend (1–6) || Collum || 6,685 || 16–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || June 7 || Reds || 1–6 || Podbielan || Schultz (0–1) || — || || 16–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || June 7 || Reds || 6–11 || Nuxhall || Lindell (2–7) || Perkowski || 9,021 || 16–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 8 || Cardinals || 3–5 (12) || Brazle || Hetki (1–2) || Miller || 7,643 || 16–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || June 9 || Cardinals || 7–4 || Hall (2–1) || Haddix || — || 1,894 || 17–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 10 || Cardinals || 1–5 || Presko || Friend (1–7) || White || 8,937 || 17–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 11 || Cardinals || 3–5 || Miller || Lindell (2–8) || White || 2,178 || 17–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 12 || Braves || 4–2 || Dickson (5–6) || Antonelli || — || || 18–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 12 || Braves || 2–11 || Surkont || Schultz (0–2) || — || 17,344 || 18–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 13 || Braves || 4–5 || Burdette || LaPalme (3–6) || — || 5,134 || 18–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 14 || Braves || 3–7 || Liddle || Hall (2–2) || — || || 18–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 14 || Braves || 0–8 || Buhl || Bowman (0–2) || — || 15,083 || 18–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 15 || Braves || 3–2 (10) || Friend (2–7) || Wilson || — || 6,548 || 19–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 16 || @ Cubs || 6–5 || Lindell (3–8) || Minner || — || || 20–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 16 || @ Cubs || 2–3 || Pollet || Dickson (5–7) || Klippstein || 11,427 || 20–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 17 || @ Cubs || 4–5 (16) || Lown || Hetki (1–3) || — || 5,422 || 20–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 18 || @ Cubs || 4–8 || Rush || Hall (2–3) || Leonard || 3,969 || 20–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 19 || @ Cardinals || 2–10 || Mizell || LaPalme (3–7) || — || 7,552 || 20–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 20 || @ Cardinals || 1–2 || Presko || Friend (2–8) || — || 9,019 || 20–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 21 || @ Cardinals || 5–2 || Dickson (6–7) || Miller || — || 10,451 || 21–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 22 || @ Cardinals || 3–6 || Staley || Lindell (3–9) || — || 5,625 || 21–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 23 || @ Braves || 1–0 || Hall (3–3) || Spahn || — || 26,299 || 22–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 24 || @ Braves || 10–1 || Face (3–0) || Bickford || — || 21,438 || 23–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || June 25 || @ Braves || 6–4 (12) || Hetki (2–3) || Buhl || — || 14,841 || 24–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 26 || @ Reds || 4–8 || Nuxhall || Dickson (6–8) || King || || 24–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 26 || @ Reds || 1–4 || Collum || LaPalme (3–8) || — || 7,758 || 24–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 27 || @ Reds || 5–15 || Perkowski || Face (3–1) || — || 2,599 || 24–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 28 || @ Reds || 1–4 || Baczewski || Hall (3–4) || — || || 24–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || June 28 || @ Reds || 2–9 || Raffensberger || Bowman (0–3) || — || 10,432 || 24–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || June 30 || @ Giants || 3–1 || Dickson (7–8) || Gomez || — || 13,805 || 25–50

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || July 1 || @ Giants || 5–3 (11) || Hetki (3–3) || Wilhelm || — || 4,429 || 26–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || July 4 || @ Dodgers || 5–6 || Hughes || Hall (3–5) || Wade || 30,029 || 26–51 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || July 4 || @ Dodgers || 5–2 || Friend (3–8) || Loes || — || 30,029 || 27–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || July 5 || Phillies || 0–2 (10) || Roberts || Dickson (7–9) || — || || 27–52 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || July 5 || Phillies || 7–4 || Waugh (1–0) || Ridzik || LaPalme (1) || 11,404 || 28–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 6 || Dodgers || 2–14 || Meyer || LaPalme (3–9) || Hughes || 13,497 || 28–53 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 82 || July 7 || Dodgers || 4–5 || Erskine || Lindell (3–10) || Wade || || 28–54 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 83 || July 7 || Dodgers || 5–9 || Roe || Hall (3–6) || Milliken || 9,687 || 28–55 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 8 || Giants || 7–10 (11) || Jansen || Hetki (3–4) || Koslo || 7,095 || 28–56 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || July 9 || Giants || 0–4 || Gomez || Face (3–2) || — || 3,391 || 28–57 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 10 || @ Phillies || 3–13 || Simmons || Dickson (7–10) || — || 6,466 || 28–58 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 87 || July 11 || @ Phillies || 4–8 || Ridzik || Dickson (7–11) || — || 3,608 || 28–59 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || July 12 || @ Phillies || 4–6 || Roberts || Face (3–3) || — || || 28–60 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 89 || July 12 || @ Phillies || 5–6 || Ridzik || LaPalme (3–10) || — || 10,806 || 28–61 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 90 || July 16 || Braves || 5–2 || Friend (4–8) || Antonelli || — || 11,775 || 29–61 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 17 || Braves || 2–8 || Spahn || Hall (3–7) || — || 11,565 || 29–62 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 18 || Braves || 3–4 || Liddle || Waugh (1–1) || Burdette || 4,674 || 29–63 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 93 || July 19 || Cardinals || 2–8 || Haddix || Dickson (7–12) || — || || 29–64 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 94 || July 19 || Cardinals || 6–4 || LaPalme (4–10) || Mizell || — || 9,045 || 30–64 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 20 || Cardinals || 4–9 || Chambers || Friend (4–9) || White || 9,045 || 30–65 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 96 || July 21 || Reds || 2–7 || Raffensberger || Waugh (1–2) || — || 7,594 || 30–66 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || July 22 || Reds || 3–2 || LaPalme (5–10) || Collum || — || 1,567 || 31–66 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 98 || July 23 || Reds || 0–7 || Perkowski || Dickson (7–13) || — || 1,807 || 31–67 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 99 || July 24 || Cubs || 1–7 || Minner || Hall (3–8) || — || 10,406 || 31–68 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 100 || July 25 || Cubs || 4–5 || Lown || Lindell (3–11) || Leonard || 4,217 || 31–69 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 101 || July 26 || Cubs || 3–2 || Face (4–3) || Leonard || — || || 32–69 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 102 || July 26 || Cubs || 3–7 || Hacker || Waugh (1–3) || Klippstein || 11,358 || 32–70 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 103 || July 28 || @ Cardinals || 4–6 || Chambers || LaPalme (5–11) || Presko || 7,973 || 32–71 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || July 29 || @ Cardinals || 2–8 || Haddix || Lindell (3–12) || — || 7,418 || 32–72 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 105 || July 30 || @ Cardinals || 4–10 || Erautt || Hetki (3–5) || — || 3,402 || 32–73