#2 All- Time Teams - 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates

When looking through the history of the Pirates it is easy to see, what team had the best record in its history. Fred Clarke, who managed the early Pirate dynasty teams, said that the 1902 team was the best of all the teams he managed.

The 1902 team went 103-36 with a winning percentage of .741; it is the second best winning percentage in the 20^th century and easily the best for the franchise. The team won the National League by 27.5 games over the Brooklyn Dodgers, the best mark in National League history.

It should be noted that the National League in 1902 was far different from the National League of today or even 1952 for that matter. The most obvious was that there were no African American players in the majors and the upstart American League was offering much more money than their National League counterparts for its best players. The Pirates, with their visionary owner Barney Dreyfuss, were able to mitigate its loss of players by paying above NL maximum for players, notably Honus Wagner. (Funny how things have really changed since then.) Admittedly, many of the teams did not have much talent to compete with the Pirates, who had plenty.

The three hall of famers on the team, Jack Chesbro, Fred Clarke, and Wagner all had excellent seasons. The pitching staff, led by Jack Chesbro, carried this Pirate team the length of the season. Chesbro won 28 games that year with an ERA of 2.17 while leading the starting rotation. Chesbro was joined in the rotation by two 20 game winners, Jesse Tannehill and Deacon Phillippe. Interesting to note that in all but 11 games, the starters for the Bucs threw complete games, the stat that perhaps best illustrates this era. Sam Leever and Ed Doheny also had great seasons, winning 16 and 15 games respectively.

Wagner led the way for the hitters, while filling in at various positions for injured teammates during the season. Wagner, who had not yet settled in as a full time shortstop, hit .329, had 91 RBI and stole 43 bases. Clarke, the player-manager hit .321, but it was outfielder Ginger Beaumont, whose .357 average, led the Pirates and the National League. The Bucs also had the league home run champ in third baseman “Wee” Tommy Leach with an amazing 6 home runs, no doubt some of those ‘dingers’ were lost in the flooded outfield of Exposition Park.

Unfortunately, for the Pirates there would be no World Series until the next season and they would have to settle as just National League Champions. The 1902 team was indeed very great, perhaps epitomizing the Pirate dynasty of the turn of the 20th century. When looking back at what this team accomplished and looking the current situation, it make your head turn. The Pirates were a GREAT franchise, with GREAT players, coaches, and ownership. It is amazing how much baseball, Pittsburgh, and the Pirates have changed since 1902.