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.

Game log

 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Tie Bold = Pittsburgh Pirates team member
 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Tie Bold = Pittsburgh Pirates team member

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

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)

Starters by position
''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Other batters
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Transactions

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