Pie Traynor

• Born: November 11, 1899
• Birthplace: Framingham, Massachusetts
• Died: March 16, 1972
• Place of death: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Sport: Baseball

Early Life

Harold Joseph “Pie” Traynor was born on November 11, 1899, in Framingham, Massachusetts. From a family of seven children, Harold noted the struggle of his father James, a printer, to earn a living. Once remarking that his son came in from play as dirty as “pied type,” James inadvertently created a nickname that would always be associated with Harold.

Pie grew up in a low-income neighborhood in Somerville, Massachusetts, and developed an interest in sports even though his hardworking father had little time to encourage him. Pie played football and hockey well but developed a special interest in baseball, even though he once had two front teeth knocked out when he played catcher without a mask.

By the time he was twelve, Pie was an enthusiastic fan of the Boston Braves and the Boston Red Sox. He walked three miles to Boston to work as an office boy and kept the admirable habit all of his life, frequently walking from his team’s hotel to the ballpark and back. Pie played sandlot baseball seriously. Though the local townsfolk began to recognize his superior talent, when he showed up one day at the Braves’ practice field for a tryout, he was chased away. He continued playing the sandlots, hoping for a professional career.

The Road to Excellence

Pie’s abilities did not remain hidden long. In 1920, he was offered a contract by Portsmouth of the Virginia League. Pie happily accepted, feeling that a solid performance would encourage the Red Sox to bring him to the major leagues. Working hard to polish his developing skills, Pie sparkled in the field and hit a respectable .270 in 104 games. The Red Sox thought about this hometown prospect and then made an offer, but Boston was too late. Pie’s contract had been purchased for $10,000 by the Pittsburgh Pirates. With high hopes, Pie arrived in time for the 1920 season. For a time, however, his career seemed in jeopardy.

Pie was not an immediate standout with the Pirates, a team looking for someone to replace the recently retired, legendary Honus Wagner. Pie was not impressive at shortstop; his hitting suffered. Disappointed but not discouraged, he was sent to Birmingham of the Southern Association for more practice and experience. He returned to the big-league club briefly at the end of the season.

The turning point in Pie’s career came at the beginning of the 1922 season, when manager George Gibson moved him to third base. Immediately, Pie began to shine brilliantly beyond anyone’s expectations. His expert, often acrobatic fielding bordered constantly on the sensational. He covered the foul line so well and controlled so wide a range that balls rarely eluded him; he displayed a whiplash arm and fielded bunts with intense anticipation. Pie developed a style unmatched by any third baseman of his day.

The Emerging Champion

Pie’s skill as a much-respected placement hitter became a concern among opponents. The sharply toned instincts behind his remarkable fielding prowess enabled him to exercise acute bat control. He seldom struck out. In his second year as a regular, Pie batted .338, had 208 hits, drove in 101 runs, and scored 108 runs. In the 1925 World Series, facing the hall-of-fame fastball pitcher of the Washington Senators, Walter “Big Train” Johnson, Pie hit a home run his first time at bat.

In the 1930 season, Pie hit .366. For ten seasons, Pie hit more than .300 and continued to field his position with outstanding skill, leading his team to two pennants and one World Series triumph. Seven times in his career, Pie surpassed 100 RBI; for many years, his 2,228 putouts constituted the all-time record for third basemen. He amassed a total of 3,556 assists.

More important than Pie’s impressive statistics was his status as the essential team player. His qualities of leadership were inspirational to the Pirates during his playing days. When, in 1934, the team got off to a slow start, Pie was named player-manager. Always a determined competitor, Pie was injured in a collision at home plate and his playing career was virtually ended.

Continuing the Story

By 1936, Pie had become a bench manager, but he never brought another pennant to Pittsburgh. His post as manager lasted until 1939. He remained with the Pirate organization as a scout, and at every Pittsburgh tryout and training camp, Pie taught the rookies, looking to pass on the techniques that had contributed to his success. He tried to instill in his pupils a special pride in unselfish team play and in adhering to a rigorous work ethic.

For a while, Pie went into radio broadcasting, and in 1944, he was named sports director for a Pittsburgh station. By then, he had become a prominent part of Pittsburgh Pirates history and lore. In national baseball circles, Pie’s name was synonymous with third base. In 1948, Pie was named to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and during the centennial season of baseball, 1969, a poll of sportswriters selected him as the game’s greatest third baseman. He died in Pittsburgh on March 16, 1972.

Summary

While Pie Traynor rose to the highest levels of achievement as the consummate third baseman, his quiet role as cooperative team player and inspirational team leader contributed to his sterling reputation as well. His example was worth emulation. He worked tirelessly to improve himself. Although he paid his dues in the minor league, his start in the majors was not at all promising. Undaunted, he worked harder to enhance his skills and maintain a positive mental attitude. With this strength of mind and spirit, Pie not only achieved greatness in his athletic career but also set the standard for playing his position. Thus, his energetic blend of inspiration, leadership, and performance augments significantly his impressive hall-of-fame achievements.

Bibliography

James, Bill. The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. New York: Free Press, 2003.

McCollister, John. Tales from the Pirates Dugout. Champaign, Ill.: Sports, 2003.

Peterson, Richard F. The Pirates Reader. Pittsburgh, Pa.: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2003.

Roberts, Russell. One Hundred Baseball Legends Who Shaped Sports History. San Mateo, Calif.: Bluewood Books, 2003.

Shatzkin, Mike, Stephen Holtje, and Jane Charlton, eds. The Ballplayers: Baseball’s Ultimate Biographical Reference. New York: Ideal Logic Press, 1999.