The 1958 San Jose Pirates marked the final season of affiliated baseball in San Jose before the city went dark until the arrival of the Bees in 1962. The club competed in the Class C California League as a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate, but the season quickly turned into a transitional one.
A Short Stay in San Jose
San Jose opened the 1958 season at Municipal Stadium, playing under manager Jack Paepke. The club stumbled out of the gate, posting a 14–18 record before ownership pulled the plug.
On May 26, 1958, the franchise relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where it became the Las Vegas Wranglers and finished the season there.
Season Overview (Combined San Jose / Las Vegas Record)
- Record: 54–81
- Finish: 7th place, California League
- Runs Scored: 625
- Runs Allowed: 902 (most in the league)
- Attendance (San Jose portion): 23,845 (353 per game average)
- Manager: Jack Paepke
The pitching staff struggled badly, surrendering more runs than any other club in the circuit. Despite the team’s overall performance, several individual players stood out.
Offensive and Pitching Leaders
- Jim Campbell led the club with 11 home runs.
- Freed Messner drove in 73 runs.
- Angel Figueroa hit .305 to lead regulars in batting average.
- Frederick Rick anchored the pitching staff with 17 wins and a 3.27 ERA.
Several players from the 1958 roster reached the Major Leagues, including Bob Veale, Ron Brand, Larry Foss, Elmo Plaskett, Tom Butters, Bob Lee, and Jim Campbell.
End of an Era
The Pirates/Wranglers season closed out San Jose’s postwar California League run. After the relocation to Las Vegas, the city went without affiliated professional baseball for four years.