Heinie Meine - 1933 and 1934 Seasons

1933 and 1934 Seasons

When Meine signed his 1933 contract with the Pirates in January, the Associated Press noted that "such well-known exponents of the art of arguing over salary matters as Floyd Caves Herman and Heinie Meine, meekly came to terms." The New York Times referred to Meine as the "ace of the Pirates' pitching staff" and reported that his contract was for five figures and was for one year. He opened the season with a record of 5–0 to lead the National League in late May. When the Pirates honored Honus Wagner with a tribute day in May 1933, Meine pitched a 2–1 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers. After a mid-season slump, Meine began to turn things around in late July. After pitching three shutout innings in relief to help the Pirates come from behind against the Giants, The Pittsburgh Press reported: "Just when all hope was being lost for him, Heinie Meine came back yesterday to confound the critics with a brilliant bit of relief pitching. The Duke of Luxemborg throttled the Giants ..." Meine finished the 1933 season with a 15–8 record and a 3.65 ERA, helping lead the Pirates to a 87–67 record and a second place finish in the National League.

Meine returned to the Pirates in 1934 for his final year in Major League Baseball. He was the Pirates' starter in the season opener, but allowed seven runs in a 7–1 loss to the Cardinals at St. Louis. Used increasingly in relief, Meine appeared in 26 games, 14 as a starter. He compiled a 7–6 record and a 4.32 ERA. When Meine pitched a complete game, 4–1 victory over the Cubs in August 1934, the Chicago Daily Tribune reported: "Heinie Meine, a wobbly old timer who had pitched only one complete game this year, this afternoon felt no aches and pains in standing the Cubs on their heads for nine innings." His final major league appearance came in a 9–4 loss to the Dodgers on September 18, 1934 at Ebbets Field. Meine pitched one-third of an inning in relief and gave up four earned runs.

For his career, he compiled a 66–50 record in 165 appearances, with a 3.95 ERA and 199 strikeouts.