Pittsburgh Rebels, 1914–1915

The Pittsburgh Rebels went from near the bottom of the Federal League to half a game from a championship in just one season.

First Came the Stogies

Pittsburgh joined the Federal League when the circuit was still operating outside the established major leagues.

The team was originally known as the Pittsburgh Stogies.

When the Federal League declared itself a major league for 1914, Pittsburgh became part of its direct challenge to the National and American Leagues.

A Familiar Ballpark

The new team did not need a new stadium.

The Federal League club moved into Exposition Park on Pittsburgh's North Side.

It was familiar territory for baseball fans. The Pittsburgh Pirates had played there before moving into Forbes Field in 1909.

For two seasons, Exposition Park was a major league home again.

From Stogies to Rebels

The 1914 team struggled almost immediately.

Manager Doc Gessler was dismissed after a poor start and replaced by center fielder Rebel Oakes.

Oakes' nickname soon gave the team a new identity.

By the end of the season, the Pittsburgh Stogies had become widely known as the Pittsburgh Rebels.

The name was more memorable than the record. Pittsburgh finished 64–86 and seventh in the eight-team Federal League.

The Only Cycle in Federal League History

Even the difficult 1914 season produced a piece of baseball history.

On May 6, third baseman Ed Lennox collected a single, double, triple and home run against the Kansas City Packers.

Lennox became the only player ever to hit for the cycle in a Federal League game.

Half a Game

The Rebels were a completely different team in 1915.

Pittsburgh added first baseman Ed Konetchy, strengthened its pitching staff and spent much of the season in the championship race.

The Rebels finished 86–67.

That left Pittsburgh just half a game behind the champion Chicago Whales in one of the closest pennant races in baseball history.

The title was not decided until the final day of the season.

Then There Was No League

Pittsburgh finally had a contender.

It never got another chance.

After the 1915 season, the Federal League reached a settlement with organized baseball and folded.

The Rebels disappeared, and Exposition Park never again hosted a major league team.