1973 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1973 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
DivisionEast
BallparkThree Rivers Stadium
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
Record80–82 (.494)
Divisional place3rd
OwnersJohn W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson (minority shareholders)
General managersJoe L. Brown
ManagersBill Virdon
Danny Murtaugh
TelevisionKDKA-TV
Bob Prince, Nellie King
RadioKDKA
Bob Prince, Nellie King
← 1972 Seasons 1974 →

The 1973 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 92nd season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 87th in the National League. The Pirates finished third in the National League East with a record of 80–82.

Offseason[edit]

Regular season[edit]

Season standings[edit]

NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Mets 82 79 0.509 43–38 39–41
St. Louis Cardinals 81 81 0.500 43–38 38–43
Pittsburgh Pirates 80 82 0.494 41–40 39–42
Montreal Expos 79 83 0.488 43–38 36–45
Chicago Cubs 77 84 0.478 5 41–39 36–45
Philadelphia Phillies 71 91 0.438 11½ 38–43 33–48

Record vs. opponents[edit]


Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Team ATL CHC CIN HOU LAD MON NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL
Atlanta 7–5 5–13 11–7 2–15–1 6–6 6–6 6–6 7–5 12–6 8–10 6–6
Chicago 5–7 8–4 6–6 5–7 9–9 10–7 10–8 6–12 7–5 2–10 9–9
Cincinnati 13–5 4–8 11–7 11–7 8–4 8–4 8–4 7–5 13–5 10–8 6–6
Houston 7–11 6–6 7–11 11–7 6–6 6–6 7–5 6–6 10–8 11–7 5–7
Los Angeles 15–2–1 7–5 7–11 7–11 7–5 7–5 9–3 10–2 9–9 9–9 8–4
Montreal 6–6 9–9 4–8 6–6 5–7 9–9 13–5 6–12 7–5 6–6 8–10
New York 6–6 7–10 4–8 6–6 5–7 9–9 9–9 13–5 8–4 5–7 10–8
Philadelphia 6-6 8–10 4–8 5–7 3–9 5–13 9–9 8–10 9–3 5–7 9–9
Pittsburgh 5–7 12–6 5–7 6–6 2–10 12–6 5–13 10–8 8–4 5–7 10–8
San Diego 6–12 5–7 5–13 8–10 9–9 5–7 4–8 3–9 4–8 7–11 4–8
San Francisco 10–8 10–2 8–10 7–11 9–9 6–6 7–5 7–5 7–5 11–7 6–6
St. Louis 6–6 9–9 6–6 7–5 4–8 10–8 8–10 9–9 8–10 8–4 6–6


Game log[edit]

1973 Game Log: 80–82 (Home: 41–40; Away: 39–42)
April: 8–7 (Home: 4–4; Away: 4–3)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 6 Cardinals 7–5 Rooker (1–0) Segui Hernandez (1) 51,695 1–0
2 April 8 Cardinals 4–3 (10) Giusti (1–0) Granger 2–0
3 April 8 Cardinals 5–3 Ellis (1–0) Spinks Hernandez (2) 23,391 3–0
4 April 12 Cubs 6–0 Moose (1–0) Jenkins 3,764 4–0
5 April 14 @ Expos 4–6 Walker Briles (0–1) 21,198 4–1
6 April 15 @ Expos 8–3 Ellis (2–0) Torrez Giusti (1) 12,101 5–1
7 April 17 @ Cardinals 4–3 (14) Hernandez (1–0) Foster Rooker (1) 9,851 6–1
8 April 18 @ Cardinals 8–2 Moose (2–0) Wise Walker (1) 6,228 7–1
9 April 21 @ Cubs 9–10 Locker Briles (0–2) 16,637 7–2
10 April 22 @ Cubs 10–4 Ellis (3–0) Pappas Rooker (2) 8–2
11 April 22 @ Cubs 3–11 Gura Blass (0–1) Bonham 28,271 8–3
12 April 24 Padres 5–7 Troedson Moose (2–1) Romo 10,108 8–4
13 April 28 Dodgers 2–3 Sutton Briles (0–3) 9,643 8–5
14 April 29 Dodgers 8–9 (13) Downing Hernandez (1–1) 8–6
15 April 29 Dodgers 1–2 Osteen Ellis (3–1) 18,083 8–7
May: 13–14 (Home: 7–7; Away: 6–7)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
16 May 1 @ Giants 7–8 Sosa Hernandez (1–2) 7,972 8–8
17 May 2 @ Giants 2–1 Walker (1–0) Barr Giusti (2) 4,818 9–8
18 May 3 @ Giants 14–5 Briles (1–3) Willoughby 4,198 10–8
19 May 4 @ Padres 12–6 Blass (1–1) Norman 9,595 11–8
20 May 5 @ Padres 5–6 Romo Ellis (3–2) 10,619 11–9
21 May 6 @ Padres 0–8 Caldwell Moose (2–2) 7,176 11–10
22 May 7 @ Dodgers 5–4 Johnson (1–0) Sutton Rooker (3) 17,745 12–10
23 May 8 @ Dodgers 4–7 Messersmith Briles (1–4) Brewer 13,620 12–11
24 May 9 @ Dodgers 5–8 Osteen Blass (1–2) Culver 17,509 12–12
25 May 11 Mets 3–4 Parker Ellis (3–3) McGraw 17,564 12–13
26 May 12 Mets 0–6 Seaver Moose (2–3) 13,058 12–14
27 May 13 Mets 4–6 McAndrew Walker (1–1) McGraw 14,310 12–15
28 May 14 Expos 2–3 (10) Walker Briles (1–5) 6,327 12–16
29 May 15 Expos 9–8 (11) Giusti (2–0) Gilbert 5,441 13–16
30 May 16 Phillies 2–5 Twitchell Ellis (3–4) Scarce 6,885 13–17
31 May 17 Phillies 5–2 Moose (3–3) Carlton Rooker (4) 6,885 14–17
32 May 18 @ Mets 3–4 Seaver Walker (1–2) 34,565 14–18
33 May 19 @ Mets 4–1 (10) Giusti (3–0) McGraw 32,622 15–18
34 May 21 @ Phillies 5–4 Blass (2–2) Scarce Giusti (3) 9,010 16–18
35 May 22 @ Phillies 4–7 Twitchell Ellis (3–5) 11,617 16–19
36 May 25 Astros 2–7 Reuss Moose (3–4) 13,956 16–20
37 May 26 Astros 7–2 Briles (2–5) Forsch Giusti (4) 15,768 17–20
38 May 27 Astros 2–6 Roberts Blass (2–3) 15,386 17–21
39 May 28 Astros 4–2 Ellis (4–5) Wilson Giusti (5) 21,546 18–21
40 May 29 Braves 6–1 Walker (2–2) Morton Rooker (5) 7,911 19–21
41 May 30 Braves 4–2 Moose (4–4) Reed 7,963 20–21
42 May 31 Braves 3–1 Briles (3–5) Gentry 10,446 21–21
June: 13–18 (Home: 9–9; Away: 4–9)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
43 June 1 Reds 9–6 Blass (3–3) Sprague Giusti (6) 24,213 22–21
44 June 2 Reds 4–3 Ellis (5–5) Billingham Giusti (7) 19,212 23–21
45 June 3 Reds 1–5 Carroll Walker (2–3) Borbon 22,450 23–22
46 June 4 Giants 2–7 Bradley Moose (4–5) 12,570 23–23
47 June 5 Giants 2–3 Bryant Briles (3–6) Moffitt 14,975 23–24
48 June 6 Giants 7–9 Williams Rooker (1–1) Moffitt 13,884 23–25
49 June 8 @ Astros 3–4 Forsch Ellis (5–6) Ray 25,486 23–26
50 June 9 @ Astros 4–1 Moose (5–5) Wilson 29,716 24–26
51 June 10 @ Astros 1–7 Reuss Briles (3–7) 23,057 24–27
52 June 11 @ Braves 7–9 Morton Blass (3–4) Schueler 6,878 24–28
53 June 12 @ Braves 2–4 Niekro Walker (2–4) 10,418 24–29
54 June 13 @ Braves 3–18 Reed Ellis (5–7) 9,553 24–30
55 June 15 @ Reds 0–6 Norman Moose (5–6) 27,029 24–31
56 June 16 @ Reds 5–0 Briles (4–7) Gullett 39,106 25–31
57 June 17 @ Reds 1–3 Billingham Walker (2–5) Hall 25–32
58 June 17 @ Reds 1–5 Grimsley Dettore (0–1) 50,232 25–33
59 June 18 Cubs 3–1 Ellis (6–7) Jenkins 11,470 26–33
60 June 19 Cubs 3–6 Gura Johnson (1–1) Aker 26–34
61 June 19 Cubs 4–3 Giusti (4–0) Locker 28,256 27–34
62 June 20 Cubs 3–5 Reuschel Briles (4–8) Aker 17,895 27–35
63 June 21 Mets 2–1 Walker (3–5) Capra 10,099 28–35
64 June 22 Mets 4–5 Stone Blass (3–5) 21,129 28–36
65 June 23 Mets 3–2 (10) Hernandez (2–2) Hennigan 24,337 29–36
66 June 24 Mets 2–5 Seaver Moose (5–7) 20,984 29–37
67 June 25 @ Expos 8–6 Giusti (5–0) McAnally 30–37
68 June 25 @ Expos 3–1 Briles (5–8) Strohmayer 24,402 31–37
69 June 26 @ Expos 3–10 Stoneman Walker (3–6) Marshall 12,806 31–38
70 June 27 Cardinals 4–15 Cleveland Rooker (1–2) 33,041 31–39
71 June 28 Cardinals 6–0 Ellis (7–7) Wise 34,471 32–39
72 June 29 Expos 4–0 Moose (6–7) McAnally 26,638 33–39
73 June 30 Expos 5–1 Briles (6–8) Moore Hernandez (3) 11,676 34–39
July: 17–12 (Home: 9–4; Away: 8–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
74 July 1 Expos 6–2 Walker (4–6) Stoneman Johnson (1) 35–39
75 July 1 Expos 8–4 Rooker (2–2) Torrez Giusti (8) 24,984 36–39
76 July 3 @ Cardinals 0–4 Wise Ellis (7–8) 36–40
77 July 3 @ Cardinals 6–7 Folkers Blass (3–6) Segui 28,449 36–41
78 July 4 @ Cardinals 3–11 Murphy Moose (6–8) 12,671 36–42
79 July 5 @ Cardinals 3–2 Briles (7–8) Pena 14,652 37–42
80 July 6 @ Dodgers 2–3 Sutton Walker (4–7) 28,011 37–43
81 July 7 @ Dodgers 6–8 Rau Lamb (0–1) Brewer 33,197 37–44
82 July 8 @ Dodgers 2–3 (12) Richert Giusti (5–1) 24,144 37–45
83 July 10 @ Padres 4–3 Johnson (2–1) Troedson Lamb (1) 12,233 38–45
84 July 11 @ Padres 10–2 Briles (8–8) Arlin 4,763 39–45
85 July 12 @ Padres 4–0 Walker (5–7) Kirby 2,865 40–45
86 July 13 @ Giants 2–5 Bradley Ellis (7–9) 10,842 40–46
87 July 14 @ Giants 7–2 Rooker (3–2) Bryant 9,458 41–46
88 July 15 @ Giants 0–12 Marichal Moose (6–9) 12,851 41–47
89 July 16 Dodgers 0–1 Sutton Briles (8–9) 16,570 41–48
90 July 17 Dodgers 4–8 Messersmith Walker (5–8) Brewer 17,389 41–49
91 July 18 Dodgers 3–2 Ellis (8–9) John Giusti (9) 24,248 42–49
92 July 20 Padres 5–4 (10) Giusti (6–1) Caldwell 43–49
93 July 20 Padres 7–0 Rooker (4–2) Troedson 25,832 44–49
94 July 22 Padres 3–1 Briles (9–9) Arlin Giusti (10) 45–49
95 July 22 Padres 13–7 Walker (6–8) Kirby Lamb (2) 22,425 46–49
96 July 26 @ Cubs 3–2 Ellis (9–9) Reuschel Giusti (11) 35,770 47–49
97 July 27 @ Cubs 10–6 Briles (10–9) Gura Giusti (12) 22,045 48–49
98 July 28 Phillies 0–5 Twitchell Rooker (4–3) 14,630 48–50
99 July 29 Phillies 5–2 Hernandez (3–2) Ruthven 49–50
100 July 29 Phillies 5–2 Walker (7–8) Lersch Giusti (13) 26,947 50–50
101 July 30 Phillies 0–1 Carlton Moose (6–10) 17,220 50–51
102 July 31 @ Mets 4–1 Ellis (10–9) Koosman Hernandez (4) 24,322 51–51
August: 14–14 (Home: 7–6; Away: 7–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
103 August 1 @ Mets 0–3 Seaver Blass (3–7) 51–52
104 August 1 @ Mets 2–5 Stone Briles (10–10) Parker 27,189 51–53
105 August 2 @ Mets 1–5 Sadecki Rooker (4–4) McGraw 13,429 51–54
106 August 3 @ Phillies 3–1 Morlan (1–0) Carlton Hernandez (5) 24,152 52–54
107 August 4 @ Phillies 5–11 Brett Walker (7–9) 52–55
108 August 4 @ Phillies 11–4 Hernandez (4–2) Lonborg 48,294 53–55
109 August 5 @ Phillies 4–1 Ellis (11–9) Twitchell Giusti (14) 31,157 54–55
110 August 7 Astros 0–2 Wilson Briles (10–11) 13,841 54–56
111 August 8 Astros 4–3 Rooker (5–4) Roberts Johnson (2) 15,745 55–56
112 August 10 Braves 4–5 Niekro Ellis (11–10) 25,781 55–57
113 August 11 Braves 3–9 Harrison Morlan (1–1) House 21,365 55–58
114 August 12 Braves 5–2 Moose (7–10) Schueler 28,718 56–58
115 August 13 Reds 3–2 Briles (11–11) Norman Giusti (15) 15,396 57–58
116 August 14 Reds 4–5 Carroll Hernandez (4–3) Hall 17,841 57–59
117 August 15 Reds 0–1 Billingham Ellis (11–11) 20,903 57–60
118 August 17 Giants 3–5 Bryant Moose (7–11) Sosa 15,789 57–61
119 August 18 Giants 6–5 Briles (12–11) Barr Giusti (16) 19,569 58–61
120 August 19 Giants 5–0 Rooker (6–4) Marichal 23,640 59–61
121 August 20 @ Astros 2–10 Richard Ellis (11–12) 11,057 59–62
122 August 21 @ Astros 6–3 Morlan (2–1) Wilson 11,094 60–62
123 August 22 @ Astros 4–0 Moose (8–11) Griffin 10,746 61–62
124 August 24 @ Braves 2–3 Devine Giusti (6–2) 15,680 61–63
125 August 25 @ Braves 6–5 (11) Giusti (7–2) Neibauer 20,103 62–63
126 August 26 @ Braves 6–8 Harrison Ellis (11–13) Devine 26,113 62–64
127 August 28 @ Reds 8–3 Moose (9–11) Grimsley Johnson (3) 31,729 63–64
128 August 29 @ Reds 3–5 Billingham Briles (12–12) 30,032 63–65
129 August 31 Cubs 7–0 Rooker (7–4) Reuschel 64–65
130 August 31 Cubs 5–2 Johnson (3–1) Jenkins Hernandez (6) 35,884 65–65
September: 15–16 (Home: 5–9; Away: 10–7)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
131 September 1 Cubs 1–0 Giusti (8–2) Hooton 13,484 66–65
132 September 2 Cubs 3–5 Locker Hernandez (4–4) 19,130 66–66
133 September 3 Cardinals 5–4 (13) Giusti (9–2) Fisher 67–66
134 September 3 Cardinals 3–8 Folkers Walker (7–10) Pena 43,839 67–67
135 September 4 Cardinals 2–4 Andrews Rooker (7–5) Hrabosky 16,280 67–68
136 September 5 Cardinals 3–5 Foster Morlan (2–2) Segui 18,894 67–69
137 September 7 @ Phillies 10–8 Johnson (4–1) Scarce Hernandez (7) 15,233 68–69
138 September 8 @ Phillies 5–3 Moose (10–11) Carlton Giusti (17) 16,320 69–69
139 September 9 @ Phillies 7–8 Scarce Johnson (4–2) 14,356 69–70
140 September 10 @ Cubs 11–3 Rooker (8–5) Reuschel 7,255 70–70
141 September 11 @ Cubs 0–2 Hooton Blass (3–8) 8,516 70–71
142 September 12 @ Cubs 4–2 Kison (1–0) Paul Giusti (18) 9,857 71–71
143 September 13 @ Cubs 6–1 Moose (11–11) Pappas Hernandez (8) 7,375 72–71
144 September 14 @ Cardinals 3–1 Briles (13–12) Cleveland Hernandez (9) 32,630 73–71
145 September 15 @ Cardinals 7–4 Rooker (9–5) Nagy Hernandez (10) 28,219 74–71
146 September 16 @ Cardinals 3–7 Foster Walker (7–11) Hrabosky 31,938 74–72
147 September 17 Mets 10–3 Kison (2–0) Seaver Zachary (1) 15,000 75–72
148 September 18 Mets 5–6 McGraw Hernandez (4–5) Capra 12,336 75–73
149 September 19 @ Mets 3–7 Stone Briles (13–13) McGraw 29,240 75–74
150 September 20 @ Mets 3–4 (13) Sadecki Walker (7–12) 24,855 75–75
151 September 21 @ Mets 2–10 Seaver Blass (3–9) 51,381 75–76
152 September 23 @ Expos 6–3 Kison (3–0) Stoneman Hernandez (11) 76–76
153 September 23 @ Expos 7–4 Ellis (12–13) Torrez Giusti (19) 26,178 77–76
154 September 24 @ Expos 4–5 Renko Moose (11–12) Marshall 77–77
155 September 24 @ Expos 3–0 Briles (14–13) McAnally Giusti (20) 20,168 78–77
156 September 25 Phillies 1–2 Carlton Rooker (9–6) 13,312 78–78
157 September 26 Phillies 13–2 Moose (12–12) Lonborg Johnson (4) 8,991 79–78
158 September 27 Phillies 2–3 (13) Culver Zachary (0–1) Wallace 11,577 79–79
159 September 28 Expos 2–3 Marshall Ellis (12–14) 27,804 79–80
160 September 29 Expos 4–6 Rogers McKee (0–1) Marshall 9,816 79–81
161 September 30 Expos 10–2 Rooker (10–6) McAnally 33,376 80–81
October: 0–1 (Home: 0–1; Away: 0–0)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
162 October 1 Padres 3–4 Jones Moose (12–13) Corkins 2,572 80–82
Legend:        = Win        = Loss
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup[edit]

Opening Day Starters
# Name Position
6 Rennie Stennett 2B
35 Manny Sanguillén RF
16 Al Oliver CF
8 Willie Stargell LF
7 Bob Robertson 1B
3 Richie Hebner 3B
14 Gene Alley SS
29 Milt May C
28 Steve Blass SP

[6]

Notable transactions[edit]

Roster[edit]

1973 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Player stats[edit]

Batting[edit]

Starters by position[edit]

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

Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
C Manny Sanguillén 149 589 166 .282 12 65
1B Bob Robertson 119 397 95 .239 14 40
2B Dave Cash 116 436 118 .271 2 31
SS Dal Maxvill 74 217 41 .189 0 17
3B Richie Hebner 144 509 138 .271 25 74
LF Willie Stargell 148 522 156 .299 44 119
CF Al Oliver 158 654 191 .292 20 99
RF Richie Zisk 103 333 108 .324 10 54

Other batters[edit]

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

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Rennie Stennett 128 466 113 .242 10 55
Gene Clines 110 304 80 .263 1 23
Milt May 101 283 76 .269 7 31
Gene Alley 76 158 32 .203 2 8
Dave Parker 54 139 40 .288 4 14
Vic Davalillo 59 83 15 .181 1 3
Jackie Hernández 54 73 18 .247 0 8
Fernando González 37 49 11 .224 1 5
Dave Augustine 11 7 2 .286 0 0
Jim Campanis 6 6 1 .167 0 0
Jerry McNertney 9 4 1 .250 0 0
Chuck Goggin 1 1 1 1.000 0 0

Pitching[edit]

Starting pitchers[edit]

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Nelson Briles 33 218.2 14 13 2.84 94
Bob Moose 33 201.1 12 13 3.53 111
Dock Ellis 28 192.0 12 14 3.05 122
Steve Blass 23 88.2 3 9 9.85 27
Bruce Kison 7 43.2 3 0 3.09 26

Other pitchers[edit]

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Jim Rooker 41 170.1 10 6 2.85 122
Luke Walker 37 122.0 7 12 4.65 74
John Morlan 10 41.0 2 2 3.95 23

Relief pitchers[edit]

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G W L SV ERA SO
Dave Giusti 67 9 2 20 2.37 64
Ramón Hernández 59 4 5 11 2.41 64
Bob Johnson 50 4 2 4 3.62 68
John Lamb 22 0 1 2 6.07 11
Jim McKee 15 0 1 0 5.67 13
Tom Dettore 12 0 1 0 5.96 13
Chris Zachary 6 0 1 1 3.00 6
Jim Foor 3 0 0 0 0.00 1

Awards and honors[edit]

1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Farm system[edit]

Level Team League Manager
AAA Charleston Charlies International League Joe Morgan
AA Sherbrooke Pirates Eastern League Tim Murtaugh
A Salem Pirates Carolina League Steve Demeter
A Charleston Pirates Western Carolinas League Chuck Cottier
A-Short Season Niagara Falls Pirates New York–Penn League Woody Huyke
Rookie GCL Pirates Gulf Coast League Ed Napoleon

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ Jim Rooker at "Baseball Almanac"
  3. ^ Norm McRae at "Baseball Almanac"
  4. ^ Roberto Clemente at "Baseball Almanac"
  5. ^ Chris Zachary at "Baseball Almanac"
  6. ^ 1973 Opening Day lineup at "Baseball-Almanac"
  7. ^ a b Jerry McNertney at Baseball Reference
  8. ^ Chuck Goggin at Baseball Almanac
  9. ^ Steve Nicosia
  10. ^ Rick Langford at Baseball Reference
  11. ^ Dal Maxvill at Baseball Reference
  12. ^ Vic Davalillo at Baseball Almanac
  13. ^ Bill Virdon

References[edit]

  • 1973 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Reference
  • 1973 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Almanac
  • Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.