1972 Pittsburgh Pirates
1972 NL East Champions
Major League affiliations
Location
Results
Record96–59 (.619)
Divisional place1st
Other information
Owner(s)John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson (minority shareholders)
General manager(s)Joe L. Brown
Manager(s)Bill Virdon
Local televisionKDKA-TV
Bob Prince, Nellie King
Local radioKDKA
Bob Prince, Nellie King
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The 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 91st season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 86th in the National League. The defending World Series champion Pirates finished first in the National League East with an MLB-best record of 96–59. The team was defeated three games to two by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1972 National League Championship Series. Despite losing the series, the Pirates put up a good fight, unlike the last time the two teams met in the playoffs. In game 5, the Pirates led 3-2 in the 9th inning, and were 3 outs away from pulling off a major upset over the Reds. All looked good until the Pirates collapsed in the 9th inning and allowed 2 runs to score, with the walkoff run coming on a wild pitch.

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

NL East 		W L Pct. GB Home Road
Pittsburgh Pirates 96 59 0.619 — 49–29 47–30
Chicago Cubs 85 70 0.548 11 46–31 39–39
New York Mets 83 73 0.532 13½ 41–37 42–36
St. Louis Cardinals 75 81 0.481 21½ 40–37 35–44
Montreal Expos 70 86 0.449 26½ 35–43 35–43
Philadelphia Phillies 59 97 0.378 37½ 28–51 31–46

Record vs. opponents

1972 National League Records

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 — 5–7–1 9–9 7–7 7–8 4–8 7–5 6–6 6–6 6–11 7–11 6–6
Chicago 7–5–1 — 8–4 3–9 8–4 10–5 10–8 10–7 3–12 9–3 7–5 10–8
Cincinnati 9–9 4–8 — 11–6 9–5 8–4 8–4 10–2 8–4 8–10 10–5 10–2
Houston 7–7 9–3 6–11 — 7–11 8–4 6–6 9–3 3–9 12–2 13–5 4–8
Los Angeles 8–7 4–8 5–9 11–7 — 6–6 7–5 7–5 7–5 13–5 9–9 8–4
Montreal 8–4 5–10 4–8 4–8 6–6 — 6–12 10–6 6–12 6–6 6–6 9–8
New York 5–7 8–10 4–8 6–6 5–7 12–6 — 13–5 8–6 7–5 8–4 7–9
Philadelphia 6-6 7–10 2–10 3–9 5–7 6–10 5–13 — 5–13 6–6 6–6 8–7
Pittsburgh 6–6 12–3 4–8 9–3 5–7 12–6 6–8 13–5 — 10–2 9–3 10–8
San Diego 11–6 3–9 10–8 2–12 5–13 6–6 5–7 6–6 2–10 — 4–10 4–8
San Francisco 11–7 5–7 5–10 5–13 9–9 6–6 4–8 6–6 3–9 10–4 — 5–7
St. Louis 6–6 8–10 2–10 8–4 4–8 8–9 9–7 7–8 8–10 8–4 7–5 —


Detailed records

Game log

1972 Game Log: 96–59 (Home: 49–29; Away: 47–30)
April: 5–8 (Home: 3–6; Away: 2–2)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 15 @ Mets 0–4 Seaver Ellis (0–1) McGraw 15,893 0–1
2 April 16 @ Mets 2–0 Blass (1–0) Gentry Hernández (1) 23,241 1–1
3 April 18 Cubs 4–6 Pappas Moose (0–1) McGinn 47,489 1–2
4 April 19 Cubs 5–2 Briles (1–0) Pizarro — 9,171 2–2
5 April 20 Cubs 7–5 Ellis (1–1) Jenkins Giusti (1) 6,529 3–2
6 April 21 @ Phillies 3–2 (10) Hernández (1–0) Short — 13,864 4–2
7 April 23 @ Phillies 4–5 (11) Brandon Miller (0–1) — 43,438 4–3
8 April 25 Reds 5–2 (13) Miller (1–1) McGlothlin — 6,509 5–3
9 April 26 Reds 6–7 Nolan Blass (1–1) Borbon 6,380 5–4
10 April 27 Reds 4–5 Carroll Giusti (0–1) — 12,504 5–5
11 April 28 Braves 5–13 Jarvis Moose (0–2) McQueen 12,804 5–6
12 April 29 Braves 5–9 Kelley Walker (0–1) Stone 10,684 5–7
13 April 30 Braves 1–6 Niekro Johnson (0–1) — 12,264 5–8
May: 19–7 (Home: 12–2; Away: 7–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
14 May 1 Astros 8–9 Ray Giusti (0–2) — 4,788 5–9
15 May 3 Astros 3–2 Ellis (2–1) Reuss Kison (1) 9,522 6–9
16 May 5 @ Reds 4–5 (10) Carroll Giusti (0–3) — 24,722 6–10
17 May 6 @ Reds 8–1 Blass (2–1) Borbon — 12,284 7–10
18 May 7 @ Reds 9–6 Briles (2–0) Billingham Moose (1) 19,281 8–10
19 May 9 @ Braves 5–2 Ellis (3–1) Kelley Kison (2) 7,762 9–10
20 May 10 @ Braves 4–8 Niekro Johnson (0–2) — 6,708 9–11
21 May 12 @ Astros 4–2 Blass (3–1) Dierker Miller (1) 17,863 10–11
22 May 13 @ Astros 6–1 (12) Moose (1–2) Gladding Miller (2) 23,568 11–11
23 May 14 @ Astros 6–7 Wilson Briles (2–1) Ray 14,704 11–12
24 May 15 Cardinals 4–1 Ellis (4–1) Gibson — 8,640 12–12
25 May 16 Cardinals 4–3 Walker (1–1) Wise Giusti (2) 8,272 13–12
26 May 17 Cardinals 12–0 Blass (4–1) Cleveland — 9,188 14–12
27 May 19 Expos 8–0 Moose (2–2) Stoneman — 41,765 15–12
28 May 20 Expos 6–0 Ellis (5–1) Morton Kison (3) 11,602 16–12
29 May 21 Expos 1–0 Walker (2–1) McAnally Hernández (2) 30,418 17–12
30 May 21 Expos 5–3 Giusti (1–3) Gilbert — 30,418 18–12
31 May 23 @ Cardinals 6–2 Blass (5–1) Cleveland Hernández (3) 11,795 19–12
32 May 24 @ Cardinals 9–4 (14) Miller (2–1) Higgins — 10,794 20–12
33 May 25 @ Cardinals 2–4 Gibson Ellis (5–2) — 9,293 20–13
34 May 26 Phillies 6–4 Briles (3–1) Carlton — 25,164 21–13
35 May 27 Phillies 1–2 (12) Brandon Giusti (1–4) Short 19,398 21–14
36 May 28 Phillies 6–5 Hernández (2–0) Hoerner — 15,236 22–14
37 May 29 Phillies 7–3 Hernández (3–0) Fryman — 36,464 23–14
38 May 29 Phillies 4–2 Moose (3–2) Reynolds Giusti (3) 36,464 24–14
39 May 31 @ Expos 2–3 McAnally Briles (3–2) — 10,565 24–15
June: 16–10 (Home: 5–6; Away: 11–4)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
40 June 2 @ Giants 4–7 Marichal Johnson (0–3) — 6,669 24–16
41 June 3 @ Giants 4–3 Blass (6–1) McDowell Giusti (4) 11,216 25–16
42 June 4 @ Giants 4–3 Miller (3–1) Johnson Giusti (5) 26–16
43 June 4 @ Giants 9–1 Kison (1–0) Williams — 19,929 27–16
44 June 7 @ Padres 12–5 Johnson (1–3) Norman — 28–16
45 June 7 @ Padres 1–0 (18) Miller (4–1) Corkins Johnson (1) 7,371 29–16
46 June 8 @ Padres 11–2 Moose (4–2) Arlin — 2,949 30–16
47 June 9 @ Dodgers 5–1 Blass (7–1) Sutton — 35,078 31–16
48 June 10 @ Dodgers 1–2 Osteen Walker (2–2) Brewer 38,937 31–17
49 June 11 @ Dodgers 7–5 Kison (2–0) Mikkelsen Giusti (6) 40,846 32–17
50 June 14 Giants 1–3 McDowell Ellis (5–3) — 14,552 32–18
51 June 15 Giants 4–1 Briles (4–2) Stone Giusti (7) 33–18
52 June 15 Giants 9–7 Moose (5–2) Bryant Hernández (4) 21,126 34–18
53 June 16 Padres 2–1 Blass (8–1) Norman — 17,020 35–18
54 June 17 Padres 0–4 Kirby Walker (2–3) — 20,718 35–19
55 June 18 Padres 0–1 Arlin Kison (2–1) — 27,143 35–20
56 June 19 Dodgers 13–3 Ellis (6–3) Sutton Miller (3) 15,430 36–20
57 June 21 Dodgers 3–5 (10) Brewer Moose (5–3) — 15,209 36–21
58 June 23 @ Cubs 4–2 Blass (9–1) Jenkins Giusti (8) 28,177 37–21
59 June 24 @ Cubs 3–1 Briles (5–2) Hands Giusti (9) 27,543 38–21
60 June 25 @ Cubs 9–2 Ellis (7–3) Hooton Giusti (10) 35,099 39–21
61 June 26 @ Mets 2–4 Koosman Moose (5–4) McGraw 48,820 39–22
62 June 27 @ Mets 4–7 Frisella Walker (2–4) — 38,152 39–23
63 June 28 Expos 1–3 Stoneman Blass (9–2) — 13,470 39–24
64 June 29 Expos 9–0 Briles (6–2) McAnally — 18,364 40–24
65 June 30 Cubs 3–4 Reuschel Ellis (7–4) Aker 22,745 40–25
July: 20–10 (Home: 12–4; Away: 8–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
66 July 1 Cubs 4–3 Giusti (2–4) Jenkins — 16,102 41–25
67 July 2 Cubs 7–4 Kison (3–1) Hands Hernández (5) 25,229 42–25
68 July 3 Cubs 3–2 Giusti (3–4) Hooton — 26,933 43–25
69 July 4 @ Astros 0–6 Dierker Briles (6–3) — 31,164 43–26
70 July 5 @ Astros 6–4 Johnson (2–3) Forsch — 23,646 44–26
71 July 6 @ Astros 7–3 (17) Hernández (4–0) Ray — 23,540 45–26
72 July 7 @ Braves 10–2 Walker (3–4) Kelley — 46–26
73 July 7 @ Braves 2–3 Hardin Kison (3–2) — 25,253 46–27
74 July 8 @ Braves 5–3 Blass (10–2) Reed Giusti (11) 20,256 47–27
75 July 9 @ Braves 7–4 Briles (7–3) McLain — 20,130 48–27
76 July 11 @ Reds 0–5 Billingham Moose (5–5) — 24,047 48–28
77 July 12 @ Reds 3–6 Simpson Walker (3–5) Carroll 28,058 48–29
78 July 13 @ Reds 0–2 Nolan Blass (10–3) Carroll 32,060 48–30
79 July 14 Astros 5–2 Briles (8–3) Dierker — 24,487 49–30
80 July 15 Astros 5–1 Ellis (8–4) Forsch Giusti (12) 16,202 50–30
81 July 16 Astros 3–2 (10) Giusti (4–4) Gladding — 51–30
82 July 16 Astros 3–2 Kison (4–2) Wilson Giusti (13) 49,341 52–30
83 July 17 Braves 6–5 Hernández (5–0) Hoerner Giusti (14) 14,866 53–30
84 July 18 Braves 2–4 Reed Blass (10–4) — 20,162 53–31
85 July 19 Braves 8–3 Briles (9–3) Niekro Walker (1) 24,847 54–31
86 July 21 Reds 5–11 Borbon Kison (4–3) Gullett 32,255 54–32
87 July 22 Reds 3–6 Sprague Moose (5–6) Carroll 40,837 54–33
88 July 23 Reds 3–2 Blass (11–4) Grimsley Hernández (6) 29,487 55–33
89 July 27 Mets 0–1 (10) Matlack Briles (9–4) — 55–34
90 July 27 Mets 7–5 Moose (6–6) Koosman Giusti (15) 49,886 56–34
91 July 28 Mets 3–1 Ellis (9–4) Seaver — 39,035 57–34
92 July 29 @ Phillies 2–5 Fryman Blass (11–5) Selma 37,544 57–35
93 July 29 @ Phillies 3–2 Walker (4–5) Brandon Giusti (16) 37,544 58–35
94 July 30 @ Phillies 7–1 Kison (5–3) Lersch — 28,451 59–35
95 July 31 @ Phillies 2–0 Moose (7–6) Reynolds — 17,455 60–35
August: 17–11 (Home: 8–5; Away: 9–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
96 August 1 @ Cardinals 4–7 Santorini Briles (9–5) Segui 23,712 60–36
97 August 2 @ Cardinals 5–10 (7) Gibson Ellis (9–5) — 24,961 60–37
98 August 3 @ Cardinals 2–1 (10) Blass (12–5) Wise Hernández (7) 14,836 61–37
99 August 4 @ Expos 1–2 Moore Kison (5–4) — 18,436 61–38
100 August 5 @ Expos 7–4 Briles (10–5) Stoneman Giusti (17) 20,905 62–38
101 August 6 @ Expos 8–0 Moose (8–6) Torrez — 63–38
102 August 6 @ Expos 7–2 Johnson (3–3) Renko Hernández (8) 28,330 64–38
103 August 8 Phillies 4–2 Ellis (10–5) Champion — 18,228 65–38
104 August 9 Phillies 0–2 Carlton Blass (12–6) — 19,832 65–39
105 August 11 Cardinals 10–5 Briles (11–5) Cleveland Hernández (9) 34,248 66–39
106 August 12 Cardinals 6–5 Moose (9–6) Gibson Giusti (18) 23,474 67–39
107 August 13 Cardinals 0–2 Wise Ellis (10–6) — 67–40
108 August 13 Cardinals 7–5 Blass (13–6) Santorini Giusti (19) 47,300 68–40
109 August 15 @ Dodgers 6–8 Richert Johnson (3–4) Brewer 27,484 68–41
110 August 16 @ Dodgers 3–2 Miller (5–1) Sutton — 28,318 69–41
111 August 17 @ Dodgers 2–4 Downing Moose (9–7) Richert 29,777 69–42
112 August 18 @ Padres 4–2 Blass (14–6) Greif — 30,610 70–42
113 August 20 @ Padres 9–3 Ellis (11–6) Corkins Johnson (2) 71–42
114 August 20 @ Padres 5–2 Kison (6–4) Norman — 9,759 72–42
115 August 22 @ Giants 1–0 Briles (12–5) Marichal — 9,389 73–42
116 August 23 @ Giants 0–8 Barr Moose (9–8) — 8,330 73–43
117 August 25 Dodgers 3–2 (12) Giusti (5–4) Richert — 74–43
118 August 25 Dodgers 3–4 Osteen Kison (6–5) — 39,574 74–44
119 August 26 Dodgers 3–7 Sutton Ellis (11–7) — 20,174 74–45
120 August 27 Dodgers 4–7 Mikkelsen Briles (12–6) Brewer 25,672 74–46
121 August 28 Padres 5–3 Moose (10–8) Caldwell Hernández (10) 13,438 75–46
122 August 29 Padres 5–3 Blass (15–6) Corkins Giusti (20) 12,329 76–46
123 August 30 Padres 11–0 Kison (7–5) Arlin — 19,009 77–46
September: 18–11 (Home: 8–4; Away: 10–7)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
124 September 1 Giants 10–6 Ellis (12–7) Bryant Giusti (21) 20,678 78–46
125 September 2 Giants 6–3 Briles (13–6) McDowell — 14,194 79–46
126 September 3 Giants 2–1 (10) Giusti (6–4) Johnson — 16,760 80–46
127 September 4 Phillies 10–0 Blass (16–6) Twitchell — 26,627 81–46
128 September 4 Phillies 5–1 Kison (8–5) Nash — 26,627 82–46
129 September 6 Cubs 4–0 Ellis (13–7) McGinn — 12,470 83–46
130 September 7 Cubs 2–4 Hooton Briles (13–7) — 12,306 83–47
131 September 8 @ Expos 7–1 Johnson (4–4) Morton — 84–47
132 September 8 @ Expos 4–2 (12) Giusti (7–4) Marshall Hernández (11) 12,118 85–47
133 September 9 @ Expos 8–3 Blass (17–6) Stoneman — 17,092 86–47
134 September 10 @ Expos 2–8 Torrez Kison (8–6) — 20,253 86–48
135 September 12 @ Cubs 7–0 Ellis (14–7) Hooton Giusti (22) 4,153 87–48
136 September 13 @ Cubs 6–4 Briles (14–7) Jenkins Hernández (12) 4,418 88–48
137 September 14 @ Cubs 5–2 Moose (11–8) Reuschel Hernández (13) 4,603 89–48
138 September 15 @ Cardinals 4–10 Wise Kison (8–7) — 10,853 89–49
139 September 16 @ Cardinals 0–4 Santorini Blass (17–7) — 11,850 89–50
140 September 17 @ Cardinals 4–5 Cleveland Miller (5–2) Segui 11,802 89–51
141 September 18 @ Mets 0–1 Matlack Briles (14–8) — 15,622 89–52
142 September 19 @ Mets 5–1 Moose (12–8) Koosman — 15,537 90–52
143 September 20 @ Mets 1–4 Seaver Walker (4–6) — 15,147 90–53
144 September 21 @ Mets 6–2 Blass (18–7) Gentry — 10,991 91–53
145 September 22 Expos 4–3 (12) McKee (1–0) Marshall — 15,365 92–53
146 September 23 Expos 0–3 McAnally Briles (14–9) — 8,580 92–54
147 September 24 Expos 1–2 Morton Moose (12–9) — 9,116 92–55
148 September 26 @ Phillies 5–1 Blass (19–7) Champion — 8,472 93–55
149 September 27 @ Phillies 3–1 Kison (9–7) Reynolds Walker (2) 5,335 94–55
150 September 28 @ Phillies 1–2 Carlton Moose (12–10) — 12,216 94–56
151 September 29 Mets 0–1 Seaver Briles (14–10) — 24,193 94–57
152 September 30 Mets 5–0 Ellis (15–7) Matlack Johnson (3) 13,117 95–57
October: 1–2 (Home: 1–2; Away: 0–0)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
153 October 1 Mets 3–7 Koosman Blass (19–8) — 30,031 95–58
154 October 3 Cardinals 6–2 Moose (13–10) Santorini Hernández (14) 5,905 96–58
155 October 4 Cardinals 3–4 Gibson Briles (14–11) — 4,603 96–59
Legend:        = Win        = Loss
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters
# Name Position
6 Rennie Stennett 2B
16 Al Oliver CF
21 Roberto Clemente RF
8 Willie Stargell LF
3 Richie Hebner 3B
35 Manny Sanguillén C
7 Bob Robertson 1B
2 Jackie Hernández SS
17 Dock Ellis SP

[5]

Notable transactions

Roster

1972 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

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 136 520 155 .298 7 71
1B Willie Stargell 138 495 145 .293 33 112
2B Dave Cash 99 425 120 .282 3 30
SS Gene Alley 119 347 86 .248 3 36
3B Richie Hebner 124 427 128 .300 19 72
LF Vic Davalillo 117 368 117 .318 4 28
CF Al Oliver 140 565 176 .312 12 89
RF Roberto Clemente 102 378 118 .312 10 60

Other batters

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 109 370 106 .286 3 30
Gene Clines 107 311 104 .334 0 17
Bob Robertson 115 306 59 .193 12 41
Jackie Hernández 72 176 33 .188 1 14
Milt May 57 139 39 .281 0 14
José Pagán 53 127 32 .252 3 8
Bill Mazeroski 34 64 12 .188 0 3
Richie Zisk 17 37 7 .189 0 4
Chuck Goggin 5 7 2 .286 0 0
Frank Taveras 4 3 0 .000 0 0
Fernando González 3 2 0 .000 0 0
Charlie Sands 1 1 0 .000 0 0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Steve Blass 33 249.2 19 8 2.49 117
Bob Moose 31 226.0 13 10 2.91 144
Nelson Briles 28 195.2 14 11 3.08 120
Dock Ellis 25 163.1 15 7 2.70 96
Bruce Kison 32 152.0 9 7 3.26 102

Other pitchers

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

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Bob Johnson 31 115.2 4 4 2.96 79
Luke Walker 26 92.2 4 6 3.40 48
Bob Veale 5 9.0 0 0 6.00 6
Gene Garber 4 6.1 0 0 7.11 3
Jim McKee 2 5.0 1 0 0.00 4

Relief pitchers

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 54 7 4 22 1.93 54
Ramón Hernández 53 5 0 14 1.67 47
Bob Miller 36 5 2 3 2.65 18

National League Championship Series

Main article: 1972 National League Championship Series

Awards and honors

1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Charleston Charlies International League Red Davis
AA Sherbrooke Pirates Eastern League Steve Demeter
A Salem Pirates Carolina League Tim Murtaugh
A Gastonia Pirates Western Carolinas League Tom Saffell
A-Short Season Niagara Falls Pirates New York–Penn League Chuck Cottier
Rookie GCL Pirates Gulf Coast League Ed Napoleon

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Salem, Niagara Falls

Notes

  1. ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ Bill Virdon
  3. ^ Larry Demery at Baseball Reference
  4. ^ José Martínez at Baseball Reference
  5. ^ 1972 Opening Day lineup at "Baseball-Almanac"
  6. ^ John Candelaria at Baseball Reference
  7. ^ Ken Macha at Baseball Reference
  8. ^ Willie Randolph at Baseball Reference
  9. ^ Bob Veale at Baseball Almanac

References

Categories