1973 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1973 Pittsburgh Pirates
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1887)
Eastern Division (since 1969)
Location
Three Rivers Stadium (since 1970)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (since 1907)
Results
Record	80–82 (.494)
Divisional place	3rd
Other information
Owner(s)	John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas Johnson (minority shareholders)
General manager(s)	Joe L. Brown
Manager(s)	Bill Virdon Danny Murtaugh
Local television	KDKA-TV Bob Prince, Nellie King
Local radio	KDKA Bob Prince, Nellie King
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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.

Regular season

1973 Pittsburgh Pirates Team Schedule

April

4-6-73    St. Louis Cardinals         W 7-5
4-8-73    St. Louis Cardinals         W 4-3  W 5-3 game 2
4-12-73   Chicago Cubs                W 6-0
4-14-73   @ Montreal Expos            L 6-4
4-15-73   @ Montreal Expos            W 8-3
4-17-73   @ St. Louis Cardinals       W 4-3
4-18-73   @ St. Louis Cardinals       W 8-2
4-21-73   @ Chicago Cubs              L 10-9
4-22-73   @ Chicago Cubs              W 10-4 L 11-3 gm 2
4-24-73   San Diego Padres            L 7-5
4-28-73   Los Angeles Dodgers         L 3-2
4-29-73   Los Angeles Dodgers         L 9-8  L 2-1 gm 2

May

5-1-73   @ San Francisco Giants       L 8-7
5-2-73   @ San Francisco Giants       W 2-1
5-3-73   @ San Francisco Giants       W 14-5
5-4-73   @ San Diego Padres           W 12-6
5-5-73   @ San Diego Padres           L 6-5
5-6-73   @ San Diego Padres           L 8-0
5-7-73   @ Los Angeles Dodgers        W 5-4
5-8-73   @ Los Angeles Dodgers        L 7-4
5-9-73   @ Los Angeles Dodgers        L 8-5
5-11-73  New York Mets                L 4-3
5-12-73  New York Mets                L 6-0
5-13-73  New York Mets                L 6-4
5-14-73  Montreal Expos               L 3-2
5-15-73  Montreal Expos               W 9-8
5-16-73  Philadelphia Phillies        L 5-2
5-17-73  Philadelphia Phillies        W 5-2
5-18-73  @ New York Mets              L 4-3
5-19-73  @ New York Mets              W 4-1
5-21-73  @ Philadelphia Phillies      W 5-4
5-22-73  @ Philadelphia Phillies      L 7-4
5-25-73  Houston Astros               L 7-2
5-26-73  Houston Astros               W 7-2
5-27-73  Houston Astros               L 6-2
5-28-73  Houston Astros               W 4-2
5-29-73  Atlanta Braves               W 6-1
5-30-73  Atlanta Braves               W 4-2
5-31-73  Atlanta Braves               W 3-1

June

6-1-73  Cincinnati Reds              W 9-6
6-2-73  Cincinnati Reds              W 4-3
6-3-73  Cincinnati Reds              L 5-1
6-4-73  San Francisco Giants         L 7-2
6-5-73  San Francisco Giants         L 3-2
6-6-73  San Francisco Giants         L 9-7
6-8-73  @ Houston Astros             L 4-3
6-9-73  @ Houston Astros             W 4-1
6-10-73 @ Houston Astros             L 7-1
6-11-73 @ Atlanta Braves             L 9-7
6-12-73 @ Atlanta Braves             L 4-2
6-13-73 @ Atlanta Braves             L 18-3
6-15-73 @ Cincinnati Reds            L 6-0
6-16-73 @ Cincinnati Reds            W 5-0
6-17-73 @ Cincinnati Reds            L 3-1  L 5-1 gm 2
6-18-73 Chicago Cubs                 W 3-1
6-19-73 Chicago Cubs                 L 6-3  W 4-3 gm 2
6-20-73 Chicago Cubs                 L 5-3
6-21-73 New York Mets                W 2-1
6-22-73 New York Mets                L 5-4
6-23-73 New York Mets                W 3-2
6-24-73 New York Mets                L 5-2
6-25-73 @ Montreal Expos             W 8-6  W 3-1 gm 2
6-26-73 @ Montreal Expos             L 10-3
6-27-73 St. Louis Cardinals          L 14-5
6-28-73 St. Louis Cardinals          W 6-0
6-29-73 Montreal Expos               W 4-0
6-30-73 Montreal Expos               W 5-1

July

7-1-73  Montreal Expos               W 6-2  W 8-4 gm 2
7-3-73  @ St. Louis Cardinals        L 4-0  L 7-6 gm 2
7-4-73  @ St. Louis Cardinals        L 11-3
7-5-73  @ St. Louis Cardinals        W 3-2
7-6-73  @ Los Angeles Dodgers        L 3-2
7-7-73  @ Los Angeles Dodgers        L 8-6
7-8-73  @ Los Angeles Dodgers        L 3-2
7-10-73 @ San Diego Padres           W 4-3
7-11-73 @ San Diego Padres           W 10-2
7-12-73 @ San Diego Padres           W 4-0
7-13-73 @ San Francisco Giants       L 5-2
7-14-73 @ San Francisco Giants       W 7-2
7-15-73 @ San Francisco Giants       L 12-0
7-16-73 Los Angeles Dodgers          L 1-0
7-17-73 Los Angeles Dodgers          L 8-4
7-18-73 Los Angeles Dodgers          W 3-2
7-20-73 San Diego Padres             W 5-4  W 7-0 gm 2
7-22-73 San Diego Padres             W 3-1  W 13-7 gm 2
7-26-73 @ Chicago Cubs               W 3-2
7-27-73 @ Chicago Cubs               W 10-6
7-28-73 Philadelphia Phillies        L 5-0
7-29-73 Philadelphia Phillies        W 5-2  W 5-2 gm 2
7-30-73 Philadelphia Phillies        L 1-0
7-31-73 @ New York Mets              W 4-1

August

8-1-73 @ New York Mets              L 3-0  L 5-2 gm 2
8-2-73 @ New York Mets              L 5-1
8-3-73 @ Philadelphia Phillies      W 3-1
8-4-73 @ Philadelphia Phillies      L 11-5  W 11-4
8-5-73 @ Philadelphia Phillies      W 4-1
8-7-73 Houston Astros               L 2-0
8-8-73 Houston Astros               W 4-3
8-10-73 Atlanta Braves              L 5-4
8-11-73 Atlanta Braves              L 9-3
8-12-73 Atlanta Braves              W 5-2
8-13-73 Cincinnati Reds             W 3-2
8-14-73 Cincinnati Reds             L 5-4
8-15-73 Cincinnati Reds             L 1-0
8-17-73 San Francisco Giants        L 5-3
8-18-73 San Francisco Giants        W 6-5
8-19-73 San Francisco Giants        W 5-0
8-20-73 @ Houston Astros            L 10-2
8-21-73 @ Houston Astros            W 6-3
8-22-73 @ Houston Astros            W 4-0
8-24-73 @ Atlanta Braves            L 3-2
8-25-73 @ Atlanta Braves            W 6-5
8-26-73 @ Atlanta Braves            L 8-6
8-28-73 @ Cincinnati Reds           W 8-3
8-29-73 @ Cincinnati Reds           L 5-3
8-31-73 Chicago Cubs                W 7-0  W 5-2 gm 2

September

9-1-73 Chicago Cubs              W 1-0
9-2-73 Chicago Cubs              L 5-3
9-3-73 St. Louis Cardinals       W 5-4  L 8-3 gm 2
9-4-73 St. Louis Cardinals       L 4-2
9-5-73 St. Louis Cardinals       L 5-3
9-7-73 @ Philadelphia Phillies   W 10-8
9-8-73 @ Philadelphia Phillies   W 5-3
9-9-73 @ Philadelphia Phillies   L 8-7
9-10-73 @ Chicago Cubs           W 11-3
9-11-73 @ Chicago Cubs           L 2-0
9-12-73 @ Chicago Cubs           W 4-2
9-13-73 @ Chicago Cubs           W 6-1
9-14-73 @ St. Louis Cardinals    W 3-1
9-15-73 @ St. Louis Cardinals    W 7-4
9-16-73 @ St. Louis Cardinals    L 7-3
9-17-73 New York Mets            W 10-3
9-18-73 New York Mets            L 6-5
9-19-73 New York Mets            L 7-3
9-20-73 New York Mets            L 4-3
9-21-73 New York Mets            L 10-2
9-23-73 @ Montreal Expos         W 6-3  W 7-4 gm 2
9-24-73 @ Montreal Expos         L 5-4  W 3-0
9-25-73 Philadelphia Phillies    L 2-1
9-26-73 Philadelphia Phillies    W 13-2
9-27-73 Philadelphia Phillies    L 3-2
9-28-73 Montreal Expos           L 3-2
9-29-73 Montreal Expos           L 6-4
9-30-73 Montreal Expos           W 10-2

October

10-1-73 San Diego Padres         L 4-3

Season standings

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	1½	43–38	38–43
Pittsburgh Pirates	80	82	0.494	2½	41–40	39–42
Montreal Expos	79	83	0.488	3½	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

1973 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	—	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	—

Notable transactions

• May 4, 1973: Jerry McNertney was purchased by the Pirates from the Oakland Athletics.
• June 17, 1973: Rick Langford was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.
• July 5, 1973: Jerry McNertney was released by the Pirates.
• July 7, 1973: Dal Maxvill was purchased by the Pirates from the Oakland Athletics.

Roster

1973 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 28 Steve Blass 34 Nelson Briles 32 Tom Dettore 17 Dock Ellis 58 Jim Foor 31 Dave Giusti 36 Ramón Hernández 27 Bob Johnson 25 Bruce Kison 44 John Lamb 39 Jim McKee 38 Bob Moose 12 John Morlan 19 Jim Rooker 23 Luke Walker 32 Chris Zachary		Catchers 12 Chuck Goggin 29 Milt May 11 Jerry McNertney 35 Manny Sanguillén Infielders 14 Gene Alley 30 Dave Cash 18 Vic Davalillo 37 Fernando González  3 Richie Hebner  2 Jackie Hernández 11 Dal Maxvill  7 Bob Robertson  6 Rennie Stennett		Outfielders 45 Dave Augustine 15 Gene Clines 16 Al Oliver 39 Dave Parker  8 Willie Stargell 22 Richie Zisk Other batters  4 Jim Campanis		Manager 40 Danny Murtaugh 41 Bill Virdon Coaches 43 Don Leppert  9 Bill Mazeroski  5 Dave Ricketts 42 Mel Wright

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	149	589	166	.282	12	65
SS	Dal Maxvill	74	217	41	.189	0	17

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
Fernando González	37	49	11	.224	1	5
Jerry McNertney	9	4	1	.250	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
Nelson Briles	33	218.2	14	13	2.84	94
Steve Blass	23	88.2	3	9	9.85	27

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

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
John Lamb	22	0	1	2	6.07	11

Awards and honors

1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Farm system

See also: Minor league baseball

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
Short-Season A	Niagara Falls Pirates	New York-Penn League	Woody Huyke
Rookie	GCL Pirates	Gulf Coast League	Ed Napoleon

References

• 1973 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
• 1973 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at www.baseball-almanac.com