1976 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1976 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	92–70 (.568)
Divisional place	2nd
Other information
Owner(s)	John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas Johnson (minority shareholders)
General manager(s)	Joe L. Brown, Harding "Pete" Peterson
Manager(s)	Danny Murtaugh
Local television	KDKA-TV Milo Hamilton, Lanny Frattare
Local radio	KDKA Milo Hamilton, Lanny Frattare
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The 1976 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 90th in the National League, and the 95th in franchise history. The Pirates compiled a 92-70 record during the season, as they finished in second place in the NL East, nine games behind their cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies. As a result, their run of five division titles in a six-year span came to an end. It was also the final season for Danny Murtaugh as the Pirates' manager.

Offseason

• December 4, 1975: Rafael Vásquez was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.
• December 11, 1975: Dock Ellis, Ken Brett and Willie Randolph were traded by the Pirates to the New York Yankees for Doc Medich.
• January 27, 1976: Pascual Pérez was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.

Regular season

• August 9, 1976: John Candelaria pitched a no hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Season standings

NL East	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Philadelphia Phillies	101	61	0.623	—	53–28	48–33
Pittsburgh Pirates	92	70	0.568	9	47–34	45–36
New York Mets	86	76	0.531	15	45–37	41–39
Chicago Cubs	75	87	0.463	26	42–39	33–48
St. Louis Cardinals	72	90	0.444	29	37–44	35–46
Montreal Expos	55	107	0.340	46	27–53	28–54

Record vs. opponents

1976 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	—	6–6	6–12	7–11	8–10	8–4	4–8	5–7	3–9	10–8	9–9	4–8
Chicago	6–6	—	3–9	5–7	3–9	11–7	5–13	8–10	8–10	6–6	8–4	12–6
Cincinnati	12–6	9–3	—	12–6	13–5	9–3	6–6	5–7	8–4	13–5	9–9	6–6
Houston	11–7	7–5	6–12	—	5–13	10–2	6–6	4–8	2–10	10–8	10–8	9–3
Los Angeles	10–8	9–3	5–13	13–5	—	10–2	7–5	5–7	9–3	6–12	8–10	10–2
Montreal	4–8	7–11	3–9	2–10	2–10	—	8–10	3–15	8–10	4–8	7–5	7–11
New York	8–4	13–5	6–6	6–6	5–7	10–8	—	5–13	10–8	7–5	7–5	9–9
Philadelphia	7-5	10–8	7–5	8–4	7–5	15–3	13–5	—	8–10	8–4	6–6	12–6
Pittsburgh	9–3	10–8	4–8	10–2	3–9	10–8	8–10	10–8	—	7–5	9–3	12–6
San Diego	8–10	6–6	5–13	8–10	12–6	8–4	5–7	4–8	5–7	—	8–10	4–8
San Francisco	9–9	4–8	9–9	8–10	10–8	5–7	5–7	6–6	3–9	10–8	—	5–7
St. Louis	8–4	6–12	6–6	3–9	2–10	11–7	9–9	6–12	6–12	8–4	7–5	—

Notable transactions

• June 8, 1976: Bob Long was drafted by the Pirates in the 24th round of the 1976 Major League Baseball Draft.
• July 2, 1976: Albert Williams was released by the Pirates.
• September 8, 1976: Ramón Hernández was purchased from the Pirates by the Chicago Cubs.

Roster

1976 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 17 Doug Bair 45 John Candelaria 44 Larry Demery 31 Dave Giusti 36 Ramón Hernández 25 Bruce Kison 30 Rick Langford 32 Doc Medich 38 Bob Moose 41 Jerry Reuss 19 Jim Rooker 27 Kent Tekulve		Catchers  5 Duffy Dyer 14 Ed Ott 35 Manny Sanguillén Infielders  3 Richie Hebner 15 Tommy Helms 23 Ed Kirkpatrick 11 Mario Mendoza 12 Craig Reynolds  7 Bob Robertson  8 Willie Stargell  6 Rennie Stennett 10 Frank Taveras		Outfielders 46 Tony Armas 37 Miguel Diloné 18 Omar Moreno 16 Al Oliver 39 Dave Parker 28 Bill Robinson 22 Richie Zisk		Manager 40 Danny Murtaugh Coaches 43 Don Leppert 42 Don Osborn  2 José Pagán  4 Bob Skinner

Player stats

= Indicates team leader

Batting

Starters by position

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

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	R	HR	RBI	Avg.	RBI
C	Manny Sanguillén	114	389	52	113	.290	2	36	2
1B	Willie Stargell	117	428	54	110	.257	20	65	2
2B	Rennie Stennett	157	654	59	168	.257	2	60	18
3B	Richie Hebner	132	434	60	108	.249	8	51	1
SS	Frank Taveras	144	519	76	134	.258	0	24	58
LF	Richie Zisk	155	581	91	168	.323	21	89	1
CF	Al Oliver	121	443	62	143	.323	12	61	6
RF	Dave Parker	138	537	82	168	.313	13	90	19

Other batters

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

Player	G	AB	H	R	HR	RBI	Avg.	RBI
Bill Robinson	122	393	55	119	.303	21	64	2
Duffy Dyer	69	184	12	41	.223	3	9	0
Omar Moreno	48	122	33	.270	2	12
Ed Ott	27	39	2	12	.308	0	5	0
Miguel Diloné	16	17	7	4	.235	0	0	5
Tony Armas	4	6	0	2	.333	0	1	0
Craig Reynolds	7	4	1	1	.250	1	1	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
John Candelaria	32	220	16	7	3.15	138
Jerry Reuss	31	209.1	14	9	3.53	108
Bruce Kison	31	193	14	9	3.08	98
Doc Medich	29	179	8	11	3.52	86

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
Larry Demery	36	145	10	7	3.17	72

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
Kent Tekulve	64	5	3	9	2.45	68
Bob Moose	53	3	9	10	3.68	38
Dave Giusti	40	5	4	6	4.32	24
Ramón Hernández	37	2	2	3	3.56	17
Rick Langford	12	0	1	0	6.26	17
Doug Bair	4	0	0	0	5.68	4

Awards and honors

1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Farm system

See also: Minor league baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Charleston Charlies	International League	Tim Murtaugh
AA	Shreveport Captains	Texas League	Johnny Lipon
A	Salem Pirates	Carolina League	Steve Demeter
A	Charleston Patriots	Western Carolinas League	Mike Ryan
Short-Season A	Niagara Falls Pirates	New York-Penn League	Glenn Ezell
Rookie	GCL Pirates	Gulf Coast League	Woody Huyke

References

• 1976 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
• 1976 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at www.baseball-almanac.com