1968 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1968 Pittsburgh Pirates
LeagueNational League
BallparkForbes Field
CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
OwnersJohn W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson (minority shareholders)
General managersJoe L. Brown
ManagersLarry Shepard
TelevisionKDKA-TV
Bob Prince, Jim Woods, Nellie King
RadioKDKA
Bob Prince, Jim Woods, Nellie King
← 1967 Seasons 1969 →

The 1968 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 87th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 82nd in the National League. The Pirates finished sixth in the league standings with a record of 80–82.

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 97 65 .599 47‍–‍34 50‍–‍31
San Francisco Giants 88 74 .543 9 42‍–‍39 46‍–‍35
Chicago Cubs 84 78 .519 13 47‍–‍34 37‍–‍44
Cincinnati Reds 83 79 .512 14 40‍–‍41 43‍–‍38
Atlanta Braves 81 81 .500 16 41‍–‍40 40‍–‍41
Pittsburgh Pirates 80 82 .494 17 40‍–‍41 40‍–‍41
Los Angeles Dodgers 76 86 .469 21 41‍–‍40 35‍–‍46
Philadelphia Phillies 76 86 .469 21 38‍–‍43 38‍–‍43
New York Mets 73 89 .451 24 32‍–‍49 41‍–‍40
Houston Astros 72 90 .444 25 42‍–‍39 30‍–‍51

Record vs. opponents


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


Game log

1968 game log: 80–82 (home: 40–41; Away: 40–41)
April: 8–8 (home: 5–3; Away: 3–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 April 10 @ Astros 4–5 Dierker Pizarro (0–1) 21,320 0–1
2 April 11 @ Giants 3–1 (15) Face (1–0) Linzy Moose (1) 7,844 1–1
3 April 13 @ Giants 2–1 McBean (1–0) Perry 11,488 2–1
4 April 14 @ Dodgers 3–0 Bunning (1–0) Osteen 27,136 3–1
5 April 15 @ Dodgers 2–3 Singer Veale (0–1) 16,214 3–2
6 April 17 Astros 13–4 McBean (2–0) Lemaster 30,779 4–2
7 April 19 Giants 2–5 Marichal Bunning (1–1) 24,224 4–3
8 April 20 Giants 0–1 Sadecki Veale (0–2) 8,156 4–4
9 April 21 Giants 10–0 McBean (3–0) McCormick 17,337 5–4
10 April 22 Dodgers 3–5 Brewer Moose (0–1) Billingham 7,963 5–5
11 April 24 Dodgers 4–3 Bunning (2–1) Osteen Face (1) 4,938 6–5
12 April 26 @ Cardinals 1–2 Gibson Veale (0–3) 39,866 6–6
13 April 27 @ Cardinals 5–7 Briles McBean (3–1) Hoerner 20,863 6–7
14 April 28 @ Cardinals 2–4 Carlton Sisk (0–1) 20,562 6–8
15 April 29 Cubs 7–4 Blass (1–0) Jenkins Moose (2) 5,603 7–8
16 April 30 Cubs 4–3 Pizarro (1–1) Hartenstein 3,710 8–8
May: 10–15 (home: 4–9; Away: 6–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
17 May 1 Cubs 4–0 McBean (4–1) Nye 5,449 9–8
18 May 2 Cubs 0–1 Niekro Bunning (2–2) 7,249 9–9
19 May 3 @ Phillies 2–3 Farrell Kline (0–1) 9,433 9–10
20 May 4 @ Phillies 2–3 Hall Face (1–1) 15,834 9–11
21 May 5 @ Phillies 5–2 Wickersham (1–0) Jackson Moose (3) 9,407 10–11
22 May 6 @ Braves 2–1 Bunning (3–2) Jarvis Kline (1) 9,131 11–11
23 May 7 @ Braves 1–2 Upshaw McBean (4–2) 6,610 11–12
24 May 8 @ Braves 4–3 (14) Kline (1–1) Upshaw Face (2) 7,035 12–12
25 May 9 @ Braves 2–4 Reed Moose (0–2) Britton 5,704 12–13
26 May 10 Phillies 2–1 Veale (1–3) Fryman Face (3) 9,397 13–13
27 May 12 Phillies 2–1 McBean (5–2) James 12,203 14–13
28 May 13 Cardinals 0–1 Briles Bunning (3–3) 10,082 14–14
29 May 15 Cardinals 0–1 Carlton Blass (1–1) 9,461 14–15
30 May 16 Cardinals 3–0 Veale (2–3) Washburn 9,595 15–15
31 May 17 Reds 2–3 Maloney McBean (5–3) Abernathy 13,499 15–16
32 May 18 Reds 3–8 McCool Bunning (3–4) 3,670 15–17
33 May 19 Reds 3–9 Culver Blass (1–2) Kelso 9,458 15–18
34 May 20 @ Mets 1–2 Koosman Veale (2–4) 12,221 15–19
35 May 21 @ Mets 3–4 (17) Taylor Moose (0–3) 8,188 15–20
36 May 22 @ Cubs 13–6 Sisk (1–1) Niekro Wickersham (1) 5,075 16–20
37 May 24 @ Reds 8–5 Kline (2–1) Culver 9,379 17–20
38 May 25 @ Reds 5–4 (12) Sisk (2–1) McCool 12,153 18–20
39 May 26 @ Reds 8–8 (7) 9,672 18–20
40 May 30 Mets 3–6 Koosman Bunning (3–5) Koonce 18–21
41 May 30 Mets 4–5 Selma Veale (2–5) Jackson 19,779 18–22
42 May 31 Braves 2–5 Niekro McBean (5–4) 7,301 18–23
June: 18–13 (home: 9–5; Away: 9–8)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
43 June 2 Braves 8–4 Kline (3–1) Cloninger 19–23
44 June 2 Braves 5–10 Jarvis Moose (0–4) Niekro 21,491 19–24
45 June 3 @ Dodgers 0–2 Osteen Veale (2–6) 14,568 19–25
46 June 4 @ Dodgers 0–5 Drysdale Bunning (3–6) 30,422 19–26
47 June 5 @ Dodgers 1–2 (10) Singer McBean (5–5) 14,660 19–27
48 June 6 @ Dodgers 2–4 Sutton Sisk (2–2) 14,112 19–28
49 June 7 @ Astros 5–0 Blass (2–2) Giusti 14,578 20–28
50 June 8 @ Astros 2–3 Lemaster Bunning (3–7) Buzhardt 21,447 20–29
51 June 9 @ Astros 3–1 Moose (1–4) Cuellar Kline (2) 12,862 21–29
52 June 10 @ Giants 0–8 Marichal Veale (2–7) 4,356 21–30
53 June 11 @ Giants 7–4 Kline (4–1) Sadecki Face (4) 7,807 22–30
54 June 12 @ Giants 2–4 Bolin Bunning (3–8) Linzy 4,771 22–31
55 June 13 @ Giants 8–7 Sisk (3–2) Linzy Face (5) 6,028 23–31
56 June 14 Astros 3–0 Moose (2–4) Lemaster 8,603 24–31
57 June 15 Astros 13–2 Veale (3–7) Wilson 5,005 25–31
58 June 16 Astros 3–1 Blass (3–2) Cuellar Face (6) 26–31
59 June 16 Astros 11–2 Sisk (4–2) Dierker Kline (3) 8,448 27–31
60 June 17 Astros 4–3 McBean (6–5) Giusti Face (7) 5,887 28–31
61 June 18 Dodgers 3–2 (10) Ellis (1–0) Aguirre 13,721 29–31
62 June 19 Dodgers 2–1 Veale (4–7) Singer 10,799 30–31
63 June 20 Dodgers 7–3 Blass (4–2) Sutton 31–31
64 June 20 Dodgers 2–3 (10) Billingham Face (1–2) Purdin 19,838 31–32
65 June 21 Giants 0–3 Bolin McBean (6–6) 16,222 31–33
66 June 22 Giants 3–10 McCormick Moose (2–5) 15,617 31–34
67 June 23 Giants 1–2 Marichal Bunning (3–9) 16,843 31–35
68 June 25 @ Cardinals 3–2 Veale (5–7) Carlton Walker (1) 26,927 32–35
69 June 26 @ Cardinals 0–3 Gibson McBean (6–7) 32–36
70 June 26 @ Cardinals 3–1 Blass (5–2) Jaster Kline (4) 30,641 33–36
71 June 28 @ Phillies 10–1 Bunning (4–9) Fryman 18,994 34–36
72 June 29 @ Phillies 1–0 Moose (3–5) Jackson 17,052 35–36
73 June 30 @ Phillies 5–2 Veale (6–7) Farrell 8,884 36–36
July: 15–18 (home: 7–12; Away: 8–6)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
74 July 2 @ Mets 2–1 McBean (7–7) Selma Face (8) 27,350 37–36
75 July 3 @ Mets 8–1 Blass (6–2) Ryan 14,909 38–36
76 July 4 @ Mets 3–2 Kline (5–1) Koosman 39–36
77 July 4 @ Mets 3–4 Cardwell Bunning (4–10) Taylor 29,587 39–37
78 July 5 @ Cubs 4–0 Veale (7–7) Nye 16,040 40–37
79 July 6 @ Cubs 1–6 Jenkins Walker (0–1) 40–38
80 July 6 @ Cubs 2–10 Ross Sisk (4–3) 30,794 40–39
81 July 7 @ Cubs 4–5 Regan Veale (7–8) 40–40
82 July 7 @ Cubs 3–4 Regan Face (1–3) 32,447 40–41
83 July 11 Phillies 0–5 Jackson Veale (7–9) 40–42
84 July 11 Phillies 1–4 Short Moose (3–6) Boozer 15,371 40–43
85 July 12 Phillies 2–3 James Bunning (4–11) Boozer 9,206 40–44
86 July 13 Phillies 2–3 (16) Short Ellis (1–1) 6,869 40–45
87 July 14 Cubs 2–6 Niekro McBean (7–8) 19,335 40–46
88 July 15 Cubs 1–2 (10) Jenkins Walker (0–2) 6,648 40–47
89 July 16 Mets 3–2 Kline (6–1) Selma 6,123 41–47
90 July 17 Mets 8–2 Blass (7–2) Koosman 42–47
91 July 17 Mets 4–5 Koonce Walker (0–3) Taylor 8,974 42–48
92 July 18 Mets 0–3 Seaver McBean (7–9) 6,234 42–49
93 July 19 @ Braves 2–0 Moose (4–6) Reed 17,286 43–49
94 July 20 @ Braves 2–1 Veale (8–9) Niekro 20,771 44–49
95 July 21 @ Braves 6–0 Blass (8–2) Pappas 25,109 45–49
96 July 23 Reds 6–7 (12) Arrigo Face (1–4) Lee 8,739 45–50
97 July 25 Reds 0–2 Culver Veale (8–10) Carroll 5,797 45–51
98 July 26 Cardinals 1–9 Briles Blass (8–3) 45–52
99 July 26 Cardinals 5–4 (10) Kline (7–1) Granger 23,515 46–52
100 July 27 Cardinals 0–4 Carlton Moose (4–7) 12,147 46–53
101 July 28 Cardinals 7–1 McBean (8–9) Jaster 14,926 47–53
102 July 29 Braves 3–2 Veale (9–10) Reed 7,357 48–53
103 July 30 Braves 8–5 Blass (9–3) Johnson Sisk (1) 49–53
104 July 30 Braves 5–4 (10) Kline (8–1) Niekro 11,624 50–53
105 July 31 @ Reds 2–8 Arrigo Moose (4–8) 50–54
106 July 31 @ Reds 10–1 Ellis (2–1) Ritchie Face (9) 14,780 51–54
August: 14–17 (home: 4–6; Away: 10–11)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
107 August 1 @ Reds 6–1 Sisk (5–3) Maloney Face (10) 10,926 52–54
108 August 2 @ Giants 3–1 McBean (9–9) Perry 6,423 53–54
109 August 3 @ Giants 0–7 Sadecki Veale (9–11) 9,251 53–55
110 August 4 @ Giants 0–2 Bolin Bunning (4–12) 18,151 53–56
111 August 5 @ Dodgers 0–1 (10) Brewer Blass (9–4) 17,851 53–57
112 August 6 @ Dodgers 4–1 Moose (5–8) Drysdale Kline (5) 15,732 54–57
113 August 7 @ Dodgers 2–6 Sutton McBean (9–10) 13,848 54–58
114 August 8 @ Astros 4–3 Kline (9–1) Cuellar Face (11) 14,851 55–58
115 August 9 @ Astros 1–2 Shea Ellis (2–2) 15,270 55–59
116 August 10 @ Astros 3–16 Coombs Blass (9–5) 12,814 55–60
117 August 10 @ Astros 7–4 Kline (10–1) House 25,814 56–60
118 August 11 @ Astros 1–5 Dierker Sisk (5–4) Giusti 16,892 56–61
119 August 13 Giants 0–3 Marichal Veale (9–12) 9,135 56–62
120 August 14 Giants 1–2 (10) Perry Kline (10–2) 6,926 56–63
121 August 15 Giants 2–0 Blass (10–5) Bolin 6,859 57–63
122 August 16 Dodgers 4–8 Drysdale McBean (9–11) Billingham 8,221 57–64
123 August 17 Dodgers 3–0 Moose (6–8) Kekich Kline (6) 8,181 58–64
124 August 18 Dodgers 5–1 Veale (10–12) Sutton 17,423 59–64
125 August 19 @ Reds 3–8 Arrigo Bunning (4–13) 6,659 59–65
126 August 20 @ Reds 8–3 Ellis (3–2) Ritchie Kline (7) 8,103 60–65
127 August 21 @ Reds 19–1 Blass (11–5) Maloney Face (12) 8,155 61–65
128 August 22 @ Reds 5–7 Abernathy Sisk (5–5) 7,195 61–66
129 August 23 @ Cardinals 2–3 (11) Hoerner Kline (10–3) 34,845 61–67
130 August 24 @ Cardinals 6–4 Face (2–4) Gibson 31,019 62–67
131 August 25 @ Cardinals 2–4 Briles Ellis (3–3) Hoerner 26,756 62–68
132 August 26 @ Braves 4–0 Blass (12–5) Pappas 7,491 63–68
133 August 27 @ Braves 4–3 (11) Kline (11–3) Britton Face (13) 6,633 64–68
134 August 28 Cardinals 0–8 Gibson Veale (10–13) 11,197 64–69
135 August 29 Cardinals 0–5 Washburn Moose (6–9) 7,681 64–70
136 August 30 Braves 0–2 Pappas Ellis (3–4) Raymond 5,896 64–71
137 August 31 Braves 8–0 Blass (13–5) Reed 4,671 65–71
September: 15–11 (home: 11–6; Away: 4–5)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
138 September 1 Braves 7–8 (11) Raymond Kline (11–4) Britton 5,650 65–72
139 September 2 Astros 6–1 Veale (11–13) Cuellar 66–72
140 September 2 Astros 4–3 (10) Dal Canton (1–0) Ray 6,225 67–72
141 September 3 Astros 3–2 Ellis (4–4) Dierker Walker (2) 3,003 68–72
142 September 6 Mets 2–1 Blass (14–5) McAndrew 4,082 69–72
143 September 7 Mets 3–4 Koosman Bunning (4–14) Taylor 4,002 69–73
144 September 8 Mets 3–0 Veale (12–13) Seaver 5,424 70–73
145 September 9 Phillies 7–8 (15) Short Dal Canton (1–1) 2,664 70–74
146 September 11 Phillies 6–8 (12) Wagner McBean (9–12) Farrell 70–75
147 September 11 Phillies 6–4 Blass (15–5) Wise Walker (3) 2,789 71–75
148 September 13 @ Mets 0–2 Koosman Moose (6–10) 17,245 71–76
149 September 14 @ Mets 6–0 Veale (13–13) Seaver 15,676 72–76
150 September 15 @ Mets 3–0 Blass (16–5) Cardwell 33,838 73–76
151 September 16 @ Phillies 6–1 Ellis (5–4) Wise 2,087 74–76
152 September 17 @ Phillies 4–2 Moose (7–10) Short Dal Canton (1) 2,576 75–76
153 September 18 @ Phillies 1–2 Johnson Veale (13–14) Wagner 2,463 75–77
154 September 20 Cubs 5–0 Blass (17–5) Jenkins 4,478 76–77
155 September 21 Cubs 5–1 Ellis (6–4) Niekro 3,429 77–77
156 September 22 Cubs 5–1 Moose (8–10) Holtzman Dal Canton (2) 27,405 78–77
157 September 23 Reds 6–9 Kelso Kline (11–5) Carroll 78–78
158 September 23 Reds 2–1 (10) Kline (12–5) Kelso 4,232 79–78
159 September 24 Reds 2–0 Blass (18–5) Nolan 4,044 80–78
160 September 25 Reds 0–3 Maloney Ellis (6–5) 4,577 80–79
161 September 27 @ Cubs 1–4 Holtzman Moose (8–11) Regan 2,384 80–80
162 September 28 @ Cubs 3–4 Jenkins Blass (18–6) 10,940 80–81
163 September 29 @ Cubs 4–5 Regan Moose (8–12) 16,860 80–82
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie
Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters
# Name Position
30 Maury Wills 3B
22 Gene Alley SS
21 Roberto Clemente RF
8 Willie Stargell LF
17 Donn Clendenon 1B
9 Bill Mazeroski 2B
18 Matty Alou CF
12 Jerry May C
14 Jim Bunning SP

[12]

Notable transactions

Roster

1968 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Statistics

Batting

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

Pitching

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

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Columbus Jets International League Johnny Pesky
AA York Pirates Eastern League Joe Morgan
A Salem Rebels Carolina League Don Hoak
A Clinton Pilots Midwest League Bob Clear
A Gastonia Pirates Western Carolinas League Frank Oceak
Rookie GCL Pirates Gulf Coast League Buddy Pritchard

Notes

  1. ^ From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
  2. ^ Billy O'Dell at "Baseball Almanac"
  3. ^ Larry Shepard
  4. ^ Dennis Ribant page at Baseball Reference
  5. ^ Chuck Hiller at "Baseball Almanac"
  6. ^ Mets buy Short
  7. ^ Ron Kline at "Baseball Almanac"
  8. ^ Jim Pagliaroni at "Baseball Almanac"
  9. ^ Woodie Fryman page at Baseball Reference
  10. ^ Frank Taveras
  11. ^ Tom Dettore page at Baseball Reference
  12. ^ 1968 Opening Day lineup at "Baseball-Almanac"
  13. ^ Milt May at "Baseball Almanac"
  14. ^ Bruce Kison at "Baseball Almanac"
  15. ^ Juan Pizarro at "Baseball Almanac"
  16. ^ a b Bill Virdon page at Baseball Reference
  17. ^ Bill Henry at "Baseball Almanac"
  18. ^ "Major League Baseball Regular Season Hitting Stats". Pittsburgh Pirates. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
  19. ^ "Major League Baseball Regular Season Pitching Stats". Pittsburgh Pirates. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2016.

References