1972 Pittsburgh Pirates season
Major League Baseball team season
The 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 91st season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 86th in the National League .
Background
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 NLCS . 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 ninth 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
Record vs. opponents
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
Month
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
April
13
5
8
0.385
51
66
May
26
19
7
0.731
140
79
June
26
16
10
0.615
125
77
July
30
20
10
0.667
121
100
August
28
17
11
0.607
125
102
September
29
18
11
0.621
117
75
October
3
1
2
0.333
12
13
Total
155
96
59
0.619
691
512
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
Home
78
49
29
0.628
351
259
Away
77
47
30
0.610
340
253
Total
155
96
59
0.619
691
512
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
[ 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
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
National League Championship Series
Awards and honors
1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Salem, Niagara Falls
Notes
References
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
Franchise Ballparks Culture Lore Rivalries Minors World Series Championships (5) League pennants (9) Division titles (9) Wild Card berths (3) Media
Seasons (144)
1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s