1976 Pittsburgh Pirates season
Major League Baseball team season
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 National League 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
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
—
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
—
Game log
1976 Game Log: 92–70 (Home: 47–34; Away: 45–36)
April: 8–8 (Home: 4–3; Away: 4–5)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
1
April 10
@ Phillies
5–4 (11)
Demery (1–0)
McGraw
—
42,147
1–0
2
April 11
@ Phillies
8–3
Kison (1–0)
Carlton
Moose (1)
18,373
2–0
3
April 13
Cardinals
14–4
Reuss (1–0)
Falcone
—
40,937
3–0
4
April 15
Cardinals
9–3
Rooker (1–0)
McGlothen
Hernandez (1)
9,490
4–0
5
April 16
Mets
3–1
Medich (1–0)
Lolich
—
19,899
5–0
6
April 17
Mets
1–17
Koosman
Kison (1–1)
—
13,082
5–1
7
April 18
Mets
7–5
Reuss (2–0)
Swan
Hernandez (2)
9,106
6–1
8
April 20
Phillies
1–5
Kaat
Candelaria (0–1)
—
8,800
6–2
9
April 21
Phillies
0–3
Underwood
Medich (1–1)
McGraw
9,175
6–3
10
April 23
@ Giants
3–7
Montefusco
Reuss (2–1)
Lavelle
15,621
6–4
11
April 24
@ Giants
1–3
Halicki
Rooker (1–1)
Lavelle
9,222
6–5
12
April 25
@ Giants
3–0
Candelaria (1–1)
Caldwell
—
23,700
7–5
13
April 26
@ Dodgers
1–7
John
Medich (1–2)
—
23,374
7–6
14
April 27
@ Dodgers
3–5
Rau
Kison (1–2)
Hough
21,612
7–7
15
April 28
@ Dodgers
1–2
Hooton
Reuss (2–2)
—
22,769
7–8
16
April 30
@ Padres
4–3
Rooker (2–1)
Spillner
Moose (2)
17,010
8–8
May: 17–11 (Home: 10–6; Away: 7–5)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
17
May 1
@ Padres
10–6
Candelaria (2–1)
Greif
—
21,773
9–8
18
May 2
@ Padres
2–4
Jones
Medich (1–3)
—
21,702
9–9
19
May 4
Giants
6–5
Reuss (3–2)
Caldwell
Moose (3)
4,729
10–9
20
May 5
Giants
6–1
Kison (2–2)
Halicki
—
6,321
11–9
21
May 6
Giants
3–0
Rooker (3–1)
Barr
Demery (1)
5,111
12–9
22
May 7
Braves
3–1
Candelaria (3–1)
Messersmith
—
6,049
13–9
23
May 8
Braves
5–3
Medich (2–3)
Niekro
Giusti (1)
6,864
14–9
24
May 9
Braves
5–2
Reuss (4–2)
Ruthven
—
9,275
15–9
25
May 11
@ Reds
0–6
Nolan
Kison (2–3)
—
26,850
15–10
26
May 12
@ Reds
6–3
Rooker (4–1)
Gullett
—
26,053
16–10
27
May 14
Dodgers
2–3
Hough
Candelaria (3–2)
Marshall
13,764
16–11
28
May 15
Dodgers
4–2
Medich (3–3)
Rau
Moose (4)
12,165
17–11
29
May 16
Dodgers
0–6
Hooton
Reuss (4–3)
—
15,334
17–12
30
May 17
@ Cardinals
2–1
Kison (3–3)
Curtis
Moose (5)
10,538
18–12
31
May 18
@ Cardinals
4–1
Rooker (5–1)
Hrabosky
—
10,288
19–12
32
May 19
@ Cardinals
7–6
Hernandez (1–0)
Rasmussen
Moose (6)
11,229
20–12
33
May 20
@ Cardinals
1–4
Denny
Medich (3–4)
—
11,315
20–13
34
May 21
Cubs
4–5
Reuschel
Demery (1–1)
Knowles
9,342
20–14
35
May 22
Cubs
4–3 (16)
Moose (1–0)
Reuschel
—
7,081
21–14
36
May 23
Cubs
5–6
Zamora
Tekulve (0–1)
Sutter
21–15
37
May 23
Cubs
9–1
Reuss (5–3)
Garman
—
20,477
22–15
38
May 24
Expos
2–4
Fryman
Candelaria (3–3)
Scherman
5,420
22–16
39
May 25
Expos
3–6 (11)
Granger
Moose (1–1)
—
4,805
22–17
40
May 26
Expos
6–3
Demery (2–1)
Warthen
Candelaria (1)
6,581
23–17
41
May 29
@ Cubs
1–4
Bonham
Kison (3–4)
Zamora
12,357
23–18
42
May 30
@ Cubs
4–2
Rooker (6–1)
Burris
—
19,410
24–18
43
May 31
@ Mets
2–13
Matlack
Reuss (5–4)
—
24–19
44
May 31
@ Mets
2–1
Medich (4–4)
Apodaca
—
46,004
25–19
June: 16–10 (Home: 6–6; Away: 10–4)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
45
June 1
@ Mets
3–2
Candelaria (4–3)
Koosman
—
13,596
26–19
46
June 2
@ Expos
4–2
Kison (4–4)
Fryman
Giusti (2)
11,337
27–19
47
June 3
@ Expos
1–7
Stanhouse
Rooker (6–2)
—
7,951
27–20
48
June 4
Padres
7–2
Reuss (6–4)
Freisleben
—
9,249
28–20
49
June 5
Padres
9–11 (15)
Freisleben
Hernandez (1–1)
—
15,558
28–21
50
June 6
Padres
1–6
Strom
Candelaria (4–4)
—
51,726
28–22
51
June 7
Reds
5–4
Moose (2–1)
McEnaney
Giusti (3)
16,001
29–22
52
June 8
Reds
5–10
Alcala
Rooker (6–3)
McEnaney
17,331
29–23
53
June 9
Reds
1–6
Nolan
Reuss (6–5)
—
18,127
29–24
54
June 10
Reds
1–6
Gullett
Medich (4–5)
—
17,280
29–25
55
June 11
@ Braves
6–2
Candelaria (5–4)
Moret
Moose (7)
13,687
30–25
56
June 12
@ Braves
4–2 (11)
Moose (3–1)
Devine
Tekulve (1)
20,117
31–25
57
June 13
@ Braves
6–5
Demery (3–1)
Leon
Moose (8)
15,656
32–25
58
June 14
@ Astros
2–1
Reuss (7–5)
Richard
—
9,884
33–25
59
June 16
@ Astros
6–3
Medich (5–5)
Andujar
Demery (2)
12,249
34–25
60
June 18
Astros
7–3
Candelaria (6–4)
Richard
—
19,141
35–25
61
June 20
Astros
4–9
Griffin
Moose (3–2)
—
18,670
35–26
62
June 22
@ Cubs
10–7
Demery (4–1)
Knowles
Hernandez (3)
10,116
36–26
63
June 23
@ Cubs
5–6
Zamora
Moose (3–3)
—
17,661
36–27
64
June 24
@ Cubs
1–2 (13)
Zamora
Langford (0–1)
—
3,824
36–28
65
June 25
@ Expos
9–2
Kison (5–4)
Carrithers
—
6,581
37–28
66
June 26
@ Expos
7–6
Demery (5–1)
Murray
—
10,445
38–28
67
June 27
@ Expos
3–4
Fryman
Medich (5–6)
Murray
12,824
38–29
68
June 28
Cubs
9–2
Rooker (7–3)
Coleman
—
7,370
39–29
69
June 29
Cubs
10–1
Candelaria (7–4)
Renko
—
8,774
40–29
70
June 30
Cubs
7–5
Kison (6–4)
Bonham
Moose (9)
10,681
41–29
July: 15–15 (Home: 8–7; Away: 7–8)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
71
July 2
Phillies
10–9 (10)
Hernandez (2–1)
Garber
—
39,328
42–29
72
July 3
Phillies
2–3
McGraw
Moose (3–4)
—
19,327
42–30
73
July 4
Phillies
5–10
Carlton
Demery (5–2)
Reed
42–31
74
July 4
Phillies
7–1
Kison (7–4)
Kaat
—
32,422
43–31
75
July 5
@ Braves
6–8
Dal Canton
Hernandez (2–2)
Marshall
48,467
43–32
76
July 6
@ Braves
2–4
Messersmith
Rooker (7–4)
Marshall
12,448
43–33
77
July 7
@ Braves
9–7
Reuss (8–5)
Ruthven
Moose (10)
11,480
44–33
78
July 9
@ Reds
11–12 (10)
Eastwick
Demery (5–3)
—
44–34
79
July 9
@ Reds
1–2
Norman
Medich (5–7)
—
53,328
44–35
80
July 10
@ Reds
7–1
Candelaria (8–4)
Billingham
—
50,756
45–35
81
July 11
@ Reds
8–5
Tekulve (1–1)
Borbon
Reuss (1)
47,153
46–35
82
July 15
Braves
13–1
Candelaria (9–4)
Niekro
—
10,488
47–35
83
July 16
Braves
7–2
Reuss (9–5)
Messersmith
—
11,151
48–35
84
July 17
Braves
2–10
Ruthven
Kison (7–5)
—
14,776
48–36
85
July 18
Reds
8–9
Billingham
Medich (5–8)
Eastwick
33,697
48–37
86
July 19
Reds
2–4
Zachry
Rooker (7–5)
—
26,585
48–38
87
July 20
Astros
9–5
Candelaria (10–4)
Griffin
Tekulve (2)
49–38
88
July 20
Astros
3–4
Forsch
Giusti (0–1)
—
11,922
49–39
89
July 21
Astros
5–1
Reuss (10–5)
Dierker
—
50–39
90
July 21
Astros
4–1
Demery (6–3)
Andujar
Giusti (4)
12,209
51–39
91
July 22
@ Phillies
0–3
Underwood
Kison (7–6)
Reed
43,050
51–40
92
July 23
@ Phillies
1–11
Lonborg
Medich (5–9)
—
40,120
51–41
93
July 24
@ Phillies
8–5
Rooker (8–5)
Christenson
Giusti (5)
52–41
94
July 24
@ Phillies
1–7
Carlton
Moose (3–5)
—
57,723
52–42
95
July 25
@ Phillies
7–13
Reed
Giusti (0–2)
—
37,692
52–43
96
July 27
@ Cardinals
3–1
Kison (8–6)
Falcone
—
13,953
53–43
97
July 28
@ Mets
1–0 (13)
Giusti (1–2)
Sanders
—
22,215
54–43
98
July 29
@ Mets
2–1 (10)
Tekulve (2–1)
Lockwood
—
12,588
55–43
99
July 30
Expos
4–3 (13)
Tekulve (3–1)
Kerrigan
—
12,774
56–43
100
July 31
Expos
6–7
Murray
Moose (3–6)
—
10,981
56–44
August: 16–13 (Home: 8–8; Away: 8–5)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
101
August 1
Expos
0–2
Rogers
Kison (8–7)
—
17,150
56–45
102
August 2
Cardinals
0–4
Falcone
Medich (5–10)
—
7,553
56–46
103
August 3
Cardinals
2–1
Rooker (9–5)
Greif
—
57–46
104
August 3
Cardinals
2–4
Hrabosky
Giusti (1–3)
Wallace
14,781
57–47
105
August 4
Cardinals
2–1 (12)
Giusti (2–3)
Wallace
—
8,426
58–47
106
August 5
Mets
4–7
Matlack
Reuss (10–6)
Lockwood
7,836
58–48
107
August 7
Mets
12–3
Kison (9–7)
Seaver
—
59–48
108
August 7
Mets
2–4
Espinosa
Medich (5–11)
Lockwood
12,364
59–49
109
August 8
Mets
4–7
Lolich
Rooker (9–6)
—
16,538
59–50
110
August 9
Dodgers
2–0
Candelaria (11–4)
Rau
—
9,860
60–50
111
August 10
Dodgers
1–5
Sutton
Reuss (10–7)
—
13,670
60–51
112
August 11
Dodgers
0–2
Rhoden
Demery (6–4)
—
16,222
60–52
113
August 13
@ Astros
8–5
Tekulve (4–1)
Niekro
—
17,876
61–52
114
August 14
@ Astros
5–4
Giusti (3–3)
Pentz
—
9,721
62–52
115
August 15
@ Astros
8–6
Medich (6–11)
Larson
Tekulve (3)
63–52
116
August 15
@ Astros
3–0
Reuss (11–7)
Sambito
—
16,326
64–52
117
August 17
@ Giants
6–7
Lavelle
Moose (3–7)
Williams
9,215
64–53
118
August 18
@ Giants
12–1 (7)
Rooker (10–6)
Montefusco
—
3,817
65–53
119
August 19
@ Giants
1–0
Candelaria (12–4)
Barr
—
2,709
66–53
120
August 20
@ Dodgers
1–8
Rau
Kison (9–8)
Hough
25,107
66–54
121
August 21
@ Dodgers
1–5
Sutton
Moose (3–8)
—
42,235
66–55
122
August 22
@ Dodgers
6–1
Demery (7–4)
Rhoden
Tekulve (4)
24,295
67–55
123
August 23
@ Padres
4–5
Johnson
Rooker (10–7)
Metzger
18,396
67–56
124
August 24
@ Padres
3–7
Strom
Candelaria (12–5)
—
11,002
67–57
125
August 25
@ Padres
3–0
Kison (10–8)
Freisleben
—
10,963
68–57
126
August 27
Giants
5–2
Demery (8–4)
Montefusco
—
12,580
69–57
127
August 28
Giants
7–1
Rooker (11–7)
D'Acquisto
—
11,043
70–57
128
August 29
Giants
3–2 (11)
Candelaria (13–5)
Moffitt
—
12,972
71–57
129
August 31
Padres
3–0
Reuss (12–7)
Jones
—
9,674
72–57
September: 17–13 (Home: 8–4; Away: 9–9)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
130
September 1
Padres
4–1
Kison (11–8)
Strom
Tekulve (5)
5,381
73–57
131
September 2
Padres
5–0
Demery (9–4)
Freisleben
—
5,545
74–57
132
September 3
@ Expos
9–7
Rooker (12–7)
Stanhouse
Tekulve (6)
75–57
133
September 3
@ Expos
7–2
Candelaria (14–5)
Carrithers
—
6,342
76–57
134
September 4
@ Expos
5–3
Giusti (4–3)
Murray
Tekulve (7)
3,290
77–57
135
September 5
@ Expos
0–1
Fryman
Reuss (12–8)
—
6,180
77–58
136
September 6
Phillies
6–2
Kison (12–8)
Kaat
—
78–58
137
September 6
Phillies
5–1
Demery (10–4)
Underwood
—
41,703
79–58
138
September 8
Phillies
6–1
Rooker (13–7)
Carlton
—
30,976
80–58
139
September 10
Expos
2–4
Fryman
Candelaria (14–6)
—
12,032
80–59
140
September 11
Expos
4–3
Reuss (13–8)
Rogers
Tekulve (8)
7,509
81–59
141
September 12
Expos
6–1
Kison (13–8)
Stanhouse
Tekulve (9)
12,765
82–59
142
September 13
Mets
0–5
Seaver
Demery (10–5)
—
7,892
82–60
143
September 14
Mets
3–4
Lockwood
Rooker (13–8)
—
7,867
82–61
144
September 15
@ Phillies
7–2
Candelaria (15–6)
Kaat
—
45,010
83–61
145
September 16
@ Phillies
7–6
Tekulve (5–1)
Reed
—
35,806
84–61
146
September 17
@ Mets
4–1
Medich (7–11)
Matlack
Giusti (6)
14,304
85–61
147
September 18
@ Mets
2–6
Seaver
Demery (10–6)
—
15,879
85–62
148
September 19
@ Mets
6–7
Espinosa
Giusti (4–4)
Lockwood
18,652
85–63
149
September 20
@ Mets
4–5
Apodaca
Tekulve (5–2)
—
5,922
85–64
150
September 21
@ Cubs
4–3
Kison (14–8)
Renko
Rooker (1)
86–64
151
September 21
@ Cubs
1–2 (13)
Reuschel
Moose (3–9)
—
5,017
86–65
152
September 22
@ Cubs
3–4
Coleman
Tekulve (5–3)
—
3,375
86–66
153
September 23
@ Cubs
5–4 (10)
Giusti (5–4)
Knowles
Kison (1)
2,132
87–66
154
September 24
@ Cardinals
6–10
Forsch
Candelaria (15–7)
—
87–67
155
September 24
@ Cardinals
11–1
Rooker (14–8)
Curtis
—
10,368
88–67
156
September 25
@ Cardinals
0–3
McGlothen
Reuss (13–9)
—
7,858
88–68
157
September 26
@ Cardinals
2–5
Denny
Kison (14–9)
Hrabosky
10,456
88–69
158
September 28
Cubs
5–1
Medich (8–11)
Reuschel
Reuss (2)
2,880
89–69
159
September 29
Cubs
0–1
Renko
Demery (10–7)
—
2,880
89–70
October: 3–0 (Home: 3–0; Away: 0–0)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
160
October 2
Cardinals
8–0
Candelaria (16–7)
McGlothen
—
4,250
90–70
161
October 3
Cardinals
1–0
Rooker (15–8)
Denny
—
91–70
162
October 3
Cardinals
1–0
Reuss (14–9)
Falcone
—
24,228
92–70
Legend: = Win = Loss Bold = Pirates team member
Opening Day lineup
Notable transactions
Roster
1976 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Manager
Coaches
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases
[ 9]
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg.= Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases
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
Awards and honors
1976 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Farm system
Notes
References
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