1988 Pittsburgh Pirates season
Major League Baseball team season
1988 Pittsburgh PiratesLeague National League Division East Ballpark Three Rivers Stadium City Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania [ 1] Record 85–75 (.531) Divisional place 2nd Owners Pittsburgh Associates General managers Syd Thrift Larry Doughty Managers Jim Leyland Television KDKA-TV (Steve Blass , Lanny Frattare , Jim Rooker , John Sanders ) KBL (Steve Blass , Lanny Frattare , Jim Rooker , John Sanders ) Radio KDKA-AM (Steve Blass , Lanny Frattare , Jim Rooker , John Sanders )
The 1988 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 107th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 102nd in the National League . This was their 19th season at Three Rivers Stadium . The Pirates finished second in the National League East with a record of 85–75.
Offseason
Regular season
Season standings
Game log
1988 Game Log: 85–75 (Home: 43–38; Away: 42–37)
April: 16–6 (Home: 8–1; Away: 8–5)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
1
April 5
@ Phillies
5–3
Dunne
Rawley
Robinson
46,394
1–0
2
April 6
@ Phillies
5–6 (14)
Maddux
Kipper
—
15,532
1–1
3
April 8
@ Cardinals
4–3
Fisher
Cox
Robinson
51,647
2–1
4
April 9
@ Cardinals
0–3
Mathews
Walk
Worrell
36,542
2–2
5
April 10
@ Cardinals
5–3 (11)
Kipper
Worrell
Gott
31,968
3–2
6
April 11
Phillies
5–1
Drabek
Gross
—
54,089
4–2
7
April 13
Phillies
7–0
Fisher
Ruffin
—
9,825
5–2
8
April 14
Phillies
4–2
Walk
Carman
Robinson
6,222
6–2
9
April 15
@ Cubs
0–6
Sutcliffe
Smiley
—
35,084
6–3
10
April 16
@ Cubs
4–0
Drabek
Maddux
—
30,564
7–3
11
April 17
@ Cubs
12–7
Robinson
Schiraldi
—
29,562
8–3
12
April 19
Cardinals
3–0
Fisher
Cox
—
5,048
9–3
13
April 20
Cardinals
8–1
Walk
Mathews
—
15,522
10–3
14
April 21
Cardinals
3–9
O'Neal
Smiley
—
6,833
10–4
15
April 22
Cubs
8–4
Drabek
Lancaster
—
16,250
11–4
16
April 23
Cubs
5–4
Gott
Gossage
—
20,214
12–4
17
April 24
Cubs
4–2
Walk
Sutcliffe
Robinson
19,934
13–4
18
April 26
@ Giants
2–0
Smiley
Reuschel
Gott
11,738
14–4
19
April 27
@ Giants
4–6
Dravecky
Drabek
Price
10,137
14–5
20
April 28
@ Giants
2–1 (10)
Robinson
Lefferts
Gott
10,520
15–5
21
April 29
@ Padres
3–6
Hawkins
Palacios
Davis
16,185
15–6
22
April 30
@ Padres
5–1
Walk
Grant
—
24,357
16–6
May: 14–14 (Home: 10–6; Away: 4–8)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
23
May 1
@ Padres
4–2
Smiley
Show
Gott
21,694
17–6
24
May 2
@ Dodgers
3–6
Orosco
Drabek
—
26,821
17–7
25
May 3
@ Dodgers
6–14
Belcher
Dunne
—
26,943
17–8
26
May 4
@ Dodgers
5–8
Hershiser
Palacios
—
30,423
17–9
27
May 6
Padres
4–1 (12)
Jones
Davis
—
25,045
18–9
28
May 7
Padres
2–3
Show
Gott
—
24,555
18–10
29
May 8
Padres
6–2
Drabek
Jones
—
20,756
19–10
30
May 9
Giants
6–8
Robinson
Robinson
Lefferts
6,388
19–11
31
May 10
Giants
6–2
Palacios
Downs
Gott
9,275
20–11
32
May 11
Dodgers
2–1 (11)
Medvin
Pena
—
26,367
21–11
33
May 12
Dodgers
7–4
Smiley
Hershiser
—
11,072
22–11
34
May 13
Reds
6–5
Robinson
Murphy
—
31,705
23–11
35
May 14
Reds
3–5
Soto
Dunne
Franco
28,059
23–12
36
May 15
Reds
6–7 (12)
Franco
Jones
—
33,789
23–13
37
May 16
@ Astros
2–9
Deshaies
Walk
—
13,570
23–14
38
May 17
@ Astros
2–3
Scott
Smiley
Smith
15,000
23–15
39
May 18
@ Astros
2–4
Ryan
Drabek
Smith
19,259
23–16
40
May 20
Braves
10–3
Dunne
Glavine
—
18,880
24–16
41
May 21
Braves
7–3
Fisher
Coffman
—
21,211
25–16
42
May 22
Braves
4–6
Mahler
Walk
Sutter
32,683
25–17
43
May 23
Astros
0–3
Scott
Smiley
—
7,480
25–18
44
May 24
Astros
5–4
Gott
Andersen
—
8,200
26–18
45
May 25
Astros
4–3
Dunne
Andujar
Robinson
8,108
27–18
46
May 27
@ Reds
3–5
Pacillo
Fisher
Franco
29,445
27–19
47
May 28
@ Reds
5–2
Walk
Browning
Robinson
42,232
28–19
48
May 29
@ Reds
4–2
Smiley
Rasmussen
Gott
30,660
29–19
49
May 30
@ Braves
14–2
Drabek
Smith
—
6,893
30–19
50
May 31
@ Braves
1–11
Glavine
Dunne
—
4,483
30–20
June: 13–14 (Home: 6–10; Away: 7–4)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
51
June 1
@ Braves
2–14
Mahler
Fisher
—
6,059
30–21
52
June 2
Expos
3–7
Heaton
Walk
Hesketh
11,070
30–22
53
June 3
Expos
2–1
Smiley
Dopson
—
19,162
31–22
54
June 4
Expos
3–7
Martinez
Drabek
McClure
30,669
31–23
55
June 5
Expos
2–3
Smith
Dunne
Parrett
36,305
31–24
56
June 7
Cubs
5–8
Maddux
Fisher
Gossage
9,287
31–25
57
June 8
Cubs
5–1
Walk
Schiraldi
—
22,220
32–25
58
June 9
Cubs
4–3
Gott
DiPino
—
8,200
33–25
59
June 10
Phillies
10–12
Harris
Robinson
Bedrosian
20,001
33–26
60
June 11
Phillies
8–2
Dunne
Palmer
—
19,926
34–26
61
June 12
Phillies
4–5
Gross
Fisher
Bedrosian
36,134
34–27
62
June 13
@ Cubs
8–0
Walk
Schiraldi
—
27,142
35–27
63
June 14
@ Cubs
6–3
Smiley
Moyer
Robinson
28,077
36–27
64
June 15
@ Cubs
4–7
Perry
Gott
Gossage
26,126
36–28
65
June 17
Cardinals
3–7
Magrane
Dunne
—
30,267
36–29
66
June 18
Cardinals
3–6
Tudor
Fisher
Terry
36,682
36–30
67
June 19
Cardinals
3–2
Walk
McWilliams
Gott
27,656
37–30
68
June 20
@ Mets
8–5
Smiley
Ojeda
Robinson
42,413
38–30
69
June 21
@ Mets
0–9
Darling
Drabek
—
45,225
38–31
70
June 22
@ Mets
0–3
Gooden
Dunne
Myers
41,816
38–32
71
June 23
@ Expos
6–4
Robinson
Parrett
Gott
14,839
39–32
72
June 24
@ Expos
5–3 (10)
Gott
McClure
Jones
15,781
40–32
73
June 25
@ Expos
5–1
Smiley
Holman
—
17,777
41–32
74
June 26
@ Expos
3–0 (10)
Robinson
Burke
—
26,593
42–32
75
June 27
Mets
2–1
Dunne
Gooden
Gott
41,489
43–32
76
June 28
Mets
2–5
Fernandez
Fisher
McDowell
45,011
43–33
77
June 29
Mets
7–8 (11)
McDowell
Kipper
—
41,217
43–34
July: 15–11 (Home: 7–4; Away: 8–7)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
78
July 1
@ Giants
5–2 (10)
Robinson
Hammaker
—
39,484
44–34
79
July 2
@ Giants
1–2
LaCoss
Rucker
Garrelts
22,355
44–35
80
July 3
@ Giants
0–4
Downs
Dunne
—
25,463
44–36
81
July 4
@ Padres
3–4 (10)
Davis
Gott
—
35,406
44–37
82
July 5
@ Padres
3–2
Walk
Jones
Jones
10,415
45–37
83
July 7
@ Padres
2–0
Smiley
Hawkins
Gott
16,076
46–37
84
July 8
@ Dodgers
4–3
Drabek
Leary
Gott
40,690
47–37
85
July 9
@ Dodgers
8–2
Dunne
Hillegas
—
46,662
48–37
86
July 10
@ Dodgers
7–2
Walk
Hershiser
—
43,014
49–37
87
July 14
Giants
9–2
Fisher
Reuschel
—
28,325
50–37
88
July 15
Giants
8–5
Kipper
Downs
Gott
28,315
51–37
89
July 16
Giants
10–1
Drabek
LaCoss
—
28,997
52–37
90
July 17
Giants
5–4
Robinson
Price
Gott
25,512
53–37
91
July 19
Padres
2–6
Jones
Smiley
—
53–38
92
July 19
Padres
9–5
Fisher
Hawkins
—
15,847
54–38
93
July 20
Padres
3–2
Walk
Rasmussen
Gott
24,575
55–38
94
July 21
Dodgers
3–2
Drabek
Hershiser
Gott
27,510
56–38
95
July 22
Dodgers
2–4
Belcher
Dunne
Howell
44,888
56–39
96
July 23
Dodgers
2–6
Leary
Smiley
—
35,817
56–40
97
July 24
Dodgers
1–2
Hillegas
Fisher
Howell
35,677
56–41
98
July 25
@ Cardinals
1–5
Tudor
Walk
—
30,763
56–42
99
July 26
@ Cardinals
2–1
Drabek
Cox
Gott
32,735
57–42
100
July 27
@ Cardinals
3–2 (10)
Robinson
Dayley
Gott
31,618
58–42
101
July 29
@ Mets
0–1
Ojeda
Smiley
—
49,584
58–43
102
July 30
@ Mets
0–3
Fernandez
Fisher
Myers
50,815
58–44
103
July 31
@ Mets
1–2
Darling
Walk
—
46,917
58–45
August: 13–17 (Home: 6–10; Away: 7–7)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
104
August 1
@ Mets
7–2
Drabek
Gooden
—
52,231
59–45
105
August 2
Expos
3–2 (10)
Gott
Heaton
—
12,296
60–45
106
August 3
Expos
4–6
Perez
Smiley
Burke
16,099
60–46
107
August 4
Expos
2–3
Dopson
Fisher
Burke
17,726
60–47
108
August 5
Mets
2–3
Darling
Walk
Myers
39,925
60–48
109
August 6
Mets
3–5
McClure
Gott
McDowell
48,272
60–49
110
August 7
Mets
2–6
Cone
Kipper
—
44,931
60–50
111
August 8
Mets
1–0
Reed
Ojeda
Gott
38,307
61–50
112
August 9
@ Expos
10–8
Fisher
Dopson
Gott
37,681
62–50
113
August 10
@ Expos
4–5
Martinez
Walk
Burke
29,196
62–51
114
August 11
@ Expos
6–1
Drabek
Holman
Gott
33,599
63–51
115
August 12
@ Phillies
1–9
Gross
Dunne
—
63–52
116
August 12
@ Phillies
4–6
Bedrosian
Kipper
—
37,673
63–53
117
August 13
@ Phillies
10–4
Robinson
Harris
—
35,432
64–53
118
August 14
@ Phillies
9–8
Gott
Bedrosian
—
36,468
65–53
119
August 15
Braves
3–4
Puleo
Walk
Olwine
12,112
65–54
120
August 16
Braves
4–2
Drabek
Smith
Gott
13,994
66–54
121
August 17
Braves
2–1
LaPoint
Glavine
Gott
33,164
67–54
122
August 19
Astros
1–5
Darwin
Dunne
—
26,352
67–55
123
August 20
Astros
2–1
Smiley
Ryan
Gott
23,183
68–55
124
August 21
Astros
1–2 (14)
Agosto
Kipper
—
38,290
68–56
125
August 22
Reds
0–2
Jackson
Drabek
—
17,540
68–57
126
August 23
Reds
2–0
LaPoint
Charlton
Gott
13,406
69–57
127
August 24
Reds
2–6
Browning
Dunne
—
24,660
69–58
128
August 26
@ Astros
0–2
Deshaies
Smiley
—
27,650
69–59
129
August 27
@ Astros
1–3
Meads
Walk
Agosto
25,993
69–60
130
August 28
@ Astros
4–3
Drabek
Darwin
Gott
20,368
70–60
131
August 29
@ Reds
8–1
LaPoint
Brown
—
19,519
71–60
132
August 30
@ Reds
4–6
Jackson
Fisher
Franco
17,429
71–61
133
August 31
@ Reds
1–4
Charlton
Gott
Franco
18,586
71–62
September: 14–11 (Home: 6–7; Away: 8–4)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
134
September 2
@ Braves
1–2
Assenmacher
Gott
—
7,938
71–63
135
September 5
Mets
5–7
Cone
Robinson
Myers
38,876
71–64
136
September 6
Mets
3–2
Smiley
Ojeda
Gott
21,296
72–64
137
September 7
Expos
5–4
Drabek
Smith
Gott
16,494
73–64
138
September 8
Expos
4–5
Perez
Robinson
Hesketh
11,289
73–65
139
September 9
Phillies
5–2
Dunne
Sebra
Gott
15,446
74–65
140
September 10
Phillies
5–1
LaPoint
Rawley
—
27,804
75–65
141
September 11
Phillies
4–7
Freeman
Smiley
—
18,132
75–66
142
September 12
@ Mets
2–3
Myers
Robinson
—
39,576
75–67
143
September 13
@ Mets
1–0
Walk
Gooden
Gott
36,633
76–67
144
September 14
@ Expos
4–1 (12)
Fisher
Burke
—
10,886
77–67
145
September 15
@ Expos
4–9
Johnson
LaPoint
McGaffigan
9,494
77–68
146
September 16
@ Phillies
7–5
Robinson
Harris
Gott
17,446
78–68
147
September 17
@ Phillies
7–2
Drabek
Carman
Robinson
14,528
79–68
148
September 18
@ Phillies
5–6 (10)
Bedrosian
Kramer
—
21,282
79–69
149
September 19
@ Cardinals
5–4
Robinson
Dayley
Gott
19,683
80–69
150
September 20
@ Cardinals
5–1
Medvin
Terry
Gott
27,441
81–69
151
September 21
@ Cardinals
5–0
Smiley
DeLeon
—
28,350
82–69
152
September 23
Cubs
3–5 (10)
Moyer
Kipper
—
19,552
82–70
153
September 24
Cubs
1–2
Gossage
Rucker
DiPino
16,161
82–71
154
September 25
Cubs
7–4
Kramer
Sutcliffe
Gott
23,095
83–71
155
September 26
Cardinals
1–7
DeLeon
LaPoint
—
9,044
83–72
156
September 27
Cardinals
3–2
Smiley
Hill
Gott
8,994
84–72
157
September 28
Cardinals
1–2
Magrane
Drabek
—
21,004
84–73
158
September 30
@ Cubs
10–9 (10)
Medvin
Gossage
Fisher
9,805
85–73
October: 0–2 (Home: 0–0; Away: 0–2)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
159
October 1
@ Cubs
7–9
Blankenship
Kramer
Schiraldi
21,433
85–74
160
October 2
@ Cubs
4–8
Moyer
Smiley
—
22,909
85–75
Legend: = Win = Loss Bold = Pirates team member
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
5–13
5–13
4–14
4–8
4–8
6–6
5–5
8–10
5–13
3–9
Chicago
7–5
—
6–6
7–5
4–8–1
9–9
9–9
8–10
7–11
8–4
5–7
7–11
Cincinnati
13–5
6–6
—
9–9
7–11
5–7
4–7
9–3
7–5
10–8
11–7
6–6
Houston
13–5
5–7
9–9
—
9–9
6–6
5–7
8–4
8–4
6–12
7–11
6–6
Los Angeles
14–4
8–4–1
11–7
9–9
—
8–4
1–10
11–1
6–6
7–11
12–6
7–5
Montreal
8–4
9–9
7–5
6–6
4–8
—
6–12
9–9–1
8–10
4–8
7–5
13–5
New York
8–4
9–9
7–4
7–5
10–1
12–6
—
10–8
12–6
7–5
4–8
14–4
Philadelphia
6-6
10–8
3–9
4–8
1–11
9–9–1
8–10
—
7–11
4–7
7–5
6–12
Pittsburgh
5–5
11–7
5–7
4–8
6–6
10–8
6–12
11–7
—
8–4
8–4
11–7
San Diego
10–8
4–8
8–10
12–6
11–7
8–4
5–7
7–4
4–8
—
8–10
6–6
San Francisco
13–5
7–5
7–11
11–7
6–12
5–7
8–4
5–7
4–8
10–8
—
7–5
St. Louis
9–3
11–7
6–6
6–6
5–7
5–13
4–14
12–6
7–11
6–6
5–7
—
Detailed records
Month
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
April
22
16
6
0.727
98
68
May
28
14
14
0.500
129
128
June
27
13
14
0.481
113
127
July
26
15
11
0.577
94
74
August
30
13
17
0.433
103
110
September
25
14
11
0.560
103
92
October
2
0
2
0.000
11
17
Total
160
85
75
0.531
651
616
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
Home
81
43
38
0.531
326
298
Away
79
42
37
0.532
325
318
Total
160
85
75
0.531
651
616
Roster
1988 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Manager
Coaches
Opening Day lineup
Player stats
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
Awards and honors
1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Farm system
References
Franchise Ballparks Culture Lore Rivalries Minors World Series Championships (5) League pennants (9) Division titles (9) Wild Card berths (3) Media
Seasons (144)
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