The 1970 Pittsburgh Pirates season resulted in the team winning their first National League East title with a record of 89–73, five games ahead of the Chicago Cubs. However, they lost the NLCS to the National League West champion Cincinnati Reds, three games to none.
The Pirates were managed by Danny Murtaugh and played their home games at Forbes Field during the first part of the year, before moving into the brand new Three Rivers Stadium on July 16. Coinciding with their move, the Pirates became the first major league team to adopt pullover jerseys and sans-a-belt pants for their uniforms, a style copied by a majority of MLB for the next two decades and which the Pirates themselves would wear through the 1990 season.
Offseason
Three Rivers Stadium In 1958, the Pirates had sold Forbes Field to the University of Pittsburgh, who wanted the land for expanded graduate facilities. Pitt then leased Forbes back to the Pirates until a new multipurpose stadium could be built. The Steelers opted to play at Pitt Stadium in the meantime. In June 1970, the Pirates played their final game at Forbes Field. It was a doubleheader sweep of the Chicago Cubs and Bill Mazeroski got the final hit at Forbes Field.The Best Game Ever, Preface, p.xiii, Jim Reisler, Carroll & Graf Publishers, New York, 2007,
A site on the North Side had been chosen earlier in the year, but it took until April 25, 1968, to finally break ground. Three Rivers Stadium opened on July 16, 1970, and became the home of the Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Notable transactions October 9, 1969: Danny Murtaugh named Manager of the Pirates.Danny Murtaugh October 21, 1969: Dave Giusti and Dave Ricketts were traded to the Pirates by the St. Louis Cardinals for Carl Taylor.Dave Giusti at "Baseball Almanac" February 4, 1970: Bo Belinsky was traded by the Pirates to the Cincinnati Reds for Dennis Ribant.Bo Belinsky at Baseball Reference
Regular season June 12, 1970: Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres.Dock Ellis No Hitter Allegedly, Ellis pitched the no-hitter on acid. According to Ellis, in Donald Hall's book, In the Country of Baseball, the Pirates were starting a west-coast road trip. After the Pirates landed in San Diego, Ellis visited his hometown of Los Angeles for a party. Ellis had forgotten he was slated to pitch the next day, so he took some acid the night before the game. At around 10 a.m., after catching maybe an hour of sleep, he realized he was in the wrong place.ESPN.com – Page2 – The List: Baseball's biggest rumors
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Detailed records
National League Opponent W L WP NL East Chicago Cubs 10 8 87 88 Montreal Expos 9 9 78 68 New York Mets 12 6 80 72 Philadelphia Phillies 14 4 68 39 Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals 12 6 83 68 Total 57 33 396 335 NL West Atlanta Braves 6 6 69 73 Cincinnati Reds 4 8 45 57 Houston Astros 6 6 64 56 Los Angeles Dodgers 6 6 40 38 San Diego Padres 6 6 56 43 San Francisco Giants 4 8 59 62 Total 32 40 333 329 Season Total 89 73 729 664
Month Games Won Lost Win % April 19 11 8 73 74 May 30 12 18 138 154 June 28 17 11 97 84 July 27 16 11 138 117 August 29 14 15 156 132 September 28 18 10 118 98 October 1 1 0 9 5 Total 162 89 73 729 664 Games Won Lost Win % Home 82 50 32 356 315 Away 80 39 41 373 349 Total 162 89 73 729 664
Game log
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 7 || Mets || 3–5 (11) || Taylor || Hartenstein (0–1) || McGraw || 34,249 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 9 || Mets || 2–1 || Ellis (1–0) || Koosman || — || 9,884 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 10 || @ Phillies || 0–2 || Fryman || Veale (0–1) || — || 3,663 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 11 || @ Phillies || 4–0 || Walker (1–0) || Jackson || Hartenstein (1) || 7,673 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 12 || @ Phillies || 3–1 (10) || Blass (1–0) || Bunning || — || 22,395 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 14 || @ Mets || 6–4 (10) || Hartenstein (1–1) || McGraw || — || 41,679 || 4–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 16 || @ Mets || 7–4 || Dal Canton (1–0) || Cardwell || — || 8,623 || 5–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || || Cardinals || 2–5 || Culver || Blass (1–1) || — || 14,369 || 5–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || || Cardinals || 1–6 || Carlton || Walker (1–1) || — || 8,465 || 5–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 20 || Astros || 3–1 || Ellis (2–0) || Bouton || Giusti (1) || 4,051 || 6–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 21 || Astros || 9–8 || Veale (1–1) || Dierker || Gibbon (1) || 3,589 || 7–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 22 || Astros || 6–1 || Blass (2–1) || Lemaster || — || 6,178 || 8–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || || Braves || 8–6 || Walker (2–1) || Jarvis || Giusti (2) || 4,987 || 9–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || || Braves || 0–9 || Nash || Moose (0–1) || — || 5,413 || 9–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || || Braves || 8–7 || Giusti (1–0) || Wilhelm || McBean (1) || 7,125 || 10–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || || Braves || 0–2 || Niekro || Veale (1–2) || — || 15,307 || 10–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 27 || Cubs || 0–1 || Decker || Blass (2–2) || Regan || 6,635 || 10–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 28 || Cubs || 6–1 || Walker (3–1) || Holtzman || Giusti (3) || 6,717 || 11–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 29 || Cubs || 5–10 || Hands || Moose (0–2) || Regan || 7,900 || 11–8
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || May 1 || @ Reds || 4–6 || Simpson || Ellis (2–1) || Gullett || 19,470 || 11–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || May 2 || @ Reds || 2–7 || McGlothlin || Veale (1–3) || — || 7,721 || 11–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || May 3 || @ Reds || 7–11 || Merritt || Blass (2–3) || Carroll || 15,219 || 11–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || || @ Braves || 3–5 || Nash || Walker (3–2) || Priddy || 7,457 || 11–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || || @ Braves || 6–12 || Stone || Moose (0–3) || Wilhelm || 9,199 || 11–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || || @ Braves || 0–3 || Niekro || Ellis (2–2) || — || 9,782 || 11–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || May 7 || @ Astros || 9–5 || Walker (4–2) || Bouton || Giusti (4) || 11,678 || 12–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 8 || @ Astros || 5–7 || Ray || Blass (2–4) || — || 13,383 || 12–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 9 || @ Astros || 6–3 || Moose (1–3) || Griffin || — || 15,137 || 13–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 10 || @ Astros || 2–9 || Dierker || Ellis (2–3) || — || 16,768 || 13–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 11 || Reds || 4–1 || Veale (2–3) || McGlothlin || — || 7,722 || 14–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 12 || Reds || 3–5 || Merritt || Blass (2–5) || — || 7,502 || 14–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || || @ Cardinals || 5–1 || Moose (2–3) || Gibson || Giusti (5) || 12,677 || 15–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || || @ Cardinals || 7–11 || Johnson || Garber (0–1) || — || 10,840 || 15–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 15 || Expos || 1–2 || McGinn || Veale (2–4) || — || 7,883 || 15–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 16 || Expos || 4–3 || Walker (5–2) || Raymond || — || 4,237 || 16–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 17 || Expos || 7–8 || Strohmayer || Garber (0–2) || Raymond || 8,604 || 16–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 18 || Phillies || 2–1 || Moose (3–3) || Bunning || — || 5,796 || 17–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 19 || Phillies || 0–2 || Short || Ellis (2–4) || — || 6,251 || 17–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 20 || Phillies || 3–2 (14) || Dal Canton (2–0) || Selma || — || 5,977 || 18–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 21 || @ Expos || 6–7 || Dillman || Walker (5–3) || — || 13,346 || 18–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 22 || @ Expos || 3–6 || Stoneman || Moose (3–4) || — || 10,576 || 18–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 23 || @ Expos || 8–4 || Ellis (3–4) || McGinn || Giusti (6) || 28,702 || 19–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 24 || @ Expos || 3–0 || Veale (3–4) || Morton || — || 29,306 || 20–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 26 || @ Cubs || 3–6 || Holtzman || Blass (2–6) || — || 12,440 || 20–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 27 || @ Cubs || 4–0 || Moose (4–4) || Jenkins || — || 11,002 || 21–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 28 || @ Cubs || 7–8 || Colborn || Garber (0–3) || — || 10,805 || 21–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 29 || Giants || 6–3 || Veale (4–4) || Robertson || Giusti (7) || 11,497 || 22–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 30 || Giants || 11–13 || Bryant || Blass (2–7) || Faul || 10,658 || 22–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || May 31 || Giants || 7–3 || Moose (5–4) || Marichal || Giusti (8) || 9,515 || 23–26
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || || Padres || 5–1 || Ellis (4–4) || Coombs || — || 5,036 || 24–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || || Padres || 8–14 || Herbel || Veale (4–5) || Dukes || 4,747 || 24–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || || Dodgers || 0–5 || Osteen || Blass (2–8) || — || 5,423 || 24–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || || Dodgers || 3–0 || Moose (6–4) || Moeller || — || 7,691 || 25–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || || Dodgers || 7–6 (12) || Giusti (2–0) || Pena || — || 13,153 || 26–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || || Dodgers || 3–1 || Veale (5–5) || Foster || — || 11,243 || 27–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 9 || @ Giants || 5–1 || Blass (3–8) || Marichal || — || 4,250 || 28–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 10 || @ Giants || 2–4 || Perry || Moose (6–5) || — || 3,732 || 28–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || || @ Padres || 2–0 || Ellis (5–4) || Roberts || — || || 29–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || || @ Padres || 2–5 || Coombs || Veale (5–6) || — || 9,903 || 29–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || || @ Padres || 7–2 || Blass (4–8) || Santorini || — || 7,105 || 30–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || || @ Padres || 1–2 || Kirby || Moose (6–6) || — || 15,781 || 30–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || || @ Dodgers || 5–2 || Nelson (1–0) || Moeller || Giusti (9) || 14,490 || 31–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || || @ Dodgers || 0–1 || Sutton || Veale (5–7) || — || 20,069 || 31–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || || @ Dodgers || 0–4 || Osteen || Ellis (5–5) || — || 17,327 || 31–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 19 || Expos || 8–4 || Dal Canton (3–0) || Dillman || Walker (1) || 9,707 || 32–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 20 || Expos || 4–2 || Blass (5–8) || Morton || Giusti (10) || 5,148 || 33–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 21 || Expos || 2–3 || Nye || Veale (5–8) || — || 12,325 || 33–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || || Cardinals || 1–6 || Reuss || Ellis (5–6) || — || || 33–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || || Cardinals || 1–0 (10) || Nelson (2–0) || Linzy || — || 15,158 || 34–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || || Cardinals || 7–2 || Moose (7–6) || Taylor || — || 7,654 || 35–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 71 || || Cardinals || 4–3 (11) || Walker (6–3) || McCool || — || 8,095 || 36–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || || Cardinals || 3–2 || Giusti (3–0) || Carlton || — || 9,910 || 37–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 27 || Cubs || 2–1 || Ellis (6–6) || Jenkins || — || 10,188 || 38–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 28 || Cubs || 3–2 || Giusti (4–0) || Hands || Walker (2) || || 39–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || June 28 || Cubs || 4–1 || Nelson (3–0) || Pappas || Giusti (11) || 40,918 || 40–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || June 29 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Seaver || Blass (5–9) || — || 42,416 || 40–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || June 30 || @ Mets || 6–7 || Koosman || Veale (5–9) || Taylor || 38,681 || 40–37
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || July 1 || @ Mets || 4–3 || Ellis (7–6) || McAndrew || Giusti (12) || 34,316 || 41–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || July 3 || @ Cubs || 16–14 || Giusti (5–0) || Regan || — || 26,602 || 42–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || July 4 || @ Cubs || 10–6 || Blass (6–9) || Holtzman || Walker (3) || || 43–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 4 || @ Cubs || 2–7 || Pappas || Veale (5–10) || Gura || 26,634 || 43–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 5 || @ Cubs || 5–2 || Ellis (8–6) || Jenkins || — || 25,569 || 44–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 6 || @ Phillies || 7–5 || Nelson (4–0) || Bunning || Giusti (13) || 6,145 || 45–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"