1972 Pittsburgh Pirates 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 walk-off run coming on a wild pitch.

Offseason November, 1971: Danny Murtaugh steps down as Manager of the Pirates citing health reasons. Coach Bill Virdon is named Manager. January 12, 1972: Larry Demery was drafted by the Pirates in the 7th round of the 1972 Major League Baseball draft (secondary phase).Larry Demery at Baseball Reference March 15, 1972: José Martínez was purchased from the Pirates by the Kansas City Royals.José Martínez at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Detailed records

National League Opponent W L WP NL East Chicago Cubs 12 3 73 41 Montreal Expos 12 6 81 39 New York Mets 6 8 38 38 Philadelphia Phillies 13 5 73 40 Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals 10 8 88 74 Total 53 30 353 232 NL West Atlanta Braves 6 6 60 62 Cincinnati Reds 4 8 50 58 Houston Astros 9 3 56 41 Los Angeles Dodgers 5 7 53 50 San Diego Padres 10 2 65 26 San Francisco Giants 9 3 54 43 Total 43 29 338 280 Season Total 96 59 691 512

Month Games Won Lost Win % April 13 5 8 51 66 May 26 19 7 140 79 June 26 16 10 125 77 July 30 20 10 121 100 August 28 17 11 125 102 September 29 18 11 117 75 October 3 1 2 12 13 Total 155 96 59 691 512 Games Won Lost Win % Home 78 49 29 351 259 Away 77 47 30 340 253 Total 155 96 59 691 512

Game log

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 15 || @ Mets || 0–4 || Seaver || Ellis (0–1) || McGraw || 15,893 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 16 || @ Mets || 2–0 || Blass (1–0) || Gentry || Hernández (1) || 23,241 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 18 || Cubs || 4–6 || Pappas || Moose (0–1) || McGinn || 47,489 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 19 || Cubs || 5–2 || Briles (1–0) || Pizarro || — || 9,171 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 20 || Cubs || 7–5 || Ellis (1–1) || Jenkins || Giusti (1) || 6,529 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 21 || @ Phillies || 3–2 (10) || Hernández (1–0) || Short || — || 13,864 || 4–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 23 || @ Phillies || 4–5 (11) || Brandon || Miller (0–1) || — || 43,438 || 4–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 25 || Reds || 5–2 (13) || Miller (1–1) || McGlothlin || — || 6,509 || 5–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 26 || Reds || 6–7 || Nolan || Blass (1–1) || Borbon || 6,380 || 5–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 27 || Reds || 4–5 || Carroll || Giusti (0–1) || — || 12,504 || 5–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 28 || Braves || 5–13 || Jarvis || Moose (0–2) || McQueen || 12,804 || 5–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 29 || Braves || 5–9 || Kelley || Walker (0–1) || Stone || 10,684 || 5–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 30 || Braves || 1–6 || Niekro || Johnson (0–1) || — || 12,264 || 5–8

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || May 1 || Astros || 8–9 || Ray || Giusti (0–2) || — || 4,788 || 5–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || May 3 || Astros || 3–2 || Ellis (2–1) || Reuss || Kison (1) || 9,522 || 6–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || May 5 || @ Reds || 4–5 (10) || Carroll || Giusti (0–3) || — || 24,722 || 6–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || May 6 || @ Reds || 8–1 || Blass (2–1) || Borbon || — || 12,284 || 7–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || May 7 || @ Reds || 9–6 || Briles (2–0) || Billingham || Moose (1) || 19,281 || 8–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || May 9 || @ Braves || 5–2 || Ellis (3–1) || Kelley || Kison (2) || 7,762 || 9–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || May 10 || @ Braves || 4–8 || Niekro || Johnson (0–2) || — || 6,708 || 9–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || May 12 || @ Astros || 4–2 || Blass (3–1) || Dierker || Miller (1) || 17,863 || 10–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || May 13 || @ Astros || 6–1 (12) || Moose (1–2) || Gladding || Miller (2) || 23,568 || 11–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || May 14 || @ Astros || 6–7 || Wilson || Briles (2–1) || Ray || 14,704 || 11–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || May 15 || Cardinals || 4–1 || Ellis (4–1) || Gibson || — || 8,640 || 12–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || May 16 || Cardinals || 4–3 || Walker (1–1) || Wise || Giusti (2) || 8,272 || 13–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || May 17 || Cardinals || 12–0 || Blass (4–1) || Cleveland || — || 9,188 || 14–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 19 || Expos || 8–0 || Moose (2–2) || Stoneman || — || 41,765 || 15–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 20 || Expos || 6–0 || Ellis (5–1) || Morton || Kison (3) || 11,602 || 16–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 21 || Expos || 1–0 || Walker (2–1) || McAnally || Hernández (2) || 30,418 || 17–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 21 || Expos || 5–3 || Giusti (1–3) || Gilbert || — || 30,418 || 18–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 23 || @ Cardinals || 6–2 || Blass (5–1) || Cleveland || Hernández (3) || 11,795 || 19–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 24 || @ Cardinals || 9–4 (14) || Miller (2–1) || Higgins || — || 10,794 || 20–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 25 || @ Cardinals || 2–4 || Gibson || Ellis (5–2) || — || 9,293 || 20–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 26 || Phillies || 6–4 || Briles (3–1) || Carlton || — || 25,164 || 21–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 27 || Phillies || 1–2 (12) || Brandon || Giusti (1–4) || Short || 19,398 || 21–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 28 || Phillies || 6–5 || Hernández (2–0) || Hoerner || — || 15,236 || 22–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 29 || Phillies || 7–3 || Hernández (3–0) || Fryman || — || 36,464 || 23–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 29 || Phillies || 4–2 || Moose (3–2) || Reynolds || Giusti (3) || 36,464 || 24–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 31 || @ Expos || 2–3 || McAnally || Briles (3–2) || — || 10,565 || 24–15

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || June 2 || @ Giants || 4–7 || Marichal || Johnson (0–3) || — || 6,669 || 24–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || June 3 || @ Giants || 4–3 || Blass (6–1) || McDowell || Giusti (4) || 11,216 || 25–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || June 4 || @ Giants || 4–3 || Miller (3–1) || Johnson || Giusti (5) || || 26–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || June 4 || @ Giants || 9–1 || Kison (1–0) || Williams || — || 19,929 || 27–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || June 7 || @ Padres || 12–5 || Johnson (1–3) || Norman || — || || 28–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || June 7 || @ Padres || 1–0 (18) || Miller (4–1) || Corkins || Johnson (1) || 7,371 || 29–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || June 8 || @ Padres || 11–2 || Moose (4–2) || Arlin || — || 2,949 || 30–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || June 9 || @ Dodgers || 5–1 || Blass (7–1) || Sutton || — || 35,078 || 31–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || June 10 || @ Dodgers || 1–2 || Osteen || Walker (2–2) || Brewer || 38,937 || 31–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || June 11 || @ Dodgers || 7–5 || Kison (2–0) || Mikkelsen || Giusti (6) || 40,846 || 32–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 14 || Giants || 1–3 || McDowell || Ellis (5–3) || — || 14,552 || 32–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || June 15 || Giants || 4–1 || Briles (4–2) || Stone || Giusti (7) || || 33–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || June 15 || Giants || 9–7 || Moose (5–2) || Bryant || Hernández (4) || 21,126 || 34–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 16 || Padres || 2–1 || Blass (8–1) || Norman || — || 17,020 || 35–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 17 || Padres || 0–4 || Kirby || Walker (2–3) || — || 20,718 || 35–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 18 || Padres || 0–1 || Arlin || Kison (2–1) || — || 27,143 || 35–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 19 || Dodgers || 13–3 || Ellis (6–3) || Sutton || Miller (3) || 15,430 || 36–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 21 || Dodgers || 3–5 (10) || Brewer || Moose (5–3) || — || 15,209 || 36–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 23 || @ Cubs || 4–2 || Blass (9–1) || Jenkins || Giusti (8) || 28,177 || 37–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 24 || @ Cubs || 3–1 || Briles (5–2) || Hands || Giusti (9) || 27,543 || 38–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 25 || @ Cubs || 9–2 || Ellis (7–3) || Hooton || Giusti (10) || 35,099 || 39–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 26 || @ Mets || 2–4 || Koosman || Moose (5–4) || McGraw || 48,820 || 39–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 27 || @ Mets || 4–7 || Frisella || Walker (2–4) || — || 38,152 || 39–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 28 || Expos || 1–3 || Stoneman || Blass (9–2) || — || 13,470 || 39–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 29 || Expos || 9–0 || Briles (6–2) || McAnally || — || 18,364 || 40–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 30 || Cubs || 3–4 || Reuschel || Ellis (7–4) || Aker || 22,745 || 40–25

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || July 1 || Cubs || 4–3 || Giusti (2–4) || Jenkins || — || 16,102 || 41–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || July 2 || Cubs || 7–4 || Kison (3–1) || Hands || Hernández (5) || 25,229 || 42–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || July 3 || Cubs || 3–2 || Giusti (3–4) || Hooton || — || 26,933 || 43–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || July 4 || @ Astros || 0–6 || Dierker || Briles (6–3) || — || 31,164 || 43–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || July 5 || @ Astros || 6–4 || Johnson (2–3) || Forsch || — || 23,646 || 44–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 71 || July 6 || @ Astros || 7–3 (17) || Hernández (4–0) || Ray || — || 23,540 || 45–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || July 7 || @ Braves || 10–2 || Walker (3–4) || Kelley || — || || 46–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || July 7 || @ Braves || 2–3 || Hardin || Kison (3–2) || — || 25,253 || 46–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || July 8 || @ Braves || 5–3 || Blass (10–2) || Reed || Giusti (11) || 20,256 || 47–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || July 9 || @ Braves || 7–4 || Briles (7–3) || McLain || — || 20,130 || 48–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || July 11 || @ Reds || 0–5 || Billingham || Moose (5–5) || — || 24,047 || 48–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || July 12 || @ Reds || 3–6 || Simpson || Walker (3–5) || Carroll || 28,058 || 48–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || July 13 || @ Reds || 0–2 || Nolan || Blass (10–3) || Carroll || 32,060 || 48–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || July 14 || Astros || 5–2 || Briles (8–3) || Dierker || — || 24,487 || 49–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || July 15 || Astros || 5–1 || Ellis (8–4) || Forsch || Giusti (12) || 16,202 || 50–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 81 || July 16 || Astros || 3–2 (10) || Giusti (4–4) || Gladding || — || || 51–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 16 || Astros || 3–2 || Kison (4–2) || Wilson || Giusti (13) || 49,341 || 52–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 17 || Braves || 6–5 || Hernández (5–0) || Hoerner || Giusti (14) || 14,866 || 53–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 18 || Braves || 2–4 || Reed || Blass (10–4) || — || 20,162 || 53–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 85 || July 19 || Braves || 8–3 || Briles (9–3) || Niekro || Walker (1) || 24,847 || 54–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 21 || Reds || 5–11 || Borbon || Kison (4–3) || Gullett || 32,255 || 54–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 87 || July 22 || Reds || 3–6 || Sprague || Moose (5–6) || Carroll || 40,837 || 54–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 23 || Reds || 3–2 || Blass (11–4) || Grimsley || Hernández (6) || 29,487 || 55–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 89 || July 27 || Mets || 0–1 (10) || Matlack || Briles (9–4) || — || || 55–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 90 || July 27 || Mets || 7–5 || Moose (6–6) || Koosman || Giusti (15) || 49,886 || 56–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 91 || July 28 || Mets || 3–1 || Ellis (9–4) || Seaver || — || 39,035 || 57–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 29 || @ Phillies || 2–5 || Fryman || Blass (11–5) || Selma || 37,544 || 57–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 29 || @ Phillies || 3–2 || Walker (4–5) || Brandon || Giusti (16) || 37,544 || 58–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"