1985 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1985 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 104th season of the franchise; the 99th in the National League. This was their 16th season at Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates finished sixth and last in the National League East with a record of 57–104, 43½ games behind the NL Champion St. Louis Cardinals.

Offseason The team was beset during the offseason with the triple threat of its longtime owner taking bids for the debt laden franchise, rumors of a possible relocation to cities such as Tampa, Denver and New Orleans and the expanding Pittsburgh drug trials.

Off season transactions included: December 12, 1984: Brian Harper and John Tudor were traded by the Pirates to the St. Louis Cardinals for George Hendrick and Steve Barnard (minors).Brian Harper at Baseball Reference December 20, 1984: Jay Buhner, Dale Berra and Alfonso Pulido were traded by the Pirates to the New York Yankees for Steve Kemp, Tim Foli, and cash.Jay Buhner at Baseball Reference January 22, 1985: Sixto Lezcano was signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. February 28, 1985: Rick Reuschel was signed as a free agent by the Pirates.Rick Reuschel at Baseball Reference March 1, 1985: Scott Loucks was signed as a free agent by the Pirates.Scott Loucks at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 9 || @ Cubs || 1–2 || Sutcliffe || Rhoden (0–1) || Smith || 34,551 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 11 || @ Cubs || 1–4 || Trout || DeLeon (0–1) || — || 10,049 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 12 || Cardinals || 6–4 || Robinson (1–0) || Kepshire || Candelaria (1) || 47,335 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 13 || Cardinals || 4–3 || Candelaria (1–0) || Campbell || — || 9,171 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 14 || Cardinals || 4–10 || Andujar || Rhoden (0–2) || — || 12,483 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 15 || Mets || 4–1 || Bielecki (1–0) || Latham || Candelaria (2) || 5,575 || 3–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 16 || Mets || 1–2 || Orosco || Candelaria (1–1) || — || 5,879 || 3–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 17 || Mets || 6–10 || Sisk || McWilliams (0–1) || — || 14,029 || 3–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 19 || @ Cardinals || 4–5 || Andujar || Candelaria (1–2) || Allen || 30,510 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 20 || @ Cardinals || 3–4 || Cox || Tunnell (0–1) || Allen || 32,978 || 3–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 21 || @ Cardinals || 0–6 || Forsch || DeLeon (0–2) || — || 28,880 || 3–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 22 || Cubs || 5–3 || McWilliams (1–1) || Ruthven || Candelaria (3) || 6,329 || 4–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 23 || Cubs || 0–5 || Sutcliffe || Bielecki (1–1) || — || 9,387 || 4–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 24 || Cubs || 2–5 || Trout || Rhoden (0–3) || Smith || 3,981 || 4–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 26 || @ Mets || 0–6 || Darling || DeLeon (0–3) || — || 31,846 || 4–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 27 || @ Mets || 3–2 || McWilliams (2–1) || Orosco || Candelaria (4) || 24,786 || 5–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 28 || @ Mets || 4–5 (18) || Gorman || Tunnell (0–2) || — || 36,423 || 5–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 30 || Padres || 6–2 || Rhoden (1–3) || Hoyt || Holland (1) || 6,166 || 6–12

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || May 1 || Padres || 4–6 || Show || DeLeon (0–4) || Gossage || 3,845 || 6–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || May 3 || Dodgers || 16–2 || McWilliams (3–1) || Honeycutt || — || 17,628 || 7–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || May 4 || Dodgers || 5–6 (10) || Valenzuela || Candelaria (1–3) || — || 14,093 || 7–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || May 5 || Dodgers || 3–2 || Rhoden (2–3) || Niedenfuer || Candelaria (5) || 17,043 || 8–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || May 6 || Giants || 5–7 || Laskey || DeLeon (0–5) || Garrelts || 4,533 || 8–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || May 7 || Giants || 3–5 || Gott || Tunnell (0–3) || Garrelts || 4,587 || 8–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 8 || @ Padres || 2–12 || Hawkins || McWilliams (3–2) || — || 22,092 || 8–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 9 || @ Padres || 0–1 || Thurmond || Bielecki (1–2) || — || 24,882 || 8–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 10 || @ Dodgers || 0–1 || Reuss || Rhoden (2–4) || Howe || 48,681 || 8–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 11 || @ Dodgers || 5–2 (12) || Holland (1–0) || Brennan || — || 42,957 || 9–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 12 || @ Dodgers || 0–2 || Castillo || Tunnell (0–4) || Niedenfuer || 40,924 || 9–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 14 || @ Giants || 1–3 || Krukow || McWilliams (3–3) || — || 4,484 || 9–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 15 || @ Giants || 3–2 || Robinson (2–0) || Garrelts || — || 6,852 || 10–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 17 || Reds || 3–6 || Stuper || DeLeon (0–6) || Power || 7,239 || 10–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 18 || Reds || 0–8 || Browning || Bielecki (1–3) || — || 9,708 || 10–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 19 || Reds || 1–7 || Soto || Tunnell (0–5) || — || 11,990 || 10–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 20 || Astros || 3–1 || Rhoden (3–4) || Niekro || Holland (2) || 4,768 || 11–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 21 || Astros || 3–2 || Reuschel (1–0) || Scott || Candelaria (6) || 5,146 || 12–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 22 || Astros || 3–5 (10) || Dawley || Holland (1–1) || Smith || 10,681 || 12–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 24 || @ Braves || 4–2 || Winn (1–0) || Bedrosian || Candelaria (7) || 18,490 || 13–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 25 || @ Braves || 8–2 || Rhoden (4–4) || Perez || — || 31,177 || 14–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 26 || @ Braves || 4–5 (10) || Dedmon || Krawczyk (0–1) || — || 21,723 || 14–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 27 || @ Astros || 2–4 || Knepper || DeLeon (0–7) || Smith || 9,692 || 14–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 28 || @ Astros || 4–3 (12) || Guante (1–0) || Solano || — || 8,686 || 15–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 29 || @ Astros || 3–8 || Ryan || Krawczyk (0–2) || — || 10,133 || 15–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 31 || Braves || 2–8 || Camp || Rhoden (4–5) || — || 7,822 || 15–29

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || June 1 || Braves || 6–3 || Reuschel (2–0) || Garber || Scurry (1) || 14,579 || 16–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || June 2 || Braves || 5–0 || DeLeon (1–7) || Bedrosian || Holland (3) || 15,034 || 17–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || June 4 || @ Reds || 3–9 || Soto || Guante (1–1) || — || 13,222 || 17–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || June 5 || @ Reds || 9–11 || Pastore || Robinson (2–1) || Franco || 12,540 || 17–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 6 || @ Cubs || 2–3 (12) || Brusstar || Holland (1–2) || — || 22,368 || 17–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 7 || @ Cubs || 0–1 || Sutcliffe || DeLeon (1–8) || — || 37,414 || 17–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 8 || @ Cubs || 3–7 || Trout || McWilliams (3–4) || — || 35,232 || 17–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 9 || @ Cubs || 1–5 || Ruthven || Winn (1–1) || Brusstar || 36,475 || 17–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 10 || Cardinals || 1–6 || Cox || Rhoden (4–6) || — || 5,557 || 17–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || June 11 || Cardinals || 13–2 || Reuschel (3–0) || Allen || — || 4,817 || 18–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 13 || Cardinals || 1–2 || Tudor || McWilliams (3–5) || Lahti || 4,833 || 18–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 14 || Phillies || 3–2 || DeLeon (2–8) || Carman || Robinson (1) || 10,211 || 19–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 15 || Phillies || 3–13 || Denny || Rhoden (4–7) || — || 10,897 || 19–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 16 || Phillies || 2–3 || Hudson || Reuschel (3–1) || Tekulve || 14,451 || 19–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 17 || @ Expos || 5–2 || Winn (2–1) || Palmer || Robinson (2) || 18,634 || 20–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 18 || @ Expos || 4–1 || McWilliams (4–5) || Smith || — || 24,318 || 21–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 19 || @ Expos || 3–4 || Burke || DeLeon (2–9) || Reardon || 10,204 || 21–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 20 || @ Expos || 2–1 || Rhoden (5–7) || Schatzeder || Holland (4) || 15,157 || 22–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 21 || @ Phillies || 3–4 (16) || Andersen || Winn (2–2) || — || 22,493 || 22–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 22 || @ Phillies || 2–5 || Carman || Robinson (2–2) || — || 23,623 || 22–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 23 || @ Phillies || 2–3 || Carman || Winn (2–3) || — || 29,082 || 22–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 25 || Expos || 2–3 || Burke || Holland (1–3) || Reardon || 6,874 || 22–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 26 || Expos || 11–2 || Reuschel (4–1) || O'Connor || — || 16,770 || 23–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 27 || Expos || 2–4 || Palmer || McWilliams (4–6) || Reardon || 9,517 || 23–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 28 || Cubs || 0–5 || Trout || DeLeon (2–10) || — || 16,432 || 23–46 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 29 || Cubs || 6–5 (15) || Reuschel (5–1) || Frazier || — || 13,934 || 24–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 30 || Cubs || 2–9 || Sanderson || Robinson (2–3) || — || 31,384 || 24–47

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || July 1 || @ Mets || 1–0 || Reuschel (6–1) || Fernandez || Candelaria (8) || 21,610 || 25–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || July 2 || @ Mets || 4–5 || Darling || McWilliams (4–7) || McDowell || 22,651 || 25–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || July 3 || @ Mets || 2–6 || Lynch || DeLeon (2–11) || — || 46,220 || 25–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || July 4 || Padres || 1–9 || Show || Rhoden (5–8) || — || 10,102 || 25–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || July 5 || Padres || 5–4 (12) || Reuschel (7–1) || Lefferts || — || 8,986 || 26–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || July 6 || Padres || 8–7 || Candelaria (2–3) || Lefferts || — || 10,281 || 27–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || July 7 || Padres || 0–3 || Hoyt || Reuschel (7–2) || — || 11,608 || 27–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || July 8 || Dodgers || 3–4 || Valenzuela || DeLeon (2–12) || — || 6,537 || 27–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || July 9 || Dodgers || 3–8 || Honeycutt || Rhoden (5–9) || Niedenfuer || 6,748 || 27–53 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 10 || Dodgers || 4–5 || Reuss || Tunnell (0–6) || Howell || 12,934 || 27–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 11 || Giants || 6–4 || Guante (2–1) || Krukow || — || 5,188 || 28–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 12 || Giants || 3–1 || Reuschel (8–2) || Gott || Candelaria (9) || 7,915 || 29–54 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 13 || Giants || 1–4 || LaPoint || DeLeon (2–13) || — || 10,050 || 29–55 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || July 14 || Giants || 3–7 || Laskey || Rhoden (5–10) || Davis || 18,313 || 29–56 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 18 || @ Padres || 2–3 || Lefferts || Candelaria (2–4) || Gossage || 20,740 || 29–57 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 87 || July 19 || @ Padres || 0–6 || Hawkins || DeLeon (2–14) || — || 30,386 || 29–58 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || July 20 || @ Padres || 2–4 || Hoyt || Rhoden (5–11) || Gossage || 36,340 || 29–59 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 21 || @ Padres || 5–2 || Tunnell (1–6) || Show || — || 23,481 || 30–59 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 90 || July 22 || @ Dodgers || 6–3 || McWilliams (5–7) || Honeycutt || Guante (1) || 29,888 || 31–59 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 23 || @ Dodgers || 0–6 || Hershiser || Reuschel (8–3) || — || 33,013 || 31–60 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 24 || @ Dodgers || 1–9 || Welch || Robinson (2–4) || — || 34,051 || 31–61 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 93 || July 25 || @ Giants || 3–4 || Minton || Guante (2–2) || — || 3,821 || 31–62 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 94 || July 26 || @ Giants || 1–3 || Laskey || Tunnell (1–7) || Garrelts || 5,305 || 31–63 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 27 || @ Giants || 3–8 || LaPoint || Robinson (2–5) || Minton || 8,271 || 31–64 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 96 || July 28 || @ Giants || 2–3 (10) || Garrelts || Guante (2–3) || — || 10,976 || 31–65 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 97 || July 30 || Phillies || 0–2 || Gross || Rhoden (5–12) || Tekulve || 7,496 || 31–66 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 98 || July 31 || Phillies || 4–3 (10) || Guante (3–3) || Tekulve || — || 6,797 || 32–66