The 1959 Major League Baseball season saw the Pittsburgh Pirates finish in fourth place in the National League at 78–76, nine games behind the NL and World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Pirates set the record for most extra innings victories in a season, winning 19 of their 21 extra inning games.
Offseason January 30, 1959: Whammy Douglas, Jim Pendleton, Frank Thomas, and John Powers were traded by the Pirates to the Cincinnati Reds for Smoky Burgess, Harvey Haddix and Don Hoak.Smoky Burgess at Baseball Reference Prior to 1959 season: Dick Rand was traded by the Pirates to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tom Burgess.Dick Rand at Baseball Reference
Regular season May 26, 1959: Harvey Haddix took a perfect game into the 13th inning of a game against the Milwaukee Braves. Haddix retired 36 consecutive batters in 12 innings, but lost the game 1–0. Braves pitcher Lew Burdette also pitched a shutout for 13 full innings, giving up 12 hits. NOTE: On September 4, 1991, MLB redefined no-hitters to no longer include games in which the first hit was surrendered in extra innings. Until then, Haddix had been credited with a perfect game.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 9 || @ Reds || 1–4 || Purkey || Kline (0–1) || — || 32,190 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 10 || Braves || 0–8 || Spahn || Friend (0–1) || — || 33,317 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 11 || Braves || 3–4 || Burdette || Law (0–1) || — || 11,800 || 0–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 14 || @ Reds || 2–3 || Purkey || Witt (0–1) || — || 7,631 || 0–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 15 || @ Reds || 5–10 || Nuxhall || Friend (0–2) || Mabe || 3,228 || 0–5 |- bgcolor="ffffff" | 6 || April 17 || @ Braves || 2–2 || || || — || 8,562 || 0–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 18 || @ Braves || 11–5 || Law (1–1) || Buhl || — || 15,703 || 1–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 22 || Reds || 9–8 || Face (1–0) || Pena || — || 16,038 || 2–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 23 || Reds || 2–5 || Lawrence || Witt (0–2) || — || 18,819 || 2–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 24 || @ Phillies || 8–5 || Face (2–0) || Schroll || — || 15,675 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 25 || @ Phillies || 4–2 || Haddix (1–0) || Morehead || — || 6,678 || 4–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 26 || @ Phillies || 9–2 || Law (2–1) || Cardwell || — || || 5–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 26 || @ Phillies || 5–10 || Meyer || Friend (0–3) || — || 19,266 || 5–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 27 || Dodgers || 3–9 || Drysdale || Witt (0–3) || — || 10,689 || 5–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 29 || Giants || 3–2 || Kline (1–1) || Antonelli || — || 19,799 || 6–8
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || May 1 || Cardinals || 6–7 || Mizell || Friend (0–4) || Brosnan || 18,950 || 6–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || May 2 || Cardinals || 2–1 || Haddix (2–0) || McDaniel || — || 10,758 || 7–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || May 3 || Cardinals || 4–3 (10) || Face (3–0) || Brosnan || — || || 8–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || May 3 || Cardinals || 1–3 || Blaylock || Daniels (0–1) || McDaniel || 26,080 || 8–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || May 4 || Cubs || 2–1 || Kline (2–1) || Anderson || Face (1) || 14,421 || 9–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || May 5 || Cubs || 3–6 || Hobbie || Friend (0–5) || — || 17,429 || 9–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || May 6 || Cubs || 0–3 || Hillman || Haddix (2–1) || — || 5,860 || 9–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || May 7 || Phillies || 5–4 (10) || Face (4–0) || Owens || — || 10,358 || 10–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || May 8 || Phillies || 1–8 || Conley || Witt (0–4) || Farrell || 17,691 || 10–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || May 9 || Phillies || 9–1 || Kline (3–1) || Gomez || — || 9,633 || 11–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 10 || Phillies || 3–6 || Roberts || Friend (0–6) || Farrell || || 11–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 10 || Phillies || 7–6 || Haddix (3–1) || Hearn || Face (2) || 23,549 || 12–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 11 || @ Giants || 4–14 || Sanford || Daniels (0–2) || — || 13,789 || 12–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 12 || @ Giants || 6–5 (12) || Daniels (1–2) || Jones || — || 8,084 || 13–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 13 || @ Dodgers || 6–4 || Face (5–0) || Drysdale || — || 16,718 || 14–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 14 || @ Dodgers || 7–6 || Face (6–0) || Labine || — || 15,416 || 15–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 16 || @ Cubs || 2–3 || Elston || Haddix (3–2) || — || 10,496 || 15–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 17 || @ Cubs || 5–4 || Law (3–1) || Anderson || Face (3) || || 16–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 17 || @ Cubs || 6–7 || Hobbie || Daniels (1–3) || Henry || 32,017 || 16–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 19 || @ Cardinals || 2–8 || Jackson || Kline (3–2) || — || 8,470 || 16–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 20 || @ Cardinals || 1–11 || Mizell || Friend (0–7) || — || 8,555 || 16–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 21 || @ Cardinals || 7–2 || Haddix (4–2) || McDaniel || — || 8,141 || 17–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 22 || Reds || 4–3 || Law (4–1) || Jeffcoat || — || 27,675 || 18–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 23 || Reds || 6–5 || Daniels (2–3) || Pena || Blackburn (1) || 13,119 || 19–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 24 || Reds || 2–1 || Kline (4–2) || Lawrence || — || || 20–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 24 || Reds || 5–4 (10) || Blackburn (1–0) || Purkey || — || 32,273 || 21–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 26 || @ Braves || 0–1 (13) || Burdette || Haddix (4–3) || — || 19,194 || 21–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 27 || @ Braves || 3–4 || Spahn || Law (4–2) || McMahon || 17,721 || 21–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 28 || @ Braves || 3–0 || Friend (1–7) || Jay || — || 12,635 || 22–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 29 || @ Reds || 5–8 || Mabe || Kline (4–3) || Acker || 18,958 || 22–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 30 || @ Reds || 3–1 || Daniels (3–3) || O'Toole || Face (4) || 8,613 || 23–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 31 || @ Reds || 6–2 || Law (5–2) || Purkey || — || || 24–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 31 || @ Reds || 14–11 || Face (7–0) || Mabe || — || 17,847 || 25–22
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 49 || June 2 || Cardinals || 3–0 || Haddix (5–3) || Jackson || — || 28,644 || 26–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || June 3 || Cardinals || 5–3 || Friend (2–7) || Mizell || Face (5) || 16,857 || 27–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || June 4 || Cardinals || 9–3 || Kline (5–3) || Broglio || — || 7,555 || 28–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 5 || Cubs || 5–10 || Hobbie || Law (5–3) || Elston || 27,335 || 28–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 6 || Cubs || 2–8 || Drabowsky || Daniels (3–4) || — || 12,953 || 28–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 7 || Cubs || 2–4 || Buzhardt || Haddix (5–4) || Henry || || 28–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 7 || Cubs || 0–1 || Singleton || Friend (2–8) || Elston || 32,078 || 28–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 8 || Giants || 12–9 (11) || Face (8–0) || McCormick || — || 19,080 || 29–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 9 || Giants || 2–6 || Antonelli || Law (5–4) || — || 24,272 || 29–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 10 || Giants || 7–11 || Jones || Witt (0–5) || Miller || 24,317 || 29–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 11 || Giants || 12–9 || Face (9–0) || Miller || Law (1) || 9,444 || 30–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 12 || Dodgers || 6–9 || McDevitt || Daniels (3–5) || Erskine || 27,970 || 30–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 13 || Dodgers || 5–3 || Kline (6–3) || Fowler || — || 11,944 || 31–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 14 || Dodgers || 6–3 || Face (10–0) || Labine || — || || 32–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 14 || Dodgers || 5–2 || Law (6–4) || Erskine || — || 30,082 || 33–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 16 || @ Cubs || 5–2 || Friend (3–8) || Hillman || Face (6) || 10,391 || 34–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 17 || @ Cubs || 2–5 || Henry || Haddix (5–5) || — || 10,230 || 34–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 18 || @ Cubs || 4–2 (13) || Face (11–0) || Henry || — || 7,562 || 35–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 19 || @ Cardinals || 6–0 || Law (7–4) || Ricketts || — || 17,461 || 36–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 20 || @ Cardinals || 2–5 || Mizell || Friend (3–9) || McDaniel || 10,698 || 36–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 21 || @ Cardinals || 1–5 || Jackson || Haddix (5–6) || McDaniel || || 36–32 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 21 || @ Cardinals || 10–8 || Daniels (4–5) || Blaylock || Face (7) || 23,731 || 37–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 22 || @ Giants || 1–4 || Fisher || Kline (6–4) || Worthington || 11,002 || 37–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 23 || @ Giants || 5–1 || Law (8–4) || Jones || — || 22,706 || 38–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 24 || @ Giants || 3–4 || McCormick || Daniels (4–6) || — || 12,643 || 38–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 25 || @ Giants || 3–1 (12) || Face (12–0) || Fisher || — || 11,487 || 39–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || June 26 || @ Dodgers || 5–6 || Podres || Kline (6–5) || McDevitt || 22,719 || 39–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || June 27 || @ Dodgers || 0–3 || Koufax || Law (8–5) || — || 31,649 || 39–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || June 28 || @ Dodgers || 4–9 || McDevitt || Friend (3–10) || Drysdale || 27,785 || 39–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || June 30 || @ Phillies || 4–3 || Haddix (6–6) || Roberts || Face (8) || 11,149 || 40–37
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || July 1 || @ Phillies || 0–1 || Conley || Kline (6–6) || — || 7,897 || 40–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || July 2 || Braves || 4–3 (10) || Law (9–5) || McMahon || — || 28,282 || 41–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 3 || Braves || 0–6 || Pizarro || Witt (0–6) || — || 34,093 || 41–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 4 || Reds || 4–3 || Friend (4–10) || Nuxhall || — || 16,548 || 42–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 5 || Reds || 7–5 || Haddix (7–6) || Lawrence || Face (9) || || 43–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 84 || July 5 || Reds || 3–2 (11) || Kline (7–6) || Pena || — || 22,622 || 44–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 85 || July 9 || Cubs || 4–3 (10) || Face (13–0) || Henry || — || 22,080 || 45–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 86 || July 10 || Cubs || 7–6 (11) || Daniels (5–6) || Elston || — || 25,360 || 46–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 87 || July 11 || Cubs || 1–5 || Hillman || Kline (7–7) || — || 15,110 || 46–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 12 || Cardinals || 6–5 (10) || Face (14–0) || McDaniel || — || || 47–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 89 || July 12 || Cardinals || 6–8 (10) || McDaniel || Porterfield (0–1) || — || 25,530 || 47–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 90 || July 14 || Dodgers || 9–1 || Law (10–5) || Podres || — || 30,199 || 48–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 15 || Dodgers || 0–3 || Drysdale || Friend (4–11) || — || 28,268 || 48–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 17 || Giants || 1–4 || Jones || Kline (7–8) || — || 33,220 || 48–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 93 || July 18 || Giants || 3–4 || Fisher || Haddix (7–7) || McCormick || 20,577 || 48–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 94 || July 19 || Giants || 3–2 || Law (11–5) || Miller || — || 27,992 || 49–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 21 || Phillies || 2–4 || Roberts || Friend (4–12) || — || 25,960 || 49–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 96 || July 22 || Phillies || 4–11 || Conley || Kline (7–9) || — || 17,024 || 49–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 97 || July 24 || @ Braves || 0–8 || Pizarro || Haddix (7–8) || — || 27,708 || 49–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 98 || July 25 || @ Braves || 0–3 || Burdette || Law (11–6) || — || 25,295 || 49–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 99 || July 26 || @ Braves || 0–4 || Spahn || Friend (4–13) || — || || 49–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 100 || July 26 || @ Braves || 1–2 || Buhl || Witt (0–7) || McMahon || 39,420 || 49–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 101 || July 27 || @ Braves || 2–5 || Jay || Kline (7–10) || — || 15,817 || 49–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 102 || July 28 || @ Dodgers || 4–9 || Williams || Blackburn (1–1) || — || 23,493 || 49–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 103 || July 29 || @ Dodgers || 0–2 || Craig || Law (11–7) || — || 24,324 || 49–53