1969 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1969 Pittsburgh Pirates season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Pirates finishing in third place in the newly established National League East, twelve games behind the eventual World Series champion New York Mets. The Pirates were managed by Larry Shepard, and played their home games at Forbes Field, which was in its final full season of operation, before moving into their new facility in the middle of the following season. This was also the final full season they wore the vest style uniforms, they would don pull over uniforms when they moved into Three Rivers Stadium midway through the next season.

Offseason October 14, 1968: Manny Mota was drafted from the Pirates by the Montreal Expos as the 2nd pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft.Manny Mota at Baseball Reference October 14, 1968: Donn Clendenon was drafted from the Pirates by the Montreal Expos as the 11th pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft.Donn Clendenon at Baseball Reference October 14, 1968: Maury Wills was drafted from the Pirates by the Montreal Expos as the 21st pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft.Maury Wills at Baseball Reference October 14, 1968: Dave Roberts was drafted from the Pirates by the San Diego Padres as the 39th pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft.Dave Roberts at Baseball Reference October 14, 1968: Al McBean was drafted from the Pirates by the San Diego Padres as the 50th pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft.Al McBean at Baseball Reference October 14, 1968: Ron Slocum was drafted from the Pirates by the San Diego Padres as the 55th pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft.Ron Slocum at Baseball Reference October 16, 1968: George Spriggs was sold by the Pirates to the Kansas City Royals.George Spriggs at "Baseball Almanac" October 21, 1968: Dave Wickersham was sold by the Pirates to the Kansas City Royals.Dave Wickersham at "Baseball Almanac" January 15, 1969: Manny Jiménez was traded by the Pirates to the Chicago Cubs for Joe Campbell and Chuck Hartenstein.Manny Jiménez at Baseball-Reference February 12, 1969: Rennie Stennett was signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent.Rennie Stennett at "Baseball Almanac" March 28, 1969: Tommie Sisk and Chris Cannizzaro were traded by the Pirates to the San Diego Padres for Ron Davis and Bobby Klaus.Tommie Sisk at Baseball-Reference March 30, 1969: Omar Moreno was signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent.Omar Moreno at "Baseball Almanac"

Regular season August 6, 1969: Willie Stargell hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium. September 20, 1969: Bob Moose no-hits the eventual world champion New York Mets, 4-0 at Shea Stadium.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Detailed records

National League Opponent W L WP NL East Chicago Cubs 11 7 83 69 Montreal Expos 13 5 88 56 New York Mets 8 10 74 68 Philadelphia Phillies 8 10 86 90 Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals 9 9 56 73 Total 49 41 387 356 NL West Atlanta Braves 4 8 48 53 Cincinnati Reds 7 5 68 55 Houston Astros 9 3 70 47 Los Angeles Dodgers 4 8 43 60 San Diego Padres 10 2 64 31 San Francisco Giants 5 7 45 50 Total 39 33 338 296 Season Total 88 74 725 652

Month Games Won Lost Win % April 21 13 8 89 82 May 26 11 15 108 120 June 29 14 15 143 128 July 27 15 12 106 113 August 27 17 10 136 100 September 30 16 14 130 103 October 2 2 0 13 6 Total 162 88 74 725 652 Games Won Lost Win % Home 81 47 34 324 322 Away 81 41 40 401 330 Total 162 88 74 725 652

Game log

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 8 || @ Cardinals || 6–2 (14) || Dal Canton (1–0) || Nelson || Hartenstein (1) || 38,163 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 9 || @ Cardinals || 6–1 || Veale (1–0) || Briles || — || 10,739 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 10 || @ Cardinals || 3–2 || Ellis (1–0) || Washburn || — || 10,283 || 3–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 11 || Phillies || 7–1 || Moose (1–0) || Johnson || — || 31,641 || 4–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 12 || Phillies || 1–8 || Jackson || Bunning (0–1) || — || 12,474 || 4–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 13 || Phillies || 6–5 || Kline (1–0) || Wilson || — || 14,981 || 5–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 14 || @ Cubs || 0–4 || Holtzman || Veale (1–1) || — || 3,114 || 5–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 15 || @ Cubs || 4–7 || Aguirre || Ellis (1–1) || Abernathy || 4,362 || 5–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || April 16 || Mets || 11–3 || Moose (2–0) || Koosman || — || 7,666 || 6–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 17 || Mets || 4–0 || Bunning (1–1) || Cardwell || Kline (1) || 8,097 || 7–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 19 || @ Phillies || 8–6 || Blass (1–0) || Jackson || Dal Canton (1) || 3,953 || 8–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 20 || @ Phillies || 1–7 || Wise || Veale (1–2) || Lersch || 4,930 || 8–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 22 || Cubs || 7–5 || Hartenstein (1–0) || Hands || — || || 9–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 22 || Cubs || 6–5 || Dal Canton (2–0) || Nye || Kline (2) || 7,906 || 10–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 23 || @ Mets || 0–2 || Koosman || Bunning (1–2) || — || 7,274 || 10–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 25 || Expos || 8–2 || Blass (2–0) || Morton || Hartenstein (2) || 10,947 || 11–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 26 || Expos || 4–3 || Veale (2–2) || Stoneman || Hartenstein (3) || 8,372 || 12–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 27 || Expos || 2–4 || Jaster || Ellis (1–2) || — || 24,425 || 12–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 28 || Cardinals || 2–6 || Carlton || Moose (2–1) || — || 3,859 || 12–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 30 || Cardinals || 2–1 || Bunning (2–2) || Giusti || — || || 13–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 30 || Cardinals || 1–8 || Gibson || Blass (2–1) || — || 10,895 || 13–8

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || May 1 || Cardinals || 3–9 || Briles || Veale (2–3) || — || 7,043 || 13–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || May 2 || @ Expos || 7–3 || Ellis (2–2) || Jaster || — || 11,892 || 14–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || May 3 || @ Expos || 4–2 || Moose (3–1) || Morton || Hartenstein (4) || 14,147 || 15–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 4 || @ Expos || 4–6 || Face || Kline (1–1) || — || 16,931 || 15–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 6 || Padres || 2–4 || Kelley || Blass (2–2) || Reberger || 5,793 || 15–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 7 || Padres || 2–0 || Veale (3–3) || Kirby || Hartenstein (5) || 4,189 || 16–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 9 || Dodgers || 3–13 || Singer || Ellis (2–3) || Moeller || 6,837 || 16–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 10 || Dodgers || 1–4 || Sutton || Bunning (2–3) || Brewer || 4,979 || 16–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 12 || Giants || 4–3 || Hartenstein (2–0) || Gibbon || — || 3,396 || 17–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 13 || Giants || 8–11 || Herbel || Moose (3–2) || Linzy || 5,846 || 17–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 14 || Giants || 0–3 || Marichal || Bunning (2–4) || — || 8,296 || 17–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 16 || @ Dodgers || 3–4 || Brewer || Kline (1–2) || — || 19,016 || 17–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 17 || @ Dodgers || 0–6 || Osteen || Ellis (2–4) || — || 50,120 || 17–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 18 || @ Dodgers || 5–6 || Brewer || Ramos (0–1) || — || 21,086 || 17–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 20 || @ Padres || 6–3 || Bunning (3–4) || Niekro || Hartenstein (6) || 4,947 || 18–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 21 || @ Padres || 11–1 || Moose (4–2) || Sisk || — || 34,334 || 19–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 22 || @ Padres || 7–1 || Blass (3–2) || Kirby || — || 4,001 || 20–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 23 || @ Giants || 0–3 || Robertson || Ellis (2–5) || — || 8,217 || 20–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 24 || @ Giants || 2–5 || McCormick || Veale (3–4) || — || 18,616 || 20–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 25 || @ Giants || 2–1 || Bunning (4–4) || Perry || — || || 21–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 25 || @ Giants || 6–2 || Moose (5–2) || Sadecki || Dal Canton (2) || 24,041 || 22–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 28 || @ Reds || 6–7 || Carroll || Kline (1–3) || — || 7,458 || 22–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 29 || @ Reds || 4–10 || Merritt || Veale (3–5) || — || 8,161 || 22–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 30 || Astros || 9–3 || Bunning (5–4) || Lemaster || — || || 23–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 30 || Astros || 6–9 || Billingham || Hartenstein (2–1) || Gladding || 18,381 || 23–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 31 || Astros || 3–1 || Ellis (3–5) || Ray || Kline (3) || 6,663 || 24–23

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || June 1 || Astros || 14–7 || Blass (4–2) || Wilson || — || 21,023 || 25–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 3 || Reds || 3–7 || Merritt || Veale (3–6) || — || 4,576 || 25–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 4 || Reds || 3–5 || Carroll || Hartenstein (2–2) || Granger || 6,685 || 25–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 6 || @ Braves || 1–3 || Niekro || Ellis (3–6) || — || 17,049 || 25–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || June 7 || @ Braves || 10–2 || Blass (5–2) || Jarvis || — || 21,120 || 26–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 8 || @ Braves || 10–11 || Niekro || Hartenstein (2–3) || — || || 26–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 8 || @ Braves || 3–4 || Pappas || Veale (3–7) || — || 27,318 || 26–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 10 || @ Astros || 4–7 || Griffin || Ellis (3–7) || — || 14,660 || 26–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 11 || @ Astros || 13–8 || Blass (6–2) || Guinn || Hartenstein (7) || 15,871 || 27–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 12 || @ Astros || 4–3 || Bunning (6–4) || Gladding || — || 14,260 || 28–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 13 || Braves || 2–1 (10) || Dal Canton (3–0) || Pappas || — || 11,610 || 29–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 14 || Braves || 4–2 || Moose (6–2) || Upshaw || — || 18,283 || 30–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 15 || Braves || 4–6 || Reed || Blass (6–3) || Upshaw || 19,974 || 30–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 16 || Cubs || 9–8 || Dal Canton (4–0) || Regan || Blass (1) || 8,810 || 31–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 17 || Cubs || 1–0 || Veale (4–7) || Jenkins || Dal Canton (3) || || 32–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 17 || Cubs || 4–3 || Blass (7–3) || Abernathy || — || 26,817 || 33–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 18 || Cubs || 3–2 (10) || Gibbon (1–0) || Regan || — || 12,198 || 34–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 20 || @ Phillies || 7–8 || Wilson || Marone (0–1) || Boozer || 10,669 || 34–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 21 || @ Phillies || 8–2 || Dal Canton (5–0) || Palmer || — || 5,469 || 35–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 22 || @ Phillies || 6–0 || Ellis (4–7) || Champion || — || || 36–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 22 || @ Phillies || 2–3 || Jackson || Blass (7–4) || — || 33,712 || 36–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 23 || @ Cubs || 4–5 || Regan || Dal Canton (5–1) || — || 12,500 || 36–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 24 || @ Cubs || 2–3 || Hands || Bunning (6–5) || — || 17,530 || 36–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 25 || @ Cubs || 2–5 || Jenkins || Veale (4–8) || — || 26,434 || 36–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || June 26 || @ Cubs || 5–7 (10) || Regan || Dal Canton (5–2) || — || 29,473 || 36–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 27 || @ Mets || 3–1 || Blass (8–4) || Koosman || Gibbon (1) || 42,276 || 37–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 28 || @ Mets || 7–4 || Bunning (7–5) || Gentry || Gibbon (2) || 48,398 || 38–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || June 29 || @ Mets || 3–7 || Seaver || Veale (4–9) || — || 27,455 || 38–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || June 30 || Phillies || 2–4 || Fryman || Ellis (4–8) || Boozer || 17,954 || 38–38

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || July 1 || Phillies || 4–7 || Jackson || Blass (8–5) || Wilson || 6,652 || 38–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || July 2 || Phillies || 4–14 || Raffo || Bunning (7–6) || Boozer || 6,322 || 38–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || July 4 || Mets || 6–11 || Seaver || Veale (4–10) || Koonce || || 38–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || July 4 || Mets || 2–9 || Cardwell || Ellis (4–9) || DiLauro || 17,631 || 38–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"