The 1973 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 92nd season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 87th in the National League. The Pirates finished third in the National League East with a record of 80–82.
Offseason October 25, 1972: Gene Garber was traded by the Pirates to the Kansas City Royals for Jim Rooker.Jim Rooker at "Baseball Almanac" November 25, 1972: Dick Sharon was traded by the Pirates to the Detroit Tigers for Jim Foor and Norm McRae.Norm McRae at "Baseball Almanac" December 31, 1972: Roberto Clemente was killed in an airplane crash.Roberto Clemente at "Baseball Almanac" April 2, 1973: Charlie Sands was traded by the Pirates to the Detroit Tigers for Chris Zachary.Chris Zachary at "Baseball Almanac"
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 6 || Cardinals || 7–5 || Rooker (1–0) || Segui || Hernandez (1) || 51,695 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 8 || Cardinals || 4–3 (10) || Giusti (1–0) || Granger || — || || 2–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 8 || Cardinals || 5–3 || Ellis (1–0) || Spinks || Hernandez (2) || 23,391 || 3–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 12 || Cubs || 6–0 || Moose (1–0) || Jenkins || — || 3,764 || 4–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 14 || @ Expos || 4–6 || Walker || Briles (0–1) || — || 21,198 || 4–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 15 || @ Expos || 8–3 || Ellis (2–0) || Torrez || Giusti (1) || 12,101 || 5–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 17 || @ Cardinals || 4–3 (14) || Hernandez (1–0) || Foster || Rooker (1) || 9,851 || 6–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 18 || @ Cardinals || 8–2 || Moose (2–0) || Wise || Walker (1) || 6,228 || 7–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 21 || @ Cubs || 9–10 || Locker || Briles (0–2) || — || 16,637 || 7–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 22 || @ Cubs || 10–4 || Ellis (3–0) || Pappas || Rooker (2) || || 8–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 22 || @ Cubs || 3–11 || Gura || Blass (0–1) || Bonham || 28,271 || 8–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 24 || Padres || 5–7 || Troedson || Moose (2–1) || Romo || 10,108 || 8–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 28 || Dodgers || 2–3 || Sutton || Briles (0–3) || — || 9,643 || 8–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 29 || Dodgers || 8–9 (13) || Downing || Hernandez (1–1) || — || || 8–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 29 || Dodgers || 1–2 || Osteen || Ellis (3–1) || — || 18,083 || 8–7
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || May 1 || @ Giants || 7–8 || Sosa || Hernandez (1–2) || — || 7,972 || 8–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || May 2 || @ Giants || 2–1 || Walker (1–0) || Barr || Giusti (2) || 4,818 || 9–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || May 3 || @ Giants || 14–5 || Briles (1–3) || Willoughby || — || 4,198 || 10–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || May 4 || @ Padres || 12–6 || Blass (1–1) || Norman || — || 9,595 || 11–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || May 5 || @ Padres || 5–6 || Romo || Ellis (3–2) || — || 10,619 || 11–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || May 6 || @ Padres || 0–8 || Caldwell || Moose (2–2) || — || 7,176 || 11–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || May 7 || @ Dodgers || 5–4 || Johnson (1–0) || Sutton || Rooker (3) || 17,745 || 12–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || May 8 || @ Dodgers || 4–7 || Messersmith || Briles (1–4) || Brewer || 13,620 || 12–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || May 9 || @ Dodgers || 5–8 || Osteen || Blass (1–2) || Culver || 17,509 || 12–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 11 || Mets || 3–4 || Parker || Ellis (3–3) || McGraw || 17,564 || 12–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 12 || Mets || 0–6 || Seaver || Moose (2–3) || — || 13,058 || 12–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 13 || Mets || 4–6 || McAndrew || Walker (1–1) || McGraw || 14,310 || 12–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 14 || Expos || 2–3 (10) || Walker || Briles (1–5) || — || 6,327 || 12–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 15 || Expos || 9–8 (11) || Giusti (2–0) || Gilbert || — || 5,441 || 13–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 16 || Phillies || 2–5 || Twitchell || Ellis (3–4) || Scarce || 6,885 || 13–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 17 || Phillies || 5–2 || Moose (3–3) || Carlton || Rooker (4) || 6,885 || 14–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 18 || @ Mets || 3–4 || Seaver || Walker (1–2) || — || 34,565 || 14–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 19 || @ Mets || 4–1 (10) || Giusti (3–0) || McGraw || — || 32,622 || 15–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 21 || @ Phillies || 5–4 || Blass (2–2) || Scarce || Giusti (3) || 9,010 || 16–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 22 || @ Phillies || 4–7 || Twitchell || Ellis (3–5) || — || 11,617 || 16–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 25 || Astros || 2–7 || Reuss || Moose (3–4) || — || 13,956 || 16–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 26 || Astros || 7–2 || Briles (2–5) || Forsch || Giusti (4) || 15,768 || 17–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 27 || Astros || 2–6 || Roberts || Blass (2–3) || — || 15,386 || 17–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 39 || May 28 || Astros || 4–2 || Ellis (4–5) || Wilson || Giusti (5) || 21,546 || 18–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 29 || Braves || 6–1 || Walker (2–2) || Morton || Rooker (5) || 7,911 || 19–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 30 || Braves || 4–2 || Moose (4–4) || Reed || — || 7,963 || 20–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 31 || Braves || 3–1 || Briles (3–5) || Gentry || — || 10,446 || 21–21
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || June 1 || Reds || 9–6 || Blass (3–3) || Sprague || Giusti (6) || 24,213 || 22–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || June 2 || Reds || 4–3 || Ellis (5–5) || Billingham || Giusti (7) || 19,212 || 23–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || June 3 || Reds || 1–5 || Carroll || Walker (2–3) || Borbon || 22,450 || 23–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || June 4 || Giants || 2–7 || Bradley || Moose (4–5) || — || 12,570 || 23–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || June 5 || Giants || 2–3 || Bryant || Briles (3–6) || Moffitt || 14,975 || 23–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || June 6 || Giants || 7–9 || Williams || Rooker (1–1) || Moffitt || 13,884 || 23–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 8 || @ Astros || 3–4 || Forsch || Ellis (5–6) || Ray || 25,486 || 23–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || June 9 || @ Astros || 4–1 || Moose (5–5) || Wilson || — || 29,716 || 24–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 10 || @ Astros || 1–7 || Reuss || Briles (3–7) || — || 23,057 || 24–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 11 || @ Braves || 7–9 || Morton || Blass (3–4) || Schueler || 6,878 || 24–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 12 || @ Braves || 2–4 || Niekro || Walker (2–4) || — || 10,418 || 24–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 13 || @ Braves || 3–18 || Reed || Ellis (5–7) || — || 9,553 || 24–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 15 || @ Reds || 0–6 || Norman || Moose (5–6) || — || 27,029 || 24–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 16 || @ Reds || 5–0 || Briles (4–7) || Gullett || — || 39,106 || 25–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 17 || @ Reds || 1–3 || Billingham || Walker (2–5) || Hall || || 25–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 17 || @ Reds || 1–5 || Grimsley || Dettore (0–1) || — || 50,232 || 25–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 18 || Cubs || 3–1 || Ellis (6–7) || Jenkins || — || 11,470 || 26–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 19 || Cubs || 3–6 || Gura || Johnson (1–1) || Aker || || 26–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 19 || Cubs || 4–3 || Giusti (4–0) || Locker || — || 28,256 || 27–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 20 || Cubs || 3–5 || Reuschel || Briles (4–8) || Aker || 17,895 || 27–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 21 || Mets || 2–1 || Walker (3–5) || Capra || — || 10,099 || 28–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 22 || Mets || 4–5 || Stone || Blass (3–5) || — || 21,129 || 28–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 23 || Mets || 3–2 (10) || Hernandez (2–2) || Hennigan || — || 24,337 || 29–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 24 || Mets || 2–5 || Seaver || Moose (5–7) || — || 20,984 || 29–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 25 || @ Expos || 8–6 || Giusti (5–0) || McAnally || — || || 30–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 25 || @ Expos || 3–1 || Briles (5–8) || Strohmayer || — || 24,402 || 31–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 26 || @ Expos || 3–10 || Stoneman || Walker (3–6) || Marshall || 12,806 || 31–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 27 || Cardinals || 4–15 || Cleveland || Rooker (1–2) || — || 33,041 || 31–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 71 || June 28 || Cardinals || 6–0 || Ellis (7–7) || Wise || — || 34,471 || 32–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 29 || Expos || 4–0 || Moose (6–7) || McAnally || — || 26,638 || 33–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 30 || Expos || 5–1 || Briles (6–8) || Moore || Hernandez (3) || 11,676 || 34–39
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || July 1 || Expos || 6–2 || Walker (4–6) || Stoneman || Johnson (1) || || 35–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || July 1 || Expos || 8–4 || Rooker (2–2) || Torrez || Giusti (8) || 24,984 || 36–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || July 3 || @ Cardinals || 0–4 || Wise || Ellis (7–8) || — || || 36–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || July 3 || @ Cardinals || 6–7 || Folkers || Blass (3–6) || Segui || 28,449 || 36–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || July 4 || @ Cardinals || 3–11 || Murphy || Moose (6–8) || — || 12,671 || 36–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || July 5 || @ Cardinals || 3–2 || Briles (7–8) || Pena || — || 14,652 || 37–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || July 6 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || Sutton || Walker (4–7) || — || 28,011 || 37–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 7 || @ Dodgers || 6–8 || Rau || Lamb (0–1) || Brewer || 33,197 || 37–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 82 || July 8 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 (12) || Richert || Giusti (5–1) || — || 24,144 || 37–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 10 || @ Padres || 4–3 || Johnson (2–1) || Troedson || Lamb (1) || 12,233 || 38–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 84 || July 11 || @ Padres || 10–2 || Briles (8–8) || Arlin || — || 4,763 || 39–45 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 85 || July 12 || @ Padres || 4–0 || Walker (5–7) || Kirby || — || 2,865 || 40–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 13 || @ Giants || 2–5 || Bradley || Ellis (7–9) || — || 10,842 || 40–46 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 14 || @ Giants || 7–2 || Rooker (3–2) || Bryant || — || 9,458 || 41–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || July 15 || @ Giants || 0–12 || Marichal || Moose (6–9) || — || 12,851 || 41–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 89 || July 16 || Dodgers || 0–1 || Sutton || Briles (8–9) || — || 16,570 || 41–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || July 17 || Dodgers || 4–8 || Messersmith || Walker (5–8) || Brewer || 17,389 || 41–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 91 || July 18 || Dodgers || 3–2 || Ellis (8–9) || John || Giusti (9) || 24,248 || 42–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 92 || July 20 || Padres || 5–4 (10) || Giusti (6–1) || Caldwell || — || || 43–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 20 || Padres || 7–0 || Rooker (4–2) || Troedson || — || 25,832 || 44–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 94 || July 22 || Padres || 3–1 || Briles (9–9) || Arlin || Giusti (10) || || 45–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 95 || July 22 || Padres || 13–7 || Walker (6–8) || Kirby || Lamb (2) || 22,425 || 46–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 96 || July 26 || @ Cubs || 3–2 || Ellis (9–9) || Reuschel || Giusti (11) || 35,770 || 47–49 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || July 27 || @ Cubs || 10–6 || Briles (10–9) || Gura || Giusti (12) || 22,045 || 48–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 98 || July 28 || Phillies || 0–5 || Twitchell || Rooker (4–3) || — || 14,630 || 48–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || July 29 || Phillies || 5–2 || Hernandez (3–2) || Ruthven || — || || 49–50 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 100 || July 29 || Phillies || 5–2 || Walker (7–8) || Lersch || Giusti (13) || 26,947 || 50–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 101 || July 30 || Phillies || 0–1 || Carlton || Moose (6–10) || — || 17,220 || 50–51 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 102 || July 31 || @ Mets || 4–1 || Ellis (10–9) || Koosman || Hernandez (4) || 24,322 || 51–51
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 103 || August 1 || @ Mets || 0–3 || Seaver || Blass (3–7) || — || || 51–52 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || August 1 || @ Mets || 2–5 || Stone || Briles (10–10) || Parker || 27,189 || 51–53 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 105 || August 2 || @ Mets || 1–5 || Sadecki || Rooker (4–4) || McGraw || 13,429 || 51–54 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"