1976 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1976 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 90th in the National League, and the 95th in franchise history. The Pirates compiled a 92–70 record during the season, as they finished in second place in the National League East, nine games behind their cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies. As a result, their run of five division titles in a six-year span came to an end. It was also the final season for Danny Murtaugh as the Pirates' manager.

Offseason December 4, 1975: Rafael Vásquez was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.Rafael Vásquez Statistics at Baseball Reference December 11, 1975: Dock Ellis, Ken Brett and Willie Randolph were traded by the Pirates to the New York Yankees for Doc Medich.Dock Ellis at Baseball Reference January 27, 1976: Pascual Pérez was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.Pascual Pérez Statistics at Baseball Reference

Regular season August 9, 1976: John Candelaria pitched a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers.August 9, 1976 Dodgers-Pirates box score at Baseball Reference

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 10 || @ Phillies || 5–4 (11) || Demery (1–0) || McGraw || — || 42,147 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 11 || @ Phillies || 8–3 || Kison (1–0) || Carlton || Moose (1) || 18,373 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 13 || Cardinals || 14–4 || Reuss (1–0) || Falcone || — || 40,937 || 3–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 15 || Cardinals || 9–3 || Rooker (1–0) || McGlothen || Hernandez (1) || 9,490 || 4–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 16 || Mets || 3–1 || Medich (1–0) || Lolich || — || 19,899 || 5–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 17 || Mets || 1–17 || Koosman || Kison (1–1) || — || 13,082 || 5–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 18 || Mets || 7–5 || Reuss (2–0) || Swan || Hernandez (2) || 9,106 || 6–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 20 || Phillies || 1–5 || Kaat || Candelaria (0–1) || — || 8,800 || 6–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 21 || Phillies || 0–3 || Underwood || Medich (1–1) || McGraw || 9,175 || 6–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 23 || @ Giants || 3–7 || Montefusco || Reuss (2–1) || Lavelle || 15,621 || 6–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 24 || @ Giants || 1–3 || Halicki || Rooker (1–1) || Lavelle || 9,222 || 6–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 25 || @ Giants || 3–0 || Candelaria (1–1) || Caldwell || — || 23,700 || 7–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 26 || @ Dodgers || 1–7 || John || Medich (1–2) || — || 23,374 || 7–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 27 || @ Dodgers || 3–5 || Rau || Kison (1–2) || Hough || 21,612 || 7–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 28 || @ Dodgers || 1–2 || Hooton || Reuss (2–2) || — || 22,769 || 7–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 30 || @ Padres || 4–3 || Rooker (2–1) || Spillner || Moose (2) || 17,010 || 8–8

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || May 1 || @ Padres || 10–6 || Candelaria (2–1) || Greif || — || 21,773 || 9–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || May 2 || @ Padres || 2–4 || Jones || Medich (1–3) || — || 21,702 || 9–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || May 4 || Giants || 6–5 || Reuss (3–2) || Caldwell || Moose (3) || 4,729 || 10–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || May 5 || Giants || 6–1 || Kison (2–2) || Halicki || — || 6,321 || 11–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || May 6 || Giants || 3–0 || Rooker (3–1) || Barr || Demery (1) || 5,111 || 12–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || May 7 || Braves || 3–1 || Candelaria (3–1) || Messersmith || — || 6,049 || 13–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || May 8 || Braves || 5–3 || Medich (2–3) || Niekro || Giusti (1) || 6,864 || 14–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || May 9 || Braves || 5–2 || Reuss (4–2) || Ruthven || — || 9,275 || 15–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 11 || @ Reds || 0–6 || Nolan || Kison (2–3) || — || 26,850 || 15–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || May 12 || @ Reds || 6–3 || Rooker (4–1) || Gullett || — || 26,053 || 16–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 14 || Dodgers || 2–3 || Hough || Candelaria (3–2) || Marshall || 13,764 || 16–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 15 || Dodgers || 4–2 || Medich (3–3) || Rau || Moose (4) || 12,165 || 17–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 16 || Dodgers || 0–6 || Hooton || Reuss (4–3) || — || 15,334 || 17–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 17 || @ Cardinals || 2–1 || Kison (3–3) || Curtis || Moose (5) || 10,538 || 18–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 18 || @ Cardinals || 4–1 || Rooker (5–1) || Hrabosky || — || 10,288 || 19–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 19 || @ Cardinals || 7–6 || Hernandez (1–0) || Rasmussen || Moose (6) || 11,229 || 20–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 20 || @ Cardinals || 1–4 || Denny || Medich (3–4) || — || 11,315 || 20–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 21 || Cubs || 4–5 || Reuschel || Demery (1–1) || Knowles || 9,342 || 20–14 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 22 || Cubs || 4–3 (16) || Moose (1–0) || Reuschel || — || 7,081 || 21–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 23 || Cubs || 5–6 || Zamora || Tekulve (0–1) || Sutter || || 21–15 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 23 || Cubs || 9–1 || Reuss (5–3) || Garman || — || 20,477 || 22–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 24 || Expos || 2–4 || Fryman || Candelaria (3–3) || Scherman || 5,420 || 22–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 25 || Expos || 3–6 (11) || Granger || Moose (1–1) || — || 4,805 || 22–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 26 || Expos || 6–3 || Demery (2–1) || Warthen || Candelaria (1) || 6,581 || 23–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 29 || @ Cubs || 1–4 || Bonham || Kison (3–4) || Zamora || 12,357 || 23–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 30 || @ Cubs || 4–2 || Rooker (6–1) || Burris || — || 19,410 || 24–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 31 || @ Mets || 2–13 || Matlack || Reuss (5–4) || — || || 24–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 31 || @ Mets || 2–1 || Medich (4–4) || Apodaca || — || 46,004 || 25–19

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || June 1 || @ Mets || 3–2 || Candelaria (4–3) || Koosman || — || 13,596 || 26–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || June 2 || @ Expos || 4–2 || Kison (4–4) || Fryman || Giusti (2) || 11,337 || 27–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || June 3 || @ Expos || 1–7 || Stanhouse || Rooker (6–2) || — || 7,951 || 27–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || June 4 || Padres || 7–2 || Reuss (6–4) || Freisleben || — || 9,249 || 28–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 5 || Padres || 9–11 (15) || Freisleben || Hernandez (1–1) || — || 15,558 || 28–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 6 || Padres || 1–6 || Strom || Candelaria (4–4) || — || 51,726 || 28–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || June 7 || Reds || 5–4 || Moose (2–1) || McEnaney || Giusti (3) || 16,001 || 29–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 8 || Reds || 5–10 || Alcala || Rooker (6–3) || McEnaney || 17,331 || 29–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 9 || Reds || 1–6 || Nolan || Reuss (6–5) || — || 18,127 || 29–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 10 || Reds || 1–6 || Gullett || Medich (4–5) || — || 17,280 || 29–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 11 || @ Braves || 6–2 || Candelaria (5–4) || Moret || Moose (7) || 13,687 || 30–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 12 || @ Braves || 4–2 (11) || Moose (3–1) || Devine || Tekulve (1) || 20,117 || 31–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 13 || @ Braves || 6–5 || Demery (3–1) || Leon || Moose (8) || 15,656 || 32–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 14 || @ Astros || 2–1 || Reuss (7–5) || Richard || — || 9,884 || 33–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 16 || @ Astros || 6–3 || Medich (5–5) || Andujar || Demery (2) || 12,249 || 34–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 18 || Astros || 7–3 || Candelaria (6–4) || Richard || — || 19,141 || 35–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 20 || Astros || 4–9 || Griffin || Moose (3–2) || — || 18,670 || 35–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 22 || @ Cubs || 10–7 || Demery (4–1) || Knowles || Hernandez (3) || 10,116 || 36–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 23 || @ Cubs || 5–6 || Zamora || Moose (3–3) || — || 17,661 || 36–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 24 || @ Cubs || 1–2 (13) || Zamora || Langford (0–1) || — || 3,824 || 36–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 25 || @ Expos || 9–2 || Kison (5–4) || Carrithers || — || 6,581 || 37–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 26 || @ Expos || 7–6 || Demery (5–1) || Murray || — || 10,445 || 38–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 27 || @ Expos || 3–4 || Fryman || Medich (5–6) || Murray || 12,824 || 38–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 28 || Cubs || 9–2 || Rooker (7–3) || Coleman || — || 7,370 || 39–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || June 29 || Cubs || 10–1 || Candelaria (7–4) || Renko || — || 8,774 || 40–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 30 || Cubs || 7–5 || Kison (6–4) || Bonham || Moose (9) || 10,681 || 41–29

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 71 || July 2 || Phillies || 10–9 (10) || Hernandez (2–1) || Garber || — || 39,328 || 42–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || July 3 || Phillies || 2–3 || McGraw || Moose (3–4) || — || 19,327 || 42–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || July 4 || Phillies || 5–10 || Carlton || Demery (5–2) || Reed || || 42–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || July 4 || Phillies || 7–1 || Kison (7–4) || Kaat || — || 32,422 || 43–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || July 5 || @ Braves || 6–8 || Dal Canton || Hernandez (2–2) || Marshall || 48,467 || 43–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || July 6 || @ Braves || 2–4 || Messersmith || Rooker (7–4) || Marshall || 12,448 || 43–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || July 7 || @ Braves || 9–7 || Reuss (8–5) || Ruthven || Moose (10) || 11,480 || 44–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || July 9 || @ Reds || 11–12 (10) || Eastwick || Demery (5–3) || — || || 44–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || July 9 || @ Reds || 1–2 || Norman || Medich (5–7) || — || 53,328 || 44–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || July 10 || @ Reds || 7–1 || Candelaria (8–4) || Billingham || — || 50,756 || 45–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 81 || July 11 || @ Reds || 8–5 || Tekulve (1–1) || Borbon || Reuss (1) || 47,153 || 46–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 15 || Braves || 13–1 || Candelaria (9–4) || Niekro || — || 10,488 || 47–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 16 || Braves || 7–2 || Reuss (9–5) || Messersmith || — || 11,151 || 48–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 17 || Braves || 2–10 || Ruthven || Kison (7–5) || — || 14,776 || 48–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || July 18 || Reds || 8–9 || Billingham || Medich (5–8) || Eastwick || 33,697 || 48–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || July 19 || Reds || 2–4 || Zachry || Rooker (7–5) || — || 26,585 || 48–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 20 || Astros || 9–5 || Candelaria (10–4) || Griffin || Tekulve (2) || || 49–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || July 20 || Astros || 3–4 || Forsch || Giusti (0–1) || — || 11,922 || 49–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 21 || Astros || 5–1 || Reuss (10–5) || Dierker || — || || 50–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 90 || July 21 || Astros || 4–1 || Demery (6–3) || Andujar || Giusti (4) || 12,209 || 51–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 91 || July 22 || @ Phillies || 0–3 || Underwood || Kison (7–6) || Reed || 43,050 || 51–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 23 || @ Phillies || 1–11 || Lonborg || Medich (5–9) || — || 40,120 || 51–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 24 || @ Phillies || 8–5 || Rooker (8–5) || Christenson || Giusti (5) || || 52–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 94 || July 24 || @ Phillies || 1–7 || Carlton || Moose (3–5) || — || 57,723 || 52–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 25 || @ Phillies || 7–13 || Reed || Giusti (0–2) || — || 37,692 || 52–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 96 || July 27 || @ Cardinals || 3–1 || Kison (8–6) || Falcone || — || 13,953 || 53–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || July 28 || @ Mets || 1–0 (13) || Giusti (1–2) || Sanders || — || 22,215 || 54–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 98 || July 29 || @ Mets || 2–1 (10) || Tekulve (2–1) || Lockwood || — || 12,588 || 55–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || July 30 || Expos || 4–3 (13) || Tekulve (3–1) || Kerrigan || — || 12,774 || 56–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 100 || July 31 || Expos || 6–7 || Murray || Moose (3–6) || — || 10,981 || 56–44

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 101 || August 1 || Expos || 0–2 || Rogers || Kison (8–7) || — || 17,150 || 56–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"