1977 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1977 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 96th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; their 91st in the National League. The Pirates finished second in the National League East with a record of 96–66. This was the first season where the player's last names appeared on the back of the jerseys.

Offseason November 5, 1976: Manny Sanguillén was traded by the Pirates to the Oakland Athletics for manager Chuck Tanner. December 10, 1976: Richie Zisk and Silvio Martínez were traded by the Pirates to the Chicago White Sox for Goose Gossage and Terry Forster. March 15, 1977: Rick Langford, Tony Armas, Doug Bair, Dave Giusti, Doc Medich, and Mitchell Page were traded by the Pirates to the Oakland Athletics for Phil Garner, Tommy Helms, and Chris Batton.

Regular season May 11: Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner appointed himself manager of the team before a game against the Pirates. After losing the game 2–1, Turner stepped down. June 30: Willie Stargell hits his 400th career home run versus the Philadelphia Phillies.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 7 || Cardinals || 6–12 || Denny || Reuss (0–1) || — || 35,186 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 9 || Cardinals || 2–8 || Forsch || Kison (0–1) || — || 6,719 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 10 || Cardinals || 7–8 || Carroll || Rooker (0–1) || Urrea || 5,223 || 0–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 12 || Expos || 2–1 || Gossage (1–0) || McEnaney || — || 4,042 || 1–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 13 || Expos || 3–0 || Kison (1–1) || Rogers || — || 4,586 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 15 || @ Cardinals || 7–0 || Rooker (1–1) || Falcone || — || 41,226 || 3–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 16 || @ Cardinals || 3–1 || Candelaria (1–0) || Rasmussen || Gossage (1) || 12,513 || 4–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 17 || @ Cardinals || 3–4 || Denny || Reuss (0–2) || Urrea || 28,574 || 4–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 18 || @ Expos || 5–6 (14) || Atkinson || Jones (0–1) || — || 10,911 || 4–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 19 || @ Expos || 0–6 || Stanhouse || Demery (0–1) || — || 10,062 || 4–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 20 || @ Expos || 8–6 || Rooker (2–1) || Hannahs || Tekulve (1) || 12,607 || 5–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 22 || @ Mets || 4–3 || Tekulve (1–0) || Myrick || — || 19,495 || 6–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 23 || @ Mets || 6–5 || Gossage (2–0) || Sadecki || — || 9,040 || 7–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 26 || Phillies || 5–0 || Candelaria (2–0) || Christenson || Gossage (2) || 6,726 || 8–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 27 || Phillies || 7–3 || Kison (2–1) || Twitchell || — || 7,054 || 9–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 29 || Astros || 3–11 || Bannister || Reuss (0–3) || — || 7,186 || 9–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 30 || Astros || 10–0 || Rooker (3–1) || Konieczny || — || 6,540 || 10–7

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || May 1 || Astros || 4–3 (10) || Gossage (3–0) || Forsch || — || 25,371 || 11–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || May 2 || @ Braves || 11–1 || Kison (3–1) || Capra || — || 9,148 || 12–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || May 3 || @ Braves || 8–7 (11) || Tekulve (2–0) || Niekro || Jackson (1) || 7,977 || 13–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 21 || May 4 || @ Braves || 8–0 || Demery (1–1) || LaCorte || — || 3,890 || 14–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || May 6 || Reds || 6–3 || Candelaria (3–0) || Billingham || Gossage (3) || 16,258 || 15–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 23 || May 7 || Reds || 12–10 || Forster (1–0) || Zachry || Tekulve (2) || 16,799 || 16–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || May 8 || Reds || 6–4 || Jones (1–1) || Norman || Gossage (4) || 27,003 || 17–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || May 10 || Braves || 3–0 || Rooker (4–1) || Capra || Tekulve (3) || || 18–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || May 10 || Braves || 2–1 || Demery (2–1) || Collins || Gossage (5) || 5,713 || 19–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 11 || Braves || 2–1 || Candelaria (4–0) || Niekro || Gossage (6) || 6,816 || 20–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 12 || Braves || 1–6 || Leon || Kison (3–2) || — || 10,161 || 20–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 13 || @ Astros || 0–3 || Lemongello || Reuss (0–4) || Forsch || 10,512 || 20–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 14 || @ Astros || 6–2 || Demery (3–1) || Andujar || Gossage (7) || 25,152 || 21–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 15 || @ Astros || 3–1 || Tekulve (3–0) || Richard || — || 9,340 || 22–9 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 17 || @ Reds || 3–0 || Candelaria (5–0) || Billingham || Gossage (8) || 30,575 || 23–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 18 || @ Reds || 3–8 || Norman || Reuss (0–5) || Borbon || 28,011 || 23–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 19 || Dodgers || 6–5 (10) || Gossage (4–0) || Hough || — || 17,988 || 24–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 20 || Dodgers || 1–6 || Hooton || Demery (3–2) || — || 34,943 || 24–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 21 || Dodgers || 3–4 || John || Rooker (4–2) || — || 32,674 || 24–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 22 || Dodgers || 11–4 || Candelaria (6–0) || Sutton || — || 30,583 || 25–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 24 || Mets || 5–2 || Reuss (1–5) || Matlack || Forster (1) || 9,309 || 26–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 27 || @ Cubs || 2–4 || Bonham || Candelaria (6–1) || Sutter || 14,593 || 26–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 28 || @ Cubs || 3–6 || Reuschel || Rooker (4–3) || Sutter || 34,779 || 26–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 29 || @ Cubs || 2–3 || Hernandez || Gossage (4–1) || Sutter || 39,517 || 26–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 30 || @ Phillies || 4–6 || Carlton || Kison (3–3) || — || 32,253 || 26–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 31 || @ Phillies || 5–6 || Reed || Tekulve (3–1) || — || 23,731 || 26–17

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || June 1 || @ Phillies || 3–0 (8) || Candelaria (7–1) || Christenson || — || 28,234 || 27–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || June 3 || Cubs || 5–0 || Rooker (5–3) || Burris || — || 20,152 || 28–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || June 4 || Cubs || 3–4 || Krukow || Reuss (1–6) || Sutter || 26,202 || 28–18 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || June 5 || Cubs || 5–4 || Jones (2–1) || Bonham || Gossage (9) || 51,580 || 29–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || June 6 || Giants || 1–3 (12) || Lavelle || Gossage (4–2) || — || 6,635 || 29–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 7 || Giants || 6–7 || Barr || Demery (3–3) || Moffitt || 6,795 || 29–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 8 || Giants || 2–3 || Curtis || Rooker (5–4) || Lavelle || 6,995 || 29–21 |- bgcolor="ffffff" | 51 || June 10 || Padres || 10–7 (11) || Gossage || Fingers || — || 10,499 || 29–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 11 || Padres || 1–4 || Shirley || Candelaria (7–2) || Fingers || 11,262 || 29–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 12 || Padres || 6–1 || Reuss (2–6) || Jones || — || || 30–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || June 12 || Padres || 7–4 || Kison (4–3) || Sawyer || Gossage (10) || 21,640 || 31–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 14 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || Wall || Gossage (4–3) || — || 36,122 || 31–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 15 || @ Dodgers || 1–10 || Rhoden || Jones (2–2) || — || 32,436 || 31–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 16 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 (11) || Hough || Gossage (4–4) || — || 34,350 || 31–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 17 || @ Giants || 3–4 || Heaverlo || Reuss (2–7) || Lavelle || 4,789 || 31–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 18 || @ Giants || 5–7 (12) || Moffitt || Forster (1–1) || — || 10,231 || 31–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 19 || @ Giants || 0–8 || Knepper || Rooker (5–5) || — || || 31–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 19 || @ Giants || 6–8 || Heaverlo || Jackson (0–1) || Moffitt || 23,078 || 31–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 20 || @ Padres || 5–3 || Tekulve (4–1) || Shirley || Gossage (11) || 26,030 || 32–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 21 || @ Padres || 9–2 || Candelaria (8–2) || Tomlin || — || 14,265 || 33–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 22 || @ Padres || 3–1 || Reuss (3–7) || Griffin || Gossage (12) || 14,624 || 34–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 24 || Expos || 6–5 (10) || Gossage (5–4) || Kerrigan || — || 27,650 || 35–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 25 || Expos || 10–2 || Kison (5–3) || Brown || — || 7,721 || 36–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 26 || Expos || 7–4 || Tekulve (5–1) || Rogers || Gossage (13) || || 37–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 68 || June 26 || Expos || 3–6 || McEnaney || Gossage (5–5) || — || 20,583 || 37–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 27 || @ Cardinals || 1–6 || Falcone || Reuss (3–8) || — || 18,239 || 37–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 28 || @ Cardinals || 1–6 || Schultz || Forster (1–2) || — || || 37–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 28 || @ Cardinals || 3–13 || Underwood || Jackson (0–2) || — || 33,997 || 37–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 29 || @ Cardinals || 9–1 || Kison (6–3) || Rasmussen || — || 15,248 || 38–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 30 || @ Phillies || 1–8 || Carlton || Jones (2–3) || — || 36,162 || 38–34

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || July 1 || @ Phillies || 6–7 (14) || Garber || Jackson (0–3) || — || 34,640 || 38–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || July 2 || @ Phillies || 3–4 || Brusstar || Reuss (3–9) || Reed || 41,828 || 38–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || July 3 || @ Phillies || 7–11 || Christenson || Kison (6–4) || — || 28,555 || 38–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || July 4 || Cardinals || 5–2 || Rooker (6–5) || Underwood || Gossage (14) || || 39–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || July 4 || Cardinals || 4–3 || Tekulve (6–1) || Eastwick || — || 22,810 || 40–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || July 5 || Cardinals || 3–7 || Forsch || Candelaria (8–3) || — || 10,837 || 40–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || July 6 || Cardinals || 11–8 || Tekulve (7–1) || Hrabosky || — || 13,137 || 41–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 81 || July 8 || Phillies || 8–7 || Gossage (6–5) || Brusstar || — || 25,200 || 42–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 9 || Phillies || 9–8 (12) || Forster (2–2) || Garber || — || 19,144 || 43–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 10 || Phillies || 5–1 || Reuss (4–9) || Lonborg || — || || 44–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 84 || July 10 || Phillies || 12–10 || Jackson (1–3) || Reed || Gossage (15) || 39,042 || 45–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || July 11 || @ Expos || 2–4 || Bahnsen || Jones (2–4) || — || 19,763 || 45–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 86 || July 12 || @ Expos || 5–4 (12) || Gossage (7–5) || Atkinson || — || 14,781 || 46–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 13 || @ Expos || 6–1 || Candelaria (9–3) || Rogers || — || 22,799 || 47–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 88 || July 15 || @ Mets || 7–1 || Rooker (7–5) || Zachry || — || || 48–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 89 || July 15 || @ Mets || 1–6 || Espinosa || Reuss (4–10) || — || 20,219 || 48–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || July 16 || @ Mets || 3–5 || Swan || Gossage (7–6) || Apodaca || 24,445 || 48–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 91 || July 17 || @ Mets || 3–1 || Candelaria (10–3) || Matlack || Gossage (16) || || 49–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 17 || @ Mets || 3–9 || Koosman || Forster (2–3) || — || 19,492 || 49–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 93 || July 21 || Reds || 6–2 || Reuss (5–10) || Norman || — || 21,713 || 50–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 94 || July 22 || Reds || 8–7 (12) || Jackson (2–3) || Billingham || — || 38,888 || 51–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 95 || July 23 || Reds || 5–4 || Rooker (8–5) || Capilla || Jackson (2) || 28,625 || 52–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 96 || July 24 || Braves || 7–6 (13) || Tekulve (8–1) || Hargan || — || 22,123 || 53–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 97 || July 25 || Braves || 6–3 || Reuss (6–10) || Niekro || — || 8,752 || 54–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 98 || July 26 || Astros || 3–2 || Candelaria (11–3) || Richard || Gossage (17) || 11,882 || 55–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || July 27 || Astros || 3–2 (11) || Tekulve (9–1) || McLaughlin || — || 11,253 || 56–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 100 || July 28 || Astros || 9–4 || Rooker (9–5) || Larson || — || 16,400 || 57–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 101 || July 29 || @ Braves || 3–5 || Niekro || Kison (6–5) || — || 9,505 || 57–43