1969 Pittsburgh Pirates season
Major League Baseball team 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 .[ 2]
October 14, 1968: Donn Clendenon was drafted from the Pirates by the Montreal Expos as the 11th pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft .[ 3]
October 14, 1968: Maury Wills was drafted from the Pirates by the Montreal Expos as the 21st pick in the 1968 MLB expansion draft .[ 4]
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 .[ 5]
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 .[ 6]
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 .[ 7]
October 16, 1968: George Spriggs was sold by the Pirates to the Kansas City Royals .[ 8]
October 21, 1968: Dave Wickersham was sold by the Pirates to the Kansas City Royals .[ 9]
January 15, 1969: Manny Jiménez was traded by the Pirates to the Chicago Cubs for Joe Campbell and Chuck Hartenstein .[ 10]
February 12, 1969: Rennie Stennett was signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent.[ 11]
March 28, 1969: Tommie Sisk and Chris Cannizzaro were traded by the Pirates to the San Diego Padres for Ron Davis and Bobby Klaus .[ 12]
March 30, 1969: Omar Moreno was signed by the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent.[ 13]
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
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Team
ATL
CHC
CIN
HOU
LAD
MON
NYM
PHI
PIT
SD
SF
STL
Atlanta
—
3–9
12–6
15–3
9–9
8–4
4–8
6–6
8–4
13–5
9–9
6–6
Chicago
9–3
—
6–6–1
8–4
6–6
10–8
8–10
12–6
7–11
11–1
6–6
9–9
Cincinnati
6–12
6–6–1
—
9–9
10–8
8–4
6–6
10–2
5–7
11–7
10–8
8–4
Houston
3–15
4–8
9–9
—
6–12
11–1
10–2
8–4
3–9
10–8
10–8
7–5
Los Angeles
9–9
6–6
8–10
12–6
—
10–2
4–8
8–4
8–4
12–6
5–13
3–9
Montreal
4–8
8–10
4–8
1–11
2–10
—
5–13
11–7
5–13
4–8
1–11
7–11
New York
8–4
10–8
6–6
2–10
8–4
13–5
—
12–6
10–8
11–1
8–4
12–6
Philadelphia
6-6
6–12
2–10
4–8
4–8
7–11
6–12
—
10–8
8–4
3–9
7–11
Pittsburgh
4–8
11–7
7–5
9–3
4–8
13–5
8–10
8–10
—
10–2
5–7
9–9
San Diego
5–13
1–11
7–11
8–10
6–12
8–4
1–11
4–8
2–10
—
6–12
4–8
San Francisco
9–9
6–6
8–10
8–10
13–5
11–1
4–8
9–3
7–5
12–6
—
3–9
St. Louis
6–6
9–9
4–8
5–7
9–3
11–7
6–12
11–7
9–9
8–4
9–3
—
Detailed records
Month
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
April
21
13
8
0.619
89
82
May
26
11
15
0.423
108
120
June
29
14
15
0.483
143
128
July
27
15
12
0.556
106
113
August
27
17
10
0.630
136
100
September
30
16
14
0.533
130
103
October
2
2
0
1.000
13
6
Total
162
88
74
0.543
725
652
Games
Won
Lost
Win %
RS
RA
Home
81
47
34
0.580
324
322
Away
81
41
40
0.506
401
330
Total
162
88
74
0.543
725
652
Game log
1969 Game Log: 88–74 (Home: 47–34; Away: 41–40)
April: 13–8 (Home: 9–4; Away: 4–4)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
1
April 8
@ Cardinals
6–2 (14)
Dal Canton (1–0)
Nelson
Hartenstein (1)
38,163
1–0
2
April 9
@ Cardinals
6–1
Veale (1–0)
Briles
—
10,739
2–0
3
April 10
@ Cardinals
3–2
Ellis (1–0)
Washburn
—
10,283
3–0
4
April 11
Phillies
7–1
Moose (1–0)
Johnson
—
31,641
4–0
5
April 12
Phillies
1–8
Jackson
Bunning (0–1)
—
12,474
4–1
6
April 13
Phillies
6–5
Kline (1–0)
Wilson
—
14,981
5–1
7
April 14
@ Cubs
0–4
Holtzman
Veale (1–1)
—
3,114
5–2
8
April 15
@ Cubs
4–7
Aguirre
Ellis (1–1)
Abernathy
4,362
5–3
9
April 16
Mets
11–3
Moose (2–0)
Koosman
—
7,666
6–3
10
April 17
Mets
4–0
Bunning (1–1)
Cardwell
Kline (1)
8,097
7–3
11
April 19
@ Phillies
8–6
Blass (1–0)
Jackson
Dal Canton (1)
3,953
8–3
12
April 20
@ Phillies
1–7
Wise
Veale (1–2)
Lersch
4,930
8–4
13
April 22
Cubs
7–5
Hartenstein (1–0)
Hands
—
9–4
14
April 22
Cubs
6–5
Dal Canton (2–0)
Nye
Kline (2)
7,906
10–4
15
April 23
@ Mets
0–2
Koosman
Bunning (1–2)
—
7,274
10–5
16
April 25
Expos
8–2
Blass (2–0)
Morton
Hartenstein (2)
10,947
11–5
17
April 26
Expos
4–3
Veale (2–2)
Stoneman
Hartenstein (3)
8,372
12–5
18
April 27
Expos
2–4
Jaster
Ellis (1–2)
—
24,425
12–6
19
April 28
Cardinals
2–6
Carlton
Moose (2–1)
—
3,859
12–7
20
April 30
Cardinals
2–1
Bunning (2–2)
Giusti
—
13–7
21
April 30
Cardinals
1–8
Gibson
Blass (2–1)
—
10,895
13–8
May: 11–15 (Home: 4–7; Away: 7–8)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
22
May 1
Cardinals
3–9
Briles
Veale (2–3)
—
7,043
13–9
23
May 2
@ Expos
7–3
Ellis (2–2)
Jaster
—
11,892
14–9
24
May 3
@ Expos
4–2
Moose (3–1)
Morton
Hartenstein (4)
14,147
15–9
25
May 4
@ Expos
4–6
Face
Kline (1–1)
—
16,931
15–10
26
May 6
Padres
2–4
Kelley
Blass (2–2)
Reberger
5,793
15–11
27
May 7
Padres
2–0
Veale (3–3)
Kirby
Hartenstein (5)
4,189
16–11
28
May 9
Dodgers
3–13
Singer
Ellis (2–3)
Moeller
6,837
16–12
29
May 10
Dodgers
1–4
Sutton
Bunning (2–3)
Brewer
4,979
16–13
30
May 12
Giants
4–3
Hartenstein (2–0)
Gibbon
—
3,396
17–13
31
May 13
Giants
8–11
Herbel
Moose (3–2)
Linzy
5,846
17–14
32
May 14
Giants
0–3
Marichal
Bunning (2–4)
—
8,296
17–15
33
May 16
@ Dodgers
3–4
Brewer
Kline (1–2)
—
19,016
17–16
34
May 17
@ Dodgers
0–6
Osteen
Ellis (2–4)
—
50,120
17–17
35
May 18
@ Dodgers
5–6
Brewer
Ramos (0–1)
—
21,086
17–18
36
May 20
@ Padres
6–3
Bunning (3–4)
Niekro
Hartenstein (6)
4,947
18–18
37
May 21
@ Padres
11–1
Moose (4–2)
Sisk
—
34,334
19–18
38
May 22
@ Padres
7–1
Blass (3–2)
Kirby
—
4,001
20–18
39
May 23
@ Giants
0–3
Robertson
Ellis (2–5)
—
8,217
20–19
40
May 24
@ Giants
2–5
McCormick
Veale (3–4)
—
18,616
20–20
41
May 25
@ Giants
2–1
Bunning (4–4)
Perry
—
21–20
42
May 25
@ Giants
6–2
Moose (5–2)
Sadecki
Dal Canton (2)
24,041
22–20
43
May 28
@ Reds
6–7
Carroll
Kline (1–3)
—
7,458
22–21
44
May 29
@ Reds
4–10
Merritt
Veale (3–5)
—
8,161
22–22
45
May 30
Astros
9–3
Bunning (5–4)
Lemaster
—
23–22
46
May 30
Astros
6–9
Billingham
Hartenstein (2–1)
Gladding
18,381
23–23
47
May 31
Astros
3–1
Ellis (3–5)
Ray
Kline (3)
6,663
24–23
June: 14–15 (Home: 7–4; Away: 7–11)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
48
June 1
Astros
14–7
Blass (4–2)
Wilson
—
21,023
25–23
49
June 3
Reds
3–7
Merritt
Veale (3–6)
—
4,576
25–24
50
June 4
Reds
3–5
Carroll
Hartenstein (2–2)
Granger
6,685
25–25
51
June 6
@ Braves
1–3
Niekro
Ellis (3–6)
—
17,049
25–26
52
June 7
@ Braves
10–2
Blass (5–2)
Jarvis
—
21,120
26–26
53
June 8
@ Braves
10–11
Niekro
Hartenstein (2–3)
—
26–27
54
June 8
@ Braves
3–4
Pappas
Veale (3–7)
—
27,318
26–28
55
June 10
@ Astros
4–7
Griffin
Ellis (3–7)
—
14,660
26–29
56
June 11
@ Astros
13–8
Blass (6–2)
Guinn
Hartenstein (7)
15,871
27–29
57
June 12
@ Astros
4–3
Bunning (6–4)
Gladding
—
14,260
28–29
58
June 13
Braves
2–1 (10)
Dal Canton (3–0)
Pappas
—
11,610
29–29
59
June 14
Braves
4–2
Moose (6–2)
Upshaw
—
18,283
30–29
60
June 15
Braves
4–6
Reed
Blass (6–3)
Upshaw
19,974
30–30
61
June 16
Cubs
9–8
Dal Canton (4–0)
Regan
Blass (1)
8,810
31–30
62
June 17
Cubs
1–0
Veale (4–7)
Jenkins
Dal Canton (3)
32–30
63
June 17
Cubs
4–3
Blass (7–3)
Abernathy
—
26,817
33–30
64
June 18
Cubs
3–2 (10)
Gibbon (1–0)
Regan
—
12,198
34–30
65
June 20
@ Phillies
7–8
Wilson
Marone (0–1)
Boozer
10,669
34–31
66
June 21
@ Phillies
8–2
Dal Canton (5–0)
Palmer
—
5,469
35–31
67
June 22
@ Phillies
6–0
Ellis (4–7)
Champion
—
36–31
68
June 22
@ Phillies
2–3
Jackson
Blass (7–4)
—
33,712
36–32
69
June 23
@ Cubs
4–5
Regan
Dal Canton (5–1)
—
12,500
36–33
70
June 24
@ Cubs
2–3
Hands
Bunning (6–5)
—
17,530
36–34
71
June 25
@ Cubs
2–5
Jenkins
Veale (4–8)
—
26,434
36–35
72
June 26
@ Cubs
5–7 (10)
Regan
Dal Canton (5–2)
—
29,473
36–36
73
June 27
@ Mets
3–1
Blass (8–4)
Koosman
Gibbon (1)
42,276
37–36
74
June 28
@ Mets
7–4
Bunning (7–5)
Gentry
Gibbon (2)
48,398
38–36
75
June 29
@ Mets
3–7
Seaver
Veale (4–9)
—
27,455
38–37
76
June 30
Phillies
2–4
Fryman
Ellis (4–8)
Boozer
17,954
38–38
July: 15–12 (Home: 12–7; Away: 3–5)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
77
July 1
Phillies
4–7
Jackson
Blass (8–5)
Wilson
6,652
38–39
78
July 2
Phillies
4–14
Raffo
Bunning (7–6)
Boozer
6,322
38–40
79
July 4
Mets
6–11
Seaver
Veale (4–10)
Koonce
38–41
80
July 4
Mets
2–9
Cardwell
Ellis (4–9)
DiLauro
17,631
38–42
81
July 6
Mets
7–8
Taylor
Hartenstein (2–4)
Koonce
11,552
38–43
82
July 8
Expos
8–1
Blass (9–5)
Wegener
—
4,930
39–43
83
July 9
Expos
4–3 (10)
Gibbon (2–0)
Radatz
—
40–43
84
July 9
Expos
3–2
Ellis (5–9)
Reed
Gibbon (3)
9,372
41–43
85
July 10
Expos
2–1 (11)
Hartenstein (3–4)
McGinn
—
4,982
42–43
86
July 11
@ Cardinals
1–6
Carlton
Walker (0–1)
—
24,910
42–44
87
July 12
@ Cardinals
3–6
Washburn
Blass (9–6)
—
17,950
42–45
88
July 13
@ Cardinals
3–0
Bunning (8–6)
Gibson
Moose (1)
43–45
89
July 13
@ Cardinals
2–4
Briles
Ellis (5–10)
Hoerner
36,469
43–46
90
July 14
@ Expos
0–2
Stoneman
Veale (4–11)
—
20,054
43–47
91
July 15
@ Expos
9–3
Walker (1–1)
Waslewski
—
20,876
44–47
92
July 16
@ Expos
8–7
Gibbon (3–0)
McGinn
Hartenstein (8)
24,214
45–47
93
July 17
@ Expos
4–5
Shaw
Bunning (8–7)
—
11,935
45–48
94
July 18
Cardinals
4–1
Ellis (6–10)
Gibson
—
13,666
46–48
95
July 19
Cardinals
3–2
Veale (5–11)
Briles
Gibbon (4)
8,915
47–48
96
July 24
Padres
4–3 (10)
Ellis (7–10)
Ross
—
6,206
48–48
97
July 25
Padres
2–3
Niekro
Blass (9–7)
—
7,404
48–49
98
July 26
Padres
4–3 (10)
Moose (7–2)
McCool
—
6,769
49–49
99
July 27
Padres
4–1
Bunning (9–7)
Kirby
Moose (2)
14,888
50–49
100
July 29
Dodgers
4–2 (10)
Gibbon (4–0)
McBean
—
51–49
101
July 29
Dodgers
5–6
Mikkelsen
Ellis (7–11)
—
18,436
51–50
102
July 30
Dodgers
4–2
Blass (10–7)
Osteen
—
8,833
52–50
103
July 31
Dodgers
2–1 (15)
Hartenstein (4–4)
McBean
—
8,605
53–50
August: 17–10 (Home: 7–5; Away: 10–5)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
104
August 1
Giants
1–5
McCormick
Bunning (9–8)
—
10,500
53–51
105
August 2
Giants
7–3
Veale (6–11)
Marichal
—
12,566
54–51
106
August 3
Giants
2–3
Perry
Ellis (7–12)
—
14,841
54–52
107
August 5
@ Dodgers
11–3
Blass (11–7)
Foster
—
22,604
55–52
108
August 6
@ Dodgers
5–7
Sutton
Walker (1–2)
Brewer
18,347
55–53
109
August 7
@ Dodgers
0–6
Osteen
Bunning (9–9)
—
20,475
55–54
110
August 8
@ Padres
7–1
Veale (7–11)
Niekro
—
6,061
56–54
111
August 10
@ Padres
7–5
Ellis (8–12)
Kelley
Gibbon (5)
57–54
112
August 10
@ Padres
8–6
Blass (12–7)
Kirby
Gibbon (6)
10,073
58–54
113
August 12
@ Giants
3–6
Perry
Walker (1–3)
—
5,496
58–55
114
August 13
@ Giants
10–5
Bunning (10–9)
McCormick
Moose (3)
5,966
59–55
115
August 15
@ Reds
5–1
Veale (8–11)
Nolan
—
21,314
60–55
116
August 16
@ Reds
2–5
Merritt
Ellis (8–13)
—
13,218
60–56
117
August 17
@ Reds
8–5
Blass (13–7)
Fisher
Hartenstein (9)
20,732
61–56
118
August 18
@ Reds
12–5 (10)
Dal Canton (6–2)
Granger
—
16,657
62–56
119
August 19
Astros
5–1
Walker (2–3)
Wilson
Gibbon (7)
5,409
63–56
120
August 20
Astros
1–0
Veale (9–11)
Lemaster
—
10,563
64–56
121
August 22
Reds
8–2
Ellis (9–13)
Fisher
—
65–56
122
August 22
Reds
5–3
Dal Canton (7–2)
Carroll
—
28,184
66–56
123
August 23
Reds
3–1
Moose (8–2)
Arrigo
Hartenstein (10)
16,283
67–56
124
August 24
Reds
9–4
Veale (10–11)
Maloney
Dal Canton (4)
16,506
68–56
125
August 26
Braves
4–6
Reed
Walker (2–4)
Doyle
15,449
68–57
126
August 27
Braves
0–1
Niekro
Ellis (9–14)
—
11,454
68–58
127
August 28
Braves
2–8
Stone
Blass (13–8)
Doyle
10,767
68–59
128
August 29
@ Astros
4–2 (10)
Moose (9–2)
Bouton
—
20,405
69–59
129
August 30
@ Astros
1–2
Dierker
Belinsky (0–1)
—
27,747
69–60
130
August 31
@ Astros
6–4
Marone (1–1)
Gladding
Blass (2)
24,722
70–60
September: 16–14 (Home: 6–7; Away: 10–7)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
131
September 1
@ Braves
7–1
Moose (10–2)
Britton
—
10,479
71–60
132
September 3
@ Braves
1–8
Reed
Ellis (9–15)
Upshaw
6,317
71–61
133
September 5
@ Cubs
9–2
Blass (14–8)
Holtzman
—
10,411
72–61
134
September 6
@ Cubs
13–4
Veale (11–11)
Jenkins
—
24,566
73–61
135
September 7
@ Cubs
7–5 (11)
Dal Canton (8–2)
Johnson
—
28,698
74–61
136
September 8
@ Expos
6–2
Hartenstein (5–4)
Raymond
Dal Canton (5)
9,526
75–61
137
September 9
@ Expos
2–4
Renko
Walker (2–5)
—
9,129
75–62
138
September 10
Cardinals
2–11
Gibson
Blass (14–9)
—
75–63
139
September 10
Cardinals
1–2
Torrez
Belinsky (0–2)
Grant
11,898
75–64
140
September 11
Cardinals
3–2
Veale (12–11)
Carlton
—
4,579
76–64
141
September 12
Mets
0–1
Koosman
Moose (10–3)
—
76–65
142
September 12
Mets
0–1
Cardwell
Ellis (9–16)
McGraw
19,303
76–66
143
September 13
Mets
2–5
Seaver
Walker (2–6)
—
10,440
76–67
144
September 14
Mets
5–3
Blass (15–9)
Ryan
—
11,324
77–67
145
September 15
@ Phillies
1–2
Wise
Veale (12–12)
—
77–68
146
September 15
@ Phillies
3–4
James
Belinsky (0–3)
—
2,933
77–69
147
September 16
@ Phillies
9–5
Moose (11–3)
Fryman
Gibbon (8)
1,169
78–69
148
September 17
@ Cardinals
4–2
Ellis (10–16)
Taylor
—
11,646
79–69
149
September 18
@ Cardinals
7–8
Campisi
Gibbon (4–1)
—
8,612
79–70
150
September 19
@ Mets
8–2
Veale (13–12)
Ryan
—
80–70
151
September 19
@ Mets
8–0
Walker (3–6)
McAndrew
—
51,885
81–70
152
September 20
@ Mets
4–0
Moose (12–3)
Gentry
—
38,784
82–70
153
September 21
@ Mets
3–5
Koosman
Ellis (10–17)
—
82–71
154
September 21
@ Mets
1–6
Cardwell
Blass (15–10)
—
55,901
82–72
155
September 23
Phillies
3–4
Jackson
Veale (13–13)
Johnson
2,364
82–73
156
September 25
Phillies
5–3
Walker (4–6)
Wise
—
83–73
157
September 25
Phillies
9–7
Moose (13–3)
James
Gibbon (9)
2,379
84–73
158
September 26
Cubs
2–0
Ellis (11–17)
Jenkins
—
4,973
85–73
159
September 27
Cubs
4–1
Blass (16–10)
Holtzman
Moose (4)
4,157
86–73
160
September 28
Cubs
1–3
Hands
Veale (13–14)
—
24,435
86–74
October: 2–0 (Home: 2–0; Away: 0–0)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
161
October 1
Expos
5–4
Gibbon (5–1)
Reed
—
2,496
87–74
162
October 2
Expos
8–2
Moose (14–3)
Robertson
—
2,700
88–74
Legend: = Win = Loss Bold = Pirates team member
Opening Day lineup
[ 14]
Notable transactions
Roster
1969 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Manager
Coaches
[ 22]
Statistics
Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: York
Notes
References
Franchise Ballparks Culture Lore Rivalries Minors World Series Championships (5) League pennants (9) Division titles (9) Wild Card berths (3) Media
Seasons (144)
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