The 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates had a record of 98 wins and 64 losses and captured the National League East title by two games over the Montreal Expos. The Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds to win their ninth National League pennant, and the Baltimore Orioles to win their fifth World Series title – and also their last playoff series victory to date. The disco hit "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge was used as the team's theme song that season. This remains the last World Series victory for the Pirates; they currently hold the longest World Series drought in the National League at 47 seasons. They are second only to the Cleveland Guardians in longest World Series drought in Major League Baseball.

Offseason October 23, 1978: Will McEnaney was released by the Pirates.Will McEnaney at Baseball-Reference December 4, 1978: Ken Macha was drafted from the Pirates by the Montreal Expos in the 1978 rule 5 draft. December 5, 1978: Odell Jones, Rafael Vásquez, and Mario Mendoza were traded by the Pirates to the Seattle Mariners for Enrique Romo, Rick Jones and Tom McMillan.Enrique Romo at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Key transactions

April 19, 1979: Traded Frank Taveras to the New York Mets for Tim Foli and Greg Field (minors). June 28, 1979: Traded Fred Breining, Al Holland and Ed Whitson to the San Francisco Giants for Bill Madlock, Lenny Randle, and Dave Roberts.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Roster 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders

Other batters Manager

Coaches (Pitching) (Third base) (First base) (Hitting)

Opening Day Lineup +Opening Day Starters # Name Position10 Frank Taveras SS18 Omar Moreno CF39 Dave Parker RF8 Willie Stargell 1B28 Bill Robinson LF6 Rennie Stennett 2B14 Ed Ott C 3 Phil Garner 3B22 Bert Blyleven P 1979 Opening Day Lineup at Baseball-Reference

Game log Regular season Legend Pirates win Pirates loss Postponement Clinched divisionBoldPirates team member

|-style=background:#fbb | 1 || || 12:35p.m. EST || Expos || 2–3 || Sosa (1–0) || Tekulve (0–1) || — || 3:02 || 36,141 || 0–1 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 2 || || 2:15p.m. EST || Expos || 7–6 || Jackson (1–0) || Sosa (1–1) || — || 3:00 || 8,700 || 1–1 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 3 || || 1:05p.m. EST || Expos || 4–5 || May (1–0) || Romo (0–1) || Palmer (1) || 3:03 || 8,680 || 1–2 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 10 || || @ Phillies || 3–7 || Ruthven || Romo (0–2) || — || || 48,235 || 1–3 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 11 || || @ Phillies || 4–5 || Carlton || Blyleven (0–1) || — || || 26,281 || 1–4 || L3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 12 || || Cardinals || 3–1 || Robinson (1–0) || Denny || — || || 3,986 || 2–4 || W1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 7 || April 13 || || Cardinals || 7–6 || Bibby (1–0) || Schultz || Jackson (1) || || 4,395 || 3–4 || W2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 14 || || Cardinals || 7–4 || Whitson (1–0) || Forsch || Jackson (2) || || 10,940 || 4–4 || W3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 15 || || Cardinals || 4–9 || Littell || Tekulve (0–2) || — || || 3,012 || 4–5 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 17 || || Phillies || 2–13 || Carlton || Blyleven (0–2) || — || || 7,739 || 4–6 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 18 || || Phillies || 2–3 || Lerch || Robinson (1–1) || — || || 12,195 || 4–7 || L3 |-style=background:#fbb | 12 || || 8:35p.m. EST || @ Astros || 4–5 || Sambito (1–0) || Bibby (1–1) || — || 3:16 || 19,834 || 4–8 || L4 |-style=background:#fbb | 13 || || 8:35p.m. EST || @ Astros || 4–5 || Andújar (2–0) || Tekulve (0–3) || — || 3:23 || 48,977 || 4–9 || L5 |-style=background:#fbb | 14 || || 3:05p.m. EST || @ Astros || 2–3 || Andújar (3–0) || Candelaria (0–1) || Sambito (2) || 2:27 || 22,403 || 4–10 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 15 || || 8:05p.m. EST || @ Reds || 9–2 || Robinson (2–1) || Pastore (0–2) || — || 2:30 || 18,372 || 5–10 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 16 || || 12:35p.m. EST || @ Reds || 3–2 || Tekulve (1–3) || Tomlin (0–1) || — || 3:05 || 20,155 || 6–10 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 17 || || 7:35p.m. EST || Astros || 8–9 || Riccelli (1–0) || Whitson (1–1) || — || 3:30 || 5,767 || 6–11 || L1 |-style=background:#bbb | — || || || Astros || colspan=8 | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 19) |-style=background:#cfc | 18 || || 1:05p.m. EDT || Astros || 10–5 || Kison (1–0) || Niekro (1–2) || Jackson (3) || 3:07 || 7,598 || 7–11 || W1

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 19 || || 7:35p.m. EDT || Braves || 2–5 || Niekro (3–4) || Tekulve (1–4)</span || — || 2:37 || 5,122 || 7–12 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || || 7:35p.m. EDT || Braves || 10–2 || Candelaria (1–1) || M. Mahler (0–2) || — || 2:21 || 4,840 || 8–12 || W1 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || || || Braves || colspan=8 | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: July 23) |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || May 4 || || @ Cardinals || 3–4 || Sykes || Robinson (2–2) || Schultz || || 13,525 || 8–13 || L1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || May 5 || || @ Cardinals || 6–5 || Jackson (2–0) || Vuckovich || Whitson (1) || || 17,440 || 9–13 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || May 6 || || @ Cardinals || 2–4 || Martinez || Kison (1–1) || Knowles || || 20,966 || 9–14 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 24 || || 7:35p.m. EDT || @ Braves || 4–2 || Candelaria (2–1) || M. Mahler (0–3) || Tekulve (1) || 2:54 || 8,166 || 10–14 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || || 7:35p.m. EDT || @ Braves || 1–4 || Solomon (2–1) || Rhoden (0–1) || — || 2:57 || 5,741 || 10–15 || L1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || || 7:43p.m. EDT || @ Braves || 17–9 || Bibby (2–1) || Garber (1–5) || Tekulve (2) || 3:42 || 6,855 || 11–15 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 27 || || 7:35p.m. EDT || Reds || 4–8 || Tomlin (1–1) || Whitson (1–2) || Bair (6) || 2:48 || 14,115 || 11–16 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 28 || || 2:15p.m. EDT || Reds || 3–2 || Bibby (3–1) || Pastore (1–3) || Jackson (4) || 2:55 || 18,745 || 12–16 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 29 || || 1:05p.m. EDT || Reds || 3–7 || LaCoss (4–0) || Candelaria (2–2) || — || 2:46 || 10,253 || 12–17 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 15 || || Mets || 0–3 || Swan || Robinson (2–3) || Lockwood || || 6,097 || 12–18 || L2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 16 || || Mets || 4–3 || Romo (1–2) || Lockwood || — || || 7,621 || 13–18 || W1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 17 || || Mets || 6–5 || Tekulve (2–4) || Orosco || — || || 6,295 || 14–18 || W2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 18 || || @ Cubs || 9–5 || Candelaria (3–2) || Holtzman || — || || 12,578 || 15–18 || W3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 19 || || @ Cubs || 3–0 || Rooker (1–0) || Krukow || Jackson (5) || || 29,460 || 16–18 || W4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 20 || || @ Cubs || 6–5 || Robinson (3–3) || McGlothen || Tekulve (3) || || 30,998 || 17–18 || W5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || || 1:35p.m. EDT || @ Expos || 4–2 || Blyleven (1–2) || Sanderson (2–3) || Tekulve (4) || 2:58 || 25,154 || 18–18 || W6 |-style=background:#fbb | 37 || || 1:35p.m. EDT || @ Expos || 3–6 || Grimsley (4–2) || Whitson (1–3) || Fryman (2) || 2:42 || 15,227 || 18–19 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 38 || || 7:35p.m. EDT || @ Expos || 0–3 || Rogers (4–2) || Candelaria (3–3) || — || 2:18 || 7,041 || 18–20 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffffff" | 39 || May 25 || || @ Mets || 3–3 || || || — || || 6,611 || 18–20 || |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 26 || || @ Mets || 8–10 || Lockwood || Tekulve (2–5) || — || || 20,272 || 18–21 || L3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 27 || || @ Mets || 2–1 || Jackson (3–0) || Murray || — || || 25,545 || 19–21 || W1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 28 || || @ Mets || 6–1 || Candelaria (4–3) || Falcone || Jackson (6) || || 10,619 || 20–21 || W2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 29 || || Cubs || 8–0 || Robinson (4–3) || Holtzman || — || || 7,196 || 21–21 || W3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 30 || || Cubs || 9–2 || Rooker (2–0) || McGlothen || — || || 7,107 || 22–21 || W4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 31 || || Cubs || 4–3 || Kison (2–1) || Sutter || — || || 6,438 || 23–21 || W5

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || June 1 || || Padres || 9–8 || Tekulve (3–5) || Shirley || — || || 12,928 || 24–21 || W6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || June 2 || || Padres || 1–3 || Perry || Candelaria (4–4) || — || || 20,977 || 24–22 || L1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || June 3 || || Padres || 7–0 || Kison (3–1) || Owchinko || — || || 13,370 || 25–22 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 4 || || Dodgers || 2–4 || Sutcliffe || Rooker (2–1) || — || || 14,727 || 25–23 || L1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || June 5 || || Dodgers || 3–1 || Blyleven (2–2) || Sutton || Tekulve (5) || || 11,088 || 26–23 || W1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || June 6 || || Dodgers || 5–4 || Romo (2–2) || Welch || Tekulve (6) || || 16,666 || 27–23 || W2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || June 8 || || Giants || 3–2 || Romo (3–2) || Curtis || Jackson (7) || || 18,227 || 28–23 || W3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 9 || || Giants || 2–6 || Blue || Kison (3–2) || — || || 25,814 || 28–24 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 10 || || Giants || 4–7 || Lavelle || Romo (3–3) || — || || 25,536 || 28–25 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 12 || || @ Padres || 3–6 || Perry || Candelaria (4–5) || — || || 23,759 || 28–26 || L3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 13 || || @ Padres || 2–3 || Owchinko || Kison (3–3) || Fingers || || 17,845 || 28–27 || L4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 14 || || @ Padres || 1–2 || D'Acquisto || Candelaria (4–6) || — || || 15,444 || 28–28 || L5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 15 || || @ Dodgers || 6–2 || Blyleven (3–2) || Sutton || Tekulve (7) || || 50,299 || 29–28 || W1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 16 || || @ Dodgers || 6–3 || Robinson (5–3) || Welch || — || || 49,448 || 30–28 || W2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 17 || || @ Dodgers || 5–1 || Whitson (2–3) || Reuss || Tekulve (8) || || 45,835 || 31–28 || W3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 19 || || @ Giants || 9–4 || Candelaria (5–6) || Montefusco || Romo (1) || || 39,861 || 32–28 || W4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 62 || June 20 || || @ Giants || 8–5 || Jackson (4–0) || Lavelle || Tekulve (9) || || 19,637 || 33–28 || W5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 22 || || Cubs || 7–2 || Blyleven (4–2) || Holtzman || — || || 21,006 || 34–28 || W6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 23 || || Cubs || 3–4 || Krukow || Robinson (5–4) || Sutter || || 18,513 || 34–29 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 24 || || Cubs || 0–5 || Reuschel || Kison (3–4) || — || || 43,402 || 34–30 || L2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 25 || || @ Mets || 8–1 || Candelaria (6–6) || Swan || || — || || 35–30 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 25 || || @ Mets || 0–4 || Falcone || Rooker (2–2) || — || || 14,666 || 35–31 || L1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 26 || || @ Mets || 2–1 || Blyleven (5–2) || Hausman || Jackson (8) || || 11,903 || 36–31 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 27 || || Mets || 9–12 || Twitchell || Jackson (4–1) || — || || 13,168 || 36–32 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 28 || || Mets || 2–3 || Allen || Bibby (3–2) || Glynn || || 10,137 || 36–33 || L2 |-style=background:#cfc | 71 || || 7:35p.m. EDT || Expos || 6–5 || Kison (4–4) || Lee (7–5) || Tekulve (10) || 2:45 || 35,677 || 37–33 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 72 || || 2:15p.m. EDT || Expos || 3–5 || Sanderson (5–4) || Blyleven (5–3) || Fryman (5) || 2:38 || 13,865 || 37–34 || L1

|-style=background:#bbb | — || || || Expos || colspan=8 | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: September 24) |-style=background:#bbb | — || || || Expos || colspan=8 | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: September 24) |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || July 2 || || @ Cardinals || 5–4 || Romo (4–3) || Knowles || Jackson (9) || || 18,042 || 38–34 || W1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || July 3 || || @ Cardinals || 4–1 || Candelaria (7–6) || Forsch || Romo (2) || || 17,130 || 39–34 || W2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 75 || July 4 || || @ Cardinals || 6–4 || Blyleven (6–3) || Vuckovich || Jackson (10) || || 14,766 || 40–34 || W3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || July 5 || || @ Cardinals || 0–2 || Fulgham || Rooker (2–3) || — || || 16,626 || 40–35 || L1