1978 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1978 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 97th season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 92nd in the National League. The Pirates finished second in the National League East with a record of 88–73.

Offseason December 8, 1977: Al Oliver and Nelson Norman were traded by the Pirates to the Texas Rangers as part of a four-team trade. Bert Blyleven was traded by the Rangers to the Pirates, and John Milner was traded by the New York Mets to the Pirates. Willie Montañez was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Mets, and the Rangers traded Tom Grieve and a player to be named later to the Mets. The Rangers traded Adrian Devine, Tommy Boggs, and Eddie Miller to the Braves. The Mets traded Jon Matlack to the Rangers. The Rangers completed the deal by sending Ken Henderson to the Mets on March 15, 1978.Bert Blyleven page at Baseball Reference March 18, 1978: Carl Morton was released by the Pirates.Carl Morton page at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 7 || Cubs || 1–0 || Candelaria (1–0) || Reuschel || — || 39,028 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 8 || Cubs || 4–3 (10) || Bibby (1–0) || Sutter || — || 9,387 || 2–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 9 || Cubs || 3–4 || Moore || Kison (0–1) || Sutter || 11,632 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 10 || @ Cardinals || 2–11 || Denny || Rooker (0–1) || — || 19,241 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 12 || @ Cardinals || 1–5 || Forsch || Candelaria (1–1) || — || 12,294 || 2–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 13 || @ Cardinals || 5–6 || Rasmussen || Blyleven (0–1) || — || 12,351 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 14 || @ Cubs || 4–5 || Hernandez || Bibby (1–1) || — || 45,777 || 2–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 15 || @ Cubs || 13–10 || Rooker (1–1) || Lamp || — || 20,684 || 3–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 16 || @ Cubs || 1–5 || Reuschel || Robinson (0–1) || — || 20,921 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 17 || Phillies || 2–6 || Lonborg || Candelaria (1–2) || — || 7,343 || 3–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 22 || Cardinals || 8–7 || Tekulve (1–0) || Urrea || — || 5,173 || 4–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 23 || Cardinals || 14–7 || Kison (1–1) || Forsch || — || || 5–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 23 || Cardinals || 5–4 || Bibby (2–1) || Vuckovich || Robinson (1) || 10,008 || 6–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 24 || @ Mets || 4–2 || Tekulve (2–0) || Cornejo || — || 9,495 || 7–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 25 || @ Mets || 2–1 || Robinson (1–1) || Bruhert || — || 6,914 || 8–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 16 || April 26 || @ Mets || 1–0 (11) || Blyleven (1–1) || Myrick || — || 6,506 || 9–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 28 || Giants || 4–5 || Montefusco || Candelaria (1–3) || Lavelle || 7,881 || 9–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 29 || Giants || 6–2 || Robinson (2–1) || Barr || — || 7,976 || 10–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 30 || Giants || 3–7 || Knepper || Blyleven (1–2) || — || 7,929 || 10–9

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || May 1 || Padres || 7–4 || Bibby (3–1) || Fingers || — || 2,786 || 11–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || May 2 || Padres || 1–2 || Owchinko || Candelaria (1–4) || — || 3,228 || 11–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || May 3 || Padres || 5–7 || D'Acquisto || Bibby (3–2) || Fingers || 5,052 || 11–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || May 5 || Dodgers || 2–7 || Hooton || Blyleven (1–3) || — || 7,580 || 11–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || May 6 || Dodgers || 3–2 || Candelaria (2–4) || Sutton || Jackson (1) || 8,919 || 12–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || May 7 || Dodgers || 6–4 || Rooker (2–1) || John || Tekulve (1) || 18,208 || 13–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 9 || @ Giants || 2–3 || Curtis || Tekulve (2–1) || — || 10,459 || 13–13 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 10 || @ Giants || 5–1 || Blyleven (2–3) || Barr || — || 4,766 || 14–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 11 || @ Giants || 2–6 || Knepper || Candelaria (2–5) || — || 6,071 || 14–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 12 || @ Padres || 4–6 || Lee || Tekulve (2–2) || Fingers || 20,240 || 14–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 13 || @ Padres || 5–6 || Spillner || Kison (1–2) || Fingers || 32,648 || 14–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 14 || @ Padres || 1–0 || Robinson (3–1) || Jones || — || 18,572 || 15–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 15 || @ Dodgers || 6–7 || Hough || Blyleven (2–4) || — || 35,297 || 15–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 16 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || Sutton || Candelaria (2–6) || Forster || 32,243 || 15–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 17 || @ Dodgers || 1–10 || John || Rooker (2–2) || — || 33,097 || 15–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 35 || May 19 || @ Expos || 5–3 || Robinson (4–1) || May || Tekulve (2) || 13,088 || 16–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 36 || May 20 || @ Expos || 6–0 || Blyleven (3–4) || Twitchell || — || 13,834 || 17–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 21 || @ Expos || 7–0 || Candelaria (3–6) || Grimsley || Tekulve (3) || 20,016 || 18–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 22 || @ Expos || 2–5 || Rogers || Rooker (2–3) || Knowles || 12,300 || 18–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 23 || Mets || 3–7 || Espinosa || Jackson (0–1) || Lockwood || 2,869 || 18–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 24 || Mets || 6–5 (10) || Tekulve (3–2) || Lockwood || — || 5,302 || 19–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 25 || Mets || 2–3 (11) || Murray || Tekulve (3–3) || — || 5,766 || 19–22 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 26 || Expos || 2–1 || Candelaria (4–6) || Rogers || Tekulve (4) || 8,816 || 20–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 27 || Expos || 1–15 || May || Rooker (2–4) || — || 10,773 || 20–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 28 || Expos || 5–2 || Bibby (4–2) || Dues || — || 26,564 || 21–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 29 || @ Phillies || 3–4 (14) || Brusstar || Hamilton (0–1) || — || 34,353 || 21–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 30 || @ Phillies || 1–6 || Carlton || Blyleven (3–5) || — || 26,123 || 21–25 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 31 || @ Phillies || 2–1 || Candelaria (5–6) || Lerch || Tekulve (5) || 29,595 || 22–25

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || June 2 || @ Reds || 2–3 || Tomlin || Rooker (2–5) || — || 40,495 || 22–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 3 || @ Reds || 3–4 || Norman || Robinson (4–2) || Sarmiento || 50,152 || 22–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || June 4 || @ Reds || 4–1 || Blyleven (4–5) || Moskau || Jackson (2) || 37,304 || 23–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 5 || Braves || 4–8 || Easterly || Tekulve (3–4) || — || 5,248 || 23–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || June 6 || Braves || 4–2 || Bibby (5–2) || Devine || Tekulve (6) || 4,914 || 24–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 9 || Reds || 11–9 || Jackson (1–1) || Bair || Candelaria (1) || 21,710 || 25–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 10 || Reds || 4–6 || Seaver || Jackson (1–2) || — || 34,009 || 25–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 11 || Reds || 3–1 || Jackson (2–2) || Sarmiento || Whitson (1) || 24,972 || 26–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 12 || @ Astros || 5–6 || Williams || Whitson (0–1) || Sambito || 9,886 || 26–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 13 || @ Astros || 1–2 || Forsch || Bibby (5–3) || Sambito || 10,487 || 26–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 14 || @ Astros || 6–4 || Whitson (1–1) || Richard || Tekulve (7) || 12,440 || 27–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 16 || @ Braves || 9–4 || Blyleven (5–5) || Niekro || Whitson (2) || 18,572 || 28–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 17 || @ Braves || 5–3 || Candelaria (6–6) || Mahler || Jackson (3) || 16,284 || 29–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 18 || @ Braves || 7–8 || Hanna || Bibby (5–4) || Skok || 21,498 || 29–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 19 || Cubs || 4–6 (10) || Sutter || Jackson (2–3) || Hernandez || 8,878 || 29–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 20 || Cubs || 6–1 || Blyleven (6–5) || Holtzman || — || 10,912 || 30–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 21 || Cubs || 2–1 || Candelaria (7–6) || Burris || — || 11,064 || 31–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 23 || @ Mets || 2–3 (11) || Murray || Whitson (1–2) || — || 16,594 || 31–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 24 || @ Mets || 7–4 (12) || Tekulve (4–4) || Siebert || Hamilton (1) || 17,810 || 32–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 25 || @ Mets || 4–0 || Blyleven (7–5) || Espinosa || — || 16,748 || 33–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 26 || Cardinals || 11–8 || Whitson (2–2) || Urrea || Tekulve (8) || 5,045 || 34–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 69 || June 27 || Cardinals || 0–2 || Vuckovich || Candelaria (7–7) || Schultz || || 34–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 27 || Cardinals || 1–6 || Falcone || Reuss (0–1) || — || 9,229 || 34–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 28 || Cardinals || 5–7 (11) || Thomas || Tekulve (4–5) || — || 7,742 || 34–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 29 || Mets || 4–3 || Jackson (3–3) || Lockwood || Whitson (3) || 6,367 || 35–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 30 || Mets || 5–6 || Murray || Hamilton (0–2) || — || 31,947 || 35–38

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || July 1 || Mets || 1–0 || Rooker (3–5) || Lockwood || Tekulve (9) || 7,912 || 36–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || July 3 || Expos || 0–2 || Dues || Candelaria (7–8) || Rogers || 7,480 || 36–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || July 4 || Expos || 3–1 || Blyleven (8–5) || Schatzeder || Tekulve (10) || || 37–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 77 || July 4 || Expos || 4–3 || Robinson (5–2) || Twitchell || Tekulve (11) || 15,001 || 38–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || July 6 || @ Cardinals || 2–3 || Denny || Rooker (3–6) || — || 14,832 || 38–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || July 7 || @ Cardinals || 2–1 || Candelaria (8–8) || Vuckovich || Tekulve (12) || 13,813 || 39–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || July 8 || @ Cardinals || 0–4 || Martinez || Robinson (5–3) || — || 20,524 || 39–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 81 || July 9 || @ Cardinals || 6–1 || Blyleven (9–5) || Forsch || Tekulve (13) || 22,101 || 40–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 82 || July 13 || Giants || 0–4 || Knepper || Candelaria (8–9) || — || 13,984 || 40–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 14 || Giants || 5–2 || Rooker (4–6) || Montefusco || Tekulve (14) || 15,733 || 41–42 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || July 15 || Giants || 5–6 (11) || Lavelle || Whitson (2–3) || — || 16,174 || 41–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 85 || July 16 || Padres || 3–2 (10) || Whitson (3–3) || Fingers || — || || 42–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 86 || July 16 || Padres || 10–6 || Jackson (4–3) || Kinney || Tekulve (15) || 16,303 || 43–43 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 87 || July 17 || Padres || 8–7 (10) || Tekulve (5–5) || Fingers || — || 7,045 || 44–43 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || July 18 || Dodgers || 2–7 || Sutton || Robinson (5–4) || — || 15,125 || 44–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 19 || Dodgers || 6–3 || Rooker (5–6) || Rau || Tekulve (16) || 15,527 || 45–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 90 || July 20 || Dodgers || 7–6 (10) || Kison (2–2) || Forster || — || 13,823 || 46–44 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 91 || July 21 || @ Giants || 3–0 || Bibby (6–4) || Knepper || — || 23,882 || 47–44 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || July 22 || @ Giants || 2–3 (10) || Curtis || Tekulve (5–6) || — || 18,872 || 47–45 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 93 || July 23 || @ Giants || 1–3 || Barr || Candelaria (8–10) || — || 41,923 || 47–46 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 94 || July 25 || @ Padres || 1–2 || Owchinko || Rooker (5–7) || — || 17,522 || 47–47 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 95 || July 26 || @ Padres || 5–6 || Perry || Kison (2–3) || Fingers || 16,556 || 47–48 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 96 || July 27 || @ Padres || 3–6 || Shirley || Whitson (3–4) || Fingers || 14,076 || 47–49 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 97 || July 28 || @ Dodgers || 3–7 || John || Candelaria (8–11) || Forster || 43,600 || 47–50 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 98 || July 29 || @ Dodgers || 1–2 || Sutton || Robinson (5–5) || — || 46,139 || 47–51 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 99 || July 30 || @ Dodgers || 5–3 || Rooker (6–7) || Rau || Tekulve (17) || 48,587 || 48–51 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 100 || July 31 || @ Expos || 2–3 || Garman || Blyleven (9–6) || — || 22,152 || 48–52

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb"