1997 Pittsburgh Pirates season

The 1997 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 116th season of the franchise; the 111th in the National League. This was their 28th season at Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates finished second in the National League Central with a record of 79–83.

Offseason October 4, 1996: The Pirates promote 3rd base coach Gene Lamont to manager, after Jim Leyland resigned after the 1996 season. November 14, 1996: Dan Plesac, Carlos García and Orlando Merced were traded by the Pirates to the Toronto Blue Jays for José Silva, Brandon Cromer (minors), Jose Pett (minors), and players to be named later. The Blue Jays completed the deal by sending Abraham Núñez, Craig Wilson, and Mike Halperin (minors) to the Pirates on December 11.Dan Plesac at Baseball Reference December 13, 1996: Jay Bell and Jeff King were traded by the Pirates to the Kansas City Royals for Jeff Granger, Joe Randa, Jeff Wallace, and Jeff Martin (minors).Jay Bell page at Baseball References December 20, 1996: Kevin Elster was signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

New stadium referendum Perhaps the most interesting headline of the Pirates' 1997 season didn't occur on the field. In 1997 voters in Pittsburgh's Allegheny County and 10 surrounding counties were presented with a referendum, known as the Regional Renaissance Initiative, to raise their county sales tax by 1/2% for seven years to fund, among other things, new stadiums for the Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams were playing in Three Rivers Stadium, which at the time was considered by many to be obsolete. The unexpected pennant drive provided a backdrop for the question as it was debated throughout the summer, given the concern that the Pirates might leave the city if a new stadium wasn't procured.

The referendum failed badly in all 11 counties. Only in Allegheny County was it close (58–42), while being rejected by 2–1 to 3–1 margins in other counties. The next year what became known as "Plan B" was pursued by local and state government officials which called again for two new stadiums as well as an expansion of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The new plan was eventually passed, this time without a referendum and despite polls showing the public was against this as well, resulting in the construction of PNC Park and Heinz Field, where both teams would start playing in 2001.

Regular season The 1997 Pittsburgh Pirates were informally known as "The Freak Show,"Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Pirates' 'Freak Show' hit zenith with July no-hitter" as the team of rookies and cheap veterans (the team only had a $9 million payroll) unexpectedly competed with the Houston Astros for the division title until the final week of the season.

Season standings

Game log

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 || April 1 || @ Giants || 5–2 || Ruebel (1–0) || Rodriguez || Ericks (1) || 41,996 || 1–0 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2 || April 3 || @ Giants || 5–7 || Fernandez || Cooke (0–1) || Beck || 8,099 || 1–1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || April 4 || @ Dodgers || 3–5 || Candiotti || Wainhouse (0–1) || Worrell || 37,284 || 1–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 || April 5 || @ Dodgers || 3–1 || Cordova (1–0) || Park || Ericks (2) || 41,099 || 2–2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || April 6 || @ Dodgers || 3–6 || Dreifort || Rincon (0–1) || Worrell || 37,493 || 2–3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || April 7 || @ Padres || 2–3 (10) || Veras || Ruebel (1–1) || — || 29,895 || 2–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 || April 8 || @ Padres || 2–0 || Cooke (1–1) || Bergman || Ericks (3) || 14,278 || 3–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 || April 9 || @ Padres || 4–2 || Loaiza (1–0) || Worrell || Ericks (4) || 24,735 || 4–4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 11 || Dodgers || 1–7 || Martinez || Cordova (1–1) || — || 43,126 || 4–5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || April 13 || Dodgers || 5–14 || Nomo || Schmidt (0–1) || — || 14,885 || 4–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 || April 15 || Padres || 3–2 || Ericks (1–0) || Ashby || — || 6,851 || 5–6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 12 || April 16 || Padres || 5–7 || Valenzuela || Cooke (1–2) || Hoffman || 6,777 || 5–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 || April 17 || Reds || 3–2 || Loaiza (2–0) || Morgan || Ericks (5) || 6,039 || 6–7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 14 || April 18 || Reds || 1–6 || Burba || Cordova (1–2) || — || 9,082 || 6–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 15 || April 19 || Reds || 6–5 || Rincon (1–1) || Remlinger || — || 11,457 || 7–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 || April 20 || Reds || 5–3 || Lieber (1–0) || Mercker || Ericks (6) || 14,542 || 8–8 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 17 || April 21 || Phillies || 2–10 || Schilling || Cooke (1–3) || — || 9,015 || 8–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 || April 23 || Phillies || 3–2 || Rincon (2–1) || Spradlin || — || 8,850 || 9–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 19 || April 24 || @ Cubs || 4–3 || Loiselle (1–0) || Rojas || — || 21,787 || 10–9 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 20 || April 25 || @ Cubs || 1–11 || Foster || Lieber (1–1) || — || 18,333 || 10–10 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 21 || April 26 || @ Cubs || 6–7 || Patterson || Rincon (2–2) || Rojas || 29,323 || 10–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 22 || April 27 || @ Cubs || 7–0 || Schmidt (1–1) || Telemaco || — || 21,083 || 11–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 || April 28 || @ Phillies || 9–4 (12) || Wilkins (1–0) || Mimbs || — || 12,017 || 12–11 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 24 || April 29 || @ Phillies || 2–8 || Maduro || Ruebel (1–2) || — || 12,453 || 12–12 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || April 30 || Giants || 1–6 || Gardner || Lieber (1–2) || — || 10,073 || 12–13

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 || May 1 || Giants || 3–2 || Cooke (2–3) || Estes || Rincon (1) || 10,507 || 13–13 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 27 || May 2 || @ Braves || 3–2 || Peters (1–0) || Bielecki || Loiselle (1) || 37,577 || 14–13 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 28 || May 3 || @ Braves || 3–0 || Loaiza (3–0) || Glavine || Rincon (2) || 46,602 || 15–13 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || May 4 || @ Braves || 1–3 || Wade || Cordova (1–3) || Wohlers || 42,037 || 15–14 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || May 5 || @ Marlins || 0–3 || Helling || Lieber (1–3) || Nen || 16,616 || 15–15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 31 || May 6 || @ Marlins || 4–0 || Cooke (3–3) || Fernandez || — || 18,063 || 16–15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 || May 7 || @ Rockies || 14–3 || Wilkins (2–0) || Thompson || — || 48,056 || 17–15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 33 || May 8 || @ Rockies || 10–8 || Loaiza (4–0) || Wright || Loiselle (2) || 48,050 || 18–15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 34 || May 9 || Braves || 9–0 || Cordova (2–3) || Wade || — || 18,006 || 19–15 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 35 || May 10 || Braves || 3–9 || Neagle || Lieber (1–4) || — || 34,143 || 19–16 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 36 || May 11 || Braves || 2–8 || Smoltz || Cooke (3–4) || — || 29,895 || 19–17 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || May 12 || Braves || 2–10 || Maddux || Schmidt (1–2) || — || 12,114 || 19–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 || May 14 || Rockies || 15–10 || Wilkins (3–0) || Reed || — || 11,841 || 20–18 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 39 || May 15 || Rockies || 4–3 || Cordova (3–3) || Bailey || Rincon (3) || 8,548 || 21–18 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 40 || May 16 || Marlins || 1–3 || Fernandez || Lieber (1–5) || Nen || 17,156 || 21–19 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 41 || May 17 || Marlins || 1–11 || Rapp || Cooke (3–5) || — || 32,066 || 21–20 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 42 || May 18 || Marlins || 3–5 (10) || Nen || Loiselle (1–1) || Stanifer || 28,702 || 21–21 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 43 || May 20 || @ Cardinals || 1–3 || Jackson || Loaiza (4–1) || Eckersley || 25,990 || 21–22 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 || May 21 || @ Cardinals || 3–2 || Ruebel (2–2) || Fossas || Loiselle (3) || 34,738 || 22–22 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 || May 22 || @ Expos || 9–3 || Lieber (2–5) || Perez || Rincon (4) || 12,620 || 23–22 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 46 || May 23 || @ Expos || 1–4 || Martinez || Cooke (3–6) || — || 18,499 || 23–23 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 47 || May 24 || @ Expos || 3–7 || Juden || Schmidt (1–3) || Urbina || 26,154 || 23–24 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 || May 25 || @ Expos || 8–6 || Wilkins (4–0) || Daal || Loiselle (4) || 27,253 || 24–24 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 49 || May 26 || Cubs || 1–2 || Foster || Cordova (3–4) || Adams || 20,609 || 24–25 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 50 || May 27 || Cubs || 7–8 || Gonzalez || Lieber (2–6) || Adams || 9,641 || 24–26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 51 || May 28 || Cubs || 4–1 || Cooke (4–6) || Mulholland || — || 10,198 || 25–26 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 52 || May 30 || Expos || 10–2 || Peters (2–0) || Juden || — || 14,676 || 26–26 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 53 || May 31 || Expos || 2–4 || Hermanson || Loaiza (4–2) || Urbina || 14,628 || 26–27

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 54 || June 1 || Expos || 11–2 || Cordova (4–4) || Bullinger || — || 25,752 || 27–27 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 55 || June 2 || @ Cubs || 2–3 || Mulholland || Lieber (2–7) || Adams || 21,773 || 27–28 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 56 || June 3 || @ Cubs || 3–1 || Cooke (5–6) || Trachsel || Loiselle (5) || 17,317 || 28–28 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 57 || June 4 || Cardinals || 0–10 || Benes || Schmidt (1–4) || — || 19,181 || 28–29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 58 || June 5 || Cardinals || 9–3 || Loaiza (5–2) || Stottlemyre || — || 11,382 || 29–29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 59 || June 6 || Phillies || 5–4 (10) || Wilkins (5–0) || Spradlin || — || 15,165 || 30–29 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 60 || June 7 || Phillies || 9–2 || Lieber (3–7) || Nye || — || 25,664 || 31–29 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 61 || June 8 || Phillies || 2–3 || Schilling || Cooke (5–7) || Bottalico || 30,667 || 31–30 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 62 || June 10 || @ Reds || 5–8 || Remlinger || Rincon (2–3) || Shaw || 18,556 || 31–31 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 63 || June 11 || @ Reds || 1–2 || Tomko || Loaiza (5–3) || Shaw || 20,854 || 31–32 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 64 || June 13 || Royals || 5–3 || Cordova (5–4) || Williams || Loiselle (6) || 33,253 || 32–32 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 65 || June 14 || Royals || 3–8 || Belcher || Lieber (3–8) || Montgomery || 39,509 || 32–33 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 66 || June 15 || Royals || 1–8 || Appier || Cooke (5–8) || — || 35,774 || 32–34 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 67 || June 16 || @ Twins || 8–6 || Schmidt (2–4) || Aldred || Loiselle (7) || 16,007 || 33–34 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 68 || June 17 || @ Twins || 1–13 || Hawkins || Loaiza (5–4) || — || 14,894 || 33–35 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 69 || June 18 || @ Twins || 2–8 || Radke || Cordova (5–5) || — || 15,688 || 33–36 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 70 || June 19 || @ Mets || 6–7 || Franco || Rincon (2–4) || — || 15,492 || 33–37 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 71 || June 20 || @ Mets || 0–1 || Jones || Cooke (5–9) || Franco || 18,737 || 33–38 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 72 || June 21 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Mlicki || Wilkins (5–1) || McMichael || 32,908 || 33–39 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 73 || June 22 || @ Mets || 9–12 (10) || Kashiwada || Peters (2–1) || — || 23,247 || 33–40 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 74 || June 23 || @ Astros || 6–0 || Cordova (6–5) || Garcia || — || 16,738 || 34–40 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 75 || June 24 || @ Astros || 8–3 || Lieber (4–8) || Wall || — || 17,972 || 35–40 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 76 || June 25 || @ Astros || 1–5 || Kile || Sodowsky (0–1) || — || 26,954 || 35–41 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 77 || June 27 || Mets || 6–1 || Schmidt (3–4) || Mlicki || — || 18,103 || 36–41 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 78 || June 28 || Mets || 3–8 || Reynoso || Loaiza (5–5) || — || 23,711 || 36–42 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 79 || June 29 || Mets || 8–10 || Jordan || Peters (2–2) || Franco || 26,499 || 36–43 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 80 || June 30 || White Sox || 3–1 || Lieber (5–8) || Darwin || — || 28,070 || 37–43