1972 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1972 Pittsburgh Pirates
National League East Champions
League	National League
Division	East
Ballpark	Three Rivers Stadium
City	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Record	96–59 (.619)
Divisional place	1st
Owners	John W. Galbreath (majority shareholder); Bing Crosby, Thomas P. Johnson (minority shareholders)
General managers	Joe L. Brown
Managers	Bill Virdon
Television	KDKA-TV Bob Prince, Nellie King
Radio	KDKA Bob Prince, Nellie King
Seasons

The 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 91st season of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise; the 86th in the National League.

Background

The defending World Series champion Pirates finished first in the National League East with an MLB-best record of 96–59. The team was defeated three games to two by the Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS. Despite losing the series, the Pirates put up a good fight, unlike the last time the two teams met in the playoffs. In Game 5, the Pirates led 3–2 in the ninth inning, and were 3 outs away from pulling off a major upset over the Reds. All looked good until the Pirates collapsed in the 9th inning and allowed 2 runs to score, with the walkoff run coming on a wild pitch.

Offseason

• November, 1971: Danny Murtaugh steps down as Manager of the Pirates citing health reasons. Coach Bill Virdon is named Manager.
• January 12, 1972: Larry Demery was drafted by the Pirates in the 7th round of the 1972 Major League Baseball draft (secondary phase).
• March 15, 1972: José Martínez was purchased from the Pirates by the Kansas City Royals.

Regular season

Season standings

NL East

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Pittsburgh Pirates	96	59	.619	—	49‍–‍29	47‍–‍30
Chicago Cubs	85	70	.548	11	46‍–‍31	39‍–‍39
New York Mets	83	73	.532	13½	41‍–‍37	42‍–‍36
St. Louis Cardinals	75	81	.481	21½	40‍–‍37	35‍–‍44
Montreal Expos	70	86	.449	26½	35‍–‍43	35‍–‍43
Philadelphia Phillies	59	97	.378	37½	28‍–‍51	31‍–‍46

Record vs. opponents

1972 National League record 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	—	5–7–1	9–9	7–7	7–8	4–8	7–5	6–6	6–6	6–11	7–11	6–6
Chicago	7–5–1	—	8–4	3–9	8–4	10–5	10–8	10–7	3–12	9–3	7–5	10–8
Cincinnati	9–9	4–8	—	11–6	9–5	8–4	8–4	10–2	8–4	8–10	10–5	10–2
Houston	7–7	9–3	6–11	—	7–11	8–4	6–6	9–3	3–9	12–2	13–5	4–8
Los Angeles	8–7	4–8	5–9	11–7	—	6–6	7–5	7–5	7–5	13–5	9–9	8–4
Montreal	8–4	5–10	4–8	4–8	6–6	—	6–12	10–6	6–12	6–6	6–6	9–8
New York	5–7	8–10	4–8	6–6	5–7	12–6	—	13–5	8–6	7–5	8–4	7–9
Philadelphia	6-6	7–10	2–10	3–9	5–7	6–10	5–13	—	5–13	6–6	6–6	8–7
Pittsburgh	6–6	12–3	4–8	9–3	5–7	12–6	6–8	13–5	—	10–2	9–3	10–8
San Diego	11–6	3–9	10–8	2–12	5–13	6–6	5–7	6–6	2–10	—	4–10	4–8
San Francisco	11–7	5–7	5–10	5–13	9–9	6–6	4–8	6–6	3–9	10–4	—	5–7
St. Louis	6–6	8–10	2–10	8–4	4–8	8–9	9–7	7–8	8–10	8–4	7–5	—

Detailed records

National League
Opponent	W	L	WP	RS	RA
NL East
Chicago Cubs	12	3	0.800	73	41
Montreal Expos	12	6	0.667	81	39
New York Mets	6	8	0.429	38	38
Philadelphia Phillies	13	5	0.722	73	40
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals	10	8	0.556	88	74
Total	53	30	0.639	353	232
NL West
Atlanta Braves	6	6	0.500	60	62
Cincinnati Reds	4	8	0.333	50	58
Houston Astros	9	3	0.750	56	41
Los Angeles Dodgers	5	7	0.417	53	50
San Diego Padres	10	2	0.833	65	26
San Francisco Giants	9	3	0.750	54	43
Total	43	29	0.597	338	280
Season Total	96	59	0.619	691	512

Month	Games	Won	Lost	Win %	RS	RA
April	13	5	8	0.385	51	66
May	26	19	7	0.731	140	79
June	26	16	10	0.615	125	77
July	30	20	10	0.667	121	100
August	28	17	11	0.607	125	102
September	29	18	11	0.621	117	75
October	3	1	2	0.333	12	13
Total	155	96	59	0.619	691	512

	Games	Won	Lost	Win %	RS	RA
Home	78	49	29	0.628	351	259
Away	77	47	30	0.610	340	253
Total	155	96	59	0.619	691	512

Game log

1972 game log: 96–59 (home: 49–29; Away: 47–30)
April: 5–8 (home: 3–6; Away: 2–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 15 @ Mets 0–4 Seaver Ellis (0–1) McGraw 15,893 0–1 2 April 16 @ Mets 2–0 Blass (1–0) Gentry Hernández (1) 23,241 1–1 3 April 18 Cubs 4–6 Pappas Moose (0–1) McGinn 47,489 1–2 4 April 19 Cubs 5–2 Briles (1–0) Pizarro — 9,171 2–2 5 April 20 Cubs 7–5 Ellis (1–1) Jenkins Giusti (1) 6,529 3–2 6 April 21 @ Phillies 3–2 (10) Hernández (1–0) Short — 13,864 4–2 7 April 23 @ Phillies 4–5 (11) Brandon Miller (0–1) — 43,438 4–3 8 April 25 Reds 5–2 (13) Miller (1–1) McGlothlin — 6,509 5–3 9 April 26 Reds 6–7 Nolan Blass (1–1) Borbon 6,380 5–4 10 April 27 Reds 4–5 Carroll Giusti (0–1) — 12,504 5–5 11 April 28 Braves 5–13 Jarvis Moose (0–2) McQueen 12,804 5–6 12 April 29 Braves 5–9 Kelley Walker (0–1) Stone 10,684 5–7 13 April 30 Braves 1–6 Niekro Johnson (0–1) — 12,264 5–8
May: 19–7 (home: 12–2; Away: 7–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 14 May 1 Astros 8–9 Ray Giusti (0–2) — 4,788 5–9 15 May 3 Astros 3–2 Ellis (2–1) Reuss Kison (1) 9,522 6–9 16 May 5 @ Reds 4–5 (10) Carroll Giusti (0–3) — 24,722 6–10 17 May 6 @ Reds 8–1 Blass (2–1) Borbon — 12,284 7–10 18 May 7 @ Reds 9–6 Briles (2–0) Billingham Moose (1) 19,281 8–10 19 May 9 @ Braves 5–2 Ellis (3–1) Kelley Kison (2) 7,762 9–10 20 May 10 @ Braves 4–8 Niekro Johnson (0–2) — 6,708 9–11 21 May 12 @ Astros 4–2 Blass (3–1) Dierker Miller (1) 17,863 10–11 22 May 13 @ Astros 6–1 (12) Moose (1–2) Gladding Miller (2) 23,568 11–11 23 May 14 @ Astros 6–7 Wilson Briles (2–1) Ray 14,704 11–12 24 May 15 Cardinals 4–1 Ellis (4–1) Gibson — 8,640 12–12 25 May 16 Cardinals 4–3 Walker (1–1) Wise Giusti (2) 8,272 13–12 26 May 17 Cardinals 12–0 Blass (4–1) Cleveland — 9,188 14–12 27 May 19 Expos 8–0 Moose (2–2) Stoneman — 41,765 15–12 28 May 20 Expos 6–0 Ellis (5–1) Morton Kison (3) 11,602 16–12 29 May 21 Expos 1–0 Walker (2–1) McAnally Hernández (2) 30,418 17–12 30 May 21 Expos 5–3 Giusti (1–3) Gilbert — 30,418 18–12 31 May 23 @ Cardinals 6–2 Blass (5–1) Cleveland Hernández (3) 11,795 19–12 32 May 24 @ Cardinals 9–4 (14) Miller (2–1) Higgins — 10,794 20–12 33 May 25 @ Cardinals 2–4 Gibson Ellis (5–2) — 9,293 20–13 34 May 26 Phillies 6–4 Briles (3–1) Carlton — 25,164 21–13 35 May 27 Phillies 1–2 (12) Brandon Giusti (1–4) Short 19,398 21–14 36 May 28 Phillies 6–5 Hernández (2–0) Hoerner — 15,236 22–14 37 May 29 Phillies 7–3 Hernández (3–0) Fryman — 36,464 23–14 38 May 29 Phillies 4–2 Moose (3–2) Reynolds Giusti (3) 36,464 24–14 39 May 31 @ Expos 2–3 McAnally Briles (3–2) — 10,565 24–15
June: 16–10 (home: 5–6; Away: 11–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 40 June 2 @ Giants 4–7 Marichal Johnson (0–3) — 6,669 24–16 41 June 3 @ Giants 4–3 Blass (6–1) McDowell Giusti (4) 11,216 25–16 42 June 4 @ Giants 4–3 Miller (3–1) Johnson Giusti (5) 26–16 43 June 4 @ Giants 9–1 Kison (1–0) Williams — 19,929 27–16 44 June 7 @ Padres 12–5 Johnson (1–3) Norman — 28–16 45 June 7 @ Padres 1–0 (18) Miller (4–1) Corkins Johnson (1) 7,371 29–16 46 June 8 @ Padres 11–2 Moose (4–2) Arlin — 2,949 30–16 47 June 9 @ Dodgers 5–1 Blass (7–1) Sutton — 35,078 31–16 48 June 10 @ Dodgers 1–2 Osteen Walker (2–2) Brewer 38,937 31–17 49 June 11 @ Dodgers 7–5 Kison (2–0) Mikkelsen Giusti (6) 40,846 32–17 50 June 14 Giants 1–3 McDowell Ellis (5–3) — 14,552 32–18 51 June 15 Giants 4–1 Briles (4–2) Stone Giusti (7) 33–18 52 June 15 Giants 9–7 Moose (5–2) Bryant Hernández (4) 21,126 34–18 53 June 16 Padres 2–1 Blass (8–1) Norman — 17,020 35–18 54 June 17 Padres 0–4 Kirby Walker (2–3) — 20,718 35–19 55 June 18 Padres 0–1 Arlin Kison (2–1) — 27,143 35–20 56 June 19 Dodgers 13–3 Ellis (6–3) Sutton Miller (3) 15,430 36–20 57 June 21 Dodgers 3–5 (10) Brewer Moose (5–3) — 15,209 36–21 58 June 23 @ Cubs 4–2 Blass (9–1) Jenkins Giusti (8) 28,177 37–21 59 June 24 @ Cubs 3–1 Briles (5–2) Hands Giusti (9) 27,543 38–21 60 June 25 @ Cubs 9–2 Ellis (7–3) Hooton Giusti (10) 35,099 39–21 61 June 26 @ Mets 2–4 Koosman Moose (5–4) McGraw 48,820 39–22 62 June 27 @ Mets 4–7 Frisella Walker (2–4) — 38,152 39–23 63 June 28 Expos 1–3 Stoneman Blass (9–2) — 13,470 39–24 64 June 29 Expos 9–0 Briles (6–2) McAnally — 18,364 40–24 65 June 30 Cubs 3–4 Reuschel Ellis (7–4) Aker 22,745 40–25
July: 20–10 (home: 12–4; Away: 8–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 66 July 1 Cubs 4–3 Giusti (2–4) Jenkins — 16,102 41–25 67 July 2 Cubs 7–4 Kison (3–1) Hands Hernández (5) 25,229 42–25 68 July 3 Cubs 3–2 Giusti (3–4) Hooton — 26,933 43–25 69 July 4 @ Astros 0–6 Dierker Briles (6–3) — 31,164 43–26 70 July 5 @ Astros 6–4 Johnson (2–3) Forsch — 23,646 44–26 71 July 6 @ Astros 7–3 (17) Hernández (4–0) Ray — 23,540 45–26 72 July 7 @ Braves 10–2 Walker (3–4) Kelley — 46–26 73 July 7 @ Braves 2–3 Hardin Kison (3–2) — 25,253 46–27 74 July 8 @ Braves 5–3 Blass (10–2) Reed Giusti (11) 20,256 47–27 75 July 9 @ Braves 7–4 Briles (7–3) McLain — 20,130 48–27 76 July 11 @ Reds 0–5 Billingham Moose (5–5) — 24,047 48–28 77 July 12 @ Reds 3–6 Simpson Walker (3–5) Carroll 28,058 48–29 78 July 13 @ Reds 0–2 Nolan Blass (10–3) Carroll 32,060 48–30 79 July 14 Astros 5–2 Briles (8–3) Dierker — 24,487 49–30 80 July 15 Astros 5–1 Ellis (8–4) Forsch Giusti (12) 16,202 50–30 81 July 16 Astros 3–2 (10) Giusti (4–4) Gladding — 51–30 82 July 16 Astros 3–2 Kison (4–2) Wilson Giusti (13) 49,341 52–30 83 July 17 Braves 6–5 Hernández (5–0) Hoerner Giusti (14) 14,866 53–30 84 July 18 Braves 2–4 Reed Blass (10–4) — 20,162 53–31 85 July 19 Braves 8–3 Briles (9–3) Niekro Walker (1) 24,847 54–31 86 July 21 Reds 5–11 Borbon Kison (4–3) Gullett 32,255 54–32 87 July 22 Reds 3–6 Sprague Moose (5–6) Carroll 40,837 54–33 88 July 23 Reds 3–2 Blass (11–4) Grimsley Hernández (6) 29,487 55–33 89 July 27 Mets 0–1 (10) Matlack Briles (9–4) — 55–34 90 July 27 Mets 7–5 Moose (6–6) Koosman Giusti (15) 49,886 56–34 91 July 28 Mets 3–1 Ellis (9–4) Seaver — 39,035 57–34 92 July 29 @ Phillies 2–5 Fryman Blass (11–5) Selma 37,544 57–35 93 July 29 @ Phillies 3–2 Walker (4–5) Brandon Giusti (16) 37,544 58–35 94 July 30 @ Phillies 7–1 Kison (5–3) Lersch — 28,451 59–35 95 July 31 @ Phillies 2–0 Moose (7–6) Reynolds — 17,455 60–35
August: 17–11 (home: 8–5; Away: 9–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 96 August 1 @ Cardinals 4–7 Santorini Briles (9–5) Segui 23,712 60–36 97 August 2 @ Cardinals 5–10 (7) Gibson Ellis (9–5) — 24,961 60–37 98 August 3 @ Cardinals 2–1 (10) Blass (12–5) Wise Hernández (7) 14,836 61–37 99 August 4 @ Expos 1–2 Moore Kison (5–4) — 18,436 61–38 100 August 5 @ Expos 7–4 Briles (10–5) Stoneman Giusti (17) 20,905 62–38 101 August 6 @ Expos 8–0 Moose (8–6) Torrez — 63–38 102 August 6 @ Expos 7–2 Johnson (3–3) Renko Hernández (8) 28,330 64–38 103 August 8 Phillies 4–2 Ellis (10–5) Champion — 18,228 65–38 104 August 9 Phillies 0–2 Carlton Blass (12–6) — 19,832 65–39 105 August 11 Cardinals 10–5 Briles (11–5) Cleveland Hernández (9) 34,248 66–39 106 August 12 Cardinals 6–5 Moose (9–6) Gibson Giusti (18) 23,474 67–39 107 August 13 Cardinals 0–2 Wise Ellis (10–6) — 67–40 108 August 13 Cardinals 7–5 Blass (13–6) Santorini Giusti (19) 47,300 68–40 109 August 15 @ Dodgers 6–8 Richert Johnson (3–4) Brewer 27,484 68–41 110 August 16 @ Dodgers 3–2 Miller (5–1) Sutton — 28,318 69–41 111 August 17 @ Dodgers 2–4 Downing Moose (9–7) Richert 29,777 69–42 112 August 18 @ Padres 4–2 Blass (14–6) Greif — 30,610 70–42 113 August 20 @ Padres 9–3 Ellis (11–6) Corkins Johnson (2) 71–42 114 August 20 @ Padres 5–2 Kison (6–4) Norman — 9,759 72–42 115 August 22 @ Giants 1–0 Briles (12–5) Marichal — 9,389 73–42 116 August 23 @ Giants 0–8 Barr Moose (9–8) — 8,330 73–43 117 August 25 Dodgers 3–2 (12) Giusti (5–4) Richert — 74–43 118 August 25 Dodgers 3–4 Osteen Kison (6–5) — 39,574 74–44 119 August 26 Dodgers 3–7 Sutton Ellis (11–7) — 20,174 74–45 120 August 27 Dodgers 4–7 Mikkelsen Briles (12–6) Brewer 25,672 74–46 121 August 28 Padres 5–3 Moose (10–8) Caldwell Hernández (10) 13,438 75–46 122 August 29 Padres 5–3 Blass (15–6) Corkins Giusti (20) 12,329 76–46 123 August 30 Padres 11–0 Kison (7–5) Arlin — 19,009 77–46
September: 18–11 (home: 8–4; Away: 10–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 124 September 1 Giants 10–6 Ellis (12–7) Bryant Giusti (21) 20,678 78–46 125 September 2 Giants 6–3 Briles (13–6) McDowell — 14,194 79–46 126 September 3 Giants 2–1 (10) Giusti (6–4) Johnson — 16,760 80–46 127 September 4 Phillies 10–0 Blass (16–6) Twitchell — 26,627 81–46 128 September 4 Phillies 5–1 Kison (8–5) Nash — 26,627 82–46 129 September 6 Cubs 4–0 Ellis (13–7) McGinn — 12,470 83–46 130 September 7 Cubs 2–4 Hooton Briles (13–7) — 12,306 83–47 131 September 8 @ Expos 7–1 Johnson (4–4) Morton — 84–47 132 September 8 @ Expos 4–2 (12) Giusti (7–4) Marshall Hernández (11) 12,118 85–47 133 September 9 @ Expos 8–3 Blass (17–6) Stoneman — 17,092 86–47 134 September 10 @ Expos 2–8 Torrez Kison (8–6) — 20,253 86–48 135 September 12 @ Cubs 7–0 Ellis (14–7) Hooton Giusti (22) 4,153 87–48 136 September 13 @ Cubs 6–4 Briles (14–7) Jenkins Hernández (12) 4,418 88–48 137 September 14 @ Cubs 5–2 Moose (11–8) Reuschel Hernández (13) 4,603 89–48 138 September 15 @ Cardinals 4–10 Wise Kison (8–7) — 10,853 89–49 139 September 16 @ Cardinals 0–4 Santorini Blass (17–7) — 11,850 89–50 140 September 17 @ Cardinals 4–5 Cleveland Miller (5–2) Segui 11,802 89–51 141 September 18 @ Mets 0–1 Matlack Briles (14–8) — 15,622 89–52 142 September 19 @ Mets 5–1 Moose (12–8) Koosman — 15,537 90–52 143 September 20 @ Mets 1–4 Seaver Walker (4–6) — 15,147 90–53 144 September 21 @ Mets 6–2 Blass (18–7) Gentry — 10,991 91–53 145 September 22 Expos 4–3 (12) McKee (1–0) Marshall — 15,365 92–53 146 September 23 Expos 0–3 McAnally Briles (14–9) — 8,580 92–54 147 September 24 Expos 1–2 Morton Moose (12–9) — 9,116 92–55 148 September 26 @ Phillies 5–1 Blass (19–7) Champion — 8,472 93–55 149 September 27 @ Phillies 3–1 Kison (9–7) Reynolds Walker (2) 5,335 94–55 150 September 28 @ Phillies 1–2 Carlton Moose (12–10) — 12,216 94–56 151 September 29 Mets 0–1 Seaver Briles (14–10) — 24,193 94–57 152 September 30 Mets 5–0 Ellis (15–7) Matlack Johnson (3) 13,117 95–57
October: 1–2 (home: 1–2; Away: 0–0) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 153 October 1 Mets 3–7 Koosman Blass (19–8) — 30,031 95–58 154 October 3 Cardinals 6–2 Moose (13–10) Santorini Hernández (14) 5,905 96–58 155 October 4 Cardinals 3–4 Gibson Briles (14–11) — 4,603 96–59
Legend:        = Win        = Loss Bold = Pirates team member

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters
#	Name	Position
6	Rennie Stennett	2B
16	Al Oliver	CF
21	Roberto Clemente	RF
8	Willie Stargell	LF
3	Richie Hebner	3B
35	Manny Sanguillén	C
7	Bob Robertson	1B
2	Jackie Hernández	SS
17	Dock Ellis	SP

Notable transactions

• June 6, 1972: 1972 Major League Baseball draft
  • John Candelaria was drafted by the Pirates in the 2nd round.
  • Ken Macha was drafted by the Pirates in the 6th round.
  • Willie Randolph was drafted by the Pirates in the 7th round.
• September 2, 1972 Bob Veale was sold by the Pirates to the Boston Red Sox.

Roster

1972 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 28 Steve Blass 34 Nelson Briles 17 Dock Ellis 12 Gene Garber 31 Dave Giusti 36 Ramón Hernández 27 Bob Johnson 25 Bruce Kison 39 Jim McKee 32 Bob Miller 38 Bob Moose 39 Bob Veale 23 Luke Walker		Catchers 29 Milt May 35 Manny Sanguillén Infielders 14 Gene Alley 30 Dave Cash 12 Chuck Goggin 37 Fernando González  3 Richie Hebner  2 Jackie Hernández  9 Bill Mazeroski 11 José Pagán  7 Bob Robertson  8 Willie Stargell  6 Rennie Stennett 10 Frank Taveras		Outfielders 21 Roberto Clemente 15 Gene Clines 18 Vic Davalillo 16 Al Oliver 22 Richie Zisk Other batters  4 Charlie Sands		Manager 41 Bill Virdon Coaches 43 Don Leppert (First Base) 45 Joe Morgan (Hitting) 44 Frank Oceak (Third Base) 42 Don Osborn (Pitching)  5 Dave Ricketts (Bullpen)

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Manny Sanguillén	136	520	155	.298	7	71
1B	Willie Stargell	138	495	145	.293	33	112
2B	Dave Cash	99	425	120	.282	3	30
SS	Gene Alley	119	347	86	.248	3	36
3B	Richie Hebner	124	427	128	.300	19	72
LF	Vic Davalillo	117	368	117	.318	4	28
CF	Al Oliver	140	565	176	.312	12	89
RF	Roberto Clemente	102	378	118	.312	10	60

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Rennie Stennett	109	370	106	.286	3	30
Gene Clines	107	311	104	.334	0	17
Bob Robertson	115	306	59	.193	12	41
Jackie Hernández	72	176	33	.188	1	14
Milt May	57	139	39	.281	0	14
José Pagán	53	127	32	.252	3	8
Bill Mazeroski	34	64	12	.188	0	3
Richie Zisk	17	37	7	.189	0	4
Chuck Goggin	5	7	2	.286	0	0
Frank Taveras	4	3	0	.000	0	0
Fernando González	3	2	0	.000	0	0
Charlie Sands	1	1	0	.000	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Steve Blass	33	249.2	19	8	2.49	117
Bob Moose	31	226.0	13	10	2.91	144
Nelson Briles	28	195.2	14	11	3.08	120
Dock Ellis	25	163.1	15	7	2.70	96
Bruce Kison	32	152.0	9	7	3.26	102

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Bob Johnson	31	115.2	4	4	2.96	79
Luke Walker	26	92.2	4	6	3.40	48
Bob Veale	5	9.0	0	0	6.00	6
Gene Garber	4	6.1	0	0	7.11	3
Jim McKee	2	5.0	1	0	0.00	4

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Dave Giusti	54	7	4	22	1.93	54
Ramón Hernández	53	5	0	14	1.67	47
Bob Miller	36	5	2	3	2.65	18

National League Championship Series

Main article: 1972 National League Championship Series

Awards and honors

1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Charleston Charlies	International League	Red Davis
AA	Sherbrooke Pirates	Eastern League	Steve Demeter
A	Salem Pirates	Carolina League	Tim Murtaugh
A	Gastonia Pirates	Western Carolinas League	Tom Saffell
A-Short Season	Niagara Falls Pirates	New York–Penn League	Chuck Cottier
Rookie	GCL Pirates	Gulf Coast League	Ed Napoleon

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Salem, Niagara Falls

References

• 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Reference
• 1972 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Almanac
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.