Pittsburgh Pirates - The Disco Years (1970-1979)

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1970

1973

1977

Decade

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Titles:

Top Pirates Players of the Seventies

1970 NL East Champs (Lost to Reds)

1971 World Champs (Beat Orioles)

Pitchers:

1972 NL East Champs (Lost to Reds)

Jim Rooker (15) - 44

1974 NL East Champs (Lost to Dodgers)

John Candelaria (18.52) - 42

1975 NL East Champs (Lost to Reds)

Dock Ellis (11.24) - 42

1979 World Champs (Beat Orioles)

Dave Giusti (8.24) - 36

Jerry Reuss (8.77) - 35

Ballpark:

Bruce Kison (7.97) - 31

Kent Tekulve (10.09) - 30

Forbes Field (1970)

Steve Blass (5.49) - 25

Three Rivers Stadium (1970-1979)

Bob Moose (4.22) - 23

Luke Walker (3.27) - 17

Team Name:

Nelson Briles (6.5) - 17

Pirates

Bert Blyleven (8.4) - 14

Don Robinson (5.56) - 11

Owners:

Ken Brett (3.31) - 11

John Galbreath

Goose Gossage (6.03) - 10

Ramon Hernandez (7.97) - 8

General Managers:

Joe Brown (1970-1976)

Catchers:

Harding Peterson (1976-1979)

Manny Sanguillen (23.47) - 64

Ed Ott (3.8) - 15

Managers:

Milt May (2.86) - 3

Danny Murtaugh (1970-1971, 1973-1976)

Bill Virdon (1972-1973)

First Basemen:

Chuck Tanner (1977-1979)

Willie Stargell (37.86) - 83

Bob Robertson (10.34) - 27

Hall of Famers:

Bert Blyleven

Second Basemen:

Goose Gossage

Rennie Stennett (14.59) - 40

Bill Mazeroski

Phil Garner (9.99) - 24

Willie Stargell

Dave Cash (9.19) - 16

Roberto Clemente

Dave Parker

ShortStop:

Frank Taveras (3.04) - 32

Rookie of the Year:

Gene Alley (3.16) - 14

None

Third Base:

MVP

Richie Hebner (18.8) - 43

Dave Parker (1978)

Willie Stargell (1979)

Outfield:

Al Oliver (25.25) - 64

Cy Young:

Dave Parker (32.39) - 60

None

Richie Zisk (15.7) - 40

Omar Moreno (7.9) - 34

No Hitters:

Roberto Clemente (17.53) - 32

Dock Ellis (1970)

Bill Robinson (7.4) - 25

John Candelaria (1976)

Gene Clines (4.54) - 16

Vic Davalillo (2.93) - 12

Notable Events:

1970 - The Buccos begin a run of five NL East Division titles in six years.

Unfortunately, they beat the NL West champs only once during this streak

1974 - Lanky Righthander Kent Tekulve is a twenty seven year old rookie.

In 1970, they lose to the Reds. The Pirates will end up losing to the Big

Tekulve was one of the top relievers in baseball for over a decade with

Red machine three times in the run and once to the Dodgers. Still, a great

Pittsburgh. It took a long time for him to work up to the big leagues probably

decade by any standards with six first and four second place finishes

because he came in undrafted and had an unusual side arm delivery.

1970 - General Manager Joe Brown under owner John Galbreath has built

1974 - The Bucs lose to the Dodgers in the NLCS

an amazing organization that just keeps finding and developing great hitters

in an era where great hitters were hard to find. The 1970 roster includes

1975 - Lefthander John Candelaria, 21, is a rookie. John, who was a

terrific home grown hitters such as Manny Sanguillen, Bob Robertson,

pretty good basketball player in his youth, was 6 foot 7 and intimidating.

Richie Hebner, Willie Stargell, Roberto Clemente, Al Oliver and Dave Cash.

He was selected in the second round of the 1972 amateur draft.

Plus they pilfered Matty Alou from the Giants. They also developed the likes

of Donn Clendenon and Bob Bailey during the previous decade who were

1975 - Outfielder Bill Robinson is stolen from the Phillies for washed up

still around elsewhere in the big leagues in 1970. Brown wasn't finished

righthander Wayne Simpson. Robinson turned into a major stud in the

either. He would bring up three more big time sticks in the Seventies

middle of Pittsburgh's lineup after leaving Philly. You have to wonder what

in outfielders Dave Parker and Richie Zisk and second baseman

magic the Pirates were conjuring as even washouts were turning into

Rennie Stennett and trade for two more in Bill Robinson and Bill Madlock

mashers in Pittsburgh.

1970 - The Pirates move into charmless Three Rivers Stadium. It is one of the

1975 - Second baseman Rennie Stennett sets a record by

new cookie cutter stadiums that are being built all over. An interesting essay

collecting seven hits in a nine inning game against the Cubs

would be to explore the psychology of why this era produced such dreck in

stadium building.

1976 - The Pirates begin a run of finishing second to the

Phillies for three straight years.

1971 - Twenty two year old outfielder Richie Zisk is a rookie. He was a third

round pick in the 1967 amateur draft. Zisk was one of the better sluggers in

1976 - Pitcher Bob Moose dies in a car accident

baseball during his Pirates tenure.

1976 - Joe L. Brown retires as General Manager. This was a major

1971 - Second baseman Rennie Stennett, 20, is a rookie. He was an

blow to the franchise as he had a tremendous knack for acquiring and

International Free Agent from Panama who ended up batting over .300 lifetime.

overseeing the development of one outstanding hitter after another.

That all stopped when he left, altho' the effects were not seen right away.

1971 - Pittsburgh beats the Orioles in the World Series.

Also, the Pirates were a class organization when he was in charge.

That all seemed to change after he left.

1972 - Roberto Clemente, 37, gets his 3000th hit in the last at bat of his career.

Roberto was still a stud at the time, batting .312 in '72

1979 - Bill Madlock is acquired from the Giants for three pitchers.

The third baseman would win two batting titles in his Pirates tenure.

1972 - Roberto Clemente dies in a plane crash on a humanitarian missiion

to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. A tragedy.

1979 - Righthander Rick Rhoden is acquired from the Dodgers

for lefty Jerry Reuss. Quality for quality

1973 - Twenty two year old outfielder Dave Parker is a rookie.

Parker was a fourteenth round pick in the 1970 amateur draft. Dave will

1979 - The Bucs beat the Orioles for the World Title for the

win a couple of batting titles with the Bucs and he would became one

second time in the decade. The Pirates have an unusually close

of the most feared sluggers in the game before he was through.

team led by manager Chuck Tanner. They have a team song

"We are Familly" dedicated to their comaradarie and MVP

1973 - Righthander Jim Rooker, 30, is picked up in a trade with KC

Willie Stargell is the team's elder and leader, handing out

Stargell stars, given out to teammates to wear on their hats for

1973 - Lefthander Jerry Reuss is obtained from the Astros in a steal

outstanding or clutch performances.

for catcher Milt May