1970 Pittsburgh Pirates season


The 1970 Pittsburgh Pirates season resulted in the team winning their first National League East title with a record of 89–73, five games ahead of the Chicago Cubs. However, they lost the NLCS to the NL West Champion Cincinnati Reds, three games to none.
The Pirates were managed by Danny Murtaugh and played their home games at Forbes Field during the first part of the year, before moving into the brand new Three Rivers Stadium on July 16. Coinciding with their move, the Pirates became the first major league team to adopt pullover jerseys and sans-a-belt pants for their uniforms, a style copied by a majority of MLB for the next two decades and which the Pirates themselves would wear through the 1990 season.

Offseason

Three Rivers Stadium

In 1958, the Pirates had sold Forbes Field to the University of Pittsburgh, who wanted the land for expanded graduate facilities. Pitt then leased Forbes back to the Pirates until a new multipurpose stadium could be built. The Steelers opted to play at Pitt Stadium in the meantime. In June 1970, the Pirates played their final game at Forbes Field. It was a doubleheader sweep of the Chicago Cubs and Bill Mazeroski got the final hit at Forbes Field.
A site on the North Side had been chosen earlier in the year, but it took until April 25, 1968, to finally break ground. Three Rivers Stadium opened on July 16, 1970, and became the home of the Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Notable transactions

Record vs. opponents

Detailed records




MonthGamesWonLostWin %
April191187374
May301218138154
June2817119784
July271611138117
August291415156132
September28181011898
October11095
Total1628973729664

Game log

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

Postseason

National League Championship Series

The Cincinnati Reds won the series, three games to none, over the Pirates.

Statistics

;Batting
Player
14320.66700
5420.50002
3137150.40503
1084121450.3521460
1284861580.325761
64210660.314128
1556772010.297147
1204201220.2901146
1173901120.2872782
1515511490.2701283
95230610.265729
1364741250.2643185
84237580.245119
1214261040.244841
85126300.238212
112367840.229739
51139290.209116
61020.20001
152040.20003
661630.18803
101630.18800
2966120.18202
141120.18200
3467110.16406
424660.13005
327080.11402
387070.10001
192010.05000
12400.00000
411600.00000
41300.00000
8200.00000
17100.00000
23300.00000
7100.00000
23600.00000
30000
80000
10000

Player
2640.66700
31260.50001
1310.33300
31230.25000
2820.25001
31430.21401
2510.20000
31220.16700
2810.12500
2700.00000
1200.00000
3200.00000
1200.00000
1400.00000
1300.00000
1200.00000
20000
20000

;Pitching
Player
812212.254
12112.7017
23012.7824
421631563.04124
66103933.0685
3013103.21128
15423.4242
6123.5114
3110123.52120
1003.860
3420210153.92178
2811103.99119
17114.5614
41944.5753
23214.7825
4141014.8326
14035.247
8105.916
710008.103
30013.501

Player
2000.001
17011.295
1012.791
1013.524
2003.861

Awards and honors

1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Waterbury