1997 Pittsburgh Pirates season explained

Pittsburgh Pirates
Season:	1997
League:	National League
Division:	Central
Ballpark:	Three Rivers Stadium
City:	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania^[1]
Record:	79–83 (.488)
Divisional Place:	2nd
Owners:	Kevin McClatchy
General Managers:	Cam Bonifay
Managers:	Gene Lamont
Television:	WPGH-TV & WPTT-TV Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh
Radio:	KDKA-AM (Steve Blass, Greg Brown, Lanny Frattare, Bob Walk)

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

• 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.^[2]
• 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).^[3]
• December 20, 1996: Kevin Elster was signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.^[4]

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,"^[5] 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.

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|-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 81 || July 1 || White Sox || 3–0 || Cooke (6–9) || Baldwin || Loiselle (8) || 22,163 || 38–43|- style="background:#cfc;"| 82 || July 2 || White Sox || 3–1 || Schmidt (4–4) || Navarro || — || 25,772 || 39–43|- style="background:#cfc;"| 83 || July 3 || @ Cardinals || 6–4 || Loaiza (6–5) || Valenzuela || Loiselle (9) || 30,753 || 40–43|- style="background:#cfc;"| 84 || July 4 || @ Cardinals || 7–5 (10) || Wilkins (6–1) || Eckersley || Loiselle (10) || 33,885 || 41–43|- style="background:#cfc;"| 85 || July 5 || @ Cardinals || 4–3 || Lieber (6–8) || Morris || Wilkins (1) || 39,593 || 42–43|- style="background:#cfc;"| 86 || July 6 || @ Cardinals || 6–3 || Cooke (7–9) || Stottlemyre || — || 29,290 || 43–43|- style="background:#fbb;"| 87 || July 10 || Astros || 0–7 || Kile || Schmidt (4–5) || — || 17,335 || 43–44|- style="background:#fbb;"| 88 || July 11 || Astros || 0–10 || Hampton || Loaiza (6–6) || — || 21,913 || 43–45|- style="background:#cfc;"| 89 || July 12 || Astros || 3–0 (10) || Rincon (3–4) || Hudek || — || 44,119 || 44–45|- style="background:#cfc;"| 90 || July 13 || Astros || 5–3 || Sodowsky (1–1) || Springer || Loiselle (11) || 25,675 || 45–45|- style="background:#cfc;"| 91 || July 14 || Mets || 5–4 || Rincon (4–4) || McMichael || Loiselle (12) || 12,794 || 46–45|- style="background:#cfc;"| 92 || July 15 || Mets || 4–3 || Christiansen (1–0) || Acevedo || Loiselle (13) || 12,244 || 47–45|- style="background:#fbb;"| 93 || July 16 || Reds || 3–7 || Burba || Loaiza (6–7) || — || 30,698 || 47–46|- style="background:#fbb;"| 94 || July 17 || Reds || 5–9 || Smiley || Cordova (6–6) || — || 19,710 || 47–47|- style="background:#fbb;"| 95 || July 18 || @ Phillies || 6–8 || Leiter || Lieber (6–9) || Bottalico || 19,676 || 47–48|- style="background:#cfc;"| 96 || July 19 || @ Phillies || 13–3 || Cooke (8–9) || Green || — || 17,472 || 48–48|- style="background:#fbb;"| 97 || July 20 || @ Phillies || 1–4 || Stephenson || Schmidt (4–6) || Bottalico || 20,431 || 48–49|- style="background:#cfc;"| 98 || July 21 || @ Phillies || 3–2 || Loaiza (7–7) || Schilling || Loiselle (14) || 19,303 || 49–49|- style="background:#fbb;"| 99 || July 22 || @ Padres || 2–3 || Hoffman || Loiselle (1–2) || — || 18,306 || 49–50|- style="background:#fbb;"| 100 || July 23 || @ Padres || 1–9 || Smith || Lieber (6–10) || — || 16,151 || 49–51|- style="background:#fbb;"| 101 || July 24 || @ Padres || 6–8 || Bruske || Sodowsky (1–2) || Hoffman || 18,715 || 49–52|- style="background:#cfc;"| 102 || July 25 || @ Giants || 5–2 || Schmidt (5–6) || Rueter || Loiselle (15) || 14,236 || 50–52|- style="background:#cfc;"| 103 || July 26 || @ Giants || 10–3 || Loaiza (8–7) || Creek || — || 25,962 || 51–52|- style="background:#fbb;"| 104 || July 27 || @ Giants || 5–6 (13) || Henry || Wilkins (6–2) || — || 0 || 51–53|- style="background:#cfc;"| 105 || July 27 || @ Giants || 10–7 || Cordova (7–6) || VanLandingham || — || 38,866 || 52–53|- style="background:#fbb;"| 106 || July 28 || @ Dodgers || 2–4 || Valdez || Lieber (6–11) || Worrell || 53,503 || 52–54|- style="background:#fbb;"| 107 || July 29 || @ Dodgers || 1–3 || Astacio || Cooke (8–10) || Worrell || 43,791 || 52–55|- style="background:#cfc;"| 108 || July 31 || Rockies || 4–1 || Schmidt (6–6) || Bailey || Loiselle (16) || 16,654 || 53–55|-|- style="background:#fbb;"| 109 || August 1 || Rockies || 6–7 || Reed || Rincon (4–5) || Dipoto || 22,657 || 53–56|- style="background:#cfc;"| 110 || August 2 || Rockies || 6–5 || Cordova (8–6) || Swift || Loiselle (17) || 32,388 || 54–56|- style="background:#cfc;"| 111 || August 3 || Rockies || 8–4 || Ruebel (3–2) || Reed || — || 24,989 || 55–56|- style="background:#fbb;"| 112 || August 4 || Braves || 0–6 || Smoltz || Cooke (8–11) || — || 21,609 || 55–57|- style="background:#cfc;"| 113 || August 5 || Braves || 5–4 || Schmidt (7–6) || Glavine || Loiselle (18) || 20,069 || 56–57|- style="background:#fbb;"| 114 || August 6 || Marlins || 3–12 || Brown || Loaiza (8–8) || — || 32,594 || 56–58|- style="background:#cfc;"| 115 || August 7 || Marlins || 5–1 || Wilkins (7–2) || Leiter || — || 18,042 || 57–58|- style="background:#fbb;"| 116 || August 8 || @ Rockies || 3–5 || Wright || Lieber (6–12) || Dipoto || 48,262 || 57–59|- style="background:#fbb;"| 117 || August 9 || @ Rockies || 7–8 || Munoz || Rincon (4–6) || — || 48,323 || 57–60|- style="background:#fbb;"| 118 || August 10 || @ Rockies || 7–8 || Leskanic || Wilkins (7–3) || Dipoto || 48,018 || 57–61|- style="background:#cfc;"| 119 || August 12 || @ Braves || 5–2 || Sodowsky (2–2) || Wohlers || Loiselle (19) || 42,435 || 58–61|- style="background:#cfc;"| 120 || August 13 || @ Braves || 2–1 || Lieber (7–12) || Smoltz || Loiselle (20) || 40,793 || 59–61|- style="background:#fbb;"| 121 || August 15 || @ Marlins || 5–6 || Powell || Loiselle (1–3) || — || 26,092 || 59–62|- style="background:#cfc;"| 122 || August 16 || @ Marlins || 10–5 || Cordova (9–6) || Saunders || — || 40,031 || 60–62|- style="background:#fbb;"| 123 || August 17 || @ Marlins || 2–10 || Brown || Cooke (8–12) || — || 38,221 || 60–63|- style="background:#cfc;"| 124 || August 18 || @ Marlins || 7–2 || Loaiza (9–8) || Alfonseca || — || 30,200 || 61–63|- style="background:#cfc;"| 125 || August 19 || Padres || 5–3 || Lieber (8–12) || Smith || Loiselle (21) || 12,411 || 62–63|- style="background:#cfc;"| 126 || August 20 || Padres || 7–3 || Schmidt (8–6) || Ashby || — || 10,222 || 63–63|- style="background:#fbb;"| 127 || August 21 || Padres || 4–9 || Hitchcock || Cordova (9–7) || — || 13,129 || 63–64|- style="background:#cfc;"| 128 || August 22 || Giants || 3–2 || Cooke (9–12) || Rueter || Loiselle (22) || 18,562 || 64–64|- style="background:#cfc;"| 129 || August 23 || Giants || 6–4 || Loaiza (10–8) || Darwin || Loiselle (23) || 42,502 || 65–64|- style="background:#cfc;"| 130 || August 24 || Giants || 9–6 || Christiansen (2–0) || Henry || Wilkins (2) || 33,363 || 66–64|- style="background:#fbb;"| 131 || August 25 || Dodgers || 2–8 || Martinez || Schmidt (8–7) || Guthrie || 0 || 66–65|- style="background:#cfc;"| 132 || August 25 || Dodgers || 4–3 || Wilkins (8–3) || Worrell || — || 14,018 || 67–65|- style="background:#fbb;"| 133 || August 26 || Dodgers || 4–6 || Dreifort || Rincon (4–7) || — || 13,689 || 67–66|- style="background:#fbb;"| 134 || August 27 || Dodgers || 5–9 || Reyes || Cooke (9–13) || — || 48,032 || 67–67|- style="background:#fbb;"| 135 || August 29 || @ Brewers || 1–4 || Karl || Loaiza (10–9) || Jones || 17,539 || 67–68|- style="background:#cfc;"| 136 || August 30 || @ Brewers || 3–1 || Lieber (9–12) || Mercedes || Loiselle (24) || 23,673 || 68–68|- style="background:#fbb;"| 137 || August 31 || @ Brewers || 2–3 || Jones || Wilkins (8–4) || — || 32,541 || 68–69|-|- style="background:#fbb;"| 138 || September 1 || Indians || 5–7 || Ogea || Cooke (9–14) || Mesa || 45,298 || 68–70|- style="background:#cfc;"| 139 || September 2 || Indians || 6–4 || Silva (1–0) || Wright || Loiselle (25) || 43,380 || 69–70|- style="background:#fbb;"| 140 || September 3 || Indians || 3–7 || Hershiser || Loaiza (10–10) || — || 37,513 || 69–71|- style="background:#fbb;"| 141 || September 4 || @ Reds || 2–5 || Morgan || Lieber (9–13) || Shaw || 15,136 || 69–72|- style="background:#fbb;"| 142 || September 5 || @ Reds || 6–8 || Sullivan || Wilkins (8–5) || Shaw || 21,492 || 69–73|- style="background:#cfc;"| 143 || September 6 || @ Reds || 13–4 || Cordova (10–7) || Remlinger || — || 20,383 || 70–73|- style="background:#fbb;"| 144 || September 7 || @ Reds || 3–6 || Burba || Silva (1–1) || Shaw || 19,682 || 70–74|- style="background:#fbb;"| 145 || September 9 || @ Expos || 4–5 (10) || Urbina || Loiselle (1–4) || — || 8,782 || 70–75|- style="background:#fbb;"| 146 || September 10 || @ Expos || 4–5 || Martinez || Lieber (9–14) || Urbina || 10,139 || 70–76|- style="background:#cfc;"| 147 || September 12 || Cubs || 3–1 || Schmidt (9–7) || Batista || Loiselle (26) || 13,833 || 71–76|- style="background:#fbb;"| 148 || September 13 || Cubs || 1–4 || Trachsel || Cordova (10–8) || Adams || 21,505 || 71–77|- style="background:#fbb;"| 149 || September 14 || Cubs || 2–3 || Clark || Rincon (4–8) || Adams || 20,120 || 71–78|- style="background:#cfc;"| 150 || September 15 || Expos || 5–4 (10) || Wilkins (9–5) || Telford || — || 7,736 || 72–78|- style="background:#cfc;"| 151 || September 16 || Expos || 8–2 || Lieber (10–14) || Johnson || — || 8,010 || 73–78|- style="background:#fbb;"| 152 || September 17 || Astros || 4–8 || Reynolds || Schmidt (9–8) || — || 27,422 || 73–79|- style="background:#cfc;"| 153 || September 18 || Astros || 12–3 || Cordova (11–8) || Kile || — || 14,852 || 74–79|- style="background:#fbb;"| 154 || September 19 || Cardinals || 5–6 (11) || King || Loiselle (1–5) || Eckersley || 16,235 || 74–80|- style="background:#cfc;"| 155 || September 20 || Cardinals || 10–1 || Loaiza (11–10) || Beltran || — || 21,053 || 75–80|- style="background:#cfc;"| 156 || September 21 || Cardinals || 14–2 || Lieber (11–14) || Busby || — || 26,247 || 76–80|- style="background:#cfc;"| 157 || September 22 || Cardinals || 3–1 || Schmidt (10–8) || Morris || Loiselle (27) || 17,919 || 77–80|- style="background:#cfc;"| 158 || September 23 || @ Mets || 5–4 || Silva (2–1) || Lidle || Loiselle (28) || 14,670 || 78–80|- style="background:#fbb;"| 159 || September 24 || @ Mets || 5–7 || Crawford || Cooke (9–15) || Rojas || 13,195 || 78–81|- style="background:#fbb;"| 160 || September 26 || @ Astros || 0–2 || Garcia || Loaiza (11–11) || Wagner || 37,850 || 78–82|- style="background:#fbb;"| 161 || September 27 || @ Astros || 1–8 || Reynolds || Schmidt (10–9) || — || 36,170 || 78–83|- style="background:#cfc;"| 162 || September 28 || @ Astros || 5–4 (11) || Christiansen (3–0) || Henriquez || Loiselle (29) || 30,606 || 79–83|-|-| Legend:      = Win      = Loss
Bold = Pirates team member

Detailed records

National League
Opponent	W	L	WP
NL East
	6	5		35	45
	4	7		41	58
	6	5		65	44
	4	7		53	60
	6	5		55	50
Total	26	29		249	257
NL Central
	5	7		41	44
	4	8		53	65
	6	6		45	53
	9	3		68	43
Total	24	24		207	205
NL West
	7	4		84	62
	2	9		33	66
	5	6		41	49
	8	3		62	47
Total	22	22		220	224
American League
	3	0		9	2
	1	2		14	18
	1	2		9	19
	1	2		6	8
	1	2		11	27
Total	7	8		49	74
Season Total	79	83		725	760

Month	Games	Won	Lost	Win %
April	25	12	13		91	123
May	28	14	14		127	122
June	27	11	16		119	135
July	28	16	12		123	122
August	29	15	14		136	147
September	25	11	14		129	111
Total	162	79	83		725	760

	Games	Won	Lost	Win %
Home	81	43	38		365	395
Away	81	36	45		360	365
Total	162	79	83		725	760

Roster

1997 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers		Catchers Infielders		Outfielders		Manager Coaches (first base) (third base) (hitting) (bench) (pitching) (bullpen)

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters

	Name	Position
5
46
28
36		1B
10
18
11		RF
16		3B
47		SP

Player stats

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

Regular Season^[6]

Player
	45	2	1	0.500	0	0
	18	71	28	0.394	5	16
	71	167	59	0.353	7	33
	126	443	134	0.302	7	60
	97	333	100	0.300	18	74
	144	486	143	0.294	8	49
	113	423	123	0.291	13	59
	71	193	55	0.285	9	35
	155	641	178	0.278	6	50
	84	245	67	0.273	4	21
	143	498	133	0.267	14	70
	126	306	80	0.261	12	47
	49	105	27	0.257	0	7
	108	369	94	0.255	3	43
	31	4	1	0.250	0	2
	30	89	22	0.247	3	11
	19	40	9	0.225	0	6
	39	138	31	0.225	7	25
	78	219	47	0.215	4	29
	48	147	28	0.190	1	10
	52	106	20	0.189	3	8
	66	95	17	0.179	2	6
	33	60	10	0.167	0	5
	20	40	6	0.150	3	5
	11	7	1	0.143	0	0
	18	37	5	0.135	0	3
	33	58	7	0.121	0	8
	32	56	6	0.107	0	2
	29	56	5	0.089	0	0
	32	52	3	0.058	0	1
	3	1	0	0.000	0	0
	72	1	0	0.000	0	0
	62	1	0	0.000	0	0
	44	7	0	0.000	0	0
	14	1	0	0.000	0	0
	25	2	0	0.000	0	0
	70	4	0	0.000	0	1
	39	0	0		0	0
	3	0	0		0	0
	10	0	0		0	0
	9	0	0		0	0
	5	0	0		0	0
	11	0	0		0	0
Team Totals	162	5,503	1,440	0.262	129	686

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

Regular Season^[7]

Player
	3	3	0	0	0.00	2
	11	12	0	0	0.75	14
	10	9	1	0	1.93	6
	39	33	3	0	2.94	37
	72	72	1	5	3.10	66
	62	60	4	8	3.45	71
	29	178	11	8	3.63	121
	45	52	2	2	3.63	51
	70	75	9	5	3.69	47
	14	16	0	0	3.94	9
	33	196	11	11	4.13	122
	32	167	9	15	4.30	109
	33	188	11	14	4.49	160
	31	37	2	2	4.58	17
	32	187	10	9	4.60	136
	5		0	0	4.70	4
	11	36	2	1	5.94	30
	3	6	0	0	6.00	3
	44	62	3	2	6.32	50
	25	28	0	1	8.04	21
	9	5	0	0	18.00	4
Team Totals	162	1,436	79	83	4.28	1,080

Awards and honors

The Sporting News Executive of the Year Award

• Cam Bonifay, GM

1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

• Tony Womack, 2B, reserve

Notable transactions

• July 8, 1997: Midre Cummings was selected off waivers from the Pirates by the Philadelphia Phillies.^[8]

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball.

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Lynchburg

References

• 1997 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Reference
• 1997 Pittsburgh Pirates at Baseball Almanac
• Book: Johnson. Lloyd. Wolff. Miles. The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. 3rd. Durham, North Carolina. Baseball America. 2007. 978-1-932391-17-6.

Further reading

• September 1997 editorial

Notes and References

1. From 1882–1906, the team played in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became annexed by Pittsburgh as the North Side in 1907.
2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/p/plesada01.shtml Dan Plesac
3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bellja01.shtml Jay Bell page at Baseball References
4. Web site: Kevin Elster Stats.
5. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07192/800782-63.stm Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Pirates' 'Freak Show' hit zenith with July no-hitter"
6. Web site: Major League Baseball Stats pirates.com: Stats. Pittsburgh Pirates.
7. Web site: Major League Baseball Stats pirates.com: Stats. Pittsburgh Pirates.
8. https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cummimi01.shtml Midre Cummings