1991 Pittsburgh Pirates season
Encyclopedia
The 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates
season was the 110th in franchise history. For the second consecutive season, the Pirates won the National League East Division Title. During the season, John Smiley won 20 games - the last to do so for the Pirates in the 20th century.
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in Atlanta, Georgia
in Atlanta, Georgia
in Atlanta, Georgia
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
season was the 110th in franchise history. For the second consecutive season, the Pirates won the National League East Division Title. During the season, John Smiley won 20 games - the last to do so for the Pirates in the 20th century.
Offseason
- December 6, 1990: Zane SmithZane SmithZane William Smith is a former American Major League baseball player.-Career:Smith, a left-handed pitcher, played collegiately at Indiana State University. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round of the 1982 amateur draft and made his Major League debut on September 10, 1984 for...
was signed as a free agent by the Pirates. - February 4, 1991: Mark HuismannMark HuismannMark Lawrence Huismann is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Huismann pitched in all or part of nine seasons in the majors for six different teams from until . Mainly used as a relief pitcher, Huismann started just one game out of 152 total games pitched...
was signed as a free agent by the Pirates. - March 21, 1991: Esteban LoaizaEsteban LoaizaEsteban Antonio Loaiza Veyna [lo-EYE-sa] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates. - March 29, 1991: Steve CarterSteve Carter (baseball)Steven Jerome Carter is an American former Major League Baseball player from Charlottesville, Virginia who appeared in 14 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1989 to 1990. Carter was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 17th round of the 1987 amateur draft out of the University of Georgia....
was traded by the Pirates to the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for Gary VarshoGary VarshoGary Andrew Varsho is a former Major League Baseball player, formerly serving as a coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
.
Transactions
- May 16, 1991: Mike YorkMike York (baseball)Michael David York is a former major league baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians. York was drafted in by the New York Yankees, then bounced around the minor leagues for several years before reaching the majors with the Pirates in...
was traded by the Pirates to the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Mitch WebsterMitch WebsterMitchell Dean Webster , is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently the Midwest Regional Scouting Supervisor for the Kansas City Royals....
. - June 11, 1991: Mark HuismannMark HuismannMark Lawrence Huismann is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Huismann pitched in all or part of nine seasons in the majors for six different teams from until . Mainly used as a relief pitcher, Huismann started just one game out of 152 total games pitched...
was released by the Pirates.
Roster
| 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches (bullpen) (third base) (hitting) (pitching) (first base) |
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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 | Mike LaValliere Mike LaValliere Michael Eugene "Mike" LaValliere , nicknamed Spanky, is a former catcher in Major League Baseball whose 11-year career included tenures in both the National and American Leagues... |
108 | 336 | 97 | .289 | 3 | 41 |
| 1B | Orlando Merced Orlando Merced Orlando Luis Merced Villanueva is a former Major League Baseball first Baseman and outfielder. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in the majors for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Toronto Blue Jays , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , Montreal Expos , and Houston Astros... |
120 | 411 | 113 | .275 | 10 | 50 |
| 2B | José Lind José Lind José Lind Salgado, nicknamed "Chico", is a former Major League Baseball player, and former manager of the Atlantic League's Bridgeport Bluefish. He is the cousin of Onix Concepcion, another MLB player. Primarily a second baseman, Lind was highly regarded for his defensive skills, winning a Gold... |
150 | 502 | 133 | .265 | 3 | 54 |
| 3B | Jeff King Jeff King (baseball) Jeffrey Wayne King is a former professional baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals.-Career:... |
33 | 109 | 26 | .239 | 4 | 18 |
| SS | Jay Bell Jay Bell Jay Stuart Bell is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and second baseman who played for the Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets .He played his high school baseball at J.M... |
157 | 608 | 164 | .270 | 16 | 67 |
| LF | Barry Bonds Barry Bonds Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds... |
153 | 510 | 149 | .292 | 25 | 116 |
| CF | Andy Van Slyke Andy Van Slyke Andrew James Van Slyke is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.-Career:... |
138 | 491 | 130 | .265 | 17 | 83 |
| RF | Bobby Bonilla Bobby Bonilla Roberto Martin Antonio "Bobby" Bonilla is a former player in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 to 2001. Known in his playing days as "Bobby Bo," Bonilla is of Puerto Rican descent.-Playing career:... |
157 | 577 | 174 | .302 | 18 | 100 |
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 |
|---|
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zane Smith Zane Smith Zane William Smith is a former American Major League baseball player.-Career:Smith, a left-handed pitcher, played collegiately at Indiana State University. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round of the 1982 amateur draft and made his Major League debut on September 10, 1984 for... |
35 | 228 | 16 | 10 | 3.20 | 120 |
| John Smiley | 33 | 207.2 | 20 | 8 | 3.08 | 129 |
| Paul Miller Paul Miller (baseball) Paul Robert Miller is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1991 until 1993.... |
1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 2 |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Huismann Mark Huismann Mark Lawrence Huismann is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Huismann pitched in all or part of nine seasons in the majors for six different teams from until . Mainly used as a relief pitcher, Huismann started just one game out of 152 total games pitched... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.20 | 5 |
Game 1
October 9: Three Rivers StadiumThree Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | X | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| W: Doug Drabek Doug Drabek Douglas Dean Drabek is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Known for his fluid pitching motion and sound mechanics, he won the National League Cy Young Award in 1990.-Early life:... (1-0) L: Tom Glavine Tom Glavine Thomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176... (0-1) S: Bob Walk Bob Walk Robert Vernon Walk is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Nicknamed "The Whirly Bird," Walk spent his career pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies , Atlanta Braves , and Pittsburgh Pirates .During his rookie season in Philadelphia, he recorded 11 regular season wins and a victory in Game One... (1) |
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| HR: ATL – David Justice David Justice David Christopher Justice is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , and Oakland Athletics .-Early life:David was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Robert and Nettie Justice... (1) PIT – Andy Van Slyke Andy Van Slyke Andrew James Van Slyke is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.-Career:... (1) |
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| Pitchers: ATL – Glavine (6), Wohlers (1), Stanton (1) PIT – Drabek (6), Walk (3) | ||||||||||||
| Attendance: 57,347 Time: 2:51 | ||||||||||||
Game 2
October 10: Three Rivers StadiumThree Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| W: Steve Avery Steve Avery Steven Thomas Avery is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was a young star with the Atlanta Braves in the early 1990s.-Young Gun:... (1-0) L: Zane Smith Zane Smith Zane William Smith is a former American Major League baseball player.-Career:Smith, a left-handed pitcher, played collegiately at Indiana State University. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round of the 1982 amateur draft and made his Major League debut on September 10, 1984 for... (0-1) S: Alejandro Pena Alejandro Peña Alejandro Peña Vásquez [PEH-nya] in Cambiaso, Dominican Republic, is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Peña batted and threw right-handed... (1) |
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| HR: ATL – None PIT – None | ||||||||||||
| Pitchers: ATL – Avery (8 1/3), Pena (2/3) PIT – Z. Smith (7), Mason (1), Belinda (1) | ||||||||||||
| Attendance: 57,533 Time: 2:46 | ||||||||||||
Game 3
October 12: Atlanta-Fulton County StadiumAtlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 2 |
| Atlanta | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | X | 10 | 11 | 0 |
| W: John Smoltz John Smoltz John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996... (1-0) L: John Smiley (0-1) S: Alejandro Pena Alejandro Peña Alejandro Peña Vásquez [PEH-nya] in Cambiaso, Dominican Republic, is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Peña batted and threw right-handed... (2) |
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| HR: PIT – None ATL – Greg Olson (1), Ron Gant Ron Gant Ronald Edwin "Ron" Gant is a former American Major League outfielder and second baseman earlier on who played for the Atlanta Braves , Cincinnati Reds , St... (1), Sid Bream Sid Bream Sidney Eugene "Sid" Bream is an American former Major League Baseball player. He played his entire 11-year career in the National League... (1) |
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| Pitchers: PIT – Smiley (2), Landrum (1), Patterson (2), Kipper (2), Rodriguez (1) ATL – Smoltz (6 1/3), Stanton (2/3), Wohlers (1/3), Pena (1 2/3) | ||||||||||||
| Attendance: 50,905 Time: 3:21 | ||||||||||||
Game 4
October 13: Atlanta-Fulton County StadiumAtlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 1 | |
| Atlanta | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | |
| W: Stan Belinda Stan Belinda Stanley Peter Belinda is a former Major League Baseball player. A right-handed relief pitcher who batted from the right side, Belinda is 6'3" tall and weighs 187 pounds. He pitched from a three-quarters arm slot and threw both a regular low-90's fastball and a split-fingered fastball... (1-0) L: Kent Mercker Kent Mercker Kent Franklin Mercker is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played for nine teams over his seventeen-year career.... (0-1) S: None |
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| HR: PIT – None ATL – None | ||||||||||||||
| Pitchers: PIT – Tomlin (6), Walk (2), Belinda (2) ATL – Leibrant (6 2/3), Clancy (1/3), Stanton (2), Mercker (2/3), Wohlers (1/3) | ||||||||||||||
| Attendance: 51,109 Time: 3:43 | ||||||||||||||
Game 5
October 14: Atlanta-Fulton County StadiumAtlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, often shortened to "Fulton County Stadium," was a multi-purpose stadium that formerly stood in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.-History:...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| W: Zane Smith Zane Smith Zane William Smith is a former American Major League baseball player.-Career:Smith, a left-handed pitcher, played collegiately at Indiana State University. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 3rd round of the 1982 amateur draft and made his Major League debut on September 10, 1984 for... (1-1) L: Tom Glavine Tom Glavine Thomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176... (0-2) S: Roger Mason (1) |
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| HR: PIT – None ATL – None | ||||||||||||
| Pitchers: PIT – Z. Smith (7 2/3), Mason (1 1/3) ATL – Glavine (8), Pena (1) | ||||||||||||
| Attendance: 51,109 Time: 2:51 | ||||||||||||
Game 6
October 16: Three Rivers StadiumThree Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| W: Steve Avery Steve Avery Steven Thomas Avery is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was a young star with the Atlanta Braves in the early 1990s.-Young Gun:... (2-0) L: Doug Drabek Doug Drabek Douglas Dean Drabek is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Known for his fluid pitching motion and sound mechanics, he won the National League Cy Young Award in 1990.-Early life:... (1-1) S: Alejandro Pena Alejandro Peña Alejandro Peña Vásquez [PEH-nya] in Cambiaso, Dominican Republic, is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Peña batted and threw right-handed... (3) |
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| HR: ATL – None PIT – None | ||||||||||||
| Pitchers: ATL – Avery (8), Pena (1) PIT – Drabek (9) | ||||||||||||
| Attendance: 54,508 Time: 3:09 | ||||||||||||
Game 7
October 17: Three Rivers StadiumThree Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| Pittsburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| W: John Smoltz John Smoltz John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996... (2-0) L: John Smiley (0-2) S: None |
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| HR: ATL – Brian Hunter (1) PIT – None | ||||||||||||
| Pitchers: ATL – Smoltz (9) PIT – Smiley (2/3), Walk (4 1/3), Mason (2), Belinda (2) | ||||||||||||
| Attendance: 46,932 Time: 3:04 | ||||||||||||
Awards and honors
1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 62nd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 9, 1991 at SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, the home of the Toronto...
- Bobby BonillaBobby BonillaRoberto Martin Antonio "Bobby" Bonilla is a former player in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 to 2001. Known in his playing days as "Bobby Bo," Bonilla is of Puerto Rican descent.-Playing career:...
, DH, Starter - John Smiley, P, Reserve