1993 Pittsburgh Pirates season
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh Pirates franchise entered the '93 season as the three-time defending National League East
champions. In the offseason, Barry Bonds
left the Pirates and signed with the San Francisco Giants. This season was the first of their record of nineteen straight losing seasons.
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
champions. In the offseason, 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...
left the Pirates and signed with the San Francisco Giants. This season was the first of their record of nineteen straight losing seasons.
Offseason
- November 17, 1992: Alex ColeAlex ColeAlexander Cole Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 1985 MLB amateur draft, Cole would make his Major League debut with the Cleveland Indians on July 27, 1990, and appear in his final game on May 22, 1996...
was drafted from the Pirates by the Colorado RockiesColorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
as the 17th pick in the 1992 MLB Expansion Draft1992 MLB Expansion DraftThe 1992 Major League Baseball expansion draft was held November 17, 1992 in New York City. This expansion draft was conducted by Major League Baseball to stock the major league rosters of the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins, new major league expansion franchises that were set to start play...
. - November 19, 1992: Roger Mason was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- November 25, 1992: Gary VarshoGary VarshoGary Andrew Varsho is a former Major League Baseball player, formerly serving as a coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates...
was selected off waivers from the Pirates by the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. - December 7, 1992: Dave OttoDave OttoDavid Alan Otto , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1987-1994. Dave is a 1982 graduate of Elk Grove High School. At 6'7" he is the tallest pitcher to hurl for Elk Grove's Grenadiers...
was drafted by the Pirates from 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...
in the 1992 minor league draft. - December 16, 1992: John CandelariaJohn CandelariaJohn Robert Candelaria . He attended The Caton School P.S. 249. Nicknamed "The Candy Man," is a former professional left-handed pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, California Angels, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles...
was signed as a free agent by the Pirates. - January 27, 1993: Elmer DessensElmer DessensElmer Dessens Jusaino [deh-SENZ] is a Mexican professional baseball player who is currently a free agent.-Personal life:...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Pirates.
Opening Day starters
- Al MartinAl MartinAlbert Lee Martin is a former professional baseball left fielder. He played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball, mostly for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also played one season in the Korea Baseball Organization.- Early life :Martin graduated from John A...
, LF - Jay BellJay BellJay 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...
, SS - Andy Van SlykeAndy Van SlykeAndrew James Van Slyke is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.-Career:...
, CF - Jeff KingJeff King (baseball)Jeffrey Wayne King is a former professional baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals.-Career:...
, 3B - Orlando MercedOrlando MercedOrlando 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...
, RF - Kevin YoungKevin Young (baseball)Kevin Stacey Young is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals . He batted and threw right-handed. Young helped end the most recent baseball players strike in the MLB representing the Pittsburgh Pirates...
, 1B - Carlos García, 2B
- Mike LaValliereMike LaValliereMichael 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...
, C - Tim WakefieldTim WakefieldTimothy Stephen Wakefield is an American professional baseball pitcher. Wakefield began pitching with the Red Sox in 1995, making him the longest-serving player currently on the team. Wakefield is also the oldest current active player in the majors, and one of two active knuckleballers, the other...
, P
Notable transactions
- April 11, 1993: Mike LaValliereMike LaValliereMichael 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...
was released by the Pirates. - July 9, 1993: John Candelaria was released by the Pirates.
- July 31, 1993: Stan BelindaStan BelindaStanley 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...
was traded by the Pirates to the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
for Jon LieberJon LieberJonathan Ray Lieber is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs , New York Yankees , Philadelphia Phillies . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
and Dan MiceliDan MiceliDaniel Miceli is former major league baseball relief pitcher.-Early career:Miceli was signed by the Kansas City Royals as an amateur free agent in , but never saw time at the major league level for Kansas City. Instead, he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates with pitcher Jon Lieber in exchange...
. - August 19, 1993: Dave Otto was released by the Pirates.
Roster
| 1993 Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | Manager Coaches (bench) |
||||||
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 141 | 449 | 106 | .236 | 6 | 47 | |
| 2B | 141 | 546 | 147 | .269 | 12 | 47 | |
| LF | 143 | 480 | 135 | .281 | 18 | 64 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86 | 194 | 49 | .253 | 3 | 22 | |
| 1 | 5 | 1 | .200 | 0 | 0 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 68 | 3 | 4 | 5.03 | 30 | |
| 25 | 53.2 | 4 | 1 | 4.86 | 16 | |
| 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 2 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 3.61 | 30 | |
| 24 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8.24 | 17 | |
Awards and honors
1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 64th 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 13, 1993 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland,...
- Jay BellJay BellJay 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...
, SS, Reserve - Andy Van SlykeAndy Van SlykeAndrew James Van Slyke is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and former first base coach for the Detroit Tigers.-Career:...
, CF, Reserve