1998 Pittsburgh Pirates season

1998 Pittsburgh Pirates
League	National League
Division	Central
Ballpark	Three Rivers Stadium
City	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Record	69–93 (.426)
Divisional place	6th
Owners	Kevin McClatchy
General managers	Cam Bonifay
Managers	Gene Lamont
Television	WPGH-TV & WCWB-TV Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh
Radio	KDKA-AM (Steve Blass, Greg Brown, Lanny Frattare, Bob Walk)
← 1997 Seasons 1999 →

The 1998 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 117th season of the franchise; the 112th in the National League. This was their 29th season at Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates finished sixth and last in the National League Central with a record of 69–93.

Regular season

Season standings

v t e NL Central	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Houston Astros	102	60	0.630	—	55–26	47–34
Chicago Cubs	90	73	0.552	12½	51–31	39–42
St. Louis Cardinals	83	79	0.512	19	48–34	35–45
Cincinnati Reds	77	85	0.475	25	39–42	38–43
Milwaukee Brewers	74	88	0.457	28	38–43	36–45
Pittsburgh Pirates	69	93	0.426	33	40–40	29–53

Game log

1998 Game Log (69–93)
April (11–16) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 1 @ Expos 4–0 Cordova (1–0) Perez — 31,220 1–0 2 April 2 @ Expos 4–3 Schmidt (1–0) Maddux Loiselle (1) 6,396 2–0 3 April 3 @ Mets 1–2 McMichael Peters (0–1) — 15,245 2–1 4 April 4 @ Mets 6–7 (13) Wendell Peters (0–2) — 17,633 2–2 5 April 5 @ Mets 0–7 Yoshii Silva (0–1) — 18,205 2–3 6 April 6 @ Mets 4–2 Cordova (2–0) Jones Loiselle (2) 13,528 3–3 7 April 7 Braves 3–11 Glavine Schmidt (1–1) — 43,268 3–4 8 April 8 Braves 5–3 Loaiza (1–0) Neagle Loiselle (3) 11,254 4–4 9 April 9 Braves 3–4 Millwood Lieber (0–1) Wohlers 9,560 4–5 10 April 10 Marlins 4–1 Silva (1–1) Meadows Loiselle (4) 16,561 5–5 11 April 11 Marlins 7–6 (10) Loiselle (1–0) Powell — 19,920 6–5 12 April 12 Marlins 7–3 Schmidt (2–1) Medina — 12,203 7–5 13 April 13 Marlins 2–7 Larkin Loaiza (1–1) — 10,938 7–6 14 April 14 @ Braves 0–6 Millwood Lieber (0–2) — 31,259 7–7 15 April 15 @ Braves 0–7 Maddux Silva (1–2) — 30,381 7–8 16 April 16 @ Braves 1–3 Smoltz Cordova (2–1) Wohlers 35,760 7–9 17 April 17 Padres 5–7 Boehringer Tabaka (0–1) Hoffman 12,555 7–10 18 April 18 Padres 5–7 (10) Miceli Loiselle (1–1) Hoffman 14,728 7–11 19 April 21 Giants 3–6 Gardner Lieber (0–3) — 8,976 7–12 20 April 22 Giants 5–2 Silva (2–2) Darwin Loiselle (5) 11,367 8–12 21 April 23 Giants 7–0 Cordova (3–1) Estes — 9,899 9–12 22 April 24 @ Padres 4–2 Schmidt (3–1) Smith Rincon (1) 26,413 10–12 23 April 25 @ Padres 3–4 (16) Reyes Martinez (0–1) — 53,710 10–13 24 April 26 @ Padres 6–0 Lieber (1–3) Brown — 42,281 11–13 25 April 27 @ Giants 5–6 Nen Loiselle (1–2) — 10,127 11–14 26 April 28 @ Giants 1–2 Estes Cordova (3–2) Nen 11,551 11–15 27 April 30 Dodgers 6–14 Clontz Dessens (0–1) — 9,728 11–16
May (15–14) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 28 May 1 Dodgers 5–4 Tabaka (1–1) Dreifort Loiselle (6) 15,491 12–16 29 May 2 Dodgers 4–5 Martinez Lieber (1–4) Radinsky 22,629 12–17 30 May 3 Dodgers 5–10 Park Silva (2–3) — 18,674 12–18 31 May 5 Cardinals 5–2 Cordova (4–2) Mercker Loiselle (7) 10,329 13–18 32 May 6 Cardinals 5–0 Schmidt (4–1) Stottlemyre — 12,051 14–18 33 May 7 Reds 8–7 Dessens (1–1) Belinda Loiselle (8) 8,400 15–18 34 May 8 Reds 3–5 (10) Belinda Rincon (0–1) Shaw 13,848 15–19 35 May 9 Reds 6–1 Silva (3–3) Winchester Peters (1) 27,185 16–19 36 May 10 Reds 3–4 (12) Belinda Loiselle (1–3) — 19,507 16–20 37 May 11 Rockies 5–2 Schmidt (5–1) Ritz — 9,498 17–20 38 May 12 Rockies 6–0 Loaiza (2–1) Wright — 12,954 18–20 39 May 13 @ Astros 0–1 Hampton Lieber (1–5) Wagner 14,239 18–21 40 May 14 @ Astros 7–2 Silva (4–3) Schourek — 16,123 19–21 41 May 15 @ Diamondbacks 1–6 Suppan Cordova (4–3) — 43,584 19–22 42 May 16 @ Diamondbacks 6–3 Schmidt (6–1) Anderson Loiselle (9) 48,167 20–22 43 May 17 @ Diamondbacks 2–8 Benes Loaiza (2–2) — 44,014 20–23 44 May 18 @ Diamondbacks 2–9 Blair Lieber (1–6) — 41,465 20–24 45 May 19 Padres 3–0 Silva (5–3) Hamilton Loiselle (10) 10,493 21–24 46 May 20 Padres 5–2 Cordova (5–3) Ashby Loiselle (11) — 22–24 47 May 20 Padres 3–8 Hitchcock Peters (0–3) — 17,248 22–25 48 May 21 Padres 3–2 Schmidt (7–1) Brown Rincon (2) 10,222 23–25 49 May 22 @ Marlins 1–3 Hernandez Loaiza (2–3) — 22,057 23–26 50 May 23 @ Marlins 10–4 Lieber (2–6) Fontenot Rincon (3) 30,499 24–26 51 May 24 @ Marlins 3–4 Powell Christiansen (0–1) — 16,972 24–27 52 May 26 @ Brewers 2–3 Myers Loiselle (1–4) — 12,272 24–28 53 May 27 @ Brewers 2–3 (10) Woodall Rincon (0–2) — 10,274 24–29 54 May 29 Expos 1–4 Perez Lieber (2–7) Urbina 17,053 24–30 55 May 30 Expos 8–7 Christiansen (1–1) Urbina — 38,149 25–30 56 May 31 Expos 9–4 Cordova (6–3) Batista — 24,718 26–30
June (13–14) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 57 June 1 Mets 4–3 Schmidt (8–1) Mlicki Rincon (4) 11,274 27–30 58 June 2 Mets 5–2 Peters (1–3) Bohanon Rincon (5) 9,040 28–30 59 June 3 Mets 3–0 Lieber (3–7) Reed Christiansen (1) 17,691 29–30 60 June 5 Twins 6–1 Silva (6–3) Morgan — 28,446 30–30 61 June 6 Twins 4–3 (12) Loaiza (3–3) Aguilera — 19,809 31–30 62 June 7 Twins 2–3 Serafini Schmidt (8–2) Aguilera 32,773 31–31 63 June 8 @ Indians 0–8 Colon Peters (1–4) — 43,068 31–32 64 June 9 @ Indians 7–4 Lieber (4–7) Morman Rincon (6) 41,762 32–32 65 June 10 @ Indians 4–3 (11) Loaiza (4–3) Mesa Loiselle (12) 43,101 33–32 66 June 12 Brewers 2–4 Karl Cordova (6–4) Wickman 16,851 33–33 67 June 13 Brewers 1–8 Juden Schmidt (8–3) — 28,945 33–34 68 June 14 Brewers 7–2 Peters (2–4) Woodard — 23,755 34–34 69 June 15 @ Phillies 1–2 Beech Lieber (4–8) Leiter 14,411 34–35 70 June 16 @ Phillies 7–8 Dodd Loiselle (1–5) — 24,615 34–36 71 June 17 @ Phillies 1–3 Schilling Cordova (6–5) — 25,694 34–37 72 June 18 @ Brewers 1–0 Dessens (2–1) Jones Rincon (7) 14,774 35–37 73 June 19 @ Brewers 1–2 Woodard Peters (2–5) Wickman 20,935 35–38 74 June 20 @ Brewers 4–2 Lieber (5–8) Eldred Rincon (8) 28,556 36–38 75 June 21 @ Brewers 8–7 Loaiza (5–3) Juden Rincon (9) 22,338 37–38 76 June 22 White Sox 4–5 Castillo Dessens (2–2) Karchner 21,531 37–39 77 June 23 White Sox 4–5 Sirotka Schmidt (8–4) Karchner 20,310 37–40 78 June 24 @ Royals 10–3 Peters (3–5) Rusch — 18,007 38–40 79 June 25 @ Royals 1–6 Belcher Lieber (5–9) — 22,504 38–41 80 June 26 @ Dodgers 2–5 Park Loaiza (5–4) Osuna 52,934 38–42 81 June 27 @ Dodgers 0–2 Valdez Cordova (6–6) — 37,821 38–43 82 June 28 @ Dodgers 6–4 Williams (1–0) Radinsky Loiselle (13) 38,865 39–43 83 June 30 Tigers 0–3 Moehler Lieber (5–10) — 11,760 39–44
July (11–15) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 84 July 1 Tigers 1–9 Greisinger Peters (3–6) — 18,957 39–45 85 July 2 Tigers 5–2 Loaiza (6–4) Powell Loiselle (14) 34,594 40–45 86 July 3 @ Cubs 9–12 Tapani Cordova (6–7) Beck 40,420 40–46 87 July 4 @ Cubs 4–5 Pisciotta Schmidt (8–5) Beck 37,780 40–47 88 July 5 @ Cubs 6–7 Stevens Loiselle (1–6) Beck 38,742 40–48 89 July 10 Phillies 6–7 Schilling Cordova (6–8) — 18,665 40–49 90 July 11 Phillies 0–1 Portugal Loiselle (1–7) Leiter 30,084 40–50 91 July 12 Phillies 4–10 Loewer Loaiza (6–5) — 34,144 40–51 92 July 13 Cubs 6–2 Lieber (6–10) Gonzalez — 11,772 41–51 93 July 14 Cubs 4–7 Tapani Peters (3–7) Beck 13,405 41–52 94 July 15 Cubs 3–0 Cordova (7–8) Wood Rincon (10) 28,655 42–52 95 July 16 @ Expos 5–10 Pavano Schmidt (8–6) Maddux 8,558 42–53 96 July 17 @ Expos 5–1 Williams (2–0) Vazquez Christiansen (2) 9,380 43–53 97 July 18 @ Expos 5–2 Lieber (7–10) Boskie — 11,499 44–53 98 July 19 @ Expos 6–1 Peters (4–7) Hermanson — 17,558 45–53 99 July 20 @ Mets 3–1 Cordova (8–8) Yoshii Rincon (11) 18,088 46–53 100 July 21 @ Mets 0–4 Reed Schmidt (8–7) — 22,844 46–54 101 July 22 Marlins 6–4 Van Poppel (1–0) Dempster Christiansen (3) 13,544 47–54 102 July 23 Marlins 9–1 Lieber (8–10) Meadows — 11,374 48–54 103 July 24 Braves 0–3 Smoltz Peters (4–8) — 24,776 48–55 104 July 25 Braves 4–1 Cordova (9–8) Neagle Christiansen (4) 41,568 49–55 105 July 26 Braves 1–2 Maddux Schmidt (8–8) Ligtenberg 34,925 49–56 106 July 27 @ Rockies 7–8 (13) Leskanic McCurry (0–1) — 46,024 49–57 107 July 28 @ Rockies 6–12 Astacio Lieber (8–11) — 46,856 49–58 108 July 29 @ Rockies 12–1 Peters (5–8) Kile — 47,411 50–58 109 July 31 Astros 4–7 Hampton Cordova (9–9) Henry 32,476 50–59
August (14–12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 110 August 1 Astros 1–2 Lima Williams (2–1) — 19,783 50–60 111 August 2 Astros 2–6 Johnson Christiansen (1–2) Elarton 21,201 50–61 112 August 3 Rockies 2–7 Jones Lieber (8–12) — 11,204 50–62 113 August 4 Rockies 13–5 Christiansen (2–2) Kile — 15,784 51–62 114 August 5 Rockies 2–6 Wright Cordova (9–10) — 12,862 51–63 115 August 6 Rockies 1–5 Thomson Schmidt (8–9) — 14,060 51–64 116 August 7 @ Dodgers 1–3 Bohanon Van Poppel (1–1) Shaw 41,676 51–65 117 August 8 @ Dodgers 1–2 Osuna Christiansen (2–3) — 45,187 51–66 118 August 9 @ Dodgers 2–1 Peters (6–8) Park Rincon (12) 43,227 52–66 119 August 11 @ Reds 7–0 Cordova (10–10) Tomko — 16,399 53–66 120 August 12 @ Reds 5–4 Schmidt (9–9) Remlinger Rincon (13) 16,946 54–66 121 August 13 @ Reds 9–6 McCurry (1–1) Harnisch Rincon (14) 16,002 55–66 122 August 14 @ Cardinals 5–10 Osborne Lieber (8–13) — 47,836 55–67 123 August 15 @ Cardinals 7–8 (12) Painter McCurry (1–2) — 46,817 55–68 124 August 16 @ Cardinals 4–1 Cordova (11–10) Morris Lieber (1) 46,904 56–68 125 August 18 Dodgers 6–4 Schmidt (10–9) Perez Loiselle (15) 12,730 57–68 126 August 19 Dodgers 6–5 Williams (3–1) Bohanon Christiansen (5) 27,259 58–68 127 August 20 Reds 6–5 Christiansen (3–3) Graves — 13,137 59–68 128 August 21 Reds 14–2 Peters (7–8) Tomko — 17,007 60–68 129 August 22 Cardinals 14–4 Cordova (12–10) Witt — 45,082 61–68 130 August 23 Cardinals 4–3 Schmidt (11–9) Mercker Christiansen (6) 42,134 62–68 131 August 24 Cardinals 5–5 (7) — — — 28,435 62–68 132 August 25 @ Diamondbacks 9–6 Lawrence (1–0) Sodowsky Loiselle (16) 38,960 63–68 133 August 26 @ Diamondbacks 4–3 Tabaka (2–1) Daal Loiselle (17) 39,906 64–68 134 August 28 @ Astros 0–2 Johnson Cordova (12–11) — 40,709 64–69 135 August 29 @ Astros 3–6 Lima Schmidt (11–10) Powell 41,762 64–70 136 August 30 @ Astros 4–11 Reynolds McCurry (1–3) — 25,342 64–71
September (5–22) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 137 September 1 Diamondbacks 3–4 Daal Peters (7–9) Olson 11,427 64–72 138 September 2 Diamondbacks 1–2 (11) Small Tabaka (2–2) Olson 12,010 64–73 139 September 3 Diamondbacks 0–1 Anderson Cordova (12–12) — 8,610 64–74 140 September 4 Cubs 2–5 Karchner Williams (3–2) Beck 36,510 64–75 141 September 5 Cubs 4–8 Tapani Lawrence (1–1) Beck 37,711 64–76 142 September 6 Cubs 4–3 (10) Loiselle (2–7) Stevens — 22,209 65–76 143 September 7 Brewers 3–6 Roque Dessens (2–3) Wickman 12,830 65–77 144 September 8 Brewers 8–7 Williams (4–2) Plunk Loiselle (18) 7,171 66–77 145 September 9 @ Cubs 2–4 Clark Schmidt (11–11) Beck 34,857 66–78 146 September 10 @ Cubs 2–5 Tapani Silva (6–4) Beck 38,722 66–79 147 September 11 @ Phillies 6–1 Peters (8–9) Loewer — 16,597 67–79 148 September 12 @ Phillies 4–13 Portugal Dessens (2–4) — 19,329 67–80 149 September 13 @ Phillies 1–4 Byrd Cordova (12–13) Leiter 19,662 67–81 150 September 14 @ Cardinals 3–7 Jimenez Schmidt (11–12) — 42,265 67–82 151 September 15 @ Cardinals 8–6 Lawrence (2–1) Osborne Loiselle (19) — 68–82 152 September 15 @ Cardinals 3–9 Aybar Silva (6–5) Acevedo 41,271 68–83 153 September 16 @ Cardinals 0–4 Morris Van Poppel (1–2) — 39,758 68–84 154 September 18 Astros 2–5 Johnson Dessens (2–5) Powell 16,937 68–85 155 September 19 Astros 7–1 Cordova (13–13) Lima — 20,670 69–85 156 September 20 Astros 0–2 Reynolds Schmidt (11–13) Wagner 23,657 69–86 157 September 21 @ Giants 1–8 Hershiser Silva (6–6) — 15,695 69–87 158 September 22 @ Giants 2–14 Rueter Lieber (8–14) — 16,228 69–88 159 September 23 @ Giants 1–4 Gardner Peters (8–10) Nen 13,915 69–89 160 September 24 @ Giants 2–6 Ortiz Dessens (2–6) — 16,754 69–90 161 September 25 @ Reds 1–4 Bere Cordova (13–14) Graves 17,429 69–91 162 September 26 @ Reds 2–6 Harnisch Schmidt (11–14) White 19,391 69–92 163 September 27 @ Reds 1–4 Tomko Silva (6–7) — 19,360 69–93
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie Bold = Pirates team member

Record vs. opponents

1998 National League record v t e Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
Team	AZ	ATL	CHC	CIN	COL	FLA	HOU	LA	MIL	MTL	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL	AL
Arizona	—	1–8	5–7	4–5	6–6	6–2	4–5	4–8	6–3	2–7	4–5	2–7	6–3	3–9	5–7	2–7	5–8
Atlanta	8–1	—	3–6	7–2	5–3	7–5	4–5	8–1	7–2	6–6	9–3	8–4	7–2	5–4	7–2	6–3	9–7
Chicago	7–5	6–3	—	6–5	7–2	7–2	4–7	4–5	6–6	7–2	4–5	3–6	8–3	5–4	7–3	4–7	5–8
Cincinnati	5–4	2–7	5–6	—	4–5	9–0	3–8	5–4	6–5	8–1	3–6	4–5	5–7	1–11	2–7	8–3	7-6
Colorado	6–6	3–5	2–7	5–4	—	6–3	6–5	6–6	4–7	7–2	3–6	5–4	5–4	5–7	7–5	3–6	4–8
Florida	2–6	5–7	2–7	0–9	3–6	—	3–6	4–5	0–9	5–7	5–7	6–6	3–6	4–5	0–9	4–5	8–8
Houston	5–4	5–4	7–4	8–3	5–6	6-3	—	3–6	9–2	7–2	5–4	7–2	9–2	5–4	6–3	5–7	10–4
Los Angeles	8–4	1–8	5–4	4–5	6–6	5–4	6–3	—	5–4	5–4	3–5	5–4	7–5	5–7	6–6	4–5	8–5
Milwaukee	3–6	2–7	6–6	5–6	7–4	9–0	2–9	4–5	—	6–3	1–8	4–5	6–5	3–6	5–4	3–8	8–6
Montreal	7–2	6–6	2–7	1–8	2–7	7–5	2–7	4–5	3–6	—	8–4	5–7	2–7	4–4	3–6	3–6	6–10
New York	5–4	3–9	5–4	6–3	6–3	7–5	4–5	5–3	8–1	4–8	—	8–4	4–5	4–5	4–5	6–3	9–7
Philadelphia	7-2	4–8	6–3	5–4	4–5	6–6	2–7	4–5	5–4	7–5	4–8	—	8–1	1–8	2–6	3–6	7–9
Pittsburgh	3–6	2–7	3–8	7–5	4–5	6–3	2–9	5–7	5–6	7–2	5–4	1–8	—	5–4	2–7	6–5	6–7
San Diego	9–3	4–5	4–5	11–1	7–5	5–4	4–5	7–5	6–3	4–4	5–4	8–1	4–5	—	8–4	6–3	6–7
San Francisco	7–5	2–7	3–7	7–2	5–7	9–0	3–6	6–6	4–5	6–3	5–4	6–2	7–2	4–8	—	7–5	8–5
St. Louis	7–2	3–6	7–4	3–8	6–3	5-4	7–5	5–4	8–3	6–3	3–6	6–3	5–6	3–6	5–7	—	4–9

Detailed records

Roster

1998 Pittsburgh Pirates
Roster
Pitchers 41 Jason Christiansen 67 Francisco Córdova 71 Elmer Dessens 48 Sean Lawrence 47 Jon Lieber 34 Esteban Loaiza 51 Rich Loiselle 36 Javier Martínez 53 Jeff McCurry 38 Chris Peters 73 Ricardo Rincón 22 Jason Schmidt 56 José Silva 49 Jeff Tabaka 57 Todd Van Poppel 35 Marc Wilkins 64 Mike Williams		Catchers 18 Jason Kendall 27 Tim Laker 15 Keith Osik Infielders  6 Lou Collier 14 Freddy García 10 Abraham Núñez  2 Kevin Polcovich 16 Aramis Ramírez 31 Chance Sanford 17 Doug Strange  5 Tony Womack 29 Kevin Young		Outfielders 46 Jermaine Allensworth 62 Steve Bieser 13 Adrian Brown 19 Emil Brown 11 José Guillén 28 Al Martin 30 Manny Martínez 25 Mark Smith 12 Turner Ward		Manager 32 Gene Lamont Coaches 37 Joe Jones (first base) 45 Jack Lind (third base) 23 Lloyd McClendon (hitting) 44 Rick Renick (bench) 50 Pete Vuckovich (pitching) 54 Spin Williams (bullpen)

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters
#	Name	Position
5	Tony Womack	2B
18	Jason Kendall	C
28	Al Martin	LF
29	Kevin Young	1B
46	Jermaine Allensworth	CF
11	José Guillén	RF
14	Freddy García	3B
6	Lou Collier	SS
67	Francisco Córdova	SP

Player stats

Batting

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

Pitching

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

Awards and honors

1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

• Jason Kendall, C, reserve

Notable transactions

• July 17, 1998: Esteban Loaiza was traded by the Pirates to the Texas Rangers for Warren Morris and Todd Van Poppel.^[3]

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Nashville Sounds	Pacific Coast League	Trent Jewett
AA	Carolina Mudcats	Southern League	Jeff Banister
A	Lynchburg Hillcats	Carolina League	Jeff Richardson and Jeff Livesey
A	Augusta Greenjackets	South Atlantic League	Marty Brown
A-Short Season	Erie SeaWolves	New York–Penn League	Tracy Woodson
Rookie	GCL Pirates	Gulf Coast League	Woody Huyke

References

• 1998 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at Baseball Reference
• 1998 Pittsburgh Pirates team page at www.baseball-almanac.com
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6.