Danny Murtaugh

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Lore & Background

Murtaugh began his third term as skipper of the Pirates on October 9, 1969, after Larry Shepard was fired in the last week of the 1969 season.

In Their Own Story

The lights at Forbes Field hummed low over the seventh-inning crowd on October 13, 1960. Danny Murtaugh stood in the dugout, cap pulled tight against the autumn chill, watching Bill Mazeroski step into the box. The Yankees lead was gone; now only a home run could win it all. As the bat cracked and the ball soared over the fence, Murtaugh didn't cheer immediately. He simply exhaled, knowing the weight of Pittsburgh's history had just shifted onto his shoulders forever.

Reader's Guide

Murtaugh managed the Pirates for all or parts of fifteen seasons over four different terms (1957–64, 1967, 1970–71, 1973–76). He compiled a 1,115–950–3 record in 2,068 games (.540), second in Pirates history behind only Fred Clarke. He won two World Series (1960, 1971) and four NL East division titles (1970, 1971, 1974, 1975).

Did You Know?

• Murtaugh was the first manager in major league history to field a starting lineup consisting of nine black players on September 1, 1971.
• He led the National League in stolen bases as a rookie in 1941 with 18.
• His number 40 was retired by the Pirates on April 7, 1977.