Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in Major League Baseball as part of the National League Central Division. The team was founded in 1881 as the Allegheny Base Ball Club of Pittsburgh and joined the National League in 1887.

The Pirates have had many great moments in their history. They won their first World Series championship in 1909, led by the famous player Honus Wagner. In 1960, they won another championship with a dramatic walk-off home run by Bill Mazeroski in the final game. They also won titles in 1971, led by Roberto Clemente, and in 1979 under Willie Stargell.

Since 1979, the Pirates have faced many challenges. They have had only eleven winning seasons and have struggled to return to the top of the league. The team plays its home games at PNC Park, a beautiful stadium near the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh's North Side. The Pirates are also known as the "Bucs" or "Buccos," names that come from the word buccaneer, meaning a pirate. Their team colors are black, gold, and white, matching the colors of Pittsburgh and its other major sports teams, the Steelers and the Penguins.

History

Main article: History of the Pittsburgh Pirates

Baseball began in Pittsburgh in 1876 with a team called the Allegheny Base Ball Club. They joined a minor league in 1877 but stopped playing after one season. In 1881, a new team was formed and joined the American Association in 1882, called the Allegheny Base Ball Club of Pittsburgh. In 1887, they moved to the National League.

The team lost many players to another league in 1890 but got them back after that league closed. They were sometimes called “Pirates” after signing a player another team protested. By the early 1900s, the Pirates became a top team, winning their first World Series title in 1909. They won more titles later, including in 1925, 1960, and 1979.

The Pirates had ups and downs over the years. They returned to the playoffs in the 1990s but struggled to keep good players. After many years without winning, they made the playoffs again in 2013.

Ballpark

Since 2001, the Pittsburgh Pirates have played their home games at PNC Park, located near the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh. The stadium replaced the older Three Rivers Stadium and cost $216 million to build. Fans love PNC Park for its great views of the city and the baseball field. It holds about 38,747 people for games, but can fit even more with standing room.

PNC Park is special because it is very close to the field for fans, and it has statues of famous Pirates players outside. Besides Pirates games, the park has hosted big concerts and an MLB All-Star Game.

Former ballparks

The Pirates first played at Exposition Park and later moved to Forbes Field in Oakland, where they played for 61 years. Forbes Field was known for its big field and famous home runs. In 1970, the team moved to the multipurpose Three Rivers Stadium, which was used until 2000.

Spring Training

Since 1969, the Pirates have held Spring Training at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. This stadium is very old and has been updated a few times. It was named after a famous player and is now named for a college. The Pirates also have a training complex nearby.

Logos and uniforms

The Pittsburgh Pirates have had many different uniforms and logos over the years, but the "P" on their cap has always stayed the same. For much of the early 1900s, the team used red, white, and blue colors, like many other baseball teams. Their uniforms were simple, often just showing the letter "P".

In 1948, the Pirates changed to their current black and gold colors, matching the colors of Pittsburgh’s flag and the Pittsburgh Steelers football team. They also introduced sleeveless jerseys in the late 1950s, helping make that style popular in baseball. In 1976, they celebrated the National League’s 100th anniversary by wearing special old-style hats, which they kept using for several years.

Since then, the Pirates have added many different uniform styles, including third jerseys, alternate uniforms, and special camo jerseys for some home games. In recent years, they have also introduced a City Connect uniform that features designs representing Pittsburgh’s three rivers and its famous steel industry.

Rivalries

Philadelphia Phillies

Main article: Phillies–Pirates rivalry

The Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates have a long-standing rivalry. It started when the Pirates joined the National League in 1887, four years after the Phillies. They stayed in the same division until 1994, when the Pirates moved to a different division. Even though they don't play each other as often now, many fans still feel strongly about this rivalry.

Cincinnati Reds

Main article: Pirates-Reds rivalry

The Pirates also have a big rivalry with the Cincinnati Reds. This is because the cities are close and the teams have met many times in important games. Sometimes, players from both teams get into fights during games.

Divisional foes

From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates competed with the St. Louis Cardinals for the division title. They also had close contests with the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs in other years. The Cubs and Pirates were strong rivals in the early 1900s.

Interleague

The Pirates play an annual series against the Detroit Tigers. This rivalry grew because of the connection between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins in hockey. The teams have some shared history, including a former minor league affiliate and a former manager who worked for both teams.

There is also an on-and-off rivalry with the Cleveland Guardians, mostly because of the closeness of the cities and the rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers in football. The teams play each other periodically, and the Pirates lead in their overall series.

Roster

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. They are part of Major League Baseball and compete in the National League Central Division. The team was founded in 1881 and joined the National League in 1887.

Players of note

See also: Pittsburgh Pirates award winners and league leaders

Retired numbers

See also: List of Major League Baseball retired numbers

Along with the league-wide retired number of 42, there are nine retired Pirates jersey numbers.

Baseball Hall of Famers

Ford C. Frick Award recipients

Pirates Hall of Fame

In 2022, the Pirates created a team Hall of Fame to honor the most important players in Pittsburgh baseball history. Nineteen people were part of the first group, including every Pittsburgh Pirate in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and other former players, broadcasters, and coaches. The Pirates also honored players from the Negro league baseball team Homestead Grays, which played in Forbes Field and Greenlee Field in Pittsburgh. Two of the first group also played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords. All inductees were honored with a plaque displayed near the entrance with the statue of Roberto Clemente.

Awards

Most Valuable Player Award

• Andrew McCutchen (2013)
• Barry Bonds (1990, 1992)
• Willie Stargell (1979)
• Dave Parker (1978)
• Roberto Clemente (1966)
• Dick Groat (1960)
• Paul Waner (1927)

Cy Young Award

• Paul Skenes (2025)
• Doug Drabek (1990)
• Vern Law (1960, MLB)

Rookie of the Year Award

• Jason Bay (2004)
• Paul Skenes (2024)

Manager of the Year Award

• Clint Hurdle (2013)
• Jim Leyland (1990, 1992)

Comeback Player of the Year Award

• Francisco Liriano (2013)
• Rick Reuschel (1985)
• Willie Stargell (1978)
• Vern Law (1964)

Roberto Clemente Award

• Andrew McCutchen (2015)
• Willie Stargell (1974)

Team captains

• Dick Groat -1962
• Bill Mazeroski 1963–1972
• Willie Stargell 1973–1982
• Bill Madlock 1983

Franchise records

Career batting

Career pitching

Win–loss records

• 100 wins in a season
  • 1902 (103–36), Fred Clarke
  • 1909 (110–42), Fred Clarke
• 100 losses in a season
  • 1890 (23–113), Guy Hecker
  • 1917 (51–103), Jim Callahan, Honus Wagner, and Hugo Bezdek
  • 1952 (42–112), Billy Meyer
  • 1953 (50–104), Fred Haney
  • 1954 (53–101), Fred Haney
  • 1985 (57–104), Chuck Tanner
  • 2001 (62–100), Lloyd McClendon
  • 2010 (57–105), John Russell
  • 2021 (61–101), Derek Shelton
  • 2022 (62–100), Derek Shelton

First-in-MLB accomplishments

• On May 8, 1886, the Pittsburgh Alleghenys turned the first 3–4–2 triple play in Major League history. The Alleghenys won the game, 9–6.
• The first ever Major League Baseball game broadcast on the radio happened on August 5, 1921, between the Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Pirates won the game, 8–5.
• In the 1925 World Series, the Pirates became the first MLB team to recover from a 3-games-to-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven World Series; they did this again in the 1979 World Series.
• During the 1953 season, the Pirates became the first team to wear batting helmets while playing defense. These helmets were made of fiberglass and looked like a miner's cap. All Pirate players wore them, but they stopped using them in the field because they were awkward and heavy. Pitchers later got padded hats for more safety.
• The Pirates were the first team to win a World Series with a home run in the 7th game, which happened in the 1960 World Series.
• In 1970, the Pirates became the first major league club to wear uniforms made from a cotton-nylon blend.
• The first all-minority lineup in MLB history played on September 1, 1971.
• The first World Series night game was played in Three Rivers Stadium on October 13, 1971.
• The first MLB scout to win the "Scout of the Year Award" was Howie Haak in 1984.
• The first combined extra inning no-hitter in MLB history happened at Three Rivers Stadium on July 12, 1997. Francisco Córdova and Ricardo Rincón combined to no-hit the Houston Astros, 3–0 in 10 innings. A three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning sealed the victory.
• In November 2008, the Pirates became the first MLB team to sign Indian players, Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel.
• The Pirates are the first team in professional sports to have 20 consecutive losing seasons. This streak lasted from 1993 to 2012.
• On April 6, 2015, the Pirates earned their 10,000 franchise loss.
• On May 9, 2015, the Pirates became the first MLB team to turn a 4–5–4 triple play.
• On April 24, 2017, the Pirates had the first baseball player born and raised in Lithuania reach the major leagues, Dovydas Neverauskas.
• On April 26, 2017, the Pirates promoted Gift Ngoepe, the first African-born player in MLB history.
• On August 23, 2017, the Pirates became the first team in MLB history to break up a no-hitter in extra innings with a walk-off home run. The home run was hit by Josh Harrison in the tenth inning to give the Pirates a 1–0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Minor league affiliations

Main article: List of Pittsburgh Pirates minor league affiliates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a group of seven teams that help develop players. These teams are called minor league affiliates and work closely with the Pirates to get ready for big league games.

Civil rights advocacy

The Pittsburgh Pirates were important in fighting for fairness in baseball. In the 1940s, their owner, William Benswanger, wanted to include everyone, planning a tryout for African American players.

Later, the Pirates became the first team to have both an African-American coach and manager. Gene Baker broke new ground in 1961 and 1962. On September 21, 1963, Gene Baker became the first African-American manager in Major League Baseball when he stepped in for Danny Murtaugh. Then, on September 1, 1971, manager Danny Murtaugh put together a team with only minority players for the very first time in MLB history.

Fanbase

The Pittsburgh Pirates have many fans, even though they are often less popular in Pittsburgh than the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Many older people in Pittsburgh still support the team because it has been there since 1882. The team's fan support grew after they ended a long streak of losing seasons in 2013, but they are still not as popular as the other two teams.

The Pirates have had some well-known fans, like former part-owner Bing Crosby, Michael Keaton, and Regis Philbin. The team's popularity has gone up and down over the years. It was hurt by some problems, such as the Pittsburgh drug trials in 1985 and threats to move the team. However, things improved when PNC Park opened in 2001. After a big trade in 2018 involving player Andrew McCutchen, some fans felt unhappy with the team's owner, Robert Nutting.

When the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009 and 2017, they brought the cup to PNC Park. The Pirates used to play at Three Rivers Stadium, where they also celebrated when the Penguins won the cup in 1992.

Community activities

Every year, the Pittsburgh Pirates honor six "Community Champions" during a special ceremony before a game.

The Pirates also host an annual event called Piratefest in January. This fun family event feels like a baseball carnival. It includes chances to meet current and former Pirates players and coaches, live games, carnival games, baseball practice sessions, and fun activities with the Pirate Parrot. Piratefest used to be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center but is now held at the ballpark.

Media

Radio and TV

The Pittsburgh Pirates made history in 1921 by broadcasting the first baseball game on the radio. A man named Harold Arlin shared the game with listeners from a special spot near the field. Radio broadcasts happened only sometimes for many years, but became regular in the 1930s. For many years, fans could hear the games on KDKA radio, a powerful station that could reach many people.

In 2007, the Pirates switched to a different radio station to try to reach more fans. Later, they returned to KDKA-FM. Today, games are shown on SportsNet Pittsburgh, a special channel for Pirates fans.

Announcers

Current

The Pirates do not have one main announcer. Instead, many different people take turns telling the stories of the games. Two of the longest-serving announcers are Greg Brown and Bob Walk. Other announcers include John Wehner and Joe Block.

Past

Harold Arlin was the first person to announce a baseball game on the radio. Later, Rosey Rowswell became a popular voice for the team. After Rowswell, Bob Prince took over and became very loved by fans for his fun way of talking. Prince worked with Nellie King before leaving the team. Other announcers who worked with the Pirates include Milo Hamilton, Lanny Frattare, and Tim Neverett.

Figures with broadcasting resumés

• Nellie Briles
• Steve Blass
• Joe Garagiola
• Ralph Kiner
• Bob Walk
• John Wehner