Pittsburgh Pirates history

Baseball in Pittsburgh began in 1876 but the teams of this era were independent’s, barnstorming throughout the region and not affiliated with any organized league, even though they had salaries and were run as a business organization. The team joined the American Association in 1882 as a founding member. In 1887, the Pirates switched to the older National League after five seasons in the A.A.

 In 1901, the Pirates won the city’s first ever pennant in 20 years of major league status, compiling a 90-49 record on the strength of their pitchers Jack Chesbro, who finished 21-10, Deacon Phillippe, who went 22-12 and Jesse Tannehill, who won the ERA title at 2.18. The Pirates attack consisted of Ginger Beaumont and Fred Clarke, both scored well over 100 runs and batted over .320, and of course Honus Wagner. Wagner stole a league high 49 bases, batted .353 and drove in 126 runs.

 In 1902, the Pirates won a then-NL record of 103 games with only 36 losses. The Pirates made a clean sweep of almost every major offensive and defensive category’s. Ginger Beaumont won the batting title at .357, Jack Chesbro led in wins with 28, Honus Wagner led in the league in runs (105), RBI (91) doubles (30), stolen bases (42) and slugging average (.436) and Tommy Leach led the league in triples (22). The Pirates won the NL flag for the second straight season.

 In 1903, the Pirates won their third straight consecutive NL pennant. In Honus Wagner’s first year as a regular shortstop, Pittsburgh finished the year with a 91-49 record. Wagner won another batting title at .355, while Beaumont, Clarke, and Tommy Leach added their straw to the mix. Late in the season, owners of the two first-place teams agreed to play a best-of-nine, postseason world championship series.

In the first World Series, the Pirates lost to Boston five games to three.

 In 1909, the Pirates finished the season with a 110-42 record to take the NL pennant by 6 1/2 games. Wagner led the Pittsburgh offense on its way to a league best 699 runs scored, winning another batting title at .339 and hitting 39 doubles and 100 RBI. Fred Clarke led the league in walks with 80.

 A much improved pitching staff included Howie Camnitz, who went 25-6 and 22 game winner Vic Willis. In 1909, Forbes Field in Pittsburgh opened as an estimated 30,000 fans witnessed the Pirates fall to the Cubs 3-2.

 The first seven-game World Series also took place in 1909, as the Pirates beat the Tigers in seven games, for their first World Series title. The hero of the series was a 27-year-old rookie Babe Adams. Adams pitching held the great Ty Cobb to a single hit in 11 at-bats and ended the series with a 1.33 ERA.

 In 1911, Honus Wagner closed out the season with a .334 average, good enough to earn Wagner his NL record eighth and final batting crown. In 1915, Fred Clarke retired after 16 years. Clarke led the Pirates to four NL pennants, a world championship and more than 1,400 victories as a player/manager.

 In 1921, KDKA airs the first ML game as Harold Arlin describes the action of the Pirates 8-5 win over the Phillies at Forbs Field.

 It was the Pirates bats that made big noise in 1925, as the Pirates won their first pennant since 1909 and became the first NL team to score 900 runs. Pittsburgh was led by Kiki Cuyler’s league-topping 144 runs and 26 triples, Max Carey’s NL-high 46 stolen bases, and third baseman Pie Traynor’s 39 doubles and .320 batting average. The Pirates finished the season with a 95-58 record, winning the NL pennant.

 The Pirates faced off against the Washington Senators in the 1925 World Series. The Pirates were down in the series three-games-to-one before coming back to win the series, to give the Pirates their second World Series triumph.

 In 1927, the Pirates won the NL pennant by winning 94 games. The Pirates were paced by the Waner brothers. Paul won the batting title at .380 and led the NL in RBI with 131. Younger brother Lloyd led in runs with133 and was third in batting at .355. In the World Series, the powerful Yankees took only four days to beat the Pirates as they outscored Pittsburgh 23-10. In a controversial move, Pirate manager Donnie Bush benched star player Kiki Cuyler after the two had a dispute.

 From 1928-1945, the Pirates were a middle-of-the-pack team, and a lot worse from 1946-1957 when they managed only one winning season (1948) despite Hall of Fame great Ralph Kiner slugging home runs at a rapid pace. He won seven consecutive home run titles from 1946-1952. During the 1950s, the Pirates made history by signing the first Latin player in Roberto Clemente.

 Under manager Danny Murtaugh, the Pirates finished the 1960 season with a 95-59 record. The Pirates smashed their way to the NL pennant for the first time since 1927, thanks to shortstop Bill Groat, who led the NL in batting with a .325 average and won the MVP. Budding superstar Roberto Clemente also sparked the Bucs offense with a .314 average and 16 home runs. Pittsburgh’s unsung hero was 23 year old second baseman Bill Mazeroski, who anchored the defense with flashy fielding.

 In one of the strangest World Series in ML history, the Pirates faced off against the New York Yankees. After both clubs notched their third win of the series, game seven turned out to be a classic. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied at nine, Mazeroski belted Ralph Terry’s second pitch over Yogi Berra’s head into the left-field stands for the dramatic win. Mazeroski became the first player to end the World Series with a home run.

 After the Pirates victory in 1960, Roberto Clemente became an instant star on and of the field. In 1961, he won the first of his 12 Gold Glove Awards. He also led the NL in batting average four times in 1961, 1964, 1965, and 1967.

 During the late sixties and early seventies, the Pirates signed key players that would make the Pirates contenders for years to come. Dave Parker, Willie Stargell, Dave Cash, Al Oliver, Gene Clines, Steve Blass and Jackie Hernandez, made big impacts for seasons to come.

 In 1971, the Pirates finished the season with a 97-65 record. Pittsburgh’s combination speed, power, defense and pitching was to much for the NL East. Roberto Clemente led the Bucs with a .341 average. His 86 RBI ranked second on the team, right behind Willie Stargell’s 125. Although no Pirate pitcher won 20 games, the Pittsburgh hurlers were well-balanced and they did have an ace in the hole in Dave Giusti, who topped the league in saves with 30.

 In the NLCS, the Pirates overpowered the San Francisco Giants. After losing game one to the Giants, the Pirates turned on the power. They slugged their way to a 3-1 series victory that featured a three home run second game by Bob Richardon.

 In the World Series, the Pirates faced off against the Baltimore Orioles. The Bucs won the series in seven games behind the brilliant pitching of Steve Blass as he pitched two complete games, including a victory over Mike Cueller in game seven.

 In 1972, the Pirates looked to repeat as champions, but the team took a turn for the worst. On December 31, 1972, Roberto Clemente was on a plane accompanying a shipment of relief supplies to the victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua, when the plane spun out of control, killing Clemente. Just a few months earlier he had reached the milestone of 3,000 career hits on September 30, 1972, it what would prove to be his last hit. The Baseball Hall of Fame waived its usual waiting requirements and inducted Clemente immediately. Pittsburgh would erect a statue and named a bridge and park near the stadium.

 In 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates led the league in outfits. Their arsenal of uniforms was so vast- black caps and yellow jerseys, yellow caps and white jerseys, and so on-that they had 64 possible combinations at their disposal.

 The Pirates lineup of players was just as varied as their jerseys. They featured an outfielder that looked like a Steelers linebacker (the 6’5” 230-pound Dave Parker), and a pitcher who looked more like a place-kicker (the 6’4”, 170 pound Kent Tekulve). And of course they had Willie “Pops” Stargell, an inspiring presence at bat and in the clubhouse. The Pirates, whose theme song was “We are Family,” won the NL East by 2 games over Montreal.

 During the1979 season, Dave Parker won the All-Star Game MVP and Willie Stargell was voted the NL MVP, the oldest player to win the award.

 In the NLCS, the Pirates swept Cincinnati, though it took extra-innings wins to do it. Stargell cracked two key home runs as the Pirates outscored the Reds 15 runs to 5.

 In the 1979 World Series, the Pirates and the Orioles battled through a seven game contest. After losing the opener, Pittsburgh evened it up at one game apiece. The Pirates won the last three games of the series to win their fifth World Series. Willie Stargell was the World Series MVP.

 During the mid-eighties, the Pirates were regarded as one of the worst teams in the league. In 1985, the Bucs finished the season with a 57-104 record, their worst since 1954. There were some bright spots during the 80s, Pittsburgh favorite Willie Stargell hit his 475 home run in 1982, which is a club record.

 In 1985, the Pirates selected Barry Bonds as the number six pick in the first round of the draft. In 1986, the Pirates hired Jim Leyland as the manager and he immediately began to turn things around for the Bucs, as they climbed out of the cellar behind young and talented players. Bobby Bonilla, Andy Van Slyke, Jay Bell, Sid Bream, Jose Lind, and pitchers Doug Drabek and Stan Belinda made the Pirates contenders during the 90s.

 In 1990, the Pirates finished the season with a 95-67 record. Barry Bonds had a fantastic year, winning the NL MVP, Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger Awards. Bonds also became the first Pirate and only the third player in ML history to hit 30 or more home runs and steal 50 or more bases in the same season. Doug Drabek was the Cy Young winner, while Bobby Bonilla and Andy Van Slyke fueled the “Outfield of Dreams”. Manager Jim Leyland was named the Manager of the Year after guiding the Bucs to the postseason.

 In the NLCS, the Pirates faced off against the Cincinnati Reds. The Pirates won the opening game thanks to Sid Breams two run home run in the fourth inning. The Pirates would win game five, but would lose the series in six games.

 In 1991, the Pirates had the best record in the league going 98-64. Manager Jim Leyland won his second consecutive Manager of the Year Award, while Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonilla anchored the Bucs offense. Pitchers Doug Drabek and John Smiley led the pitching attack, with Smiley winning 20 games.

 In the NLCS, the Bucs faced off against the Atlanta Braves. The Bucs took the Braves to a game seven, in which became one of the most memorable games in NLCS history. The Pirates took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning. After scoring a run on Ron Gant’s sacrifice fly, pinch hitter Francisco Cabrera singled to left to score David Justice, slow running Sid Bream raced home, beating the throw from Bonds at the plate. The Braves piled onto Bream, while Fulton County Stadium erupted, as the Braves beat the Pirates to end the series.

 In 1992, the Pirates won their division for the third straight season. They ended the season with a 96-66 record thanks to all-stars Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke. In the NLCS, the Pirates faced off against the Braves. The Pirates looked to get revenge from their last year defeat, but the Braves put them away in seven games.

 After the 1992 season, Barry Bonds signed with the San Francisco Giants and Bobby Bonilla signed with the New York Mets.

 In 1994, the largest crowed in Pittsburgh history, 59,568, turned out out as Three Rivers Stadium played host to the 65th All-Star Game. However, the Pirates finished the season with a 53-61 record.

 During the mid-90s, the Pirates featured young stars such as Carlos Garcia, Jason Kendall, Tony Womack, Ed Sprague and pitcher Danny Neagle, whom all made the All-Star team, but the Pirates continued their nose dive in the NL standings.

 In 2001, PNC Park, the fifth home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The park is considered to be one of the best in the ML because of its view of the Pittsburgh skyline.

 Coming off a 100-loss season in 2001, their worst record in 15 years, the Pirates showed a marked improvement in 2002. Thanks to their off-season acquisitions of starters Kip Wells and Josh Fogg, relievers Brian Boehringer and Mike Williams, and second baseman Pokey Reese, the Bucs improved 10 1/2 games over the previous season.

 While sporting the one of the least experienced teams in baseball in 2004, the young Bucs provided hope for a bright future for the franchise. Left fielder Jason Bay, despite missing the first month of the season, became the Pirates first NL Rookie of the Year Award winner after setting a club rookie record with 26 home runs. Jack Wilson earned his first All-Star berth and won a Silver Slugger Award after becoming the first Pirate shortstop since Honus Wagner to collect 200 or more hits in a season. The pitching staff was anchored by Oliver Perez, who finished in the top-10 in the NL ERA and strikeouts. The Pirates finished the season with a 72 and 89 record.

 In 2005, the promising Pirates club reached the .500 mark in June at 30-30. But the Bucs endured a 37-65 record from then on and Lloyd McClendon was fired after five seasons as manager. Rookie pitcher Zach Duke was the league’s Rookie of the Month in July and August, finishing the year with a 1.82 ERA, and Jason Bay became the first Pirate to hit .300 with at least 30 home runs, 40 doubles, 20 stolen bases, 100 runs scored and 100 RBI in a season.

 The Pirates finished a disappointing 2006 season with a record of 67-95 and a fifth place finish in the NL Central Division. The Pirates hosted the All-Star game for the fifth time in franchise history. Freddy Sanchez added to the franchise’s record list of batting champions by hitting .344 to win the NL batting crown, the 25th Pirate to lead the league in batting. All-Star outfielder Jason Bay enjoyed an outstanding season, hitting .286 with 35 home runs and 109 RBI’s. Pitcher Ian Shell led the Pirates staff with 14 victories.

 In 2007, the Pirates watched some young starters become promising stars and saw glimpses of how potent the offense can be when everyone performed at the same time. The biggest stumble block seemed to be inexperience. And that inexperience translated into inconsistency. Freddy Sanchez led the team in batting with a .304 average, Jason Bay led the team in home runs with 21. Pitcher Tom Gorzelanny led the staff in wins with 14. The Pirates finished the season with a 68-94 record, placing sixth in the National League.