Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Founded: 1882, as a charter member of the American Association. Transferred to the National League in 1887.

Formerly known as: the Alleghenies in the 1880s, and then the Innocents. In 1891, after being accused of stealing second baseman Lou Bierbaur[?] from his previous club in 1891, they were first called the Pirates. The name stuck.

Home ballpark: PNC Park, Pittsburgh.

Uniform colors: Black and gold

Logo design: Pirate caricature superimposed on crossed baseball bats.

League pennants won: NL: 1901, 1902, 1903, 1909, 1925, 1927, 1960, 1971, 1979

World Series championships won: 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979

Franchise history

In its early days, the club benefitted three times from mergers with defunct clubs. The AA club picked up a number of players from a defunct Columbus, Ohio team in 1885. In 1890, they merged with the Pittsburgh team from the Players League[?] after that league folded. In 1900, the Pirates picked up star players from the defunct Louisville, Kentucky club, including greats like Honus Wagner[?] and Fred Clarke[?], triggering a long string of pennants.

The 1901-1903 Pirates completely dominated the National League, in part because they lost few star players to the rival American League. However, owing to injuries to their starting pitchers, they lost the first World Series ever played, in 1903, to Boston. Deacon Phillippe[?] pitched five complete games, winning three of them, but it was not enough.

(Say more about: Honus Wagner, the 1909 World Series, the Waner brothers, the 1960 World Series, Roberto Clemente, Forbes Field[?], the "We Are Family" 1979 team, etc.)

Players of note

Baseball Hall of Famers:

• Jake Beckley[?]
• Jim Bunning
• Max Carey[?]
• Jack Chesbro[?]
• Fred Clarke[?]
• Roberto Clemente
• Joe Cronin[?]
• Kiki Cuyler[?]
• Pud Galvin[?]
• Hank Greenberg
• Burleigh Grimes
• Ned Hanlon[?]
• Billy Herman[?]
• Waite Hoyt[?]
• Joe Kelley[?]
• George Kelly[?]
• Ralph Kiner[?]
• Chuck Klein[?]
• Freddy Lindstrom[?]
• Al Lopez[?]
• Connie Mack[?]
• Heinie Manush[?]
• Rabbit Maranville[?]
• Bill Mazeroski[?]
• Willie Stargell[?]
• Casey Stengel
• Pie Traynor[?]
• Dazzy Vance[?]
• Arky Vaughan[?]
• Rube Waddell[?]
• Honus Wagner[?]
• Lloyd Waner[?]
• Paul Waner[?]
• Vic Willis[?]

Current stars:

• Brian Giles[?]
• Jason Kendall[?]

Not to be forgotten:

• Babe Adams[?]
• Barry Bonds
• Doug Drabek[?] (Cy Young Award, 1990)
• George Gibson[?]
• Vern Law[?] (Cy Young Award, 1960)
• Sam Leever[?]
• Dave Parker[?]
• Deacon Phillippe[?]

Retired numbers:

• 42 Jackie Robinson

Pittsburgh Pirates official web site (http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/pit/homepage/pit_homepage.jsp)