Pittsburgh Pirates facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pittsburgh Pirates
2025 Pittsburgh Pirates season
Established in 1882
Team logo Cap insignia
Major league affiliations
National League (1887–present) Central Division (1994–present) East Division (1969–1993) American Association (1882–1886)
Current uniform
Retired numbers	1 4 8 9 11 20 21 33 40 42
Colors
Black, gold, white
Name
Pittsburgh Pirates (1891–present) Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1887–1890) Allegheny (1882–1886)
Other nicknames
Bucs Buccos The Lumber Company
Ballpark
PNC Park (2001–present) Three Rivers Stadium (1970–2000) Forbes Field (1909–1970) Exposition Park III (1891–1909) Recreation Park (1884–1890) Exposition Park I, II (1882–1883)
Major league titles
World Series titles (5)	1909 1925 1960 1971 1979
NL Pennants (9)	1901 1902 1903 1909 1925 1927 1960 1971 1979
NL Central Division titles (0)	None
NL East Division titles (9)	1970 1971 1972 1974 1975 1979 1990 1991 1992
Wild card berths (3)	2013 2014 2015
Front office
Principal owner(s)	Bob Nutting
President	Travis Williams
General manager	Ben Cherington
Manager	Derek Shelton
Mascot(s)	Pirate Parrot

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a professional baseball team from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League's Central Division. The team started in 1881 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys in the American Association. They joined the National League in 1887.

The Pirates have won the World Series five times. They also have nine National League pennants and nine division titles. They have played in the Wild Card Game three times.

Early in the 1900s, the Pirates were one of baseball's top teams. They played in the first World Series in 1903. They won their first championship in 1909, led by Honus Wagner. The Pirates were part of a very famous World Series ending in 1960. Bill Mazeroski hit a game-winning home run in Game 7 against the New York Yankees. This is the only time a World Series Game 7 has ended with a home run. They won again in 1971 with Roberto Clemente, a legendary player from Latin America. Their fifth title came in 1979, led by Willie Stargell.

Since 1979, the Pirates have faced many challenges. They have had only eleven winning seasons and six trips to the postseason. They won a Wild Card Game in 2013, but did not go further. From 1993 to 2012, they had 20 losing seasons in a row. This is a record for major North American sports. The Pirates are also called the "Bucs" or "Buccos."

Since 2001, the team has played its home games at PNC Park. This stadium holds 39,000 fans and is located along the Allegheny River. Before that, they played at Forbes Field (1909–1970) and Three Rivers Stadium (1970–2000). Since 1948, their team colors have been black, gold, and white. These colors come from the flag of Pittsburgh. They match the colors of Pittsburgh's other major sports teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Team History and Name Origins

Baseball in Pittsburgh began in 1876 with the Allegheny Base Ball Club. This team was based in Allegheny City, which is now part of Pittsburgh. The club joined a minor league in 1877. In 1882, a new Allegheny club started in the American Association. They were called "Allegheny" or "Alleghenys." After five seasons, Pittsburgh joined the older National League in 1887.

Before the 1890 season, many of the Alleghenys' best players left for another league. When that league ended, players could return to their old teams. However, the Alleghenys also signed Lou Bierbauer, a player from another team. His old team said this was "piratical." This event led to the team being called the "Pirates" starting in 1891. The nickname became official on their uniforms in 1912.

The 1909 Pirates in a poster celebrating their National League pennant.

After many years of average play, the Pirates became strong around 1900. They gained star players like Honus Wagner, who later joined the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Pirates won the National League pennant three years in a row (1901–1903). They played in the first modern World Series in 1903 but lost. They returned to the World Series in 1909 and won their first title against the Detroit Tigers. That year, the Pirates moved from Exposition Park to Forbes Field, one of the first modern ballparks.

In the 1910s, the team struggled as Wagner got older. But new players like Max Carey, Pie Traynor, and Kiki Cuyler helped the team improve in the 1920s. The Pirates won their second title in 1925. They were the first team to win the World Series after being down 3-1. They went to the World Series again in 1927 but lost to the Murderer's Row Yankees. The Pirates stayed competitive in the 1930s but did not win another pennant.

The Pirates had tough times in the 1940s and 1950s. But in 1960, they returned to the World Series. They beat the Yankees with Bill Mazeroski's famous walk-off home run in Game 7. This was a historic moment in baseball.

Led by right fielder Roberto Clemente, the Pirates were strong in the 1960s. They won the World Series again in 1971. Playing in their new Three Rivers Stadium, they beat the Baltimore Orioles. On September 1, 1971, the Pirates made history. They were the first team to have a starting lineup made up entirely of Black and Latino players.

Even after Clemente's death in 1972, the Pirates were a top team in the 1970s. They won their division many times. With powerful hitters like Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, and Al Oliver, they were called "The Lumber Company." In 1979, led by Stargell and inspired by the song "We Are Family," they won their fifth championship. They came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Orioles.

The Pirates struggled again in the 1980s. They returned to the postseason in the early 1990s with young stars like Barry Bonds and Doug Drabek. They won three division titles from 1990 to 1992. However, they lost in the National League Championship Series each time. Many top players left after the 1992 season.

Pittsburgh clinching the division title in 1990.

For 20 seasons, from 1993 to 2012, the Pirates had a losing record. This was a record for North American professional sports. Even a new stadium, PNC Park, opened in 2001, did not change their luck right away. The Pirates finally returned to the postseason in 2013. Led by Andrew McCutchen, they won the Wild Card Game. They were then eliminated by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Pirates also reached 10,000 all-time wins that season. They returned to the postseason in 2014 and 2015 but lost the Wild Card game both times.

Home Stadium: PNC Park

Since 2001, the Pirates have played their home games at PNC Park. It is located along the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh. The park was built to replace Three Rivers Stadium, which was old and not designed just for baseball. PNC Park cost $216 million to build. It is named after PNC Financial Services, a company based in Pittsburgh. The stadium can hold 38,747 fans for baseball games.

PNC Park prior to a game in 2014

PNC Park is considered one of the best baseball stadiums. People praise its location, design, and views of the field and the Pittsburgh skyline. It was the first two-deck ballpark built in the U.S. since 1953. This means fans in the upper deck are closer to the action. The highest seat is 88 feet above the field.

The right field wall is 21 feet high. It is nicknamed the Clemente Wall, after former right-fielder Roberto Clemente. Statues of Clemente, Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski, and Honus Wagner are at the stadium entrances. Besides Pirates games, PNC Park hosted the 2006 MLB All-Star Game.

Fans can walk to the stadium from downtown Pittsburgh using the Clemente Bridge. They can also take the Pittsburgh Light Rail to the North Side station.

Former Ballparks of the Pirates

The Pirates' first home was Exposition Park. It was near where PNC Park is today. They also played at Recreation Park. The Pirates returned to Exposition Park in 1891 and stayed until 1909. This park hosted the first modern World Series in 1903. By 1909, the wooden stadium was too small.

In 1909, the Pirates moved to Forbes Field in Oakland. This was their home for 61 years. It cost $1 million and was one of the first steel-and-concrete ballparks. Forbes Field was known for its large playing field. Famous home runs were hit there, including Babe Ruth's last three career homers and Bill Mazeroski's World Series-winning blast. The stadium was demolished in 1971. Parts of the outfield wall still stand today.

The Pirates moved into Three Rivers Stadium in 1970. They shared it with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This stadium was designed for both football and baseball. By the 1990s, the Pirates wanted a new baseball-only stadium. They played their last game at Three Rivers in 2000. The stadium was demolished the next winter.

Spring Training Home

Since 1969, the Pirates have held their Spring Training at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. This park is also used by the Pirates' minor league team, the Bradenton Marauders. LECOM Park is the oldest stadium still used for Spring Training. It has been renovated twice. It was formerly named "McKechnie Field." Pirate City, the Pirates' Spring Training complex, is a few miles away.

LECOM Park, which hosts the Pirates' Spring Training games

Team Uniforms and Logos

The Pirates have changed their uniforms and logos many times. The "P" on their cap is the only constant. For a long time, they used red, white, and blue colors. Their caps were blue, with a red or white "P." Their uniforms were simple, sometimes with just a "P." The name "Pirates" first appeared on uniforms in 1912.

In 1948, the team changed to black and gold. These colors match the flag of Pittsburgh. They also match the colors of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins. In the late 1950s, the team started wearing sleeveless jerseys, which became popular.

In 1970, with the move to Three Rivers Stadium, they used a darker gold. They also introduced pullover jerseys and beltless pants. This style became popular in baseball in the 1970s and 1980s. The Pirates switched back to traditional button-down jerseys in 1991.

Willie Stargell wearing the black top and gold pants combo, posing with Pittsburgh native Fred Rogers

In 1976, the Pirates adopted pillbox hats with horizontal pinstripes. They were the only team to keep them permanently for several seasons. In 1977, they used a brighter gold and added third jerseys. They had two different caps and three different uniforms (all-black, all-gold, and white pinstripes). They could mix and match these for different looks. In the 1979 World Series, they wore four different combinations. The solid black cap with a gold "P" returned in 1987 and is still their main cap.

More recently, the Pirates have added alternate jerseys. From 2013 to 2019, they wore throwback uniforms for Sunday home games. Since 2015, they have worn alternate camo jerseys for some home games. In 2020, they brought back the "Pittsburgh" script on their road jerseys.

In 2023, the Pirates introduced a new "City Connect" uniform. It features a gold top and black pants. The jersey has "PGH" (for Pittsburgh) and symbols representing the city. These include the inverted "Y" for the three rivers, a diamond shape for the "Steelmark" logo, and a checkmark from the Seal of Pittsburgh.

Team Rivalries

Rivalry with the Philadelphia Phillies

The rivalry between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pirates was once one of the best in the National League. It started when the Pirates joined the NL in 1887. From 1969 to 1993, when the NL had two divisions, these two teams often won the NL East. Together, they won more than half of the division championships during that time.

Since the Pirates moved to the National League Central in 1994, they play each other less often. The rivalry is not as strong now. However, many older fans still dislike the other team.

Rivalry with the Cincinnati Reds

The Pirates' biggest division rival is the Cincinnati Reds. This is because the cities are close. Also, their football teams (Steelers and Bengals) have a rivalry. The Reds and Pirates have played each other six times in the postseason. Most recently, they met in the 2013 Wild Card Game. In the 2010s, games between them sometimes led to fights.

Other Division Rivals

From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates competed with the St. Louis Cardinals for the Central Division title. The Cardinals won the division each year. The two teams played in the 2013 National League Division Series, which the Cardinals won. The Pirates also had close battles with the Milwaukee Brewers for a Wild Card spot in 2014. They faced the Chicago Cubs in the 2015 Wild Card Game. The Cubs were also rivals earlier in the Pirates' history.

Interleague Play Rivals

The Pirates play an annual series against the Detroit Tigers. This rivalry became popular even though it was not planned. It might be because of the rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins in hockey. The two teams also played in the 1909 World Series.

The Pirates also have an on-and-off rivalry with the Cleveland Guardians. This is because the cities are close. It also connects to the football rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. Since 2023, the teams play a three-game series every season.

Team Roster

Notable Players and Hall of Famers

Roberto Clemente was a Hall of Famer who got 3,000 hits.

Ralph Kiner led the NL in home runs for seven years.

Bill Mazeroski hit the famous walk-off home run in the 1960 World Series.

Willie Stargell was named World Series MVP in 1979.

Honus Wagner is one of the greatest shortstops ever. His 1909 baseball card is very rare and valuable.

Retired Jersey Numbers

The Pirates have retired nine jersey numbers to honor their greatest players. Number 42 is also retired across all of MLB for Jackie Robinson.

Billy Meyer Mgr   Retired  1954 Ralph Kiner LF   Retired September 19, 1987 Willie Stargell LF, 1B Coach Retired September 6, 1982 Bill Mazeroski 2B Mgr Retired August 7, 1987 Paul Waner RF   Retired July 21, 2007 Pie Traynor 3B Mgr Retired April 18, 1972 Roberto Clemente RF   Retired April 6, 1973 Honus Wagner SS Mgr, Coach Retired  1956 Danny Murtaugh 2B Coach, Mgr Retired April 7, 1977 Jackie Robinson – All MLB Honored April 15, 1997

Baseball Hall of Fame Members

Many players who played for the Pirates are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Some of the most famous include:

Pirates Hall of Fame

In 2022, the Pirates started their own team Hall of Fame. This honors the most important players in Pittsburgh baseball history. The first group included every Pirate in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It also included players from the Negro league baseball team Homestead Grays, who also played in Pittsburgh.

Key

Bold	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
	Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Pirate
Bold	Recipient of the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award
Bold	Member of the Homestead Grays / Pittsburgh Crawfords

Pirates Hall of Fame
Year	No.	Player	Position	Tenure
2022	9	Bill Mazeroski	2B	1956–1972
	21	Roberto Clemente	RF	1955–1972
	33	Honus Wagner	SS Manager Coach	1900–1917 1917 1933–1951
	8	Willie Stargell	LF 1B	1962–1982
	21,3,5	Arky Vaughan	SS	1932–1941
	4	Ralph Kiner	LF	1946–1953
	20	Pie Traynor	3B Manager	1920–1935, 1937 1934–1939
		Max Carey	Outfielder	1910–1926
		Jake Beckley	1B	1888–1889, 1891–1896
		Fred Clarke	Outfielder Manager	1900–1911, 1913–1915 1900–1915
	41	Paul Waner	RF	1926–1940
		Lloyd Waner	CF	1927–1941, 1944–45
	28	Steve Blass	P Broadcaster	1964, 1966–1974 1983-2019
	39	Dave Parker	RF	1973–1983
	40	Danny Murtaugh	2B Coach Manager	1948–1951 1956–1957 1957–1964, 1967, 1970–1971, 1973–1976
	-	Josh Gibson	C	1933–1936 1937–1946
	-	Oscar Charleston	CF / Manager	1930–1938
	-	Ray Brown	P	1932–1945, 1947–1948
	-	Buck Leonard	1B	1934–1950
2023	26	Roy Face	P	1953, 1955–1968
	19	Bob Friend	P	1951–1965
	24	Dick Groat	SS	1952, 1955–1962
	27	Kent Tekulve	P	1974–1985
2024	24	Barry Bonds	LF	1986–1992
	10	Jim Leyland	Manager	1986–1996
	35	Manny Sanguillén	C	1967, 1969–1976, 1978–1980

Major Awards Won by Pirates Players

• 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 (Best Pitcher)
  • Doug Drabek (1990)
  • Vern Law (1960)

• Rookie of the Year Award (Best New Player)
  • Jason Bay (2004)
  • Paul Skenes (2024)

• Manager of the Year Award
  • Clint Hurdle (2013)
  • Jim Leyland (1990, 1992)

• Roberto Clemente Award (For sportsmanship and community work)
  • Andrew McCutchen (2015)
  • Willie Stargell (1974)

Team Records and Achievements

Career Batting Records

Willie Stargell holds the Pirates' records for home runs and RBIs.

Career Pitching Records

Wilbur Cooper has the most wins and complete games for the Pirates.

Firsts in MLB History for the Pirates

Chief Wilson set the MLB record for triples in a season with 36 in 1912.

• On May 8, 1886, the Pittsburgh Alleghenys made the first 3–4–2 triple play in MLB history.
• The first ever MLB game broadcast on radio was a Pirates game. It aired on August 5, 1921, on KDKA Pittsburgh.
• In 1925, the Pirates were the first MLB team to win a best-of-seven World Series after being down 3 games to 1. They did it again in 1979.
• During the 1953 season, the Pirates were the first team to use batting helmets for both offense and defense.
• The Pirates were the first team to win a World Series on a walk-off home run in Game 7 (1960).
• In 1970, the Pirates were the first MLB team to use uniforms made of a cotton-nylon blend. These had pull-over shirts and beltless pants.
• The first all-minority lineup in MLB history played on September 1, 1971.
• The first World Series night game was played at Three Rivers Stadium on October 13, 1971.
• In November 2008, the Pirates were the first MLB team to sign players from India.
• The Pirates hold the record for the longest streak of losing seasons in professional sports. This streak lasted 20 years, from 1993 to 2012.
• On May 9, 2015, the Pirates were the first MLB team to turn a 4–5–4 triple play.
• On April 24, 2017, the Pirates had the first MLB player born and raised in Lithuania, 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 were the first team in MLB history to break up a no-hitter in extra innings with a walk-off home run.

Minor League Teams

The Pittsburgh Pirates have seven minor league teams. These teams help develop new players for the main team.

Civil Rights Efforts

The Pirates organization has been important in promoting equality in baseball. In the 1940s, owner William Benswanger supported allowing African American players in Major League Baseball.

The Pirates were the first team in baseball to have an African-American coach and manager. Gene Baker became a coach in 1961 and a manager in 1962. On September 1, 1971, manager Danny Murtaugh put together a starting lineup made entirely of minority players. This was a first in MLB history.

Pirates Fanbase

Bing Crosby was a part-owner of the Pirates.

In Pittsburgh, the Pirates are less popular than the Pittsburgh Steelers (football) and Pittsburgh Penguins (hockey). This is partly because the Steelers and Penguins have won more championships recently. However, the Pirates have a long history in Pittsburgh, dating back to 1882. They have a strong and loyal following, especially among older residents.

When the Pirates ended their 20-season losing streak in 2013, fan support grew. The team's popularity has improved since then, especially with the opening of PNC Park in 2001.

When the Penguins win the Stanley Cup, their captain Sidney Crosby often brings the cup to PNC Park to celebrate with Pirates fans.

Community Activities

The Pirates hold an event called Piratefest every January. It's like a baseball carnival for families. Fans can get autographs from players and coaches. There are also games, baseball clinics, and appearances by the Pirate Parrot. Piratefest is now held at PNC Park.

Media Coverage

Radio and TV Broadcasts

The Pirates made history by broadcasting the first ever baseball game on radio. This happened on August 5, 1921, on KDKA radio in Pittsburgh. For many years, KDKA was the main radio station for Pirates games. Its strong signal allowed fans far away to listen at night.

Map of Pirate radio affiliates

In 2007, the Pirates moved to WPGB radio. But in 2011, they returned to CBS Radio on KDKA-FM. Since 2016, KDKA-AM also broadcasts some games.

Pirates games are shown on SportsNet Pittsburgh. This TV channel is partly owned by the Pirates. Before this, games were shown on local TV stations like KDKA-TV for many years.

Game Announcers

The Pirates do not have a fixed team of announcers for radio or TV. Instead, announcers and analysts take turns working on both. Greg Brown and Bob Walk have been with the team since 1994. Former Pirate player John Wehner joined as an analyst in 2005. Joe Block became a play-by-play announcer in 2016.

Early announcers included Harold Arlin, who called the first radio broadcast in 1921. Rosey Rowswell became the voice of the Pirates in 1936. He was later joined by Bob Prince in 1947. Prince was very popular and known for his unique sayings. He called the Pirates' championships in 1960 and 1971.

After Prince, Milo Hamilton and Lanny Frattare took over in 1976. Frattare became the longest-serving play-by-play announcer in team history. Former Pirate pitcher Steve Blass was a color analyst for the team from 1983 to 2019.

Images for kids

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  1888: "Alleghenys" Logo

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  1900–1906

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  1907

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  1908–1909

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  1915–1919

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  1921, 1932

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  1922

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  1923–1931

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  1933–1935

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  1948–present

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  Uniform design in the 1940s

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  Forbes Field, the Pirates' home ballpark from 1909 to 1970

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  Andrew McCutchen, 2012

In Spanish: Pittsburgh Pirates para niños