Pittsburgh Pirates
From SoSH
| Established: | 1882 |
| Former Team Names: | Alleghenys (1882-90) |
| Ballpark: | PNC Park |
| World Series Titles: | 5 |
| Pennants: | 9 |
| Division Titles: | 9 |
| Wild Cards: | 0 |
Contents |
Franchise History
The original name of the Pittsburgh's National League franchise was the Pittsburg Alleghenies. Some contend this is from the county in which Pittsburgh is the seat of government. Others say that it was named after the mountain range in the region. Others maintain that Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which became Pittsburgh's northside after a 1907 annexation, was the tale behind the moniker. It is also one of the three major rivers in the city. In the 1890s, the club was referred to as the Pittsburgh Innocents before the Pirates name stuck by the end of that decade.
When the renegade Players League dissolved after the 1890 season, most of the league's player contracts were assigned to National League and American Association clubs, mostly to their previous clubs provided they had been "reserved" by their former teams' owners. Highly-regarded second baseman Lou Bierbauer, who had previously played with the Philadelphia Athletics of the Association, was awarded to the Pittsburgh team on the grounds that the A's had not reserved him. This led to loud complaints by the Athletics that the Pittsburgh club were "pirates". This incident (which is discussed at some length in The Beer and Whisky League, by David Nemec, 1994) quickly accelerated into a schism between the leagues that contributed to the demise of the A.A. The colorful epithet stuck with the Pittsburghers, and eventually became the club's official nickname. It was first acknowledged on the team's jerseys in 1912, but even by the 1903 World Series, "Pirates" was in common usage.
Retired Numbers
- 1 - Billy Meyer (Manager)
- 4 - Ralph Kiner (OF)
- 8 - Willie Stargell (1B)
- 9 - Bill Mazeroski (2B)
- 20 - Pie Traynor (3B)
- 21 - Roberto Clemente (OF)
- 33 - Honus Wagner (SS)
- 40 - Danny Murtaugh (Manager)
Minor League Affiliates
- AAA: Indianapolis Indians (International League)
- AA: Altoona Curve (Eastern League)
- Advanced A: Lynchburg Hillcats (Carolina League)
- A: Hickory Crawdads (South Atlantic League)
- Short A: State College Spikes (New York-Penn League)
- Rookie: San Joaquin Pirates (Venezulan Summer League)
- Rookie: San Pedro Pirates (Dominican Summer League)
Quick Facts
- Uniform Colors: Black and gold
- Stadium: PNC Park (Opened March 31, 2001)
- Stadium Capacity: 38,496
- Mascot: Pirate Parrot and Captain Jolly Roger
- National League Pennant: (9) 1901, 1902, 1903, 1909, 1925, 1927, 1960, 1971, 1979
- Division Titles: (9) 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1990, 1991, 1992
- World Series Titles: (5) 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979
- Local Television: FSN Pittsburgh
- Local Radio: WPGB-FM
- Television Broadcasters: Lanny Frattare, Bob Walk, and Steve Blass
- Radio Broadcasters: Lanny Frattare, Greg Brown, and John Wehner
- General Manager: Neal Huntington
- Manager: John Russell
Local Media
External Links
- Pittsburgh Pirates - Baseball-Reference.com
