History of the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates were established in 1882 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. They have won five World Series titles in their long history, but they haven't won a title since 1979. They had their best decade from 1970 to 1979, when they went to the postseason six times. They had their best season in 1909 with 110 wins and 42 losses.

1882-1889

The Pittsburgh Pirates started as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the American Association in 1882. They played their home games in 1882 and 1883 in Exposition Park. They moved the games to Recreation Park in 1884. They had three managers in their first three years (Al Pratt in 1882 and 1883, Ormond Butler in 1883, and Bob Ferguson in 1884).

Horace Phillips took over as manager in 1885, and he led the Alleghenys to winning seasons in 1885 and 1986. They moved to the National League in 1887, still under the leadership of Phillips. Ned Hanlon replaced Phillips in 1889.

1890-1899

In 1890, the Alleghenys lost most of their top players when they jumped to the Player's League. The team finished the 1890 season with just 23 wins and 113 losses. Through questionable business maneuvers, the Alleghenys' owner, Dennis McKnight, managed to get the players back. He also managed to acquire some top players from the American Association. The moves were considered "piratical" by many people and, in 1891, the Alleghenys were renamed the Pittsburgh Pirates. They moved their home games back to Exposition Park in 1891.

Al Buckenberger was hired to manage the Pirates in 1892, and he led them to 81 wins and 48 losses. He continued to lead them to winning seasons in 1893 and 1984. Connie Mack replaced him in 1896, and under the leadership of both managers, the Pirates had another winning season that year. The Pirates had their next winning season in 1899, under managers Patsy Donovan and Bill Watkins.

Two of the players who helped the Pirates in the 1890s were future Hall of Famer Jake Beckley and pitcher Frank Killen. Killen led the National League in wins in 1893 and 1896.

1900-1909

The Pirates started the new century strong, with winning seasons every year from 1900 through 1909. They had just one manager from 1900 through 1915, player-manager Fred Clarke. In 1900, future Hall of Famer Honus Wagner joined the team and he played with them through 1917.

The Pirates had 91 wins and 49 losses in 1903, and they won their first NL pennant. They played against the Boston Americans/Red Sox in the World Series and they lost the series in eight games.

In 1909, the Pirates moved their home games to Forbes Field. That year, they had 110 wins and 42 losses, and another NL pennant. They defeated the Detroit Tigers in the postseason and won their first World Series title.

1910-1919

The Pirates continued to have winning seasons from 1910 through 1913, but they didn't get to the postseason in any of those years. Their best season was in 1912, when they had 93 wins and 58 losses. Future Hall of Famer Max Carey joined the team in 1910, and he continued to play with them through 1926.

After losing seasons in 1914 and 1915, Jimmy Callahan replaced Fred Clarke as manager in 1916. The Pirates had another losing season that year, and Callahan was replaced by Hugo Bezdek in 1917. Bezdek led the team to a winning season in 1918.

1920-1929

The 1920s were good years for the Pirates, with a winning record each season. They added four future Hall of Famers to their roster, starting with Pie Traynor in 1920. A year later, Kiki Cuyler joined the team. Brothers Paul Waner and Lloyd Waner were added towards the end of the 1920s.

George Gibson managed the Pirates from 1920 to 1922. He was replaced by Bill McKechnie in 1922. McKechnie led the team to a NL pennant win in 1925 with 95 wins and 58 losses. They then faced the Washington Senators (modern-day Minnesota Twins) in the World Series and won the title.

In 1927, the Pirates had a new manager, Donie Bush, who led the team to 94 wins and 60 losses. They won the NL pennant again, but lost the World Series to the Yankees. Jewel Ens took over as manager in 1929.

1930-1939

The Pirates continued to play well in the 1930s, with winning seasons in 1930, 1932, 1933, and 1935-1938. However, no season was good enough to advance them to the postseason.

In 1932, the Pirates had another new manager, George Gibson, and another future Hall of Famer, Arky Vaughan on their roster. They had their best season in 1933 with 87 wins and 67 losses. Pie Traynor took over as manager in 1934, and he continued to manage the team through 1939.

1940-1949

The Pirates started the 1940s with another new manager, Frankie Frisch. He led the team to winning seasons in 1940, 1941, and 1943 through 1945. Their best season was 1944, with 90 wins and 63 losses.

Future Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner joined the team in 1946, Frisch's last year as manager. Although Frisch led the team to five winning seasons, he couldn't get them to the postseason.

The Pirates had a losing season in 1947, under new manager Billy Herman. The next year, Herman was replaced by Billy Meyer, who led the team to a winning season in 1948. He continued to manage the Pirates through 1952.

1950-1959

The Pirates struggled in the first seven years of the 1950s. They had no winning seasons during those years under managers Billy Meyer, Fred Haney (1953-1955), and Bobby Bragan (1956-1957). In 1952, they hit a low in a season where they lost 112 games and won only 42. They lost over a hundred games also in 1953 (50-104) and 1954 (53-101).

In the mid-1950s, the Pirates added two future Hall of Famers to their roster. Both Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski would have huge impacts on the team through the late 1950s and the 1960s.

In 1958, under the leadership of manager Danny Murtaugh, the Pirates finally had a winning record with 84 wins and 70 losses. However, they still didn't get to postseason play.

1960-1969

The Pirates started the 1960s with a strong season (95 wins to 59 losses) and a NL pennant. They then went on to defeat the Yankees in the World Series. Two years later, they added Willie Stargell to their lineup. Stargell would continue to have an impact on the Pirates' success through 1982.

In 1962, the year the Pirates added Stargell to their roster, Danny Murtaugh led them to a winning season but no postseason play. Harry Walker took over as manager in 1965, and he led the team to winning seasons in 1965 and 1966, but again not to postseason games. Larry Shepard led the team in the last two years of the 1960s, leading them to a winning season in 1969. That year, they were moved to the newly formed NL East division.

1970-1979

In the 1970s, while the Cincinnati Reds led the National League West division, the Pirates dominated the National League East division, winning the division title six times in the decade. They could not, however, overpower the Big Red Machine most years, and Pittsburgh only won two National League pennants. They went on to win both of those World Series.

The Pirates moved their home games to Three Rivers Stadium in 1970, and the move seemed to work well for them. They finished the season with 89 wins and 73 losses, and the NL East division title. They lost the pennant to the Reds in the NLCS.

Danny Murtaugh led the Pirates to 97 wins and 65 losses and another NL East division title in 1971. They won the NL pennant by defeating the Giants in four games. They then faced the Orioles in the World Series and won the series in seven games.

In 1972, Bill Virdon took over the managerial position and he led the Pirates to 96 wins and 59 losses, and their third consecutive NL East division title. Once again they faced the Reds in the NLCS and lost the series in five games.

Murtaugh returned to manage the Pirates again in 1973. He led them to winning seasons and postseason play in 1974 and 1975. They lost the NLCS both seasons, first to the Dodgers in 1974, and once more to the Reds in 1975. They had a winning season again in 1976, but they didn't get to the postseason.

Chuck Tanner became the Pirates' new manager in 1977, and he led them to winning seasons in 1977, 1978, and 1979. They won the NL East division title again in 1979 with 98 wins and 64 losses. This time, they won the pennant by defeating their rivals, the Reds. As they had done in 1971, they again defeated the Orioles in the World Series.

In 1973, the Pirates added Dave Parker, another power hitting player, to their roster. He made his greatest impact on the team offensively when he led the NL in batting average in 1977 and 1978. He was named the NL MVP in 1978. Defensively, he won three consecutive Gold Gloves (1977-1979) as a right fielder.

1980-1989

After winning the 1979 World Series, the Pirates had winning seasons in 1980, 1982, and 1983. However, they quickly fell to the bottom of the division, finishing in last place in 1984, 1985, and 1986. By 1985, they had a dismal record of 57 wins and 104 losses.

The Pirates began to move out of the slump after Jim Leyland was hired as manager in 1986. They had a winning season in 1988, with an 85-75 record, but the following year they fell back in the standings.

1990-1999

The Pirates started the 1990s strong, with three consecutive winning seasons. Leyland was named the NL Manager of the Year in 1990 for leading the Pirates to 95 wins and 67 losses and a NL East division title. The next year, they had 98 wins and 64 losses. In 1992, Leyland again was named the NL Manager of the Year, and the Pirates won another division title with 96 wins and 66 losses. They went to the postseason all three years and lost the NLCS all three times, first to the Reds in 1990, and then to the Atlanta Braves in 1991 and 1992.

The Pirates were moved to the NL Central division in 1994. After losing seasons from 1993 through 1996, Leyland was replaced by Gene Lamont. Lamont was no more successful than Leyland, and the Pirates kept having only losing seasons. It took them twenty years to once again have a winning season.

2000-2009

In 2001, the Pirates moved their home games to PNC Park. They had dismal records from 2000 to 2009, and in their best season, 2003, they had only 75 wins and 87 losses. Gene Lamont managed them in 2000, but he was replaced in 2001 by Lloyd McClendon. Jim Tracy took over in 2006, and he was replaced by John Russell in 2008. None of the managers were able to help the team improve enough to have a winning record.

The Pirates ended the decade with a player who gave them some hope for a better future. Andrew McCutchen joined their lineup in 2009.

2010-2018

After a dismal 2010 season, with 57 wins and 105 losses, John Russell was out of a job. Clint Hurdle took over as manager of the Pirates in 2011, and he led them to 72 wins and 90 losses. The following year, they had 79 wins and 83 losses and a fourth place finish in the NL Central division. Finally, in 2013, the Pirates had a strong season with 94 wins and 68 losses. They had a second place finish in the NL Central division and a Wild Card spot. Hurdle, who was named the NL Manager of the Year, led them to a win over the Reds in the Wild Card game, but they lost the NLDS to the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 2014, the Pirates finished again in second place in the NL Central division with 88 wins and 74 losses. They again won a Wild Card spot, but this time they lost the game to the San Francisco Giants. They had a similar season in 2015, when they had 98 wins and 64 losses. They once more had a Wild Card spot but they lost the game to the Chicago Cubs.

The Pirates, under Hurdle's leadership, struggled in 2016, 2017, and 2018. They finished the 2016 season with 78 wins and 83 losses and in third place in the division. They were in fourth place in the division in 2017 with 75 wins and 87 losses, and again in 2018 with 82 wins and 79 losses.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Pittsburgh Pirates
Baseball Reference - Pittsburgh Pirates