PIRATES HISTORY

The Pittsburgh Pirates is a Major League Baseball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1882 as Alleghenies, the Pirates are among the four teams in the Central Division of the National League (NL). Pittsburgh Pirates have their home arena at PNC Park, Pittsburgh. PNC Park, the home arena of Pirates is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and was opened on March 31, 2001. The Pittsburgh Pirates uniform colors are black, gold and the logo design for the pirates is a Pirate caricature superimposed on crossed baseball bats. The club were three times lucky 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 (who also served as the team's manager from 1900 to 1915), 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. The descent of Honus Wagner, viewed by some to be the greatest shortstop ever, led to a number of losing seasons, culminating in a disastrous 51-103 record in 1917, Wagner's last season. The 1960 team featured eight All-Stars, but was widely anticipated to lose the World Series to a powerful New York Yankees team. In arguably the most memorable World Series in history, the Pirates were defeated by more than ten runs in three games, won three close games, then recovering from a 7-4 deficit late in Game 7 to eventually win on a walk-off home run by Bill Mazeroski. The first Puerto Rican superstar, Roberto Clemente, was regarded as both one of the game's best all-time hitters and right fielders. Clemente died tragically in a plane crash in 1972 while attempting to ship supplies to the victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua, and is today regarded as the most notable figure in Pirates history, with a riverfront park and suspension bridge named for him. Pittsburgh Pirates put out 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 Bucs' 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 nabbed a Silver Slugger Award after becoming the first Pirates shortstop since Honus Wagner to collect 200 or more hits in a season. The pitching staff was anchored by Oliver Perez, a hard-throwing southpaw who finished in the top-10 in the NL in ERA and strikeouts. In the Hall of Famers, Pittsburgh Pirates have Jake Beckley, Jim Bunning, Max Carey, Jack Chesbro, Fred Clarke and Joe Cronin. James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is one of only five players to throw a no-hitter in different leagues. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1996. Pittsburgh Pirates have won nine Division titles in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1990, 1991 and 1992 ; nine National League pennants in 1901, 1902, 1903, 1909, 1925, 1927, 1960, 1971 and 1979 ; and five World Series championships in 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971 and 1979.