Pittsburgh Pirates Tickets

Pittsburgh Pirates History And Information

Professional baseball in Pittsburgh dates to April 15, 1876, as the Alleghenies, they played their first game at Union Park. The team disbanded in 1877 and re-formed in 1882 as part of the new American Association. The club joined the NL in 1887 and three years later became known as the Pittsburgh Pirates.

One of six teams in the Central Division of the National League. The Pirates play at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and wear uniforms of yellow, white, and black.

The Pirates have assembled powerful teams in almost every era of their 100 year

history. The club took its first World Series championship in 1909 and claimed number 5 in 1979. Pittsburgh has held many great players, from early stars Jim Pud Galvin, Rabbit Maranville, Pie Traynor, Arky Vaughan, Honus Wagner, and Lloyd Waner and Paul Waner to modern-day stars such as Barry Bonds, Roberto Clemente, Ralph Kiner, Bill Mazeroski, and Willie Stargell.

Many Pittsburgh players were known for their consistency. Wagner was a seven-time batting champion and career .327 hitter. The Waner brothers batted .300 or more in 25 of their combined 29 seasons with the Pirates. Vaughan hit at least .300 in each of his 10 seasons with Pittsburgh, while Traynor racked up .300 in 10 of 13 seasons. In his seven years with the Pirates, Kiner led and/or tied for the NL lead in home runs. Clemente, Wagner, and Paul Waner eclipsed the prestigious 3000 hits milestone during their careers. With sluggers Clemente, Stargell, and Dave Parker the Pirates were a non mistaken power during the 1970s, capturing six division titles, two NL pennants, and two World Series titles.

After a lot of losing seasons in the 1980s, the Pirates started to rebuild under manager Jim Leyland. A series of trades was to bring third baseman Bobby Bonilla, shortstop Jay Bell, pitcher Doug Drabek, and outfielder Andy Van Slyke on to the Pirates’ line up to join outfielder Barry Bonds. From 1990 to 1992 the Pirates won three division crowns. In both 1990 and 1992, Leyland was named NL manager of the year and Bonds was NL MVP. By the 1990s, however, the Pirates had dropped out of contention.