History of Pittsburgh Pirates in Timeline

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh, competing in MLB as part of the National League Central Division. Founded in 1881 as the Allegheny Base Ball Club, they joined the National League in 1887. The Pirates have a history of success, including winning five World Series championships and nine National League pennants. They were part of the National League East from 1969 to 1993 and have also made three Wild Card Game appearances, solidifying their presence in baseball.

1901: National League Pennants

In 1901, the Pittsburgh Pirates won one of three consecutive National League pennants.

1903: Hosted World Series

Exposition Park hosted the first modern World Series ever played in 1903.

1909: Played at Forbes Field

From 1909 to 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates played at Forbes Field.

1909: World Title

In 1909, the Pittsburgh Pirates moved to Forbes Field and won their first-ever world title, defeating the Detroit Tigers.

1909: Pirates play in the World Series

In 1909, the Pittsburgh Pirates played in the World Series against the Detroit Tigers.

1909: World Series Championship

In 1909, the Pittsburgh Pirates won their first World Series title, led by Honus Wagner.

1909: Moved from Exposition Park

The Pittsburgh Pirates remained at Exposition Park until the middle of the 1909 season.

1912: Fenway Park Founding

As of 1923, Fenway Park, built in 1912, is one of the oldest stadium currently used by a major league team.

1912: Nickname Acknowledged on Uniforms

In 1912, the 'Pirates' nickname was first acknowledged on the team's uniforms.

1912: Team Name on Jersey

In 1912, the Pirates' team name was first acknowledged with a pinstripe jersey that had "Pirates" running vertically down the placket.

1914: Jackie Robinson Ballpark Founding

As of 1923, Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, which dates to 1914, is the second-oldest minor league park.

1917: Disastrous Season

In 1917, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a disastrous season with a 51–103 record.

1920: Exposition Park Razed

Exposition Park, the Pirates' first home, was razed prior to 1920 after hosting several minor league teams.

August 5, 1921: First baseball game broadcast over radio

On August 5, 1921, the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast the first-ever baseball game over the radio on KDKA, announced by Harold Arlin from Forbes Field.

1923: Construction of LECOM Park

LECOM Park was constructed in 1923, making it the oldest stadium still in use for Spring Training.

1924: Brief Change to Black and Gold

In 1924, the Pirates had made a similar change to black and gold, but the change did not last beyond that season.

1925: Bill McKechnie Led the Pirates

In 1925, Baseball Hall of Fame great Bill McKechnie led the Pirates.

1925: Forbes Field Expansion

In 1925, Forbes Field's capacity was expanded to 41,000 from its initial 23,000 in 1909.

1925: Second World Series Title

In 1925, the Pittsburgh Pirates secured their second World Series title, marking the first time a team in North American sports history overcame a 3–1 series deficit to win a playoff series.

1925: Second Title

In 1925, the Pittsburgh Pirates won their second title, becoming the first team to come back from a 3–1 deficit in the World Series.

1927: World Series

In 1927, the Pittsburgh Pirates returned to the World Series but were swept by the Murderer's Row Yankees.

1933: Team Name on Road Uniforms

In 1933, the team's name appeared on the club's uniforms again, this time written horizontally on the road uniforms.

May 25, 1935: Babe Ruth's Final Home Runs

On May 25, 1935, Forbes Field hosted the final three home runs of Babe Ruth's career.

1936: Rosey Rowswell joins broadcast team

In 1936, Rosey Rowswell joined the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast team.

1936: Regular radio broadcasts begin, Rosey Rowswell becomes voice of Pirates

Regular broadcasts of Pittsburgh Pirate games began in the mid-1930s, with Rosey Rowswell becoming the voice of the Pirates in 1936.

1938: Missed Pennant

In 1938, the Pittsburgh Pirates came closest to winning the pennant but were passed by the Chicago Cubs in the final week of the season.

1938: Elimination from Pennant Race

In the last week of the 1938 season, the Cubs eliminated the Pirates from the pennant race.

1940: Pirate Head Image on Jerseys

For the 1940 season, an image of a pirate's head appeared on the home and road jerseys.

1941: Pirate Head Image on Jerseys

For the 1941 season, an image of a pirate's head appeared on the home and road jerseys.

1942: "Pittsburgh" on Road Uniforms

In 1942, "Pittsburgh" first appeared on the road uniforms.

1947: Bob Prince joins Rosey Rowswell in the booth

In 1947, Bob Prince joined Rosey Rowswell in the broadcast booth for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1948: Adoption of Black & Gold Color Scheme

In 1948, the team adopted the current black & gold color scheme, matching the colors of the Flag of Pittsburgh.

1948: Team Colors

Since 1948, the Pittsburgh Pirates' colors have been black, gold, and white, derived from the flag of Pittsburgh.

1953: First Two-Deck Ballpark

PNC Park was the first two-deck ballpark to be built in the United States since Milwaukee County Stadium opened in 1953.

February 1955: Bob Prince becomes lead play-by-play man

Following Rosey Rowswell's death in February 1955, Bob Prince became the lead play-by-play man for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1957: Pirates televised on KDKA-TV

From 1957 to 1994, Pittsburgh Pirate games aired on KDKA-TV.

1960: World Series Return

Branch Rickey helped rebuild the Pittsburgh Pirates, which led to the team's return to the World Series in 1960.

1960: Bob Prince calls Pirates' championship

In 1960, Bob Prince called the Pittsburgh Pirates' championship as part of the national broadcast for NBC.

1960: World Series Win Against the Yankees

In 1960, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series against the New York Yankees, with Bill Mazeroski hitting a walk-off home run in Game 7, marking the only time the World Series has ended in this fashion.

1960: Mazeroski's World Series Home Run

In the 1960 World Series, Bill Mazeroski hit a championship-winning home run in Game 7 at Forbes Field.

1961: Gene Baker breaks the color line

In 1961, Gene Baker broke the color line for the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming the first African-American coach in baseball.

1962: Gene Baker breaks the color line

In 1962, Gene Baker broke the color line for the Pittsburgh Pirates, becoming the first African-American manager in baseball.

September 21, 1963: Gene Baker becomes first African-American manager

On September 21, 1963, Gene Baker became the first African-American manager in MLB, filling in for Danny Murtaugh for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1966: Bob Prince creates the Green Weenie

In 1966, Bob Prince, the Pittsburgh Pirates' announcer, created the Green Weenie.

1969: National League Split

After the National League split into two divisions in 1969, the Phillies and the Pirates remained together.

1969: Spring Training at LECOM Park Begins

Since 1969, the Pirates have held Spring Training at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida.

1970: Uniform Changes with Move to Three Rivers Stadium

Coinciding with the move into Three Rivers Stadium in 1970, the team switched to a darker shade of gold, changed their caps from black to gold with a black brim, and introduced pullover nylon/cotton jerseys and beltless pants as part of their new uniform set.

1970: Played at Three Rivers Stadium

From 1970 to 2000, the Pittsburgh Pirates played at Three Rivers Stadium.

1970: Won National League East

In 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the newly created National League East.

1970: Pirates Leave Forbes Field

Midway through the 1970 season, the Pirates left Forbes Field.

September 1, 1971: Pirates field all-minority lineup

On September 1, 1971, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh assembled a starting lineup composed entirely of minority players, marking a first in MLB history.

1971: Steve Blass wins Game 7 of World Series

Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steve Blass won Game 7 of the 1971 World Series.

1971: Bob Prince calls Pirates' championship

In 1971, Bob Prince called the Pittsburgh Pirates' championship as part of the national broadcast for NBC.

1971: World Series Win

In 1971, led by Roberto Clemente, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, playing in the new Three Rivers Stadium.

1971: World Series Win Led by Clemente

In 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series behind Roberto Clemente, the first Latin-American inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

1972: Dominant Team of the Decade

In 1972, despite the death of Roberto Clemente, the Pittsburgh Pirates were one of the dominant teams of the decade, winning the newly created National League East.

1974: Won National League East

In 1974, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the National League East.

1975: Prince and King fired, drawing ire of Pirates fanbase

In 1975, Bob Prince and Nellie King were fired as broadcasters for the Pittsburgh Pirates, which drew the ire of the team's fanbase.

1975: Won National League East

In 1975, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the National League East.

1976: Hamilton and Frattare take over as broadcast team

In 1976, Milo Hamilton and Lanny Frattare took over as the new broadcast team for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1976: National League Centennial and Pillbox Hats

In 1976, to coincide with the National League's 100th anniversary, certain NL teams wore old-style pillbox hats. After the season, the Pirates were the only team to adopt the hats permanently.

1977: Brighter Gold Shade and Third Jerseys

For the 1977 season, the Pirates switched back to a brighter shade of gold and became one of the first teams to wear third jerseys.

1979: Hamilton leaves to join the Chicago Cubs

After feeling criticized for not being Bob Prince, Milo Hamilton left the Pittsburgh Pirates to join the Chicago Cubs after the 1979 season.

1979: Start of a Period of Struggle

After winning the World Series in 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates entered a period of struggle.

1979: Fifth Championship

In 1979, powered by sluggers and the song "We Are Family", the Pittsburgh Pirates came back from a 3–1 deficit to once again defeat the Orioles in the World Series for the franchise's fifth championship.

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1979: World Series Win Under Stargell

In 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series under the leadership of Willie Stargell.

1979: Pirates win World Series

In 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series.

1979: Four Uniform Combinations in World Series

The Pirates wore four different uniform combinations in the 1979 World Series.

1980: Pinstripes Removed from White Uniforms

In 1980, the pinstripes came off the white uniforms, but the Pirates continued to utilize the three uniform set.

1983: Steve Blass becomes color analyst

From 1983 to 2019, former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steve Blass worked as a color analyst for the team.

1985: Pittsburgh drug trials

In 1985, the Pittsburgh drug trials occurred, which contributed to a dip in the team's popularity.

1985: Return to Traditional Uniforms

In the 1985 season, the team returned to the straightforward home whites/road grays combination.

1986: Jim Leyland becomes Pirates manager

In 1986, Jim Leyland became the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a position he held until 1996.

1986: Pirates televised on KBL

In 1986, Pittsburgh Pirates games started being televised on KBL, which is now known as SportsNet Pittsburgh.

1987: Return of Solid Black Cap

In 1987, the solid black cap with a gold "P" returned and has been the team's primary cap ever since.

1990: Division Title

In 1990, the Pittsburgh Pirates won one of three straight division titles, returning to post-season play behind young players like Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, and Doug Drabek.

1990: Script Wordmarks on Road Jerseys

Script wordmarks had previously been seen on the road jerseys from 1990 until 2000.

1991: Return to Button-Down Style

In 1991, the Pirates ditched the pullover style in favor of the traditional button-down style.

1991: Penguins win Stanley Cup

In 1991, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, adding to the city's sports success.

1992: Penguins celebrate Stanley Cup win at Three Rivers Stadium

In 1992, the Pittsburgh Penguins held a celebration at the Pirates' old home, Three Rivers Stadium, after winning the Stanley Cup.

1992: Penguins win Stanley Cup

In 1992, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, adding to the city's sports success.

1992: National League Championship Series Loss

In 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost in the National League Championship Series, coming within one out of advancing to the World Series, after winning three straight division titles from 1990.

1993: Period of Two-Division Play

During the period of two-division play (1969–1993), the two National League East division rivals won the two highest numbers of division championships.

1993: Start of Losing Streak

In 1993, the Pittsburgh Pirates began a streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons.

1993: Left National League East

In 1993, the Pittsburgh Pirates ceased being a member of the National League East.

1993: LECOM Park Renovation

LECOM Park underwent a major renovation in 1993.

1994: Pirates Move to National League Central

After the Pirates moved to the National League Central in 1994, the rivalry with the Phillies diminished as the teams only faced each other in two series each year.

1994: Pirates televised on KDKA-TV

From 1957 to 1994, Pittsburgh Pirate games aired on KDKA-TV.

1994: Greg Brown and Bob Walk join broadcast booth

In 1994, Greg Brown and Bob Walk joined the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast booth as play-by-play announcer and analyst, respectively.

1994: End of Phillies-Pirates Rivalry

The rivalry between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pirates was considered by some to be one of the best rivalries in the National League until 1994.

1995: Pirates televised on WPXI

From 1995 to 1996, Pittsburgh Pirate games aired on WPXI.

1996: Addition of Third Jersey and Red Accent Color

After Kevin McClatchy purchased the team in 1996, the Pirates added a third jersey and utilized red as an accent color.

1996: Pirates televised on WPXI

From 1995 to 1996, Pittsburgh Pirate games aired on WPXI.

1996: Jim Leyland departs as Pirates manager

Jim Leyland's tenure as the Pittsburgh Pirates' manager concluded in 1996 after starting in 1986.

1997: Pirates and Guardians play three-game series

From 1997 to 2001, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians played a three-game series each year due to their close proximity.

1997: Pirates televised on WPGH-TV and WCWB

From 1997 to 2002, Pittsburgh Pirate games aired on WPGH-TV and WCWB.

1997: Return of Red as Accent Color

In 1997, red returned as an "accent color" for the Pirates.

October 1, 2000: Final Game at Three Rivers Stadium

On October 1, 2000, the Pirates played their final game at Three Rivers Stadium.

2000: Last Year at Three Rivers Stadium

In 2000, the Pittsburgh Pirates played their last season at Three Rivers Stadium.

2000: Script Wordmarks on Road Jerseys

Script wordmarks had previously been seen on the road jerseys from 1990 until 2000.

2001: Pirates and Guardians play three-game series

From 1997 to 2001, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians played a three-game series each year due to their close proximity.

2001: PNC Park Opening

In 2001, the opening of PNC Park did little to change the team's fortunes, as the Pirates struggled to keep pace with rising salaries and posted a losing record.

2001: Opening of PNC Park

In 2001, the opening of PNC Park improved the Pittsburgh Pirates' standing among fans.

2002: End of over-the-air coverage

Apart from nationally aired games, there has been no over-the-air coverage of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2002.

2002: Pirates and Guardians play periodically

Periodically between 2002 and 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians played each other, generally when the AL Central played the NL Central in the former interleague play rotation.

2005: Sleeveless White Pinstripe Jersey

From 2005 to 2010, a sleeveless white jersey with pinstripes was worn as an alternate home jersey.

2005: Jim Leyland becomes Tigers manager

In 2005, Jim Leyland became the manager of the Detroit Tigers, following his previous role with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986-1996.

2005: John Wehner joins broadcast crew

In 2005, former Pirate and Pittsburgh native John Wehner joined the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast crew as an analyst.

2006: MLB All-Star Game

In 2006, PNC Park hosted the MLB All-Star Game, in addition to hosting Pirate games and several concerts.

2007: Red Alternate Jersey Added

For the 2007 and 2008 seasons, a red alternate jersey was added.

2007: Pirates move to WPGB

In 2007, the Pittsburgh Pirates ended their long relationship with KDKA and moved to FM talk radio station WPGB.

2008: Red Alternate Jersey

For the 2007 and 2008 seasons, a red alternate jersey was added.

2008: LECOM Park Renovation and Lights Addition

LECOM Park underwent a major renovation in 2008, and lights were added to the park.

2008: Frattare calls last game

Lanny Frattare called his last Pittsburgh Pirate game through the 2008 season, becoming the longest tenured play-by-play man in team history.

2009: Neverett replaces Frattare

In 2009, Tim Neverett replaced Lanny Frattare as the play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

2009: Sidney Crosby brings Stanley Cup to PNC Park

In 2009, after the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, captain Sidney Crosby brought the cup to PNC Park.

2009: End of Red Accent Color

In 2009, red as an "accent color" was removed.

2009: Alternate Black Jersey with Gold P

In 2009, the Pirates began wearing an alternate black jersey with a gold "P" at both home and on the road.

2009: Penguins win Stanley Cup

In 2009, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, adding to the city's sports success.

2010: End of Sleeveless White Pinstripe Jersey

From 2005 to 2010, a sleeveless white jersey with pinstripes was worn as an alternate home jersey.

October 1, 2011: Clear Channel ends deal with Pirates

On October 1, 2011, Clear Channel announced that they would not renew their deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

2012: Home Plate Marked at Former Stadium

In 2012, the Society for American Baseball Research marked the home plate and first base of the former Three Rivers Stadium on the 40th Anniversary of Roberto Clemente's 3,000th hit.

2012: End of Losing Streak

The Pittsburgh Pirates' 20-season losing streak ended in 2012, which had been a record in both MLB and the four major North American professional sports leagues.

2013: Battle for Central Division Title

From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates battled with the St. Louis Cardinals for the Central Division title, and in the 2013 National League Division Series, the Cardinals won in five games.

2013: Throwback Uniforms for Sunday Home Games

From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates wore throwback uniforms for Sunday home games: the early 70s pullover uniforms.

2013: Jim Leyland departs as Tigers manager

In 2013, Jim Leyland's tenure as the manager of the Detroit Tigers concluded, after having managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1996.

2013: Pirates end losing streak

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates ended their 20-season losing streak with a winning season, which improved fan support.

2013: National League Wild Card Game Victory

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a victory in the National League Wild Card Game, marking a rare postseason advancement during their period of struggle.

2013: Postseason Return and Wild Card Win

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates returned to the postseason and defeated the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card Game, becoming the seventh MLB team to reach 10,000 all-time wins.

2013: Postseason Matchup Cincinnati Reds

The Pirates and Cincinnati Reds met in the 2013 National League Wild Card Game.

2014: Wild Card Spot

In 2014, the Pirates battled with the Milwaukee Brewers for a Wild Card spot.

2014: Postseason Appearance

In 2014, the Pittsburgh Pirates returned to the postseason, but lost the Wild Card game.

2015: Throwback Uniforms for Sunday Home Games

From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates wore throwback uniforms for Sunday home games: the early 70s pullover uniforms.

2015: Wild Card Game Attendance Record

In 2015, PNC Park hosted the National League Wild Card Game, with a stadium history record crowd of 40,889 fans.

2015: National League Wild Card Game vs. Cubs

In 2015, the Pirates faced off against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Game.

2015: 10,000th Loss

On Opening Day 2015, the Pittsburgh Pirates' loss was the team's 10,000th, making them the fourth MLB team to achieve this distinction.

2015: Camo Jersey

Since the 2015 season, the Pirates have worn an alternate camo jersey for select home games.

2015: Neverett calls last game

Tim Neverett called his last Pittsburgh Pirates game in 2015.

March 2, 2016: Pirates remain on KDKA-FM

On March 2, 2016, a new deal was announced for the Pittsburgh Pirates to remain on KDKA-FM, with KDKA-AM returning as the AM flagship.

2016: Pirates TV viewership

During the 2016 season, Pittsburgh Pirates averaged a 7.22 rating and 83,000 viewers on primetime TV broadcasts.

2016: Throwback Uniforms for Sunday Home Games

From 2016 to 2019, the Pirates wore throwback uniforms for Sunday home games: the gold top/black pants from the late 70s.

2016: Joe Block becomes play-by-play announcer

In 2016, Joe Block became the second play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates, after previously working for the Milwaukee Brewers.

2016: Penguins win Stanley Cup

In 2016, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, adding to the city's sports success.

2017: Penguins bring Stanley Cup to PNC Park and throw first pitch

In 2017, after the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, the team brought the cup to PNC Park and threw out the first pitch.

2017: Penguins win Stanley Cup

In 2017, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, adding to the city's sports success.

2017: LECOM Park Renamed

Since 2017 LECOM Park has been named for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

2018: Andrew McCutchen trade leads to fan deterioration

Following the Andrew McCutchen trade in 2018, fan relations deteriorated despite the Pirates contending for the NL Central, due to backlash towards owner Robert Nutting.

2018: Camo Jersey Updated

The camouflage alternates were updated for the 2018 season, now white with camo green wordmarks, numbers, piping, and patches.

2019: Steve Blass ends analyst role

From 1983 to 2019, former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Steve Blass worked as a color analyst for the team.

2019: Throwback Uniforms for Sunday Home Games

From 2016 to 2019, the Pirates wore throwback uniforms for Sunday home games: the gold top/black pants from the late 70s.

January 24, 2020: Unveiling of New Road Jerseys

Ahead of the 2020 season, the Pirates revived the script "Pittsburgh" wordmarks on their gray road and new black alternate road jerseys, which were unveiled on January 24, 2020.

2020: Pirates and Guardians play six games

In 2020, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians played six games as MLB instituted an abbreviated schedule focusing on regional match-ups.

2022: Pirates establish team Hall of Fame

In 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates formally established a team Hall of Fame to honor influential ballplayers in Pittsburgh baseball history.

2022: Pirates and Guardians play periodically

Periodically between 2002 and 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians played each other, generally when the AL Central played the NL Central in the former interleague play rotation.

December 16, 2023: Pirates become joint owners of SportsNet Pittsburgh

On December 16, 2023, the Pittsburgh Pirates became joint owners of SportsNet Pittsburgh, with operations produced by NESN.

2023: Pirates and Guardians play a three-game series each season

Beginning in 2023, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians will play a three-game series each season as a result of the new balanced schedule.

2023: Camo Alternate Retired and City Connect Uniform Unveiled

In 2023, the Pirates retired the camo home alternate to comply with the new "4+1" rule and unveiled their City Connect uniform, featuring a gold top and black pants with a gold "P" cap with black brim.