History of Pittsburgh Pirates in Timeline
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh, competing in MLB's National League Central Division. Founded in 1881 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys, they joined the National League in 1887. The Pirates were part of the National League East from 1969-1993. Their achievements include five World Series championships, nine National League pennants, nine National League East division titles, and three Wild Card Game appearances.
1901: Start of Pennant Streak
In 1901, the Pittsburgh Pirates began a streak of winning three consecutive National League pennants.
1903: Hosted First Modern World Series
In 1903, Exposition Park hosted the first modern World Series ever played.
1903: Inaugural World Series Appearance
In 1903, the Pittsburgh Pirates played in the inaugural World Series.
1909: Played at Forbes Field
From 1909, the Pittsburgh Pirates played at Forbes Field.
1909: First World Title and Move to Forbes Field
In 1909, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers for their first-ever world title and moved to Forbes Field.
1909: First World Series Title
In 1909, the Pittsburgh Pirates won their first World Series title, led by Honus Wagner.
1909: End of Era at Exposition Park
The Pirates remained at the Exposition Park until the 1909 season.
1912: Nickname Acknowledged on Uniforms
In 1912, the "Pirates" nickname was first acknowledged on the team's uniforms.
1912: Team Name Acknowledged
In 1912, the team's name was first acknowledged on a pinstripe jersey.
1914: Jackie Robinson Ballpark Date
Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, which dates to 1914.
1917: Disastrous Season
In 1917, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a disastrous season with a 51–103 record.
August 5, 1921: First Baseball Game Broadcast Over Radio
On August 5, 1921, the Pirates broadcast the first-ever baseball game over the radio on KDKA from Forbes Field. Harold Arlin announced the game.
1924: Previous Black and Gold Change
The Pirates made a similar change to black and gold in 1924, but the change did not last beyond that season.
1925: Bill McKechnie Led Pirates
In 1925, Bill McKechnie, for whom McKechnie Field was named, led the Pirates.
1925: Forbes Field Expanded
In 1925, Forbes Field was expanded, almost doubling its initial capacity.
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 Appearance
In 1927, the Pittsburgh Pirates returned to the World Series but were swept by the Murderer's Row Yankees.
1933: Team Name on Uniforms
In 1933, the team's name was added to the road uniforms, written horizontally.
May 25, 1935: Babe Ruth's Final Home Runs
On May 25, 1935, Babe Ruth hit the final three home runs of his career at Forbes Field.
1936: Rosey Rowswell Becomes Voice of Pirates
In 1936, Rosey Rowswell became the voice of the Pirates, marking the beginning of regular radio broadcasts.
1936: Rosey Rowswell Joins Broadcast Team
In 1936, Rosey Rowswell joined the Pirates broadcast team, marking a new era in broadcasting.
1938: Missed Pennant
In 1938, the Pittsburgh Pirates were passed by the Chicago Cubs in the final week of the season.
1938: Cubs Eliminated Pirates from Pennant Race
The Cubs eliminated the Pirates from the pennant race in the last week of the 1938 season.
1940: Pirate Head Image on Jerseys
In 1940, an image of a pirate's head appeared on the home and road jerseys for the first time.
1941: Pirate Head Image on Jerseys
In 1941, 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 Rowswell in the Booth
In 1947, Bob Prince joined Rosey Rowswell in the Pirates broadcast booth.
1948: Adoption of Black & Gold Color Scheme
In 1948, the team adopted the current black & gold color scheme.
1948: Team Colors Established
Since 1948, the Pittsburgh Pirates' colors have been black, gold, and white.
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
In February 1955, Bob Prince became the lead play-by-play man after Rosey Rowswell's death.
1957: KDKA-TV Aired Pirate Games
In 1957, KDKA-TV began airing Pirates games for 38 years.
1960: Mazeroski's Home Run
In 1960, Bill Mazeroski hit the championship-winning home run in Game 7 of the World Series at Forbes Field.
1960: World Series Win on Walk-Off Home Run
In 1960, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series against the New York Yankees on a walk-off home run by Bill Mazeroski.
1960: World Series Win
In 1960, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series on a walk-off home run by Bill Mazeroski in Game 7.
1961: Gene Baker Breaks Color Line as Coach
In 1961, Gene Baker became the first African-American coach in the Pirates organization, breaking the color line in baseball.
1962: Gene Baker Breaks Color Line as Manager
In 1962, Gene Baker became the first African-American manager in the Pirates organization, breaking the color line in baseball.
September 21, 1963: Gene Baker First African-American Manager in MLB
On September 21, 1963, Gene Baker filled in for Danny Murtaugh and became the first African-American manager in MLB.
1966: Prince Creates the Green Weenie
In 1966, Bob Prince created the Green Weenie.
1969: National League Split into Divisions
In 1969, the Phillies and the Pirates remained together after the National League split into two divisions.
1969: Joined National League East
In 1969, the Pittsburgh Pirates became a member of the National League East division.
1969: Spring Training at LECOM Park
Since 1969, the Pirates have held Spring Training at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida.
1970: Uniform Changes Coinciding 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.
1970: Played at Three Rivers Stadium
From 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates played at Three Rivers Stadium.
1970: National League East Title
In 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the newly created National League East.
1970: Departure from Forbes Field
The Pirates left Forbes Field midway through the 1970 season.
September 1, 1971: All-Minority Starting Lineup
On September 1, 1971, the Pirates fielded the first all-minority starting lineup in MLB history.
1971: Steve Blass Wins Game 7
In 1971, Steve Blass won Game 7 of the World Series.
1971: World Series Victory and All-Black Lineup
In 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. Also on September 1, 1971 the Pirates became the first team to field an all-Black and Latino lineup.
1971: World Series Win Led by Roberto Clemente
In 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series, led by Roberto Clemente.
1972: National League East Title
In 1972, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the newly created National League East.
1974: National League East Title
In 1974, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the National League East.
1975: Prince and King Fired
In 1975, Bob Prince and Nellie King were fired, drawing the ire of the Pirates' fanbase.
1975: National League East Title
In 1975, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the National League East.
1976: Hamilton and Frattare Take Over
In 1976, Milo Hamilton and Lanny Frattare took over as the new broadcast team.
1976: National League Centennial
In 1976, the National League celebrated its 100th anniversary and certain NL teams wore old-style pillbox hats, and after the season, the Pirates were the only team to adopt the hats permanently.
1977: Switch to Brighter Gold and Third Jerseys
The Pirates switched back to a brighter shade of gold for the 1977 season and became one of the first teams to wear third jerseys.
1979: Last World Series Win Until Present
1979 marked the last year the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series.
1979: Hamilton Leaves for Cubs
In 1979, Milo Hamilton left the Pirates to join the Chicago Cubs after one season.
1979: World Series Win and MVP Awards
In 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Orioles in the World Series. During the season, a Pittsburgh player was designated as Most Valuable Player in every available category.
1979: Last World Series Championship
In 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates last won the World Series, marking the beginning of a period where the Steelers and Penguins gained popularity.
1979: World Series Win Led by Willie Stargell
In 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series under the leadership of Willie Stargell.
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.
1983: Steve Blass Joins as Analyst
In 1983, former Pirate pitcher Steve Blass worked as a color analyst for the team.
1985: Pittsburgh Drug Trials
In 1985, the Pittsburgh drug trials are believed to have contributed to a dip in the team's popularity.
1985: Return to Home Whites/Road Grays
In the 1985 season, the team returned to the straightforward home whites/road grays combination.
1986: Cable Television Outlet Known as KBL
In 1986, the Pirate's cable television outlet was known as KBL.
1986: Jim Leyland Managed Pirates
Jim Leyland managed the Pirates from 1986–1996.
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 a division title.
1990: Script Wordmarks on Road Jerseys
Script wordmarks had previously been seen on the road jerseys from 1990 until 2000.
1991: Switch to Traditional Button-Down Style
In 1991, the Pirates ditched the pullover style in favor of the traditional button-down style.
1991: Steelers Won Super Bowl
In 1991, the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl.
1992: Stanley Cup Celebration at Three Rivers Stadium
In 1992, after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, a celebration was held in the Pirates' old home, Three Rivers Stadium.
1992: Penguins Won Stanley Cup
In 1992, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.
1992: Missed World Series
In 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates came within one out of advancing to the World Series but lost in the National League Championship Series.
1993: End 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: LECOM Park Renovation
In 1993, LECOM Park underwent a major renovation.
1993: Start of Losing Seasons Streak
In 1993, the Pittsburgh Pirates began a streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons.
1993: Left National League East
In 1993, the Pittsburgh Pirates left the National League East division.
1994: Move to National League Central
After the Pirates moved to the National League Central in 1994, the rivalry with the Phillies diminished.
1994: Greg Brown and Bob Walk Join Broadcast Booth
In 1994, Greg Brown and Bob Walk joined the Pirates broadcast booth as play-by-play announcer and analyst, respectively.
1994: End of KDKA-TV Airing Pirate Games
In 1994, KDKA-TV stopped airing Pirate games after 38 years.
1994: Rivalry Diminished
In 1994, 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 this year.
1996: Team Purchased and Red Added as Accent
After Kevin McClatchy purchased the team in 1996, the Pirates added a third jersey and utilized red as an accent color.
1996: End of WPXI Airing Pirate Games
In 1996, WPXI stopped airing Pirate games.
1996: Jim Leyland Managed Pirates
Jim Leyland managed the Pirates from 1986–1996.
1997: WPGH-TV and WCWB Aired Pirate Games
In 1997, WPGH-TV and WCWB began airing Pirate games.
1997: Return of Red as Accent Color
In 1997, red returned as an "accent color".
1997: Three-Game Series
The teams played one three-game series each year from 1997 to 2001.
October 1, 2000: Final Game at Three Rivers Stadium
On October 1, 2000, the Pirates played their final game at Three Rivers Stadium.
2000: End of Play at Three Rivers Stadium
In 2000, the Pittsburgh Pirates ended their play 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: Opening of PNC Park
In 2001, PNC Park opened, but it did little to change the team's fortunes.
2001: Three-Game Series
The teams played one three-game series each year from 1997 to 2001.
2002: End of Over-the-Air Coverage
In 2002, over-the-air coverage of the Pirates ended, with games previously aired on WPGH-TV and WCWB.
2002: Interleague Play Rotation
The teams played periodically between 2002 and 2022, generally only in years in which the AL Central played the NL Central in the former interleague play rotation.
2005: Sleeveless White Jersey as Alternate Home Jersey
From 2005 to 2010, a sleeveless white jersey with pinstripes was worn as an alternate home jersey.
2005: John Wehner Joins Broadcast Crew
In 2005, former Pirate and Pittsburgh native John Wehner joined the Pirates broadcast crew as an analyst.
2005: Jim Leyland Managed Tigers
Jim Leyland managed the Tigers from 2005–2013.
2006: Hosted MLB All-Star Game
In 2006, PNC Park hosted the MLB All-Star Game.
2007: Red Alternate Jersey Added
For the 2007 and 2008 seasons, a red alternate jersey was added.
2007: Radio Broadcasts Move to WPGB
In 2007, the Pirates ended their long relationship with KDKA and moved their radio broadcasts to FM talk radio station WPGB, seeking to reach a younger demographic.
2008: Red Alternate Jersey Added
For the 2007 and 2008 seasons, a red alternate jersey was added.
2008: LECOM Park Renovation
In 2008, LECOM Park underwent a major renovation, which added lights.
2008: Frattare's Last Season
In 2008, Lanny Frattare called Pirate games for his last season, becoming the longest-tenured play-by-play man in team history.
2009: Neverett Calls Pirate Games
In 2009, Tim Neverett began calling Pirate games.
2009: Sidney Crosby Brings Stanley Cup to PNC Park
In 2009, after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, captain Sidney Crosby brought the cup to PNC Park.
2009: Red Removed as Accent Color
In 2009, red remained as an "accent color" until this year.
2009: Black Alternate Jersey Added
In 2009, the Pirates began wearing an alternate black jersey with a gold "P" at both home and on the road.
2009: Penguins Won Stanley Cup
In 2009, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.
2010: Sleeveless White Jersey Removed
From 2005 to 2010, a sleeveless white jersey with pinstripes was worn as an alternate home jersey.
October 1, 2011: End of Clear Channel Deal
On October 1, 2011, Clear Channel announced that they would not renew their deal with the Pirates, leading to a transfer back to CBS Radio.
2012: End of Losing Seasons Streak
In 2012, the Pittsburgh Pirates' streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons came to an end.
2012: 40th Anniversary of Clemente's 3,000th Hit
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.
2013: Battle for Central Division Title and NLDS
From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates battled with the St. Louis Cardinals for the Central Division title, and faced off in the 2013 National League Division Series.
2013: Throwback Uniforms for Sunday Home Games
From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates wore throwback uniforms for Sunday home games, specifically the early 70s pullover uniforms.
2013: Winning Season Ends Losing Streak
In 2013, the Pirates ended their 20-season losing streak with a winning season, leading to increased fan support.
2013: Return to Postseason
In 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates returned to the postseason and became the seventh MLB team to reach 10,000 all-time wins.
2013: National League Wild Card Game Victory
In 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the National League Wild Card Game.
2013: Jim Leyland Managed Tigers
Jim Leyland managed the Tigers from 2005–2013.
2014: Postseason Appearance
In 2014, the Pittsburgh Pirates returned to the postseason and lost the Wild Card game.
2014: Battle for Wild Card Spot
The Pirates had a contentious battle with the Milwaukee Brewers for a Wild Card spot in 2014.
2015: Throwback Uniforms for Sunday Home Games
From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates wore throwback uniforms for Sunday home games, specifically the early 70s pullover uniforms.
2015: National League Wild Card Game
In 2015, the Pirates faced off against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card Game.
2015: Attendance Record at PNC Park
In 2015, the biggest crowd in stadium history, 40,889 fans, saw the Cubs defeat the Pirates 4–0 at 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 the Pirates the fourth MLB team to achieve this distinction.
2015: Alternate Camo Jersey
Since the 2015 season, the Pirates have worn an alternate camo jersey for select home games.
March 2, 2016: New Deal to Remain on KDKA-FM
On March 2, 2016, a new deal was reached for the Pirates to remain on KDKA-FM, with KDKA-AM returning as the AM flagship of the team.
2016: Average TV Viewership
During the 2016 season, the 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, specifically the gold top/black pants from the late 70s.
2016: Joe Block Becomes Play-by-Play Announcer
In 2016, Joe Block became the team's second play-by-play announcer after previously working for the Milwaukee Brewers.
2016: Penguins Won Stanley Cup
In 2016, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.
2017: Stanley Cup Visit to PNC Park
In 2017, after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, the cup was brought to PNC Park, and the team threw out the first pitch.
2017: Penguins Won Stanley Cup
In 2017, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.
2017: LECOM Park Renamed
Since 2017, the park has been named for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).
2018: Andrew McCutchen Trade and Fan Relations Deterioration
In 2018, the trade of Andrew McCutchen led to deteriorated fan relations and the team's low attendance ranking despite contention for the NL Central.
2018: Updated Camo Alternate
The camouflage alternates were updated for the 2018 season.
June 12, 2019: Mazeroski Lone Survivor with Retired Number
As of June 12, 2019, Bill Mazeroski is the lone survivor of the Pittsburgh Pirates whose numbers are retired.
2019: Throwback Uniforms for Sunday Home Games
From 2016 to 2019, the Pirates wore throwback uniforms for Sunday home games, specifically the gold top/black pants from the late 70s.
2019: Steve Blass Retires
In 2019, Steve Blass retired as a color analyst for the team.
January 24, 2020: Unveiling of New Road Jerseys
On January 24, 2020, the Pirates revived the script "Pittsburgh" wordmarks on their gray road and new black alternate road jerseys.
2020: Abbreviated Schedule
The teams played six games in 2020 as MLB instituted an abbreviated schedule focusing on regional match-ups.
2022: Team Hall of Fame Established
In 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates formally established a team Hall of Fame to honor influential ballplayers. 19 individuals were part of the inaugural class. The inductees were honored with a plaque displayed by the entrance with the Roberto Clemente statue.
2022: Interleague Play Rotation
The teams played periodically between 2002 and 2022, generally only in years in which the AL Central played the NL Central in the former interleague play rotation.
December 16, 2023: Pirates became joint owners of SportsNet Pittsburgh
On December 16, 2023, The Pirates became joint owners of SportsNet Pittsburgh with operations to be produced by the Red Sox's home network NESN.
2023: Three-Game Series
Beginning in 2023, the teams will play a three-game series each season as a result of the new "balanced" schedule.
2023: Camo Home Alternate Retired and City Connect Uniform Unveiled
In 2023, the Pirates retired the camo home alternate and unveiled their City Connect uniform, featuring a gold top and black pants with a gold "P" cap with black brim.
2024: Only Game 7 Walk-Off Home Run in World Series History
As of 2024, the 1960 Game 7 walk-off home run by Bill Mazeroski remains the only one in World Series history.
2024: Current Season
As of 2024, the Pirates have an overall record of 10,839–10,819–140.
February 22, 2025: Roster, coaches, and NRIs updated
Roster, coaches, and NRIs updated February 22, 2025
