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 and joining the National League in 1887, they were part of the National League East from 1969-1993. The Pirates have a history of success, with five World Series championships, nine National League pennants, and nine National League East division titles. They have also made 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: First Modern World Series at Exposition Park

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

1903: First Modern World Series

In 1903, the Pittsburgh Pirates participated in the first modern World Series but lost to Boston.

1903: Inaugural World Series Appearance

In 1903, the Pittsburgh Pirates participated in the inaugural World Series.

1909: Forbes Field Era Begins

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

1909: World Series Win and Move to Forbes Field

In 1909, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers for their first-ever world title and moved from Exposition Park to Forbes Field.

1909: Move to Forbes Field

In 1909, the Pittsburgh Pirates moved into Forbes Field in Oakland, which became the club's home for 61 years. The park, built for $1 million, was the first three-tiered steel-and-concrete ballpark in the nation. In 1909, Forbes Field was located in a sparsely populated area of the city.

1909: Play in the World Series

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

1909: First World Series Title

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

1909: End of Exposition Park Era

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

1912: Fenway Park Construction

Built in 1912, Fenway Park predates LECOM Park as the oldest MLB stadium currently in use.

1912: Nickname Acknowledged on Uniforms

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

1912: First Acknowledgment of Team Name

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

1914: Jackie Robinson Ballpark's Founding

In 1914, Jackie Robinson Ballpark was founded, predating LECOM Park as the 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' former home, was razed prior to 1920.

August 5, 1921: First Baseball Game Broadcast

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

1923: Construction of LECOM Park

Constructed in 1923, LECOM Park is 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 Leads the Pirates

In 1925, Baseball Hall of Fame great Bill McKechnie, who led the Pirates, was a Bradenton resident.

1925: Forbes Field Expansion

In 1925, Forbes Field's capacity was expanded from its initial 23,000 to 41,000, almost doubling its original size.

1925: Second World Series Title

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

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 Road Uniforms

In 1933, the team's name appeared on the club's road uniforms for the first time, written horizontally in a more ornate style.

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

On May 25, 1935, Forbes Field was the location for the final three home runs of Babe Ruth's legendary career.

1936: Rosey Rowswell Joined Broadcast Team

In 1936, Rosey Rowswell became the voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates, starting regular broadcasts.

1936: Rosey Rowswell

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

1938: Near Pennant Win

In 1938, the Pittsburgh Pirates nearly won the pennant but were passed by the Chicago Cubs in the final week of the season.

1938: Elimination from Pennant Race

The Chicago Cubs eliminated the Pirates from the pennant race in the last week of the 1938 season.

1940: Pirate Head on Jerseys

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

1941: Pirate Head 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, the name "Pittsburgh" first appeared on the road uniforms.

1947: Bob Prince Joined

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

1948: Adoption of Black and Gold Color Scheme

In 1948, the Pittsburgh Pirates broke away from the patriotic "Red, White, & Blue" color scheme and adopted the current black & gold color scheme, to match the colors of the Flag of Pittsburgh.

1948: Team Colors Defined

Since 1948, the Pittsburgh Pirates' colors have been black, gold, and white.

1953: Milwaukee County Stadium Opened

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 lead play-by-play

In February 1955, Bob Prince became the lead play-by-play man after Rowswell died.

1957: Pirates games aired on KDKA-TV

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

1960: Championships in 1960

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

1960: World Series Win with Mazeroski's Home Run

In 1960, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series against the New York Yankees with a walk-off home run by Bill Mazeroski in Game 7, the only time that Game 7 of the World Series has ever ended with a home run.

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: African-American Coach

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

1962: African-American Manager

In 1962, Gene Baker became the first African-American manager in baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

September 21, 1963: African-American Manager

On September 21, 1963, the Pittsburgh Pirates were the first MLB team to have an African-American manager when Gene Baker filled in for Danny Murtaugh.

1966: Green Weenie

In 1966, Bob Prince created the Green Weenie.

1969: Phillies and Pirates in Same Division

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

1969: Joined National League East

In 1969, the Pittsburgh Pirates became a member of the National League East division.

1969: Start of Spring Training at LECOM Park

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

1970: Introduction of New Uniform Set

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

1970: Move to Three Rivers Stadium

In 1970, the Pittsburgh Pirates moved to Three Rivers Stadium.

1970: National League East Division Win

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, marking the end of an era for the historic ballpark.

September 1, 1971: Minority Players Lineup

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

1971: Championships in 1971

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

1971: Won Game 7 of World Series

Former Pirate pitcher Steve Blass, who won Game 7 of the 1971 World Series, worked as a color analyst for the team from 1983 to 2019.

1971: World Series Victory & All-Black and Latino Lineup

In 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series, and on September 1st, they became the first team to field an all-Black and Latino lineup.

1971: World Series Win Led by Clemente

In 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the World Series behind Roberto Clemente.

1972: Start of National League East Dominance

Following Clemente's death after the 1972 season, the Pirates were one of the dominant teams of the decade.

1974: National League East Division Win

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

1975: Prince and King Fired

In 1975, Bob Prince and his broadcast partner Nellie King were fired, which drew the ire of the Pittsburgh Pirates' fanbase.

1975: National League East Division Win

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

1976: Hamilton and Frattare Broadcast Team

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

1976: Pillbox Hats for National League Centennial

In 1976, the National League celebrated its 100th anniversary, and the Pirates wore old-style pillbox hats complete with horizontal pinstripes, adopting them permanently after the season.

1977: Introduction of Third Jerseys

Starting in 1977, the Pirates became one of the first teams to wear third jerseys, following the Oakland Athletics, and had uniform styles which included two different caps and three different uniforms: an all-black set, an all-gold set, and a white set with black-and-gold pinstripes.

1979: Hamilton Left

In 1979, Milo Hamilton left the Pittsburgh Pirates to join the Chicago Cubs.

1979: World Series Win and MVP Awards Sweep

In 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Orioles in the World Series and a Pittsburgh player was designated as Most Valuable Player in every available category: All-Star Game MVP (Dave Parker), NLCS MVP (Willie Stargell), World Series MVP (Willie Stargell), and National League MVP (Willie Stargell, shared with Keith Hernandez of St. Louis). During this season, the disco song "We Are Family" became the team's theme song.

Loading Video...

1979: World Series Win Under Stargell

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

1979: Last World Series Championship

In 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates won their last World Series championship.

1979: Four Uniform Combinations in World Series

In the 1979 World Series, the Pirates wore four different uniform combinations, utilizing the three uniform set.

1979: Start of a Period of Struggle

Since their last World Series win in 1979, the Pittsburgh Pirates have largely endured a period of great struggle.

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 analyst

From 1983 to 2019, former Pirate pitcher Steve Blass, who won Game 7 of the 1971 World Series, worked as a color analyst for the team.

1985: Pittsburgh Drug Trials

In 1985, the Pittsburgh drug trials contributed to a decline in the Pittsburgh Pirates' popularity.

1985: Return to Traditional Uniform Combination

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

1986: Jim Leyland as Manager

In 1986, Jim Leyland became the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1986: KBL

In 1986, the Pittsburgh Pirates' cable television outlet was known as KBL.

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: Script "Pittsburgh" Wordmarks

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

1990: Division Title Win

In 1990, the Pittsburgh Pirates won a division title, marking a return to post-season play.

1991: Penguins' Stanley Cup Win

In 1991, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.

1991: Switch to Button-Down Style

In 1991, the Pittsburgh Pirates ditched the pullover style in favor of the traditional button-down style, becoming one of the last teams to switch.

1992: Stanley Cup Celebration at Three Rivers Stadium

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

1992: Penguins' Stanley Cup Win

In 1992, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.

1992: NLCS Loss and Free Agent Departures

In 1992, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost in the National League Championship Series and saw several of their best players leave as free agents.

1993: Phillies and Pirates in Same Division

After the National League split into two divisions in 1969, the Phillies and the Pirates remained together until 1993.

1993: Start of Losing Season Streak

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

1993: Last Year in National League East

In 1993, the Pittsburgh Pirates last participation as a member of the National League East division.

1993: LECOM Park Renovation

LECOM Park underwent a major renovation in 1993.

1994: Pirates Moved to National League Central

After the Pirates moved to the National League Central in 1994, the rivalry with the Phillies diminished.

1994: Pirates games aired on KDKA-TV

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

1994: Greg Brown and Bob Walk

In 1994, Greg Brown and Bob Walk joined the broadcast booth for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1994: Rivalry Considered One of the Best

Until 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.

1995: Pirates games aired on WPXI

From 1995 to 1996, WPXI aired Pittsburgh Pirates games.

1996: Third Jersey and Red Accent Added

After Kevin McClatchy purchased the team in 1996, the Pirates added a third jersey and utilized red as an accent color, including red brims on the team's caps.

1996: Pirates games aired on WPXI

From 1995 to 1996, WPXI aired Pittsburgh Pirates games.

1996: Jim Leyland's Departure

In 1996, Jim Leyland ended his tenure as the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

1997: Pirates games aired on WPGH-TV and WCWB

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

1997: Return of Red as Accent Color

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

1997: Three-Game Series

In 1997, the Pittsburgh Pirates played a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians.

October 1, 2000: Final Game at Three Rivers Stadium

On October 1, 2000, the Pirates played their final game at Three Rivers Stadium, before the stadium was demolished the following winter.

2000: End of Three Rivers Stadium Era

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

2000: Script "Pittsburgh" Wordmarks

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

2001: PNC Park Opening

In 2001, the Pittsburgh Pirates opened their new stadium, PNC Park, but it did little to change the team's fortunes immediately.

2001: Three-Game Series

In 2001, the Pittsburgh Pirates played a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians.

2001: Opening of PNC Park

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

2002: Pirates games aired on WPGH-TV and WCWB

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

2002: Periodic Games

From 2002 to 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates played periodically against the Cleveland Guardians.

2005: Sleeveless Pinstripe Alternate Home Jersey

From 2005 to 2010, the Pirates wore a sleeveless white jersey with pinstripes as an alternate home jersey.

2005: Jim Leyland as Tigers' Manager

In 2005, Jim Leyland became the manager of the Detroit Tigers.

2005: John Wehner Joins Crew

In 2005, 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.

2007: Addition of Red Alternate Jersey

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

2007: Move to WPGB

In 2007, the Pittsburgh Pirates moved to FM talk radio station WPGB, ending the longest relationship between a team and a radio station in American professional sports.

2008: End of Red Alternate Jersey

For the 2008 season, the Pirates discontinued wearing the red alternate jersey.

2008: LECOM Park Renovation with Lights

In 2008, LECOM Park underwent a major renovation, which added lights to the stadium.

2008: Frattare End

Through the 2008 season Lanny Frattare continue to call Pirate games, becoming the longest tenured play-by-play man in team history.

2009: Neverett Called Pirate Games

From 2009 through 2015 Tim Neverett called Pirate games.

2009: Stanley Cup Visit to PNC Park

In 2009, after the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup, captain Sidney Crosby brought the cup to PNC Park on the Sunday following the team's victory in Detroit.

2009: Introduction of Alternate Black Jersey

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

2009: Penguins' Stanley Cup Win

In 2009, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.

2009: End of Red as Accent Color

In 2009, the color red was removed as an "accent color" for the Pittsburgh Pirates' uniforms.

2010: End of Sleeveless Pinstripe Alternate Home Jersey

In 2010, the Pirates discontinued wearing the sleeveless white jersey with pinstripes as an alternate home jersey.

October 1, 2011: Clear Channel deal not renewed

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 Site

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

2012: End of Losing Season Streak

In 2012, the Pittsburgh Pirates ended their streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons.

2013: National League Division Series

From 2013 to 2015, the Pirates battled with the St. Louis Cardinals for the Central Division title, with the Cardinals narrowly winning the division each year. The two teams faced off in the 2013 National League Division Series, which the Cardinals won in five games.

2013: Throwback Uniforms for Sunday Home Games

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

2013: Jim Leyland's Departure from the Tigers

In 2013, Jim Leyland ended his tenure as the manager of the Detroit Tigers.

2013: Winning Season

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

2013: National League Wild Card Game Victory

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

2014: Wild Card Spot Battle

In 2014, the Pirates had a contentious battle with the Milwaukee Brewers for a Wild Card spot.

2015: Neverett Called Pirate Games

From 2009 through 2015 Tim Neverett called Pirate games.

2015: Throwback Uniforms for Sunday Home Games

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

2015: Record Attendance at Wild Card Game

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

2015: 10,000th Loss and Wild Card Game 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, following the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, and the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates also returned to the postseason in 2015 and lost the Wild Card game.

2015: Introduction of Camo Jersey

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

2015: National League Wild Card Game

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

March 2, 2016: New Deal reached for Pirates to remain on KDKA-FM

On March 2, 2016, a new deal was reached for the Pittsburgh Pirates to remain on KDKA-FM. As part of the deal, KDKA-AM has returned as essentially the AM flagship of the team.

2016: Average Viewers on TV

During the 2016 season, the 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 the gold top/black pants from the late 70s for Sunday home games.

2016: Joe Block

In 2016, Joe Block became the Pittsburgh Pirates' second play-by-play announcer.

2016: Penguins' Stanley Cup Win

In 2016, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.

2017: Penguins' Stanley Cup Win

In 2017, the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup.

2017: Stanley Cup Visit to PNC Park

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

2017: LECOM Park Renaming

Since 2017, the park was renamed for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).

2018: Andrew McCutchen Trade

Following the Andrew McCutchen trade in 2018, fan relations with the Pittsburgh Pirates deteriorated due to backlash towards owner Robert Nutting.

2018: Camo Jersey Update

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

June 12, 2019: Bill Mazeroski

As of June 12, 2019, Bill Mazeroski is the lone survivor of the Pittsburgh Pirates whose numbers are retired.

2019: Steve Blass analyst

From 1983 to 2019, former Pirate pitcher Steve Blass, who won Game 7 of the 1971 World Series, worked as a color analyst for the team.

2019: End of Throwback Uniforms

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

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: Six Games

In 2020, the Pittsburgh Pirates played six games against the Cleveland Guardians due to an abbreviated MLB schedule.

2022: Periodic Games

From 2002 to 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates played periodically against the Cleveland Guardians.

2022: Team Hall of Fame

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

December 16, 2023: Joint Owners

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

2023: Three-Game Series

Beginning in 2023, the Pittsburgh Pirates are scheduled to play a three-game series each season against the Cleveland Guardians 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, restricting teams to a home, away, two alternate uniforms and a City Connect uniform. The Pirates continued to wear the camo cap on occasion with the home white uniform. They also unveiled their City Connect uniform, featuring a gold top and black pants with a gold "P" cap with black brim. The jersey itself features the abbreviation of Pittsburgh "PGH".