The Pittsburgh Pirates: A History of Home Parks, Championships, Legends and the Stars They Let Get Away
The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of Major League Baseball’s oldest and most historically important franchises. Their roots reach back to the 19th century, and the club has been home to some of baseball’s greatest players, including Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, the Waner brothers, Ralph Kiner and Bill Mazeroski.
The Pirates have won five World Series championships—1909, 1925, 1960, 1971 and 1979—and have played in seven World Series, including the first modern World Series in 1903.
They have also experienced one of baseball’s most frustrating traditions: developing talented players and, at various times, trading them away before those players reached their greatest accomplishments elsewhere.
From the Alleghenys to the Pirates
The franchise’s history begins before the name “Pirates” was officially adopted.
Professional baseball came to Pittsburgh in 1876, when the Pittsburgh Alleghenys played at Union Park. The club that became the modern Pirates was formally established in 1882 as a member of the American Association.
The club joined the National League in 1887.
The famous “Pirates” nickname came from an incident involving second baseman Lou Bierbauer. Pittsburgh signed Bierbauer after he had played in the Players’ League. Officials of the American Association accused Pittsburgh of acting “piratically” in taking the player. Pittsburgh eventually embraced the accusation, and the Pirates nickname became official in 1891.
The name proved appropriate. Pittsburgh soon became one of baseball’s most aggressive and successful franchises.
Every Major Home Park in Pirates History
The Pirates’ ballpark history is unusually complicated because several early facilities carried the name Exposition Park.
1. Union Park — 1876 and early Pittsburgh professional baseball
Union Park was one of the earliest important baseball grounds in the Pittsburgh area. The franchise’s roots include professional games there in 1876, before the modern Pirates franchise entered the American Association in 1882.
2. Exposition Park I — 1882-1883
The Alleghenys began their American Association existence at the first Exposition Park.
The park was located along the Allegheny River in what was then Allegheny City. Flooding and a fire contributed to the construction of another facility.
3. Exposition Park II — 1883
A second Exposition Park was constructed in 1883. The Alleghenys played there for part of the season before moving to Recreation Park.
4. Recreation Park — 1884-1890
Recreation Park became the Alleghenys’ principal home for much of the 1880s.
It was farther from the river and less vulnerable to flooding. When Pittsburgh entered the National League in 1887, Recreation Park became the first home of the Pittsburgh Alleghenys in the NL.
5. Exposition Park III — 1891-1909
The Pirates returned to the Exposition grounds in 1891.
This third Exposition Park became one of the most historically significant parks in baseball. It was here that the Pirates played the home games of the 1903 World Series, the first modern World Series.
Pittsburgh won National League pennants in 1901, 1902 and 1903 while playing at Exposition Park.
But the 1903 World Series ended in disappointment. The Pirates lost the best-of-nine series to the Boston Americans, 5 games to 3. Deacon Phillippe started five games for Pittsburgh.
6. Forbes Field — 1909-1970
Forbes Field opened on June 30, 1909.
It became the Pirates’ home for more than six decades and witnessed three Pittsburgh World Series championships:
1909
1925
1960
It was also the site of perhaps the most famous home run in Pirates history: Bill Mazeroski’s ninth-inning home run in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, which gave Pittsburgh the championship against the New York Yankees.
Forbes Field also became famous for another historic event: Babe Ruth hit the final three home runs of his career there in 1935.
7. Three Rivers Stadium — 1970-2000
The Pirates moved into Three Rivers Stadium in 1970.
The multipurpose stadium stood on Pittsburgh’s North Shore near the site of the old Exposition Park. Its first Pirates game was played July 16, 1970.
Three Rivers became the home of the Pirates’ championship teams of:
1971
1979
The 1971 championship was especially memorable because Roberto Clemente was spectacular throughout the World Series, batting .414 and winning Series MVP honors.
8. PNC Park — 2001-present
PNC Park opened in 2001 and returned the Pirates to the North Shore.
It is dramatically different from Three Rivers. Rather than being a huge multipurpose concrete stadium, PNC Park was designed specifically for baseball, with a grass field, intimate seating and views of downtown Pittsburgh.
It has become one of baseball’s most highly regarded settings.
The Pirates’ World Series History
The Pirates have appeared in seven World Series and won five.
Year
Opponent
Result
1903
Boston Americans
Lost, 5-3
1909
Detroit Tigers
Won, 4-3
1925
Washington Senators
Won, 4-3
1927
New York Yankees
Lost, 4-0
1960
New York Yankees
Won, 4-3
1971
Baltimore Orioles
Won, 4-3
1979
Baltimore Orioles
Won, 4-3
The Pirates have therefore won five World Series and lost two.
1909: The First Pirates Championship
The 1909 Pirates won a franchise-record 110 games.
The team featured perhaps the greatest player of the early 20th century, Honus Wagner.
But the World Series hero was a young pitcher named Babe Adams.
Adams went 12-3 during the regular season and then won three games in the World Series against Detroit, including the deciding Game 7.
1925: The Great Comeback
The 1925 Pirates defeated the Washington Senators.
Pittsburgh fell behind three games to one but won the final three games to take the championship.
The comeback included a remarkable Game 7 victory against legendary pitcher Walter Johnson.
The 1925 club included future Hall of Famers Pie Traynor, Kiki Cuyler, Max Carey and Rabbit Maranville.
1960: Mazeroski’s Home Run
If you ask baseball fans to name the most famous Pirates moment, many will immediately mention Bill Mazeroski.
The 1960 World Series was dominated by the powerful Yankees in several games. New York won Games 2, 3 and 6 by a combined score of 38-3.
Yet Pittsburgh kept winning the games that mattered.
In the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7, the score was tied 9-9.
Mazeroski hit a home run over the left-field wall.
Game over. World Series over. Pirates champions.
It remains one of the most famous endings in World Series history.
1971: Clemente’s Championship
The 1971 Pirates were built around Roberto Clemente, but they had outstanding talent throughout the roster.
Pittsburgh defeated the Baltimore Orioles in seven games.
Clemente batted .414 and was named World Series MVP.
The 1971 Pirates also made history by becoming the first team to start a lineup composed entirely of players from minority backgrounds.
1979: We Are Family
The 1979 Pirates became known as the “We Are Family” Pirates.
Led by Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh defeated Baltimore in seven games.
Stargell shared the National League MVP Award during the regular season and became the emotional leader of the championship club.
The Pirates came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series.
It was Pittsburgh’s fifth championship.
It remains the Pirates’ most recent World Series title.
The Greatest Pirates Players of All Time
Ranking players from different eras is difficult, but a reasonable all-time Pirates list would include these legends.
1. Honus Wagner — Shortstop
Years with Pittsburgh: 1900-1917
Wagner is not merely one of the greatest Pirates.
He is one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived.
Known as “The Flying Dutchman,” Wagner won seven batting titles and dominated the National League during the early 20th century. He collected 3,420 career hits and finished his Pirates career as the franchise’s defining superstar.
He was a member of the first Baseball Hall of Fame class in 1936.
2. Roberto Clemente — Right Field
Years with Pittsburgh: 1955-1972
Clemente is arguably the most beloved Pirate of all.
He won four batting championships, the 1966 National League MVP Award and the 1971 World Series MVP.
He finished his career with exactly 3,000 hits.
Clemente was also one of the greatest defensive right fielders ever to play.
His life ended tragically on December 31, 1972, when he died while attempting to deliver relief supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
3. Willie Stargell — Left Field
Years with Pittsburgh: 1962-1982
Stargell spent his entire major league career with Pittsburgh.
He was the leader of the 1979 championship club and one of the greatest power hitters in Pirates history.
His career included 475 home runs, seven All-Star selections and the 1979 National League MVP Award.
4. Paul Waner — Right Field
Years with Pittsburgh: 1926-1940
“Big Poison” was an extraordinary hitter.
He won the 1927 National League MVP Award and finished his career with 3,152 hits and a .333 batting average.
He hit .300 or better 14 times and collected 200 or more hits eight times.
5. Lloyd Waner — Center Field
Years with Pittsburgh: 1926-1940
Paul’s younger brother was “Little Poison.”
Lloyd accumulated 2,450 hits and hit .316 for his career.
Together, Paul and Lloyd formed one of baseball’s most famous brother combinations.
Both are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
6. Ralph Kiner — Left Field
Years with Pittsburgh: 1946-1953
Kiner was one of the most feared home-run hitters of his generation.
He led the National League in home runs in each of his first seven seasons.
His Pittsburgh career became the foundation of a Hall of Fame career.
7. Bill Mazeroski — Second Base
Years with Pittsburgh: 1956-1972
Mazeroski was an outstanding defensive second baseman and an important member of the 1960 and 1971 championship clubs.
But his place in baseball history is secured by one swing.
His Game 7 home run in 1960 remains the only World Series-ending home run in a deciding Game 7.
8. Pie Traynor — Third Base
Years with Pittsburgh: 1920-1935
Traynor was one of the greatest third basemen of his era.
He helped Pittsburgh win the 1925 World Series and was eventually elected to the Hall of Fame.
9. Max Carey — Center Field
Years with Pittsburgh: 1910-1926
Carey was one of the greatest base stealers of his era and an important member of the 1925 championship team.
10. Andrew McCutchen — Center Field
Years with Pittsburgh: 2009-present, with return
McCutchen became the face of the Pirates during their revival in the early 2010s.
He won the 2013 National League MVP Award, five All-Star selections and four Silver Slugger Awards during his Pittsburgh career.
His importance to the modern Pirates makes him an obvious choice for an all-time top 10.
Other Pirates Greats Who Belong in the Conversation
A true Pirates all-time roster would also have room for:
Fred Clarke
Kiki Cuyler
Arky Vaughan
Dick Groat
Dave Parker
Barry Bonds
Jason Kendall
Dave Drabek
Babe Adams
Vernon Law
Al Oliver
Willie Randolph
Jay Bell
The Pirates have produced an extraordinary collection of Hall of Famers and award winners.
Pirates Rookie of the Year Winners
For a franchise with such a long history, it is surprising that Pittsburgh has had only two BBWAA National League Rookie of the Year winners.
Jason Bay — 2004
Bay became the first Pirate to win the official BBWAA Rookie of the Year Award.
He was a powerful outfielder who became one of Pittsburgh’s best players during the middle of the 2000s.
Paul Skenes — 2024
Skenes became the second Pirate to win the award.
His rookie season was extraordinary:
11-3 record
1.96 ERA
170 strikeouts
23 starts
All-Star Game starter
National League Rookie of the Year
finalist for the Cy Young Award
He was selected first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft and reached the majors less than a year later.
Skenes then followed his Rookie of the Year season by winning the 2025 National League Cy Young Award, giving Pittsburgh its third Cy Young winner after Vernon Law and Doug Drabek.
Pirates Owners Through the Years
Ownership has played an enormous role in Pirates history.
Barney Dreyfuss — 1900-1932
Dreyfuss was one of the most important owners in baseball history.
He acquired control of the Pirates in 1900 and brought a group of outstanding Louisville players to Pittsburgh, including Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke and Rube Waddell.
Dreyfuss was also instrumental in creating the first modern World Series in 1903.
He eventually built Forbes Field.
Florence W. Dreyfuss — 1932-1946
She succeeded Barney Dreyfuss following his death.
John Galbreath — 1946-1985
Galbreath’s ownership covered several important eras, including the Pirates’ championship seasons of 1960, 1971 and 1979.
Pittsburgh Associates — 1985-1996
The club was owned by the Pittsburgh Associates ownership group.
Kevin McClatchy — 1996-2007
McClatchy became principal owner during a difficult period for the franchise.
Bob Nutting — 2007-present
Nutting became principal owner in January 2007 and remains the Pirates’ principal owner.
The Pirates’ Most Famous Players They Traded Away Before Their Best Years
This is one of the most interesting—and painful—parts of Pirates history.
Pittsburgh has repeatedly had players whose greatest accomplishments came somewhere else.
Aramis Ramirez
This is perhaps the clearest example.
Pittsburgh signed Ramirez as a teenager in the Dominican Republic. He reached the majors with the Pirates at age 19.
In 2001, he hit:
.300 — 34 HR — 112 RBI
He was only 25 when Pittsburgh traded him to the Chicago Cubs in 2003 along with Kenny Lofton.
The Pirates received Matt Bruback, Jose Hernandez and Bobby Hill.
Ramirez went on to become a two-time All-Star with Chicago and finished an 18-year career with 386 home runs.
The trade is widely regarded as one of the most disappointing transactions in Pirates history.
Jose Bautista
Bautista is another fascinating case.
The Pirates drafted him in 2000, and he reached Pittsburgh in 2004.
But Pittsburgh did not get the superstar version of Bautista.
After moving through several organizations, Bautista eventually landed with Toronto.
There he became one of baseball’s most dangerous home-run hitters, particularly during the 2010s.
His famous Bat Flip after a dramatic 2015 postseason home run became one of the defining images of modern baseball.
Bautista’s Toronto career included six All-Star selections and 288 home runs for the Blue Jays.
The Pirates therefore had the future star in their organization but never received anything close to the player he eventually became.
Aramis Ramirez vs. Jose Bautista: Two Different Mistakes
The two cases demonstrate different types of player-development problems.
With Ramirez, Pittsburgh had already seen the talent.
He had demonstrated major-league power before being traded.
With Bautista, the Pirates had a player who had not yet developed into the superstar he eventually became.
Both cases illustrate how difficult it is to determine what a young player will become.
Hall of Famers Who Passed Through Pittsburgh
Not every great player who wore a Pirates uniform became famous primarily as a Pirate.
Among the notable players who spent at least part of their careers in Pittsburgh were:
Joe Cronin
Hank Greenberg
Jim Bunning
Goose Gossage
Bert Blyleven
Gossage had an outstanding season for Pittsburgh in 1977, while Blyleven helped the Pirates win the 1979 World Series.
Bunning, meanwhile, finished his career with 224 victories, a perfect game and a no-hitter and was eventually elected to the Hall of Fame. His Pittsburgh tenure, however, was relatively brief.
The Pirates’ Greatest Era
The 1970s may have been the greatest decade in Pirates history.
During the decade, Pittsburgh:
Won six division titles.
Won the 1971 World Series.
Won the 1979 World Series.
Produced Roberto Clemente.
Produced Willie Stargell.
Featured Dave Parker.
Featured Al Oliver.
Featured Manny Sanguillen.
Featured John Candelaria.
Featured Bert Blyleven.
Built one of baseball’s most recognizable teams.
The 1979 club became famous throughout the country as the We Are Family Pirates.
The Pirates and the City of Pittsburgh
One reason the Pirates remain such an important franchise is that their history is intertwined with the history of Pittsburgh itself.
The club began when professional baseball was still in its infancy.
It played along the Allegheny River.
It played at Recreation Park.
It played at Exposition Park when the first modern World Series was born.
It played six decades at Forbes Field.
It played three decades at Three Rivers Stadium.
And it eventually returned to the North Shore at PNC Park.
The Pirates have survived enormous changes in baseball, including the introduction of the American League, the Players’ League, the Federal League, integration, free agency, divisional baseball, expansion, artificial turf and the modern era of analytics.
Five Championships, Five Different Stories
The five championships tell five very different stories.
1909 was the championship of Honus Wagner and young Babe Adams.
1925 was the championship of Pie Traynor and a spectacular comeback against Washington.
1960 belonged forever to Bill Mazeroski.
1971 belonged to Roberto Clemente.
1979 belonged to Willie Stargell and the “We Are Family” Pirates.
Few franchises have had championships separated by such dramatically different eras of baseball.
The Pirates’ Legacy
The Pittsburgh Pirates are much more than a team that has won five World Series.
They are one of baseball’s foundational franchises.
They gave baseball Honus Wagner, one of its first true superstars.
They gave the game Roberto Clemente, whose impact went far beyond baseball.
They produced Willie Stargell, one of the great leaders of the 1970s.
They gave fans the Waner brothers, Ralph Kiner, Pie Traynor, Max Carey and Bill Mazeroski.
They provided one of baseball’s most unforgettable moments when Mazeroski’s home run ended the 1960 World Series.
And they continue to search for their next championship team.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of the Pirates’ current history is that they now have another extraordinary young player around whom a franchise can be built.
Paul Skenes has already won Rookie of the Year and a Cy Young Award. In 2025 he led the majors with a 1.97 ERA and struck out 216 batters.
The question facing Pittsburgh is the same question that has followed the Pirates for generations:
Can the organization keep its great players long enough to build another championship team around them?
Pirates history proves that when Pittsburgh gets the right combination of superstar talent, smart management and timely pitching, the results can be spectacular.
From Wagner to Clemente, from Mazeroski to Stargell, from McCutchen to Skenes, the Pirates have repeatedly given baseball some of its most memorable characters.
And somewhere between the old Exposition grounds on the Allegheny River and the beautiful skyline behind PNC Park lies one of the oldest and richest stories in Major League Baseball.
ArtievFischal
