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— pittsburgh_pirates [2025/10/27 04:00] (current)
eziothekilla34 created
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 +====== Pittsburgh Pirates ======
  
 +===== 19th-Century Origins =====
 +The Pirates were founded in 1882 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys before joining the National League in 1887 [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pittsburgh-Pirates|Britannica
 +]])]
 +
 +===== “Pirates” Nickname Story =====
 +The team’s name “Pirates” dates to 1891, when officials accused them of “piratical” tactics to sign star players [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pittsburgh-Pirates|Britannica
 +]])]
 +
 +===== World Series Champions =====
 +Pittsburgh has won five World Series titles: 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, and 1979 [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pittsburgh-Pirates|Britannica
 +]])]
 +
 +===== The Bucs/Buccos =====
 +The Pirates are nicknamed “Bucs” or “Buccos,” derived from “buccaneer,” a synonym for pirate [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pittsburgh-Pirates|Britannica
 +]])]
 +
 +===== First World Series Appearance =====
 +The Pirates played in the first modern World Series in 1903, losing to the Boston Red Sox [([[https://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/sports/mlb_teams/pittsburgh_pirates.html|FunTrivia
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Honus Wagner’s Greatness =====
 +Shortstop Honus Wagner, Pirates legend, won eight batting titles and was a Hall of Fame’s inaugural inductee [([[https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_24_best_players_in_pittsburgh_pirates_history/s1__38824369|Yardbarker
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Mazeroski’s Walk-Off Homer =====
 +Bill Mazeroski hit the first—and only—Game 7 walk-off home run in World Series history (1960) [([[https://www.usefultrivia.com/sports_trivia/pittsburgh_pirates_trivia.html|Useful
 + Trivia]])]
 +
 +===== The We Are Family Pirates =====
 +The 1979 championship team rallied around disco anthem "We Are Family" by Sister Sledge [([[https://www.usefultrivia.com/sports_trivia/pittsburgh_pirates_trivia.html|Useful
 + Trivia]])]
 +
 +===== Chief Wilson’s Triples =====
 +Chief Wilson owns an unbreakable MLB record with 36 triples in a single season (1912) [([[https://www.usefultrivia.com/sports_trivia/pittsburgh_pirates_trivia.html|Useful
 + Trivia]])]
 +
 +===== The Parrot Mascot’s Birth =====
 +Pirates mascot Pirate Parrot debuted April 1, 1979 at Three Rivers Stadium [([[https://rumbunter.com/posts/diary-of-a-long-suffering-pirates-fan-is-it-time-to-bring-back-the-old-parrot-01ht1gkywc8s|Rum
 + Bunter]])]
 +
 +===== Mascot Scandal =====
 +The original Pirate Parrot was replaced in 1985 after a stadium scandal involving drug dealing [([[https://rumbunter.com/posts/diary-of-a-long-suffering-pirates-fan-is-it-time-to-bring-back-the-old-parrot-01ht1gkywc8s|Rum
 + Bunter]])]
 +
 +===== Roberto Clemente Bridge =====
 +PNC Park is next to the iconic yellow Roberto Clemente Bridge, which is closed to cars on game days so fans can walk to the stadium [([[https://www.bigleaguetours.com/blog/pnc-park-a-must-see-destination-for-bucket-list-baseball-travelers|Big
 + League Tours]])]
 +
 +===== Clemente’s Legendary Impact =====
 +Roberto Clemente, Hall of Famer, led the Pirates to two titles and is memorialized by the bridge and a statue [([[https://www.bigleaguetours.com/blog/pnc-park-a-must-see-destination-for-bucket-list-baseball-travelers|Big
 + League Tours]])]
 +
 +===== Honus Wagner Statue =====
 +A statue of Honus Wagner stands outside PNC Park’s home plate entrance [([[https://www.bigleaguetours.com/blog/pnc-park-a-must-see-destination-for-bucket-list-baseball-travelers|Big
 + League Tours]])]
 +
 +===== “21-Foot Wall” Tribute =====
 +PNC Park's right-field wall is 21 feet high, honoring Clemente's #21 [([[https://www.bigleaguetours.com/blog/pnc-park-a-must-see-destination-for-bucket-list-baseball-travelers|Big
 + League Tours]])]
 +
 +===== Forbes Field Legacy =====
 +The Pirates played at Forbes Field from 1909 to 1970, hosting iconic moments like Mazeroski’s 1960 walk-off [([[https://rumbunter.com/2022/01/19/pittsburgh-pirates-iceberg-facts/|Rum
 + Bunter]])]
 +
 +===== Forbes Field’s Home Plate =====
 +Home plate from Forbes Field is preserved in the University of Pittsburgh’s Posvar Hall [([[https://rumbunter.com/2022/01/19/pittsburgh-pirates-iceberg-facts/|Rum
 + Bunter]])]
 +
 +===== All-Star Gold Glovers =====
 +Bill Mazeroski and Roberto Clemente both won multiple Gold Gloves for Pittsburgh [([[https://www.usefultrivia.com/sports_trivia/pittsburgh_pirates_trivia.html|Useful
 + Trivia]])]
 +
 +===== Willie Stargell’s Power =====
 +Willie Stargell, “Pops,” hit 475 career homers and was the 1979 NL and World Series MVP [([[https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates-all-stars-building-best-pirates-all-time-lineup|Fox
 + Sports]])]
 +
 +===== Longest Home Run Ever =====
 +Stargell also hit the longest home run in Veterans Stadium history—twice, each at 535 feet [([[https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates-all-stars-building-best-pirates-all-time-lineup|Fox
 + Sports]])]
 +
 +===== Pie Traynor’s Legacy =====
 +Hall of Famer Pie Traynor was named the greatest third baseman of the pre-war era [([[https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates-all-stars-building-best-pirates-all-time-lineup|Fox
 + Sports]])]
 +
 +===== Pirates’ Worst Season =====
 +The Pirates posted a franchise-worst 113 losses in 1952 [([[https://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/sports/mlb_teams/pittsburgh_pirates.html|FunTrivia
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Most Consecutive Losing Seasons =====
 +Pittsburgh holds the MLB record for most consecutive losing seasons: 20 (1993–2012) [([[https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_24_best_players_in_pittsburgh_pirates_history/s1__38824369|Yardbarker
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Nine NL Pennants =====
 +The Pirates have won nine National League pennants in franchise history [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pittsburgh-Pirates|Britannica
 +]])]
 +
 +===== First MLB Team to Wear Numbers =====
 +The Pirates were the first NL team to permanently wear numbers on uniforms in 1933 [([[https://triviacreator.com/quiz/tby7hUvkK|TriviaCreator
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Historic Eight-Triples Game =====
 +The Pirates set an MLB record with eight triples in a single game on May 30, 1925 [([[https://www.usefultrivia.com/sports_trivia/pittsburgh_pirates_trivia.html|Useful
 + Trivia]])]
 +
 +===== Multiple No-Hitters =====
 +Six no-hitters have been thrown by Pirates pitchers, most recently in 1997 [([[https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_24_best_players_in_pittsburgh_pirates_history/s1__38824369|Yardbarker
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Arky Vaughan’s Batting Title =====
 +Arky Vaughan won the NL batting title with a .385 average in 1935 [([[https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_24_best_players_in_pittsburgh_pirates_history/s1__38824369|Yardbarker
 +]])]
 +
 +===== PNC Park’s Design =====
 +PNC Park was the first two-deck ballpark built in the US since 1953, seating just 38,362 fans [([[https://www.mlb.com/pirates/ballpark/facts|MLB.com
 +]])]
 +
 +===== PNC Park’s Intimate Setting =====
 +No seat in PNC Park is more than 88 feet above the field—one of MLB’s most intimate parks [([[https://www.mlb.com/pirates/ballpark/features|MLB.com
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Bridge Walk Entrance =====
 +Fans can walk to games via the closed-off Roberto Clemente Bridge for a memorable entrance [([[https://www.bigleaguetours.com/blog/pnc-park-a-must-see-destination-for-bucket-list-baseball-travelers|Big
 + League Tours]])]
 +
 +===== Mascot Pair: Parrot & Buccaneer =====
 +In 1995, the Pirate Parrot was briefly paired with a secondary mascot, the Buccaneer [([[https://rumbunter.com/posts/diary-of-a-long-suffering-pirates-fan-is-it-time-to-bring-back-the-old-parrot-01ht1gkywc8s|Rum
 + Bunter]])]
 +
 +===== Parrot’s Wacky Antics =====
 +The Pirate Parrot is famous for dancing, costumes, and pranking umpires and fans [([[https://www.mlb.com/pirates/fans/mascots|MLB.com
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Parrot “Hat Band” Era =====
 +For several years, the mascot was known for wearing a Pirates-themed hat, bandana, and jersey [([[https://www.mlb.com/pirates/fans/mascots|MLB.com
 +]])]
 +
 +===== PNC Park’s Riverfront Setting =====
 +The ballpark was designed to maximize river and skyline views, with pedestrian and riverboat access [([[https://www.mlb.com/pirates/ballpark/features|MLB.com
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Historic Player Loyalty =====
 +Only four players (Wagner, Clemente, Stargell, Mazeroski) played 20+ years—all for Pittsburgh [([[https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates-all-stars-building-best-pirates-all-time-lineup|Fox
 + Sports]])]
 +
 +===== First African-American Captain =====
 +Willie Stargell was the first African-American team captain in MLB history [([[https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates-all-stars-building-best-pirates-all-time-lineup|Fox
 + Sports]])]
 +
 +===== Multiple Retired Numbers =====
 +Pirates have retired numbers honoring Clemente (#21), Stargell (#8), Wagner (#33), Mazeroski (#9), and more [([[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pittsburgh-Pirates|Britannica
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Three Rivers Stadium Era =====
 +The Pirates played at Three Rivers Stadium (1970–2000), hosting two World Series champs [([[https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/the_24_best_players_in_pittsburgh_pirates_history/s1__38824369|Yardbarker
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Pirates Uniform Colors =====
 +Pirates’ black, gold, and white colors match other city teams—the Steelers and Penguins [([[https://rumbunter.com/2022/01/19/pittsburgh-pirates-iceberg-facts/|Rum
 + Bunter]])]
 +
 +===== Stargell’s Star Tradition =====
 +Stargell awarded “Stargell Stars” to teammates for hustle and clutch plays [([[https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/pittsburgh-pirates-all-stars-building-best-pirates-all-time-lineup|Fox
 + Sports]])]
 +
 +===== PNC Park’s Architect =====
 +The stadium was designed by HOK Sport and opened in 2001 [([[https://www.mlb.com/pirates/ballpark/features|MLB.com
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Pirates Last Pennant =====
 +The Pirates’ last World Series win and pennant was in 1979 [([[https://www.mlb.com/pirates/history/features-videos/1979-pirates-world-series-champions|MLB.com
 +]])]
 +
 +===== Most Recent Playoff Series Win =====
 +Pittsburgh’s most recent playoff series win came in 2013 during the NL Wild Card Game [([[https://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/sports/mlb_teams/pittsburgh_pirates.html|FunTrivia
 +]])]
pittsburgh_pirates.txt · Last modified: 2025/10/27 04:00 by eziothekilla34

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