Pittsburgh Pirates History

A journey through one of baseball's oldest and most storied franchises

World Series Championships

The Pittsburgh Pirates have won five World Series titles, spanning from the dawn of the Fall Classic to the disco era. Each championship tells a story of resilience, star power, and unforgettable October drama.

1909

Pirates defeat Detroit Tigers, 4–3
Honus Wagner outduels Ty Cobb. Rookie Babe Adams wins three complete games. The franchise's first title establishes Pittsburgh as a baseball powerhouse.

1925

Pirates defeat Washington Senators, 4–3
Down 3–1, the Pirates storm back. The Waner brothers and Pie Traynor lead a furious comeback, becoming the first team to rally from a 3-1 World Series deficit.

1960

Pirates defeat New York Yankees, 4–3
Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run in Game 7. The most dramatic ending in World Series history. The Yankees outscore Pittsburgh 55-27 — and lose.

1971

Pirates defeat Baltimore Orioles, 4–3
Roberto Clemente hits .414 and wins MVP. The first World Series to feature a starting lineup with nine players of color in a night game.

1979

Pirates defeat Baltimore Orioles, 4–3
"We Are Family." Willie Stargell, at 39, wins NL MVP and World Series MVP. Another 3–1 comeback against Baltimore.

National League Pennants

In addition to their five World Series victories, the Pirates have won nine National League pennants, appearing in the Fall Classic in:

  • 1901, 1902 — The early powerhouse teams led by Honus Wagner and player-manager Fred Clarke
  • 1903 — The first modern World Series, lost to the Boston Americans in a best-of-nine series
  • 1909, 1925, 1927 — Three pennants in a golden era spanning the dead-ball and live-ball eras
  • 1960, 1971, 1979 — The glory years: three championships in two decades

Division Titles & Playoff Appearances

Since the introduction of divisional play in 1969, the Pirates have captured nine division titles:

  • 1970, 1971, 1972 — NL East three-peat, capped by the 1971 World Series
  • 1974, 1975, 1979 — Another NL East run, including the "We Are Family" title
  • 1990, 1991, 1992 — The Barry Bonds era: three straight NL East crowns and NLCS heartbreaks

After two decades in the wilderness, the Pirates returned to October with three consecutive Wild Card berths from 2013 to 2015, winning 94, 88, and 98 games respectively behind Andrew McCutchen and one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.

Awards & Honors

Pirates players have collected some of baseball's most prestigious individual honors:

Most Valuable Player Awards

  • 1960 — Dick Groat (SS)
  • 1966 — Roberto Clemente (RF)
  • 1979 — Willie Stargell (1B, co-MVP with Keith Hernandez)
  • 1990 — Barry Bonds (LF)
  • 1992 — Barry Bonds (LF)
  • 2013 — Andrew McCutchen (CF)

Cy Young Awards

  • 1960 — Vern Law
  • 1990 — Doug Drabek
Roberto Clemente's 1966 MVP season: .317 average, 29 home runs, 119 RBI — and, as always, defensive play in right field that redefined the position. He remains the standard by which right fielders are judged.

Retired Numbers

The Pirates have retired nine numbers, honoring the franchise's greatest contributors:

  • 1 — Billy Meyer (manager)
  • 4 — Ralph Kiner (LF)
  • 8 — Willie Stargell (1B/LF)
  • 9 — Bill Mazeroski (2B)
  • 11 — Paul Waner (RF)
  • 20 — Pie Traynor (3B)
  • 21 — Roberto Clemente (RF)
  • 33 — Honus Wagner (SS)
  • 40 — Danny Murtaugh (manager)

Additionally, Jackie Robinson's No. 42 is retired across all of Major League Baseball.