Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania based Pittsburgh Pirates is a Major League
baseball team. It’s one of the six teams in National
League’s Central Division.
History
of Pittsburgh Pirates
Established
in 1882, Pittsburgh Pirates was called Pittsburgh Allegheneys
for 3 years between 1887 and 1889. In 1890 the Pittsburgh
Pirates was also known as Pittsburgh Innocents. The team got
its present name in 1891. Pittsburgh Pirates played their
first match on April 30, 1887 as Pittsburgh Allegheneys.
The
team couldn’t pick up a single title during the years 1887
and 1900. The skilled and enthusiastic basemen took the team
to 2nd slot in 1900. There’s no exaggeration in
saying that National League was completely ruled by Pittsburgh
Pirates between 1901 and 1927. Pittsburgh Pirates got six
Pennants in 1901-03, 1909, 1925 & 1927. They also made
four post-season appearances in 1903, 1909, 1925 & 1927
and clinched the World Championship twice
in 1909 & 1925.
Pittsburgh
Pirates continued to play well but couldn’t get any title
for the next 30 years. The dominant era of the team was during
1960 to 1980 as the Pirates went on winning several League
matches. In 1960, 1971 and 1979, the team got three World
Titles & three Pennants. The team conquered six division
titles in 1970-72, 1974-75 and 1979 whereas they made 7
post-season appearances during 1960, 1970-72, 1974-75 and
1979.
The
performance of the Pittsburgh Pirates started declining from
1980s and they went on losing several games. Though, they have
won three Division titles continuously between 1990 and 1992,
the Pittsburgh Pirates are still waiting for a World
Championship ever since their last victory in 1979.
Some
of Hall of Famers of Pittsburgh Pirates includes names such as
Jim Bunning, Max Carey, Jake Beckley, Jack Chesbro, Joe Cronin
and Fred Clarke. Some of the retired numbers of the Pittsburgh
Pirates are Billy Meyer #1, Ralph Kiner #4,Willie Stargel #8,
Pie Trayner #20 and Honus Wagner #33.
Stadium
History of Pittsburgh Pirates
Recreation
Park was the first ballpark for the Pittsburgh Pirates where
they played from 1887 to 1890. In 1891, the Pirates shifted to
the Exposition Park and stayed at that place till 1909.
In
1909, they were moved to the Forbes Field and continued to
play there for 62 years. The Pittsburgh Pirates team then
shifted to the Three River Stadium in 1970 and stayed there
till 2000. After the Three River Stadium the Pirates moved to
the newly opened PNC Park in 2001, which is still home for the
Pittsburgh Pirates.
An
exhibition game was held on 31 March 2001 between New York
Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the PNC Park. On April 9,
2001, the Pirates team played their first match at PNC Park
against Cincinnati Reds. The park offers a classic view to
spectators. It also offers parking facilities from any side of
the park. The park is accessible from the Roberto Clemente
Bridge from city center Pittsburgh or simply a ferry can be
hired to get to the PNC Park.
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