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Baseball Teams - National League Central


Pittsburgh Pirates

Team's name: Pittsburgh Pirates
League: National League
Division: Central Pittsburgh Pirates
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Nickname:
The Pirates,
The Bucs,
The Buccos, Battlin' Bucs,
Fam-a-lee/Family
Mascot: Captain Jolly Roger
Team Colours:
Black, Gold and Red accent
Joined the League: 1887
Team's President: Frank Coonelly
Baseball Manager: John Russell
Baseball Field: PNC Park
Current Capacity: 38,496
First Year of Baseball: 1882

League Titles:
NL Pennants: 1901, '02, '03, '09, '25, '27, '60, '71, '79
Central Div: 0
East Div: 1970, '71, '72, '74, '75, '79, '90, '91, '92
World Series: 1909, '25, '60, '71, '79

Founded in 1882, the Pittsburgh Pirates are members of the National League’s Central division. The team is also known as the “Bucs” or “Buccos.” Overall, the Pirates have claimed several division titles, pennants, and five World Series titles – the first in 1909, the latest in 1979.

The first decades of the 20th century were difficult ones for the team. With the decline of the prominent shortstop Honus Wagner, the team dropped to a horrendous 51-103 record in 1917. By the 1920s, however, the Pirates had recovered, and claimed the 1925 World Series after defeating the Washington Senators - now known as the Minnesota Twins. Two years later, the Pirates would reach the World Series again but would be swept by the New York Yankees.

The post-World War II years saw a return to the bottom. The team compiled one of the worst records in major league history in 1952, with a record of 42-112 even though the famed Branch Rickey was hired as manager after 1950. Although he had brought success to the St. Louis Cardinals and the LA Dodgers, his farming system went unnoticed for the next years, and he retired in 1955 with the Pirates still in the cellar.

The 1970s brought some success to the Pirates, and they won the World Series against Baltimore in 1971. In 1975 and ’76, the Pirates again hit the postseason, although they lost to the LA Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds in each year. Finally, in 1979, the team defeated the Montreal Expos - now the Washington Nationals - to claim the pennant, and then went on to face – and defeat – the Baltimore Orioles for the World Series title.

In the 1980s, the team gained a reputation as one of the worst in the league, but in the 1990s the Pirates would win three division titles, breaking a 16-year losing streak.

In 2001, the team hired manager Dave Littlefield, who began trading some of the team’s more expensive – and talented – players. Unsurprisingly, then, in 2007, the Pirates finished with a record of 68-94, last in the NL Central.  Littlefield was fired, and the team’s entire administration was modified.

In 2008, the Pirates again were left in last place, with a record of 67-95 and a .414 winning percentage.

 

Pittsburgh 2009 Roster

Pitchers
NO. NAME POS BAT THW AGE HT WT
17  Sean Burnett  RP  26  6-1  200 
55  Matt Capps  RP  25  6-2  245 
43  Jesse Chavez  RP  25  6-2  170 
34  John Grabow  RP  30  6-2  205 
38  Craig Hansen  RP  25  6-6  226 
47  Evan Meek  RP  25  6-0  220 
49  Ross Ohlendorf  RP  26  6-4  235 
--  Jeff Sues  RP  25  6-4  228 
--  Ronald Uviedo  RP  22  6-1  158 
30  Tyler Yates  RP  31  6-4  250 
--  Jimmy Barthmaier  SP  25  6-5  215 
--  Dave Davidson  SP  24  6-1  200 
57  Zach Duke  SP  25  6-2  205 
32  Phil Dumatrait  SP  27  6-2  200 
--  Tom Gorzelanny  SP  26  6-2  202 
27  Jeff Karstens  SP  26  6-3  185 
28  Paul Maholm  SP  26  6-2  224 
45  Ian Snell  SP  27  5-11  198 
--  Virgil Vasquez  SP  26  6-3  205 
56  Donnie Veal  SP  24  6-4  230 
Catchers
NO. NAME POS BAT THW AGE HT WT
--  Robinzon Diaz  25  5-11  220 
41  Ryan Doumit  28  6-1  215 
35  Jason Jaramillo  26  6-0  200 
--  Steve Lerud  24  6-1  210 
Infielders
NO. NAME POS BAT THW AGE HT WT
--  Pedro Alvarez  3B  22  6-3  234 
--  Brian Bixler  SS  26  6-1  195 
36  Luis Cruz  SS  25  6-1  213 
25  Adam LaRoche  1B  29  6-3  203 
15  Andy LaRoche  3B  25  6-1  210 
12  Freddy Sanchez  2B  31  5-10  189 
Ramon Vazquez  3B  32  5-11  170 
--  Neil Walker  3B  23  6-3  215 
Jack Wilson  SS  31  6-0  200 
Outfielders
NO. NAME POS BAT THW AGE HT WT
16  Eric Hinske  RF  31  6-2  235 
13  Nate McLouth  CF  27  5-11  180 
18  Craig Monroe  LF  32  6-1  215 
Nyjer Morgan  LF  28  6-0  175 
44  Brandon Moss  LF  25  6-0  205 
--  Steve Pearce  RF  25  5-11  214 
--  Jose Tabata  LF  20  5-11  215 

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