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