After a break for some Hall of Fame chatter, we’re back to our series on All-Time Teams with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Franchise Overview
The Pittsburgh Pirates originated in 1882 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the American Association. In 1887, the Alleghenys joined the National League. They changed their name to the Pirates in 1891. Only the Braves, and Cubs have played more big league seasons than the Pirates.
The Pirates .504 franchise winning percentage is 10th best in history. They also rank 10th in history with 17 playoff appearances.
Given their comparatively long history, however, the picture isn’t quite so pretty. The Pirates rank just 20th in playoff appearance percentage. They have reached the postseason in just 12.41% of their total seasons.
Only six teams have won more World Series championships than Pittsburgh’s five (1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, 1979).
The Pirates were once the class of the National League, making six playoff appearances in the 1970s.
Recent years have been tougher. The Pirates have made the playoffs just six times since their last World Series in 1979. They have only four winning seasons since their last NLCS appearance in 1992. From 1993-2012, the Pirates had 20 straight losing seasons, and were generally regarded as one of the worst teams in the game.
Hitters
| Starting Lineup | Name | Position | B/T | bWAR/650 | OPS+ | Years Played |
| 1. | Arky Vaughan | 3B (SS) | L/R | 6.9 | 141 | 1932-41 |
| 2. | Honus Wagner | SS (RF/3B/1B) | R/R | 7.9 | 154 | 1900-17 |
| 3. | Willie Stargell | 1B (LF) | L/L | 4.2 | 147 | 1962-82 |
| 4. | Ralph Kiner | LF | R/R | 6.2 | 157 | 1973-83 |
| 5. | Roberto Clemente | CF (RF) | R/R | 6.1 | 130 | 1955-72 |
| 6. | Paul Waner | RF | L/L | 4.8 | 136 | 1926-40 |
| 7. | Jason Kendall | C | R/R | 3.9 | 108 | 1996-2004 |
| 8. | Bill Mazeroski | 2B | R/R | 2.9 | 84 | 1956-72 |
| 9. | Pitcher | P | ||||
| Bench | ||||||
| OF | Fred Clarke | LF | L/R | 5.0 | 136 | 1900-15 |
| OF | Max Carey | CF/LF/RF | S/R | 3.7 | 111 | 1910-26 |
| OF | Andrew McCutchen | CF/RF | R/R | 4.5 | 136 | 2009-17 |
| IN | Pie Traynor | 3B | R/R | 2.9 | 107 | 1920-37 |
| IN | Bob Elliott | 3B/RF | R/R | 3.4 | 119 | 1939-46 |
| C | Manny Sanguillen | C | R/R | 3.7 | 105 | 1967-76, 78-80 |
The Pirates have a long tradition of excellent offensive players. Their hitters have the eighth best average OPS+ among all-time teams.
The five best players in Pittsburgh history by bWAR are all position players, including two of the game’s inner-circle icons.
Swashbuckling Superstars
Shortstop Honus Wagner is arguably the best shortstop in baseball history. Wagner played 18 seasons in Pittsburgh during which time he established his legacy as one of the best all around players of all-time.
Wagner won eight batting titles. He paced the National League in a variety of categories at different points in his career including doubles (7x), slugging (6x), OBP (4x), RBI (4x), stolen bases (4x), triples (3x), hits (2x), and runs (2x).
Wagner’s 130.8 bWAR is 10th in history. He is also in the all-time top-10 in triples (3rd), putouts at shortstop (4th), hits (8th), doubles (9th), and stolen bases (10th). He was also a driving force behind the Pirates 1909 World Series championship.
Roberto Clemente starts in center field despite playing most of his career in right. Clemente played his entire 18-year career in Pittsburgh. He was a National League All Star in 12 different seasons, and won 12 Gold Gloves. He was one of the best players on two World Series teams more than a decade apart in 1960 and 1971.
Clemente won the 1966 NL MVP, and finished in the top-10 seven other times. He won four batting titles in addition to leading the league in hits twice, and triples once.
Clemente played more games in right field than any other player in history. He ranks second all time in assists and putouts at the position.
His tragic death on New Years Eve, 1972 cut short the career of one of the most spectacular players of his generation. It also established a lasting legacy of community service that lives on in the Roberto Clemente Award.
The Rest of the Infield
Hall of Famer Arky Vaughan would have a case to be the starting shortstop on virtually every other franchise’s all-time team. Here he defers to the best in history, and slides over to third base. In 10 seasons with the Pirates, Vaughan was an eight-time All Star who had two third place MVP finishes. He led the league in OBP, walks, runs, and triples three times each. In 1935, he paced the NL in every triple-slash category with a .385/.491/.607 line, good for 190 OPS+.
Hall of Famer Willie Stargell starts at first base. Pops played his entire 21-year career with the Pirates. One of the most feared sluggers of his generation, Stargell was a seven-time All Star. He paced the NL in homers and OPS+ twice during his career. He also led the league in slugging, doubles, and RBI once each. Stargell was the 1979 NL MVP and had six other top-10 finishes. He was regarded as one of the best players on Pittsburgh’s World Series winners in 1971 and 1979.
Second baseman Bill Mazeroski rounds out Pittsburgh’s Hall of Fame infield. Maz played his entire 17-year career for the Pirates. He made the All Star team in seven different seasons. One of the finest defensive second basemen in history, Maz won eight Gold Gloves. He ranks 5th in career assists at second base, and 7th in putouts. Like Clemente, he contributed to both the 1960 and 1971 championships.
Jason Kendall starts behind the plate. Kendall spent nine seasons in Pittsburgh, and was a three-time All Star for the Pirates. A gritty player who endeared himself to fans, he had 31 HBP in back-to-back seasons, leading the league in 1998.
The Rest of the Outfield
Hall of Famer Paul Waner starts in right field. He ranks third in Pirates history with 68.3 bWAR in 15 seasons. Waner was a four-time All Star who won three batting titles. He led the league twice each in runs, hits, doubles, and triples. He was the 1927 National League MVP and had four other top-10 finishes.
Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner gets the nod in left. Kiner’s entire career lasted just 10 years, eight of which were in Pittsburgh. Despite his relatively brief tenure, Kiner was truly dominate with the Pirates. He led the league in homers every season from 1946-1952. During that same stretch, he also led the league in OPS+, walks, and slugging three times each, and OBP, runs, and RBI once each. He was an All Star in six straight seasons, and had five straight top-10 MVP finishes.
Bench
Hall of Fame outfielder Fred Clarke narrowly missed the starting lineup. In 15 seasons with the Pirates, Clarke led the league in OPS+ twice as well as doubles, triples, walks, and slugging once each. Clarke was one of the best hitters on the 1909 championship team. As the club’s manager from 1900-1915, Clarke amassed 1,422 wins, a .595 winning percentage, four NL pennants, and the 1909 World Series, making him the most successful manager in franchise history as well.
Hall of Fame outfielder Max Carey played 17 seasons in Pittsburgh. He is 9th in history with 738 stolen bases. 688 of them came as a member of the Pirates, making him the franchise’s all-time leader. He received MVP votes three times, and was one of the best players on the 1925 World Series winner.
Andrew McCutchen rounds out the Pirates star-studded outfield corps. Cutch played nine seasons in Pittsburgh, and fueled three straight playoff teams from 2012-2015. He made five straight All Star teams while winning four Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove, from 2011-2015. McCutchen finished in the top-five of the MVP voting every year from 2012-2015, winning the award in 2013. He led the league in OPS+, OBP, and hits once each during his career.
Hall of Fame third baseman Pie Traynor had six top-10 MVP finishes in 17 seasons with the Pirates. Traynor was an All Star in 1933-34. His 19 triples led the league in 1923. Like Carey, Traynor was a driving force behind the 1925 championship. Like Clarke, he also served as the club’s manager. From 1934-39, Traynor amassed a 457-406 record as the Pirates skipper.
Bob Elliott spent eight seasons playing third base and right field for the Pirates. He was a three-time All Star and finished in the top-10 for MVP thrice as well. Elliott made three more All Star appearances, and won the 1947 MVP after the Pirates traded him to the Boston Braves.
Manny Sanguillen spent 12 seasons behind the plate in Pittsburgh. He was a three-time All Star for the Pirates. Sanguillen anchored the great Pirates teams of the 1970s, including the 1971 champions. He was a role-player on the 1979 champs as well. Sanguillen ranks fourth all-time in bWAR among players born in Panama.
Pitchers
| Starting Rotation | Name | B/T | ERA+ | Years Played | ||
| 1. | Wilbur Cooper | R/L | 120 | 1912-24 | ||
| 2. | Sam Leever | R/R | 123 | 1898-1910 | ||
| 3. | Babe Adams | L/R | 118 | 1907-26 | ||
| 4. | John Candelaria | L/L | 117 | 1975-85, 93 | ||
| 5. | Bob Friend | R/R | 108 | 1951-65 | ||
| Bullpen | ||||||
| LR | Roy Face | R/R | 110 | 1953-68 | ||
| RP | Al McBean | R/R | 113 | 1961-68, 70 | ||
| RP | Mike Williams | R/R | 119 | 1998-2003 | ||
| RP | Salomon Torres | R/R | 120 | 2002-07 | ||
| SU | Dave Giusti | R/R | 121 | 1970-76 | ||
| CL | Kent Tekulve | R/R | 139 | 1974-85 |
Pittsburgh’s all-time pitching staff lacks the star power of its every day lineup. The average ERA+ of the Pirates starting rotation ranks just 20th among all-time teams. They are also the oldest team without a single Hall of Fame pitcher on its all-time staff.
Starting Rotation
Left-hander Wilbur Cooper spent 13 seasons with the Pirates. Cooper had four 20-win campaigns. He is Pittsburgh’s all-time leader in wins (202) and complete games (263).
Sam Leever spent his entire 13-year career in Pittsburgh. The 5-10 right-hander worked a league-leading 379 innings in 1899. In 1903, he won the ERA Title at 2.06; his 159 ERA+ was also best in the NL.
Curve ball specialist, Babe Adams spent 19 seasons in Pittsburgh. Between 1911-1922, Adams led the league in WHIP five times, FIP, BB/9, and K/BB four times each, and ERA+ once. He is the Pirates all-time leader in pitching bWAR (49.8), and shutouts (44). He was a member of the starting rotation for the 1909 World Champs, and hung around long enough to contribute to the 1925 team as well.
Lefty John Candelaria pitched 12 seasons for the Pirates. The “Candy Man” enjoyed a career-year in 1977. He went 20-5 and led the NL with a 2.34 ERA, and 169 ERA+. It was his only All Star season, and the only year in which he earned Cy Young and MVP votes. Despite the lack of league-wide recognition in subsequent years, he was the best pitcher on Pittsburgh’s 1979 championship team.
Right-hander Bob Friend made the All Star team in three of his 15 seasons with the Pirates. A consummate workhorse during his career, Friend is the Pirates all-time leader in starts (477), innings (3,480.1), and strikeouts (1,682). He led the league in innings twice, and wins, ERA+, FIP, and K/BB once each during his career. He finished third in the 1958 Cy Young voting. Friend was the ace of the 1960 World Series championship rotation.
Bullpen
Pittsburgh’s all-time bullpen is even less impressive than its starting rotation. The average 120 ERA+ of the team’s all-time relief corps ranks 29th overall.
Kent Tekulve is Pittsburgh’s all-time closer. In 12 seasons with the Pirates, Tekulve led the league in appearances, and games finished, three times. He finished fifth in the Cy Young voting in both 1978-79, and was an All Star in 1980. He earned saves in three of the four Pirates wins in the 1979 World Series. His 158 saves rank second in Pirates history.
After six seasons as a mediocre starter with Houston, right-hander Dave Giusti became one of the best relievers in baseball. In seven seasons with the Pirates, Giusti had three top-10 Cy Young finishes. In 1971, he led the league with 30 saves for the NL East champs. During the playoffs, Giusti hurled 10.2 scoreless innings, and earned three saves, to help the Pirates to a World Series title. He was an All Star in 1973.
Once a top prospect in the Giants system, Salomon Torres washed out of American affiliated baseball from ages 26-29. At 30, after a stint in Korea, he resurfaced with the Pirates. In six seasons with Pittsburgh, Torres was one of the most durable, and underrated, relievers in the National League. He led the league with 94 appearances in 2006.
Like Torres, Mike Williams took the long route to big league stardom. A 14th round draft pick in 1990, Williams was on his third organization by the time he emerged as a stellar reliever with the Pirates at age 29. Williams spent six seasons in Pittsburgh, including five as the primary closer. He was an All Star in 2002-2003.
Right-hander Al McBean spent nine seasons with the Pirates. Working primarily out of the bullpen, McBean hurled 1016 above-average innings. He is the most accomplished pitcher in history from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Roy Face gets the final spot in Pittsburgh’s bullpen. An under-sized right-hander, Face spent 15 seasons in Pittsburgh. As a member of the Pirates, he led the league in games finished four times, saves thrice, and appearances twice. In 1959, he finished an incredible 18-1 without starting a game. He was an All Star each season from 1959-61. In 1960, Face helped pitch Pittsburgh to a World Series title, saving three of the four wins over the Yankees. He is Pittsburgh’s all-time leader in saves (186), and games finished (547).