Pirates Archives - Franchise Phenoms

All-Time Pirates Team

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).

2019 Hall of Fame Ballot (1-2)

Hall of Fame election season is upon us! As members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America begin to publicize their ballots, we will gain a clearer understanding of this winter’s landscape leading into a January announcement of the class of 2019.

Jay Jaffe’s JAWS system has become the closest thing to an accepted standard by which we can compare current candidates to players who have already been enshrined in Cooperstown.

Today we continue our break down of the top-25 players on the 2019 Hall of Fame Ballot.

Check out the previous installments in the series:

Players 3-5 by JAWS. Curt Schilling, Mike Mussina, and Larry Walker

Players 6-8 by JAWS. Roy Halladay, Scott Rolen, and Edgar Martinez

Players 9-10 by JAWS. Manny Ramirez and Andruw Jones

Players 11-15 by JAWS. Todd Helton, Sammy Sosa, Gary Sheffield, Andy Pettite, and Lance Berkman

Players 16-20 by JAWS. Jeff Kent, Roy Oswalt, Fred McGriff, Mariano Rivera, and Miguel Tejada

Players 21-25 by JAWS. Placido Polanco, Omar Vizquel, Kevin Youkilis, Derek Lowe, and Freddy Garcia

2. Roger Clemens

JAWS: 102.8 (61.8 Average HOF SP)

Roger Clemens was born in Dayton, Ohio. When he was as sophomore in high school, he moved to Sugar Land, Texas. After graduating from Spring Woods High School in Houston, Clemens attended San Jacinto Junior College before transferring to the University of Texas. After two excellent seasons at Texas, the Boston Red Sox selected him 19th overall in the 1983 draft.

As an advanced college arm, Clemens rose quickly through the Boston system. He made his big league debut in May, 1984. Clemens quickly established himself as one of the most promising young arms in the game.

By 1986, Clemens ascended to the top of the baseball world. In 33 starts, he led the league in wins (24), ERA (2.48), and WHIP (0.97). The Red Sox cruised to the A.L. East title and advanced to the World Series before losing to the Mets. He was the unanimous A.L. Cy Young winner and took 19 of 28 first-place votes for MVP to secure that honor as well.

Clemens was again dominant in 1987. In 36 starts, he finished with a 2.97 ERA and 256 strikeouts in 281.2 innings. He led the league in wins (20), complete games (18), shutouts (7), FIP (2.91), and strikeout/walk ratio (3.08). He received 21 of 28 first-place votes to win his second straight Cy Young.

In his late-20s, Clemens would solidify his legacy as one of the best pitchers in Red Sox history. From 1988-1992, Clemens posted an average line of 253 innings, 18 wins, 236 strikeouts, 2.62 ERA, 159 ERA+, 2.53 FIP, and 8.0 bWAR. He was an All Star in four of the five seasons and finished sixth, or better, in the Cy Young voting in each of his All Star seasons.

The Red Sox won the A.L. East in both 1988 and 1990. Both times they were swept by the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS.

Clemens won his third, and final, Cy Young with the Red Sox in 1991. He led the league in ERA (2.62), innings (271.1), strikeouts (241), and ERA+ (165).

From 1993-1996, Clemens clearly slowed down a bit as he entered his 30s. He was healthy enough to average 186 innings per season, and effective enough to post a 130 ERA+ over that stretch. Although he was still one of the best pitchers in the game, he appeared to be trending the wrong direction.

When Clemens hit the open-market as a free agent after the 1996 season, both he and the team seemed ready for a change. The best Red Sox pitcher since Cy Young signed a three-year contract with the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays.

Toronto

Clearly motivated by the doubters in Boston, and nationwide, Clemens responded in a big way. During his two seasons with Toronto, he was again the best pitcher in baseball. Clemens won back-to-back Cy Youngs for the second time in his career winning 41 games and posting an absurd 196 ERA+ in the process.

Even with the best pitcher on the planet, Toronto failed to make the playoffs in 1997-1998. With just one year remaining on his contract, Toronto dealt Clemens to the New York Yankees just before the 1999 season.

New York

From 1999-2003, Clemens alternated brilliance and mediocrity in New York. He averaged 114 ERA+ over that stretch and was twice an All Star. He won his sixth Cy Young on the strength of a 20-3 record in 2001.

The Yankees made the postseason every year, and advanced to the World Series four times. In 1999 and 2000, Roger Clemens helped pitch Boston’s greatest rival to World Series championships. It was salt in the wounds of a Red Sox Nation still burdened by the Curse of the Bambino.

Houston

A free agent again after 2003, Clemens was headed for his age-41 season. Although it appeared he would retire, Clemens instead opted to follow his friend and teammate Andy Pettitte to the Houston Astros.

Clemens took to the National League very well, compiling a 38-18 record and 180 ERA+ over three seasons in Houston. He won his seventh, and final, Cy Young in 2004. He was just the fourth player at the time to win the award in both leagues. He helped pitch the Astros to their first World Series appearance in franchise history in 2005, but they were swept by the Chicago White Sox.

Semi-Retirement and Retirement

By 2006, Clemens was looking for opportunities to pitch for contenders with reduced overall levels of commitment as he apparently contemplated outright retirement. Both 2006 with Houston, and 2007 in a return engagement with the Yankees, were shortened seasons in which Clemens did not pitch until June.

Although he was still effective in these reduced seasons, the rigors of his brilliant 24-year career had taken their toll.

Roger Clemens retired after the 2007 season.

Hall of Fame?

Roger Clemens is one of the few pitchers in history for whom you could make a legitimate case as the best hurler of all-time.

Over his incredible 24 seasons in the big leagues, Clemens cemented his place among baseball’s all-time greats.

Roger Clemens won seven Cy Young awards, the most in history. His 139.0 bWAR as a pitcher is third-most in history, and the most since integration. He is third all-time with 4672 strikeouts, and ninth in wins at 354.

For all of his on-field brilliance, Clemens is held back by a variety of other factors that have cast a dark cloud over his legacy. His personal temperament and character have been called into question in a variety of contexts. On the baseball side specifically, the court of public opinion has pretty clearly judged him guilty of steroid use during his career as well.

Each new round of Hall of Fame balloting has the potential to provide new information for how the public perception of his career may, or may not, be changing. Clemens climbed to 57.3% of the ballot in 2018. With four years remaining, it is unclear whether or not he will be able to make up the precious ground needed to get him to the 75% mark required for enshrinement in Cooperstown.

As the baseball world continues to try to sort through the mess left in the aftermath of the Steroid Era, Clemens’s legacy remains in limbo. Regardless of one’s personal opinion on how to judge these players, Roger Clemens is one of the most accomplished pitchers in big league history. However you choose to remember him, he will be remembered. In the end, that may be all that’s left for the Rocket.

1. Barry Bonds

JAWS: 117.8 (53.5 Average HOF LF)

Barry Bonds was born into Major League Baseball. The son of All Star outfielder Bobby Bonds, Barry was a second round pick of the San Francisco Giants out of Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo in 1982. When the Bonds family and the Giants ended up $5,000 apart in the negotiations for his signing bonus, Barry enrolled at Arizona State. After an excellent career for the Sun Devils, Barry was drafted sixth overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1985. Bonds began the 1986 season in Triple-A, but was in the big leagues by June.

Bonds immediately established himself as one of the best all around players in the game. His broad base of tools and skills allowed him to average 124 OPS+ and 5.9 bWAR from 1986-1989. Although the Pirates turned in just one winning season in his first four, Bonds emerged as the center piece of a young, talented roster that would dominate the N.L. East in the early 90s.

1990 marked the first of three straight N.L. East championships for the Pirates. Each time they were defeated in the NLCS, first by the Cincinnati Reds, then by the Atlanta Braves in back-to-back seasons. Bonds won his first MVP award in 1990 when he led the league in slugging (.565) and OPS+ (170) while hitting 33 homers and stealing 52 bases. In 1991, he followed it up with league leading marks in OBP (.410) and OPS+ (160) en route to a second place MVP finish. In 1992, he won his second MVP after leading the league in runs (109), walks (127), OBP (.456), slugging (.624), and OPS+ (204).

San Francisco

When Barry Bonds hit free agency after the 1992 season, he was unquestionably the best player available. Entering his age-28 season, he was still young, but his personality, and asking price, limited the number of teams willing to pursue him. The new ownership group in San Francisco signed Bonds to the largest contract in baseball at $43 million over six years.

In San Francisco, Bonds remained one of the most transcendent players in the game. Over the life of his initial contract from 1993-1998, Bonds averaged .307/.445/.617, 182 OPS+, 39 homers, and 32 stolen bases. He was an All Star each season, and won his third MVP in 1993. Despite his brilliant performance, the Giants reached the playoffs just once, a division championship followed by first round defeat in 1997.

Following the 1998 home run craze, baseball had clearly undergone a paradigm shift. The high tide of offensive explosion experienced league wide during the previous decade swept the nation, including Barry Bonds.

By 2000, Bonds, now 35, was poised to take his game to another level. From 2000-2004, Bonds averaged .339/.535/.781, 241 OPS+, 52 homers, 174 walks, and 10.2 bWAR. It was the most utterly dominant stretch of offensive play in baseball history. He won the MVP each year from 2001-2004. The Giants made the playoffs in 2000, 2002, and 2003, peaking with an N.L. pennant in 2002.

Old age and injuries slowed Bonds into his 40s. Although no longer the otherworldly force he had been earlier in the decade, he was still among the best hitters in the game. In his final three seasons, from 2005-2007, Bonds averaged .274/.464/.561, 163 OPS+, but just 90 games. After he broke Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record in late 2007, his career came to an ignominious end. With mounting legal troubles presenting an ever-present cloud over his play, Bonds was not offered a contract to play in 2008. Despite coming off a season in which he led the league in walks (132), and OBP (.480), Barry Bonds never played again.

Hall of Fame?

Barry Bonds is arguably the best player to ever play Major League Baseball. His 162.8 bWAR is fourth best in history, and the highest of any player since integration. His seven MVP awards are the most in history (no other player has more than three). He is baseball’s all-time leader in home runs (762), and walks (2,558). He ranks in the top five in a host of other categories.

Like Clemens, the entirety of the argument around Bonds’s place in baseball history is centered on his steroid use during his peak seasons.

Bonds and Clemens are both trending fairly well in the ballots that have been made publicly available so far. Unfortunately, they have not gained much support from returning voters, a metric which pretty clearly indicates that many are not changing their opinions on the candidacies of two of the game’s greatest players.

The symmetry of their careers and candidacies is remarkable. Each player has a claim to the title of best player in history on his respective side of the ball. Each player dominated the game on a level that may never be matched. In the end, their fates are inextricably tied together. They have trended almost identically in the Hall of Fame balloting, and it’s not hard to see that this is a neither, or both, proposition with respect to Cooperstown.

For Hall of Fame junkies, there is perhaps no more important issue to monitor over the coming years.