Pittsburgh Pirates - A brief timeline
Way back in the year 1891 the baseball team formally known as the Allegheny’s was changed to the Pittsburgh Pirates when 2nd baseman Louis Bierbauer was signed. The MLB team played their first game on April 22, 1891 at Exposition Park which is not far from the current stadium PNC Park. In 1901 this organization wins their first national league pennant. In 1902 they do it again with a remarkable 103-36, wins finishing 271/2 games ahead of second place Brooklyn. In 1903 they travel to Boston and Deacon Phillippe defeats the legendary Cy Young as the Pittsburgh Pirates down the hometown Boston Americans7-3, in the first World Series game in baseball history.
October 6, A crowd of 18,801 fills Exposition Park as the Pirates defeat the Boston Americans, 4-2, in the first World Series game played at home. Boston, however, emerges as the Series winner, overcoming a three game deficit to win the best of nine competitions, five games to three. The Pittsburgh Pirates were the first team to use tarp to cover the field to protect it from rain. On October 16, 1909 a World Series showdown between two of baseballs premiere players, Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb. The Pittsburgh Pirates win over the Detroit tigers 8-0 in game seven and go on to win the World Series for the first time.
October 15 1925, The Pittsburgh Pirates win their second world championship at Forbes Field mostly thanks to an eighth inning two out bases loaded double by Kiki Cuyler. The baseball writers elect Honus Wagner to join the greats Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Cristy Mathewson and Walter Johnson to enter the new Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier ion 1947 becoming the first African American baseball player and in 1954 on April 13 the rookie first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Curt Roberts became the first African American to play for them.
In game seven of the World Series on October 13, 1960 at Forbes field, Bill Mazeroski hits a dramatic bottom of the ninth homerun to break the 9-9 tie with the Yankees and bring the third world championship home. Ground breaking ceremonies took place on April 25, 1968 for Three Rivers Stadium which was to be the new home for the Pittsburgh Pirates (and Steelers). The first game at three rivers stadium took place on July 16 -1970-The Pittsburgh Pirates take the field in revolutionary double knit uniforms, and leave the field 3-2 losers to the Cincinnati Reds. October 17, 1971 the Pittsburgh Pirates win their fourth world championship. The largest crowd turned out to Three Rivers Stadium when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the 65th All-Star Game. The National league would win 8-7.Another groundbreaking took place on April 7, 1999 at PNC park, and on October 1, 2000 with an attendance of 55,351 the largest ever to see a regular season game the Pittsburgh Pirates would play their last game at Three Rivers Stadium. April 9 2001 the first game is played at PNC Park, the fifth home of this franchise. They look forward to a great 2006 season as I am sure you will agree. If you would like to attend a game, tickets are available online, or just want some news about the bay area team. Please respect the team’s privacy.