List of Pittsburgh Pirates seasons
The Pittsburgh Pirates have completed 132 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) since joining the National League (NL) in 1887. Through 2018, they have played 20,256 regular season games, winning 10,240 and losing 10,016, for a winning percentage of .506. The Pirates are also a combined total of 43—53 (.448) in post-season play. Prior to joining the National League in 1887 the franchise compiled a record of 236—296 (.444) in five seasons of the American Association.[1]
This list documents the season-by-season records of the Pirates’ franchise including their years as the “Alleghenies”[l] (alternately spelled Alleghenys[1]). The Pirates moved from the American Association to the National League after owner William Nimick became upset over a contract dispute, thus establishing the extant franchise.[2] The team currently plays home games at PNC Park which they moved into in 2001. Prior to PNC Park, the Pirates played home games at Three Rivers Stadium and Forbes Field, among other stadiums.[3]
In 1903, the Pirates were defeated by the Boston Americans in the first World Series. The Pirates returned to and won the World Series in 1909, over the Detroit Tigers. Since then the Pirates have won World Series in 1925, 1960, 1971, and 1979. In addition to these five World Series victories the Pirates have won nine National League pennants and qualified for the playoffs fifteen times,[1] six of which were during a run of twelve winning seasons between 1969 and 1980.
The franchise's original colors were red and blue, which were switched to black and gold—colors that all professional Pittsburgh sports franchises now share[4][5]—for the 1948 season.[6]
Table key
NLCS |
National League Championship Series |
NLDS |
National League Division Series |
ASGMVP |
All-Star Game Most Valuable Player |
CPOY |
Comeback Player of the Year |
CYA |
Cy Young Award |
Finish |
Final position in league or division |
GB |
"Games Back" from first-place team[a] |
Losses |
Number of regular season losses |
MOY |
Manager of the Year |
MVP |
Most Valuable Player |
ROY |
National League Rookie of the Year |
Season |
Each year is linked to an article about that particular MLB season |
Team |
Each year is linked to an article about that particular Yankees season |
Wins |
Number of regular season wins |
WSMVP |
World Series Most Valuable Player |
Season by season
World Series Champions (1903–present) † |
National League Champions (1883–present) * |
Division Champions (1969–present) ^ |
Wild card Berth (1994–present) ¤ |
MLB season |
Team season |
League | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | Post-season | Awards[7] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh Alleghenys | |||||||||||
1882[6] | 1882 | AA | 4th | 39 | 39 | .500 | 15 | ||||
1883 | 1883 | AA | 7th | 31 | 67 | .316 | 35 | ||||
1884 | 1884 | AA | 11th | 30 | 78 | .278 | 45½ | ||||
1885 | 1885 | AA | 3rd | 56 | 55 | .505 | 22½ | ||||
1886 | 1886 | AA | 2nd | 80 | 57 | .584 | 12 | ||||
1887 | 1887 | NL | 6th | 55 | 69 | .444 | 24 | ||||
1888 | 1888 | NL | 6th | 66 | 68 | .493 | 19½ | ||||
1889 | 1889 | NL | 5th | 61 | 71 | .462 | 25 | ||||
1890 | 1890[n] | NL | 8th | 23 | 113 | .169 | 66½ | ||||
Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||||||||
1891 | 1891[o] | NL | 8th | 55 | 80 | .407 | 30½ | ||||
1892 | 1892 | NL | 6th | 80 | 73 | .523 | 23½ | ||||
1893 | 1893 | NL | 2nd | 81 | 48 | .628 | 5 | ||||
1894 | 1894 | NL | 7th | 65 | 65 | .500 | 25 | ||||
1895 | 1895 | NL | 7th | 71 | 61 | .538 | 17 | ||||
1896 | 1896 | NL | 6th | 66 | 63 | .512 | 24 | ||||
1897 | 1897 | NL | 8th | 60 | 71 | .458 | 32½ | ||||
1898 | 1898 | NL | 8th | 72 | 76 | .486 | 29½ | ||||
1899 | 1899 | NL | 7th | 76 | 73 | .510 | 25½ | ||||
1900 | 1900 | NL | 2nd | 79 | 60 | .568 | 4½ | Lost Chronicle-Telegraph Cup (Superbas) 3-1 | |||
1901 | 1901 | NL * | 1st | 90 | 49 | .647 | – | Pre-World Series Era NL Champions * | |||
1902 | 1902 | NL * | 1st | 103 | 36 | .741 | – | Pre-World Series Era NL Champions * | |||
1903 | 1903 | NL * | 1st | 91 | 49 | .647 | – | Lost World Series (Americans) 5–3 * | |||
1904 | 1904 | NL | 4th | 87 | 66 | .569 | 19 | ||||
1905 | 1905 | NL | 2nd | 96 | 57 | .627 | 9 | ||||
1906 | 1906 | NL | 3rd | 93 | 60 | .608 | 23½ | ||||
1907 | 1907 | NL | 2nd | 91 | 63 | .591 | 17 | ||||
1908 | 1908 | NL | 2nd | 98 | 56 | .636 | 1 | ||||
1909 † | 1909[p] | NL * | 1st | 110 | 42 | .724 | – | Won World Series (Tigers) 4–3 † | |||
1910 | 1910 | NL | 3rd | 86 | 67 | .562 | 17½ | ||||
1911 | 1911 | NL | 3rd | 85 | 69 | .552 | 14½ | ||||
1912 | 1912 | NL | 2nd | 93 | 58 | .616 | 10 | ||||
1913 | 1913 | NL | 4th | 78 | 71 | .523 | 21½ | ||||
1914 | 1914 | NL | 7th | 69 | 85 | .448 | 25½ | ||||
1915 | 1915 | NL | 5th | 73 | 81 | .474 | 18 | ||||
1916 | 1916 | NL | 6th | 65 | 89 | .422 | 29 | ||||
1917 | 1917 | NL | 8th | 51 | 103 | .331 | 47 | ||||
1918 | 1918 | NL | 4th | 65 | 60 | .520 | 17 | ||||
1919 | 1919 | NL | 4th | 71 | 68 | .511 | 24½ | ||||
1920 | 1920 | NL | 4th | 79 | 75 | .513 | 14 | ||||
1921 | 1921 | NL | 2nd | 90 | 63 | .588 | 4 | ||||
1922 | 1922 | NL | 3rd | 85 | 69 | .552 | 8 | ||||
1923 | 1923 | NL | 3rd | 87 | 67 | .565 | 8½ | ||||
1924 | 1924 | NL | 3rd | 90 | 63 | .588 | 3 | ||||
1925 † | 1925 | NL * | 1st | 95 | 68 | .621 | – | Won World Series (Senators) 4–3 † | |||
1926 | 1926 | NL | 3rd | 84 | 69 | .549 | 4½ | ||||
1927 | 1927 | NL * | 1st | 94 | 60 | .610 | – | Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–0 * | Paul Waner (MVP)[e] | ||
1928 | 1928 | NL | 4th | 85 | 67 | .559 | 9 | ||||
1929 | 1929 | NL | 2nd | 88 | 65 | .575 | 10½ | ||||
1930 | 1930 | NL | 5th | 80 | 74 | .519 | 12 | ||||
1931 | 1931 | NL | 5th | 75 | 79 | .487 | 26 | ||||
1932 | 1932 | NL | 2nd | 86 | 68 | .558 | 4 | ||||
1933 | 1933 | NL | 2nd | 87 | 67 | .565 | 5 | ||||
1934 | 1934 | NL | 5th | 74 | 76 | .493 | 19½ | ||||
1935 | 1935 | NL | 4th | 86 | 67 | .562 | 13½ | ||||
1936 | 1936 | NL | 4th | 84 | 70 | .545 | 8 | ||||
1937 | 1937 | NL | 3rd | 86 | 68 | .558 | 10 | ||||
1938 | 1938 | NL | 2nd | 86 | 64 | .573 | 2 | ||||
1939 | 1939 | NL | 6th | 68 | 85 | .444 | 28½ | ||||
1940 | 1940 | NL | 4th | 78 | 76 | .506 | 22½ | ||||
1941 | 1941 | NL | 4th | 81 | 73 | .526 | 19 | ||||
1942 | 1942 | NL | 5th | 66 | 81 | .449 | 36½ | ||||
1943 | 1943 | NL | 4th | 80 | 74 | .519 | 25 | ||||
1944 | 1944 | NL | 2nd | 90 | 63 | .588 | 14½ | ||||
1945 | 1945 | NL | 4th | 82 | 72 | .532 | 16 | ||||
1946 | 1946 | NL | 7th | 63 | 91 | .409 | 34 | ||||
1947 | 1947 | NL | 7th | 62 | 92 | .403 | 32 | ||||
1948 | 1948 | NL | 4th | 83 | 71 | .539 | 8½ | ||||
1949 | 1949 | NL | 6th | 71 | 83 | .461 | 26 | ||||
1950 | 1950 | NL | 8th | 57 | 96 | .373 | 33½ | ||||
1951 | 1951 | NL | 7th | 64 | 90 | .416 | 32½ | ||||
1952 | 1952 | NL | 8th | 42 | 112 | .273 | 54½ | ||||
1953 | 1953 | NL | 8th | 50 | 104 | .325 | 55 | ||||
1954 | 1954 | NL | 8th | 53 | 101 | .344 | 44 | ||||
1955 | 1955 | NL | 8th | 60 | 94 | .390 | 38½ | ||||
1956 | 1956 | NL | 7th | 66 | 88 | .429 | 27 | ||||
1957 | 1957 | NL | 7th | 62 | 92 | .403 | 33 | ||||
1958 | 1958 | NL | 2nd | 84 | 70 | .545 | 8 | ||||
1959 | 1959 | NL | 4th | 78 | 76 | .506 | 9 | ||||
1960 † | 1960 | NL * | 1st | 95 | 59 | .617 | – | Won World Series (Yankees) 4–3 † | Dick Groat (MVP) Vern Law (CYA)[f] | ||
1961 | 1961 | NL | 6th | 75 | 79 | .487 | 18 | ||||
1962 | 1962 | NL | 4th | 93 | 68 | .578 | 8 | ||||
1963 | 1963 | NL | 8th | 74 | 88 | .457 | 25 | ||||
1964 | 1964 | NL | 6th | 80 | 82 | .494 | 13 | ||||
1965 | 1965 | NL | 3rd | 90 | 72 | .556 | 7 | ||||
1966 | 1966 | NL | 3rd | 92 | 70 | .568 | 3 | Roberto Clemente (MVP) | |||
1967 | 1967 | NL | 6th | 81 | 81 | .500 | 20½ | ||||
1968 | 1968 | NL | 6th | 80 | 82 | .494 | 17 | ||||
1969 | 1969 | NL | East | 3rd | 88 | 74 | .543 | 12 | |||
1970 | 1970[q] | NL | East ^ | 1st | 89 | 73 | .549 | – | Lost NLCS[d] (Reds) 3–0 | ||
1971 † | 1971 | NL * | East ^ | 1st | 97 | 65 | .599 | – | Won NLCS (Giants) 3–1 Won World Series (Orioles) 4–3 † |
Roberto Clemente (WSMVP) | |
1972i | 1972 | NL | East ^ | 1st | 96 | 59 | .619 | – | Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–2 | ||
1973 | 1973 | NL | East | 3rd | 80 | 82 | .494 | 2½ | |||
1974 | 1974 | NL | East ^ | 1st | 88 | 74 | .543 | – | Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1 | ||
1975 | 1975 | NL | East ^ | 1st | 92 | 69 | .571 | – | Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0 | ||
1976 | 1976 | NL | East | 2nd | 92 | 70 | .568 | 9 | |||
1977 | 1977 | NL | East | 2nd | 96 | 66 | .593 | 5 | |||
1978 | 1978 | NL | East | 2nd | 88 | 73 | .547 | 1½ | Dave Parker (MVP) | ||
1979 † | 1979 | NL * | East ^ | 1st | 98 | 64 | .605 | – | Won NLCS (Reds) 3–0 Won World Series (Orioles) 4–3 † |
Willie Stargell (MVP, WSMVP) | |
1980 | 1980 | NL | East | 3rd | 83 | 79 | .512 | 8 | |||
1981[j] | 1981 | NL | East | 4th | 25 | 23 | .521 | 5½ | |||
6th | 21 | 33 | .389 | 9½ | |||||||
1982 | 1982 | NL | East | 4th | 84 | 78 | .519 | 8 | |||
1983 | 1983 | NL | East | 2nd | 84 | 78 | .519 | 6 | |||
1984 | 1984 | NL | East | 6th | 75 | 87 | .463 | 21½ | |||
1985 | 1985 | NL | East | 6th | 57 | 104 | .354 | 43½ | |||
1986 | 1986 | NL | East | 6th | 64 | 98 | .395 | 44 | |||
1987 | 1987 | NL | East | 4th | 80 | 82 | .464 | 15 | |||
1988 | 1988 | NL | East | 2nd | 85 | 75 | .531 | 15 | |||
1989 | 1989 | NL | East | 5th | 74 | 88 | .457 | 19 | |||
1990 | 1990 | NL | East ^ | 1st | 95 | 67 | .586 | – | Lost NLCS (Reds) 4–2 | Barry Bonds (MVP) Doug Drabek (CYA) Jim Leyland (MOY)[g] | |
1991 | 1991 | NL | East ^ | 1st | 98 | 64 | .605 | – | Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3 | ||
1992 | 1992 | NL | East ^ | 1st | 96 | 66 | .593 | – | Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3 | Barry Bonds (MVP) Jim Leyland (MOY) | |
1993 | 1993 | NL | East | 5th | 75 | 87 | .463 | 22 | |||
1994[k] | 1994 | NL | Central | 4th | 53 | 61 | .465 | 13 | Playoffs cancelled | ||
1995 | 1995 | NL | Central | 5th | 58 | 86 | .403 | 27 | |||
1996 | 1996 | NL | Central | 5th | 73 | 89 | .451 | 15 | |||
1997 | 1997 | NL | Central | 2nd | 79 | 83 | .488 | 5 | |||
1998 | 1998 | NL | Central | 6th | 69 | 93 | .426 | 33 | |||
1999 | 1999 | NL | Central | 3rd | 78 | 84 | .484 | 18½ | |||
2000 | 2000[r] | NL | Central | 5th | 69 | 93 | .426 | 26 | |||
2001 | 2001 | NL | Central | 6th | 62 | 100 | .383 | 31 | |||
2002 | 2002 | NL | Central | 4th | 72 | 89 | .447 | 24½ | |||
2003 | 2003 | NL | Central | 4th | 75 | 87 | .463 | 13 | |||
2004 | 2004 | NL | Central | 5th | 72 | 89 | .447 | 32½ | Jason Bay (ROY) | ||
2005 | 2005 | NL | Central | 6th | 67 | 95 | .414 | 33 | |||
2006 | 2006 | NL | Central | 5th | 67 | 95 | .414 | 16½ | |||
2007 | 2007 | NL | Central | 6th | 68 | 94 | .420 | 17 | |||
2008 | 2008 | NL | Central | 6th | 67 | 95 | .414 | 30½ | |||
2009 | 2009 | NL | Central | 6th | 62 | 99 | .385 | 28½ | |||
2010 | 2010 | NL | Central | 6th | 57 | 105 | .352 | 34 | |||
2011 | 2011 | NL | Central | 4th | 72 | 90 | .444 | 24 | |||
2012 | 2012 | NL | Central | 4th | 79 | 83 | .488 | 18 | |||
2013 | 2013 | NL | Central | 2nd ¤ | 94 | 68 | .580 | 3 | Won NLWC (Reds) Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2 |
Andrew McCutchen (MVP) Clint Hurdle (MOY) Francisco Liriano (CBPOY) | |
2014 | 2014 | NL | Central | 2nd ¤ | 88 | 74 | .543 | 2 | Lost NLWC (Giants) | ||
2015 | 2015 | NL | Central | 2nd ¤ | 98 | 64 | .605 | 2 | Lost NLWC (Cubs) | ||
2016 | 2016 | NL | Central | 3rd | 78 | 83 | .484 | 25 | |||
2017 | 2017 | NL | Central | 4th | 75 | 87 | .463 | 17 | |||
2018 | 2018 | NL | Central | 4th | 82 | 79 | .509 | 12½ | |||
2019 | 2019 | NL | Central | 5th | 69 | 93 | .426 | 22 | |||
2020 | 2020[t] | NL | Central | 5th | 19 | 41 | .317 | 15 | |||
2021 | 2021 | NL | Central | 5th | 61 | 101 | .377 | 34 | |||
2022 | 2022 | NL | Central | 4th | 62 | 100 | .383 | 31 | |||
Totals[1][8] | W | L | Win% | ||||||||
441 | 617 | .417 | Pittsburgh Alleghenys (AA/NL) regular season record (1882–90) | ||||||||
10,246 | 10,030 | .505 | Pittsburgh /Pirates (NL) regular season record (1891–2021) | ||||||||
10,687 | 10,647 | .501 | All-time regular season record (1882–2021) | ||||||||
43 | 53 | .448 | All-time postseason record | ||||||||
10,730 | 10,700 | .501 | All-time regular and postseason record |
These statistics are current as of October 3, 2021.
Record by decade
The following table describes the Pirates' MLB win–loss record by decade.
Decade | Wins | Losses | Pct |
---|---|---|---|
1880s | 418 | 504 | .453 |
1890s | 649 | 723 | .473 |
1900s | 938 | 538 | .636 |
1910s | 736 | 751 | .495 |
1920s | 877 | 656 | .572 |
1930s | 812 | 718 | .531 |
1940s | 756 | 776 | .493 |
1950s | 616 | 923 | .400 |
1960s | 848 | 755 | .529 |
1970s | 916 | 695 | .569 |
1980s | 732 | 825 | .470 |
1990s | 774 | 779 | .498 |
2000s | 681 | 936 | .421 |
2010s | 792 | 826 | .489 |
2020s | 80 | 142 | .360 |
All-time | 10,625 | 10,547 | .502 |
These statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com's Pittsburgh Pirates History & Encyclopedia,[1] and are current as of January 16, 2018.
Postseason record by year
The Pirates have made the postseason seventeen times in their history, with their first being in 1903 and the most recent being in 2015.
Year | Finish | Round | Opponent | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1903 | National League Champions | World Series | Boston Americans | Lost | 3 | 5 |
1909 | World Series Champions | World Series | Detroit Tigers | Won | 4 | 3 |
1925 | World Series Champions | World Series | Washington Senators | Won | 4 | 3 |
1927 | National League Champions | World Series | New York Yankees | Lost | 0 | 4 |
1960 | World Series Champions | World Series | New York Yankees | Won | 4 | 3 |
1970 | National League Champions | NLCS | Cincinnati Reds | Lost | 0 | 3 |
1971 | World Series Champions | NLCS | San Francisco Giants | Won | 3 | 1 |
World Series | Baltimore Orioles | Won | 4 | 3 | ||
1972 | National League East Champions | NLCS | Cincinnati Reds | Lost | 2 | 3 |
1974 | National League East Champions | NLCS | Los Angeles Dodgers | Lost | 1 | 3 |
1975 | National League East Champions | NLCS | Cincinnati Reds | Lost | 0 | 3 |
1979 | World Series Champions | NLCS | Cincinnati Reds | Won | 3 | 0 |
1979 World Series | Baltimore Orioles | Won | 4 | 3 | ||
1990 | National League East Champions | NLCS | Cincinnati Reds | Lost | 2 | 4 |
1991 | National League East Champions | NLCS | Atlanta Braves | Lost | 3 | 4 |
1992 | National League East Champions | NLCS | Atlanta Braves | Lost | 3 | 4 |
2013 | National League Wild Card | Wild Card Game | Cincinnati Reds | Won | 1 | 0 |
NLDS | St. Louis Cardinals | Lost | 2 | 3 | ||
2014 | National League Wild Card | Wild Card Game | San Francisco Giants | Lost | 0 | 1 |
2015 | National League Wild Card | Wild Card Game | Chicago Cubs | Lost | 0 | 1 |
17 | Totals | 8–12 | 43 | 53 |
Footnotes
- i The 1972 Major League Baseball strike forced the cancellation of the first seven games (thirteen game-days) of the season.[9]
- j The 1981 Major League Baseball strike caused the season to split into two halves. This caused Major League Baseball to hold the Divisional Series so that the first- and second-half champions could play each other to determine playoff spots for the NLCS and World Series.[10]
- k The 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike ended the season on August 11, as well as cancelling the entire postseason.[11]
- l The official Pirates website uses the spelling of "Alleghenies" rather than "Alleghenys".[6]
- s The Pirates first season at PNC Park.[12]
- t The 2020 Major League Baseball season was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 global pandemic..[13]
References
- General
- "Pittsburgh Pirates year-by-year results". PittsburghPirates.com. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- "Pittsburgh Pirates Team History & Encyclopedia". Teams. BaseballReference.com. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- Finoli, David; Ranier, Bill (2003). The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia (Illustrated ed.). Champaign, Illinois: Sports Publishing L.L.C. p. 626. ISBN 1-58261-416-4. OCLC 52480758.
- McCollister, John (1998). The Bucs! The Story of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Foreword by Ralph Kiner, Welcome by Kevin McClatchy (Illustrated ed.). Lenexa, Kansas: Addax Publishing Group, Inc. p. 240. ISBN 1-886110-40-9. OCLC 44810958.
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e "Pittsburgh Pirates History & Encyclopedia". Teams. BaseballReference.com. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ Finoli & Ranier 2003, pp. 2–3
- ^ Finoli & Ranier 2003, pp. 485–96
- ^ Dvorchak, Robert (10 November 2008). "Vintage Penguins jerseys selling up a blue streak". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
- ^ Potter, Chris (3 June 2004). "Why are our colors always black and gold for our sports teams?". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
- ^ a b c "Pirates Timeline". 1887–1900. PittsburghPirates.com. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ "Pirates Awards". PittsburghPirates.com. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ "Baseball-Reference Postseason Index". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ "Strike is no longer necessary". ESPN.com. 2002-08-21. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ^ "Let The Games Begin". Sports Illustrated. 1981-08-10. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ "1994: 'Fall Classic' falls victim to baseball strike". Playing Hardball: Sports Labour Disputes. CBC. 1994-09-14. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ "Pirates Ballparks". PittsburghPirates.com. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
- ^ "Coronavirus (COVID-19)". cdc.gov. Retrieved 2020-09-30.