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.

This list documents the season-by-season records of the Pirates’ franchise including their years as the “Alleghenies” (alternately spelled Alleghenys). 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. 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.

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, 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—for the 1948 season.

Table key National League Championship SeriesNational League Division SeriesAll-Star Game Most Valuable PlayerComeback Player of the YearCy Young AwardFinal position in league or division"Games Back" from first-place teamNumber of regular season lossesManager of the YearMost Valuable PlayerNational League Rookie of the YearEach year is linked to an article about that particular MLB seasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular Yankees seasonNumber of regular season winsWorld Series Most Valuable Player

Season by season

World Series Champions(–present) †National League Champions (–present) *Division Champions(–present) ^Wild card Berth(–present) ¤ MLBseasonTeamseasonLeagueDivisionFinish Wins LossesWin%GB PostseasonAwardsPittsburgh Alleghenys 1882 AA 4th 39 39 .500 15 1883 AA 7th 31 67 .316 35 1884 AA 11th 30 78 .278 45½ 1885 AA 3rd 56 55 .505 22½ 1886 AA 2nd 80 57 .584 12 1887 NL 6th 55 69 .444 24 1888 NL 6th 66 68 .493 19½ 1889 NL 5th 61 71 .462 25 1890 NL 8th 23 113 .169 66½Pittsburgh Pirates 1891 NL 8th 55 80 .407 30½ 1892 NL 6th 80 73 .523 23½ 1893 NL 2nd 81 48 .628 5 1894 NL 7th 65 65 .500 25 1895 NL 7th 71 61 .538 17 1896 NL 6th 66 63 .512 24 1897 NL 8th 60 71 .458 32½ 1898 NL 8th 72 76 .486 29½ 1899 NL 7th 76 73 .510 25½ 1900 NL 2nd 79 60 .568 4½ Lost Chronicle-Telegraph Cup (Superbas) 3-1 1901NL * 1st 90 49 .647–Pre-World Series Era NL Champions * 1902NL * 1st 103 36 .741–Pre-World Series Era NL Champions * 1903NL * 1st 91 49 .647–Lost World Series (Americans) 5–3 * 1904 NL 4th 87 66 .569 19 1905 NL 2nd 96 57 .627 9 1906 NL 3rd 93 60 .608 23½ 1907 NL 2nd 91 63 .591 17 1908 NL 2nd 98 56 .636 1 †1909NL * 1st11042.724–Won World Series (Tigers) 4–3 † 1910 NL 3rd 86 67 .562 17½ 1911 NL 3rd 85 69 .552 14½ 1912 NL 2nd 93 58 .616 10 1913 NL 4th 78 71 .523 21½ 1914 NL 7th 69 85 .448 25½ 1915 NL 5th 73 81 .474 18 1916 NL 6th 65 89 .422 29 1917 NL 8th 51 103 .331 47 1918 NL 4th 65 60 .520 17 1919 NL 4th 71 68 .511 24½ 1920 NL 4th 79 75 .513 14 1921 NL 2nd 90 63 .588 4 1922 NL 3rd 85 69 .552 8 1923 NL 3rd 87 67 .565 8½ 1924 NL 3rd 90 63 .588 3 †1925NL * 1st9568.621–Won World Series (Senators) 4–3 † 1926 NL 3rd 84 69 .549 4½ 1927NL * 1st 94 60 .610–Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–0 * Paul Waner (MVP) 1928 NL 4th 85 67 .559 9 1929 NL 2nd 88 65 .575 10½ 1930 NL 5th 80 74 .519 12 1931 NL 5th 75 79 .487 26 1932 NL 2nd 86 68 .558 4 1933 NL 2nd 87 67 .565 5 1934 NL 5th 74 76 .493 19½ 1935 NL 4th 86 67 .562 13½ 1936 NL 4th 84 70 .545 8 1937 NL 3rd 86 68 .558 10 1938 NL 2nd 86 64 .573 2 1939 NL 6th 68 85 .444 28½ 1940 NL 4th 78 76 .506 22½ 1941 NL 4th 81 73 .526 19 1942 NL 5th 66 81 .449 36½ 1943 NL 4th 80 74 .519 25 1944 NL 2nd 90 63 .588 14½ 1945 NL 4th 82 72 .532 16 1946 NL 7th 63 91 .409 34 1947 NL 7th 62 92 .403 32 1948 NL 4th 83 71 .539 8½ 1949 NL 6th 71 83 .461 26 1950 NL 8th 57 96 .373 33½ 1951 NL 7th 64 90 .416 32½ 1952 NL 8th 42 112 .273 54½ 1953 NL 8th 50 104 .325 55 1954 NL 8th 53 101 .344 44 1955 NL 8th 60 94 .390 38½ 1956 NL 7th 66 88 .429 27 1957 NL 7th 62 92 .403 33 1958 NL 2nd 84 70 .545 8 1959 NL 4th 78 76 .506 9 †1960NL * 1st9559.617–Won World Series (Yankees) 4–3 †Dick Groat (MVP)Vern Law (CYA) 1961 NL 6th 75 79 .487 18 1962 NL 4th 93 68 .578 8 1963 NL 8th 74 88 .457 25 1964 NL 6th 80 82 .494 13 1965 NL 3rd 90 72 .556 7 1966 NL 3rd 92 70 .568 3 Roberto Clemente (MVP) 1967 NL 6th 81 81 .500 20½ 1968 NL 6th 80 82 .494 17 1969 NL East 3rd 88 74 .543 12 1970 NLEast ^ 1st 89 73 .549– Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0 †1971NL *East ^ 1st9765.599–Won NLCS (Giants) 3–1Won World Series (Orioles) 4–3 †Roberto Clemente (WSMVP) 1972 NLEast ^ 1st 96 59 .619– Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–2 1973 NL East 3rd 80 82 .494 2½ 1974 NLEast ^ 1st 88 74 .543– Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 3–1 1975 NLEast ^ 1st 92 69 .571– Lost NLCS (Reds) 3–0 1976 NL East 2nd 92 70 .568 9 1977 NL East 2nd 96 66 .593 5 1978 NL East 2nd 88 73 .547 1½ Dave Parker (MVP) †1979NL *East ^ 1st9864.605–Won NLCS (Reds) 3–0Won World Series (Orioles) 4–3 †Willie Stargell (MVP, WSMVP) 1980 NL East 3rd 83 79 .512 8 1981NLEast 4th 25 23 .521 5½ 6th 21 33 .389 9½ 1982 NL East 4th 84 78 .519 8 1983 NL East 2nd 84 78 .519 6 1984 NL East 6th 75 87 .463 21½ 1985 NL East 6th 57 104 .354 43½ 1986 NL East 6th 64 98 .395 44 1987 NL East 4th 80 82 .464 15 1988 NL East 2nd 85 75 .531 15 1989 NL East 5th 74 88 .457 19 1990 NLEast ^ 1st 95 67 .586– Lost NLCS (Reds) 4–2 Barry Bonds (MVP)Doug Drabek (CYA)Jim Leyland (MOY) 1991 NLEast ^ 1st 98 64 .605– Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3 1992 NLEast ^ 1st 96 66 .593– Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3 Barry Bonds (MVP)Jim Leyland (MOY) 1993 NL East 5th 75 87 .463 22 1994 NL Central 4th 53 61 .465 13Playoffs cancelled 1995 NL Central 5th 58 86 .403 27 1996 NL Central 5th 73 89 .451 15 1997 NL Central 2nd 79 83 .488 5 1998 NL Central 6th 69 93 .426 33 1999 NL Central 3rd 78 84 .484 18½ 2000 NL Central 5th 69 93 .426 26 2001 NL Central 6th 62 100 .383 31 2002 NL Central 4th 72 89 .447 24½ 2003 NL Central 4th 75 87 .463 13 2004 NL Central 5th 72 89 .447 32½ Jason Bay (ROY) 2005 NL Central 6th 67 95 .414 33 2006 NL Central 5th 67 95 .414 16½ 2007 NL Central 6th 68 94 .420 17 2008 NL Central 6th 67 95 .414 30½ 2009 NL Central 6th 62 99 .385 28½ 2010 NL Central 6th 57 105 .352 34 2011 NL Central 4th 72 90 .444 24 2012 NL Central 4th 79 83 .488 18 2013 NL Central2nd ¤ 94 68 .580 3Won NLWC (Reds) Lost NLDS (Cardinals) 3–2 Andrew McCutchen (MVP)Clint Hurdle (MOY)Francisco Liriano (CBPOY) 2014 NL Central2nd ¤ 88 74 .543 2 Lost NLWC (Giants) 2015 NL Central 2nd ¤ 98 64 .605 2 Lost NLWC (Cubs) 2016 NL Central 3rd 78 83 .484 25 2017 NL Central 4th 75 87 .463 17 2018 NL Central 4th 82 79 .509 12½ 2019 NL Central 5th 69 93 .426 22 2020 NL Central 5th 19 41 .317 15 2021 NL Central 5th 61 101 .377 34 2022 NL Central 4th 62 100 .383 31 2023 NL Central 4th 76 86 .469 16 2024 NL Central 5th 76 86 .469 17 Paul Skenes (ROY) 2025 NL Central 5th 71 91 .438 26 Paul Skenes (CYA)20262026NLCentral3rd8280.50621Totals W L Win% 441 617 Pittsburgh Alleghenys (AA/NL) regular season record (1882–90) 10,246 10,030 Pittsburgh /Pirates (NL) regular season record (1891–2021) 10,687 10,647 All-time regular season record (1882–2021) 43 53 All-time postseason record 10,730 10,700 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 1890s 649 723 1900s 938 538 1910s 736 751 1920s 877 656 1930s 812 718 1940s 756 776 1950s 616 923 1960s 848 755 1970s 916 695 1980s 732 825 1990s 774 779 2000s 681 936 2010s 792 826 2020s 447 585 All-time 10,91010,910 These statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com's Pittsburgh Pirates History & Encyclopedia, 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. YearFinishRoundOpponentResultNational League ChampionsWorld SeriesBoston AmericansLost35World Series ChampionsWorld SeriesDetroit TigersWon43World Series ChampionsWorld SeriesWashington SenatorsWon43National League ChampionsWorld SeriesNew York YankeesLost04World Series ChampionsWorld SeriesNew York YankeesWon43National League ChampionsNLCSCincinnati RedsLost03World Series ChampionsNLCSSan Francisco GiantsWon31World SeriesBaltimore OriolesWon43National League East ChampionsNLCSCincinnati RedsLost23National League East ChampionsNLCSLos Angeles DodgersLost13National League East ChampionsNLCSCincinnati RedsLost03World Series ChampionsNLCSCincinnati RedsWon30World SeriesBaltimore OriolesWon43National League East ChampionsNLCSCincinnati RedsLost24National League East ChampionsNLCSAtlanta BravesLost34National League East ChampionsNLCSAtlanta BravesLost34National League Wild CardNLWCCincinnati RedsWon10NLDSSt. Louis CardinalsLost23National League Wild CardNLWCSan Francisco GiantsLost01National League Wild CardNLWCChicago CubsLost0117Totals 8–12 4353

Footnotes The 1972 Major League Baseball strike forced the cancellation of the first seven games (thirteen game-days) of the season. 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. The 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike ended the season on August 11, as well as cancelling the entire postseason. The official Pirates website uses the spelling of "Alleghenies" rather than "Alleghenys". The Pirates first season at PNC Park. The 2020 Major League Baseball season was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

References General

Citations