The Pittsburgh Pirates are a professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They compete in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's (MLB) National League (NL). Founded in 1882 as Allegheny, the club played in the American Association before moving to the National League in 1887. The list below documents players and teams that hold particular club records.
In 134 seasons from 1882 through 2015, the team has won over 10,000 games and five World Series championships. The team has appeared in 18 postseasons and has won nine league pennants. Roberto Clemente owns the most career batting records with five. Ralph Kiner, Arky Vaughan and Paul Waner each own three single-season batting records. Bob Friend owns the most career pitching records and Ed Morris the most single-season pitching records, both with six.
In their history, the Pittsburgh Pirates have set three Major League Baseball records. In 1912, Chief Wilson hit an MLB-record 36 triples and, on May 30, 1925, the team collectively hit a major league-record eight triples in a single game. In addition, six no-hitters have been thrown in the history of the franchise, with the most recent on July 12, 1997. The Pirates also hold the MLB—and North American professional sports—record for most consecutive losing seasons with 20. The stretch began with the 1993 season and concluded with the 2012 season, at which point the Pirates recorded a winning record and a playoff berth in the 2013 season.
Table key + Table key#Tie between two teams†National League record*Major League record Statistics are current through the 2022 season.
Individual career records These are records of players with the best performance in particular statistical categories during their tenure with the Pirates.
Career batting
Career batting recordsStatisticPlayerRecordPirates careerRefBatting average.3601892–1896On-base percentage.4291892–1896Slugging percentage.5911999–2003On-base plus slugging1.0181999–2003Runs1,5211900–1917Plate appearances10,2201900–1917At bats9,4541955–1972 Hits3,0001955–1972Total bases4,4921955–1972Singles2,1541955–1972Doubles5581926–1940Triples2321900–1917Home runs4751962–1982RBI1,5401962–1982Walks9371962–1982Strikeouts1,9361962–1982Stolen bases6881910–1926Games played2,4331955–1972
Career pitching
Career pitching recordsStatisticPlayerRecordPirates careerRef(s)Wins2021912–1924Losses2181951–1965Win–loss percentage.7311901–1903Earned run average2.081906–1910Saves1861953–1968Strikeouts1,6821951–1965shutouts441907–1926Games8021953–1968Innings pitched3,480⅓1951–1965Games started4771951–1965Games finished5471953–1968Complete games2631912–1924Walks8691951–1965Hits allowed3,6101951–1965Wild pitches901962–1972Hit batsmen931912–1924
Individual single-season records These are records of Pirates players with the best performance in particular statistical categories during a single season.
Single-season batting
Single-season batting recordsStatisticPlayerRecordSeasonRef(s)Batting average.3851935Home runs541949RBI1311927Runs1501894Hits2371927Singles1981927Doubles621932Triples36*1912Stolen bases961980At bats6981969Slugging percentage.6581949Extra-base hits901973Total bases3691925On-base percentage.4911935On-base plus slugging1.0981935Walks1371951Strikeouts1862013
Single-season pitching
Single-season pitching recordsStatisticPlayerRecordSeasonRef(s)Wins411886Losses351884Strikeouts3261886ERA1.111909Earned runs allowed2061884Hits allowed4961884Shutouts121886Saves512015Games941979Games started631885Complete games631885Innings pitched5811885
Team single-game records
These are records of Pirates teams with the best performance in particular statistical categories during a single game.
Single-game batting Single-game batting recordsStatisticRecordOpponentDate Home runs hit7#Boston Beaneaters7#St. Louis Cardinals7#St. Louis CardinalsRuns scored27Boston BeaneatersHits27Philadelphia PhilliesTriples (since 1900)8*St. Louis Cardinals Grand slams2#St. Louis Cardinals2#Philadelphia Phillies2#Chicago Cubs2#St. Louis Cardinals Strikeouts17#Los Angeles Dodgers17#Philadelphia Phillies
Single-game pitching
Single-game pitching recordsStatisticRecordOpponentDateHits allowed28Brooklyn DodgersRuns allowed28Boston BeaneatersHome runs allowed8Milwaukee BravesStrikeouts16Philadelphia Phillies
Team season records
These are records of Pirates teams with the best and worst performances in particular statistical categories during a single season.
Season batting Season batting recordsStatisticRecordSeasonHome runs1711999Runs9121925Hits1,6981922Doubles3202000Triples1291912Total bases2,4301966Runners left on base1,2411936Strikeouts1,1971999Stolen bases2641907
Season pitching Season pitching recordsStatisticRecordSeasonHits allowed1,7301930Runs allowed9281930Home runs allowed1831996Strikeouts1,1241969shutouts261906
Team all-time records Source: Team all-time recordsStatisticRecordHome runs11,935Runs95,823Hits194,298Batting average.264ERA3.75Runs allowed95,814
See also Baseball statistics Pittsburgh Pirates award winners and league leaders History of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Notes Earned run average is calculated as , where is earned runs and is innings pitched. Tied with Honus Wagner.
References