List of Pittsburgh Pirates seasons

The Pirates won the National League in 1901 and 1902, before participating in the first World Series in 1903.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have completed 128 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) since joining the National League (NL) in 1887. Through 2015, they have played 19,772 regular season games, winning 10,005 and losing 9,767, 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 beginning the modern day 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 won championships in 1925, 1960, 1971, and 1979. In addition to their five World Series victories the Pirates have won nine National League pennants and qualified for the playoffs 15 seasons.^[1] The Pirates had 20 consecutive seasons with a losing record—setting a United States professional sports record. However, the team won 94 games in 2013 ending that streak by clinching the National League's top wild card berth in Major League Baseball's postseason.^[4] 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^[5][6]—for the 1948 season.^[7]

Year by year

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	Regular season					Post-season	Awards[8]
				Finish^[a]	Wins^[b]	Losses	Win%	GB^[c]
Pittsburgh Alleghenys
1882[7]	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^[m]	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
Pittsburg Pirates
1891	1891^[o]^[t]	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	46
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
Pittsburgh Pirates
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
Pittsburgh Pirates
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)
1972^i	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^[s]	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)^[h]
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 NL Wild Card Game (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 NL Wild Card Game (Giants)
2015	2015	NL	Central	2nd	98	64	.605	2	Lost NL Wild Card Game (Cubs)
Totals[9][10]					W	L	Win%
					236	296	.444	Pittsburgh Alleghenys (AA) regular season record (1882–86)
					10005	9767	.506	Pittsburgh Alleghenys/Pirates (NL) regular season record (1887–2014)
					10241	10063	.504	All-time regular season record (1882–2015)
					43	53	.448	All-time postseason record
					10284	10116	.504	All-time regular and postseason record

These statistics are current as of October 8, 2015. Bold denotes a playoff season, pennant or championship; italics denote an active season.

Footnotes

• ^a The Finish column lists regular season results and excludes postseason play.
• ^b The Wins and Losses columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play. Regular and postseason records are combined only at the bottom of the list.
• ^c The GB column lists "Games Back" from the team that finished in first place that season. It is determined by finding the difference in wins plus the difference in losses divided by two. In seasons that the Pirates finished in first place, the figure represents the number of games they finished ahead of the second place team.
• ^d NLCS stands for National League Championship Series.
• ^e MVP stands for Most Valuable Player.
• ^f CYA stands for Cy Young Award.
• ^g MOY stands for Manager of the Year.
• ^h ROY stands for National League Rookie of the Year.
• ⁱ The 1972 Major League Baseball strike forced the cancellation of the first seven games (thirteen game-days) of the season.^[11]
• ^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.^[12]
• ^k The 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike ended the season on August 11, as well as cancelling the entire postseason.^[13]
• ^l The official Pirates website uses the spelling of "Alleghenies" rather than "Alleghenys".^[7]
• ^m The Pirates first season at Recreation Park.^[14]
• ⁿ The Pirates final season at Recreation Park.^[14]
• ^o The Pirates first season at Exposition Park.^[14]
• ^p On June 29, 1909, the Pirates played their final game at Exposition Park. The two teams opened Forbes Field the following day, June 30, 1909.^[15]
• ^q The Pirates played their final game at Forbes Field on June 28, 1970.^[16] Three Rivers Stadium hosted its first Pirates' game on July 16, 1970.^[17]
• ^r The Pirates' final season at Three Rivers Stadium.^[14]
• ^s The Pirates first season at PNC Park.^[14]
• ^t In 1891 the United States Board on Geographic Names forced the city of Pittsburgh to undergo a controversial name change by having them drop the "h" at the end of the name, making the team's official name the "Pittsburg Pirates" from the adoption of the Pirates nickname until Pittsburgh was able to get the "h" restored to its name in 1911.

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

1. "Pittsburgh Pirates History & Encyclopedia". Teams. BaseballReference.com. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
2. Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 2–3
3. Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 485–96
4. "Pirates clinch 19th straight losing season". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. September 14, 2011. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
5. Dvorchak, Robert (10 November 2008). "Vintage Penguins jerseys selling up a blue streak". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
6. Potter, Chris (3 June 2004). "Why are our colors always black and gold for our sports teams?". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 8 January 2009.
7. "Pirates Timeline". 1887–1900. PittsburghPirates.com. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
8. "Pirates Awards". PittsburghPirates.com. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
9. "Pittsburgh Pirates Team History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
10. "Baseball-Reference Postseason Index". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
11. "Strike is no longer necessary". ESPN.com. 2002-08-21. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
12. "Let The Games Begin". Sports Illustrated. 1981-08-10. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
13. "1994: 'Fall Classic' falls victim to baseball strike". Playing Hardball: Sports Labour Disputes. CBC. 1994-09-14. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
14. "Pirates Ballparks". PittsburghPirates.com. Retrieved 2009-02-26.
15. McCollister p. 17
16. McCollister 1998, pp. 175
17. Koppett, Leonard (1970-07-17). "Pirates Open Their New Park, But Reds Celebrate 3-2 Victory". The New York Times. p. 38, Sports. Retrieved 2008-08-07.