Pittisburgh Pirates

Ryan Beattie

9/23/11

Pittsburgh Pirates

Author's Note;I worte this beacuse I hate to see a great franchise like the Pirates to fall beacuse they can't afford to bring in the star power.

Even though the Pittsburgh Pirates have won many games, they have not had a winning season since 1992. They have also had low attendance at all them games. They try to bring in crowds by have bring your dog to the game and many other special guests. They would lower ticket prices so that you could sit in the front row for only $50. I believe that it is possible to have a small market team win even if no one’s there to see it.

Whoever that a baseball teams as bad as the Pittsburgh Pirates were one day a championship wining team that could topple the Yankees at their prime, but first let’s go back before all the losing seasons. Past the Roberto Clemente and the Willy Mays year all the way back to the year 1882 when there were no phones TVs and computers. The success of the team started early winning the National League three consecutive times from 1901 to 1903. They also played in their first world series ever in 1903 and won their first world series behind one of baseballs all time greats Houns Wanger in 1909. So if there were this good early on. How come they’re falling apart?

Even in the early 60’s to the late 80’s they were dominating. Winning the 1960 World Series on a walk-off homer by Bill Mazeroski, and 1971 they repeated there dominates with another one behind Roberto Clemente who also was the first Hispanic inducted in to the baseball hall of fame .That world series he also the first Hispanic to win the World Series MVP. Once more the won the World Series in 1979 this time behind Wille “Pops” Stargle.  After winning three World Series in two decades they roared in to the 80’s felling like they were on top of the world by some of their stars Roberto Clemente had died in a plane crash. Wille only stayed around only for two more years, so the Pirates had things to worry about.

The 80’s went quickly with no star power they were considered the worst team in baseball even having a young Barry Bonds (Before Steroids he was a good player). Also they hired a new manager Jim Leyland he turned them around quickly leading to an 85-75 year which is not good but great for them.  One day though they reached their low point by far, they became the first team in major league to score ten runs in the first inning and lose to their rivals the Philadelphia Phillies only to have this record broken by themselves many, many, many times. They limped in to the 1990, but they stepped up their game to win the three first division championships in 1990, 1991 and 1992 but all three times they were stopped short. After 1992 the collapse had begun year after year no playoff appearances. The only close thing was in 1997 when they finished in second place in the NL Central and they had a losing year even then! Now a day the stands are empty and so is their win column. At the All-Star break they were in the lead by 5 games but in true pirate fashion they chocked and now they are tied for 4^th in the central.

Even though they have a budget of a small team they have the heart of that any huge market team could only wish for. It is important to believe in your team even if they only have enough money to napkin holder.