Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
⚾ Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh, the proud Steel City, is known for its hard-working people and dedicated sports fandom. Whether it’s hockey’s Penguins, football’s Steelers or baseball’s Pirates, fans across Western Pennsylvania reliably sport their iconic black and yellow colorways through thick and thin. Although it’s been thick times that have fallen upon the Pirates for quite some time, the team remains a powerhouse of yesteryear, one of the oldest and most accomplished teams in Major League Baseball. Their home too, beautiful PNC Park, also boldly boasts some of the best views in baseball.

The story of the Pirates – then known as the Allegheny Base Ball Club, or simply the “Alleghenies” – begins in very much the same location as where they compete today. The modern-day club was founded in the American Association in 1882 before moving to National League in 1887, which would later become part of Major League Baseball, and played out of Exposition Park on the North Shore, just west of where PNC Park currently sits. Actually existing in three iterations thanks to fires and flooding, the venue’s final form was the largest and most notable, with the Alleghenies becoming the Pirates and settling in to Exposition Park III in 1891. The ballpark, which held the distinction of being a host of the first World Series, would be the stomping grounds of the Pirates until their departure in 1909.

Their early 20th century home, the jewel box of Forbes Field, was originally shared with NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. The organization played at these legendary confines adjacent to the University of Pittsburgh for more than 60 years before jointly moving with the Steelers to Three Rivers Stadium in 1970. Over the course of thirty years, the two teams cemented themselves in American sports culture from within the concrete walls of this multi-purpose venue.

In 2001, the Pirates and Steelers would split and take up residence at their own respective homes nearby. The joint opening of baseball’s PNC Park and football’s Acrisure Stadium – then known as Heinz Field – ushered in the redevelopment of the entire North Shore neighborhood, creating a pre- and post-game hotspot catered towards Pittsburgh sports fans.

PNC Park is particularly elevated above its MLB peers, heralded for its sweeping skyline views, thoughtful architecture and fan-forward design. The ballpark features many tributes and nods to Roberto Clemente, the extolled right fielder and humanitarian who helped lead the Pirates to two World Series. In addition to the larger-than-life statue that stands outside the center field gate at the north end of the Roberto Clemente Bridge, PNC Park also has a 21-foot right field fence in honor of his uniform number. Elsewhere in the city is a museum dedicated solely to the 15-time All-Star and his legacy.

Other statues adorn the main entrances to the ballpark, celebrating names like Honus Wagner, Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski. These cherished individuals, along with other notorious Pirates players, are also enshrined on a Hall of Fame wall in the outfield.

Over their nearly 150 years of continuous play, the Pirates have racked up a long list of credentials. The Buccos played in the first-ever modern rendition of the World Series in 1903, a series which they sadly lost to the Boston Americans. A 1909 defeat of the Detroit Tigers marked the team’s first championship, and they’d go on to win four more in 1925, 1960, 1971 an 1979. The Pirates’ crown in 1960 remains the only Game 7 walk-off home run victory in World Series history.

Despite a few resurgences in the ’90s and early 2010s, the Pirates have tragically endured one of the longest periods of misfortune in all of baseball. Their struggles, however, haven’t dampened their loyal fan support or their standing in MLB history. The gorgeous environs of PNC Park also help the team maintain relevancy and popularity amongst baseball fans not just in Pennsylvania, but truly all across the nation.