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The Pittsburgh Pirates in 1882 when they became a founding member of the American Association under the name the "Alleghenys", they stayed there for five seasons until joining the National League in 1887, the first team from the American Association to do so. The team changed its name at the time of the move to the "Pittsburgh Alleghenys", Allegheny being a neighboring, but separate city that was not to become part of Pittsburgh until 1907.
The Pirate part of their name stems from their signing of Lou Bierbauer, as second baseman who had previously played for the American Associations Philadelphia Athletics. Bierbauer was highly regarded at the time and a storm of protest was raised by the Athletics, with an American Association official deeming the Alleghenys actions "piratical". No wrongdoing was ever proved and the team made light of the situation by renaming themselves the Pirates for the 1891 season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates went on to contest the first World Series with the Boston Americans (Red Sox) in 1903, losing the series 5 - 3. It was not long until they were back in contention wining the 1909 World Series against the Detroit Tigers 4 - 3. Over the years they have participated in six other World Series, winning four of them and gaining a total of 9 Northern League Pennants.
The Pittsburgh Pirates celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2008 at McKechnie Field their Spring Training home and have just signed a partnership with the City of Bradenton that will keep them there for the next 30 years. Named after Pittsburgh native, former Bradenton and Hall of Fame Manager Bill McKechnie, the Floridian style stadium was completely rebuilt in 1993.
The Pittsburgh Pirates
McKechnie Field
17th Avenue West & Ninth Street
Bradenton
Fl 34206
941 748 4610
Pittsburg Pirates - Spring Training Schedule 2009
|
Day
|
Date
|
Opponents
|
Home / Away
|
|
Wednesday
|
February 25
|
Philadelphia Phillies
|
Home
|
|
Thursday
|
February 26
|
Boston Red Sox
|
Away
|
|
Friday
|
February 27
|
Atlanta Braves
|
Home
|
|
Saturday
|
February 28
|
Houston Astros
|
Away
|
|
Sunday
|
March 1
|
Detroit Tigers
|
Home
|
|
Monday
|
March 2
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
Home
|
|
Tuesday
|
March 3
|
WBC Team - Netherlands
|
Home
|
|
Thursday
|
March 4
|
Minnesota Twins
|
Home
|
|
Thursday
|
March 5
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
Away
|
|
Friday
|
March 6
|
Tampa Bay Rays
|
Home
|
|
Saturday
|
March 7
|
Minnesota Twins
|
Away
|
|
Sunday
|
March 8
|
Houston Astros
|
Home
|
|
Monday
|
March 9
|
Boston Red Sox
|
Home
|
|
Wednesday
|
March 11
|
Toronto Blue Jays
|
Away
|
|
Thursday
|
March 12
|
Minnesota Twins
|
Home
|
|
Friday
|
March 13
|
Philadelphia Phillies
|
Away
|
|
Saturday
|
March 14
|
New York Yankees
|
Home
|
|
Sunday
|
March 15
|
Tampa Bay Rays
|
Away
|
|
Monday
|
March 16
|
Tampa Bay Rays
|
Home
|
|
Tuesday
|
March 17
|
New York Yankees
|
Away
|
|
Wednesday
|
March 18
|
Minnesota Twins
|
Home
|
|
Friday
|
March 20
|
Boston Red Sox
|
Away
|
|
Saturday
|
March 21
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
Away
|
|
Sunday
|
March 22
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
Home
|
|
Monday
|
March 23
|
Tampa Bay Rays
|
Home
|
|
Tuesday
|
March 24
|
Atlanta Braves
|
Away
|
|
Wednesday
|
March 25
|
Tampa Bay Rays
|
Away
|
|
Friday
|
March 27
|
Toronto Blue Jays
|
Home
|
|
Saturday
|
March 28
|
Philadelphia Phillies
|
Home
|
|
Sunday
|
March 29
|
New York Yankees
|
Away
|
|
Monday
|
March 30
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
Home
|
|
Tuesday
|
March 31
|
Minnesota Twins
|
Away
|
|
Wednesday
|
April 1
|
Boston Red Sox
|
Home
|
|
Thursday
|
April 2
|
Manatee Comm. College
|
Home
|
|
Thursday
|
April 2
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
Away
|
|
Friday
|
April 3
|
Minnesota Twins
|
Home
|
|
Saturday
|
April 4
|
Minnesota Twins
|
Away
|
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