List of Pittsburgh Pirates managers

Fred Clarke, the winningest manager in Pirates history; he led the team to 1,422 victories along with a World Series title and four National League pennants.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the National League Central division. The team began play in 1882 as the Alleghenies (alternatively spelled "Alleghenys"[1]) in the American Association. The franchise moved 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 games at Three Rivers Stadium and Forbes Field, among other stadiums.[3]

There have been 47 managers for the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise. The Pirates' first manager upon joining the National League was Horace Phillips, who had coached the team before their move to the National League.[4] In 1900, Fred Clarke began his tenure with the franchise. Clarke's 1422 victories and 969 losses lead all managers of the Pirates in their respective categories, Clarke also had the longest tenure as manager in his 16 years in the position.[5] Clarke managed the franchise to its first World Series victory, a feat that would also be accomplished by Bill McKechnie, Danny Murtaugh, and Chuck Tanner. Thirteen Pirates managers have been player-managers—those who take on simultaneous roles as a player and manager.[6] McKechnie, Connie Mack, and Ned Hanlon were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as managers. Five Pirates managers were inducted into the Hall of Fame for their performance as players.[7] Billy Meyer's number 1, Pie Traynor's number 20, Honus Wagner's number 33, and Murtaugh's number 40 have been retired by the franchise.[8] The Pirates' current manager is Don Kelly, who replaced Derek Shelton.[9]

Table key

Years
Seasons managed; each is linked to an article about that particular season
WPct
Winning percentage: number of wins divided by number of games managed
PA
Playoff appearances: number of years this manager has led the franchise to the playoffs
PW
Playoff wins: number of wins this manager has accrued in the playoffs
PL
Playoff losses: number of losses this manager has accrued in the playoffs
Div
Division titles: number of division titles won by the general manager
Pen
Pennants: number of pennants (league championships) won by the manager
WS
World Series: number of World Series victories achieved by the manager
† or * Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum († denotes induction as manager)

American Association

#ManagerYearsWinsLossesWPctRef
1Al Pratt1882–18835159.464[10]
2Ormond Butler18831736.321[11]
3Joe Battin1883, 1884818.308[12]
4Denny McKnight188448.333[13]
5Bob Ferguson18841131.262[14]
6George Creamer188408.000[15]
7Horace Phillips1885–1886145136.516[4]

National League

#ManagerYearsWinsLossesWPctPAPWPLPenWSRef
1Horace Phillips1887–1889[a]149180.453—————[16]
2Fred Dunlap1889710.412—————[16]
3Ned Hanlon†1889, 1891[b]5765.467—————[16]
4Guy Hecker189023113.169—————[16]
5Bill McGunnigle18912433.421—————[16]
6Tom Burns18922732.458—————[16]
7Al Buckenberger1892–1894187144.565—————[16]
8Connie Mack†1894–1896149134.527—————[16]
9Patsy Donovan1897, 1899[c]129129.500—————[16]
10Bill Watkins1898–18997991.465—————[16]
11Fred Clarke*1900–19151422969.59547841[17]
12Nixey Callahan1916–191785129.397—————[18]
13Honus Wagner*191714.200—————[18]
14Hugo Bezdek1917–1919166187.470—————[19]
15George Gibson1920–1922,
1932–1934[d]
401330.549—————[20]
16Bill McKechnie†1922–1926409293.58314311[21]
17Donie Bush1927–1929246178.58010410[22]
18Jewel Ens1929–1931176167.513—————[23]
19Pie Traynor*1934–1939457406.530—————[24]
20Frankie Frisch*1940–1946539528.505—————[25]
21Spud Davis194612.333—————[26]
22Billy Herman*19476192.399—————[26]
23Bill Burwell1947101.000—————[26]
24Billy Meyer1948–1952317452.412—————[27]
25Fred Haney1953–1955163299.353—————[28]
26Bobby Bragan1956–1957102155.397—————[28]
27Danny Murtaugh1957–1964,
1967,
1970–1971,
1973–1976[e]
1115950.5405151322[29]
28Harry Walker1965–1967224184.549—————[30]
29Larry Shepard1968–1969164155.514—————[31]
30Alex Grammas196941.800—————[31]
31Bill Virdon1972–1973163128.56012300[32]
32Chuck Tanner1977–1985711685.50917311[33]
33Jim Leyland1986–1996851863.496381200[34]
34Gene Lamont1997–2000295352.456—————[35]
35Lloyd McClendon2001–2005336446.430—————[36]
36Pete Mackanin20051214.462—————[37]
37Jim Tracy2006–2007135189.417—————[38]
38John Russell2008–2010186299.384—————[39]
39Clint Hurdle2011–2019735720.50533500[40]
40Derek Shelton2020–2025306440.410—————[41]
41Don Kelly2025–present.000———[42]

Footnotes

  • a^ The Alleghenies began the 1889 season with a record of 28–43; manager Horace Phillips suffered a mental breakdown and was replaced by Fred Dunlap who coached the team to a 7–10 record over the next 17 games. Ned Hanlon, the team's center fielder, was brought in to finish the season as manager, leading the team to a winning record of 26–18.[43]
  • b^ Hanlon left the team to join the Players' League in 1890, but returned after the League disbanded after one season. Upon his return Hanlon replaced Guy Hecker. After disagreements with management, however, Hanlon was demoted as manager with a 31–47 record in his second stint as manager. Bill McGunnigle finished the 1891 season as manager.[16]
  • c^ Patsy Donovan managed the team to a 60–71 record in 1897, finishing in eighth place. He was replaced by Bill Watkins who managed the team for over one season, but after a 7–15 start to the 1899 campaign Donovan resumed his position as manager and finished his second stint with a 69–58 record.[16]
  • d^ George Gibson coached 374 games from 1920 to 1922, winning 201 and losing 173. He coached 359 games from 1932 to 1934, winning 200 and losing 159.[44]
  • e^ Bobby Bragan coached the Pirates to a 36–67 record in 1957,[45] before being replaced by Danny Murtaugh. Murtaugh coached the team for eight seasons during his first stint, coaching 1154 games for 605 wins and 549 losses.[46] Harry Walker took over for Murtaugh, until a 42–42 start in 1967 caused management to bring back Murtaugh to finish the season as manager.[47] Murtaugh went 39–39 to conclude the 1967 campaign. Murtaugh's third stint as Pirates manager lasted two seasons, he was 186–138 overall, winning a World Series in the second season.[46] Bill Virdon was the Pirates for one season, but after beginning his second 67–69,[48] Murtaugh was brought in for his fourth term as manager. Murtaugh finished his final term with a 285–226 record.[46]

References

  1. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
  2. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 2–3
  3. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 485–96
  4. 1 2 "Horace Phillips Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  5. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, p. 462
  6. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  7. ↑ "Pirates Hall of Famers". Managers. PittsburghPirates.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Retired Numbers". Pirates Retired Numbers. PittsburghPirates.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  9. ↑ John Perrotto (November 27, 2019). "Pirates name Derek Shelton new manager". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Al Pratt Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Ormond Butler Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Joe Battin Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Bob Ferguson Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  15. ↑ "George Creamer Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Finoli, Ranier 2003, p. 438
  17. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 439–40
  18. 1 2 Finoli, Ranier 2003, p. 440
  19. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 440–41
  20. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 441–42
  21. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 442–43
  22. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, p. 444
  23. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 444–45
  24. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 445–46
  25. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 446–47
  26. 1 2 3 Finoli, Ranier 2003, p. 447
  27. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, p. 448
  28. 1 2 Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 448–49
  29. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 451–53, 510–25
  30. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 453–54
  31. 1 2 Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 454–55
  32. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 455–56, 520–22
  33. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 456–57, 525–31
  34. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 458–59, 531–36
  35. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, pp. 459–60
  36. ↑ "Lloyd McClendon Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  37. ↑ "Pete Mackanin Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2008. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  38. ↑ "Jim Tracy Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2008.
  39. ↑ "John Russell Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2009. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  40. ↑ "Clint Hurdle Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Derek Shelton Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  42. ↑ Stumpf, Alex (May 8, 2025). "Shelton out as Pirates manager; bench coach Don Kelly takes his place". MLB.com. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  43. ↑ Finoli, Ranier 2003, p. 437
  44. ↑ "George Gibson Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  45. ↑ "Bobby Bragan Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  46. 1 2 3 "Danny Murtaugh Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  47. ↑ "Harry Walker Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  48. ↑ "Bill Virdon Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
  • Finoli, David; Bill Ranier (2003). The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia. United States: Sports Publishing L.L.C. ISBN 1-58261-416-4.