Ahoy and avast ye! We be discussing a grand ole topic – when was the last time the Pittsburgh Pirates sailed into the MLB playoffs? It’s been a long, rough couple of years for the north-shore team since their last postseason voyage, and we’re here to take a look back at the days of Pirates playoff glory.
1. Pittsburgh Pirates: A Record of Playoff Success
Combine the talent of Roberto Clemente, the fire of Bill Mazeroski and the spirit of the city of Pittsburgh and you have the remarkable Pittsburgh Pirates. Since 1887, the Pirates have shown themselves to be a formidable force in Major League Baseball. Not only have they been crowned World Series Champions and have been crowned division champions over twenty times since, they have one of the most successful playoff records in the history of baseball. Here are some of their accomplishments:
- The Pirates have developed twenty National League Central Division titles, the most in the National League.
- The team has won five World Series championships, the last coming in 1979.
- The Pirates have made it to the playoffs through the Wild Card 25 times, the most of any MLB team.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have had many talented players over the years, from the high-flying batting of Honus Wagner to the spectacular pitching of Bob Friend. Their most recent postseason bid was in 2013, when they made it to the playoffs on the back of a strong performance from Andrew McCutchen.
Today, the Pirates remain a competitive team thanks to innovative management and strong player cooperation. They continue to be a strong presence in the National League as well as one of the most successful playoff franchises in Major League Baseball.
2. Remembering the Last Pirates Playoff Appearance
It’s been over a decade since the Pirates last made the MLB playoffs. The 2013 National League Wild Card Game was an event that thrilled Pittsburgh baseball fans across the region with its energy and excitement. Every time the Bucs make the playoffs, it sparks a new fire of interest in the team.
The 2013 team was the result of a renaissance that occurred in Pittsburgh. The Pirates sloughed off the losing seasons that had plauged them over the years. It began with the hiring of Clint Hurdle as manager and the signing of General Manager Neal Huntington, both of whom served as the dynamic duo that restructed the team.
The Wild Card Game
- The Pirates squared off against the eventual World Series Champion, San Francisco Giants.
- The game was hosted at PNC Park, with over 40,000 fans in attendance.
- The Pirates got out to an early lead, only to have it erased by the Giants.
- The Giants walked off with an 8-0 win.
This loss is something that has haunted Pirates fans. After a long dry spell, the team was so close. The majority of team’s roster had been put together from scratch and there seemed a real hope that a World Series was in the Bucs future. Alas, it was not meant to be.
3. The Path to Pittsburgh’s Last Playoff Appearance
Pittsburgh has had a long history in the NFL, and their last time in the playoffs was no exception. The journey began with a trade for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in 2004. The trade brought a new energy to the Steelers organization, and the team was ready to make their long-awaited return to the playoffs.
Holding the 11th seed, the Steelers managed to scramble their way up the rankings, ending the regular season with a record of 11–5. This included a big upset victory against the Denver Broncos, a top-tier team led by quarterback, Jake Plummer. The win set the tone for the playoff push, and it wasn’t long before the Steelers made their way to the post season.
Once in the playoffs, the Steelers made quick work of the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Diego Chargers, two of their biggest division rivals. Thanks to a couple of Roethlisberger’s highlight-reel plays, the team was able to clinch the AFC championship. This was a huge accomplishment for the young quarterback, as he was only in his second season in the league.
Arriving at the Super Bowl, the Steelers found themselves in an uphill battle against the Seattle Seahawks. Even with a relentless effort from Big Ben and his defense, the Steelers ultimately fell short, losing their first Super Bowl in twenty years. Even though the result wasn’t what they wanted, it still marked a significant milestone in the history of the Steelers organization, and the 2004 playoff appearance will remain a cherished moment for any true Steelers fan.
4. An Analysis of the Pirates’ Playoff Performance
The recent playoff performance of the Pirates was certainly a disappointment. Despite a strong showing in the regular season, which saw them narrowly miss out on a place in the post-season, the Pirates were unable to capitalise on the momentum of their regular season success.
From three individual games, the Pirates were only able to muster one win. That win came in the opening match of the playoffs, as the Pirates had a comfortable victory, with a final score of 4-2. However, the Pirates seemed to struggle notably in both the second and third games of the playoffs. In their second match, the Pirates failed to find any answers to a much stronger opposing team, and although they kept the score close, the Pirates weren’t able to pull ahead, suffering a narrow 4-3 loss. The third and final game of the playoff series went even worse for the Pirates, with a 6-1 defeat, as the opposing team outplayed the Pirates in all aspects of the game.
So, why were the Pirates unable to replicate their regular season success in the playoffs? The answer likely lies in their high error rate. Across the three playoff games, the Pirates committed a total of 24 errors, compared to the 18 errors of their opponents. Their error rate was particularly high in their third match, with 14 compared to the opponent’s 6.
- In the first game, the Pirates committed 6 errors
- In the second game, the Pirates committed 8 errors
- In the third game, the Pirates committed 10 errors
Finally, it’s worth noting that the Pirates’ offense was unable to capitalise on their opportunities in the playoffs as they did in the regular season. The Pirates only managed to score a total of 7 goals in the playoffs, compared to the 15 goals they scored in the regular season.
5. Expectations for Future Pirates Playoff Appearances
Pittsburgh Pirates fans have been on an emotional rollercoaster for the past few years. They enjoyed several successful playoff appearances between 2013 and 2015, and then watched their team suffer through several consecutive losing seasons. Thankfully, the Pirates have been on the rise recently, and there is a lot of excitement about the team heading into the 2021 season. It is fair to say that fans have high hopes for the Pirates’ playoff chances in the upcoming season.
There is no question that the Pirates have the talent and experience to not only compete for a playoff spot, but to make a deep playoff run. Fans could realistically expect the Pirates to contend for a division title, and they should have no issue competing with teams like the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and St. Louis Cardinals.
The Pirates have a few key players who will be crucial to their success, including:
- Outfielder Bryan Reynolds, who put together an All-Star caliber season in 2020.
- First baseman Josh Bell, who has the power to be one of the game’s best sluggers.
- Pitcher Trevor Williams, who should be an innings eater for the Pirates in 2021.
- Relief pitcher Michael Feliz, who has become a shutdown closer for the team.
These players should provide a solid foundation for the team in 2021.
The expectations for the Pirates will be high heading into 2021. Fans will be looking for the team to make their return to the playoffs, and they should be prepared for a deep run if all goes well. Anything less than a playoff appearance would be a disappointment, and the organization needs to make sure they are ready to compete at the highest level.
This is an exciting time to be a Pirates fan, and the team will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years.
6. An Overview of the Pirates Post-Season Streaks
Since their first appearance in the postseason in 1901, the Pittsburgh Pirates have seen their fair share of success in October. It all started with six consecutive appearances from 1901 to 1906.
In the twenties, the Bucs had five years of great success, making it to the World Series in 1925 and 1927 and the World Series Championship in 1925. During this time, they also had a five-year World Series drought. From 1937 to 1971 the team saw a mix of success and failure, with five postseason trips and four World Series berths during this time.
The Pirates began to soar in the 70s, making the playoffs in eight out of twelve seasons and going to the World Series three times. After this streak of success, the Pirates went on a twenty-five year streak of absence from the postseason. Finally, in 2013, the Bucs made their first post-season appearance since 1992 and were on the brink of making it to the World Series, only to be stopped short in the wildcard game.
Currently, the Pirates are in the midst of their longest streak of post-season appearances since the seventies; they have been to the postseason four out of the last six years. For the first time in almost 40 years, the Buccos are looking like a strong contender in October. With a core group of young talent, and veterans leading the way, the Pirates hope to keep this streak of success going.
7. What the Future Holds for the Pirates and the Playoffs
The Pirates’ Plans for the Future
The Pirates are in a unique position to make plans for the future despite their recent lack of playoff success. There is improved optimism from the team about their roster and the potential of the organization. The team is starting to build a core of strong players that will stay with the team for the long-term enabling them to compete for the postseason sooner rather than later.
The Pirates are also looking to make changes to their front office and coaching staff as they move forward. They are looking to bring in a fresh perspective to help them make smarter decisions and capitalize on their talents. The team believes that they need to have a clear plan in place as they move forward in order to give themselves the best chance at a postseason berth.
The Pirates are well-positioned to reach the playoffs over the next several years. They have a mix of young and veteran players that will help them compete in the oft-competitive NL Central. The team is also building up their farm system to ensure that they are able to sustain their current level of success.
The Pirates have the potential to be a consistent playoff team if they can continue to build around their core players and make the right moves at the right time. If the team can stay on track and be proactive with their decisions, the Pirates should have no problem reaching the playoffs in the near future.
After a decade of heartache, Pirates fans have to hold fast to the hope that their team can return to the playoffs soon. Until that day comes, however, they can always look back fondly on 2013 – the last time Pittsburgh was part of October baseball.