Pittsburgh Pirates History: Stars Transferred to Team from Louisville
By David Hill
The Louisville Colonels had been a relatively mediocre franchise during their time in the National League. However, they had some intriguing young talent. On this day in 1899, team president Barney Dreyfuss, who was a part owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates, transferred the team’s top players to Pittsburgh.
No one was going to confuse the Louisville Colonels for a powerhouse team during the 1890’s. After joining the National League in 1892, they finished no higher than ninth out of 12 teams in the ensuing eight seasons. And yet, there were some interesting young players on the team, such as Rube Waddell, Honus Wagner, and Fred Clarke.
Meanwhile, team president Barney Dreyfuss had purchased a portion of the Pittsburgh Pirates. As the National League was looking to contract to eight teams for the 1900 season, Dreyfuss set about creating a powerhouse. On this day in 1899, he sent a dozen players to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Future Hall of Famers Clarke, Wagner, and Waddell were sent away, along with future stars Tommy Leach, Deacon Phillippe, and others.
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That trade worked wonders for the Pirates. They instantly became a powerhouse, winning the National League pennant in 1901, 1902, and 1903. That final year, they were favored in the first World Series, and even took a three games to one lead before the Red Sox came back to take the title in an upset.
Pittsburgh continued to be one of the top teams throughout the decade. With that core of players sent over from Louisville, the Pirates were over .500 each season. In 1909, they completed their run as one of the best teams in the National League throughout the decade by taking home their first World Series title.
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The Pittsburgh Pirates became a powerhouse in the early part of the 1900’s due to the influx of players from the Louisville Colonels. On this day in 1899, the Pirates fortunes changed for the next decade.