Q 01/05

Pittsburgh's ball club was branded 'Pirates' in 1891 for taking a rival's what?

A) Team manager

B) Second baseman

C) Home ballpark

D) Gate receipts

Answer · why

B) Second baseman

Second baseman. Philadelphia's Athletics had carelessly left Lou Bierbauer off their reserve list, and when Pittsburgh signed him, an official complai...

Q 02/05

Before becoming the Pirates, Pittsburgh's ball club began play in 1882 under what name?

A) Stogies

B) Crawfords

C) Alleghenys

D) Rebels

Answer · why

C) Alleghenys

Alleghenys. The club took the name of Allegheny City, the separate town across the river where it played, which Pittsburgh did not annex until 1907.

Q 03/05

Pittsburgh acquired Honus Wagner from which club being eliminated when the NL contracted?

A) Washington Senators

B) Cleveland Spiders

C) Baltimore Orioles

D) Louisville Colonels

Answer · why

D) Louisville Colonels

Louisville Colonels. Their owner, Barney Dreyfuss, saw his club was doomed, bought a half-interest in the Pirates and took Wagner and most of Louisvil...

Q 04/05

The Pirates lost the first modern World Series in 1903 to which team?

A) New York Giants

B) Boston Americans

C) Chicago White Sox

D) Philadelphia Athletics

Answer · why

B) Boston Americans

Boston Americans. Pittsburgh owner Barney Dreyfuss had issued the challenge himself, to seal the peace between the two leagues, and his club then lost...

Q 05/05

The Pirates' first World Series title, in 1909, came against which team?

A) Chicago Cubs

B) Philadelphia Athletics

C) Detroit Tigers

D) Cleveland Naps

Answer · why

C) Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers. The series was billed as Honus Wagner against Ty Cobb, and Wagner won the duel, hitting .333 to Cobb's .231 and stealing six bases to ...