Baseball betting odds fans remember that the Pittsburgh Pirates began as the Allegheneys in 1887 but were renamed the Pirates after signing Louis Bierbauer from Philadelphia
Connie Mack, who became famous as 50-year manager/owner of the Philadelphia A’s managed in Pittsburgh from 1895-96. Barney Dreyfuss acquired the Pirates in 1900 and brought in future Hall of Famer Honus Wagner, who led Pittsburgh to the first of three consecutive NL pennants. In 1903 Pittsburgh had the honor of playing in the first baseball gambling World Series against the Boston Pilgrims, losing the best of nine set 5 baseball gambling games to 3. The Pirates would remain competitive and became baseball betting odds world champions in 1909, their inaugural baseball betting odds season in Forbes Field which was the first ballpark completely made of concrete and steel. Wager won his 8th and final NL batting title 2 baseball betting odds years later but by 1914 Pittsburgh’s run of winning baseball betting odds seasons ended.
Pittsburgh made more history in 1921 baseball betting odds season as they were the first team to play a game broadcast on radio. 4 years later they met Washington in one of the greatest baseball gambling World Series ever played and won 4 baseball betting odds games to 3. Pittsburgh returned to the classic in 1927 baseball betting odds season only to lose to what may be the greatest team ever, Yankees of that year. In 1936 baseball betting odds season Pittsburgh enjoys another first as Wagner is a member of the new Baseball Hall of Fame’s first ever class.
Many years of losing follow but led by NL MVP Dick Groat, young Roberto Clemente and Cy Young winner Vernon Law, the Pirates won the 1960 pennant and were huge baseball gambling underdogs against the Yankees. Baseball betting odds game 7 was set up after 3 Yankee blowout wins and 3 nail biters won by the Pirates. Pittsburgh rallied from 7-4 down to take a 9-7 lead into the 9th only to see New York tie the game. In the bottom of the 9th light hitting 2B Bill Mazeroski homered in left to become the first player ever to clinch a World Series with a walk off HR.
It took until 1970 baseball betting odds season and a move to Three Rivers Stadium before Pittsburgh would taste post-season play again as they lost to Cincinnati in the NLCS. Another first occurred in 1971 baseball betting odds season as the Pirates fielded the first all-minority lineup en route to a World Series win over Baltimore. Clemente took MVP honors in the fall classic as he homered in game 7. The Pirates would lose the NLCS in 1972, 74, and 75 before a new era led by Willie Stargel was capped off with a 1979 World Series win over Baltimore.
A young outfielder named Barry Bonds led Pittsburgh to 3 straight NLCS losses in 1990-92 baseball betting odds seasons before he and manager Jim Leyland moved on to greener pastures. The Pirates have been unable to compete in the new economic landscape of baseball ever since.