Pittsburgh Pirates: Constructing the Franchise’s All-Offense Line Up

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PITTSBURGH, PA – CIRCA 1979: Willie Stargell #8 of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats during a Major League Baseball game at Three Rivers Stadium circa 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willie Stargell
PITTSBURGH, PA – CIRCA 1979: Willie Stargell #8 of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats during a Major League Baseball game at Three Rivers Stadium circa 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willie Stargell /

Left Field Willie Stargell

Willie Stargell is probably the best slugger in Pirate history. The Hall of Fame left fielder has a career .282/.360/.529 line with 475 home runs and a 145 wRC+ throughout his 21 year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Stargell leads all Pirate batters in home runs, and has the highest slugging percentage and isolated slugging percentage of any Pirate with at least 5000 plate appearances. However, he still ranks top three among each category among Pirates with at least 2000 plate appearances. Stargell’s wRC+ ranks 4th all time among Pirates with at least 2500 plate appearances, and ties him with Barry Bonds.

Stargell was an absolute monster during the 1970s. From the start of the decade up through 1979, Stargell hit .287/.374/.555 with a 154 wRC+ and 156 OPS+. Stargell also blasted 296 home runs during the decade. Despite playing 185 fewer games than Reggie Jackson, Stargell still outdid the fellow Hall of Famer in home runs. Stargell also led the decade in wRC+, wOBA (.405), ISO, and OPS.

Stargell was also the heart soul of the 1979 World Series Champion Pirates. He was a key cog in the team winning the Fall Classic in 1971, too.