The most legendary numbers in Pittsburgh Pirates history

The Pittsburgh Pirates are one of baseball’s most storied franchises, with five World Series titles and many Hall of Fame players in their history, including greats such as Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell. When you think of the best Pirates to ever put on a uniform, certain numbers come to mind.

While some jersey numbers are mainly associated with one player like Bill Mazeroski, others have been worn by several legends in their own right. Here are the top five jersey numbers in Pirates history, based on their career accomplishments and statistical value, with some honorable mentions.

For my purposes, I was looking for multiple players who were impact contributors and wore the same number in order to construct this list. No. 39, for example, would only feature Dave Parker. Nick Gonzales could get there someday.

5 Most Important Jersey Numbers in Pittsburgh Pirates History

Honorable Mentions:

No. 34 (Kris Benson, A.J. Burnett, Esteban Loaiza, Trevor Williams)

No. 51 (David Bednar, Mike González, Steve Pearce, Tony Womack)

No. 55 (Josh Bell, Matt Capps, Russell Martin, Michael McKenry)

5. No. 25

Most Pirates fans my age remember the highs and lows of Gregory Polanco well, the once highly regarded prospect that showed flashes but never fully put it together. His best season was as the everyday right fielder on the 2015 squad that won 98 games and lost to Jake Arrieta and the Cubs in the Wild Card Game. Bobby Bonilla, who will continue to be paid by the Mets every July 1 until 2035, had some great years with the Bucs, leading the team offensively with Barry Bonds and winning three consecutive NL East titles. He was the runner up in MVP voting in 1990 and third in 1991.

After coming over from the Braves in the Mike González trade, Adam Laroche was with the Pirates for two and a half productive seasons, putting up a combined 366 hits, 58 home runs and 213 runs batted in during this span. Bruce Kison was a rookie and pitched well on the 1971 World Series team, and became a valuable member of their rotation throughout the decade, culminating in a 13-win, 3.19 ERA stretch in 1979, earning his second championship ring.

Bob Friend is best known for donning No. 19, but wore No. 25 his first two years in the big leagues, from 1951 to 1952. Others worth mentioning include Upper St. Clair native Sean Casey, who in 2006 hit .296 in 59 games before getting shipped off to Detroit, and Derrek Lee, who hit .337 in a brief stint in 2011. Middle infielder Alika Williams wore No. 25 for the 2024 season.

3. No. 18

The next two spots on this list were the hardest for me to choose. Each numerical lineage includes great players from different Pirates eras. Neil Walker, the Pittsburgh Kid, product of Pine-Richland, is arguably one of the team’s best second basemen, of course, behind Bill Mazeroski. Walker hit an RBI double in the iconic 2013 Wild Card Game against the Reds. His 2014 campaign featured 23 home runs, 76 runs batted in and a well-deserved Silver Slugger Award.

Jason Kendall was a former first-round pick that lived up to the hype and then some. He was a three-time All Star and hit over .300 six times during his Pirates tenure, proving to be one of the best offensive catchers of his generation. Andy Van Slyke, conversely, was among the best defensive outfielders of his time -- and not a bad hitter, either. He won five Gold Gloves and two Silver Sluggers, as a staple of those early ‘90s playoff teams.

Similar to Wehner, Bob Walk works for SportsNet Pittsburgh and wore a different number for most of his career. He rocked No. 18 from ‘84 to ‘85, before switching to No. 17 the next season. Walk won the World Series with the Phillies his rookie year, and spent a few seasons with the Braves before joining the Pirates. In his career, he won 105 games and hit his only home run at Wrigley Field off of Scott May.

A career .307 hitter, Matty Alou, brother of Felipe, uncle of Moisés, was a capable and steady bat and glove for the Bucs for five seasons and played his best in the ‘Burgh. Bill Virdon, another excellent centerfielder, won the Rookie of the Year Award in 1955 with the Cardinals and the World Series with Pittsburgh in 1960. In recent years, players that have worn No. 18 include Michael A. Taylor, Austin Hedges and Ben Gamel.

2. No. 24

“El Toro”, the big bull Pedro Álvarez, wowed with his impressive power and disappointed with his subpar defense. Still, I'd say Pedro is remembered fondly by the fans. From Vanderbilt, he was the second overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, taken after Tim Beckham. His back-to-back 30 home run seasons showed this potential, earning him an All-Star Game appearance and Silver Slugger Award in 2013.

Brian Giles is another underrated power hitter that made the greatest catch ever at PNC Park, reaching into the left field stands to rob Brandon Phillips back in ‘03. His offensive numbers are among the best in franchise history. That walk-off grand slam he hit in 2001 against the Astros -- and the call by Lanny Frattare -- is the stuff of legends.

Barry Bonds, the controversial home run king with an asterisk, is undeniably one of the best to wear the black and gold. He was on a Hall of Fame track, winning two MVPs and several other accolades before signing with the Giants and becoming such a controversial figure, which he remains to this day. This year, Bonds was inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame.

Mike Easler was a valuable contributor to those early ‘80s lost years. He hit for a high average, most notably .338 in 1980, a year in which he received MVP votes. Easler was an All-Star the following season. Dick Groat, another Pittsburgh native (Swissvale, to be specific), had such an impressive career, not just in baseball. He won the batting title and MVP in 1960, the same year the Pirates captured the World Series, then won another title with the Cardinals in ‘64. He was an eight-time All-Star, and became the first person to be inducted into both the College Baseball and College Basketball Halls of Fame, thanks to his years at Duke.

As Pirates fans, we tend not to remember the Chris Archer trade fondly. Both he and Tyler Glasnow were No. 24 at one time, ironically enough. Others that come to mind are 2000s rotation mainstay Tom Gorzelanny and most recently Johan Oviedo, who had a good 2023 before requiring Tommy John surgery.

1. No. 21

Roberto Clemente’s lasting legacy, as a player and humanitarian, cannot be understated. “Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on this Earth.” What a powerful message from “The Great One”. Major League Baseball has honored him by celebrating Roberto Clemente Day every Sept. 15, and establishing the Roberto Clemente Award, given each year to the player that “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement, and the individual’s contribution to his team”. He was a true hero to many in Pittsburgh and his native Puerto Rico, on and off the field. The Pirates retired his No. 21 after his tragic passing at the age of 38, caused by a plane crash while delivering aid to victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua.

Before Clemente played at Forbes Field, a few other notable Pirates have worn No. 21. Fritz Ostermueller, a starting pitcher, finished out his career in Pittsburgh. In this stretch from 1944 to 1948, he put up 14.8 WAR, his best season being 1946 with a 2.84 ERA in 193.1 innings pitched (5.5 WAR). Hall of Fame shortstop Arky Vaughan was the first great Pirate to wear No. 21. He won the batting title in 1935, hitting .385 that year, was a nine-time All-Star, and finished third in MVP voting two seasons. Vaughan is also a member of the Pirates Hall of Fame.