Pirates Team HOF Class of 2025 Candidates

Since its founding in 2022, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been showcasing the team’s Hall of Fame near the left field gate. For the HOF’s inaugural year, the franchise inducted 19 members including Roberto Clemente, Onus Wagner, Willie Stargell, and more. One season later, the Pirates inducted old-time legends Bob Friend and Roy Face. Recently, the Steel City club honored Barry Bond and Jim Leyland. Now that the upcoming 2025 campaign is upon us, which former Pirates legends should be the next inductees for the team’s HOF? 

Pirates’ Candidates for the Team’s Hall of Fame-Class of 2025

Hitters

OF/INF Andy Van Slyke (1987-1994)

• Three-Time All-Star: 1988, 1992, 1993
• Won 5 Gold Gloves & 2 Silver Sluggers
• Top 5 in NL MVP Voting Twice: 1988, 1992
• 117 Home Runs (Tied 16th All-Time)
• 564 RBIs (20th All-Time)
• 1,108 Base Hits (29th All-Time)
• 0.283 Batting Average
• 0.811 On Base Plus Slugging (21st All-Time)
• 1,057 Games Played (16th All-Time)
• 31.0 Wins Above Replacement
• 3 NL Championship Series: 1990-1992

C Jason Kendall (1996-2004)

• Three-Time All-Star: 1996, 1998, 2000
• NL Rookie of the Year Finalist in 1996
• 0.306 Batting Average (14th All-Time)
• 1,409 Base Hits (17th All-Time)
• 67 Home Runs (Tied 44th All-Time)
• 471 RBIs (31st All-Time)
• 0.805 On Base Plus Slugging (24th All-Time)
• 1,252 Games Played (19th All-Time)
• 30.7 Wins Above Replacement

LF Jason Bay (2003-2008)

• Two-Time All-Star: 2005, 2006
• NL Rookie of the Year Winner in 2004
• Top 12 in NL MVP Voting in 2005
• 139 Home Runs (9th All-Time)
• 0.890 On Base Plus Slugging (6th All-Time)
• 452 RBIs (36th All-Time)
• 729 Base Hits
• 0.281 Batting Average
• 719 Games Played
• 15.1 Wins Above Replacement

INF/OF Frank Thomas (1951-1958)

• Three-Time All-Star: 1954, 1955, 1958
• Top 5 in NL MVP Voting in 1958
• 163 Home Runs (8th All-Time)
• 562 RBIs (21st All-Time)
• 950 Base Hits (44th All-Time)
• 0.275 Batting Average
• 0.807 On Base Plus Slugging (23rd All-Time)
• 925 Games Played (43rd All-Time)
• 13.8 Wins Above Replacement

OF Brian Giles (1999-2003)

• Two-Time All-Star: 2000, 2011
• Top 15 in NL MVP Voting in 2002
• 1.017 On Base Plus Slugging (1st All-Time)
• 165 Home Runs (7th All-Time)
• 506 RBIs (26th All-Time)
• 782 Base Hits
• 0.308 Batting Average (12th All-Time)
• 715 Games Played 
• 26.1 Wins Above Replacement

Starting Pitchers

RHP Doug Drabek (1987-1992)

• 1990 NL Cy Young Winner
• Top 5 in NL Cy Young Voting in 1992
• Led the NL with 22 Wins in 1990
• 92 Wins (20th All-Time)
• 196 Starts (Tied 17th All-Time)
• 3.02 E.R.A. (18th All-Time)
• 820 Strikeouts (16th All-Time)
• 1,362.2 Innings Pitched (23rd All-Time)
• 21.2 Wins Above Replacement
• 3 NL Championship Series: 1990-1992

LHP Bob Veale (1962-1972)

• Two-Time All-Star: 1965, 1966
• 1971 World Series Champion
• Four 15-Win Seasons: 1964-1967
• 1,652 Strikeouts (2nd All-Time)
• 116 Wins (Tied 12th All-Time)
• 255 Starts (7th All-Time)
• 3.06 E.R.A. (19th All-Time)
• 1,868.2 Innings Pitched (12th All-Time)
• 78 Complete Games (Tied 23rd All-Time)
• 20 Shutouts (Tied 10th All-Time)
• 23.9 Wins Above Replacement
• 1 Playoff Appearance: 1971

RHP Vern Law (1950-1951, 1954-1967)

• Two-Time All-Star: 1960 (Both Games)
• 1960 NL Cy Young Winner
• Also Won 1960 World Series
• Led the NL with 18 Complete Games in 1960
• Top 6 in NL MVP VOting in 1960
• 162 Wins (6th All-Time)
• 364 Starts (3rd All-Time)
• 3.77 E.R.A.
• 1,092 Strikeouts (5th All-Time)
• 2,672.0 Innings Pitched (4th All-Time)
• 119 Complete Games (13th All-Time)
• 28 Shutouts (Tied 5th All-Time)
• 26.0 Wins Above Replacement
• 1 Playoff Appearance: 1960

LHP Wilbur Cooper (1912-1924)

• Led the NL with Wins (22) in 1921
• Four 20-Win Seasons: 1920-1922, 1924
• 202 Wins (1st All-Time)
• 369 Starts (2nd All-Time)
• 2.74 E.R.A. (Tied 12th All-Time)
• 1,191 Strikeouts (3rd All-Time)
• 263 Complete Games (1st All-Time)
• 33 Shutouts (4th All-Time)
• 3,199.0 Innings Pitched (2nd All-Time)
• 48.0 Wins Above Replacement

RHP Sam Leever (1898-1910)

• Led the NL with 2.06 E.R.A. in 1903
• Also Led the NL with 379.0 Innings Pitched in 1899
• Four 20-Win Seasons: 1899, 1903, 1905, 1906
• 194 Wins (2nd All-Time)
• 299 Starts (5th All-Time)
• 2.47 E.R.A. (4th All-Time)
• 847 Strikeouts (12th All-Time)
• 241 Complete Games (2nd All-Time)
• 39 Shutouts (2nd All-Time)
• 2,660.2 Innings Pitched (5th All-Time)
• 41.0 Wins Above Replacement

Relievers

RHP Mark Melancon (2013-2016)

• Three-Time All-Star: 2013, 2015, 2016
• Top 10 in NL Cy Young Voting in 2015
• 130 Saves (5th All-Time)
• 267 Appearances
• 1.80 E.R.A. 
• 241 Strikeouts
• 260.1 Innings Pitched
• 8.0 Wins Above Replacement
• 3 Playoff Appearances: 2013-2015

RHP Mike Williams (1998-2001, 2002-2003)

• Two-Time All-Star: 2002, 2003
• 140 Saves (3rd All-Time)
• 306 Appearances
• 3.78 E.R.A.
• 312 Strikeouts
• 321.2 Innings Pitched
• 3.8 Wins Above Replacement

RHP Dave Giusti (1970-1976)

• One-Time All-Star: 1973
• 1971 World Series Champion
• Led the NL with 30 Saves in 1971
• Top 10 in NL Cy Young Voting Three Times: 1970, 1973, 1974
• 133 Saves (4th All-Time)
• 410 Appearances
• 2.94 E.R.A.
• 373 Strikeouts
• 618.0 Innings Pitched
• 8.2 Wins Above Replacement
• 5 Playoff Appearances: 1970-1972, 1974-1975

RHP Joel Hanrahan (2009-2012)

• Two-Time All-Star: 2011, 2012
• 82 Saves (8th All-Time)
• 238 Appearances
• 2.59 E.R.A.
• 265 Strikeouts
• 229.1 Innings Pitched
• 5.5 Wins Above Replacement

Managers

Clint Hurdle (2011-2019)

• NL Manager of the Year in 2013
• During PIT Tenure: Andrew McCutchen Won 2013 NL MVP
• 735 Wins (4th All-Time)
• 42 Ejections (2nd All-Time)
• 3 Playoff Appearances: 2013-2015

Bill McKechnie (1922-1926)

• Led Pirates to 1925 World Series Title
• Previously had Spring Training Park Named After Him, McKechnie Field
• Inducted to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962
• 409 Wins (8th All-Time)
• 10 Ejections (Tied 11th All-Time)
• 1 Playoff Appearance: 1925

Broadcasters

Greg Brown (1994-Present)

• TV and Radio Play-by-Play Announcer for the Pirates
• Invented the Call “Raise the Jolly Roger.”
• Covered Pittsburgh’s Postseason Runs in 2013, 2014, and 2015
• Also Covered Two NL Rookie of the Year Winners: Jason Bay and Paul Skenes
• Saw 7 Managers: Leyland, Lamont, McClendon, Tracy, Russell, Hurdle, and Shelton

Lanny Frattare (1976-2008)

• Co-Play-by-Play Announcer for the Pirates
• First Partnered with HOF Milo Hamilton (1976-1979)
• Covered the Team’s 1979 WS Win and 3 NLCS (1990-1992)

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