Pittsburgh Pirates - The Clinton Years (1990-1999)

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1990

Decade

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Titles:

Top Pirates Players of the Nineties

1990 - NL East Champs (Lost to Reds)

1991 - NL East Champs (Lost to Braves)

Pitchers:

1992 - NL East Champs (Lost to Braves)

Doug Drabek (13.07) - 38

Denny Neagle (9.74) - 31

Ballpark:

Zane Smith (10.56) - 26

Three Rivers Stadium

Francisco Cordova (13.51) - 25

Jon Lieber (6.64) - 23

Team Name:

Jason Schmidt (9.62) - 23

Pirates

Bob Walk (1.72) - 21

John Smiley (2.98) - 20

Owners:

Randy Tomlin (5.88) - 15

Pittsburgh Association (1990-1995)

Steve Cooke (4.46) - 14

Kevin McClatchey (1996-1999)

Esteban Loaiza (4.59) - 14

Todd Ritchie (3.26) - 11

General Managers:

Neal Heaton (0.42) - 8

Larry Doughty (1990-1992)

Tim Wakefield (1.87) - 6

Ted Simmons (1992-1993)

Cam Bonifay (1993 -1999)

Catchers:

Jason Kendall (15.43) - 46

Managers:

Don Slaught (10.25) - 29

Jim Leyland (1990-1996)

Mike Lavalliere (4.67) - 11

Gene Lamont (1997-1999)

First Basemen:

Hall of Famers:

Kevin Young (9.48) - 31

Jim Leyland

Mark Johnson (1.19) - 13

Barry Bonds (Pending)

Second Basemen:

Rookie of the Year:

Carlos Garcia (3.44) - 15

None

Tony Womack (0.27) - 11

MVP

ShortStop:

Barry Bonds (1990)

Jay Bell (23.14) - 58

Barry Bonds (1992)

Third Base:

Cy Young:

Jeff King (10.19) - 27

Doug Drabek (1990)

Outfield:

No Hitters:

Barry Bonds (26.75) - 68

Francisco Cordova / Ricardo Rincon (1997)

Andy Van Slyke (15.58) - 49

Al Martin (6.42) - 42

Notable Events:

Orlando Merced (12.57) - 40

Bobby Bonilla (7.93) - 19

1990 - the late Eighties were spent by the Bucs acquiring talent for their pennant runs

Dave Clark (2.64) - 11

in the early nineties. Pittsburgh had been floundering around in the standings in the

Brian Giles (6.66) - 11

late Eighties as their superstar quality youngsters weren't quite there yet. Coming into

Gary Redus (1.82) - 5

the Nineties, the Pirates have four young superstar quality talents plus a number of

other solid young players to provide high level support for the big four.

Notable Events:

The Big Four (all under thirty)

□ LF - Barry Bonds, 25, the most talented player in the game

1994 - Righthander Jon Lieber, 24 is obtained in a trade with KC

□ 3B - Bobby Bonilla, 27, big time slugger

□ CF - Andy Van Slyke, 29, top notch all around player

1994 -The leagues are split into three Divisions with a wild card

□ RHP - Doug Drabek, 26, ace stolen from the Yankees

with Pittsburgh being placed into the Central Division.

High Quality Under Thirty Support: behind the big four:

□ C - Mike Lavalliere, 29

1994 - The Players Strike ends the season in mid August, The

□ 1B - Sid Bream, 29

Pirates are one of the marginal financial teams that is fiscally

□ 2B - Jose Lind, 26

devasted by the loss of revenue that ensues from missing a month

□ SS - Jay Bell, 24

and a half

□ 3B - Jeff King, 25

□ RHP - John Smiley, 25

1995 - Righthanded knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, 28, is released after

two seasons with the Pirates. He will go on to win 186 games over the

1990 - Catcher Don Slaught, 31, is signed as a free agent from the Yankees

next seventeen years with the Red Sox

1990 - First Baseman Orlando Merced, 23, is a rookie. He was signed as

1995 - Righthander Esteban Loaiza, 23, is a rookie. He was signed as

an International Free Agent in 1985 from Puerto Rico

an International Free Agent in 1991 from Mexico

1990 - The Pirates gain a whopping twenty five games in the standings to go from an

1996 - Kevin McClatchy buys the club. The Pittsburgh

also ran to the winner of the first of three consecutive Division titles - only to lose

Association had been cutting financial corners, but the new

the first of three consecutive NLCS. In 1990, they lost to the Reds in the NLCS

ownership brings a new dimension to the word frugality

marking the fourth consecutive NLCS loss to Cincinnati by the Bucs, the

other three coming in the 70's. Barry Bonds is MVP, Doug Drabek Cy Young

1996 - Catcher Jason Kendall, 22, is a rookie. He was a first round pick

in the 1992 amateur draft. Kendall was one of the top hitting catchers

1991 - The Braves beat the Bucs in 7 games in the NLCS

in the big leagues over his career.

1992 - Outfielder Al Martin, 24, is signed as a free agent from the Braves

1996 - Righthander Jason Schmidt is obtained from Atlanta in a deal

organization

with the Braves for righty Denny Neagle who was a prospective free

agent. Ironically, Neagle had been obtained four years earlier as the

1992 - First Baseman Kevin Young, 23 is a rookie. He was a seventh round

young prospect in the very similar John Smiley deal.

pick in the 1990 amateur draft

1997 - Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon combine for a

1992 - The wheels start coming off. Two of the Pirates core players leave.

ten inning no hitter with Cordova hurling the first nine.

Bobby Bonilla to free agency. John Smiley to the Twins for youngster

Denny Neagle in anticipation of Smiley's pending free agency

1997 - Outfielder Jose Guillen, 21, is a rookie. He was an International

Free Agent from the Dominican Republic in 1992. Guillen is one that

1992 - The Braves beat the Bucs again in 7 games in the NLCS. Bonds is MVP

got away as he was dealt away before the turn of the century

again. This is the Pirates last winning season.for twenty years.

1998 - Third Baseman Aramis Ramirez, 20, is a rookie. He was signed

1993 - Bonds and Drabek leave for free agency. The team is decimated and

in 1994 as an International Free Agent from the Dominican Republic.

drops twenty one games in the standings. The Pirates embark on an era in Pittsburgh

of owners with extremely shallow pockets and executives who don't have the talent to

1999 - Outfielder Brian Giles, 28, is obtained from Cleveland for

overcome the lack of resources. The Pittsburgh Association is no longer interested in

pitcher Ricardo Rincon

pouring resources into the Pirates to keep them a winner as they make no attempt to

hold onto any of their stars. Pittsburgh will not finish above .500 for another two decades.