The Pittsburgh Pirates have a long history and countless stars donned the iconic gold and black over the franchise’s time in the Steel City. Pittsburgh has struggled in recent years, as the franchise has made the playoffs just three times since the 1992 season. Yet, the Pirates have had plenty to be proud of over the years. So, how many World Series championships have the city of Pittsburgh won in Major League Baseball? Let’s take a look.

When did the Pirates last win a World Series title?

The Pirates last won a title in 1979.

How many World Series have the Pittsburgh Pirates won?

The Pittsburgh Pirates franchise has won five World Series titles. Those titles came in 1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, and 1979.

The Pirates’ first title came in 1909, a season that saw Pittsburgh win 110 games. It came at the end of a dominant decade for the Pirates, one that saw Pittsburgh win the NL pennant four times. Pittsburgh won it in 1901 and 1902, before the World Series era. The Pirates won it a third-straight season in 1903 but lost to Boston in the first American-National League World Series.

Led by star shortstop Honus Wagner, who drove in 100 runs for the Pirates that season, Pittsburgh won its first title by defeating the AL champion Tigers in seven games to cap off 1909.

Pittsburgh’s next World Series appearance came in 1925, a season that saw the Pirates win its second title. The 1925 Pirates were an exciting offensive force, as Pittsburgh that year had nine players that played over 100 games and hit .300 or better. In a seven-game World Series, Pittsburgh defeated the Washington Senators.

The Pirates had the opportunity to win two titles in three years, after Pittsburgh won the 1927 NL pennant. However, the 1927 Yankees rolled through the Pirates in a four-game sweep.

Pittsburgh remained competitive throughout the 1930s but didn’t finish first in the NL in any season of the decade. The Pirates struggled throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Over eight straight seasons between 1950-58, Pittsburgh finished either last or second-to-last in the National League each year.

However, the franchise underwent a resurgance in the late 1950s and made it back to the top shortly thereafter.

The franchise’s third title came in 1960. Pittsburgh boasted an incredible group of talent, led by pitchers Vern Law and Bob Friend, and a lineup that included Dick Groat, Bill Mazeroski, and Roberto Clemente.

Much like in 1909 and 1925, Pittsburgh would once again be involved in a lengthy, seven-game series. This time around, it would be against the New York Yankees. In Game 7, Mazeroski hit a solo home run off of Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry in the ninth inning to clinch the Pirates’ third title.

Pittsburgh won two titles in the 1970s. Their first win came in 1971, a team that featured two fearsome hitters in Clemente and slugger Willie Stargell. The Pirates defeated the Giants in the NLCS to move on and face the Orioles in the World Series. In yet another seven-game series, Pittsburgh would come out on top in the final game of the 1971 World Series.

Eight years later, the Pirates would again square off with the O’s in the Fall Classic. Pittsburgh won that series in seven games and won the franchise’s fifth and last title to date.

Since the 1979 season, the Pirates have made the playoffs six times. Their best chance at making back to the Fall Classic came in the late 1980s and early 1990s thanks to a strong rotation led by Doug Drabek and slugger Barry Bonds. However, the Braves stymied the franchise.

Atlanta beat the Pirates in seven games during the 1991 and 1992 NLCS.

Check out how the Cardinals and Cubs have done in their quests for the coveted World Series title.