Danny Murtaugh is best known for his 29-year association with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he won two World Series as manager (1960 & 1971). Murtaugh also played 416 of his 767 career MLB games for the Pirates, as a second baseman.

Willie Stargell originated the practice of giving his teammates embroidered "Stargell stars" for their caps after a nice play or a good game. The practice began during the turbulent 1978 season, when the Pirates came from fourth place and 11.5 games behind in mid-August, to challenge the first-place Philadelphia Phillies for the division title.

In 1973, Blass suffered a mysterious decline in his pitching abilities, posting a 9.85 ERA. To this day, pitchers who suddenly lose the ability to throw strikes are said to have "Steve Blass disease."

After going 12-3 with a 1.11 ERA in the 1909 regular season, his first full year, Babe Adams became the star of the 1909 World Series after being named the surprise starter of Game 1 following a tip by National League president John Heydler that Adams' style was similar to that of an AL pitcher whom the Detroit Tigers had difficulty playing against. He won three complete game victories, each of them a six-hitter, with a shutout in Game 7.

In 1935, Arky Vaughan had what is universally recognized as his best season, leading all of baseball with a .385 average, a .491 on-base percentage, and a 1.098 OPS.

In 1947, Ralph Kiner led the major leagues with 51 home runs while striking out fewer than 100 times. Many of Kiner's homers were hit into a shortened left-field and left-center-field porch at Forbes Field. The porch was dubbed "Kiner's Korner".

In 1936, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Honus Wagner as one of the first five members. He received the second-highest vote total, behind Ty Cobb's 222 and tied with Babe Ruth at 215.

In 1886, Ed "Cannonball" Morris set Pirates single-season records that still stand today with 326 strikeouts, 41 wins, and 12 shutouts.

In 1955, Bob Friend won the NL pitching title with an NL-best 2.83 ERA. But his 14-9 record was in sharp contrast to the Pirates' 60-94 standing.

Mark Melancon won the 2015 National League Reliever of the Year Award after finishing the season with a major league-leading 51 saves.