Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famers: Every player inducted into Cooperstown

The MLB Hall of Fame is one of the most exclusive clubs in all of sports. The best of the best get inducted each year in Cooperstown. You can’t tell the history of baseball without talking about the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

Formed in the late 1800s, the Pirates have won five World Series titles. Even without championships, Pittsburgh has always been rich with talent, from outfielders, pitchers, managers, and announcers.

The Hall of Fame has seen several massive names enter its halls. The Pirates have a significant role in it, from its start to the latest induction class.

Here’s a full list of players who are in the Hall of Fame as members of the Pirates.

Early Pirates legends in the Hall of Fame

The Pirates have a strong history regarding the Hall of Fame, especially early on in baseball’s history.

Honus Wagner has the honor of representing the Pirates in the Inaugural Class in 1936.

“The Flying Dutchman” played 18 years for the Pirates, stealing 639 bases and maintaining a .328 batting average. The eight-time batting champion is considered one of the greatest shortstops of all time.

Fred Clarke, a manager and player for the Pirates, was inducted in 1945. He had a career average of .299 in Pittsburgh after years in Louisville. Clarke led Pittsburgh to a World Series win as the skipper.

Pie Traynor (1948) helped bring the Pirates back to relevance in the 1920s. Traynor had a .320 average, over 2,400 hits, and led the league in triples multiple times. He batted .346 in the 1925 World Series, giving Pittsburgh a title for the first time since 1909.

Arky Vaughan (1985) was an eight-time All-Star with the Pirates. He received MVP votes several times in Pittsburgh, earning third place after batting .385 in 1935.

Lloyd and Paul Waner became the second pair of brothers to enter the Hall of Fame. Paul was an NL MVP in 1927, a three-time batting champion, and produced 3,000 hits. Lloyd was a key piece of the Pirates outfield in the early part of the 1900s.

The Roberto Clemente era and his lasting legacy

Roberto Clemente was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame. His career, on and off the field, is part of the reason for his status as a baseball great.

Clemente was a fifteen-time All-Star, a two-time World Series Champion, and an NL MVP for the Pirates. He cemented his legacy on the field in 1972 with his 3,000 hits. Off it, he spent time doing charity work, primarily in Puerto Rico.

He passed away not long in an airplane crash after attempting to deliver relief goods in Nicaragua. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame the next year. His legacy lives on via the Roberto Clemente Award.

Modern-era Pirates in the Hall of Fame

Later known for his time as a broadcaster with the Mets, Ralph Kiner (1975) was the premier power hitter in baseball. Kiner had over 1,000 hits and batted .280 for Pittsburgh. The six-time All-Star led the NL in home runs for seven straight years.

Willie Stargell (1988) was Mr. Pirate from the 1960s to 1980s. He won two World Series rings as a member of the “We Are Family” crew. “Pops” was an NL, NLCS, and World Series MVP with the Pirates. He batted .282 with 475 home runs and over 2,200 hits in 21 years in Pittsburgh.

Bill Mazeroski (2001) is widely known for hitting a home run against the Yankees to win Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. It resulted in baseball immortality.

Outside the home run, the ten-time All-Star had over 2,000 hits and was known for his defense.

On the same team as Stargell when they won the World Series, Dave Parker was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025, though he passed away before he could take the stage. “The Cobra” was a four-time All-Star with the Pirates, who also won an MVP with the team.

Managers, executives, and broadcasters in Cooperstown

Known for his 28 years calling Pirates baseball, Bob Prince was inducted into MLB’s Hall of Fame via the Ford Frick Award. Giving clever nicknames and phrases to everyone, “The Gunner” is considered a cultural icon in Pittsburgh sports history.

Known for his professionalism, Milo Hamilton also earned the Ford C. Frick Award, as did Al Helfer, who called games on the radio.

Jim Leyland (2024) won a World Series with the Marlins. However, he was a three-time Manager of the Year with the Pirates and won over 1,700 games as the skipper. His no-nonsense attitude made him a favorite, and he helped develop Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, and others.

Who could be the next Pirate in the Hall of Fame?

Who will be the next to be awarded immortality?

Andrew McCutchen may be the closest to entering Cooperstown. The 17-year veteran has played twelve seasons in Pittsburgh. He has over 2,200 hits (1,781 with the Pirates) and is a former MVP.

The 39-year-old, a five-time All-Star, has looked to stay active. He could enter the Hall of Fame when all is said and done.  

Outside McCutchen, Paul Skenes has the skills, if healthy, to enter the Hall of Fame. He recently became the fourth player in the live ball era in 2025 to record a low ERA (1.97) in his age-23 season or younger.

Skenes needs wins, but his strikeout rate and hunger could lead to a very successful career.