Why are the Pittsburgh Pirates called the Bucs? The story behind the team's nickname

Professional baseball in Pittsburgh dates all the way back to the 1870s.

Before the Pittsburgh Pirates existed, the city’s primary team was known as the Pittsburgh Alleghenys. The franchise joined the International Association in 1877, but its run didn’t last long. The Alleghenys dissolved the next year.

A new Alleghenys club was formed in 1882 and became a member of the American Association before eventually joining the National League in 1887. The team largely struggled over the next few years, and the roster took a major hit when several players jumped to the Pittsburgh Burghers of the Players League in 1890.

Fortunately for the Alleghenys, the Players League folded after just one season, putting them in position to reacquire their players. They didn’t stop there, though — the Alleghenys made a shrewd move that led to the organization landing on its current nickname.

The origin of the Pittsburgh Pirates nickname

Those involved in the Players League were expected to return to their original teams from the 1889 season. However, in 1891, the Alleghenys signed Louis Bierbauer, a second baseman from the Philadelphia Athletics.

Bierbauer’s decision to leave Philadelphia for Pittsburgh was a highly controversial moment in free agency. The Athletics and other American Association squads expressed their anger, claiming the “Alleghenys’ actions were ‘piratical.'”

While the Alleghenys weren’t punished for breaking any league rules, they were called the “pirates” by fans and critics alike until the team officially adopted the nickname in 1891.

Why are the Pittsburgh Pirates called the Bucs?

This part doesn’t require a long history lesson. Bucs is simply a shortened version of Buccaneers, another term for Pirates. The nickname is also often used for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1974.

The Pirates and their fans have embraced Bucs as a nickname. Fans at PNC Park can be regularly heard chanting, “Let’s Go Bucs!” The franchise has always showcased the famous “P” logo throughout its history, but it has also utilized the image of an actual buccaneer on hats, jerseys, and other merchandise.

Other nicknames in Pirates history

There are variations of Bucs, with fans referring to the team as the Buccos and Battlin’ Buccos. The latter nickname reflects the fighting spirit of not only the Pirates, but also the city of Pittsburgh itself.