Pittsburgh Pirates: Unveiling the 25-man All-Streak Team
By Matt Shetler
First Base- Kevin Young
Young spent 11 years as a Pirate. Photo Credit: Post Gazette
I was never the biggest fan of Young, who had two different stints in a Pirates’ uniform, but given the lack of production at first base over the course of the last two decades, he gets the nod.
In total Young played 11 seasons for the Bucs where he combined to hit .259 with 144 homers and 606 RBI.
He was especially good from 1998-99 where he hit 27 and 26 homers and drove in 108 and 106 runs.
Young fell off the table in a big way after the 2000 campaign, but he did enough as a Pirate to warrant a spot on this team. He did get seven at bats during the 1992 season, but that’s not enough to disqualify him from this list.
Unfortunately during his 11 seasons in Pittsburgh, the Pirates only put up a 688-862 record.
Second Base- Freddy Sanchez
The Pirates acquired Sanchez from the Boston Red Sox and he became one of the Bucs’ best players during his 5 1/2 years in Pittsburgh.
He had problems staying healthy but Sanchez hit .301 with 37 homers and 289 RBI in his Pirates career. That includes winning the National League batting crown with a .344 mark in 2006. He also led the league in doubles that year with 53.
Defensively Sanchez turned out to be a pretty solid second baseman with surprisingly good range.
He was dealt to San Francisco in 2009 where he won a World Series and stayed with the Giants until 2011 where injuries have all but ended his career even though he has not officially retired.