Before the 2022 season began, the Pirates made it clear that their campaign to enhance the fan experience at PNC Park would include additional ways to celebrate the rich history of the franchise. Elements of that now in evidence include new curated displays along the upper portion of the Highmark Riverwalk, retired numbers in the landscape and oversized baseballs along the lower Riverwalk.     

In keeping with that theme, the team announced on Thursday that the Pirates Hall of Fame will be unveiled on Saturday, Sept. 3 at PNC Park, and its first class of members will officially be inducted that day as well.    

Who will be included in that first group of inductees? Well, the Pirates aren’t saying just yet, but they certainly have a multitude of players to choose from, given their long history of professional baseball in Pittsburgh.  

Since the franchise joined the National League in 1887, nearly 2,000 men have worn a Pirates uniform. That includes batting champions, home run champions, Most Valuable Players, Gold Glove Award winners, Cy Young Award winners, 20-game winners, and scores of players who contributed mightily to Pittsburgh’s five World Series championships.  

Members of the Homestead Grays and Pittsburgh Crawfords -- two of the most successful teams ever in Negro Leagues baseball -- are also eligible for induction into the Pirates Hall of Fame.   

“The Pirates have been a part of our way of life in Pittsburgh for more than 135 years. During that time, generations of baseball fans have cheered on some of the greatest players and celebrated some of the most historic moments our sport has ever seen,” said Pirates chairman Bob Nutting. “We are excited to highlight the accomplishments of these great players from the Pirates, Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays, along with the impact they have had on baseball and our lives.”

On Sept. 3, the Pirates will hold special induction ceremonies at PNC Park early in the afternoon, and the Pirates Hall of Famers will also be honored on the field prior to the 6:35 p.m. ET game vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.  

Plans for the Pirates Hall of Fame were originally announced in 2019, but its creation was delayed due to the COVID pandemic. Additional details about the festivities that will take place on Sept. 3, including the complete list of inductees, will be announced at a later date. 

“The formal induction of the inaugural class of our Hall of Fame has been a long time coming for us as an organization, not only in the sense of our rich history, but also since we first announced our intentions prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Nutting. “Now that we can once again gather together at the ballpark, we have set Sept. 3 to properly celebrate this moment with members of our inaugural class, their families and our fans.”