The five-time world champion Pittsburgh Pirates began as the Alleghenies in 1876, so named because of their geographic location in what was then Allegheny City, Pa. In 1882, the Alleghenies became part of the American Association and remained there until 1887 when it joined the National League. Four years later, the team signed Lou Bierbauer, who, in, theory was already signed to the Philadelphia Athletics. The Pittsburgh team won the arbitration suit, but was known from then on as the Pirates, for stealing a player from another team. The Pirates were a mediocre team until Barney Dreyfus purchased a one-half interest in 1900. Part of the purchase included a trade with the Louisville Colonels in which the Pirates gave the Colonels 25,000 dollars and five players for fourteen of the Colonels best players, a group that included Fred Clarke and Honus Wagner. Dreyfus was president of the Pirates from 1900 until his death on February 5, 1932.
From the description of Barney Dreyfus postcard and Pittsburgh Pirates season schedule, 1906, 1960 [manuscript] (Historical Society of W Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 770425346
