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As of April 26, the Pittsburgh Pirates have the worst record in the majors at 5-18. The last time the Pirates started out 5-18 (the only time since 1901) was in 1957.
Back then the Pirates were outscored 116-77 in those first 23 games. This year's version has been outscored 133-94.
The 1957 squad would finish the season tied for seventh place (aka last) in the National League at 62-92 with the Cubs. Some of the players on the 1957 Pirates were players like Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Dick Groat, Bob Skinner, Bill Virdon, Frank Thomas (the guy who got into the fight with Dick Allen, not the present one), Bob Friend, Vern Law, and Roy Face.
In August of 1957, Bobby Bragan was let go as manager and replaced by Danny Murtaugh, who led the Pirates to a 26-25 record to finish the season. And in 1958, the Pirates improved to 84-70. They slipped to 78-76 in 1959 and in 1960 the Pirates went 95-59 and won the World Series.
Is anyone holding out similar hopes for the 2006 Pirates to improve that much in the next three years?
And who will be the Pirates All-Star representative (the game is in Pittsburgh this year)? In 1957, it was this guy. Presumably, Jason Bay would be the leading candidate.
The 1952 Pirates had an even worse start at 4-19 and they finished 42-112.
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