Pittsburgh Pirates
C Manny Sanguillen - Despite the long history, Pirates don’t really have an all-time great here. Other options out there are Jason Kendall or Tony Pena from recent history, or George Gibson from the 1900s. But probably the weakest position player in the lineup.
1B Willie Stargell - Mostly played LF, but Pirates are loaded in left. I will stick him here.
2B Bill Mazeroski - He may be one of the worst hitters in the HOF, but given his longevity at the position, difficult to put someone else here. And he has that signature moment from the 1960 World Series that nobody else has.
3B Pie Traynor - Bill Madlock had some good years here too, as did Bobby Bonilla before he became a punchline. But hard to go against a HOFer (even if, like Mazeroski, his numbers don’t hold up that great) who played 3B for the Pirate more than anybody else.
SS Honus Wagner - Runaway, even though Pirates have another great in Arky Vaughn.
LF Ralph Kiner - Could go Fred Clarke or Barry Bonds here too. Tough to pick between them all. Stargell would go here if I did not put him at 1B.
CF Max Carey - Pirates are loaded here too. Another HOFer in Lloyd Waner another option (I had him originally, but editing to replace with Carey on reflection), and Andrew McCutcheon has a pretty good case here too.
RF Roberto Clemente - Tough to leave out the Paul Waner, but only one can start here.
SP Bob Friend
SP Babe Adams
SP Wilbur Cooper
SP John Candelaria
SP Doug Drabek
RP Kent Tekulve
I could go with someone else from early Pirates’ history like Deacon Phillipe or Ray Kremer, or from the 50s like Vern Law to fill out the rotation (absent other considerations,they probably all deserve over Drabek and maybe Candelaria), but I’ll go with Candelaria and Drabek instead to give space for a couple of modern players. And Drabek gives a representative from the post-We are Family era, since I could not find space for Bonds, McCutcheon, or Kendall in the position players.
Roy Face another great RP option, but tiebreaker goes to the glasses.
...I think the Pirates backup team could compete with many of the all-time teams that I’ve assembled.