<P> Professional baseball has been played in the Pittsburgh area since 1876 . The teams of the era were `` independents '' , barnstorming throughout the region and not affiliated with any organized league , though they did have salaries and were run as business organizations . In 1882 , the strongest team in the area joined the American Association as a founding member . Their various home fields in the 19th century were in a then - separate city called Allegheny City , across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh . The team was listed as `` Allegheny '' in the standings , and was sometimes called the `` Alleghenys '' ( not the `` Alleghenies '' ) in the same generic way that teams from Boston , New York , and Chicago were sometimes called the `` Bostons '' , the `` New Yorks '' , and the `` Chicagos '' , in the sports writing style of that era . After five mediocre seasons in the A.A. , Pittsburgh became the first A.A. team to switch to the older National League in 1887 . At this time , the team renamed itself the Pittsburgh Alleghenys , although Allegheny remained a separate city until it was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907 . At that time , owner - manager Horace Phillips sold the team to Dennis McKnight ; Phillips stayed on as manager . </P>
<P> Professional baseball has been played in the Pittsburgh area since 1876 . The teams of the era were `` independents '' , barnstorming throughout the region and not affiliated with any organized league , though they did have salaries and were run as business organizations . In 1882 , the strongest team in the area joined the American Association as a founding member . Their various home fields in the 19th century were in a then - separate city called Allegheny City , across the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh . The team was listed as `` Allegheny '' in the standings , and was sometimes called the `` Alleghenys '' ( not the `` Alleghenies '' ) in the same generic way that teams from Boston , New York , and Chicago were sometimes called the `` Bostons '' , the `` New Yorks '' , and the `` Chicagos '' , in the sports writing style of that era . After five mediocre seasons in the A.A. , Pittsburgh became the first A.A. team to switch to the older National League in 1887 . At this time , the team renamed itself the Pittsburgh Alleghenys , although Allegheny remained a separate city until it was annexed by Pittsburgh in 1907 . At that time , owner - manager Horace Phillips sold the team to Dennis McKnight ; Phillips stayed on as manager . </P>
what was the original name of the pittsburgh pirates
what was the original name of the pittsburgh pirates
Allegheny
Allegheny