<Tr> <Th> General Manager </Th> <Td> Neal Huntington </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> President of Baseball Operations </Th> <Td> Neal Huntington </Td> </Tr> <P> The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania . The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division . The Pirates play their home games at PNC Park; the team previously played at Forbes Field and Three Rivers Stadium, the latter of which was named after its location near the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers . Founded on October 15, 1881 as Allegheny, the franchise has won five World Series championships . The Pirates are also often referred to as the "Bucs" or the "Buccos" (derived from buccaneer, a synonym for pirate). </P> <P> The franchise joined the NL in its eighth season in 1887 and was competitive from its early years, winning three NL titles from 1901 to 1903, playing in the inaugural World Series in 1903 and winning their first World Series in 1909 behind Honus Wagner . The Pirates have had many ups and downs during their long history, most famously winning the 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees on a game - winning walk - off home run by Bill Mazeroski, the only time that Game 7 of the World Series has ever ended with a home run . They also won the 1971 World Series, led by the talent of Roberto Clemente, and the 1979 World Series under the slogan "We Are Family", led by "Pops" Willie Stargell . </P>

Why do they call the pirates the bucs