The Pirates will enshrine three new members into their Hall of Fame class in 2024.
The team announced before Tuesday's game that Barry Bonds, Jim Leyland and Manny Sanguillén will be honored this season. The induction ceremony will take place August 24 at PNC Park.
"As an organization we are proud to add three significant members to the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame," Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting said in a release. "Included in this year's class is a two-time MVP award winner in Barry, a two-time Manager-of-the-Year award winner in Jim and a two-time World Series champion with the Pirates in Manny. All three inductees are very deserving of this prestigious recognition. We look forward to celebrating their induction with our fans and telling their stories with generations to come."
Bonds, baseball's all-time leader in home runs and walks drawn, began his career with an unforgettable seven-year run in Pittsburgh. He won MVP honors in 1990 and 1992 and finished second in the voting in 1991. In each of those three seasons, Bonds took Gold Glove and Silver Slugger honors. He hit 176 of his 762 home runs as a Pirate. In 1992, Bonds led the National League with 109 runs scored and led all of baseball in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. He hit 34 home runs, drove in 103 runs and stole 39 bases in that season.
Here is when Bonds found out about the honor:
“We built a bond that no way it’s ever going to be broken.”
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 21, 2024
Barry Bonds talks about his time in Pittsburgh and being a member of the Pirates Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/VoeLKrv0lq
Leyland guided the Pirates to an 851-863 record in his 11 seasons as manager from 1986 through 1996. He inherited a franchise that went 132-191 in Chuck Tanner's final two seasons in 1984 and 1985. He transformed the Pirates back into contenders by the turn of the '90s, as he led the Pirates to three straight NLCS appearances from 1990 through 1992. The Pirates won 95, 98 and 96 games those seasons. He was named Manager of the Year in 1990 and 1992. His 851 wins as manager are third in franchise history behind Fred Clarke (1,422 from 1900-1915) and Danny Murtaugh (1,115 from 1957-1976). He will be enshrined into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in July.
Here is the moment Leyland learned of his honor:
“This is something I will cherish forever.”
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 21, 2024
Being a Pirates Hall of Famer means everything to Jim Leyland. pic.twitter.com/61ld6PmQ0t
Sanguillén is noted as one of baseball's best catchers from the early-1970s. He was a three time All-Star and two-time World Series champion who spent 12 of his 13 major-league seasons with the Pirates. He hit .299 with a .329 on-base percentage and 527 RBIs as a Pirate. In the Pirates' 1971 World Series championship season, Sanguillén hit .319, had a career-high 26 doubles and drove in a career-high 81 runs. He finished eighth in MVP voting in that season. In between 1969 and 1975 as a Pirate, Sanguillén hit .305 with a .355 OBP. From 1969 to 1971 he hit .316, the fourth-highest mark in the National League.
Here is the moment Sanguillén found out he was going to be honored in the team's Hall of Fame:
“This will be in my heart forever.”
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 21, 2024
The moment Manny Sanguillen found out he was a Pirates Hall of Famer. pic.twitter.com/uoyFdews17