PIRATES

Shortstop Jack Wilson will join left-handed pitchers Wilbur Cooper and John Candelaria as members of the Pirates Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The trio will officially be inducted on Sept. 3 before being recognized during a pregame ceremony at PNC Park on Sept. 4.

This year's inductees will join the inaugural class of 19 members who were inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2022, along with the four inductees from 2023, three from 2024 and three from 2025. 

“The playing careers of the three inductees who make up the 2026 class of the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame span nearly 100 years, reflecting the rich history of our organization and the special place these players hold within it,” Bob Nutting said in a statement. “This recognition is about the celebration of the career achievements and a testament to the impact they had on our organization. We established the Pirates Hall of Fame to ensure the stories of players like Wilbur, John and Jack are shared with generations of Pirates fans, and we are proud to welcome them as the class of 2026.”

Wilson spent nine of his 12 years as a major-leaguer with the Pirates and ranks fourth in team history in games played at shortstop (1128) and holds the club record for most double plays turned by a shortstop in a season (129 in 2004). He was an All-Star, a Silver Slugger Award winner and voted team MVP in 2004. Wilson Ranked third in the National League with 201 hits in 2004 and became the ninth NL shortstop to collect 200 hits in a season. He ranks second all-time in games played (583) and hits (612) in PNC Park history.

Cooper spent 13 years pitching with the Pirates from 1912-1924. He ranks first all-time among Pirates pitchers in wins (202) and complete games (263), and ranks second in games started (369) and innings pitched (3198.0), third in strikeouts (1196) and fourth in ERA (2.75). He won 20 games on four occasions and led the NL with 22 wins in 1921. He was the first NL left-hander to win 200 games and holds the Pirates club record for lowest ERA by a left-handed pitcher in a season (1.87 in 1916)

Candelaria spent 12 of his 19 major-league seasons with the Pirates and ranks fourth in team history in strikeouts (1159) and ninth in wins (124). He was an All-Star in 1977, a season in which he won 20 games and led the NL in ERA (2.34). He was a member of the 1979 World Series-champion Pirates team and tossed the fifth no-hitter in team history on Aug. 9, 1976.