This article is part of our MLB Observations series.
We continued our "all-time" teams series on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio on Sunday with the Pirates. Joining Todd Zola and I for this draft was RotoWire's long-time Pirates beat writer (and an usher for the Pirates for 20 years), John Toperzer (@PiratesTalk). As is custom, we gave our guest first choice on draft order and he opted to go first, taking Honus Wagner. Todd played the position-scarcity game and thus opted to double-up on the turn, leaving me to take Roberto Clemente in the second spot.
The Pirates pitching ... well, look at those outfielders! Nearly all the top Pirates by WAR or any other measure come from the dead ball era. I've been trying to discount players from that era more often in these drafts, especially on the pitching side. So I waited quite a while for my first pitcher and to fill out my pitching staff. So did Topper. Todd ... didn't.
Here are the results, first by draft order, then by team:
| Rd | Team | Player |
| 1 | Topper | Honus Wagner |
| 1 | Erickson | Roberto Clemente |
| 1 | Zola | Willie Stargell |
| 2 | Zola | Bill Mazeroski |
| 2 | Erickson | Barry Bonds |
| 2 | Topper | Paul Waner |
| 3 | Topper | Bob Friend |
| 3 | Erickson | Arky Vaughn |
| 3 | Zola | Ralph Kiner |
| 4 | Zola | Babe Adams |
| 4 | Erickson | Andrew McCutchen |
| 4 | Topper | Dave Parker |
| 5 | Topper | Andy VanSlyke |
| 5 | Erickson | Jason Kendall |
| 5 | Zola | Wilbur Cooper |
| 6 | Zola | Pie Traynor |
| 6 | Erickson | Al Oliver |
| 6 | Topper | Manny Sanguillen |
| 7 | Topper | Bobby Bonilla |
| 7 | Erickson | John Candelaria |
| 7 | Zola | Sam Leever |
| 8 | Zola | Vic Willis |
| 8 | Erickson | Preacher Roe |
| 8 | Topper | Neil Walker |
| 9 | Topper | Bob Veale |
| 9 | Erickson | Rick Rhoden |
| 9 | Zola | Deacon Phillippe |
| 10 | Zola | Lloyd Waner |
| 10 | Erickson | Kent Tekulve |
| 10 | Topper | Donn Clendenon |
| 11 | Topper | Goose Gossage |
| 11 | Erickson | Bill Madlock |
| 11 | Zola | Roy Face |
| 12 | Zola | Max Carey |
| 12 | Erickson | Vern Law |
| 12 | Topper | Doug Drabek |
| 13 | Topper | Steve Blass |
| 13 | Erickson | Starling Marte |
| 13 | Zola | Richie Hebner |
| 14 | Zola | Tony Pena |
| 14 | Erickson | Rick Reuschel |
| 14 | Topper | Ramon Hernandez |
| 15 | Topper | Phil Coyne |
| 15 | Erickson | Johnny Ray |
| 15 | Zola | Dick Groat |
Results by Team:
| Topper | Erickson | Zola | |
| C | Manny Sanguillen | Jason Kendall | Tony Pena |
| 1B | Donn Clendenon | Al Oliver | Willie Stargell |
| 2B | Neil Walker | Johnny Ray | Bill Mazeroski |
| 3B | Bobby Bonilla | Bill Madlock | Pie Traynor |
| SS | Honus Wagner | Arky Vaughn | Dick Groat |
| OF1 | Paul Waner | Roberto Clemente | Ralph Kiner |
| OF2 | Dave Parker | Barry Bonds | Lloyd Waner |
| OF3 | Andy VanSlyke | Andrew McCutchen | Max Carey |
| UT | Phil Coyne | Starling Marte | Richie Hebner |
| P1 | Bob Friend | John Candelaria | Babe Adams |
| P2 | Bob Veale | Preacher Roe | Wilbur Cooper |
| P3 | Goose Gossage | Rick Rhoden | Sam Leever |
| P4 | Doug Drabek | Kent Tekulve | Vic Willis |
| P5 | Steve Blass | Vern Law | Deacon Phillippe |
| P6 | Ramon Hernandez | Rick Reuschel | Roy Face |
You'll notice - there's not a single current Pirates player on the list! Sorry, Pittsburgh. You deserve better - providing such a beautiful ballpark for the ownership group, it should host a contender.
Who else would you have added instead? Who had the best draft?
