WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NHL'S PITTSBURGH PIRATES? // DEFUNCT: A PITTSBURGH PIRATES HiSTORY DOCUMENTARY
Vložit
- čas přidán 11. 02. 2024
- In today's All Sports History video we'll take a look back to the early 1920’s when the NHL expanded, bringing in new franchises to keep up with rival leagues. One such team was the formerly independent club, the Pittsburgh Pirates hockey club. In today’s video we’ll take a look back at how the once promising team ended up folding after just five seasons in the National Hockey League.
On November 7, 1925 the former Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets, now known as the Pittsburgh Pirates officially joined the league. As for the new name, the club most likely wanted to capitalize on the success of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, who had just won the World Series a few weeks before. The team even got permission from the baseball Pirates owner, Barney Dreyfus to use the name “Pirates” for the ice hockey club.
The Pirates made their home at Duquesne Garden, which was built originally in 1890 as a trolly barn before being turned into an arena. On Thanksgiving night, November 26, 1925, the Pirates made their NHL debut by beating the Boston Bruins 2-1 at the Boston Arena. The Pirates continued to have success in their first year, clinching the playoffs with a 19-16-1 record. Pittsburgh Pirates playoffs hopes would come to an end as they would lose however to the eventual Stanley Cup winners, the Montreal Maroons in the first round of the playoffs.
A few seasons later, in October 1928 the team was sold after the club’s original owner Henry Townsend passed away. The Pirates were bought by former boxer Benny Leonard, but it’s believed that Lenoard may have gotten financial help from Bill Dwyer (a prohibition bootlegger and owner of the New York Americans) to complete the purchase.
After the stock market crash of 1929, the Pirates were $400,000 in debt, and their rapidly aging home arena Duquesne Garden was in desperate need of repairs. The arena was never an ideal home for the Pirates, as its 8,000 combined seating and standing capacity was by far the smallest in the NHL. Benny Leonard wanted to keep the club in Pittsburgh but knew the only way to keep the team afloat was to relocate the franchise. At the NHL governor meetings, on October 18, 1930, Leonard was able to officially relocate the Pirates to Philadelphia for the upcoming 1930-31 season. With the move, the club changed their name to the Philadelphia Quakers and played their home games at the Philadelphia Arena (which opened in 1920).
The move to Philadelphia turned out to be the beginning of the end, as just before the next season got underway, the Quakers, along with the Ottawa Senators got permission from the NHL to temporarily cease operations. The Quakers hoped to buy time while they searched for a new arena in either Pittsburgh or Philadelphia.
By 1936, with no new arena deal in site, Leonard relinquished control of the franchise for good. In fact, no new arena would be built in Pittsburgh until 1961 when the Pittsburgh Civic Arena first opened its doors. After the Quakers suspended operations in 1931, the legacy of the team continued to live on as one of the National Hockey league highlights. The last active NHL player who had played for the Pirates and Quakers, Cliff Barton, retired in 1940 after winning the Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers.
Although the Pittsburgh Pirates NHL on-ice performance may not have left a lasting mark, their role as a precursor to the Penguins and as a chapter in the broader narrative of the NHL's evolution adds a unique layer to Pittsburgh's hockey heritage with hall of fame players like ice hockey goalie Roy Worters.
So what did you guys think of the NHL Pittsburgh Pirates moving to Philadelphia, becoming the Quakers, and eventually folding? Should the Penguins do more to honor Pittsburgh hockey history and the old Pirates team, like wearing the throwback inspired jerseys more often? Let me know in the comments below!
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NHL'S PITTSBURGH PIRATES? // DEFUNCT: A PITTSBURGH PIRATES HiSTORY DOCUMENTARY - Sport
![[柴犬ASMR]曼玉Manyu&小白Bai 毛发护理Spa asmr](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0TsXQ7z2Dh4/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey Sports Historians! What did you guys think of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Pirates moving to Philadelphia, becoming the Quakers, and eventually folding? Should the Penguins do more to honor the old Pirates team, like wearing the throwback inspired jerseys more often? Let me know in the comments below!
Awesome video ! Can you please do one about the original Winnipeg Jets
Thank you! Yeah I'm gonna get around to the Jets at some point, I know people would like to see the Seals, and some of the old WHA teams as well.
Bingo! Exactly right ✅️. Be thankful that they weren't the yellow sox
@@AllSportsHistoryThe California Golden Seals History is Interesting Before They Moved To Cleveland To Become The Barons Before They Merged With The North Stars!
There was no new arena in Pittsburgh on the horizon in 1930. Newspaper columnists were blasting Pirate management for expecting hockey fans to support the 5-36-3 team. Attendance had fallen drastically, and Pirate home games were often moved to other cities to get a bigger gate. I can't fault the Pirates management for moving the team. Cleveland was mentioned, though Philadelphia was chosen. That said, yes, I believe the Penguins and Flyers should do more to honor the Pirates and Quakers. Too few NHL fans know these teams even existed. Videos like this one help, and thanks for it.
It's nice to see a sports channel that acknowledges sports existed before 1980 or 1970. Good work.
Thanks, appreciate it!
In the late 1970’s, the Bruins tried to block the Penguins from changing their colors from blue to black & yellow, so they will be in line with the Steelers & Pirates. The Penguins showed by going to black and yellow, they will be adopting the Pirates colors, and the Pirates were wearing black & yellow first.
I Have Read About That Story and It’s Funny How Boston HATED The Idea From The Penguins!
The Rivalry Between Boston and Pittsburg was drummed up to get people to watch hockey. they are not really rivals Like Philadelphia is with both cities.
@@TGGent92 the Bruins and Penguins played some really intense playoff series in the early 1990’s. They could have been bigger rivals over the past decade had they played each other more in the playoffs. With the current playoff set-up one has to be a wildcard or meet in the conference finals.
Awesome video! Would be really cool if you have time to do a Cincinnati Stingers video!
Yep the Stingers would be a good one!
@@AllSportsHistoryLove The NHL History Videos U Post Since I’m an Avid Hockey Fan Since 1995 When I Was a Kid!
@All Sports History What’s Kinda Funny is That The Penguins Picked The Same Colors As The Pittsburgh Pirates NHL Team Years Later Before Switching To Black And Gold Which Annoyed The Boston Bruins in 1979 After The Steelers and The MLB Pirates Won Their Respective Championships!
Honestly, I love how all of Pittsburgh teams use black and gold as their colors. Seattle kind of has a similar thing going with blue and green, I wish more cities teams would do that.
@@AllSportsHistory Same and Which Other NHL Teams That Moved Do U Plan To Do Next?
If you ever do the Hamilton Tigers you should include the Québec Bulldogs and The New York Americans because it was the Bulldogs who moved to Hamilton and the players contracts went to the Americans after they folded.That’s why sometimes I say the Tigers moved to New York.
Enjoyed this video. Great research and imagery.
Thank you, appreciate it!
Just found your channel... AWESOME 👍 ⭐✨⭐✨✨✨✨... Subscribed..
Glad you liked the videos and thanks for subscribing!
Absolutely great video! Keep it up!
Thank you! Will do!
@@AllSportsHistoryU Should Do a Video of The Montreal Maroons Someday!
Such great videos bro, thank you for the awesome content!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
5:53 Do what happened to the California Golden Seals next!
That will be my next hockey video!
The Pirates still exist today, as a Baseball Team. But the current NHL franchise uses the Penguins name instead.
Yeah that's true, although the Penguins are not officially the same franchise as the old Pirates hockey team.
Well now it seems like you're going to make a video for the Arizona Coyotes
lol yep pretty much
great depression destroy bussniess and leverages.
secondly they should've never use pirates because they stole their own baseball team.
Yeah as strange as it is today, “borrowing” an already established team name was the cool thing to do at the time.
The Montreal Maroons also folded due to the depression
@@LeCommieBoi every other team such as the old senators, ny Americans etc
@@KDMaster64Then The Original Ottawa Senators Moved To St Louis and Became The Eagles Who Folded As Well!
@@AllSportsHistoryin 1960, when the Chicago Cardinals move to St. Louis, team took the name from this iconic baseball team in St. Louis. Until in 1988.
What about a video about the New York Americans?
Yeah them and the Montreal Maroons, would both be good ones from that era.
@@AllSportsHistoryThe Montreal Maroons Were The English Speaking Team and The Canadiens Were The French Speaking If I’m Correct!
Do whatever happens to the st.Louis rams
Lot's of history with the Rams, so that would be a good one!
@@AllSportsHistory thank you
How about the Calgary Tigers?!
Yeah that’s a good one!
I got it : the Philadelphia Quakers were mighty
We were robbed of a great Quaker Oats corporate synergy tie in with the team.
😌 'Promosm'
Pretty much a 🏒 version of “Blink and you’ll miss them.”
Do one for the Montréal teams that came and went. :3
For sure, I definitely want to do one on the Maroons.
@@AllSportsHistory Yeah please it would be so interesting
@@LeCommieBoiBefore The Maroons Came Into The NHL There Was a Team Called The Montreal Wanderers Who Folded After The Arena Burned Down by a Fire!