PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The Pirates all-time winningest pitcher and another dominant left-hander from the last World Series team, plus a hustling shortstop whose son is now an MLB All-Star. Those are the three members of the 2026 Pirates Hall of Fame Class.
John Candelaria
A Pirates second-round pick in 1972, left-handed John Candelaria won 20 games in 1977 and helped the Pirates to the World Series in 1979 with a 3.22 ERA in the regular season and went 3-0 in the postseason (beating Jim Palmer in a must-win Game 6 of the 1979 World Series with six scoreless innings). The ‘Candy Man’ threw a no-hitter for the Pirates and overall went 124-77 with a 3.17 ERA and nine saves with 1,159 strikeouts in 1,873 innings.
Jack Wilson
The slick-fielding shortstop played baseball with an inspiring energy and won a Silver Slugger Award leading the majors with 12 triples to go with 41 doubles, 11 home runs and a .308 average in 2004. Wilson played nine years with the Bucs (2001-2009) with a +21.3 WAR, .269 average, .311 on-base percentage, 217 doubles, 389 RBI and a .977 fielding percentage, getting to many balls other shortstops couldn’t reach.
Wilbur Cooper
Left-handed starter pitched 13 years in Pittsburgh (1912-1924) going 202-159 with a 2.74 ERA. He had four 20-win seasons throwing 3199 innings and is the Pirates all-time leader in wins and complete games (263). The West Virginia native is one of only two left-handed pitchers not in the Hall of Fame with over 3,000 innings and a sub-3 ERA (2.86).
John Candelaria won a World Series, Jack Wilson & Wilbur Cooper in class
John Candelaria won a World Series, Jack Wilson & Wilbur Cooper in class
