Frank Killen stood at 6' 1" and was long and lean, which might not seem impressive with today's eyes, but for the 1890s, he looked like a supreme athlete.

Killen reached the highest level of Baseball in 1892 with the Washington Senators, but the highly emotional Pitcher proved hard to control, and the management of the Senators looked to deal him away, despite his high skill level. Washington traded Killen after one year to Pittsburgh, who were willing to take a chance on the temperamental southpaw.

Killen, who won 29 Games for the Senators in '92, led the National League with 36 in 1893.  While Killen was still just as much of a headache as a Pirate, the Pittsburgh brass and fans were more tolerant after an injury-plagued 1894 and a horrific 1895, where he looked to be washed up.  

He turned it around in 1896, healthy and just as cocky as ever.  Killen led the NL in Wins (30), Complete Games (44), and Innings Pitched (432.1), and he won back the fans who had heckled him before.  This was Killen's peak, as his effectiveness shrunk afterward, and he was no longer worth the hassle and was released in August of 1898.

With the Pirates, Killen had a record of 112-82.

The Pittsburgh Alleghenys purchased Jake Beckley's contract in 1888, and it was in Pittsburgh where he became a star.

The First Baseman was solid in his first two years, batting over .300, but like many other National League players, Beckley bolted for the Players League in 1991, staying in the Steel City with the Burghers.  To Beckley’s credit, he was open about his decision, citing that he was “only in this game for the money."  The Players League was a bust, and Beckley returned to National League.

After a decent 1891, “Eagle Eye” slumped to poor levels in 1892 (.236/.288/.381), Beckley rebounded batting over .300 the nest three seasons with his netting over 100 RBI in all of those seasons.  After getting off to a poor start in 1896, Beckley was traded to New York, ending his stay in Pittsburgh.

With Pittsburgh, Beckley smacked 1,140 of his 2,938 career Hits while batting .300.  The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Beckley via the Veteran's Committee in 1971.

Rick Rhoden was an All-Star with the Dodgers, helping them reach the World Series, but they were concerned with his shoulder and agreed to trade him to the Pittsburgh Pirates before the 1979 Season.  

Rhoden's shoulder was in bad shape, and he only played in one Game in Pittsburgh's 1977 World Series-winning season.  The Pirates' patience paid off as Rhoden returned to form and won at least 10 Games for the club from 1982 to 1986, peaking at 15 in 1986.  That season, Rhoden was named to his first All-Star Team in a decade while posting a 2.84 ERA and 1.131 WHIP.  For the first and only time in his career, Rhoden received Cy Young votes, finishing fifth.

Rhoden was also one of the best hitting Pitchers of his day.  With the Pirates, he won three consecutive Silver Sluggers (1984-86) and batted .251 with 127 Hits with Pittsburgh.  He was also an excellent fielder, having finished with a perfect Fielding Percentage five times as a Pirate.  

After the 1986 Season, Rhoden was traded to the Yankees.  His Pittsburgh stats included a 3.51 ERA, 852 Strikeouts, and a record of 79 and 73.

Pittsburgh Pirate in the middle of his career, Brian Giles was at his best when he played in the black and yellow.

Giles was traded from Cleveland after four years to the Padres and was the bright spot on some awful Pittsburgh teams.  In the four full seasons he was with Pittsburgh, he never had a year where he did smack at least 35 Home Runs, received an MVP vote, and batted over .300 in three of them.  Giles was a National League All-Star in 2000 and 2001, but the slumping Pirates traded him to San Diego during the 2003 campaign.

With Pittsburgh, Giles had 782 Hits, 165 Home Runs, and batted .308.