From the franchise's beginning, the owner and manager fulfilled the duties of the general manager. However, in 1946, Roy Hamey left his position as president of the second American Association to become the Pirates' first general manager.[3] The franchise's second general manager, Branch Rickey, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1967.[4] Hired in September 2007, Neal Huntington is the Pirates's previous general manager.[5]Barney Dreyfuss purchased the franchise in 1900, bringing players including Honus Wagner and Fred Clarke with him from the Louisville Colonels, which he had previously owned. In his 32 years as owner, Dreyfuss built Forbes Field and helped to organize the World Series.[6] Dreyfuss was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2008.[7]Robert Nutting served as chairman of the board from 2003 to 2007, at which point he became majority owner of the franchise.[8]
Prior to 1946, the club presidents performed the current duties of general manager.
As the deceased owner's son-in-law, Benswanger officially served as "president and chief executive" but in effect was general manager for his mother-in-law owner.
^ abcdefghijklmnoThorn, J.; Palmer, P.; Gershman, M., eds. (2001). Total Baseball: The Official Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball (7th ed.). Kingston, NY: Total Sports Publishing. p. 2460. ISBN978-1-930844-01-8.