Pittsburgh Pirates (2003–2008) Jason Bay

bay pirates in 2007 spring training

on august 26, 2003, bay traded pittsburgh pirates, along Óliver pérez , cory stewart in exchange brian giles. finished season .287 batting average, 4 home runs, , 14 rbi in 30 games.

bay began 2004 season on disabled list due surgery during offseason, , did not rejoin team until may. despite missing beginning of season, still produced best offensive numbers of national league rookie. batted .282 in 120 games, leading major league rookies in home runs (26) , rbis (82). led nl rookies in slugging percentage (.550), base hits (54) , total bases (226). 26 home runs, bay broke pirates rookies record of 23 set johnny rizzo in 1936 , matched ralph kiner in 1946. selected 2004 nl rookie of year sporting news, bay second pittsburgh pirates player honoured award, after second baseman johnny ray in 1982. bay first canadian player win award.

in 2005, bay selected first all-star game reserve outfielder. player on either roster not appear in game. bay appeared in 2005 century 21 home run derby, representing canada in nationality-themed contest; eliminated in first round after hitting no home runs. bay finished season .306 average, 32 home runs, , 101 rbi, leading pirates in every major hitting category.

after 2005 season, bay signed four-year contract extension worth guaranteed $18.25 million.

bay batted .321 12 home runs (a pirate record home runs in month) , 35 rbis in may 2006. may 22 may 28, hit home runs in 6 consecutive games, 2 short of major league record held dale long, don mattingly, , ken griffey, jr. had hit 10 home runs in ten games, had failed hit home run in 1 of games, , hit 2 next day.

following aggressive public relations campaign pirates in 2006, bay led national league outfielders in all-star voting. pearl jam lead singer eddie vedder urged fans vote bay during summer concert @ pittsburgh s mellon arena. bay became first member of pittsburgh pirates voted all-star game starter since andy van slyke. in game, bay went 1 3, single.

after battling injuries, bay s 2007 season less productive. despite having strong first couple of months, batted .247 21 home runs , 84 rbis.

bay had more productive 2008 pittsburgh, batting .282 22 home runs , 64 runs batted in through all-star break. in may series against chicago cubs, bay had extra-inning walk-off hits in back-to-back games; first 2 walk-off hits of career. month later, got third walk-off hit of season , career 13th-inning solo home run against tampa bay rays.