Throughout his career, Jack Wilson has compiled a .269 batting average, 56 home runs, and 358 RBI, in 1,084 games. Wilson was the Pirate’s 2008 Opening Day starter at shortstop for the sixth consecutive season, and his seventh time overall. On April 3, he started his 1,000th game.

In the 2008 season, Wilson was able to finish with a 42-game errorless streak, which was the second-longest streak of his career behind a 52-gamer from 2002 through 2003.

 

 

 

On November 5, 2007, John Russell became the 38^th manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates, making 2009 his second season as a manager in the majors.Prior to working with the Pirates, he managed a few minor league baseball teams, including the Minnesota Twins, where he was named the best Double-A managerial prospect by Baseball America, and the Edmonton Trappers where he led the team to a 2002 Pacific Coast League title, and was named the best managerial prospect in the minors by Baseball America, and finally the Phillies AAA team, the Ottawa Lynx.

While managing Ottawa, he was named the 2006 International League Manager-of-the-Year, and served as the manager at the 2007 International League All-Star Game.Last season, Russell led the Pirates to a sixth place finish in the National League Central with a record of 67-95.