Bierbauer jumped into Philadelphia’s American Association club to join the Players’ League in 1890. When the PL folded, players were supposed to rejoin their previous clubs. Pittsburgh became known as the Pirates when they swiped Bierbauer from Philadelphia through a clerical error in 1891. Bierbauer tied a then-ML record with 12 putouts at 2B in an 1888 game. In 10 years as a regular, he led his league’s second basemen in assists five times.