Pittsburgh, PA - Pirate Parrot and Capt. Jolly Roger

07/31/09 - Pittsburgh Pirates - PNC Park

It was a very nice walk from Primanti Brothers, through the city and across the Clemente Bridge to the stadium. Formerly the 6th St. Bridge, the bridge was renamed in honor of Roberto Clemente and is closed to automobile traffic a few hours before the game as well as during and after. I'm sure that there is parking on the stadium side of the river but it is such a nice experience to walk across the bridge with all the fans - much better than the usual experience of sitting in the stadium lot trying to merge eight rows of cars into one lane of traffic.

Seating at PNC is as cheap and as available as anywhere in the majors. We got our tickets from the Pirates about 3 weeks before the game and were in the left field corner about 10 rows from the field. I usually recommend the 3rd base side when buying tickets to avoid the setting sun in your eyes but at PNC Park, this is true because of the view. Even the Pirates took the 3rd base side dugout so they could enjoy the scenery (maybe not the real reason, but I wouldn't blame them).

Our trip coincided with the first home game after the trade deadline, which for the last decade or two in Pittsburgh has meant the annual selling of established talent for prospects. As the Pirates march towards their 17th consecutive losing season (what were you doing in 1992?), this year was no different as they had just traded their starting pitcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop and (I'm sure) a few others. Fortunately for us, they did not trade either of their mascots and we were able to get some pics with the Pirate Parrot (who made his debut when the Pirates last won the World Series in 1979) and Captain Jolly Roger. The game experience is full of between-inning entertainment that is usually found in minor league parks (more MLB clubs should do this), a 5th inning Pierogie Race (see next post), and if the Pirates win, they raise the standard-issue, black, skull and crossbones flag in centerfield - a tradition known as "raising the Jolly Roger."

The park is beautiful, accessible and affordable and despite management's unwillingness to spend the money to chase a pennant every few decades, the fan support was not lacking. The announced attendance was somewhere around 23,000 (on a night that they played the worst team in the majors) and they stayed until the end. Despite some shaky bullpen work, the Pirates held on for the 5-4 win and raised the Jolly Roger!