Anyone regularly follow the Pittsburgh Pirates?

[Impala26]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

As a non-Pittsburgher I think it's interesting that people live and die by the Steelers, even if they're not having a good season, but would never show that kind of loyalty to the Pirates. Whereas there are Cubs fans and Red Sox fans who stick by their teams no matter how crappy they are.

This is different in that by the Cubs and Sox being "bad" was the fact that they didn't win the whole shebang. What the Pirates are doing right now is literally unprecedented: no major league baseball franchise team has had as many consecutive losing seasons, and they're now threatening for most consecutive losing seasons all-time amongst all major league sports franchises.

No it's not like the century without the Cubs winning the series...
But it's concentrated losing on an epic scale.

[Tiger Beer]

I was a kid growing up in Michigan during the 1984 Detroit Tigers and them winning the World Series. Talk about excitement.

Seeing the Pittsburgh Stadium...if I were to live there, I'd love to take my kid to some Pirates games. Hopefully they eventually turn around - would be astounding in that town, it seems.

[Mugatu]

As a recent transplant to Pittsburgh, I choose to follow the Pirates because all the Steeler-mania turns me off to that team. And I'll always have a place in my heart for baseball. I really hope the team can turn things around and at least be competitive. I think the city would get behind the Pirates if they made a run at a wild card spot or something. I hear people say that Pittsburgh is "not a baseball town" but I don't believe that to be the case. I would imagine that lifelong Pittsburghers are just worn down by the nearly two decades straight of losing and incompetent management.

As for the stadium, not much else needs to be said. It's the best AAA stadium in baseball! But seriously, it's a great place to see a game, and the view of the skyline from the stands has to be one of the best views in sports. I used to attend games at the hideous Tropicana Field when I lived in Florida, so I REALLY appreciate PNC Park. Nothing beats outdoor baseball in a beautiful setting, rather than watching a game in a big Home Depot. lol

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by Mugatu

...I hear people say that Pittsburgh is "not a baseball town" but I don't believe that to be the case. I would imagine that lifelong Pittsburghers are just worn down by the nearly two decades straight of losing and incompetent management.

mugatu, even during prosperous eras, they had trouble drawing in crowds, compared to Cincinatti, St. Louis, and similar markets. Pittsburgh hosted the All-Star game in 1994 and i think it was the network's television commentators who derided the fact that it wasnt a sell-out.

however, in the late 1980s, they did manage some good attendence for two consecutive seasons. (the jason thompson, johnie ray years...?)

[ferrarisnowday]

I do enjoy going to a game at PNC Park, and oddly they have won every time I've gone. But really, once the sports radio/TV guys stop concentrating on how many games we'd have to win to end the season at .500 is when it will actually be worth following for anything other than a night/day out.

[nuwaver88]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

mugatu, even during prosperous eras, they had trouble drawing in crowds, compared to Cincinatti, St. Louis, and similar markets. Pittsburgh hosted the All-Star game in 1994 and i think it was the network's television commentators who derided the fact that it wasnt a sell-out.

however, in the late 1980s, they did manage some good attendence for two consecutive seasons. (the jason thompson, johnie ray years...?)

The 1994 All Star Game was sold out. So was the Home Run Derby the previous day. I know. I worked at Three Rivers Stadium at the time. Both days were sold out far in advance. There was not a seat to be had. In fact, standing room only tickets were sold out too. Now, there were a few playoff games in the early 1990s that were not sold out during the 1990, 1991 and 1992 playoffs. It is hard to sell 55,000 tickets consistently. Many playoff games are not sold out, not just in Pittsburgh. All World Series tickets were sold out in Pittsburgh in 1990, 1991, and 1992. Unfortunately, we never made it and had to get our money back. If the Pirates make the playoffs, I guarantee that all games at PNC Park will sell out during the playoffs. If the Pirates become a contender, the North Shore will be the sexy place to be.

[Chichappens]

What's there to follow there losses? they should shape up or ship out.........they are a sad bunch of losers who should be boycotted by the fans.

[Copanut]

I just got my yearly call last week from the Pirate front office hoping I would purchase season tickets since I dropped them 3 years ago. I must be falling out of favor, last year Mr. Coonelly called personally and we talked baseball for about 10 minutes.

I'd really like to see the Pirates do well as it's my favorite sport to attend. Can't stand all the drunks at the Steeler games, can't justify the money needed for a hockey ticket. But I had great seats for 13 bucks a pop at Heinz Field. However, after 14 losing seasons I dumped them. It's the only way to show the organization that we're fed up with the performance of the team. What they did this year, trading away everyone for prospects, is what they should have done years ago. A small market team has to draft well and hope all the pieces fall together. But the Nuttings decimated the Pirates scouting system and in 17 years of drafting produced only 1 bonafide All-Star, Jason Kendall.

I believe the Buccos showed a profit of 13 million this year. What a concept, provide a lousy product and make money. But as long as there are bobblehead nights and fireworks nights, customers, not fans, will continue to fill up the stadium.

As others have stated, take in a Cubs or Red Sox game, great times. No freakin' mascot, no Bucco brigade, no Jumbotron, no Pierogi race, no shooting hotdogs in the stands, JUST BASEBALL.

Rant over.

[Johnny C]

I am a die hard bucco fan - I attend around 20 games a year and stand by them win or lose. They finally stopped putting band-aids on the team this year and tore it down. We are now the youngest team in baseball and are in a much better position. It is hard to win with a small market team; you can't make mistakes and have to draft and develop your own talent. There are signs now that this is happening with guys like Mccutchen coming up, but only time will tell if all these trades got good returns.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by nuwaver88

The 1994 All Star Game was sold out. So was the Home Run Derby the previous day...All World Series tickets were sold out in Pittsburgh in 1990, 1991, and 1992. Unfortunately, we never made it and had to get our money back...

from wiki, Three Rivers Capacity for baseball: 47,952
from 1994 All-Star Game, attendence of '94 All-Star Game: 59,568

apparently, it must have been SRO. you are correct.
i may have remembered the playoffs as not being sold-out, and that the commentator's, as well as my evil cousin from cleveland's comments about how attendence there was pitiful.

and i remember those 3 playoff years - against the Reds and then the Braves twice in a row. the Pirates were great those years - a lot of great hitters. but they just couldnt get by the braves. it was frustrating.