One week from today, the Pittsburgh Pirates will embark on what figures to be their 16th consecutive losing season, tying the mark set by the cross-state Phillies from 1933-48.
At 15 consecutive failure-laden seasons, they currently hold the longest such streak in professional sports. In an attempt to cheer up the other seven remaining Pirate fans, here is a list of 10 reasons why being a Pirate fan can still be fun, even in the midst of losing...
10. New management in GM Neal Huntington, Executive President Frank Coonelly, et al has finally instilled a sense of mild intelligence in the front office. At the start of spring training, Huntington wrote a letter to Pirate fans.
In it, he explained that gone are the days when the Bucs make trades just to make a trade, and gone are the days when they sign high-priced free agents just trying to win over the city's fickle fans.
In other words, gone are the days when Dave Littlefield gets drunk and trades for Matt Morris and his massive contract.
9. A new Dominican baseball academy is being built by the Pirates. Groundbreaking was Jan. 22, so the payoff won't come for awhile, but in the words of Ricky Bobby, "It's just cool that we're trying stuff like that, you know?"
8. Insults: you've heard them all. Try as they might, no one can get under your skin, because you never have to defend your team.
Someone says the Pirates suck, and you have the easiest "shut-up-the-jerk-in-the-corner" response: "Yep." Insulters will soon find it very boring to hurl criticism at your team, only to discover you'd like to join in.
7. Walk-up tickets are almost always available. Try showing up at Fenway Park without tickets an hour before first pitch. At that point, your only option is shelling out $300 per ticket so you can see the BoSox play the mighty Royals on a Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, PNC Park's ticket windows are welcoming, and sellouts are rare—unless it's fireworks or bobblehead night. Pittsburghers will always show up if they know a) something will get blown up, or b) they'll get something for free, such as a coveted John Wehner Bobblehead doll.
6. Low expectations means every win is uplifting. Unlike other teams, with the Pirates, you don't enter the stadium expecting a win. You hope for one, but expect that, somehow, they'll find a way to screw it up. They are the Pirates, after all.
But occasionally, they pull through in a big way and beat the Mets 4-3 to avoid being swept in a weekend series. Then, you get to go to work or school the next day and proclaim, "I went to the Pirates game yesterday, and they actually won!" I'm not kidding either—these proclamations really happen.
24 comments Last one added 2 months ago — Leave a Comment
Emily Hartig about 1 year ago
As a fellow Western, Pa. girl, I have to love this article! But you really did hit every nail on the head with this one!! And it was really well-written, so you made my job easy.
11. Our peppy theme song. (That they better play this year.) "Root, root, root for our home team a new Pirate generation, everybody shout 'Let's go Bucs!' With every slide there'll be Pittsburgh pride at the old ball game, everybody shout 'Let's go Bucs!'" :)
In tandem with the cool graphics that stir our nostalgia, which start with Exposition Park and the Flying Dutchman, to the We-Are-Family era, to the brighter moments in PNC Park's history, all teamed with our ship blowing up all the other ships all set to Pirates of the Caribbean music. :)
And, even though I can completely sympathize, I'm still getting ready and excited for this season!
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Frank W about 1 year ago
Excited for this season.. Wow, I wish I could be as excited to see a terrible pro sports team play. Have fun watching Jason Bay bat a .300 while your team struggles to reach the 60 win mark. They are in the cellar during spring training, and it looks like they will remain their during the regular season until their owner decides to put "talent" on the field.
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Erik Hoeke about 1 year ago
One can still be excited about the season and still be realistic. No one said anything about this team being any good. If we can't get excited about our mediocre (at best) team, then why should we bother being fans? Isn't that the point? Emotionally investing yourself in a team, win or lose?
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Frank W about 1 year ago
True, but I just enjoy creating arguement when it comes to sports teams. I'm glad you feel this way. It's good to see someone who actually stick behind their team and doesn't just jump on any winning bandwagon.
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Nino Colla about 1 year ago
That's awesome man.
I've been to PNC multiple times. It is truly a great ballpark to watch a game in.
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Matt Fanning about 1 year ago
12.) Barry Bonds was steroid-free when he played for the pirates
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JJ Stankevitz about 1 year ago
haha, awesome read. PNC is by far the most gorgeous sports facility in the United States.
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Ben Cummings about 1 year ago
Very entertaining....I can related to much of this as being a Rockies fan....much of this was the same before last season. Not only can you get tickets the day of...they are cheap
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Christopher Mango about 1 year ago
great article, i can relate pretty well as a die hard Knick fan
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Joe Willett about 1 year ago
the bears have the same thing, only worse, they throw in a good season every once and a while so that you feel even worse when they have that 4-12 or 5-11 season.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
I've been following the Pirates progression since Jason Bay became a staple in the line-up...his game has led me to discover McClouth, and Bautista and Sanchez...Not that I pay close attention but I've yet to hear much about the rotation. I agree with you're assessment...you have to make the best of the situation.
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William North about 1 year ago
I've been following the Pirates progression since Jason Bay became a staple in the line-up...his game has led me to discover McClouth, and Bautista and Sanchez...Not that I pay close attention but I've yet to hear much about the rotation. I agree with you're assessment...you have to make the best of the situation.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Attended my first Pirates game in 1982 (so I just missed the last world championship). Regularly attended games at Three Rivers during the early 90's run of divisional championships, and dealt with the heartbreak of losing in the playoffs each of those years.
I'll be a Pirates fan until I die...no regrets.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Worst owners in baseball, and all of sports if you think about it......they are disgraceful. Pittsburgh won't have a winning season until they sell the team..which won't happen because they still turn a profit from that garbage they put on the field. I would never patronize them, others should stop too. Taxpayers of Pennsylvania paid for that field we deserve better...
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Worst owners in baseball, and all of sports if you think about it......they are disgraceful. Pittsburgh won't have a winning season until they sell the team..which won't happen because they still turn a profit from that garbage they put on the field. I would never patronize them, others should stop too. Taxpayers of Pennsylvania paid for that field we deserve better...
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
nice read, new guy. keep em comin'.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Frank, didn't you read number 8 on the list? We get that the Pirates are terrible. So what? We still love them.
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Glenn Darby about 1 year ago
Great article and even better ballpark! I love PNC. We are going to make it out in June for the Dbacks series. Can't wait. Maybe plush pirogi night?
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Matthew Foust about 1 year ago
Loved the article. As a Royals fan I can certainly sympathize with rooting for a perennial loser. Thankfully, for fans of both teams, the clubs seem to be moving in the right direction. And, as you say, fans of both clubs certainly have a storied past to be proud of.
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Sara Legarsky about 1 year ago
hahaha as a die hard Pirate fan, i loved this article.
and i remeber watching that game when Simon hit that sausage. I laughed when it happened. Then i woke up the next morning and found out he was arrested for it. And i laughed some more.
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jeremy turner about 1 year ago
im going to a phils pirates game in april. has anyone been to both pnc park and citzens bank park and how much sweeter is pnc?
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Eric K about 1 year ago
PNC Park is a great place to watch a game. I've heard alot of people complaining about the new management, which is understood, because they really haven't made any substantial moves to improve this team. Spending money has always been on the bottom end of the to-do list for all Pittsburgh teams, but the Pirates really have to do SOMETHING. They've got alot of young talent, but their bullpen is one of the worst in the league. If they can find a way to pick up some solid relievers, they might not blow as many leads in the 6th or 7th inning. Looks like this season will be more of the same for the Buccos. Good article.
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Paul Sullivan about 1 year ago
I mentioned you in my blog today
http://sullybaseball.blogspot.com/2008/04/open-question-to-pittsburgh-pirate-fans.html
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Brandon Redd 2 months ago
Three words.....Andy Van Slyke.
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