I grew up in Pittsburgh in the late 60’s and 70’s, so it was an amazing place for a kid to be into sports. The Steelers were great (I remember the immaculate reception and not knowing what happened until the chaos was sorted out), I remember the Pitt Panthers with Tony Dorsett and Matt Cavanaugh winning the National Championship. The Penguins always sucked, but there was that 1974-75 season when they were up in the playoffs against the NY Islanders and proceeded to lose the next four games and break my heart. But I played hockey, so the Pens would always be in my heart. I’ve been rewarded with 3 Stanley Cups, and I got to watch one of the greatest players ever (Mario Lemieux) in person for a long time.
But, no matter what, I will always be a Pittsburgh Pirate fan. Baseball is my first love and I played it through high school and college. I remember them beating the Orioles in Game 7 in 1971 and all of the kids in the neighborhood went outside and jumped all around celebrating. Life was great. !979 was another magical year, and I actually got to go to a World Series game in Pittsburgh. I still have my ticket stub. My aunt took me, and it is one of the singular memorable moments of my childhood.
I can remember watching Clemente, in pre-game warmups, catching a fly ball in right field and throwing it like a bb to third base. On the fly. I loved those guys. I knew all their names, all their stats. Players stuck around. Clemente’s death on New Years Day, 1972 brought tears. As did Bob Moose’s wild pitch in the ninth against the Reds to send the Reds to the World Series, and send me outside to cry for about an hour. I lived and died with them.
I moved out of the area after college, and came back in 90, 91, and 92 to watch them in the playoffs. I had World Series tickets for each season, and they lost every year. The last year was the worst, as we all knew the team was going to be broken up after the season. Bonds, Van Slyke, and Bonilla in the outfield, Drabek and Smiley on the mound, and all of the other players were gone within two seasons. They haven’t had a winning season since.
Even so, I still wear my Pirates cap proudly and curse the man who has turned them into a glorified triple A franchise. Bob Nutting. When I was a kid, Bing Crosby was a part owner of the team. Now, it has a jackass who doesn’t care about winning or losing. He cares about making a profit, which he has done almost every year he’s owned the team.
I have been lucky. In my lifetime I’ve seen 2 World Series Championships, 6 Super Bowl Titles, and 3 Stanley Cup Championships. But if you ask me what I’d like to see most before I stray off this mortal coil, it’s to see the Pirates win another World Championship.
Baseball will always be my passion. I love it. I always will.
True fans will remember Bob Prince, Babushka Power, the Green Weenie, and Chicken on the Hill.
Let’s Go Bucs! will be on my tombstone.