PIttsburgh: Baseball Town USA?

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Pittsburgh is primed to be a great baseball town. Period. If there are any who doubt that statement, than you clearly didn't watch or attend the game July 4th against the Houston Astros.

I was, along with my girlfriend & two buddies, we sat in section 128, rowP and watched this town cheer their hearts out for the Pirates. With the sellout crowd flooded into the grandstands & clapping their hands at everyat-bat, PNC Park never sounded or looked more beautiful.

This town charged the stadium with energy usually reserved for the beloved Steelers & successful Penguins. 'Let's Go Bucs' chants organically emerged from every corner of baseball's most charming field. Positive cheers and few boos made it a wonderful atmosphere for the littler ones and reinforced the game's appeal to them. I saw people having fun. I saw respectful fans enjoying beer & baseball. I heard deafening roars for McCutchen's RBI double and Presley's triple. I heard the soft crack of peanut shells being opened and falling to the concrete. I felt Pittsburgh's love for the Pirates on Independence Day.

But, maybe I am wrong. Maybe it was just the festive spirit of the holiday infusing us. Maybe it was a fluke. Maybe I am reading too much into it. Maybe the Pirates & I just got lucky on Monday. . .

Then again, maybe not.

I've seen a million home games on television & paid for a ticket dozens of times over the years. This year, I am witnessing a change. The last eighteen years have been Hell, but this year the team is 1.5 out of first place in the Central & playing very solid baseball. Are they overachieving a bit? Yes, but who cares? They're winning! And if this city has taught me anything in life, it is this; Pittsburgh loves a winner.

2011 could be the start of something grand for the Pirates. All the losing, hopelessness, and basement dwelling seems to be forgotten. I am seeing more & more people walking around wearing Pirates jerseys and t-shirts. The Pirates are discussable again and not the subject matter for jokes. A little thing like winning makes the Steel City love you.

If, a big 'if', the Pirates keep this up, I envision more home games selling out to eager, hungry, fans who will support this team to the top. Pittsburgh is on the cusp of being a three team town.

After earning is 25th save of the season, All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan (who got the absolute biggest pop of any Pirates player that day) said, "It's fun to play in crowds like this. You feed off that". This city has a
monstrous reputation for amazingly loyal & loud fans. The Steelers have a nation & Pens fans make opponents' ears bleed. I easily predict the same

for Pirates fans. Like a junkie, we've hit rock-bottom a couple times. After yesterday's game, I think we've begun rehab.



Written by, Andrew Brown