doctorK invades PNC Park
by doctorK on Jul 2, 2009 2:25 PM PDT
26 comments
This year, Mrs doctorK has brought me and little miss specialK to the annual Mensa geek-fest, which this year is in Pittsburgh. The Pirates were in town finishing up a home stand with the Cubs, and since I've never been to this fine city, I thought it would be fun to take the family to a game at PNC Park.
As always, you can click here to get all the photos without the doctorK snark.
Our trip started auspiciously from gate 85 at SFO. Why is gate 85 so special? Because this guy is enshrined there as part of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately, when I arrived in Pittsburgh, I was greeted with a statue of some guy wearing #32 in a black and yellow uniform making a shoe-string catch in some football game years ago (and NO, I did not take a picture - I was too busy restraining myself).
At present, Pittsburgh is on top of the sporting world, having both the current NFL and NHL champions. Of course, their baseball team leaves something to be desired, as they have for what seems to be forever, but I can remember a time when the Pirates would beat all comers, like in 1979, when the had players like Willie Stargell and Dave Parker. Also, the Pirates have in their history this guy, this guy (most famous for winning the '60 series with a walk-off HR), and especially this guy (with whom they won the '71 series).
Pittsburgh, by the way, is not just a sports town (although you can't walk 15 feet anywhere without seeing the logo of the current NFL champion). The public TV station, WQED, was the home for years of Mr Rogers. Perhaps this might look familiar.
While riding the bus to the PNC Park, we had to cross the Allegheny River. The Roberto Clemente Bridge is the one visible two spans away.
Outside the main entrance is a statue of Honus Wagner.
Here was my first view of the field (it rained about an hour before the game).
Here are a couple of views from our seats on the right field line.
Before the game started, I got a look at some good news.
Here are some views of the Allegheny River just before it combines with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River, taken from behind the RF corner.
PNC Park has a nice intimate feel even though it seats over 40000. I say this even though there were only 15000+ in the stands that night (another thing in common with our A's).
As mentioned, the Pirates were playing the Cubs. A home game with the Cubs is the NL equivalent of a game with the Red Sox or Yankees - their seemed to be an inordinate amount of (pseudo)North-siders infecting PNC park. I immediately felt a large amount of empathy with the home-town fans. The Cubs took an early lead when Derek Lee blasted a two run shot to the back row of the CF bleachers. I was getting our dinner at the time, so I merely heard the HR (it was real loud). Going back to my seat, I took time for an up-close shot of home.
Jason Fox was the batter, who was a strickout victim.
One of the vendors at the ballpark is Primanti Brothers. Here are a couple samples of their handiwork.
Here, the Pirate Parrot eats a baby.
The A's have Dot Racing. The Pirates have Pierogy Racing!
Milton Bradley started in RF for the Cubs. He went 0-2 with two walks, and no tantrums. Here he is after his first walk. Milty was later cut down at home on a nice play by third baseman Ramon Vasquez.
In the 6th inning, leading 3-1, the Cubs had runners at 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Andres Blanco, the 8th hitter for the Cubs was up. Normally, I'd expect a guy with an .568 OPS to be pitched to, but since this is the NL and the pitcher was up next, the Pirates walked Blanco to face starting pitcher Randy Wells. Wells predictably hit a little tapper back to the mound, which Pirates pitcher Virgil Vasquez kicked around two or three times, then finally picked up and threw to first. Now, from my vantage point behind 1B, Wells was safe by, oh, half a mile, but 1B umpire Chad Fairchild called him out. The Cubs' manager is Lou Piniella, who predictably (and justifiably) blew up. Here he is in mid-hat-toss, which got him ejected (note the ump's right arm is at the ready for the ejection).
Seriously, would it kill Bob Geren to throw his hat once in a while, just to show us he cares?
The Cubs ended up winning, 4-1. There were three GIDPs, two plays at home, and two long home runs, both by Cubs hitters. Cubs LF Sam Fuld made his first ML start count - he led off the game with a doubled in his first ML at-bat, ended the game 2-4 with a walk, and cut down Jack Wilson at home for the last out of the bottom of the fifth to keep the score at 2-1 and end the Pirates last serious threat. Here are a few more random views from PNC Park.
I mentioned that we were at the game with a number of Mensans. Here they are at the 7th inning stretch, calculating Derek Lee's updated wOBA and WARP3, IN THEIR HEADS.
A few general thoughts.
- PNC Park is a great place for baseball. Hopefully, the Pirates will some day be able to recapture some of their past glory.
- The Pirates do a much better job of celebrating their history than the A's - by far. The front gate is on Bill Mazeroski Way, there are #21 signs all over the place, and I noticed that when a home team player was announced, on the score board they would show an old-timer (ie, Willie Stargell) whose picture would morph into today's player (Adam LaRoche).
- Pittsburgh is a pretty cool place, even if that Immaculate thing happened here some time back.
Next up for the doctorK family is a game in Philadelphia next Monday night between the Reds and the world-champion Phillies.
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good read and pics
I was there 2 weeks ago for the old timers game between tigers and pirates..its a beautiful park. the best I if have seen all 4 of them! haha . Pittsburgh is a very nice city with great food. I loved the primanti brothers sandwiches. The yellow bridges were awesome as well.
by Wallace758 on Jul 2, 2009 2:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
DoctorK, those are some nice pictures. Look, a Mark Grace jersey sighting in the picture of the baby being eaten!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 2, 2009 2:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
very nice, doctorK
I am not even exactly sure why but the Pirates were my second favorite team growing up (and yet for some odd reason, I loathed the football team).
I did lots of reading on Clemente (I was five when he died), and dug on Pops and Cobra. In fact, it’s because of Clemente that 21 is my favorite number.
Just curious: any Bonds artifacts about the place?
Love that scoreboard morphing thing you mention. Extremely cool.
I'm here to talk about the past.
by 67MARQUEZ on Jul 2, 2009 2:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I didn't see any mention of Mr September
"If Vin Mazzaro comes anywhere near me with shaving cream he’s gonna be coming away with a bloody stump" – Dallas Braden
by doctorK on Jul 2, 2009 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am most confident that I despise you.
BTW, does Denver have a Rob Lytle statue?
January of 1978, the defending champion Oakland Raiders were coming off of a thrilling double overtime win over the Baltimore Colts, and coming into Mile High Stadium to face their long time division rivals the Denver Broncos. Late in the game, Craig Morton handed the ball off to Rob Lyttle who plunged towards the goal line only to be blasted by Jack “the Assassin” Tatum who knocked the ball loose. Mike McCoy picked up the ball and was running for an apparent go ahead touchdown, when the officials blew the play dead saying that forward progress had been stopped. At that time there was no instant replay, so that was the end of that. The NFL has since apologized to the Raiders, saying it was a bad call. Rob Lytle has also since admitted it was a fumble. The apology is all well and good, but that does not change the outcome of the game. It does not give the Raiders the chance to defend their title that they deserved.
I'm here to talk about the past.
by 67MARQUEZ on Jul 2, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
can we bAN robbo650?
"If Vin Mazzaro comes anywhere near me with shaving cream he’s gonna be coming away with a bloody stump" – Dallas Braden
by doctorK on Jul 2, 2009 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good stuff.
One small thing though, there’s a world outside of North America.
Some motherfcukers are always trying to ice skate uphill - Blade.
by OldhamA on Jul 2, 2009 4:30 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Idiotic rumors I say.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
by alox on Jul 2, 2009 8:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's pretty funny to have a Madden tribute at an airport
by Englishmajor on Jul 2, 2009 7:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL - you're right
And I didn’t even think of the irony.
"If Vin Mazzaro comes anywhere near me with shaving cream he’s gonna be coming away with a bloody stump" – Dallas Braden
by doctorK on Jul 2, 2009 7:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This very well might be my favorite park that I have been to.
And I have been to Wrigley and Fenway. While it lacks the history of the older parks, the view of downtown and bridges is simply amazing. I won’t bore you with all the other details that I loved! But I hope the fam enjoyed the fact that the Puppies won! It doesn’t seem to happen that often these days…
Bring Jerry back!
by ZigFan31 on Jul 2, 2009 7:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Little Miss specialK was disappointed that the Bucs lost
We cheered her up by telling her the “Puppies” won.
And Mrs doctorK proved she belongs in Mensa by telling me, when they started up the “Let’s Go Bucs” cheer, that an anagram of Bucs is, of course, Cubs.
"If Vin Mazzaro comes anywhere near me with shaving cream he’s gonna be coming away with a bloody stump" – Dallas Braden
by doctorK on Jul 2, 2009 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Puppies!!! I have to use that nickname for the Cubs now.
Cubs = Puppies
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
by Blicks on Jul 2, 2009 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good stuff
PNC’s on my list of places to see.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Jul 2, 2009 8:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
This is awesome.
Although, are those french fries in that sammich?
"You end up with a name like ‘Outman,’" he said last week. "What else are you going to do? You’re going to get people out, man." ~ Dallas Braden
by Blicks on Jul 2, 2009 8:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I believe the "sammich"
is on top of the fries
HILLIS
by robbo650 on Jul 2, 2009 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is the Primanti Brothers' style
Fries were indeed inside the sammich. And it was awesome.
"If Vin Mazzaro comes anywhere near me with shaving cream he’s gonna be coming away with a bloody stump" – Dallas Braden
by doctorK on Jul 3, 2009 6:47 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Jul 3, 2009 6:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry, keyboard fail
That’s some kind of traditional Pittsburgh sandwich, where they put the fries on the sandwich instead of next to it. It’s sorta the Pgh equivalent of a cheesesteak or a hoagie in Philly.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Jul 3, 2009 6:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
A 'chip buttie' then.
Some motherfcukers are always trying to ice skate uphill - Blade.
by OldhamA on Jul 3, 2009 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You never think of Pittsburgh as a beautiful place.
But I can see in your pictures that it is one.
by IM4Oakgal on Jul 3, 2009 2:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice work, doctorK
will crosby spread his legs so far apart at bat that the games will have to be rated nc-17 -- emperor nobody
by day-to-day on Jul 3, 2009 11:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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