Pirates Caravan Downsized. Who Wants to See Fans Anyway?

The Pirates do some shocking things, but today I am stunned yet again. Who would think so much analyzing by the Pirates management would cut the one thing that the Pirates have done so well over the years? I have listed both the 2009 format and the upcoming 2010 format for you below.

A quick count looks like 14 communities have been cut from the schedule. Erie is out for the Pirates, but Erie is in for the Cleveland Indians (Go Erie article). It makes absolutely no sense why the Pirates would let the Indians invade the Erie market. I shake my head at this move. Moving on….Cumberland is out. Dubois, Punsxy, Charleston, Clarksburg, Warren, New Castle, ahhh…the list goes on, it’s sickening for me. In 2009 four groups of Pirates went on tour, in 2010 it has been cut to two groups. Unbelievable. The genius decision makers behind this move should be sent back to the NBA, Nascar, or wherever they came from cause it makes absolutely ZERO sense.

The 2009 version and the 2010 version are below:

In 2009 the following information was released on the Caravan.

The annual tour makes stops throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland and will take place during the weeks of January 18-22 and January 26-29.

The Caravan features school visits and public appearances by current players, coaches, broadcasters, members of the front office and the Pirate Parrot. At each public visit, the participants will sign free autographs for fans, meet with members of the media and discuss the 2009 Pirates season. In addition, fans will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Pirates Home Opener at each public stop.

The complete 2009 Pirates Caravan schedule follows:

Sunday, January 18 – Thursday, January 22 – Group One:

Sunday, January 18: Somerset
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Seven Springs Mountain Resort; Question and Answer session with players, Pirates Trivia, Pirates “Deal Or No Deal” and Guitar Hero competition featuring players vs. fans

Monday, January 19: Cumberland, MD & Clarksburg, WV
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Country Club Mall (Cumberland)
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Dick’s Sporting Goods (Clarksburg)

Tuesday, January 20: Charleston, WV & Parkersburg, WV
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: South Charleston Middle School Assembly (Charleston)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Grand Central Mall (Parkersburg)

Wednesday, January 21: Marietta, OH & Wheeling, WV
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Newport Elementary School Assembly (Marietta)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Wheeling Island (Wheeling)

Thursday, January 22: Washington (Event TBD)

Sunday, January 18 – Thursday, January 22 – Group Two:

Monday, January 19: State College & Altoona
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Dick’s Sporting Goods (State College)
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Dick’s Sporting Goods (Altoona)

Tuesday, January 20: Ebensburg & Johnstown
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Central Cambria Middle School Assembly (Ebensburg)
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Johnstown Mall (Johnstown)

Wednesday, January 21: Latrobe & Indiana
Doors Open at 11:30 a.m.: Luncheon, Giannilli’s II Restaurant (Latrobe)
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Indiana Mall (Indiana)

Thursday, January 22: Butler
2:45 to 3:45 p.m.: School visit to Butler Junior High School for “Stand Tall” anti-drug and alcohol club (Butler)

Monday, January 26 – Thursday, January 29 – Group Three:

Monday, January 26: Punxsutawney & DuBois
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Punxsutawney Middle School Assembly (Punxsutawney)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.: Autograph Signing, DuBois Mall (DuBois)

Tuesday, January 27: Ridgway & Franklin
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Ridgway Area Middle School Assembly (Ridgway)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Cranberry Mall (Franklin)

Wednesday, January 28: Meadville & Erie
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.: Second District Elementary School Assembly (Meadville)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Dick’s Sporting Goods (Erie)

Thursday, January 29: Greenville & Beaver Falls
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Greenville Junior High School Assembly (Greenville)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Indiana Mall (Indiana)

Monday, January 26 – Thursday, January 29 – Group Four:

Monday, January 26: Laurel Highlands & Uniontown
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Laurel Highlands Middle School Assembly (Laurel Highlands)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Uniontown Mall (Uniontown)

Tuesday, January 27: Weirton, WV & Steubenville, OH
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Weir Middle School Assembly (Weirton)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Fort Steuben Mall (Steubenville)

Wednesday, January 28: Youngstown, OH & Boardman, OH
Doors Open at 11:30 a.m.: Luncheon, Butler Art Institute (Youngstown)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Dick’s Sporting Goods (Boardman)

Thursday, January 29: Warren, OH & New Castle
Event to be determined (Warren)
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.: Autograph Signing, Scottish Rite Cathedral (New Castle)

This year’s PirateFest will take place between weeks one and two of the Caravan at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh from Friday, January 23 thru Sunday, January 25. Now in its 19th year, PirateFest is an interactive three-day baseball carnival featuring free autograph sessions, youth baseball clinics, prizes, games and question and answer sessions with Pirates management, players and much more.

The 2010 version

Sun., Jan. 24	Somerset, PA	5:00 – 8:00 p.m.	Caravan Kickoff Event at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, featuring free autographs, live events, trivia, Deal or No Deal, gaming stations, face painter, Canonball Crew and The Pirate Parrot.
Mon., Jan. 25	Latrobe, PA	TBA	School Assembly Greater Latrobe Jr. High School
Mon., Jan. 25	Latrobe, PA	12:00 Noon – 1:30 p.m.	Luncheon hosted by Pirates radio affiliate WCNS Giannelli’s 2
Mon., Jan. 25	Uniontown, PA	6:30 – 8:00 p.m.	Autograph Session Uniontown Mall
Tue., Jan. 26	Morgantown, WV	9:30 – 10:30 a.m.	School Assembly Cheat Lake Middle School
Tue., Jan. 26	Morgantown, WV	TBA	Luncheon Location TBA
Tue., Jan. 26	Washington, PA	6:30 – 8:00 p.m.	Autograph Session Dick’s Sporting Goods
Wed., Jan. 27	Wheeling, WV	TBA	Daytime Events TBA
Wed., Jan. 27	Steubenville, OH	6:30 – 8:00 p.m.	Autograph Session Fort Steuben Mall
Thu., Jan. 28	Youngstown, OH	TBA	School Assembly Frank Ole Intermediate School
Thu., Jan. 28	Youngstown, OH	11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Luncheon Butler Art Institute

Group 2

Featuring third base coach Tony Beasley, players Garrett Jones, Delwyn Young, Ross Ohlendorf, and broadcasters Tim Neverett and Steve Blass

PIRATES CARAVAN, GROUP 2 SCHEDULE

Date	Location	Time	Event Details
Sun., Jan. 24	Somerset, PA	5:00 – 8:00 p.m.	Caravan Kickoff Event at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, featuring free autographs, live events, trivia, Deal or No Deal, gaming stations, face painter, Canonball Crew and The Pirate Parrot.
Mon., Jan. 25	Johnstown, PA	10:00 – 11:00 a.m.	School Assembly Greater Johnstown Middle School
Mon., Jan. 25	Altoona, PA	6:30 – 8:00 p.m.	Autograph Session Dick’s Sporting Goods
Tue., Jan. 26	Kittanning, PA	TBA	School Assembly Kittanning Jr. High School
Tue., Jan. 26	Indiana, PA	6:30 – 8:00 p.m.	Autograph Session Indiana Mall
Wed., Jan. 27	Butler, PA	TBA	Luncheon Location TBA
Wed., Jan. 27	New Castle, PA	6:30 – 8:00 p.m.	Autograph Session Scottish Rite Cathedral
Thu., Jan. 28	Hermitage, PA	9:15 – 10:15 a.m.	School Assembly Delahunty Middle School
Thu., Jan. 28	Beaver Falls, PA	TBA	Luncheon Location TBA

The Caravan will be immediately followed by PirateFest. Now in its 20th year, PirateFest will once again take place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from Friday, January 29 through Sunday, January 31. The interactive three-day baseball carnival features free autograph sessions, youth baseball clinics, prizes, games and question and answer sessions with Pirates management and players and much more.

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