Our Favorite Pittsburgh Pirates Memorabilia

Matt Bower tells us of one of the best moments he has had at the ballpark.

My “I Support The Third Inning Walk-Out” tee shirt is my favorite piece of Pirates memorabilia.

That was the statement printed on the front of the tee shirt, which I purchased from a street vendor five minutes before arriving at the PNC Park gates on a Saturday afternoon in 2007. The shirt was neon green; I looked like a PennDOT worker on break from pothole duty.

The third inning walk-out itself was a cockeyed idea meant as a statement of protest. Frustrated Pirates fans – the team was in the midst of a 15^th losing season – were to walk out of their seats midway through the 3^rd inning. Yes, THAT would call the attention of the Pirates’ brass to the fans’ disenchantment.

My friend and I walked out of our seats as instructed – partly in protest and partly due to the call of the Miller Lite vendor behind the grandstands. I was immediately confronted by a TV camera, and a reporter who requested an interview. Sensing a moment to briefly shine as a mouthpiece for millions of voiceless fans, I walked to the top of the stairs – near the bullpen – and let loose a visceral diatribe comparing the backhanded Pirates front office to the nefarious Bush regime and likening the woeful on-field product to the fruitless mission of American forces in a “G*****n bloody chessboard of sand and oil-fields.”

Feeling I’d wrung every last drip of disdain from my beer-logged consciousness, I turned and pointed at PNC Park, and punctuated my rant, “And I think all of these people would agree with me.” To my surprise, perhaps 50, or so, other protesters raised their fists like Jolly Rogers, and cheered in-tune with my words. Little did I know that – while I was venting – my friend had gathered a like-minded audience to stand behind the crackpot in the PennDOT shirt.

After the reporter and cameraman had fled – likely in fear and/or disgust – I was asked by a few people if I was the mastermind responsible for the protest.  I wish I was…I wish I was.

I Support The Third Inning Walk-Out

Next: The memory of a lifetime

Ever wonder what it is like to be an honorary bat boy? Chris Hodgen tells us his tale.

While most kids growing up in the 90’s as Pittsburgh Pirates fans would aspire to collect autographs from Jason Kendall, Aramis Ramirez and Tony Womack among others, I aimed higher and sought after an autograph from Hall of Fame slugger Willie Stargell.  In the summer of 1999, I finally got my chance.  After sending letters to owner Kevin McClatchy, I was contacted one day and asked if I would like to serve as an honorary bat boy for a game.  I happily accepted the invite and within a few weeks I found myself sitting in the dugout of Three Rivers Stadium during the pregame activities of a Pirates vs Cardinals contest.

From watching games on TV, I knew Mr. Stargell served as a special assistant to the organization and could often be seen in the Pirates dugout before the games.  In preparation I made sure to pack with me my prized 1971 Willie Stargell baseball card.  As I sat in the dugout and observed the batting practice asking players as they walked by to sign my baseball, I was caught off-guard when Mr. Stargell entered and sat down beside me.  Stunned, I sat there silent as Brian Giles walked in off the field and sat on the other side of me.

For several minutes I sat motionless as Mr. Stargell and Giles carried on a conversation about field turf vs grass and the temperature difference of the two on the field.  As their conversation moved onto the heat wave that was expected the following week, I finally found the words to extend my baseball out to Mr. Stargell and politely ask him if he would be willing to sign my ball.  Graciously, Mr. Stargell accepted and continued his conversation as he signed his name and handed me back the ball.  I thanked him and he smiled back at me.

Continuing to be star-struck, I sat there silently until it was time for me to head to my seat to watch the game with my family.  It wasn’t until I got to my seat that I reached into my pocket and realized I had completely forgotten about the baseball card.  Throughout the game I clenched onto the baseball bearing Mr. Stargell’s signature along with the rest of the 1999 Pittsburgh Pirates.

I have never bothered to have the baseball appraised as I’m sure I would learn that having the card signed would hold much more monetary value than the ball, but for me the value isn’t relevant.  As a young boy and having the opportunity to listen to that conversation and to collect the signature of a baseball legend 17 years removed from the end of his career, the memory and personal value of the baseball trumps any price tag that can be placed upon it.

Next: Helping to bring another fan into the fold

Jason Rollison tells us of how his wife started to become a Pittsburgh Pirates fan.

My favorite piece of Pirates memorabilia is of the non-traditional sort.  My lovely wife, Jessica, was never what you would consider a baseball fan until a rainy night in June of 2014.  I had convinced her to go to a Pirates vs Cubs game with me.  Cheap seats, but hey she agreed to go and we were there.  Then in the seventh inning, the skies opened and a torrential downpour appeared, scattering fair-weather fans (literally) from PNC Park at a blistering pace.  My wife and I took advantage and moved to the very first row of bleachers hugging the foul pole in left field.

Right in view of Starling Marte.

The crowd having thinned out as much as it did, you could really hear everything going on in the field.  As the Pirates warmed up before the Cubs came to bat, many folks were clamoring to get a ball from Marte.  After another unsuccessful attempt, I turned to my wife, who is half-Colombian and speaks excellent, fluent Spanish, and said “Next inning say something to Marte in Spanish and I guarantee you he’ll throw you a ball.”

And that’s exactly what happened.  It may have taken him three attempts to actually get my wife to catch the ball, but Marte gave my wife a ball, a smile, a nod, and said something to her in Spanish.  She still has not told me what he said and I’ve learned not to ask.  Months later at Piratefest, a kind soul who had access got Marte to sign the ball even though we missed the boat on tickets to his autograph session.  Ever since that game, my wife has slowly become a card-carrying Pirate fan.

So while it may not be worth anything or have a wow factor attached to it like other pieces, this ball will always hold a special place as the catalyst for my wife’s baseball fandom.

Next: A Hall of Fame signature

Dave Hill tells us of a favorite baseball card, and of keeping a player’s memory alive.

I started collecting baseball cards when I was seven years old. To this day, I can remember the first card I ever received – a 1987 Topps Ben Oglivie that was on top of that first pack. It is amazing how certain things like that can stick with someone.

As time has gone on, my collecting habits have changed slightly. Now, instead of collecting anything I can get my hands on, I limited my scope to Hallof Fame players and rarer cards. If there is a limited print run, and a low serial number, then that makes it a lot more attractive to me.

That is part of why one of my favorite cards is my 2011 Donruss Limited Cuts Max Carey numbered to 49. It also helps that Carey is a vastly underrated player these days, as his exploits happened a century ago. Yet, this is still the person with the National League lead for career steals of home, perhaps the greatest baserunner in baseball history and a brilliant outfielder. His excellent Game Seven in 1925, where he had four hits, including three doubles, off Walter Johnson helped the Pirates win the World Series.

Even if the card does not have the sentimental attachment that some of these other items have, it is a great reminder of the player who is still considered the best center fielder in Pittsburgh Pirates history. In at least one household, Max Carey will be remembered for the amazing player he was.

Next: Pittsburgh Pirates Top Five Center Fielders