Dear Pittsburgh Pirates Fans: We Will Get Through This

MLB’s originally scheduled Opening Day of March 26th did not take place due to the spread of COVID-19, but we’ll get through this, Pittsburgh Pirates fans.

Yesterday, the 2020 MLB season was supposed to kick off. At 4:10 on Thursday afternoon, Kevin Newman was supposed to step into the box to face the first pitch of the 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates season.

Well, unfortunately, due to the spread of COVID-19 this did not happen. Worst of all, no one knows if/when the 2020 MLB season will begin. As depressing as that is, especially at a time in our country when a lot of people are facing unprecedented hardships making the release from the real world sports offers needed more than maybe ever before, there will be no sports in the foreseeable future, baseball included.

Obviously, there are more important issues in the world right now than sports. That said, to plenty of people out there sports are important. Not just to the people who make their living due to sports, but to those of us who use sports as a needed release from the problems of the real world. As well as those of us who sports serve as a way of bonding. With your kids, with your family, sports can create that bond.

There have been a lot of difficult days, for all of us, the past few weeks as normalcy has come to a halt in the United States and around the world. For me, yesterday was the most difficult. One thing that has always been a constant is Opening Day. Growing up as a kid it was impossible to not look forward to spending Opening Day with my dad watching the Pirate game, or being in attendance if the season opener was at PNC Park. That has evolved into the two of us taking it in with my oldest son. Not having that was difficult, but we will get through this.

While it may be gone right now, it is for the best. As much as it sucks, social distancing is what is needed right now to help our country navigate these choppy waters as quickly as possible. And when those waters calm down, we will return to normalcy and that will include baseball.

When the day comes that Pittsburgh Pirates fans are back at PNC Park, it will be even more joyous than a normal home opener. The sights, sounds, and smells of the ballpark will be missed. When fans get to enjoy those again, they will likely cherish them more than ever before. The sound of public address announcer Tim DeBacco’s voice will sound even more angelic than normal.

Also, to anyone out there who has been personally impacted by the coronavirus know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of all of us here at Rum Bunter. Stay strong, stay safe, and we will all get through this.

If, like myself, you’re off work due to everything that is going on, try to enjoy your time off. Read a book. If you have children, enjoy and cherish the extra time with them. There are certainly worse ways to spend your day than with your family.

Stay home. Stay safe. Stay healthy. We will get through this as a country, as a human race, and as baseball fans. When we do and MLB games are being played once again, the sport we all love may be more cherished by fans than ever before.