{"time":1775920017536,"version":"2.22.2","blocks":[{"id":"mnugxbi8","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/7e921978-6717-41b5-9e2d-278f52b7c4d5/mp4","caption":"","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/7e921978-6717-41b5-9e2d-278f52b7c4d5/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"7e921978-6717-41b5-9e2d-278f52b7c4d5","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/7e921978-6717-41b5-9e2d-278f52b7c4d5/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/7e921978-6717-41b5-9e2d-278f52b7c4d5/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/7e921978-6717-41b5-9e2d-278f52b7c4d5/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"K75hE1UgAP","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The 25th anniversary of the first regular-season game at PNC\nPark came and went on Thursday without any fanfare."}},{"id":"uLt_Vg9sl3","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Pittsburgh Pirates did acknowledge what was then the upcoming\nanniversary before the home opener on April 3. Brian Giles and Jason Kendall,\nthe franchise’s biggest stars when PNC Park opened in 2001, took part in a\nceremonial first pitch."}},{"id":"_ioJNG6BYP","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Perhaps part of the reason why more hasn’t been made of the\n25th anniversary is that PNC Park, despite its beauty and charm, doesn’t stir\nmany warm on-field memories. The Pirates have had just four winning seasons,\nwon no division titles, and hosted five postseason games during their time on\nthe shores of the Allegheny River."}},{"id":"K46cSNWafl","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Nevertheless, there have been some memorable moments for the\nPirates at PNC Park. Here are my five favorite Pirates’ moments:"}},{"id":"QQVYHOFmY1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"1. 10/1/13: The Blackout Game"}},{"id":"wMIxiIjLpB","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Pirates snapped a streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons,\nthe record for major North American professional team sports leagues, and\nearned the right to host the Cincinnati Reds in the 2013 National Wild Card\ngame at PNC Park."}},{"id":"FURumdACxX","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The crowd of 40,487, most wearing black, was on its feet from\nstart to finish, creating a raucous atmosphere. Russell Martin went 3 for 4\nwith two home runs to lead the Pirates to a 6-2 victory."}},{"id":"VKmmGxzbzl","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Martin sent the crowd into a frenzy when he homered off Johnny\nCueto in the second inning. The blast came right after Cueto, who was rattled\nby the fans repeatedly chanting his name, dropped the ball on the mound."}},{"id":"9Nu71d_2qr","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"2. 7/28/01: Giles Caps Miracle Comeback"}},{"id":"9f4R8jp5Ew","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Pirates opened PNC Park with a profoundly disappointing\nseason, finishing 62-100 and in last place in the NL Central in 2001. On an\noppressively humid afternoon, the Pirates trailed the Houston Astros 7-1 going\ninto the bottom of the ninth inning."}},{"id":"OkKtU-9c7Y","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Reliever Mike Jackson retired the first two batters in the\ninning, but couldn’t put the Pirates away. Pat Meares belted a two-run homer,\nand Jack Wilson singled in a run. Future Hall of Fame closer Billy Wagner was\nsummoned and hit Kendall with a pitch to load the bases, then Giles cleared\nthem with a grand slam to give the Pirates an 8-7 lead."}},{"id":"s9OIQOAgOr","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"3. 7/11/15: McCutchen Walks It Off"}},{"id":"hw02gR3RJj","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Pirates were regulars on national television in the\nmid-2010s, and they hosted the St. Louis Cardinals in this game, which was\nbroadcast on Fox’s Baseball Night in America."}},{"id":"7Ck-sBSxbV","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The two NL Central powerhouses put on a show in front of the\nnation. Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run single in the eighth to pull the Pirates\ninto a 3-3 tie and force extra innings."}},{"id":"ymuto6m4fA","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Both teams scored in the 10th, and Mark Reynolds hit a solo\nhome run in the top of the 14th to put the Cardinals ahead 5-4. Andrew\nMcCutchen then walked it off with a two-run home run off Sam Greenwood in the\nbottom of the inning that gave the Pirates a 6-5 victory."}},{"id":"n7lqcJAibE","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"4. 3/31/14: Hometown Hero Delivers"}},{"id":"JJPLLA7KLp","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Spirits were high at PNC Park when, for one of only the few\ntimes, the Pirates opened the season at home. The Pirates had ended their\ntwo-decade streak of losing seasons a year earlier."}},{"id":"_Y-prwXs-f","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The game was scoreless when it went into the 10th inning.\nPirates left-hander Francisco Liriano blanked the Cubs for six innings, and\nChicago’s Jeff Samardzija shut out Pittsburgh for seven innings."}},{"id":"T0inR7Hiod","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Pittsburgh-area native Neil Walker then broke the tie by\nhitting a leadoff home run off Carlos Villanueva. That accounted for the game’s\nlone run and gave the Pirates the win."}},{"id":"ky2ARo6E4A","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"5. 4/9/01: Bittersweet Grand Opener"}},{"id":"OA_U6W9CTp","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"While the day was festive as the Pirates and Reds played the\nfirst regular-season game at PNC Park, it was also tinged with sadness.\nFranchise legend Willie Stargell died early that morning, two days after a\nstatue of the slugger had been unveiled outside the ballpark."}},{"id":"ms1mVr-cZ0","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The game was anticlimactic, as the Reds won 8-2, turning a\none-run game into a rout by scoring one in the eighth and four in the ninth.\nPittsburgh native Sean Casey had a big game for the Reds as he went 4 for 4\nwith a double, a home run, and five RBIs."}},{"id":"kL4YPdhtYH","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Pirates Roundtable also offers a fan community and\nmessage board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Pirates. Click\nthe “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free."}}]}

John Perrotto

JohnPerrotto@RoundtableIO

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