Relive PNC Park's most electrifying moments on its 25th anniversary.
The 25th anniversary of the first regular-season game at PNC Park came and went on Thursday without any fanfare.
The Pittsburgh Pirates did acknowledge what was then the upcoming anniversary before the home opener on April 3. Brian Giles and Jason Kendall, the franchise’s biggest stars when PNC Park opened in 2001, took part in a ceremonial first pitch.
Perhaps part of the reason why more hasn’t been made of the 25th anniversary is that PNC Park, despite its beauty and charm, doesn’t stir many warm on-field memories. The Pirates have had just four winning seasons, won no division titles, and hosted five postseason games during their time on the shores of the Allegheny River.
Nevertheless, there have been some memorable moments for the Pirates at PNC Park. Here are my five favorite Pirates’ moments:
1. 10/1/13: The Blackout Game
The Pirates snapped a streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons, the record for major North American professional team sports leagues, and earned the right to host the Cincinnati Reds in the 2013 National Wild Card game at PNC Park.
The crowd of 40,487, most wearing black, was on its feet from start to finish, creating a raucous atmosphere. Russell Martin went 3 for 4 with two home runs to lead the Pirates to a 6-2 victory.
Martin sent the crowd into a frenzy when he homered off Johnny Cueto in the second inning. The blast came right after Cueto, who was rattled by the fans repeatedly chanting his name, dropped the ball on the mound.
2. 7/28/01: Giles Caps Miracle Comeback
The Pirates opened PNC Park with a profoundly disappointing season, finishing 62-100 and in last place in the NL Central in 2001. On an oppressively humid afternoon, the Pirates trailed the Houston Astros 7-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning.
Reliever Mike Jackson retired the first two batters in the inning, but couldn’t put the Pirates away. Pat Meares belted a two-run homer, and Jack Wilson singled in a run. Future Hall of Fame closer Billy Wagner was summoned and hit Kendall with a pitch to load the bases, then Giles cleared them with a grand slam to give the Pirates an 8-7 lead.
3. 7/11/15: McCutchen Walks It Off
The Pirates were regulars on national television in the mid-2010s, and they hosted the St. Louis Cardinals in this game, which was broadcast on Fox’s Baseball Night in America.
The two NL Central powerhouses put on a show in front of the nation. Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run single in the eighth to pull the Pirates into a 3-3 tie and force extra innings.
Both teams scored in the 10th, and Mark Reynolds hit a solo home run in the top of the 14th to put the Cardinals ahead 5-4. Andrew McCutchen then walked it off with a two-run home run off Sam Greenwood in the bottom of the inning that gave the Pirates a 6-5 victory.
4. 3/31/14: Hometown Hero Delivers
Spirits were high at PNC Park when, for one of only the few times, the Pirates opened the season at home. The Pirates had ended their two-decade streak of losing seasons a year earlier.
The game was scoreless when it went into the 10th inning. Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano blanked the Cubs for six innings, and Chicago’s Jeff Samardzija shut out Pittsburgh for seven innings.
Pittsburgh-area native Neil Walker then broke the tie by hitting a leadoff home run off Carlos Villanueva. That accounted for the game’s lone run and gave the Pirates the win.
5. 4/9/01: Bittersweet Grand Opener
While the day was festive as the Pirates and Reds played the first regular-season game at PNC Park, it was also tinged with sadness. Franchise legend Willie Stargell died early that morning, two days after a statue of the slugger had been unveiled outside the ballpark.
The game was anticlimactic, as the Reds won 8-2, turning a one-run game into a rout by scoring one in the eighth and four in the ninth. Pittsburgh native Sean Casey had a big game for the Reds as he went 4 for 4 with a double, a home run, and five RBIs.
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