An awesome, emotional Pirates game
One of the most wonderful things about the spring season that I anticipate every year is the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opening week, where I go to either the home opener or one of the games during the home opener week with family and friends. And this year’s experience was another awesome, emotional and unforgettable time.
We usually attend the actual home opener to honor my father, who was a diehard baseball and Pirates fan all throughout his life, up until his passing in 2012. And although we were not able to actually attend the actual home opener this year due to scheduling conflicts, we made sure to attend a game during the first week.
And this year’s trip was made even more special because my siblings and I were able to go with our Uncle Bill, my Dad’s brother, who helped make it an unforgettable night.
Of course, Mother Nature was not going to make it easy on us to watch the game against the Cincinnati Reds. But even though the temperatures were frighteningly frigid and we suffered occasional bouts of snow flurries and blustery winds, it didn’t matter to us because the laughter and camaraderie that we shared as a family before, during and after the game was wonderful and it somehow made me feel even closer to them.
Even though there were many empty seats for the game due to the winter-like weather, the Pirates fans who braved the elements also added much energy to the atmosphere; not only were they cheering and clapping their hands and stomping their feet inside PNC Park during the game, they were just as rowdy and rambunctious before and after the game in the parking lots and along the streets.
The fans who we met inside and outside the stadium, who were all total strangers to us, were so pumped up and jovial as they high-fived us, chanted “Let’s Go Bucs!” and embraced us and cheered with us was so infectious and fun that I could not stop grinning from ear to ear all night. Experiencing this closeness with the fellow Bucs fans, I really understood why the Pirates’ long-standing mantra of “We Are Family” is so dead-on accurate.
And the night only got better. We were able to enjoy the game from perfect seats which enabled me to watch the game from an amazing view, behind home plate. And what a game! The Pirates played like a playoff-caliber team, defeating the Reds by a final score of 5-1. The team played very well on both sides of the ball, and when the final out was made, it was time to Raise the Jolly Roger!
It was such an exciting experience that I didn’t realize until after I got home that I had never hugged so many grown men – most of who were total strangers – at one time in my entire life. It was an unforgettable game, ending an awesome day that I will always cherish and I will never forget.
The more I think about it, there was one other reason why the day was so special. Dad was a huge Pirates fan and always enjoyed his long-standing tradition of attending as many Pirates games as possible, especially on opening day or during the home opener week.
Some of my fondest childhood memories were of Dad taking us kids to Three Rivers Stadium to watch the Buccos, and I will always remember how awestruck I was holding his hand and walking into the massive stadium, surrounded by thousands and thousands of fellow fans decked out in black and gold.
I remember vividly with a smile how he loved to fill out the scorecards, watch the games with much passion and cheer excitedly when the Bucs made great plays. I fondly remember how excited he would get at home before and later during the game, and how he explained to us kids who the players were and what positions they played.
He had a lifelong love for baseball, and absolutely loved the Pirates ever since our family moved to Pittsburgh and later Greene County. And I know that it was his love for the Pirates that he passed on to my brother, sister and me that continues even to this day, which is why we love going to the games, especially during the home opening week each and every year.
The game also featured some unexpected poignant moments for us, the biggest one being later in the game when it was time for the traditional seventh inning stretch. This was one of Dad’s favorite part of the game every time he went, and he always stood up and passionately sang his heart out to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
Dad and us kids would always put our arms around each other and sing it as loud as we could, our faces beaming with cheer and huge smiles. He always got a kick out of that, and during the recent game, we proudly continued the tradition in his honor; it was a special moment, as we smiled, sang and laughed, even as our eyes filled with tears.
Memories such as this always serve as powerful reminders that even though we are sad that we can no longer physically enjoy Pirates games with him, we feel comforted knowing that he is there with us in spirit at every game. And I like to believe that he had something to do with his kids having an absolutely awesome time at the game last week, and that he enjoyed the game just as much as we did.
So thank you, Dad. And we hope there will be many more games in the future, where we can laugh, share some quality family time, enjoy a wonderful day and keep your baseball-loving memories alive. And the only thing that excites me more than all of that is the fact I hope our family’s love of the game and the Pirates will pass on to my young son, Bryson, in the future.
Let’s Go Bucs!