Apr 7, 2002 By James Albani For The 3 min read

Spring training notes … If you ever have a chance to go to Pittsburgh Pirate spring training, I highly suggest you do.

Customer Service is highly regarded by everyone from the players to the ushers. Players, when they have a chance, will sign endless amounts of autographs for the fans. The ushers and security are as friendly as anyone you will meet. Everyone you see from the organization is helpful and friendly.

This is from a team that lost 100 games last season and would like to some day be able to compete with the likes of the Yankees.

Although the Pirates may not be the Yankees on the field, they certainly outshine them in the customer service department.

Expect the exact opposite treatment from the Yankees ushers and security. I never witnessed such a blatant disregard for customer service as I did that evening. They were yelling at people and moving them from the isles two hours before the game started while people in the stands only wanted to take pictures.

I was told at one point that if I didn’t like the policies, I could talk to his boss. When I asked who this “boss” was I was told to go to customer service.

For what claims to be a first class organization, I was truly disap-pointed.

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Pat Meares is again on the disabled list. Here is a player who has been hurt over the last few years and attempts to come back with a wrist that has not completely heeled.

He could easily take his money and quit or go into “operation shutdown” like someone else.

During my visit to spring training this year, I listened to a fan yell to Meares, “You’re a waste of money Meares and we’re paying you to sit on the bench.”

I was sitting about four feet to the right of Meares and he glared up into the crowd from he dugout.

Of course the man – and I use the term loosely – did not say another word.

Like most fans who are brazen enough to heckle a player when he isn’t looking, he quickly shut up.

Usually these are the same types of people who push little kids out of their way for that player’s autograph.

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Bill Virdon is certainly a class act and an asset to the Pirates organ-ization.

He not only brings six decades of baseball experience, but he is wonderful with players and fans alike.

He could be seen talking to many of the young players such as Jack Wilson, and also the fans.

Virdon comes from the days when players talked and lived baseball, not contracts and money.

He also knows the fans are important.

Virdon stood and signed autographs for the fans for approximately 15 minutes.

Only a handful thanked him, but he kept smiling and signing for everyone.

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It is said that time heals all pain.

Remember when Willie Stargell retired and the Bucs wanted to have a Willie Stargell night some years later? Fans were appalled that Stargell wanted paid to attend a night dedicated to him.

Now years later the Pirates have erected a statue and even will pay the greatest tribute to him that can be bestowed upon a player … a bobblehead night.

That’s right! April 10, 2002 will be Willie Stargell bobblehead night.

I wonder how many years of healing it will be before the Bucs have a Derek Bell bobblehead night.