SUPPORTED BY
I
like to get to baseball games early.
Like, really early. I get there early to
watch the opposing team take batting
practice, to see the grounds crew paint the
lines on the infield, to bask in the aroma
as grills fire up around the stadium, to feel
the sun soak into my skin. There is just
something refreshing about sitting near a
patch of grass, far better manicured than
my own, in the middle of a maze of dazzling
skyscrapers.
Baseball is an exercise in rituals. For me,
its my early arrival. For others, its listen-
ing to the play-by-play on the radio. Keeping
score in a program. Collecting cards. Drink-
ing a cold one and risking heat exhaustion
in the outfield bleachers. The game is our
National Pastime not because of what
nine men do on a patch of dirt but what we
do to become a part of it.
$ 62!&'.0&3 +!*,) #(%--- !5*2)
"/3.1.'24 0&/
".#!0 ,*+
*.%'1 /-)) ,*+
100* )+0( ,*+
(0&&)0*( !"-' ,*+
/**-(.' /-))( ,*+
(.%&/ ,*+
/*&$..1 !*0( ,*+
$/-&0 .+ ,*+
'.*&/ ,*+
&&*)(*%.-#/%0.+/",!$'"
4 PITTSBURGH PIRATES 2016
Few cities have the kind of connection to
its baseball team as Pittsburgh does with EDITORS
its Pirates. The relationship started with a MICHAEL SANSERINO
T YLER BATISTE
team called the Alleghenys and blossomed ART DIRECTOR
as Pittsburgh came to know men we recog- BEN HOWARD
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
nize by last name alone: Wagner, Clemente, ELIZABETH BLOOM, BILL BRINK,
Maz and McCutchen. Even when it became a J. MONROE BUTLER II, RON COOK,
PETER DIANA, DAN GIGLER,
love-hate relationship during 20 consecutive ALEX INIGUEZ, DIANE JURAVICH,
DANESE KENON, DANIEL MARSULA,
losing seasons, the love was never lost. JIM MENDENHALL, STEPHEN J. NESBIT T,
BRIAN ONEILL, DARRELL SAPP,
This magazine is an exploration of those BRENT SPANTON, SAM WERNER,
ED YOZWICK, STEVE ZIANTS
Pirates. We dive into the teams rich past,
visit the ballpark that has become a jewel in
a thriving city, preview the challenging sea- COVER
PHOTO:
son ahead and profile the 2016 team, led by PETER
DIANA
captivating and complex manager Clint Hur-
dle. Whether you are a baseball fan or just a
fan of good stories, we hope youll like it.
A PUBLICATION OF THE
Lets play ball.
Michael Sanserino
358 NORTH SHORE DRIVE, SUITE 300
Assistant Managing Editor/Sports PIT TSBURGH, PA 15212