Pirates/MLB category, Page 209
Game 7 Gang moves 60th anniversary of Pirates’ World Series celebration to PNC ParkVideo
They came to PNC Park on Tuesday with their memories, their stories and their folding chairs. The Game 7 Gang’s 60th anniversary celebration of Bill Mazeroski’s World Series-winning home run was pushed to the current home of the Pittsburgh Pirates by the pandemic. So, the diehard fans who annually celebrate...
MLB draft order finalized with Pirates picking first
The Pirates will have the first pick in the 2021 MLB draft. They earned that right by stumbling through the 2020 season and finishing with the league’s worst record at 19-41, but there was some question about whether the draft order would be determined by reverse order of finish because...
1960 Pirates legends recall Bill Mazeroski’s ‘amazing’ home run that won World SeriesVideo
Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Oct. 10, 2020. Dick Groat vividly recalls the moment he realized the Pirates could beat the heavily favored Yankees in the 1960 World Series. It was the top of the ninth inning of Game 1 at Forbes Field, and the Pirates were...
NFL covid-19 disruptions are causing chaos in fantasy football world, too
Want a “fantasy,” Steelers fans? Here’s a fantasy. How about an NFL week without the specter of games being postponed or moved around? That’s a fantasy in my world. It’s also a fantasy in most fantasy football leagues. And while the real-life logistics of maneuvering around the covid-19 landmines are...
First Call: Titans illegal practice session before Steelers game? J.J. Watt’s clash with Bill O’Brien. Ex-Pirates pitchers shine.
Steelers fans want to know what exacerbated the Tennessee Titans coronavirus outbreak. Thursday’s “First Call” tries to bring that into focus. Also, J.J. Watt apparently had a burr under his saddle about former coach Bill O’Brien. The Duquesne basketball team is thinking mini-bubble. And more ex-Pirates pitchers are impacting the...
Pirates make international splash by signing Taiwanese pitcher Po-Yu Chen
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a splash in the international market with the signing of Po-Yu Chen, a 19-year-old right-handed pitcher from Tawain’s world champion under-18 national team. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound Chen is a former two-way player who is now focusing on pitching and has a low-90s fastball, slider and curveball...
Pirates middle infield is full of options for 2021. It’s also full of questions
As the Pittsburgh Pirates prepare for 2021, a vast amount of uncertainty exists. When will games start? Will fans be allowed? What will the length of the schedule be? What about payroll? Who knows? One thing I can pretty much guarantee, though, is that the Pirates will not be allowed...
Lifelong Pirates fan writes book on 1960 championship season
Wayne Stewart remembers running home from school in Donora on Oct. 13, 1960. He was 9 years old and was hoping to make it in time to catch the end of Game 7 of the World Series between the Pirates and the New York Yankees on TV. The game was...
TV Talk: Verizon’s FiOS TV drops AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
In the latest retransmission dispute impacting local viewers, Verzion’s FiOS TV dropped AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh. A Verizon spokesman said its agreement to carry AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh expired Sept. 30. Verizon released a statement saying, “AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh has demanded a significant increase to an already high rate so fans can...
John Steigerwald: Bob Gibson’s dominance hard to watch as Pirates fan
Bob Gibson brushed me back once. More on that in a minute. Gibson died Friday from pancreatic cancer. He was 84. Every player who tried to get a hit over the last 52 years can thank Gibson. His 1.12 ERA in 1968 was the last straw for major league owners...
Former Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli announces retirement
MIAMI — Veteran catcher Francisco Cervelli announced his retirement Saturday after a 13-year major league career. The 34-year-old Cervelli played in only 16 games this year for the Miami Marlins before his season was cut short by the latest in a long string of concussions. He also had concussions in...
Historically bad Pirates season could be start of model that worked for winning MLB teams
In a shortened season played amid pandemic and, perhaps mercifully, before an empty PNC Park, the sinking ship that is the Pittsburgh Pirates hit rock bottom on the Allegheny River. The Pirates won only 19 of 60 games for the worst record in baseball and fifth-worst winning percentage (.317) in...
First Call: JuJu’s ‘cringeworthy’ quote, some Steelers not happy about schedule shuffleVideo
Friday’s “First Call” gives us some sassy Pittsburgh Steelers who are speaking out about the NFL’s schedule change. An ex-Steeler is surprised about JuJu Smith-Schuster’s quarterback comments. Duquesne basketball is getting some love. And a stroll down Pirates memory lane. Bye-bye, bye Some of the Steelers are less than thrilled...
Tim Benz: For Ben Cherington, it’s not what he ‘learned’ in 2020. It’s what he chooses to believe for 2021.
I’ve always been a big fan of the cartoon “South Park.” Don’t tell me what happened in “The Pandemic Special.” I’ve got it on the DVR. A recurring spoof in the early seasons of that show was that every episode ended with one of the kids telling the other characters,...
Pirates claim right-handed pitcher Sean Poppen off waivers, DFA infielder JT Riddle
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed right-handed pitcher Sean Poppen off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, adding depth to a bullpen that has dealt with injury issues. Poppen, 26, had a 4.70 ERA in six appearances for the Twins this season, allowing nine hits, four runs (all earned) and four...
After strong finish to season, Pirates focus on building a ‘deep, talented’ starting rotation
Two weeks before the season ended, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitchers had an informal staff meeting to talk about how they have performed and how they wanted to finish the season. “Playoffs were out of reach,” said Pirates right-hander Joe Musgrove, the Opening Day starter. “A lot of our goals had...
First Call: TV reportedly sets Steelers-Titans start times; Ryan Switzer visits Browns; Pirates back Bryan Reynolds
Thursday’s “First Call” gives us the potential television times — and network — for the rescheduled Steelers game in Nashville. Bryan Reynolds is getting some support from Pirates brass. Ryan Switzer is getting interest from an AFC North rival. And the Cincinnati Bengals are looking out for their quarterback. Who’s...
Changes coming for Pirates, but GM Ben Cherington credits Derek Shelton for ‘progress’
Not that Derek Shelton needed a vote of confidence from his general manager after one of the worst seasons in Pittsburgh Pirates history, but Ben Cherington gave his manager one anyway. That Cherington and Shelton were seated next to each other Wednesday for a final Zoom conference call with reporters...
Pirates GM reiterates support for Oneil Cruz, expects him to be available for spring training
Despite being involved in an accident that killed three people in the Dominican Republic, the Pittsburgh Pirates are expecting top prospect Oneil Cruz to be able to play next season. “No reason to believe he wouldn’t be available for spring training, full participant,” Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington starts search for new farm director, says other changes coming
Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday that changes are coming to the player development system, indicating that farm director Larry Broadway will be taking on a new role within the organization. Broadway, 39, oversaw the Pirates’ farm system, ranked No. 16 by MLB.com, for nine years, serving as...
Appalachian League leads off in minor league contraction
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball started the process of contracting minor league affiliates Tuesday, with the Appalachian League converted to a college summer circuit for rising freshmen and sophomores. The agreement between MLB and the minor leagues expires Wednesday. MLB has proposed cutting the minimum guaranteed minor league affiliates...
Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes earns NL Rookie of the Month honors after strong September
Ke’Bryan Hayes didn’t just have a September to remember, the Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman had one worthy of honor. Hayes was named NL Rookie of the Month on Monday, his first award as a major leaguer. The 23-year-old Hayes batted .376 (32 for 85) with seven doubles, two triples, five...
Fantastic finish thrusts Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes into Rookie of the Year conversationVideo
For the fantastic finish Ke’Bryan Hayes had to his first month in the major leagues, getting eight consecutive hits over his final three games, he was more amazed by the way he started his Pittsburgh Pirates career. “I got my first hit off Jon Lester,” Hayes said of the 36-year-old...
Pirates blow 4-run lead to drop finale to Indians, finish 19-41 in shortened season
It was important to manager Derek Shelton that the Pittsburgh Pirates played to win the final game of the regular season, even though they long had been eliminated from playoff contention. Cleveland had clinched, so the Pirates wanted to play spoiler for the Indians’ seeding. Instead, Carlos Santana and Franmil...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington: ‘Not a single piece of evidence’ Oneil Cruz crash was alcohol-fueled
Speaking publicly for the first time about prospect Oneil Cruz being involved in a crash that killed three people last week in the Dominican Republic, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington warned “there’s not a single piece of evidence from what we’ve seen that this is anything but an accident.”...
