After nearly taking a full lap around Lake Erie in the last week it was now time for us to head southeast to Pittsburgh and the last stop on this trip. This is the stadium that I had been looking forward to the most as I had heard many great things about PNC Park. So on Tuesday morning we left Cleveland and made the 2+ hour drive to the "Steel City". We arrived at our hotel in the early afternoon. Unfortunately we did not get a hotel that was within walking distance, but the Holiday Inn Express did have a shuttle service that could get us to a subway station which they call the "T" that would take us to the stadium. Now I have to give a little credit to the city of Pittsburgh. They have a toll free zone that is within the downtown district where anyone can ride the subway and not have to pay a toll for any stops within that district which includes about 8 or 10 stops which gets us to the stadium. So that was nice. I intentionally took one stop before the stop at Allegheny station because I wanted us to experience walking to PNC Park across the famous Roberto Clemente Bridge.
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Tate and Trey on the Clemente Bridge walking toward PNC Park.
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This was a great time to tell the family about Roberto Clemente. He is still considered an icon in Pittsburgh and is still hailed as one of the all time greats. So tragic that his life was cut short.
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Roberto Clemente statue right outside the ball park.
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We arrive at the ball park early to get ready to see the Pirates host the San Diego Padres. We walk through Riverfront Way which is a section right along the river where vendors are selling all sorts of food and souvenirs. This is where Trey gets his last t shirt, a Pirates one with Andrew McCutcheon's name on the back. Then we head inside to try to get another batting practice ball to add to the collection. When we get in, the Padres are taking batting practice. Now, as a Braves fan, it was difficult for me to watch as there were three former Braves on the field (2 of which I wish were still in Atlanta). And to rub salt into the wound, Justin Upton, one of the players I would like for the Braves to still have, was putting on a show hitting tape measure shots into the second deck over our heads rattling the seats. It was impressive. And Craig Kimbrel, the most dominant closer in the game when he was in Atlanta was running around in the outfield shagging balls for the Padres.
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Me and the boys watching batting practice.
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Well, wouldn't you know it? As we scattered out in a short radius to try to increase our chances of getting a ball, a little while later Tate comes running back with a ball in hand. Apparently some older guy gave it to him. Who could resist not giving up a ball to that cute little boy!
After BP was over, we got some food and made it to our seats. 7th row on the first base side just beyond the Padres dugout. These seats were great!
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Our view of the Upton brothers stretching before the game.
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The seats were so close to the field that the players (and especially one unsuspecting superstar named Justin Upton) were within earshot of the fans, especially one mama who was set on getting her son an autograph. Throughout the whole trip we had taken baseballs with us to get signed by a player with no such luck, YET. Well, as the Padre players were on the field stretching, Tammy saw an opportunity. While Trey and some other kids were gathering on the aisle next to the field, Tammy yells out in her beautiful Burke County redneck voice, "Hey Justin, can you come over here and sign a ball!?!" I thought Tate was going to crawl under the seats. But it worked! Upton was kind of startled (or scared, because I have heard that voice many times and it will force you to act). And he walked over and started signing autographs including a ball that my son Trey was hoping would get signed. Way to go, Mom!
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| Trey showing off his ball signed by Justin Upton. Look at that smile! |
PNC Park is a beautiful stadium. It was built in 2001 and is part of the throw back design that resembles the parks of yesteryear. It features a wonderful view of the Pittsburgh skyline with the Clemente bridge just beyond centerfield. The field was in pristine condition. Tammy even wondered if the grass was astroturf. "No, just well manicured grass", I said. As the game started, the skies were looking rather ominous as you can tell by the pictures. And during the third inning, the bottom fell out. We had to endure an almost two hour rain delay.
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| Trey and Tate posing for a picture with the scoreboard and Pittsburgh skyline in the background. |
Once play resumed, it was nearly 10:00 and Tammy was getting that look on her face that told me she has had enough. After 5 stadiums and 8 nights away from home and not sleeping her her bed, I could certainly understand. So I told her that we would leave during the 7th inning stretch which was a win for me since we had to sit through two more rain showers with ponchos on. So, I tore myself away and we headed out of the stadium to catch the subway. Right before we left our seats I remember taking one last look at the field and thinking to myself, "what a beautiful scene; to be at a Major League baseball game sitting in great seats with my family. It doesn't get much better than this".
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| A panoramic view from our seats at PNC Park. |
So we headed back to our hotel. The next day we would be heading home. Another great baseball adventure under our belts.
