We are a baseball family. I know some of you will read that and think Gah! Baseball is too slow! There’s no hard hitting action. But what the sport lacks in physical contact, it makes up for in heart. In history. And in the hot dog gun.
Extra innings.
Inside-out-hat rallies.
Grand slams.
2-out lightning.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
The seventh inning stretch.
Yes, even the wave.
These things mean something to my family. They mean tradition and summers and cold beer. Cookouts and tailgating and corn hole on concrete. We put the radio on the pool deck so we can hear game over the kids’ shrieking and splashing. Taking our son and daughter to their first game was a family event; aunts and uncles and grandparents join the fun to relive the experience through a child’s eyes.
One of my favorite memories of moving into our new house is of me and my husband together on the couch. The windows were open behind us, blowing in the new spring breeze. The waning sun was the only light in the room, save the flicker of the baseball game on television. My head was in my husband’s lap and his fingers in my hair. I made a point of taking a mental snapshot of that moment because I wanted to always remember what it felt like to be so blessed.
Baseball has always been part of the soundtrack to my family’s life.
My family is baseball.
Specifically, we are Pirates baseball.
Our city has felt the heart-break and frustration of losing seasons and “so close” seasons, and while many turned their backs and shook their heads in disappointment, my family has remained faithful to our Bucs. My brother is, in a word, obsessed. There have been years that we’ve rolled our eyes at his unbridled all-consuming passion for The Pirates, but we’ve never stopped going to games or representing the gold “P.” Or posing adorable kids in Pirates attire…
Pittsburgh’s PNC Park isn’t just a baseball park. It’s a 21-foot high right-field wall tribute to beloved player and humanitarian Roberto Clemente. It is long bombs whizzing past fans waiting on the water and finally plunking into the Allegheny River. PNC is the baseball park with a city backdrop. It is fireworks for homeruns and pierogie races for fun and t-shirts blasted into the stands. PNC Park is Sunday family days, kids running the bases post-game, and the greatest damn vendors peddling popcorn and cotton candy and cold Coors Light here! PNC Park is Clint Hurdle chomping bubble gum in time to the fans’ Let’s Go Bucs chant.
Last night, the air in Pittsburgh was electric. The excitement, contagious. Something was about to happen at PNC Park that has never happened before, that hasn’t happened to the Pirates since 1992.
We won our first post-season game in over 20 years. I let my four-year-old stay awake to watch a few innings, and he was ecstatic to see Byrd and Martin’s homeruns. At least he was until my brother’s cheers scared him and made him cry.
Pittsburgh showed Cincinnati what happens when you throw at Andrew McCutchen one too many times. What happens when almost 40,000 people get inside a pitcher’s head. Last night’s win wasn’t just the Pirates’; it was the city’s. And that’s because we are family.
From Sister Sledge to Zoltan, well done, Bucs. Well done.
Congrats on your win! Our team sucks ass, so I’ll root for the Pirates right now.
You can hop on the Bucs Bandwagon any time, lady! I’ll have a cold brew waitin’ 😉
I hope our beloved Morneau is treating your team well! I hope he wins you guys a ring! 🙂
Meh. He’s not bad. KIDDING!!!!!!
This is awesome. We are a football family so I totally get it. I love sports and the traditions they create and they way they shape a family. Congrats on the win!!!!
It’s so true, Allie; these traditions, be they whatever, certainly help shape our families. <3
I’m not a Pirates fan, but this gave me goosebumps, chills, & tears in my eyes. Nothing beats the feeling of baseball in October…especially with a win like that. Now…Go Tigers!
And you gave me goosebumps with your compliments to my writing. THANK YOU!!!!
Go Tigers?? 😉
My husband and I haven’t watched a single game since my son was born. We just can’t seem to find the time… You’ve made me realize that we need to MAKE time. Thank you. Go Sox!
Take the boy–get nuts!!!!!!
And thank YOU 😉
WOOHOO!!! I just love your energy and loyalty to something your family LOVES and truly believes it’s a part of who they are… 🙂 GO PIRATES!!!!
Thanks, Chris! And again, HAPPY SITS DAY!
We’re a basketball house. Actually, I’m lying. My husband loves basketball. I hate sports. But I tolerate basketball. Sometimes. For him. 🙂
Congrats on the win!!!!
Ugh. Basketball is the worst. No, soccer is the worst. Then basketball 😉
My family is baseball too! I love it as did my dad before his passing! I am from Toronto, and like Pittsburgh, we have stuggled for the past 20 years to make a comeback. I have driven to Pittsburgh numerous times in the past six years to attend Pirates games. I love PNC park. It’s one of my favourite. Congratuations to your team, your city and your family!
Isn’t PNC the greatest?! My husband went to the game yesterday–almost 80 degrees, standing room only, and we WON!! Today will clinch the series!!!!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Nicole! Go Blue Jays? 😉
I love it- my family is a sports family but inparticularly baseball. My husband and I both are life long Red Sox fans but now are die hard Nat’s fans (I was born and raised and now have been living in DC over 15 years). All our major discussions about big life decisions together have been made at a Nat’s ballgame…when we decided to buy a house together, when we decided to get married, decided to have kids…all those talks took place in the bleachers at RFK and Nat’s stadium, over hot dogs and beer, cheering crowds in the background. Now our 4 year old loves Bryce Harper and the Nat’s and has her own personal “punch out”. Baseball IS about family traditions and I love it.
Awwww! You need to write about baseball, too!! Fun stories!
A bit random, but i hope you will play cos I nominated you for a Sunshine Award http://talkaboutcheesecake.com/2013/10/04/sunshine-and-shorts/
🙂
Adorable photo!!! And glad you rushed your maternity jersey (is that what it’s called? We are NOT a sports family!) too! Yes, reading this made me wish sports was more our thing- it sounds so fun!
Well, turns out I didn’t get to go so rushing the maternity gear was unnecessary. But at least I have a cute new shirt 😉
Congrats on the win!! One of my favorite childhood memories is taking a boat ride down the Allegheny River and stopping at the old Three Rivers Stadium. I was in 5th grade and I was in Heaven!! Then, in 6th grade my family moved to Illinois (the right armpit of the Midwest) and now we root for the…….wait for it……..Chicago Cubs. I know, I know. I’m embarrassed to have even typed that. But the Pirates win truly made me happy!