Home games at PNC Park lately have had a playoff feel in the past few weeks; kind of strange vibe to occur for team that hasn’t had a winning season in two decades.
That all changed Tuesday night.
The Pittsburgh Pirates won their 81st game, solidifying a winning season. Other fan bases may mock the jovial atmosphere considering a playoff spot hasn’t been locked up yet, but who can blame the Pirate faithful?
Here are some things that have come and gone in the 20 years since the Pirates last had a winning season:
- Four new teams entered MLB, including the Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays, and Arizona Diamondbacks.
- Each of those expansion teams have had more World Series trips each than the Pirates have had winning seasons. Five World Series visits total with three trophies won.
- Wild Cards, a second Wild Card, Interleague games and All-Star Games “counting” have all been implemented.
- The New York Yankees have won 7 pennants.
- Mariano Rivera racked up a record setting 647 saves since his debut in 1995.
- Alex Rodriguez smashed 651 home runs since his debut in 1994.
- Chipper Jones started and ended his future Hall of Fame career with a 5th all-time best 85.1 WAR.
- The Pirates drafted fourteen picks in the top 10, not including Andrew McCutchen (he was picked at #11 that year).
- MLS soccer was founded (12/17/93) and has expanded to 19 teams.
- Pittsburgh’s more beloved black-and-gold team, the Steelers, have had only 3 losing seasons. They did rack up 14 playoff appearances and 2 Super Bowl wins.
- The city of Pittsburgh has lost an approximate 60,000 citizens. (Too bad, it is an awesome town!)
- Barry Bonds hit 586 home runs after he was one of those citizens that left town.
Brian Reddoch is a CraveOnline reporter and rabid fan of all teams Seattle. You can follow him on Twitter @ReddReddoch and at www.facebookcom/craveonlinesports.com.
Photo Credit: Getty
