Raise The Jolly Roger – Discovering a new “Home Field”

Growing up, I largely considered my two Favorite Baseball Teams to be the Cleveland Indians (at the time), and the Detroit tigers – sprinkled in with a little Chicago White Sox, depending on who was playing. Even with grandparents who were Steelers fans, I don’t think I was ever introduced to Pittsburgh anything (aside from a vast football history lesson) till I was about a teenager.

When we did make our way to The Steel City, I didn’t think much more into it than a couple more stadiums to cross off my bucket list. Little did I know, I was about to patch in a new favorite team, and a city I’d be spending a LOT of time in. Obviously, the scenic city views of the Pirates’ PNC Park, and the flora and fauna of the river walk got to me in amazement, but, so did the Pittsburgh Pirates organization as a whole. Inviting fans to come to the lower level of the stadium when appropriate, allowing us to get to areas close to the players both Home & Away, where you could not only see, but talk to them, and hooking us up with a game ball without having to pester anyone else.

The hospitality of the organization, and the fact the team was making the games fun and exciting (and regardless of their final 62-99 record that year – they were winning the games we went to!) was what made this team & organization I never really payed much attention to a new favorite. Plus we explored more of the beauty of the City, and the fact that there was a legitimate amusement park not too far away, sealed this city in as a constant stop on the Rock City road trips almost every year.

Modern day, even aside from our own scheduled road trips, Rock City Chronicle is, as I said, In Pittsburgh almost yearly, covering both sports and concerts, both largely at PNC Park – as well as at that famed Kennywood amusement park – usually trying to get on the new Steel Curtain rollercoaster I still haven’t been able to get a ride on, but also for various in park events, as well as the occasional break from our home park when needed.