All About Baseball in Pittsburgh, PA

• 26 Adam Frazier, Batter
• 62 Austin Davis, Pitcher,
• 31 Tyler Anderson, Pitcher
• 13 Ke’Bryan Hayes, Batter
• 10 Bryan Reynolds, Batter
• 36 Nick Mears, Pitcher
• 18 Ben Gamel, Batter
• 52 Clay Holmes, Pitcher
• 69 John Nogowski, Batter
• 25 Gregory Polanco, Batter
• 15 Wilmer Difo

Substitutes:

• 5 Michael Perez, Batter
• 24 Phillip Evans, Batter

Head Coach: Derek Shelton

What each player does

The baseball team consists of 9 people. Up to 9 players can be on the field of defenders at the same time, and only one among the attackers who will hit the ball with a bat. However, there are times when attacking players are located near the other three bases one at a time, that is, 4 people on the field at the same time. The task of the attacking side is to score the most points, and the defending side is to prevent it. Therefore, the roles in the team are strictly distributed so that each of the players can flawlessly perform their task.

When learning the rules, many beginners have the question of how long a baseball game lasts. There is no exact answer to this question, time in this sport is not limited.

What does a pitcher do?

The pitcher is one of the main characters in a baseball game. At the beginning of the rally, he takes a high place in the center of the court and from there throws the ball to the attacker, who must return it.

It is up to the pitcher and his throw in most cases whether the opposing team wins a point or not. Therefore, there are many techniques for performing a throw in order not to leave a chance to the opponent.

One of the most effective is a twisted throw (pitch) with reverse rotation. It is easy to master the technique in theory, but in practice it takes a lot of practice:

1. When grabbing the ball, the index and middle fingers are located on top, on each of the seams.
2. This is followed by an imitation of the movement of a direct throw. This is important for amplitude as well, and helps to confuse the opponent.
3. Throw the ball in an arc, the movement of the brush should be directed in the opposite direction. This will give the ball back spin. It turns out that the brush should move counterclockwise.
4. To give a good arcing trajectory, it is necessary to follow the ball with the index finger until it comes off the hand, applying force.

If you master the shooting technique, attacking players will have to work hard to get points.

What does a batter do?

The batter is the second key link in the game, it is a player with a bat in his hands. He plays in the attack, his task is to hit the ball, which is thrown by the defender. When a player hits the ball, he starts to run, becomes a runner. The better he hits the ball, the more time the defenders will spend to get it back into the game, which means the offensive player will have more time to take as many bases as possible and earn points for the team to win.

At a speed of about 150-170 km / h it is difficult to make a quick decision, but this quality is necessary for a good batter. To hit the ball well, you need to have a high reaction speed, strength, be able to make the right decision in a split second. It is not always necessary to hit the ball as far as possible, in the strategy of the game there are short shots to confuse the team’s defenders, who start early to rebound the ball. Seeing the situation, the batter must hit as short as possible in order to get the maximum amount of time to run around the most bases and earn game points.

Other players and their role in the game

The rules in baseball assign other players to the team besides the batter and the pitcher. For the attackers, the batter becomes a runner after a successful reflection of the ball, and for the defenders, the tasks are distributed among all players:

1. First, second and third basemen. They are located on the corresponding parts of the playing field. They defend their base, the area between it, the previous and next sites.
2. Short stop. Defender, located between 2nd and 3rd base. He catches a batted ball in this area, insures the bases.
3. Left, center and right outfielder. Defense players who are located on the corresponding directions of the playing field. They pick up batted balls missed by other players, passing them to the bases. Their task is to catch the fly to make an out.

If the players clearly fulfill their tasks in defense, victory does not take long.

How to play the game

A match consists of at least 9 game segments – innings. At the beginning, the referee and team managers enter the field, providing a list and numbers of players. Then the teams appear on the field and take their places. The attacker goes to the home base, and the pitcher takes center court.

After the referee’s signal, the pitcher throws the ball to the batter. If he hits the ball, he becomes a runner, starts running around the perimeter of the playing field. His task is to capture as many bases as possible. If the attacking player sees that the defenders are about to take the ball in their hands, the runner has the right to stop at the base closest to him. She will be considered busy. If this is not done, the player goes out.

After the first attacker comes the second, third, and so on in turn. They try to hit the ball and take the most bases. When the team has finished its inning, it becomes defensive. The teams change advantage, now the defenders take the bits and go on the attack. Then similar actions of the players unfold before the end of the inning. The order changes until at least 9 innings is reached or the score at which the victory of one of the teams becomes impossible.

The results are announced at the end of the meeting. The team with the most points in all innings becomes the winner. If the teams scored the same number of points, they play an extra inning. There is no draw in baseball.

Field requirements

The rules of the game clearly describe what the playground should be like. The field is a square about 1 hectare in size. If you hold the rays on the site, they will be at right angles, dividing the field into external and internal sectors. The main one will be the inner square, which has a strict side length – 27.45 m, bases are located in the corners – one of the main elements of the game. The surface of the playing field (with the exception of the corridors between the bases) is covered with grass. The pavement must be level, with no natural ups and downs. In the center of the inner square, there is an artificial hill 45 cm high. At the top is a white rubber platform, the pitcher’s place.

The next important element of the baseball field is the catcher’s place, or home base. It is considered the main, first base, the rest are numbered counterclockwise. It is made in the shape of a pentagon, so that the wide edge faces the pitcher, and the wedge-shaped edge faces the lane. The distance between the pitcher’s and the catcher’s pitches shall be 18.4 m.

A territory free from grass flooring begins from the wedge-shaped part of the base. These are paths marked with a white line of crushed chalk. They run along all 4 bases. The entire territory inside the corridors, playing or “infield”. The outer part that reaches the fence is the “outfield”.

In addition to the strict dimensions of the field, there are certain equipment requirements:

• good drainage systems;
• irrigation systems;
• soil and grass care program;
• equipment necessary for the game (rubber playgrounds, bases);
• a fence with a net.

Compared to many sports, the baseball field is not very large and requires a minimum of equipment and inventory. The main task is to ensure proper care of the lawn and paths.

PNC Park

PNC Park is a Pittsburgh baseball stadium located on the banks of the Allegheny River. It is the home arena of the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. The stadium was opened during the 2001 Major League Baseball season, after the Pirates’ former home of the Free River Stadium was demolished. The title sponsor of the facility is PNC Financial Services Corporation, which bought the rights to the name of the stadium in 1998. The capacity of the PNC Park is 38,362 people.

This Pittsburgh baseball stadium cost $216 million and was co-financed with the construction of two other facilities, the Heinz Field Football Stadium and the David L. Lawrence Exhibition Center. A plan to build a new arena for the Pirates was proposed as early as 1991, but serious consideration of the project did not begin until 5 years later. Built in the style of classic stadiums such as Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field, PNC Park also has unique features, such as the use of limestone façade, a lobby overlooking the river, a huge scoreboard and many local eateries. PNC Park was built in just 24 months, which is faster than most stadiums today.

History of creation and financing

On September 5, 1991, Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Maslov proposed building a new 44,000-seat stadium for the Pittsburgh Pirates on the north side of the city. Free Rivers Stadium, home of the Pirates at the time, was built more for functionality than for “architectural and aesthetic purposes.” Its location has also been criticized due to being in an inaccessible part of the city and traffic jams that occur before and after the games. Discussions on building a new stadium were underway but not seriously considered until entrepreneur Kevin McClatchy bought the team in February 1996. That same year, Maslova’s successor Tom Murphy created the Forbes Field II Task Force, a group of 29 politicians and entrepreneurs that began exploring the possibility of building a new stadium. Their final report, released on June 26, 1996, proposed 13 possible construction sites. The North Side site was recommended due to its affordable price, potential development of the surrounding area, and the ability to incorporate the city’s skyline into the design of the stadium. This site is also slightly upriver from where the Pirates’ home ground, Exposition Park, was previously located.

After political debate, it was decided to use budgetary funds for the construction of the “PNC-Park”. A sales tax increase was proposed to fund three projects: PNC Park, Heinz Field, and the expansion of the David L. Lawrence Exhibition Center. However, the proposal failed miserably in a referendum and the city developed Plan B, which was called Scam B by the opponents of the project. Some members of the Allegheny Regional Asset District thought the $40 million promised by the Pirates was too small, while others criticized the amount of budgetary funds allocated for Plan B. One member of the Allegheny Regional Asset District even called the use of tax money “corporate wealth”. Finally, on July 9, 1998, the $809 million plan was approved by the Allegheny Regional Asset District. $228 million of this money was to be used to build the PNC Park. Shortly after the approval of Plan B, the Pirates entered into an agreement with the authorities of Pittsburgh that they would remain in the city until at least 2031.

Local corporation PNC Financial Services bought the rights to the name in August 1998. According to the agreement, until 2020, PNC Bank must pay the Pirates about $ 2 million each year, as well as establish a bank branch in the stadium that provides a full range of services. The cost of building the stadium was $216 million. Since many Pirates fans felt that the stadium should have been named after former outfielder Roberto Clemente, the city changed the name of the bridge near Six Street Bridge to Roberto Clemente Bridge as a compromise.

Design and construction

The design of the stadium was developed by the architectural bureau HOK Sport. Dick Corporation and Barton Malow also worked on the design and construction. In an attempt to design the stadium in a “classic style” such as Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field were built, the designers added brick archways, steel trusses, and decorative terracotta tiled pilasters to the design. PNC Park was the first two-tiered baseball stadium built in the United States since the construction of the Milwaukee County Stadium in 1953. The stadium has a Sony JumboTron scoreboard measuring 7.3 by 12.8 meters, surrounded by LED panels. This is the first time such a solution has been applied in the history of open MLB stadiums. Also, PNC Park became the first stadium with a scoreboard that displays the score, inings, outs and base runners of all other league games taking place during the match in real time.

Construction began on April 7, 1999, following a ceremony to rename the Six-Sreet Bridge the Roberto Clemente Bridge, after former Pirates player Roberto Clemente. As part of the original plan to create a pleasant atmosphere for fans, the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic on game days to allow spectators to park their cars in Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle and walk across the bridge to the stadium. In the construction of PNC Park, Kasota limestone was used, which was delivered by river from Minnesota. This decoration greatly distinguishes PNC-Park from other modern stadiums, which use brick in decoration. The stadium was built in just 24 months, which is 3 months faster than any other modern Major League Baseball stadium. This allowed the Pirates to play a game here just two years after construction began. Rapid construction was carried out using special computers that transmitted construction plans to workers 24 hours a day. In addition, all 23 trade union organizations involved in the construction signed an agreement that they would not go on strike during the construction process. As a result of union involvement and a focus on safety, construction management company Dick Corporation received the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Safety Achievement Award. Every year, PNC Park, like Heinz Field, was inspected by Chronicle Consulting for structural defects and maintenance.

Statues of Pirates Hall of Famers Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, and Bill Maseroski were erected in front of PNC Park. Prior to this, the statues of Wagner and Clemente were located next to the Free River Stadium and, after the stadium was blown up, the statues were removed from their places, repaired and installed next to the PNC Park. Originally, a statue of Wagner was erected in front of Forbes Field in 1955. The base of Clemente’s statue is shaped like a baseball diamond, with the ground of the three stadiums where he played: Saturday Field in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Forbes Field, and Free River Stadium at each base. On October 1, 2000, after the last game at the Free River Stadium, Stargell performed the final ceremonial throw at the stadium. He was given a model of a statue that was going to be erected near the new stadium. The unveiling of the statue took place on April 7, 2001, but Stargell himself was unable to attend due to health problems. A statue of Bill Mazeroski was erected during the 2010 season in front of the entrance to right field, at the south end of Matherovski Way. Its installation was timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Pirates’ World Series win, which the Pirates won thanks to Mazerovsky’s walk-off home run in Game 7 of the series. The design of the statue was based on this event.

Discovery and reviews

PNC Park was opened on March 31, 2001. That day was the first of two friendly games against the New York Mets. The first official baseball game was against the Cincinnati Reds on April 9, 2001, in which the guests won with a score of 8: 2. The first throw was thrown by Pirates pitcher Todd Ritchie against slugger Barry Larkin. Already at the top of the first inning, Sean Casey hit a two-point home run that was also the stadium’s first hit. The hosts’ first single at the new stadium was made by Jason Kendall.

In the debut season, the average attendance at PNC Park was 30,742 people, but in the next season it fell by 27% to 22,594 people. During the 2001 season, downtown and North Side retailers experienced a 20% to 25% increase in business activity on Pirates home game days.

Pirates vice president Steve Greenberg said of the stadium: “Early in the beginning of construction, we said we would build the best stadium in baseball, and we believe we did it.” Major League Baseball chief Paul Beeston said the park was “the best he’s ever seen in baseball.” Many workers who built the park described it as the nicest thing they had ever seen. Pittsburgh catcher Jason Kendall called PNC Park “the most beautiful baseball stadium in the game” at the stadium’s opening game. Many elements of the PNC Park were later used in the design of the New York City Field.

After opening in 2001, PNC-Park received a lot of positive feedback from fans and the media. ESPN.com’s Jim Caple gave PNC Park a score of 95 out of 100, placing it in first place among all Major League Baseball stadiums. He compared the baseball stadium to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falls House, calling the stadium “perfect”, but noted the only negative aspect of visiting the facility was the high price of tickets. Jay Auya, author of Fields of Dreams: A Guide to Visiting and Enjoying All 30 Major League Ballparks, named the park one of the “top ten places to watch the game.” Eric Enders, author of “Ballparks Then and Now” and co-author of “Big League Ballparks: The Complete Illustrated History”, wrote “everything a baseball stadium could ever hope to be” and “an immediate contender for the best baseball stadium ever built”. In 2008, Men’s Fitness magazine named the park one of “10 baseball stadiums to see this summer.” In 2010, ABC News’ list of “America’s 7 Best Ballparks” described PNC Park as “combining the best features of yesterday’s baseball stadiums—rhythm arches, steel trusses, and natural turf playing fields—with the latest trends in convenience and comfort. for players and fans”.

Improvements

In 2007, Allegheny County issued a ban on smoking in most public places, including PNC Park. Before the start of the 2008 season, the club made several improvements to the stadium. Thus, the Outback Steakhouse located under the scoreboard was removed, and a new restaurant was added, called The Hall of Fame Club. Unlike its predecessor, The Hall of Fame Club is open on game day to all ticket holders and includes a patio with a bar and seats overlooking the playing field. Some games are followed by musical performances, the first of which was a performance by Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. Pirates also announced the introduction of programs to protect the environment. Club and VIP boxes were equipped with high-definition televisions. In 2012, the 464.5 m2 Budweiser Bow Tie was opened in the right corner of the field, providing game viewing areas for both groups and individual fans. Such an addition cost the club about $1,000,000.

Baseball events

The first game of college baseball teams was held at PNC Park on May 6, 2003. On this day, the Pitt Panthers from the University of Pittsburgh baseball and the Ducane Dukes from Ducane University met. This confrontation, known in the city as the City Game, ended in a 2-1 victory for the Dukes. However, due to Ducane University’s decision to shut down its baseball program after the 2010 season, the streak between the two teams came to an end. The confrontation between the two teams at PNC Park ended in favor of the Panthers 4-2 (the 2007 game was canceled due to the poor condition of the playing field).

On July 11, 2006, PNC Park hosted the 77th Major League Baseball All-Star game. In the game, the American League team, before the eyes of 38,904 people, defeated the National League with a score of 3: 2. The first All-Star game at PNC Park was the fifth game to be held in Pittsburgh and the first since 1994. During the game, a ceremony was held to honor Pirates star Roberto Clemente. He was awarded the League Commissioner’s Historic Achievement Award, which was presented to his wife Vera. The day before the All-Star Game, the stadium hosted the 21st Home Run Derby, won by Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies. During the Derby, two players, Howard and David Ortiz, hit home runs into the Allegheny River.

Coverage and dimensions of the field

The PNC Park field is set with Tuckahoe Bluegrass, a natural turf field, a blend of various Kentucky Bluegrass grasses. The current coverage was installed prior to the start of the 2009 season and was chosen for its “high quality pedigree that is ideal for northern cities like Pittsburgh”. The infield ground is a mixture called the “Dura Edge All-Star Infield Mix” and was developed exclusively for PNC Park. The 5.5 meter warning path is made of crushed igneous rock. A drainage system installed under the field can handle 36 cm of rainfall per hour. The stadium was originally built with natural grass in a sand base, which was replaced in 2006. Unlike other baseball stadiums, the home team’s dugout is located along the third base line instead of the first base line, allowing the home team to enjoy a panoramic view of the city during the game. The outfield fence has a height of 2 m in the left field to 3 m in the center field and 6 m in the right field. The height of the 6.4 m (21 ft) right field fence was chosen in honor of Roberto Clemente, who wore number 21 for the Pirates. The distance from the outfield fence to the house ranges from 98 m in the right field to 125 m in the left center; in a straight line to the centerfield – 122 m. From the house to the Allegheny River, the distance is 135 meters and 10 centimeters. On July 6, 2002, Daryl Ward became the first player to hit the ball into the river. On June 2, 2013, Garrett Johnson became the second player to repeat this achievement and the first Pirates player to hit the ball into the river.

Seats for fans and ticket prices

In its first season after opening, PNC Park’s seating capacity was 38,496, the second smallest in Major League Baseball after Fenway Park. The seats are at an angle to the playing field, and the side aisles are lowered, which improves the view of the field. Most of the seats, 26,000, are located on the first tier, while the highest seats are located 27 m above the playing field. The batter is at a distance of 16 meters from the audience, which is less than the distance from the pitcher. The closest distance of spectator seats from the sideline of the field is 14 m. The four-tiered rotunda and section above the scoreboard provide standing room only. All seats, except for the open tribune, have a view of the panorama of the city.

From the day of its opening until 2009, the cost of tickets ranged from 9 to 35 dollars for regular seats. Ticket prices for 69 VIP boxes and 5,558 club seats ranged from $47 to $210 per ticket. Before the start of 2009, the Pirates were just one of two teams that did not raise ticket prices for their home games, making the average ticket price one of the lowest in the league. The average attendance for the 2008 season was 20,113, the 28th highest in the league. Such low attendance is due to the not very successful game of the Pirates, who after 1992 only managed to reach the playoffs in 2013. In 2004, only 5% of the matches were sold out.

Eateries

Like its predecessor, food is supplied to the stadium by Aramark, while the luxury areas of the stadium are served by Levy Restaurants. Known as Tastes of Pittsburgh, the main food hall features a wide variety of food, from traditional baseball stadium snacks and local dishes to exotic dishes such as sushi. Diners can try a local snack, the Primanti Brothers Sandwich, which includes meat, cheese, sliced french fries, tomatoes and coleslaw sandwiched between two slices of Italian bread. Other local fast food outlets include Mrs. T’s Pierogies, Quaker Steak & Lube, Augustine’s Pizza and Benkovitz Seafood. Behind the centerfield seats is Manny’s BBQ, serving a wide range of barbecues. The establishment is named after former Pirates player Mani Sanguleni, who is remembered for signing autographs while waiting for his turn to bat. Before the start of the 2008 season, the Pirates set up a smorgasbord in the corner of right field. Fans who are in this section during the game can eat hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, salads, popcorn, nuts, ice cream and lemonade in unlimited quantities. In addition, fans are allowed to bring their own food into the stadium, a rarity in baseball stadiums.

Location

PNC Park is located at Exit 1B of Interstate 279 and one mile from Interstates 376 and 579. The Pittsburgh North Side Subway Transfer Station is adjacent to the stadium.

List of other baseball parks in Pittsburgh

This is a list of venues used for professional baseball in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

• Recreation Park
• Exposition Park
• Forbes Field
• Ammon Field aka Ammons Field
• Central Park aka Central Amusement Park
• Greenlee Field
• Three Rivers Stadium

Inventory for the game

If you want to try yourself as a baseball player, you will need knowledge about the initial inventory. It includes not only a ball and a bat, there are also traps, helmets, clothes and shoes. Let’s take a closer look at the equipment requirements for playing baseball.

Ball

A baseball ball is made up of several layers. Inside the ball is made of rubber, on top it is wrapped with yarn soaked in glue. Top layer of thick cowhide leather. You need to choose a ball that is dense enough, the denser the winding, the better and further the ball will fly. Baseball rules state that professional sports use balls with a diameter of 7.3 to 7.6 cm.

It is important to pay attention to the quality and height of the seam. The quality of the bat and the possibility of winning the match also depends on this. Hand-sewn balls are especially popular, they are also used in professional leagues.

Bat

The bat is a rod truncated on one side. The player needs to hold it from the narrow edge, which, for convenience, can have a rubberized coating so that the inventory does not slip out of the hands. There are clear size requirements for the game:

• length 106.7 cm;
• section diameter 7 cm.

For professional sports, only wooden bats are needed, which must be solid, without hollow sections or filled with light material. For training, aluminum and other metal bats can be used.

Traps

The first thing to consider when choosing is size. The purchase should be made only after trying on, the glove should sit comfortably on the hand and not restrict movement. It is important to consider that gloves are made for both right-handers and left-handers, so when buying them, you should pay attention to this marking.

The material must be dense and of high quality.

There are three types of traps:

• for catchers;
• for first base players;
• universal classic.

Protective ammunition

The game can cause serious injury to players. Therefore, baseball uses protective ammunition, which includes:

• bib;
• helmet with a grill to protect the face;
• knee pads;
• elbow pads.

The main rule of choice is that all equipment should be comfortable, not restrict movement. Due to the fact that the main elements are dense, they should not come into contact with the skin, press or rub. You should also be guided by the rule of density and quality of materials. The speed of the ball is very high, so when it hits the helmet grille, the bars should not bend or sag in order to avoid injury to the face.

Clothing and footwear

Special breeches are used with dense sections to protect the groin. In professional sports, they are white, someitmes with small colored inserts on the hip. The top of the shirt or T-shirt in the color of the club kit.

Boots are the most commonly used footwear. Regular sneakers and sports shoes are very slippery on the ground, which can interfere with the quality of the game, as well as cause injury to the baseball player. Football boots will not fit, because the structure is completely different. For baseball, the outsole is made to provide good stability and traction on grass and ground. They have metal stud tips, a special recess to support the legs of a baseball player, as well as special studs in the middle of the sole.

Pittsburgh Baseball Camps

• Summer Team Camp I
• Youth Camp I (7-13U)
• Prospect Camp | Defense
• Prospect Camp | Hitting
• Prospect Camp | Pitching & Catching
• Summer Team Camp II
• Youth Camp II (7-13U)
• Summer Team Camp III
• Youth Camp III (7-13U)