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Pirates fans show colors despite woes PDF Print E-mail
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Thursday, 01 April 2010 07:49
Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
Space buffs are lamenting NASA’s slow progress in bringing a replacement vehicle for the space shuttle to the launch pad.
Estimates now are that it might be 2025 before the U.S. resumes manned space explorations after the shuttles are retired later this year.
If you think that prognosis sounds dismal, try this one: that may still be about  20 years before MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates see a winning record.
After 17 consecutive losing seasons, a professional sports record, and with 2010 a virtual lock to make it 18, nobody does sub-.500 better than the Pirates.
It was morbid curiosity that drove me to Osceola County Stadium Friday when Pittsburgh visited for a Grapefruit League contest.
How many demoralized Pirates fans would show in Kissimmee, if any? Would they dare to display their colors?
The answers Friday, in order: a few hundred, maybe a thousand; and, yes.
Total attendance was about 3,500 on a gorgeous day that mandated sunscreen or a spot in the shade. Generously sprinkled among the onlookers was an array of black and gold, although the good thing about being a Pittsburgh fan is that you can buy Pirates, Steelers or Penguins gear and have the right color combo on hand.
A couple of college-aged fans sat under the press box, assessing the crowd.
“It looks like every Pirates fan in the world is here,” one said.
After a pause, he added.
“My dad’s a Pirates fan. He isn’t crazy about it, or anything, though. Like, he never wears a hat or anything. But, he still likes them,” he said. “I don’t know how. They’ve stunk forever.”
His friend nodded.
“If you’re gonna wear a hat, wear Willie Stargell’s (1979 pillbox version). That’s a good hat.”
The Pirates lived down to expectations Friday, blowing a 2-0 lead to lose 6-4 when Astros third baseman Chris Johnson hit a two-run walk-off homer in the ninth inning.
The Pirates’ dismal state of affairs has not diminished Jason Holtzman’s enthusiasm. Holtzman, a car dealer from West Palm Beach, drove to Kissimmee Friday and snagged some autographs.
“I’m from (the Pittsburgh suburb of) Squirrel Hill,” he said. “I’ve been up to PNC Park for a few games. I used to work for Aramark and sold concessions at Three Rivers Stadium for eight years. How many people here can say that?”
Not many, primarily because we live in Florida. Plus, Three Rivers Stadium was imploded nine years ago.
“It’s been bad. I’ve been suffering since 1992, when that traitor, Sid Bream (of the Atlanta Braves), scored in the playoffs to put us out of it. But, every year at this time, I say this is it,” he said.
Those with baseball knowledge say this may be the worst Pirates lineup since 1952, when the Buccos lost 110 games during a 154-game season.
“Naw, really? I don’t see that at all,” said Holtzman. “You got (Andrew) McCutchen, Garrett Jones and Ryan Church. They can all power hit. If we had two big power pitchers, we’d be right there.”
Holtzman spoke like a man ignoring the fact that he received a free hot dog and a Coke with his ticket. This is a promotion that Osceola Stadium officials roll out when the Pirates, Nationals and Marlins visit, and none are projected be playing baseball in late October.
Mark Fields, from Apopka, was at the stadium with his sons, Brian, 17, and Brandon, 13. They were Pirates fans working mostly incognito, although Brian had on a Steelers jersey.
They shared Holtzman’s allegiance, but little of his optimism.
How long does Brian, whose age coincides with Pittsburgh’s streak of futilty, think it will take for the Pirates to crack .500?
“I don’t know. Maybe in five years?” he guessed.
Ouch. Well, at least that beats the timetable for the next manned space exploration by about a decade.
Maybe the Buccos can ask the astronauts to wear Willie Stargell pillbox hats.
 

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