Optimism is in the air at PNC Park as Pirates open home schedule

There is nothing quite like the home opener as baseball season kicks into gear. The crack of the bat. The sizzling of the grill. The roar of the crowd.

It’s the time of year to welcome spring and gather once again inside PNC Park on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, this time as the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Chicago White Sox. First pitch was 4:12 p.m.

The sold-out crowd was invited to create a “blackout” inside the stadium with everyone wearing that color.

The first fans started lining up at 10:20 a.m. to get into the parking lots, which opened at 11.

There seemed to be a common theme of optimism prior to the game.

“We’re just really excited as always about opening day,” said Andy Bednar, father of Pirates pitcher David Bednar. “After the way they started on the road, we hope that stuff continues and they do well.”

Dan Genovese of Uniontown and his friend Ken Watson of Washington, Pa., have been coming to the home opener for 30 years. They were searching for a memorial brick they bought to honor their friend Robert Marquis near the Willie Stargell statue.

“Opening day is about optimism,” Genovese said.

“We always come early,” Watson said.

Leah Brody, Steve Brody and Mario Degregorio of the South Hills are regular home opener attendees.

Degregorio said his group of around 30 tailgaters arrived at 7 a.m. to their go-to parking lot spot. He’s been to every home opener for the last 20 years.

He’s most excited for “a Bucco win.”

“It’s going to be a good year, I think,” he said.

Michael Troese and Anthony Sarvey of Clarion tossed a football around at their tailgate in the parking lot before the game.

Sarvey said he is “excited” about the new season.

“It’s something different,” he said.

The chance for optimism at the home opener carries a lot of appeal for tailgaters Krista Keener and Chris Parniella.

“Anything’s possible,” Parniella said.

“We’re hoping for the best — a good season, if nothing else,” Keener said.

Steve Melfi of Hudson, Ohio, brought his son Nick to Pittsburgh from the Cleveland area for his first Pirates opener. To Melfi, there’s nothing better than an opening day.

“I skipped the Cleveland opener to come here today,” he said inside the stadium.

Mandy Michelone of Altoona said she was excited to see a big opening day, a positive attitude about the new team, and optimism for this season.

“We’re excited about the team this year. My husband and I brought our two daughters, who are 3 and 5. They love baseball, and are just ready for the season to start.”

Mandy Michelone and her daughter Maria, 5, of Altoona. Michelone said she was hyped to see a big opening day, a positive attitude about the team, and optimism for the season.

“We’re excited about the team this year,” she said. pic.twitter.com/fFKfuXIHj1

— Julia Maruca (@MarucaJulia) April 7, 2023

Family tradition

For the Ward family, tailgating at Pirates games, especially the home opener, is a main event.

“We joke and say it’s our Christmas,” said Elizabeth “Buffy” Ward of Bellevue.

The family gathers from around the region and stays in the nearby SpringHill Suites hotel the night before.

It’s the 13th year the family has organized the tailgating gathering. Extended family and friends are always invited. Jo Beth Ward, Buffy’s mother, says it’s not uncommon for the group to chat with other tailgaters and invite them to their own spread.

“The very first home opener that we did, we didn’t do food, we ordered pizza to be delivered,” she said. “Then we said, ‘this is dumb, let’s make it a celebration!’ And it has evolved over the years.”

Welcome back, Cutch

Chris and Michelyn Deshong of Dubois and their son Xavier, 9, gathered around the left field gate.

Xavier had “CUTCH #22” painted on his face, carried a signed glove, and held a homemade sign reading “Welcome Home Cutch.” He said he was excited to see McCutchen because he “hadn’t seen him in a while.”

The last time the family saw McCutchen was more recently than most — according to Michelyn, McCutchen is married to her cousin.

“(Xavier) sees him sometimes at holidays,” she said.

It didn’t take long to spot that first McCutchen jersey #PiratesOpeningDay ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/itk4qKsWJU

— JoAnne Harrop (@joannescoop) April 7, 2023

Tailgate parties picking up

Mike Dickerson of Castle Shannon is manager and co-owner of Big Shot Bobs in Canonsburg, Hopewell and Carnegie. He brought 300 wings in four different flavors and Italian hoagies for a tailgate of 50 people.

“This day is about being part of the community,” he said. “It’s not about the wins and losses. It’s about getting together.”

Playing some corn hole at a tailgate for the Pirates home opener ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/qFi8WijJbN

— JoAnne Harrop (@joannescoop) April 7, 2023

In another area of the parking lot, cousins Preston Krug, 7, and Lenny Krug, 4, played catch while their families watched. The Krugs traveled from New Jersey to see the home opener.

Adam Krug, Lenny’s dad, looks forward to the Pirates improving in time for Lenny to be in his “prime” Pirates-fan childhood years.

“Hopefully we’re winning games, and he’s got something to be excited about,” he said.

Cousins Preston Krug, 7, and Lenny Krug, 4, tossed a ball back and forth in a nearby parking lot before the game as their family gathered for snacks. Today is the cousins’ first home opener. pic.twitter.com/EuXlkwiWj9

— Julia Maruca (@MarucaJulia) April 7, 2023

Flying the flag

Near the Clark Building, one of the first cars waiting was that of Michael Kirik of Pine Township, with his sons, Jordan and Reagan. Michael Kirik has been coming to the team’s home openers since Three Rivers Stadium was open.

“I remember skipping school and taking the streetcar to Three Rivers,” he said.

The three men were sporting Pirates garb and carrying a homemade Pirates flag.

Reagan Kirik said they’ve taken the flag to “too many (games) to count.”

Related

• 5 things to know about 2023 Pirates home opener
• Diocese says hot dogs benched for Catholics on Pirates' home opener
• 'This is where I needed to be': Andrew McCutchen revels in PNC Park return as a Pirate

Gearing up

Christie Kandcer and her family have run a series of four merchandise stands outside of PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium for around 22 years.

“It’s a sold-out game, so far so good,” she said on Friday morning. “It’s looking pretty good.”

Her sons Ethan and Logan helped her set up the stand around 10:50 a.m. to catch the eye of early-bird fans, who tend to start arriving around noon. The family lined up a variety of Pirates ball caps in rows, ready for customers to pick their favorites.

“Hopefully we’ll be doing (this) today at the game,” she said, referring to raising the Jolly Roger flag in celebration.

Leah and Steve Brody and Mario Degregorio of the South Hills are regular Opening Day attendees.

Degregorio said his group of ~30 tailgaters arrived at 7 a.m. to their go-to parking lot spot. He’s been to every Opening Day for the last 20 years.

He’s hyped for “a Bucco win.” pic.twitter.com/Td2D46hgSZ

— Julia Maruca (@MarucaJulia) April 7, 2023