Undeterred by losses, diehard Pirates fans flock to PNC Park for season finale

The Pittsburgh Pirates entered Wednesday’s season finale with 100 losses, but that didn’t dampen Rob North’s enthusiasm for what would be the team’s last game until next year.

“What’s not to love about coming to the ballpark and having fun?” said North, 35, of Shadyside, as he stood outside PNC Park dressed in full pirate regalia before the finale against the playoff-bound St. Louis Cardinals.

North is one of the swashbuckling, Jolly Roger-­waving fans who make up the Renegades of the Rotunda, a fixture at PNC Park on Pittsburgh’s North Shore since 2014.

When asked what it takes to be a Renegade of the Rotunda, North said, “That’s easy: Love baseball, show up, look like a pirate and be prepared to have a really great time.”

If looking like a pirate includes wearing black and gold, then several thousand renegades showed up for the team’s last game of the season — undeterred by what was another abysmal campaign — and were treated to a 5-3 Pirates’ win on a gorgeous, sun-drenched afternoon.

Still, the Pirates finished with 62 wins and 100 losses, their 10th 100-loss season in franchise history and second in a row. The team has had just four winning seasons in the past 30 years.

“It’s not about the record at this point. I see the young players and think there really is a future here,” said lifelong Pirates fan Doug Parfitt, 60, of Whitehall, who was tailgating with his wife, Linda Everly, about an hour before the game started at 4:05 p.m.

When asked why she chose to go to the Pirates’ season finale, Sarah Meyers, 38, of East Liberty said, “I’d love to say something inspirational about why I’m here, but honestly, it’s just an absolutely beautiful day to be at the ballpark.”

When the first pitch was thrown, the temperature sat at 72 and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

Meyers was tailgating before the game with Jeff Powers, 48, of State College, who described himself as a “disgruntled fan who loves the team.” He said he hopes the losses of recent years “spurs them to really do something this offseason.”

But Dan Gruber, 61, of Warrendale isn’t holding out hope. Gruber said he and his wife, Sheila, quit being season-ticket holders several years ago because of the team’s struggles on the field, but they still go to games when the mood strikes.

“It’s a beautiful day today, so we came to the ballpark,” Gruber said, noting that Wednesday’s game was the first they went to this season.

Logan and Darla Cuppy of Vandergrift, both wearing Roberto Clemente jerseys, usually attend 10 to 20 games a year — including the season opener and the finale.

“Sure, I’d like to see a winning product just like everyone else. But even if the Pirates don’t do well, it’s still a great experience,” Logan Cuppy, 49, said as his service dog Halford — named after the lead singer of the heavy metal band Judas Priest — stood at his feet.

Greg Wood, 72, of Canton, Ohio, agreed. He said he and his wife, Barb, have been attending the Pirates’ final home game of the season for between 15 and 20 years. Then when spring training gets underway, they travel to Bradenton, Fla., to catch a few Grapefruit League games.

For Wood, the trek is necessary.

“If I go three months without baseball, I start getting itchy,” he said.