Pittsburgh Pirates / MLB
From Forbes Field to PNC Park, fans remember Pirates legend Bill MazeroskiVideo
Dave Sedor felt chills Saturday as he paced along a patch of grass at the remains of the Forbes Field outfield wall thinking of the late Pittsburgh Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski. Sedor, of Madison, Wis., was in Charleroi celebrating his aunt’s 101st birthday when he heard Mazeroski had died. “I...
Bill Mazeroski, former Pirates World Series legend, dies at 89
Bill Mazeroski, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Hall of Fame second baseman whose heroic home run to win the 1960 World Series overshadowed his gifted glove and unmatched ability to turn double plays, died Friday at 89. A 10-time All-Star, Mazeroski had 2,016 hits in 17 major league seasons, all with the...
Tim Benz Podcasts
Ryan O’Hearn homers in debut as Pirates pound Baltimore in Grapefruit League opener
SARASOTA — Ryan O’Hearn wasn’t sure what to do when he received a rousing ovation before his first at-bat at Ed Smith Stadium wearing a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform. It was the spring training opener, so O’Hearn didn’t want to tip his batting helmet. But he appreciated the support from Baltimore...
Former Pirate Neil Walker shares the depth of his bond with Bill Mazeroski
Former Pittsburgh Pirate Neil Walker was about 8 or 9 years old. He remembers the words of advice from his father. “Make sure you ask him for an autograph. You tuck that away. You are going to want it when you are older,” Tom Walker told his son. Walker was...
Reliving Bill Mazeroski’s iconic home run in the 1960 World Series
You can’t call yourself a true Pittsburgher if you don’t know who Bill Mazeroski was. Or what he did on Oct. 13, 1960, to become legendary. It was on that day that the Pirates second baseman, who was known for his incredible defense, hit the most iconic home run in...
Remembering Maz: Pirates legend, Pittsburgh hero — a photo gallery
With one swing of his bat in October 1960, Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski became a legend. It will forever remain one of the most iconic moments in Pittsburgh sports history. Yet his humility never let that moment overwhelm him: “I just thought it was another home run to win...
Confidence key as Bubba Chandler tries to win spot in Pirates starting rotation
BRADENTON, Fla. — Bubba Chandler cruised through his first three major-league games, earning a four-inning save in his debut and wins in his next two appearances before the Milwaukee Brewers dealt the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher his first blowout. The Brewers scored nine runs on nine hits and three walks in...
Preparing for World Baseball Classic, Pirates ace Paul Skenes shines in simulated gameVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — It was a simulated game but one that Paul Skenes treated like a warm-up for the World Baseball Classic, considering the lineup of hitters he was facing. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace tossed three impressive innings against Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Marcell Ozuna and Nick Gonzales before a...
Mark Madden: The Pirates’ fate rests with 2 familiar bats
Optimism abounds with the Pirates, mostly because of a few shiny new toys and not least because 19-year-old phenom Konnor Griffin is hitting bombs at spring training. Griffin will be in Pittsburgh sooner, not later, and the sooner the better. But it feels like the fate of the Pirates in...
Gold Glove winner Jared Triolo comes out swinging for Pirates’ starting job at third base
BRADENTON, Fla. — On the eve of the first full-squad workout at Pirate City, Jared Triolo didn’t know which position he would be playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in spring training. “I’m not sure,” Triolo said Sunday. “I’m just going to go where I’m instructed.” The Pirates value Triolo’s versatility,...
Going deep: Pirates top prospect Konnor Griffin hits 1st batting practice homer against live pitching
BRADENTON, Fla. — Konnor Griffin’s batting practice has become must-watch viewing, as the teenage sensation puts on an air show by hitting balls onto the metal roof of the batting cages at Pirate City. The 19-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop offered a different display of power Wednesday, when he drilled his...
Mitch Keller embraces role mentoring Pirates pitchers, wants to show consistency all season
BRADENTON, Fla. — It was in the quiet moments that Mitch Keller spoke loudest for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, even if the conversations were barely above a whisper. To young Pirates pitchers after struggling in a start, Keller served as the calming voice who offered reassurance there would be...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Why can’t the Pirates win 85 games?
You ask. I answer. It’s time for a weekly Q&A mailbag that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via “X,” but you can also hit me up jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooo … Frank from Cranberry, via email: Joe — hope the colonoscopy went well. The prep sucks. Anyway,...
Bryan Reynolds concentrating on how to improve his swing without hitting panic button
BRADENTON, Fla. — Bryan Reynolds is a man of few words, so the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder didn’t bother to mince them when asked about the object of his offseason. “Fixing my swing, which I did,” Reynolds said. “Now we just have to translate that over to live (batting practice) then...
Pirates counting on DH Marcell Ozuna’s magnetic personality to rub off on Oneil Cruz
BRADENTON, Fla. — Marcell Ozuna was all smiles as he stretched his legs in activation drills before the first full-squad workout of spring training, and it wasn’t just because his $12 million free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates had been finalized. The 35-year-old Ozuna had a companion in Oneil...
Mark Madden: Picturing Ty Simpson to the Steelers, Konnor Griffin in the big leagues and more sports notes
Men’s curling scandal at the Winter Olympics: Sweden accused Canada of double-touching after the hog line. Canada accused Sweden of secretly filming. I have no idea what that all means, but it sounds sexy. Enjoy these refreshing sports notes while I figure it out. • Don’t be shocked if the...
With arrivals of All-Stars, Pirates GM proclaims this team the ‘most talented group we’ve had’
BRADENTON, Fla. — Don Kelly was pumped to see the new All-Star additions to the Pittsburgh Pirates on the field together for the first time, as sluggers Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna made their Pirate City debuts in black and gold. Only to be upstaged by Paul Skenes...
Batman Returns: A.J. Burnett accepts invitation to Pirates camp to mentor pitchers
BRADENTON, Fla. — The request for help came in the form of a phone call instead of a bat signal, but A.J. Burnett was ready to respond to the Pittsburgh Pirates in an instant. Burnett said he was “thrilled” to receive an invitation from manager Don Kelly to visit Pirate...
