On Sports: Steelers to reveal throwback uniforms; Pirates welcome Tigers to PNC Park

Monday’s “On Sports,” pinch-hitting for “First Call,” has a look at a big reveal for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kenny Pickett gets his ring, and the Pirates are hoping to rebound from a forgettable series against the lowly White Sox.

Throwbacks to drop

The Steelers will reveal their throwback uniforms Monday on social media.

One more sleep ⏳ pic.twitter.com/C9m2TaHa6H

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) July 20, 2025

Promoted as “Forged in Pittsburgh … Defined by Legacy,” the throwback uniform will include a jersey, pants and helmet.

In May, Steelers president Art Rooney II told Steelers.com the team would wear the new throwback uniform against the Green Bay Packers during their “Sunday Night Football” game Oct. 26.

“It’ll be fun to wear our throwbacks against one of the older franchises in the league — that just seems to be appropriate,” he said.

Rooney said the team will wear its color rush uniforms later in the season, likely for a “Monday Night Football” game Dec. 15 against Miami.

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Previewing Bucs-Tigers

Monday is a Skenes Day at PNC Park.

Maybe that will be enough to help the Pirates clear the stench of a three-game stinker against the lowly Chicago White Sox (35-65) as they welcome the Detroit Tigers to town.

The Bucs are fresh off being swept by the Chicago White Sox at PNC Park while being outscored 27-7.

They’ve now lost 11 of their last 12 games to fall to 39-61 (.390). They also dropped below .500 all-time (10,878-10,879) on Sunday after a 7-2 loss.

The Pirates will avoid Tigers starter Tarik Skubal, the AL’s starter in the All-Star Game who allowed one run on four hits with 11 strikeouts in 6⅔ innings against the Rangers on Sunday night.

Skenes (4-8, 2.01 ERA, 131 strikeouts), whose most recent outing was a 1-2-3 inning when starting for the National League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, will be opposed by Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (5-9, 4.65, 124 Ks).

Tuesday’s game will pair Bucs RHP Mitch Keller (3-10, 3.48 ERA, 92 Ks) vs. Tigers RHP Casey Mize (9-3, 3.15 ERA, 77 Ks).

In the afternoon game Wednesday, LHP Bailey Falter (6-5, 4.00 ERA, 61 Ks) will throw for the Pirates. The Tigers’ starter is to be determined.

Detroit is 60-40 and in first place in the AL Central.

Pickett flashes the bling

Steelers fans probably ground their teeth a bit this weekend when photos of Kenny Pickett came scrolling across their timeline.

The former Pitt star quarterback and 2022 Steelers first-round draft pick was all smiles Friday night when the Philadelphia Eagles gathered to receive their rings for winning Super Bowl LIX.

Kenny Pickett got his Super Bowl ring #DawgPound https://t.co/vQuTE8FNeF

— Dylan Phelps (@Dylan2005Phelps) July 20, 2025

The diamond-covered rings have the Super Bowl LIX logo, two Lombardi trophies and the Eagles logo. There also is a button on the ring that opens the wings on the Eagles logo with a message, “You can’t be great without the greatness of others.”

Pickett, who the Steelers dealt to Philadelphia after two lackluster seasons before the 2024 campaign, saw mop-up duty in the Super Bowl, rushing three times for minus-4 yards in the 40-22 win over Kansas City.

In the regular season, he completed 25 of 42 passes for 291 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He started one game in place of Jalen Hurts.

After the season, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick and QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He is in a four-way competition for the starting position as the Browns open training camp.

Moving on in the TBT

Best Virginia advanced to the Round of 16 in the 12th annual TBT Tournament with a 82-75 victory over Herd That on Sunday.

Vincent Mitchell had 23 points, James Reese V added 20 and Kedrian Johnson scored 18 for Best Virginia.

ROUND OF 32: Watch the Game Highlights from Best Virginia vs. Herd That, 07/20/2025 pic.twitter.com/rsg8Q6xmqA

— TBT (@thetournament) July 20, 2025

The team of mostly former West Virginia basketball stars will play Elite Nation in the next round of the West Virginia bracket at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center in Charleston, W.Va.

The Happy Valley Hoopers, composed of former Penn State players, lost 79-75 to Raleigh 919 Legends in Round 1.

A $1 million prize awaits the winning team in the 64-team single-elimination tournament at the championship game Aug. 3.