Gerrit Cole pitched seven strong innings of three-hit ball and Pedro Alvarez hit a seventh inning RBI double to give the Pirates a 1 – 0 victory over the Texas Rangers and Yu Darvish on Monday night.
This isn’t no ordinary win, though. This is the win that 21 years of pain, suffering, embarrassment, etc.. all went into the rear view mirror for Pirate fans. It is the first time since “The Slide” that the Buccos have secured a winning season.
For most of you, this is the first time you’ve seen the black-and-gold win more than they have lost. It is the same for me as the last time this happened (A Pirates 9 – 7 win over the Phillies on Sept 12, 1992) as I was only four-and-a-half years old. The only brief memory of winning came from the 1997 “Freak Show” in which the NL Central champion (Houston Astros) finished with an 84 – 78 record. The only recollection any person age 26 and younger have of a winning Pirates squad (before tonight) are the clips they see on the internet, ROOT Sports or MLB Network.
For others, the ones who are old enough to experience the highs of a division championship or a world series victory, this should be a more bittersweet moment for you. You stuck with this team through the departures of Bobby Bonilla, Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke, Aramis Ramirez, Brian Giles, etc. You stuck with this team through the 100+ loss seasons, the little league caliber errors, the 20 – 0 losses, the no-hitters and the countless times the Pirates struck out 10+ times in a single game.
One story I was told was of a man who, along with his wife, were at game three of the ’92 LCS at Three Rivers Stadium. Three days later, he was watching game five in a hospital room with his newborn child. The first night home with the baby would be one he would not forget. With child in their baby chair on the coffee table in front of him, they watched Sid Bream slide safely home to take the Braves to the World Series and the Pirates into the tailspin that was the next 20 years. This night is for people like them.
This night is for the countless son’s and grandsons that went with their dad’s/grandfather’s to the ballpark to watch their team compete in the late 70’s and 90’s and even the times in-between where they weren’t good. This is a night for you to look up into the sky and say “they did it, this is for you.”
This night is for the guys that had to, year-in and year-out, hear their buddies heckle them for saying “this could be the year” or even just being Pirates fans.
Some of you may have thought this day would never come. Thankfully, it has as this is only another pit-stop in what could be a magical run into late-October.
The ones that have to do for this great night, The Pirates, have their sights on a greater goal, but some of them still know the importance of win #82.
What a 82 Buccos Victory, love these guys! You know #21 Roberto and #8 Pops are smiling down on us, now lets go get the division!
— Neil Walker (@NeilWalker18) September 10, 2013
It’s great to be a part of the first winning season in 20 years for the @Pirates. Our goals are much bigger than .500+ though. #82 #RAISEIT
— Mark Melancon (@Mark_Melancon_) September 10, 2013
Soak it in, Pirates fans, this magical season is yet to be over. Cutch sums it up pretty well…..
On to the next one…
— andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) September 10, 2013
Follow Travis for Pirates news and in-game updates on Twitter @TBerardi_OVA or @Theyinzer
(Photo Credit: ESPN)
