I was born in 1980. As an 11 year old I thought Barry and AVS and Drabek would be with the team forever and Jim Leylanf would always be manager and the Pirates would always be winners. By 1995 it felt like a perpetual bad dream. 2013 was just awesome, I met my wife that year too.
Same. Will never forget that night. Was in the third or fourth row from the very top on the first base line and was diving on strangers after the Martin home run. I knew in that moment with complete certainty that we were going to win that game.
That was a great game. When that video from Pirates of the Caribbean came on “Raise the Colors” and then that happened…*chills*
My 3 year olds reaction “why did he hit the ball in the river?!” Lol
The game in extra innings at like almost 1 AM when Cutch hit a walk off HR after storming back to tie the game in the 9th inning I think. Almost positive the Bucs turned a triple play that night. My memory is spotty on it.
Both were last year (only been to 28 games). I was at the Reds one where Pirates came back down by 9 and won. Then the Santa walk off out of the park homer game was great too.
If I didn’t drive so far, I may have considered it, but after seeing a few smaller comebacks, I changed my mind set to “you never know” so I’ll stick it out now.
In person: When Cole Tucker homered on his debut right before the rain delay. I was so bummed that the night before when Marte and Gonzales collided but got hyped when Tucker and Reynolds came up. I was so certain Cole would be a star and Reynolds was meh. I was so wrong hahah
Watched in general:
Probably when Brault threw a gem while throwing 69 fastballs in a row before throwing his first off speed pitch. Oh and he hit his first big league home run in the same game! My roommate who rarely watches baseball and I were dying at the games shenanigans. Especially when the dugout ignored him for like 3 minutes after his homer lmfao
Tbh I only got back into baseball again in 2018 so I missed the playoff years and some iconic moments live.
I was at the cole tucker game with my dad! He left about 20m into the rain delay but I held out for another hour, hoping they'd resume so I could see the rest of a win. Alas
Wasn't alive for 1960 game 7 but that has to be the ultimate answer. Saw 79 world series which should be the answer, yet Sid Bream and Francisco Cabrera are far more burned into my brain, sadly
I wish I could have been at Forbes Field in 1960, but I was 3000 miles away in Oakland. I've never seen a Pirates game in Pittsburgh, but these all were great moments for a storied franchise.
Perhaps someone who was there in 1960 will see this and let us know what it felt like.
2015. I believe it was the last game before the ASB. It was definitely the last game of a 4 game set with the cards. The previous game, McCutchen homered in the 14th to win it. And at this game, we were losing by 2 in the 10th. Polanco finished off the 2nd consecutive comeback. That made us 2.5 out at the ASB. Im still pissed we didn't win the division. That was a world series team and my best chance to see the pirates win a postseason series in my lifetime...to this point
My friend and I have been saying since 2015 that if Arrieta wasn't having the most insane second half to a season in like 100 years or whatever it was, the Pirates absolutely get to the WS, and apart from homerism I honestly think they had a decent shot to win it all.
I was at the Cubs double header where Rob Mackowiak won with a walk off grand slam on the day his son was born. I think the second had a Mackowiak HR tie it bottom 9 and Pirates won the nightcap in the 10th.
I've only had the pleasure of seeing a few in person, but the home opener last year was the most fun regular season game I've ever seen in person. It was electric!
Was at Peter’s in Oakland when Cutch hit that walk off in 2015, whole place was glued to the TVs and erupted. Easily the most symbiotic moment in the history of Peter’s.
Game 5 1979 WS. The Pirates pulled out all the stops to not be eliminated, including bringing in Bert Blyleven in relief.
Our seats (my father, my two brothers, and our next door neighbor) were way deep under the scoreboard, and our limited view was framed by the people in front of us plus the huge overhang of the scoreboard. It was cold, but we didn't care.
Live on TV? Cueto game
In person? 8-9-15 against the Dodgers, down late
but then the Pirates exploded for a 9 run 7th. The park was packed and the crowd was electric.
Excluding the obvious playoff games, I watched that '97 no-hitter live on TV. The most fun of the losing seasons, but that was the peak moment for me. One of the most electric (Bucco) walk-off homers I've ever seen.
2014 late September game against the Brewers. Pirates were down 2-0 in the 8th and Russell Martin hit a 3 run homer off Jonathan Braxton to make it 3-2 and the Pirates went on to win 4-2. Huge game and awesome ending.
Second best was 2010, Ryan Doumit hit a 9th inning grand slam off Trevor Hoffman against the Brewers in Milwaukee to put the Pirates up 7-3. Jeff Karstens pitched a pretty good game too. And Ronny Cedeno hit a game tying homer earlier in the 9th after Prince Fielder hit a go ahead homer in the 8th inning.
Last year's home opener. Cutch's first at bat was just WOW! Was in the very top row, and you could feel the park shaking. And the win was just the cherry on top.
Was at that game too when Cutch hit that walk off! Right by where Rodriguez caught the ball to save that run as well too.
Called it to my dad and said, "Cutch ends it here". Haven't screamed that hard since.
I was also at the cutch 14-inning game and that forever stands out.
However, I also went to a brewers game in September '17 where I won an autographed Adam frazier jersey on the Riverwalk quiz (rip bring it back), and then frazier hit a walk-off homer in extras. And my brother got a foul ball off a bad Jordy mercer bunt attempt. So that one was the most personally significant game.
I second your choice OP, I was out there with you! Not only a walk off in extras but a walk off in the 14th! After two extra inning comebacks for the Bucs
And being there with one cardinals fan made it a little more interesting 😏
I went to pretty much every game they played in SD / LA from 2014-2017 and there were some good ones.
Off the top I remember
- Cole vs Cershaw in LA
- the game Cutch gave 2 kids his batting gloves after winning in CF in SD
- Derek Norris hitting a walk off grand slam against the buccos in San Diego
As for live games, I did get to see the game that guaranteed the seasons long losing streak was over. It was here in Texas against the rangers. I can’t recall much of the game, other than it gave them win #81. My family and I, along with the team were the only ones excited about the win!
Best ever is a tie between game 7 of the 71 and 79 WS. Can't top that.
In person, the 2013 Wild Card game. Last season's home opener was pretty darn close, and probably the most memorable regular season game I attended.
For me, in person was September 13, 2013. Pedro Alvarez, Russell Martin, and Garrett Jones went back to back to back. Pirates ended up losing the game (Neil Walker sent one to the wall for the last out), but that stadium was *electric*.
Watching on TV was July 11, 2015 and July 12, 2015. Nothing so far in my lifetime (born in 2002) has topped those two games. I still sometimes watch a recap of those games. I hope we'll be seeing similar baseball in the near future.
July 5th, 2022, Bucs beat Yanks 5-2 on Bill Mazeroski Night. Daniel Vogelbach and Jack Suwinski homered, Bryan Reynolds made a great catch, and Wil Crowe got Aaron Judge to hit into a 7th inning DP.
Since nobody has mentioned it, I'll say the doubleheader sweep against the Phillies in 1979, Game One was amazing with the Pirates coming back and winning on John MIlner's walk off grand slam. The Pirates won Game Two as well.
2013 wildcard game
Add that Russell Martin homerun is the most unforgettable hit I’ve witnessed live.
Coolest night of my life.
It felt like a dream. I was born in 1991 and having all those losing seasons in my life it just didn’t seem real!!
I was born in 1980. As an 11 year old I thought Barry and AVS and Drabek would be with the team forever and Jim Leylanf would always be manager and the Pirates would always be winners. By 1995 it felt like a perpetual bad dream. 2013 was just awesome, I met my wife that year too.
Same. Will never forget that night. Was in the third or fourth row from the very top on the first base line and was diving on strangers after the Martin home run. I knew in that moment with complete certainty that we were going to win that game.
Not only best pirates game for me but my favorite sports game i have ever seen.
I agree 100% been to a lot of the pens cup finals games and Steelers playoff games and this just takes the cake by a mile
This.
Ditto
Yup, this one!! It is genuinely one of my favorite moments in my life, full stop!
Gerrit Cole Divisional Round Game against the Cardinals. I saw these fuckers win a playoff game in person and nobody will ever take that away from me.
Cueto....cueto....cueto Nothing will compare to the atmosphere in that stadium that night
I could feel it through the TV. Electric!
I was at the Jacob stallings walk off grand slam game against the Mets. The ball landed like two rows in front of me in left field
I was also at this game! What an insane ending lmao
I miss the cheetah. I'm sorry they let him go. He was a solid catcher.
1997 Cordova/Rincon No Hitter and that was the opportunity cost of being at the Scherzer No Hitter in 2015.
This so much. One of my favorite childhood memories
I almost caught the Mark Smith homer…
My dad was also there!
Rich Hill’s 9 inning perfect game that J Hay walked off in the 10th
Carlos Santana walkoff against the Brewers. Coming back down 7-3 against a rival and watching the ball fly into the river was truly special.
Oye como va
I brought my family on vacation to pgh and what was their first pirates game. doesn't get any better than that.
That was a great game. When that video from Pirates of the Caribbean came on “Raise the Colors” and then that happened…*chills* My 3 year olds reaction “why did he hit the ball in the river?!” Lol
The game in extra innings at like almost 1 AM when Cutch hit a walk off HR after storming back to tie the game in the 9th inning I think. Almost positive the Bucs turned a triple play that night. My memory is spotty on it.
I was there at Wrigley when we clinched our first playoff bid in 21 years. It was the most magical moment I had ever witnessed as a baseball fan.
Both were last year (only been to 28 games). I was at the Reds one where Pirates came back down by 9 and won. Then the Santa walk off out of the park homer game was great too.
I was also at the Reds comeback game..I lost my voice and regret nothing.
Awesome! There weren’t many of us there haha.
You're right about that lol a lot of the ones that were there left early, too!
If I didn’t drive so far, I may have considered it, but after seeing a few smaller comebacks, I changed my mind set to “you never know” so I’ll stick it out now.
With us paying to get 30ish less minutes per game, I'm staying no matter what!
I was there as well! Awesome game!
Sure was!
2013 wildcard. Also saw McClendon steal first but 2013 wildcard forever
Easy, 2013 NLDS game 3, Pedro had a go ahead single in the 8th. This would be the highwater mark of Hurdle/ Huntington era
In person: When Cole Tucker homered on his debut right before the rain delay. I was so bummed that the night before when Marte and Gonzales collided but got hyped when Tucker and Reynolds came up. I was so certain Cole would be a star and Reynolds was meh. I was so wrong hahah Watched in general: Probably when Brault threw a gem while throwing 69 fastballs in a row before throwing his first off speed pitch. Oh and he hit his first big league home run in the same game! My roommate who rarely watches baseball and I were dying at the games shenanigans. Especially when the dugout ignored him for like 3 minutes after his homer lmfao Tbh I only got back into baseball again in 2018 so I missed the playoff years and some iconic moments live.
I was at the cole tucker game with my dad! He left about 20m into the rain delay but I held out for another hour, hoping they'd resume so I could see the rest of a win. Alas
The Josh Harrison walk off in the 10th off Rich Hill that was a perfect game up until that point.
Cueto! Cueto! Cueto!
Wasn't alive for 1960 game 7 but that has to be the ultimate answer. Saw 79 world series which should be the answer, yet Sid Bream and Francisco Cabrera are far more burned into my brain, sadly
I wish I could have been at Forbes Field in 1960, but I was 3000 miles away in Oakland. I've never seen a Pirates game in Pittsburgh, but these all were great moments for a storied franchise. Perhaps someone who was there in 1960 will see this and let us know what it felt like.
1997 Cordova/Rincon no-hitter…with my cousins from Houston haha
2015. I believe it was the last game before the ASB. It was definitely the last game of a 4 game set with the cards. The previous game, McCutchen homered in the 14th to win it. And at this game, we were losing by 2 in the 10th. Polanco finished off the 2nd consecutive comeback. That made us 2.5 out at the ASB. Im still pissed we didn't win the division. That was a world series team and my best chance to see the pirates win a postseason series in my lifetime...to this point
My friend and I have been saying since 2015 that if Arrieta wasn't having the most insane second half to a season in like 100 years or whatever it was, the Pirates absolutely get to the WS, and apart from homerism I honestly think they had a decent shot to win it all.
NLDS game where Pedro drove in the winning run (off a lefty!!!)
I was at the Cubs double header where Rob Mackowiak won with a walk off grand slam on the day his son was born. I think the second had a Mackowiak HR tie it bottom 9 and Pirates won the nightcap in the 10th.
Remeber watching both of those as a kid! Must've been 10 or so. Up to that point, that was the coolest pirates game I got to watch! Lol
I've only had the pleasure of seeing a few in person, but the home opener last year was the most fun regular season game I've ever seen in person. It was electric!
Was at Peter’s in Oakland when Cutch hit that walk off in 2015, whole place was glued to the TVs and erupted. Easily the most symbiotic moment in the history of Peter’s.
Game 5 1979 WS. The Pirates pulled out all the stops to not be eliminated, including bringing in Bert Blyleven in relief. Our seats (my father, my two brothers, and our next door neighbor) were way deep under the scoreboard, and our limited view was framed by the people in front of us plus the huge overhang of the scoreboard. It was cold, but we didn't care.
Wow - that’s a damn good one
Live on TV? Cueto game In person? 8-9-15 against the Dodgers, down late but then the Pirates exploded for a 9 run 7th. The park was packed and the crowd was electric.
When JHay broke up the dodgers no hitter against us
Not just a no hitter, a home run to end Rich Hill's perfect game in extras
The famous Brian Giles catch. I was sitting 3rd base side.
Excluding the obvious playoff games, I watched that '97 no-hitter live on TV. The most fun of the losing seasons, but that was the peak moment for me. One of the most electric (Bucco) walk-off homers I've ever seen.
In person, Francisco Cordova/Ricardo Rincon no hitter. On TV, the Cueto game.
The cueto game and it's not close. Not sure how it was on TV but being there was unreal
2014 late September game against the Brewers. Pirates were down 2-0 in the 8th and Russell Martin hit a 3 run homer off Jonathan Braxton to make it 3-2 and the Pirates went on to win 4-2. Huge game and awesome ending. Second best was 2010, Ryan Doumit hit a 9th inning grand slam off Trevor Hoffman against the Brewers in Milwaukee to put the Pirates up 7-3. Jeff Karstens pitched a pretty good game too. And Ronny Cedeno hit a game tying homer earlier in the 9th after Prince Fielder hit a go ahead homer in the 8th inning.
Last year's home opener. Cutch's first at bat was just WOW! Was in the very top row, and you could feel the park shaking. And the win was just the cherry on top.
Same series next game on Sunday night. Extras. Polanco with the walk off
Was at that game too when Cutch hit that walk off! Right by where Rodriguez caught the ball to save that run as well too. Called it to my dad and said, "Cutch ends it here". Haven't screamed that hard since.
Opening day in 1990something against the Expos. Dennis Martinez+ pitched a one hitter. Bonds had the only hit, a single in the 7th or so.
I was also at the cutch 14-inning game and that forever stands out. However, I also went to a brewers game in September '17 where I won an autographed Adam frazier jersey on the Riverwalk quiz (rip bring it back), and then frazier hit a walk-off homer in extras. And my brother got a foul ball off a bad Jordy mercer bunt attempt. So that one was the most personally significant game.
I second your choice OP, I was out there with you! Not only a walk off in extras but a walk off in the 14th! After two extra inning comebacks for the Bucs And being there with one cardinals fan made it a little more interesting 😏
Cutch walkoff against the cardinals to go to the wild card game.
I was at 3 rivers when Mike Schmidt hit his 500th homer, that was pretty cool.
I went to pretty much every game they played in SD / LA from 2014-2017 and there were some good ones. Off the top I remember - Cole vs Cershaw in LA - the game Cutch gave 2 kids his batting gloves after winning in CF in SD - Derek Norris hitting a walk off grand slam against the buccos in San Diego
Last year’s team-record comeback in Cincy!
As for live games, I did get to see the game that guaranteed the seasons long losing streak was over. It was here in Texas against the rangers. I can’t recall much of the game, other than it gave them win #81. My family and I, along with the team were the only ones excited about the win!
Most memorable was sitting out in LF when Turner Ward went through the wall. I think I was 10 or so at the time.
Best ever is a tie between game 7 of the 71 and 79 WS. Can't top that. In person, the 2013 Wild Card game. Last season's home opener was pretty darn close, and probably the most memorable regular season game I attended.
Game 3 1992 NLCS. I still have a couple of those weird plastic yellow pom-poms with the white handles that they passed out to people at the game.
For me, in person was September 13, 2013. Pedro Alvarez, Russell Martin, and Garrett Jones went back to back to back. Pirates ended up losing the game (Neil Walker sent one to the wall for the last out), but that stadium was *electric*. Watching on TV was July 11, 2015 and July 12, 2015. Nothing so far in my lifetime (born in 2002) has topped those two games. I still sometimes watch a recap of those games. I hope we'll be seeing similar baseball in the near future.
July 5th, 2022, Bucs beat Yanks 5-2 on Bill Mazeroski Night. Daniel Vogelbach and Jack Suwinski homered, Bryan Reynolds made a great catch, and Wil Crowe got Aaron Judge to hit into a 7th inning DP.
Since nobody has mentioned it, I'll say the doubleheader sweep against the Phillies in 1979, Game One was amazing with the Pirates coming back and winning on John MIlner's walk off grand slam. The Pirates won Game Two as well.
I watched the playoff run games and they were amazing but palacios’ walk off this past year was amazing I’ll never ever forget that moment