Health & Fitness
Yinz Need to Learn Some Baseball Etiquette: Oh Yeah- Lets GO BUCS!
The Pirates have been a sideshow for 18 years. The problem now is simple. Our fans don't know anything about the game or proper game etiquette! Yinz need to sit down and watch the game!
For the last 18 years in Pittsburgh people would shot up to our beautiful PNC Park, but simply as a courtesy. The Pirates have been a sideshow for people just looking for something to do on a warm, summer night or to see great fireworks. But currently things are different. There is REAL baseball being played!
The problem now is simple, our fans don’t know anything about the game or proper game etiquette! So, now that I’m regularly spending $400 a night for the whole crew to go to the game I would like to be able to actually enjoy the game and enjoy the experience ... while it lasts!
Here are a few things that fans do at PNC Park that have annoyed me. So, let’s all get educated together and learn a little ballpark etiquette.
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No. 1: Yinz need to sit down! Don’t interrupt the game for the rest of us. This is my biggest pet peeve! There is something very special about actually seeing every pitch, catch and hit, but there is no reason to stand up in the middle of the inning and block everyone's view as you wait for the beer man to serve you your drink.
The other thing that goes along with this: wait for a break in the action or the end of the inning to get your fourth Primanti sandwich, fries, nachos and $12 Iron City brew.
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Yinz need to sit down! The beer and nachos can wait! Just sit down!
No. 2: Dress appropriately. Similar to other special occasions, there is a dress code for these events. Look, I’m no fashion guru but it would behoove you to follow the basics. We have all seen “that guy.” Hopefully, you have never been “that guy.”
He’s the guy who attends the game wearing his Steelers Jersey. I see no reason to sport the football jersey at a baseball game ... unless you are Jerome Bettis. It is perfectly acceptable to wear street clothes or business casual to the stadium, but if you choose to rock a team cap or jersey, make sure it belongs to one of the two teams playing on the field.
Also girls, just because they make skinny jeans and tube tops in your size DOESN’T mean that you should be wearing them. I really don’t want to see your oversized “assets!”
No. 3: Bringing a mitt to a ballgame is a cool -- if you are UNDER the age of 13! Seriously, it is time to MAN UP and leave the leather at home old dude! It was acceptable, even cool, when you played in little league, but welcome to the big leagues Sally, where real men catch homeruns with their bare hands and little kids bring their mitts.
Oh yeah, Grandma, get out of my way. If that ball is in arms reach you can expect my big paw extended in front of your grille. I’m not going to knock you over, but I am trying to get that ball. That’s totally fair! However, if the Pirate Parrot is shooting T-shirts or hot dogs, I’m leaving that for the kids!
No. 4: Everyone has a cell phones and smart phone -- I get it. I actually have every bit of mobile technology known to man. But, if needed, I tweet, Facebook and text silently. I don’t really want to hear you on speaker phone talking about your hot girlfriend, stock trades, day at work or grocery list. Unless you are an “on call" heart surgeon, put that phone away or text silently! Vibrate can be fun, try it!
No. 5: The stadium wave is so 1980s. Yeah, it was cool when we were a losing team, bored and had nothing to cheer about, but NOT NOW! Yeah, drunk dude down front, I get that it’s the wave. You don’t have to yell at me for not participating. There a great game on the field and I’m watching it! I'll stand up and CHEER when Andrew McCutchen makes a great play!
No. 6: Support your team, not the TV network. Seriously, do you really care to be on the ROOT Sports Network? I have never had the foresight to create a sign, but I do endorse making a creative piece of work. Some signs are classic. When “Barr-oid Bonds” was on the brink of surpassing Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron there were some great signs across the league. Fans had ample ammo such as “HEY BARRY, MOVE YOUR HEAD. WE CAN’T SEE.” (See rule number 1)
As we pass the All Star break with the first glimmer of hope in 18 years let's take some time to enjoy the great American pastime. It’s time to enjoy competitive baseball in Pittsburgh, so let’s keep our end of the deal and be true fans for the Pirates and each other!
By the way, what annoys you?
