PNC Park

From BR Bullpen

PNC Park has been the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 2001. It is located in Pittsburgh, PA.

First Game: April 9, 2001 vs. Cincinnati, (Cincinnati 8, Pittsburgh 2)

Todd Ritchie (L) vs. Chris Reitsma (W) (making his MLB debut); HR: Sean Casey

First Single: Brian Giles
First Double: Michael Tucker
First Triple: Aaron Boone (April 12th, 2001)
First Hit & HR: Casey
First Run: Dmitri Young
First RBI: Casey

The ownership of the Pirates had been demanding a new park, saying they may leave the city otherwise, even though Three Rivers Stadium was in good condition. An initiative was put on the ballot, proposing a sales tax to fund a new stadium as well as work on the convention center and other civic structures and organizations. The ballot was voted down by large percentages in Allegheny County and the surrounding 10 counties, despite the fervent efforts of the initiative to claim it wasn't a "stadium tax." When the public refused en masse to fund a new stadium, Pittsburgh mayor Tom Murphy helped push through a bill for stadium funding in the state legislature at 4 in the morning, when many legislators were not present. This deceptive back-door method of stadium welfare helped fund PNC Park.