BASEBALL

BASEBALL
Writer defendsPirates, PNC Park
Fanfare,
Columnist Joe Scalzo sounds bitter. Did Rob Mackowiak turn him down for an autograph? Wake up and smell the pirogi. Oliver Onion, Potato Pete, Cheese Chester and Jalape & ntilde;o Jana are crowd pleasers. The pirogi race is a great thing to watch.
PNC Park has the best view of any park in any city. The fans are closer to the action than in any of the new parks that have been built, and talk about your food choices. You can get wings from Quaker Steak and Lube, a steak dinner at the Outback in left field, or a great sandwich with cole slaw at Primanti Brothers. You can even hang out with a former Pirate great like Manny Sanguillen at his barbeque behind the wall in left field.
Scalzo also did it the wrong way to enjoy Pittsburgh. He should have parked in downtown and went to the shops around Market Square. He should have walked across the Roberto Clemente Memorial Bridge to the game or taken the majestic boat ride from Station Square across the river.
By the way the right-field wall is 21 feet high in honor of the number that Clemente wore for the Pirates.
Yes, I sort of miss Three Rivers Stadium and the history of Willie "Pops" Stargell, Dave Parker, Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla and the "Ole Gunner" Bob Prince.
I saw every team in the National League for a few years before I settled into my role first at Pemberton Park and now at Bob Cene Park. The World Series experience in 1979 with the "Family" is one that I will never forget. Chuck Tanner, too.
To me, PNC Park is the best park in the nation outside of the one I work at in Struthers. Bob Cene Park is the home of the Ohio State Connie Mack tournament which is playing this weekend.
Ronald "Red" Baker
Struthers