Stanley Cup takes a trip to PNC Park

By Rob Biertempfel, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Monday, June 15, 2009

The Stanley Cup continued its victory tour through Pittsburgh on Sunday with a stop at PNC Park.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, wearing flip-flops and a Pirates jersey, toted the Cup onto the field before the interleague game against the Detroit Tigers.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby(notes) carries the Stanley Cup onto the field at PNC Park to be honored with teammates before a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 14, 2009. (AP)

The Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings, 2-1, Friday in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Winger Bill Guerin threw out the first pitch, which wobbled a bit and kicked up some dirt as outfielder Nyjer Morgan made the catch.

"Don't you know a split-finger fastball is supposed to drop like that?" Guerin said, trying to contain a smile. "I was imagining a left-handed batter, brush him back a little bit, you know?"

The sun-splashed crowd of 27,565 — which included about 5,700 walk-ups who likely were lured to the ballpark by the Cup's visit — would have roared just as loudly if Guerin had chucked the ball out onto Mazeroski Way.

Pirates players and coaches gathered along the third-base line and cheered as Crosby lugged the Cup out of the home team's dugout. The Pirates had gotten a close-up look at the Cup a few minutes earlier, when the Penguins brought it into the clubhouse.

"Guys were all over it," Guerin said. "Everybody was getting pictures and stuff like that. It was really neat. They're all real good guys and appreciative we brought it in. Our kids were getting bats, balls, everything."

Morgan, who played junior hockey in Canada before turning full-time to baseball, was eager to touch the Cup.

"Absolutely," Morgan said. "I did my own victory lap."

Pittsburgh Penguins' Bill Guerin(notes) throws out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, June 14, 2009. Guerin and teammates were honored for winning the Stanley Cup over the Detroit Red Wings. (AP)

Jordan Staal and Max Talbot emerged from the clubhouse, each wearing one of Matt Capps' batting practice jerseys. Was there a swap involved, perhaps a few autographed pucks and hockey sticks?

"Nah," Capps said. "I just gave 'em to them."

Staal also was waving one of the Pirates' bats as he strode off the field. Eric Godard wore Morgan's warm-up jersey.

Later, Guerin brought the Stanley Cup into the press box and broadcast booth. Pirates employees queued up to pose for pictures.

"It's been an amazing couple of days," Guerin said. "This city is just crazy about it right now. It's awesome. Pittsburgh's such a huge sports town. The fans ... incredible. It's been wild."

This afternooon, the Cup will wind its way through the streets of Downtown during the Penguins' victory parade.

"It's going to be pretty nuts, I think," Guerin said. "But it's a good thing, a good nuts."