For many fans, Pirates a no-name team

By Adam Brandolph
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Monday, August 25, 2008


The Pirates mural at the intersection of Second Avenue and Ross Street, Downtown. Jasmine Gehris/Tribune-Review



You could say Harry Knott longs for the good ol' days.

Knott, 69, of Shadyside knows the names of every former Pittsburgh baseball player on a mural under the Boulevard of the Allies bridge at Second Avenue and Ross Street, Downtown. But when shown photos of the current Pirates' starting lineup and the team's starting pitchers, Knott couldn't name any of them.

"I grew up watching or hearing stories about those guys (on the mural)," he said. "There isn't a face of today's team. They just aren't very memorable."

The mural, a copy of a painting by Art Institute of Pittsburgh professor Michael Malle, 50, of Westwood was hung as a billboard under the Boulevard of the Allies bridge in 2000. Lamar Advertising paid to have a new version printed and hung in June, Malle said.


With a month remaining in what will be the Pirates' 16th consecutive losing season -- tying a major-league sports record -- the 14 players of yesteryear are proving to be more recognizable than those who'll take the field at PNC Park tonight against the Chicago Cubs.

Geena McNeal, 45, of Beechview walks by the mural five days a week on her way to work. She named two players on the mural -- Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell -- but could only name one current player, Jack Wilson.

"I can name nearly all the Steelers, and I know some of the Penguins," McNeal said. "But not the Pirates. Probably because they not good."

Standing about 12 feet tall, the players on the mural are larger than life for Dennis Gray, who recognized seven players on the mural but just two current Pirates -- shortstop Jack Wilson and All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth.

"I watch the games, but I guess I don't pay attention to their faces," said Gray, 58, of Carnegie.

Free agency and mid-season trades make it hard to keep track of players, said Darryl Hawkins, 63, of the Hill District, who recognized some of the more obscure players on the mural, like Kiki Cuyler, Max Carey and former second baseman and manager Danny Murtaugh. But Hawkins didn't recognize tonight's scheduled starting pitcher, Ian Snell.

"Those guys were on the team for years. When I look at them, I know they did something," Hawkins said. "These guys today ... they're not the same. They haven't been around long enough to do anything."


Adam Brandolph can be reached at abrandolph@tribweb.com or 412-320-7936.

Here are the names of the 14 former Pirates depicted in Michael Malle's mural under the Boulevard of the Allies bridge, Downtown.

Kiki Cuyler (1921-27)
Ralph Kiner (1946-53)
Fred Clarke (1900-11)
Max Carey (1910-26)
Lloyd Waner (1927-41)
Paul Waner (1926-40)
Danny Murtaugh (player, 1948-51; manager, 1957-64, '67, '70-71, '73-76)
Josh Gibson (Pittsburgh Crawfords, 1930-37; Homestead Grays, 1937-46)
Arky Vaughan (1932-41)
Willie Stargell (1962-82)
Pie Traynor (1920-35, '37)
Bill Mazeroski (1956-72)
Roberto Clemente (1955-72)
Honus Wagner (1900-17)

Source: Michael Malle