The names and faces change every March, but the enduring charms of baseball keep Manatee County residents and visitors flocking to McKechnie Field, the spring-training home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. During the 2008 exhibition season, the Pirates averaged a record attendance of 5,404 fans a game at McKechnie, the venerable jewel of a ballpark located at 1611 9th St. W in Bradenton. Total attendance of 81,067 for 15 games was second alltime, behind the 81,967 ticket buyers for 16 games in 2007. History was made March 19 when eight light towers shone 148 bulbs on the playing field below for the first night game in the park’s history.
The lights had been turned on March 7 for a scheduled game against the Cincinnati Reds, but rain and lightning pushed the occasion back to a visit from the New York Yankees. For the record, the Yankees smote the Pirates 12-9. But neither that result nor 16 consecutive losing seasons by the Pirates can dim our area’s passion for the franchise, which celebrated its 40th season in Bradenton in 2008.
The addition of lights is one of the most visible signs of the love affair between Bradenton and the Pirates, which began when late Hall of Fame outfielders Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell batted third and fourth in the lineup and current broadcaster Steve Blass was the Opening Day pitcher. Before heading to Bradenton in 2008, the Pirates cemented a 30-year deal with the city that included a massive renovation of the Pirate City complex at 1701 27th St. E into a palatial, sprawling three-story shrine described by a visitor as “the Taj Mahal of Bradenton.” “This facility and the improvements at McKechnie Field represent a new beginning for the partnership and relationship we have with the city of Bradenton,” said Pirates owner Bob Nutting at a ribboncutting ceremony in February.
The complex, which cost about $19 million to build, features 80 dormitory rooms for players and coaches, recreational rooms, classrooms, suites and offices. It is used during the summer to house minorleague players starting their careers with the Pirates’ Gulf Coast League rookie team. “Most of the players who live here range from 17-to-25 years old, so we wanted to give them everything a college kid could need and use,” said Trevor Gooby, the Pirates director of Florida operations.
Amenities include flat-screen televisions in every dormitory room, pool tables, a ping-pong table and video games. The GCL Pirates rookies keep the fever alive during the summer months, playing their games at Pirate City, which is also where the major league club trains in the weeks preceding the exhibition season.
Another popular institution at McKechnie Field spring-training games is the 217-member Bradenton Pirate Boosters Club. The club is the only volunteer organization for any of the major-league teams that train in Florida. During games, they serve as ushers, program sellers, playerparking attendants and sales people in the Pirates’ Clubhouse Store at McKechnie. “Being here is like living a dream,” said 65-year-old Booster Lloyd Fait. “Being around the ballplayers makes me feel young.” Maybe Ponce de Leon should have centered his search for the Fountain of Youth in Bradenton.
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