Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Fireworks explode over Downtown Pittsburgh and PNC Park's first night game on April 11, 2001. Click photo for larger image. Return to index

The outfield backdrop is the most dramatic in baseball. The Downtown skyline shimmers day and night, as the waters of the Allegheny churn past. Bronze statues of Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell stand guard outside the ballpark gates, Clemente's faces toward the 21-foot right field wall, a homage to the Great One's number and position.

After years of discussion and heated political debate, the Pirates and Pittsburgh opened the $262 million ballpark, the "gem on the Allegheny" on April 9, 2001 -- ironically and sadly, only hours after Pirate icon Stargell passed away from a stroke.

Its history is young, but its beauty is timeless. In 2003, Jim Caple of ESPN.com told the sporting world what Pirates fans have known since day one: it is the best ballpark in America. However, to say that the Pirates have had a rough go of things in the PNC Park era is understatement bordering on folly. They have not had a winning season since 1992 and do not own an overall winning record at the park. That doesn't mean the team hasn't provided fans with some memorable moments.

Down to their last out in the ninth and trailing the Astros by six runs with nobody on base, the Pirates scored seven times against one of the best bullpens in baseball, including a climactic grand slam by ex-Buc Brian Giles off of former Astro ace Billy Wagner, for an improbable 9-8 victory in the opener of the first home day-night doubleheader in franchise history before a crowd of 32,977 in July 2001.

The comeback tied a National League record for most runs with two outs in the ninth inning. The last time it happened was June 29, 1952, when the Cubs also rallied for a 9-8 victory against the Reds, also in the first game of a doubleheader. Throw in the fact the blow was struck at 3:36 p.m. -- the minute Bill Mazeroski beat the Yankees in the seventh game of the 1960 World Series -- and it's downright eerie.

	Darrell Sapp, Post-Gazette The sun sets over PNC Park. Click photo for larger image. Related coverage Multimedia: Building PNC Park Opening Day at PNC Park

Another historic doubleheader on May 28, 2004 saw a Mack-daddy of a performance.

In the first game, a new daddy -- Pirates utilityman Rob Mackowiak -- bopped a walk-off, grand slam for a 9-5 Pirates victory barely nine hours after his wife, Jennifer, gave birth to their firstborn, Garrett Matthew. Then, in the second game, he smacked a two-run shot -- the 500th homer at PNC Park, and incredibly, hit into the same right-center field seats as the one three hours earlier -- to send into extra innings a game won by Craig Wilson with a 10th-inning homer, for a 5-4 sweep of the Cubs.

It was the first time since 1967 that a doubleheader was won by walkoff homers.

Earlier this season, the Pirates persevered in an 8-7 18-inning triumph of wills against the Astros, punctuated by Bay leveling Astros' catcher Eric Munson at home plate to score the winning run.

The length of 5 hours, 49 minutes is believed to mark the longest game played in Pittsburgh, which has been home to a National League team since 1887.

The Pirates overcame three deficits - all by home runs, including one by Jason Bay, who hit two on the night and received a dugout curtain call from the PNC Park faithful. Bay also leapt above the left field fence to rob Houston's Morgan Ensburg of a home run in the 13th inning.

"It was one of those games, one of those moments you'll never forget," Bay said. "A really special night, from start to finish," Bay said afterwards.